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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
Matthew 18:20 (NIV) “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed
Psalm 20:4
God wants the best for me, even more than I can hope for or imagine!
Desiree Reimer, Calgary, AB
Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. Psalm 73:23 ESV
Betsy Brown, Spartanburg, SC But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€12‬:â€9‬ NIV)
Jenn Loewen Gresham, OR
Isaiah 43:19 The Message
“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”
Juliett Collins, Charleston, SC–2 Cor. 12:9 he said to me “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. Therefore I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the Christ’s power may rest on me. NIV
Stephanie Homewood, IL
“Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I AM doing something in your days- You would not believe if you were told.”
Habakkuk 1:5 NASB
Amy Coffey, Trussville, Alabama, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJ Joy Reese, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Psalm 92:19. NJK
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Tamica White ~ Columbus, Ohio
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3 (NIV)
Psalm 28:7 NIV
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.
Kristine VanQuathem, Dixon, Illinois. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth – 3 John 1:4. Following the Lord brings him joy
Lisa, Mineville, Nova Scotia
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12 NIV
April Anstey, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Laura Hall from Kyle, Texas
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalms 84:1-2 NIV
Kelly
Monmouth, OR
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12 (NIV)
Taylor, Houston, TX
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
Psalms 121:1-4 (ESV)
Lisa from Lincoln, NE
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Reply
But Blessed are those who trust in The Lord and have made The Lord their hope and confidence.
Jeremiah 17:7 NLT
Karen Brady , Shelby NC 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 a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Jen Lee, Ames, Iowa. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Billie Jean, Cincinnati, OH. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Chanel. South Africa, Pretoria
Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (NKJV)
Candice Kindrick,Rogers, AR
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, The Message)
Robin Wade, Munford,TN
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. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Carolyn, New Baden, Il
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1 HCSB
Jana Kimbrough, Garrison, Tx.
“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
Deborah Coburn from The Woodlands, Texas
Proverbs 17:17 ESV
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Beth Mynatt Jacksonville, FL
In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare
[a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart.] Psalm 5:3 Amplified
“Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NASB)
Liberty, MO
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge : because thou hast rejected knowledge , I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God , I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
Felicia O., Southern Maryland
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
(Jesus sais)”I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
Jennifer Oden from Corpus Christi, TX
For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.
Psalm 107:9
ESV
Wilmington, NC
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth
Daleville, va
Alicia Madrid, San Diego, CA.
“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Charlotte Adams, Atlanta,GA, psalm 1:1-3 (niv) — Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, it that sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.
“No we are more than Conquerers through him who loved us . For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future nor any powers neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us (me) from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our (my) Lord…..” Romans 8:37-39 NIV I know this is more than one verse but I always have to read this from about 26 on to get the full commitment of God, the Spirit and Christ Jesus our Lord…..
The proper focus keeps the right prospective
Maureen, Pascoag, RI
He gives snow like wool;
He scatters frost like ashes.
Psalm 147:16 NRSV
Nellie Neufeld, Woodstock,Ontario
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19.
Debbie,Toledo,WA “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.”Proverbs 16:3 NIV
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1 NIV84
Tara Saunders, Aurora, On, Canada
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 40:10, NLT
Lisa O’Steen, Keller, Texas, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NLT
Katie Efird, Salisbury, NC
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8, NASB
Susan D Las Vegas NV May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ESV