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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (â€Eph.3‬:â€17-18‬ NLT)
Marquita, Canton, GA “But the mercy of The Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children.” Psalm 103:17 NKJV
Vicky Jones, Adelaide, Australia.
When I pray you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength that I need. Psalm 138:3 TLB
Cleveland, TN
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
2 Corinthians. 10:3 NIV
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Catherine Killian, Sacramento, CA.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:18 NIV
John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Robin LeGrand, Winfield, Kansas
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-22 (NIV)
Corrie Crouch, Silsbee, Texas
“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” Psalm 141:3 NLT
Laura Stuart, Nashville, Indiana; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16, ESV
I will instruct you and teach you in the ways you should go; I will guide you with my eye. Psalms 32:8 (NKJV)
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Leslie Armstrong , Madison , Mississippi ” So then you are no loner strangers and aliens , but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God ” Ephesians 2:19 ESV
Linzay from Alexandria, LA “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV
Nancy McLendon, Perry, GA
“The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning He wakens — wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.”
Isaiah 50:4 NRSV
Kate B. “A Joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 ESV
Linda Dow, Conway, AR
“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
Melinda Hollis, Independence, MO
“Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.” 2 Corinthians 8:12 NLT
Laura Pilant, Oldfield, MO
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Rom. 12:2 NKJV
Sharee, The Colony, Tx. I am about to do something new. It is beginning to happen even now. Don’t you see it coming? I am going to make a way for you to go through the desert. I will make streams of water in the dry and empty land. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NIRV)
Jen Trox Fayetteville, NC Luke 10:27
He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Luke 7:13 HCSB
When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Don’t cry.”
Shelly Lewis, Shreveport, Louisiana 2 Peter 1:5-6 NIV
5 For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self control; self control, preseverance; and to perseverance, Godliness
Some versions use the word endurance for perseverance
Loke Asing, San Clemente, CA
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:16 ESV
Micayla Clayborne
Crandall, Georgia
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 ESV
Jennifer Fee, Placentia, CA
Psalm 91:1: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Tara, Springfield, MO
For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV
Tammy Kitten, Lubbock Tx
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intervenes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26 NIV
Anne Chadwick, Sitka, Alaska. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 ESV
2 Corinthians 5:17. Amplified Bible
Therefore if person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiral condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
.
I can do all things through Him who strenthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV
Kelly Haidlen. Oakdale, California. “God create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 HCSB
“As I wait on the LORD, with good courage, He shall strengthen my heart.” PSALM 27:14 NKJV
Shelly Verley, Apache Junction, AZ
“Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me; And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24, NASB
Carla Kaney, Adel, Iowa “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” –Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Mona Huston, Bossier City, La, “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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NIV)
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” (â€Romans‬ â€15‬:â€1-2‬ MSG)
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me
Allison McDonough, Ga. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalms 143:8 NIV
Ginger Hawthorne, Houston, Texas.
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thess. 5:16-18 (KJV)
Kelly Duggan, Lewisville, TX “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew,like showers on new grass,like abundant rain on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32:2 NIV
Jenae Howard. Oakdale, California. “God create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 HCSB
Kelly Hart, Pembroke, NH
” But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1Peter 5:10
Donna McIntosh, Houston TX
“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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Melanie Thompson, Hayesville, NC
Hebrews 13:5-6 (kjv)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.
Look, I am coming soon!Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book. Rev 22:7 NLT
Faye Waraksa, Franklin, TN
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 HCSB
(Had to start with this one. It was given to me as my confirmation verse in 1972!)
Liz Frederick, Grand Cayman. Lamentations 3: 22-23 RSV
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fails. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Susan McLaughlan, Fishers, IN
“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 ESV