Finally!!!!!!!!
Are you ready, Sisters? Do you hear me cheering?? I have never been more excited about doing this.
I am on the verge of doing about 10 backward flips on my hardwoods. I said on the verge. Not quite doing it. Well, I’m doing it in my heart. That counts for a lot around here.
SO LET’S DO THIS THING! Now, promise me this! Promise me you will read this entire post before you leave a single comment. I know you’re about to burst and I am, too, and, for that reason, I’ll keep it as short as possible. It’s so important that we get our ground rules firmly established so that we’ll have a fabulous experience. Remember, hundreds of our participants this time around are brand new so let’s make sure everybody’s on the same page.
A few things you absolutely MUST KNOW:
*Your comment to this post is your official registration onto the team. Everybody starts at Verse 1 no matter when they begin the process. (Word gets around and we often still have people joining in with us even in March and April. We don’t mind how late they begin as long as they can catch up, memorize their verses, and document each one of them on the proper post as an official participant.) This launch post will remain right here in this January 1st 2013 slot all year long and each new person will need to make her first entry here. This is how we track who signed up when we get to the end of the year and it’s party time.
*Your comment must be strictly limited to the following 5 pieces of information: name, city, verse, reference, translation. I’ll say it slower now for those brand new to the process:
Your name (or first name if you prefer), city. Your verse for that two-week period written all the way out, the reference for it (where it is found in the Bible: Book, chapter, verse) AND the *translation you’ve taken it from.
(*For instance, is the Bible you’ve pulled the passage from a KJV, an NAS, HCSB, NIV or NLT? Or is it The NET Bible, The Message or another similar version? The translation almost always appears on the outside spine of a Bible. If not, you will find it on the first few pages. If you’re looking on line, you’ll get an option to choose a translation. Do so as it speaks most clearly to you. We aren’t fussing over translations here in our memory work. You also do not need to stick with one version throughout.)
Just those 5 pieces of information! They will comprise every comment to this post. And the moment you start scrolling through all of them, you’ll see why. Page after page after page after page of Scripture and each one telling a reader exactly where to find it. It is the most powerful sight to behold. This invites people who are not participating in the memory work to reap tremendous benefits by just reading the comments and taking strength from verses they may not have known existed. This way it has the potential to bless our whole community or any weary visitor to our blog. I’ve been in crises before and gotten on the comment pages and scrolled from Scripture to Scripture and practically wept with relief and fresh courage or revelation. That’s why it’s best to keep the SSMT comments as succinct as possible. If you’ve got an exclamation in you that you just can’t hold back, you can occasionally make the briefest comment like, “I really need this one!” or “I’m sharing so-and-so’s verse” but, please, no more than that.
Comments other than the verse-entries on the 1st and 15th of each month can’t be approved. I’m so sorry and I hope you’ll understand. Thousands of us will be doing this together so the moderation process is monumental from the administrative side. The verses will be all Lindsee and I can handle in the comments for our two SSMT days per month. Keep in mind: NONE OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS PERTAIN TO THE OTHER BLOG POSTS HERE AT LPM. We will be completely free to do our regular thing on all other posts! The really stringent rules are only for the 1st and 15th of each month in 2013 and in reference to Siesta Scripture Memory Team. I hope that makes sense!
*Your comment may take 24 hours to get moderated (or posted if you’re new to the blog process) and sometimes a bit longer if it falls over a weekend. We try our hardest to stay up with it but on those days when 500+ come in at once, it’s quite a task! But we love it! It just requires a little patience on all sides! Before you assume that your entry somehow vanished and you’re tempted to write it again, give it one full day and see if it shows up. Keep track of what time you posted it and double check the comments around that same time. The accidental repeats make it much harder to track participation through the course of the year so always double check. If you don’t find it a day later, by all means, post it again!
*Remember that you get to choose your own verse! That’s really important! The ease with which you can memorize a verse is greatly impacted by how much it means to you. The more you need it or want it, the more you’ll absorb it. If you come up dry at times, no problem! You can either share my verse or another in the comment line that really speaks to you.
*PRAY that God will bless you in this endeavor and will enable you to memorize His Word! Ask continually throughout the entire year! When I get stuck and frustrated that I can’t get my words in order, if I’ll stop what I’m doing and ask God to supernaturally infuse me and help me to concentrate, you would not believe how quickly a breakthrough will come.
Are you about to stuff a sock in my mouth?? I’m about 2 seconds from stuffing one in my own mouth. Melissa gave me two new pair of boot socks for Christmas so at least I have fresh choices.
All right, already! Here goes mine! In honor of our process ahead and how willing the Holy Spirit is to help us…
Beth from Houston Texas, But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIV84
Here’s one more alternative if you’ve never memorized it for a new year! I just love it for January 1st:
You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11 NIV
May God’s grace abound to you, Sweet Thing. WELCOME! We have such a fabulous challenge ahead of us. GOD, GRANT US YOUR GOOD FAVOR!
So…what are you waiting for??? SIGN IN WITH VERSE ONE!
PS. I thought you guys might find it a bit amusing that I brought in the first 300 comments in the CAR on the way to the airport to catch my Atlanta flight for Passion 2013. Laughing. You keep your blog mama busy. I love you so!
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matt.28:20
NIV
Janet from Richmond, IN
“Cry out for insight and ask for understanding… then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord.” Proverbs 2:3,5 (NLT)
Karen, Nampa, ID, “That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!” Ephesians 1: 15-19 The Message
Jan from Pekin, IL
Rom 12:12 TLB
“Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Karen S, Garnet Valley, PA, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” NIV
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26 NIV
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
Evin From Fort Worth, Texas
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1 KJ
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
“He must become greater, I must become less” John 3:30 NIV
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who see what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-4
Amie Martin (Seymour, TN)
“You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”
I Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)
“And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
Romans 8:27 NIV
Johnine from Murfreesboro, TN
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. II Corinthians 9:6 NIV
Jen from Round Rock, TX
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Whitney; Russellville, TN; All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13. TNIV
Michelle Jones, Jacksonville, FL
Matthew 6:30 KJV
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
1 Samuel 2:6 ESV
James 1:21 NIV
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you
Shannon from Misawa, Japan
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Rachel from Woodstock, GA
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NASB
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith–and this not from yourselves,
it is a gift of God.
Eph, 2:8
NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Jan from Pekin, IL
Zechariah 4:6b NIV
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!
1 Chronicles 16:8 ESV
James 3:3-5 NKJV
Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boosts great things.
Proverbs 8:35 NIV
For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.
Janet from Richmond, IN
“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)
Karen S, Garnet Valley, PA, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV
Evin From Fort Worth, Texas
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7
Jen from Round Rock, TX
Galatians 6:2 NIV
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Amie Martin (Seymour, TN)
“But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength.”
2 Timothy 4:17a (NLT)
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5, ESV.
“I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 NIV
Sharon in Florien, LA: Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.
Psalm 68:19 Praise be th the Lord, to God our Savior who daily bears our burdens.
Psalm 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Karen, Nampa, ID “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Jan from Pekin, IL
Ps 92:2 Living Bible
Every morning tell Him, “Thank you for your kindness”, and every evening rejoice in all His faithfulness.
Sandy from Hygiene Colorado. Psalm 107:1 “Give thanks to the LORD for He is good; His love endures forever.” (NIV)
Trust in him at all times, O people,
pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8
NIV
Rachel from Woodstock, GA
In peace I will lie down and sleep,for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
NIV
Then He said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:”Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zech 4:6, ESV.
“..the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b (NIV)
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Karen S, Garnet Valley, PA, “And everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21 NIV
Lee from IN, ESV, Psalm 116:1 I love the Lord for He heard my voice, He heard my cry for mercy.
“I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 NIV
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