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
Brandy from Mooresville IN, You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11
Lauren, College Station, Texas “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See,, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43: 18-19 NIV
Christina, Longmont CO, “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.” Psalm 119:37, NKJV
Millie from Huntsville, AL
Search me O God and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24, KJV
Sarah-Washington court house, Ohio
Psalm71:16. KJV
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
Nicole, Ortonville, MI
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” James 1:19 NIV
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
Psalm 139:1
NIV 84
Amanda Peters; Steinbach, Manitoba
Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
For I know the plans I have for you” declares The Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
oops…forgot Dayton Ohio and NIV
Isaiah 6:8 ESV
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, ” Here I am! Send me.”
Romans 8:31. If God is for us, who can be against us.
Lucy; Bridge City, TX
They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. Isaiah 40:31
Tracy, Medicine Lodge, Ks.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT
Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT
The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Sarah, Independence, Ky
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:1-3 NIV84)
Ashley Meccia
Woodstock,Ga
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:13
NIV
And the Lord , He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV)
Jordin from Albuquerque, NM
“This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ’s faithfulness.”
Ephesians 3:11-12, NET
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.
The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 NASB
But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:5-6 NKJV)
Emily McLean; Maryville, MO
Romans 8:18 (NKJV)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed I us.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:26, NIV
Deanna from Maytown, AL
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1 NKJV
Mandi from Norman
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. Hebrews 2: 14
NASB
Alison Peyton; Peers, AB, Canada
“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me”
Philippians 4:13
NIV
Carrie Mathis from Cypress, Texas
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Heidi Bennett in Round Rock, TX
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 NIV
Katie from Biloxi, MS
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22, 23 NIV
Tina, Cleveland, TX.
“And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.” Ezekiel 39:7 ESV
Amy from Austin
Psalms 140:7 NIV
“O sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer , who shields my head in the day of battle.”
Twila Baker
Fayetteville, Ga.
You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11 NIV
Stancy Hagans
Coppell, Texas
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
-Psalm 37:4 NIV
Marianne from Carrollton, Texas
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14 ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
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
Cindi, from Ottawa, Illinois. “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalms 46:10 ESV
Cacey from Livonia, MI
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,and he will establish your plans.
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Sandi Starnes from Morristown, Tennessee
1 Peter 4:12-13 (The Message)
Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.
Brittany Freeman from Hayden, Alabama
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 3:12-14 NIV
Diana; Waconia, MN
James 1:16-18 (ESV)
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
alicia, chicago, il
therefore we DO NOT lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 corinthians 4:16 niv
Tiffany Anderson – Ada, OK
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
Psalm 143:10 NLT
Hanna Wahlbrink from Lexington, Ky
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Atlanta, GA
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
Janice Brown from Houston
“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with BONUS and BLESSING. Giving – not getting – is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” –LUKE 6:38(The Message Bible)
Cindy from College Station TX
You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11 NIV
Kim- McPherson, Kansas
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)
Melissa, San Antonio, TX
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25 NIV
Katelyn, Fort Worth, TX
James 1:20-21 NLT
Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has power to save your souls.
Julie from Crawfordsville Indiana. For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV