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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maggie, Tacoma, WA
Be Still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10 NIV
Amy Halters ~ Lexington, TN
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Mary Anne Kent, Austin, Texas
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (â€Micah‬ â€6‬:â€8‬ ESV)
Hollie McAfee, Hodgdon, Maine
“Jesus said to them,’You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.'”
Mark 9:19 NLT
Rhonda Long, DeLand, Fl. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1: 2-3. ESV
Stephanie, Amarillo, Tx. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (â€Proverbs‬ â€16‬:â€3‬ ESV)
LaCritia Tanner, Rowlett, TX
“I love you fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower” Psalm 18:1-2 AMP
I am the door, whoever enters through me will be saved and go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9
Karen clermont Florida I love you, O Lord, my strength. Psalm18:1
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1John 4:18 ESV
Heather – Grand Lake – Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (â€I Chronicles‬ â€16‬:â€34‬ NKJV)
Elaine Puckett ~ Powder Springs
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1 ESV
Emily T, Kansas City MO
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8 ESV
Janine McCormick, Tonasket, WA: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom. 12:2 ESV
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
Alice Collett, Levant, KS “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)
Angela Dotson, Tulsa, OK – He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (â€John‬ â€15‬:â€2‬ NIV)
Barbara Cross, McKinney, TX. “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. In stead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.'” Romans 8:15. New Living Translation.
Nancy Whitworth, Ft. Worth, TX
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 NAS
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 41:10 NLT
El Paso, TX
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 ESV
Amy Rendulic
Chestertown, MD
I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (â€Isaiah‬ â€46‬:â€4‬ NLT)
Corina Hutsell, Brookston,In
1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.
Cindy Knapton, Stougthon, WI
Job 23:10-12 ESV
“But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.”
Pamela Oliver, Cedar Rapids, IA.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1Thes. 5:16-18
Should have included
Fair Grove, MO
Marsha Jones, Beaver Center, PA. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19 NKJ
Kim Adams, Frisco, TX “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
Jennifer from New Bern, NC
Psalm 107.1
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. NKJV
Leslie Price, Monroe, NC
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 ESV
2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ NIV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
We know that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Jennifer Bennett, Lagos, Nigera
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ” 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV
Theresa, Farmington, MO.
And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Phillipians 4:8 NLT
Psalms 86:11, “Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth,
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear Your Name…NIV
Tymber Morrison, Winston-Salem, NC. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10, NIV
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
~Galatians 1:10~
NIV
Kristen from Katy, TX: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1b ESV
Kristy from Tallahassee, FL says:
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!
Psalm 66:1 HCSB
Aubrey Groover, Houston,TX
“Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Elaine Ladich, El Paso, Tx
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. ” Psalm 1: 1-2
My verse from Psalm 1:1-2 came from NKJV. I forgot to post that. 🙂
Rae Chicas, Gilbert,AZ, 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. , John 3:21, NIV
Katie Troyer, Powell, TN
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (â€Psalm‬ â€143‬:â€10‬ NIV)
Kathy Vandevender, Muleshoe, Tx. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
Sarah James
Amarillo, Texas
“Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.”
Psalm 62:8
Vickie Blankenship, Brunssum, Netherlands I am leaving you with a gift ~peace of mind and heart~ And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So do not be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 Amplified
Kay Alexander from Hooper, UT. Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” NIV
Robin Nadasdy, Highland, IN
I Cor. 10:31
“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (NIV)
Brandi Doyal, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (â€John‬ â€14‬:â€6‬ ESV)
Susan Tumino, Cleveland, OH
Isaiah 58:13,14
“If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ESV