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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Serenity, Weatherford, TX. Anxiety leads to depression, but a good word encourages. Psalms 12:25 CEB
NIV Isaiah 59:1
Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3:10 KJV
Cynthia Clemons, Cornelius, NC: “I say to myself, The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him.” Lamentations 3:24 NIV
Elaine Owensboro, KY “Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.” Deut. 13:4 NLT
Casey Vess, Gastonia, NC
7 casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.1 Peter 5:7-9 ESV
Kasey Gray, Fieldale, VA
“And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28 NIV
Gail, Phoenix
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV
Kim, Spring Creek, NV
“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing
[through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you
May abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
Romans 15:13 AMP
Jen, Colorado Springs, CO
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 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.”
Patti Zaske. Modesto, California. “God create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 HCSB
19 Listen, my child, and be wise,
and guide your heart on the right way.
Proverbs 23:19 New English Translation (NET Bible)
Stephanie Johnson, Kansas City, Kansas
Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you, He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22
Kyndra Ables from Waxahachie, TX – college student
“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 â€43‬:â€18-19‬ (NIV)
New year, yet same God! Ready for more of Him and excited about this challenge!
Candy Redel from St. Louis, Missouri
For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 NIV
And be not comformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2 KJV
Sarah Lincoln, NE “As for you O Lord you will not restrain your mercy from me; your stedfast love and faithfulness will ever preserve me. Psalm 40:11 ESV
Carrie Graciano, Joplin Missouri
“She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20. NKJ
Tabatha Colson, Johnston City, IL. John 10:10 “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Summer Blue Hill, Nebraska
“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
Liz Yarbrough, Atlanta
ESV Isaiah 55: 1-3“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Philippians 1:21 HCSB
Michelle Jackson, Round Rock, Texas. 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
amen and amen.
Jenn Nahrstadt, Cumming, GA. “Because He bends low to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath. ps 116:2 NIV
Angie Keeting, Lee’s Summit, MO.
How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD: my heart and flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2 NIV
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NLT
Laurie, Edmond OK
“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 43:19 NIV
Shannon Hoots, Greensboro, NC. “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever- do not abandon the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8, NIV84
Teresa Taylor, Roanoke, VA
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him, endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1-2. HCSB
Sheri Martens, Fairview OK. “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 from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 38,39. NIV
Danelle Conaway, Fairmont, WV. “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25: 4-5 NLT
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm toy, plans to give you hope and a future. NIV Jeremiah 29:11
Ft. Sumner, NM
My chapter for the year-Philippians 4
Philippians 4:1 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethern, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
Donna-, Tennessee, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down…” Neh. 6:3a NAS From a year-end Sermon; don’t let worldly things keep you from GOD’s work.
Maria, Detroit, MI
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4
Tammy McLoud, Ok
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV
Pat Kane, Levittown, PA “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12 NASB
Jessica Birt. Charleston, South Carolina. “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
Phillipians 4:13 (NKJV)
Meredith Head in Brussels, Belgium. “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (â€Galatians‬ â€2‬:â€20‬ NLT)
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 NIV
Marcia Feldman, Godfrey, Illinois
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV
You are a people holy to the LORD your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. Deut. 7:6 NIV
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.
Hebrews 4:16 ESV
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. He 11:1 NIV
Vicky, Des Plaines, IL “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2Corinthians 4:18 ESV
“Charlie” Louser, Cheyenne,WY: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” NKJV
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 NIV
Beryl Galant, Cape Town, South Africa
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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NLT)
Lisa, Bremen, GA — “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.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV