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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anna Holland, Walker, LA
As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.
Proverbs 27:19 NLT
Becky Bull, Chandler AZ Psalm 46:1 NIV
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Shannon Bond, Waco, Texas
“For I know the plans I have for you’ll declares The Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ” – Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Kim – Laguna Niguel, CA—Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) 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.
Melissa Briggs, Brandon Mississippi-
‘So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you;I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Norman, Oklahoma
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:13-14
KJV
The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 ESV
Katie, Jamestown, Rhode Island
“I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.”
Psalms 17:6 NLT
Suzanne bullis
Keizer, Oregon
And i am sure of this that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ Philippians 1:6 ESV
JoAnn Williams, Baton Rouge,La
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 NKJ
Maureen LaMar, Navarre, FL
Proverbs 3:5 AMP
Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (â€1 Peter‬ â€5‬:â€7‬ NIV)
Dawn Moon, Covington, GA
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 43:19 ESV
Pam, Sioux Falls, SD
“Oh give thanks to the LORD,for He is good;for His steadfast love endures forever!”
1 Chronicles 16:34
ESV
Amber Ball, Nicholasville, KY. “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” Psalm 130:5 ESV
Habakkuk 2:3b NLT:
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
Tricia Krimm, Houston, TX As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 NIV
Psalm 107:9 “For He satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul He fills with good things.”
Mollie Fitzpatrick, Dayton, Ohio – You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your Word. Psalm 119:114 ESV
Cindy Forman of Barboursville, W.V.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:5 NRSV
Rebecca Saiz Amarillo Texas
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor 5:17 NIV
Amanda Rogers – Spring, TX
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24 NIV
D’Lynn Moxon, Arlington, TX…Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ GNT)
Leah Wells, Raeford, NC Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 NIV
For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget His covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. Deuteronomy 4:31
Samantha, Nappanee, IN
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Michelle Widener – Rolla, Missouri
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 – NIV
Kaufman, Texas
Galatians 4:6
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Joyce Faler, Hagerman, Idaho. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:14-18
“Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4 Alicia Marks, Oregon
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers. I peter 3:12.
Teena Trumbo Huntsville, AR
Philippians 4:8 NIV Finally bothers, whatever is true, whatever it noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
Lacie from Chesapeake, VA…
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
-1 Peter 1:13, NASB.
Jessika Ramage, Meringandan West, Qld, Aust
Then Jesus said to His disiples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
(Matthew 16:24-25, NKJV-Spirit Filled)
SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON EARTHLY THINGS.
COL. 3:2 NIV
Lisa from Buundo village, Buikwe District Uganda “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in The Lord is safe.” Proverbs 29:25 ESV
If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12b (NAS)
Donna Hashe from Plano, Tx:
For sin will not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 NIV
Tricia Bates, Olive Branch, MS
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV
Amy Houston, Hermann, MO
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13, NKJV
Ileen Troyer, Millersburg,OH. On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. Psalm 138:3 ESV
“Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4 NIV Ryann Slegers, Oregon
Karen Jones, Pavo, Ga
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
NIV
Tabitha Miller, Republic, MO
“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13, KJV
“For I know the plans I have for you, “says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Janelle Tharp, Kingsley, IA “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Barb Koukl from Sarasota, Florida
Galations 6:9
And let us not lode heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap, if we do not grow weary.
Jessica Picou, Grand Lake, LA. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Do you not know it. I will make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 NKJV
Annette Nelson, Escondido, Ca Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 NLT
Sandra M. Arnold, Paris, Tennessee
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” 1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)