WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE 2015 SIESTA SCRIPTURE MEMORY TEAM!
WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!
Allow me to introduce myself to you as your fellow sojourner for the next 12 months and your official cheerleader. It will be my pleasure to remind you often that, in Christ Jesus, you most certainly CAN be victorious in this adventure of the faith, this challenge of the mind and this discipline of the Spirit.
Nothing we’ve done on this blog since its inception has seemed to attract more outrageous favor from God. We are convinced that He loves it. God never misses a single individual going to the work of memorizing His Word but imagine His delight when a huge community of tremendously diverse women in age, background, and worship tradition band together in a pilgrimage of faith. You don’t have to stop and wonder if it’s God’s will for His words to abide in you. The Word of God alive, active, and abiding in us speaks to us, shields us, warns us, strengthens us, sanctifies us, equips us in our callings, and directs us in our decision making. It sharpens our insight and improves our discernment. It makes us wiser and, let’s be bold enough to say, even smarter. Our brains were hardwired to flourish across the board when nourished by the Scriptures. Above all else, Scripture abiding and thriving in us builds up our faith, for “faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Â And, Girlfriend, we want to be women of faith. That faith erupts into works that were planned for each of us before the creation of the world. (Ephesians 2:10)
OK. I want to get right to it before I lose some of you so that no one will be unclear about the protocol.
The entry of your first verse is your official registration for SSMT (Siesta Scripture Memory Team). Everybody who joins us needs to start right here in a designated comment to this exact post. Even those who may jump in with us a couple of months late who are willing to work double-time to get it all done will start right here.
For a quick recap of our objective: Remember, we are committing to the memorization of 24 verses in 12 months. Two a month. We each get to select our own verses to align with our personal needs and challenges. Choosing a Scripture that resonates with you is immensely helpful in the memorization process. If you have trouble coming up with one of your own, you can always share mine or look through the other entries for ideas. You’ll find your SSMT posts right here on the blog at 8:00 AM on the 1st and 15th of every month in 2015. [Under the LINKS section listed on the right hand side of our blog home page, you will find all SSMT posts will store together for easy access. See “Scripture Memory Team 2015”.] If you haven’t had a chance to read all the instructions and hear about our end-of-year celebration, please go back and read the informational post then return to this spot. Questions unanswered here are answered there.
One of the most important things for you to know from the top is how to arrange your comment with the verse you’ve selected. We limit each comment to this information:Â
Your name, city, verse (written all the way out), reference, and translation.Â
SO, here goes mine! I’m obsessed with the Book of Ephesians right now so much of my memory work will probably come from those pages.
Beth Moore, Houston, Texas. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19 ESV
We’re fellow citizens with the likes of Peter and John and James and Stephen and Paul and Timothy and Barnabas and Joanna and Susanna and Lydia and Tabitha and just try counting all the Marys. We’re fellow citizens and members of the household of Middle Eastern believers confessing Christ in hostile climates, of Chinese believers meeting in house churches, of Eastern European believers finding hope in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have brothers and sisters in Thessaloniki, in Paris, in Belfast, in Riyadh, in Copenhagen, in Calgary, and Rome. We – right here in this community – are sisters to a household of God that stretches across this globe, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ alone. By grace through faith. “It is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) That’s what makes us family. We, beloved sister, are in gorgeous company. Let’s give our time on this planet as part of this household all we’ve got. Christ is so altogether worthy.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! One last thing before I say Go! Don’t panic or jump the gun and post a second time if you don’t see your verse published soon. I will be moderating all these launch comments by myself because I don’t want my staff to have to work on the holiday so I beg your patience. I’ll be hard at work on it but it will take me a while to get them all posted. As a rule over the next 12 months, only post a second time if it’s been 48 hours since you left the comment and you still don’t see it.
****I noticed that some of you posted verses earlier than this post was published and they came up on the SSMT informational comments.  I should have doubly emphasized what time the posts will go up each round: 8:00 AM, each 1st and 15th. So sorry if I did not make that clear enough! If you submit your verse earlier than that, it unfortunately appears under the wrong post and, the way blog moderating works, there’s no way for us to transfer the comments over. If you left your 1st verse under any other post than this one, please add it here as well. This is the official registration post.  I know it’s a bit complicated at first! Hang with it! So sorry for your extra trouble!
Hey, I am so glad you’re doing this with us. So much love to you.
OK, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loralie, Wahpeton, ND. 1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible allowable and lawful for me; but not all things are helpful good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things. Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.” Amplified
Irene Delgado Amarillo Texas
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Phil 4:13 NIV
Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear The Lord and put their trust in him.
Melinda Fiebig, Manor, Texas, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
Heather
Hartford, WI
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Jocelyn Swanson, Rockton, Illinois. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” -James 1:5-6, ESV
Nikki McGregor, Radford, VA,
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks; for this is God’s
will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thess. 5:16-18 (NASB)
Callie McDurmont, Montgomery, AL “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10 NIV
Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, beliebing, ye shall receive.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Michele, Cedar Park, TX He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. Iwill be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV
Melissa S. Navarre, FL: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31 NLT
work at living in peace with everyone and work at living a holy life for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14
NLT
Alicia Coffey, Hutchinson, Kansas – “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Joel 2:12 (ESV)
Goodlettsville,TN “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Phil. 4:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD.
Jennifer, McEwen, TN
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
Kathryn, Houston, TX. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” NIV
Nicole Holloway; Cookeville, TN; James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” NIV
Jeanne Cummins, Joplin, MO
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (â€Romans‬ â€12‬:â€9-10‬ NIV)
Sara: Lebanon, Ohio
“1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62-1-2, NIV
Shanda from York, PA: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus,” Philippians 1:6 (NASB).
Cherie Adair, Kansas City, MO,
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (Colossians 2:2 KJV)
Courtney, Panama City, FL. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Brenda Lyon, Wagoner, Ok ~ Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (NIV)
Lake Mary, Florida
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength: They shall mount up with wings like eagles: they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 ESV
What a great way to start a new year! Can’t wait!
Pat
Crawfordsville, IN
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NIV
Allie Schielack, Houston, Texas. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Amy Lyall, Grundy, Va
Revelation 21:5 (ESV)
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true
Joy Sladick, San Dimas CA.
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (â€James‬ â€4‬:â€1-2‬ ESV)
Beth Schairer, Lititz, PA “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep His commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” Revelation 14.12 NIV
Bailey Fisher – Omak,Washington
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Ansley Bowen, Pendergrass, GA “For the Lord loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.” Psalm 37:28 NASB
Karen Hill, Sequim, WA, Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Becky Burns, Beaverton OR
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Hi, I’m in Lexington, KY and my cover isn’t on my spiral yet but this verse is: Psalm 85:9 I will listen for the word of God; surely the Lord will proclaim peace. (NAB) Hi, Beth, I can’t believe you are gonna read something I type with your own eyes! (giggle tears, I am a nut!)
Mindy Humphrey, Astoria, Oregon
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Clarissa Harper Silver City, NM
…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God had called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13 NIV
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€10‬:â€3-4‬ NIV)
Stacia Long , Statham, GA
Rev 3:8
I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut;
for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. NKJV
Vickie Reynolds, Houston, Texas. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Debi, Oak Hill, OH Matthew 7:17 ESV / 72 helpful votes
“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” Matthew 17:7 ESV
Melody Wallis, Toronto, Canada
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV”
Bobbie, West Richland, WA. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NIV
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. NIV
Katie, madisonville,ky. If you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:4-5
Rena Brown, Waxahachie, Psalm 20:4 May He grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.NIV
Susan Smith Helena, MT.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. Psalm 111:10