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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hali Farris from Alexandria, Louisiana
“You make 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)
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).
Kathy, Woodburn Indiana- Ps 62:8 Trust in Him at ALL times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. NIV
Lindsey, Scenery Hill, PA “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26 ESV
Karen, Christy, Cheryl, A Cord of Three Strands
Jay, OK
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Eph. 2:19
Faith Thomas in Macon Ga
Lamentations 3:22-24. NLT
The faithful love of The Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness, his mercies begin afresh each morning I say to myself, “theLord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
1 Corinthians 6:19 ~ “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;”
I will praise thee;for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14 KJV
Julie Smith from Marysville Ohio :
Isaiah 43:18-19a (NASB)
Do not call to mind the former things. Or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth: Will you not be aware of it?
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV Heather Stansell, Easley, South Carolina
Christy Hubbard from Irving, TX “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18 ESV
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!! New Living Translation, Bristol, Virginia
Tina, Waconia, MN
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
Nan, La Vernia, Tx. “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” Micah 7:18 NIV
Lindsey Smith- Melbourne, Fl. . . . “My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” – Psalm 73:26
Westerville, OH
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. Jer. 29:11 NIV
So excited to be a part of this team. I am going with your verse for these next 2 weeks.
Dorothee, Sadler, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” KJV
“Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23 NIV
Kellie Metzker Peoria, AZ.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isaiah 43:2 NKJV
Elkhart, IN Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Debbie Boudreau, Keller, Texas. Do not be conformed 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. Romans 12:2 NIV
Cara, Milan,Michigan. “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
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6 (KJV)
Kay Tucker, Elyria, Ohio. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him.
Psalm 34:8-9 KJV
Susan – Jasper, TN – “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps” Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
Sarah, Granger, IN Praise The Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Psalm 103:1
Patti Odum, Akron Ohio “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” Galations5:1 NIV
For out of the overflow of the heart, his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will hear and answer them. I will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God. (â€Zechariah‬ â€13‬:â€9‬ AMP)
Lisa, Little Rock, AR. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NRSV
Emily Brannon Lubbock, TX
Posted above- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Forgot city 🙂
Amy Lefkowitz, Richmond, VA
“God arms me with strength, and He makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:32 (NLT)
Indian Trail, NC
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3, ESV
Debi Phinney, Moline, IL “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Angelyn Ingram, Crossville, TN This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-76 (NKJ)
Carol, North Carolina
2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
I like the strong word “diligent”- and God’s approval is the only approval I seek. I WILL NOT be ashamed of His Word of Truth. I will WORK to get His word into my brain daily and activate the Holy Spirit within me.
Rebecca Oliver
Mobile, Alabama
“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 ESV
Ashlee Wallace – Snow Camp, North Carolina
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 ESV
Christen Harris, Canal Winchester, Ohio. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” Ephesians 2:14 NIV
“Now Ezra determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel” Ezra 7:10 (HCSB). Chose this translation because it uses the phrase “determined in his heart”! May you all be determined in heart as you study God’s word.
Jodi Wissler, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgving, present your request to God. An the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
Misty Brown, Newnan, Georgia
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Ginger, Tacoma Washington, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NIV
Nicky, Decatur, TX.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the LORD Your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Kristin Turner, McAdenville,NC
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Psalms 104:34 ESV
Janette Shirey Willluamsport, PA “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 lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 NIV
Rachel, Owensboro, KY
“See, I am doing a new thing! Not it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. ” Is. 43:19 NIV
Angela, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32 NASB