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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Portageville, mo
…….
Weeping endures for the night but joy comes in the morning.
Psalms 30:5
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
Mary Lou Perkey, Hobart, OK. “Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion says my soul, therefor I hope in Him.” -Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJ)
Lisa, Savannah, Ga. Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is the faithful God who for a thousand generations keeps Hos promises and constantly loves those who love Him and who obey His commands. Deuteronomy 7:9. TLB
Laurie Burton, Des Moines IA
“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
Miranda Roodnat, Papendrecht, The Netherlands (Europe)
Mijn plan met jullie staat vast, spreekt de Heer. Ik heb jullie geluk voor ogen, niet jullie ongeluk: ik zal je een hoopvolle toekomst geven. Jeremia 29:11
Grace W.
Lapeer, Michigan
“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” John 8:51, ESV
You For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. II Timothy 1:7 NIV
Elizabeth, Owenton,KY
“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7:8 HCSB
theresa, Lufkin, Texas
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18
New American Standard
Christy, Grandville, Michigan “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
Marian, Wolfforth, TX; Psalm 90:12-15 NCV Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise. Lord, how long before you return and show kindness to your servants? Fill us with your love every morning. Then we will sing and rejoice all our lives. We have seen years of trouble. Now give us as much joy as you gave us sorrow.
Anette – Boise, ID
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Phil 2:3 NLT
Julie, Arlington, TX – You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 NIV
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 KJV
Tammy Frew…Bellingham, WA
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
Jackie Cole, Goreville, Illinois. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” II Corinthians 10:5 ESV
Kelly- Decatur,IL
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (â€I Peter‬ â€3‬:â€15‬ NKJV)
Nichole Hall, Judsonia, Arkansas
Hebrews 12:1 (NASB) Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
“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”. Is 43:19 NKJV
God’s promise to me for the new year!
From Brooklyn, New York
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Sue, Mt. Juliet TN
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
Diane, Wichita, KS. “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
Prov 16:9 NLT
Teresa Pierson from Kingsport, TN
Jeremiah 29:11
“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.” NIV
Redfield, AR
[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)
“Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves my will be loved by My Father and I too will love him and show Myself to him. John 14:21 NIV
Connie, Hiram, Missouri
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Lacy, Eugene, OR, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the work of God boldly.” Acts 4:31, NIV
Lindsay; Ogden, Utah;
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed the the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 nkjv
“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
Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord , The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
NISB Jeremiah 12:5 “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?”
Behold, I 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.
Is. 43:19 NASB
Ann Drescher, Ventura, CA
“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
J Wakeham, Cypress TX
I will be your God throughout your lifetime- until your hair is white with age.
I have made and I will bear; I will carry you along and save you.
Isaiah 46:4 NLT & ESV
Shawn Parks, Denton, Maryland ”Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6,7 HCSB
Amber, Green Cove Springs “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we could be perfect an could also control ourselves in every other way.” James 3:2 NLT
Cara Carroll, Claremore, OK “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)
Rhonda Andrews, Salem, IL, “Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
Luke 8:3, NIV
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
Lenee Erickson, Colorado Springs, CO Daniel 2:20 and said:” Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. (NIV)
Yaneli, Houston, TX
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12 NIV
Lynn, Lee’s Summit, MO. “I know what I’m doing, I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 MSG
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding–Proverbs 3:5 NIV
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” Psalm 51:10.
Psalm 51:10-13 was the first passage I memorized in January 2011 after going through a divorce. A Phil Driscoll song included this Scripture and it spoke directly to my heart. I have grown spiritually in many ways since then, but I feel I was stagnant in 2014. This year, I will remain steadfast in all that God has called me to do. I pray that I do everything with a pure heart and right motives.
“and find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians‬ â€5‬:â€10‬ NIV
Julie, Dublin, Ohio:
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Krystina, Lees Summit, MO
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD” Acts 3:19 NIV