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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but they who wait for 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. Isaiah 40:31 ESV
Tiffany, Greensboro, NC
“For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:16 ESV
Kelli, Lake Forest, CA (NIV)
Psalm 107:8 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds to mankind.”
Katie from Clarksville, TN “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. Youe workmanship is marvelous and how well I know it.Psalm 139:14
NLT
Cherry Buie, Conway, AR
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17,18 NIV
Teresa B Fort Myers. Fl.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Psalm 126:3. NIV
Harriett,St.Albert Alberta,Canada,John 3:16 NIV,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.
Jenny Boyle, Sioux Falls, SD
““Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.” Isaiah 43:18-19 The Message
Apison, TN
ESV Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he has loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved –
linda, colorado springs, co
“and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” matthew 21:22 (esv)
Bozeman, MT
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Charles Siple Rockledge FL
Gen 37:4 NIV When his brother saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
My Wife and I are doing this together. and I just picked a ramdom verse to memories.
Be still for the Lord and wait patiently for him;
Psalm 37;7
I pick this for my new journey with god and new beginnings.
Julie Burke, Haymarket, VA “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Krystal, Phoenix, AZ
Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” NKJV
Lindsay, Richland, WA. “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 43:19 NIV
Christy Tramel Spartanburg, SC
1 Timothy 4:8 NASB
for bodily discipline is only of little profit , but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come
Melisa Kingsort, TN
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
Mindy Hart, West Lafayette, IN- Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Tammy Burns, Florence, KY
PSALM 106:1
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Martha from Corpus Christi, Tx
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Kristen Adams, Wadsworth, Ohio
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:12-14a (ESV)
“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 a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
E… Westlake, OH
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev. 21:5, NIV
Gina, Waynesville, NC
Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him and he will help you. Psalm 37:5
But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. Jeremiah 20:11
Hannah Stout, Claremore, Oklahoma.
“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their toungue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” -Isaiah 41:17, ESV
Lavender Lloyd, Temecula California
“They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.” Psalms 34:5 NKJV
Ruth Packard, Longview, Washington. “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
Loganville, GA
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22 NIV
Shannon Hollander from Kansas City, MO
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
from Knoxville,TN
Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. KJV
Karla T. Broomfield, CO
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
Proverbs 31:25 NLT
Debbie – Canberra, Australia:
“Blessed is she who believes that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her”
Luke 1:45 (NIV)
Meg Wood, Raleigh, NC
Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the L ord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired. ~ Isaiah 40:31 God’s Word translation
Cindee Johnson Portageville, Mo Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Laurie Heath, Angleton TX:
Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.
Psalm 5:8 NLT
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)
Laura from Laramie, Wyoming
MaryBeth Sauter Mechanicville,NY
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is
not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4,5 NIV
Philippians 4:8English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things
Dena Brooks: Houston, TX
Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit you way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.
Psalm 37:4-6 (HCSB)
Proverbs 3:5-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
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)
Fraser Traverse, Falls Church, VA. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV
Marie, Roselle, NJ
“When you pass through the water, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
Emily Baughman
Elk Grove, CA
“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.” Isaiah 43:19 NLT
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.Phillipians 4:13 (NKJV)
Sue, New Carlisle, Ohio, All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 HSCB