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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26, NIV
Brenda, Collinston
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. 1Timothy 2:1 MSG
Shannon McCleney, Ft.CollIns,CO,…Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…Ephesians 1:3.
Callie from Jacksonville, FL “Make me to know your ways, O Lord: teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation: for you I wait all the day long.” Psalm 25: 4-5 ESV
Dana from Knoxville, TN
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossian 2:8-10 KJV
Kerri Gray, Ft Worth, TX
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Hebrews 13:5 ESV
“We walk by faith, and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Experience of tragedy and loss indirectly has led me to feel this scripture deeply.
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are-no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” Matthew 5:5
Traci, Butte, MT. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:13 NIV
Cassie Pattillo, Boiling Springs, SC- “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Melissa from Midland, MI
“But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth” Luke 1:13-14
Chari, Kansas City, MO. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
Sydney Sanford, Murfreesboro, TN “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)
Lisa Flowers, New Palestine, IN: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:22 NIV
Sarah Stevenson Mansfield, 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
Gabby Kemper, Granbury, TX. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 NKJV
Elise Engberg,Lakeville, MN. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (â€Romans‬ â€12‬:â€2‬ NIV)
Charity, Cohutta, GA “Do everything without complaining and arguing”. Phillipians 2:14 NLT
Sandy, Rochester, MN: “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
Laura Rutledge, McKinney TX
Matthew 6:34 NIV
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Kara Deal, Brighton, Colorado The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. Exodus 14:14 (NASB)
Christy from Lafayette, GA “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
Phil 1:27 ESV
Alecia, Resaca, GA
Do not call to mind former things or ponder things from the past. 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.
Isaiah 43:18-19. NASB
Shelli, Lake City, Florida
“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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€18-19‬ NIV)
“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” Isaiah 43:18-19
Felicia from Fresno, CA
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 NIV
Maria Allen, Nicoma Park, OK ~ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (â€Colossians‬ â€3‬:â€12‬ NIV)
Heidi Newman, Brainerd Minnesota. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Psalm 28:7 NIV
Abbotsford, BC Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8 NASB
Ann, Harrison Ohio.
“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” Jo 1:16 NLT
Robin Ivey Meridian, MS “Seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” I Thessalonians 4:11 (?)
Shannon McCleney, Ft.CollIns,CO,…Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…Ephesians 1:3. ESV
Sandy Riehl, Douglasville, GA.
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you. Psalm 86:11 NLT
Kristen Lucas, San Diego, CA: “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.”
Psalm 143:8 NLT
Debbie Stovall, Gardendale, AL. ““Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:20-21
Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€18-19‬ AMP)
Carolyn, Terrace BC Canada
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 NIV
Kathy Brooks from Derry, NH
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.” NIV
Kay Sellers, Vancouver, Washington We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the inequity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
Rejoice in hope,patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. Romans 12:12
Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV
Karen Ismari, New Mexico
“Blessed is the man who listens to me.” -proverbs 8:34 NIV
Christy Rollings, Jacksonville. Psalms 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? NIV.
Jennifer, Fort Worth, TX: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8 NKJV
Jessi, Richmond, VA- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
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.
Brenda, Barrington, IL “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
Mitzi, Long Beach, CA. “See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19, NIV.
LInda from Pilot Point, Texas
“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
Cristy Malott from Meridian, TX – But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (NLT)
Stacy, Addison, Il.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV