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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. Matthew 6:34 LAB
Beth Fordham, Sumter, SC, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (â€2 Timothy‬ â€2‬:â€15‬ NIV)
Brenda Elser, Livermore, CA – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
Yukon, OK
Psalm 138:3
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.”
FallonBalmes, Okinawa, Japan
1 Peter 3:3-4
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
Morristown, TN 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.
Psalm 23:6. AMP
Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
Kris Peters, New Castle VA. 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? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3) NIV
Allison Crook – Albuquerque, NM
“Before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom, I solemnly charge you: proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2 (HCSB)
Beth from St. Louis MO
Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
Sandra, Rock Hill, SC
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Joey McF, Seattle, Washington
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears. Isaiah 50:4,5a
Julie in Circleville, OH
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 New International Version (NIV)
Jennifer, Grove City, OH “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.” Psalm 17:6 NIV
Donna Benjamin, Tuscaloosa, AL “For each day He carries us in His arms.” Psalms 68:19 NLT
Ruth Stephenson, Milan TN
“Commit to The Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. ”
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Candis, Ft Myers, FL, Proverbs 30:8-9 NASB
Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the L ord ?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.
Stephanie – Tampa, FL A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
Becky
Okeechobee, Fl
Caitlyn Howell. Corbin, Ky. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 KJV
Julie from Gresham:
“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 ESV
He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you, to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Kira Luckett, Murfreesboro TN
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. Psalm 143:8 NIV
Karen Colvin, Austin, Texas. “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!” Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV
Oklahoma City, OK
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Kim Apgar says: January 1, 2015 at 7:31 pm Roswell, GA Ephesians 4:29 NKJV “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Cindy B – Rockledge, Fl.
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 future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-12 ( NIV)
Mary Rhodes,Hermantown Minnesota
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Amy Harrison
Lubbock, Texas
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
Hebrews 1:11 HCSB
Wanda
North Canton, Ohio
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
Morgan Hancher, Smyrna, TN
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” -2 Corinthians 10:5
My motivation in memorizing scripture is that I might take my thoughts captive and be able to meditate on specific parts of God’s Word when I face temptations & trials, so I knew this would be perfect to start the year off!
Praying for all you ladies who are alongside me!!
Jaime Garrett, Wilson, NC
1 Thessalonians 1:4 (NET)
We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.
Melissa Plourde- Windsor, Maine
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Monique in Guam – Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” NIV
Laura M, San Diego, CA
Philippians 2:13 (ESV)
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Patty Howell, Corbin, Ky “And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5 KJV
Sharleen from Gresham:
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 NKJ
He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Ps 91:4 NIV
“and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you;” I Thessalonians 3:12 – NASB
Charlotte Pickle Amory, MS 19 “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” Ephesians 2:19 NLT
Jodi Harrity virginia beach, VA
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. James 5:13 niv
Laurel, MS
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1 NKJV
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (NIV)
Bay City, Texas
“This is the day Which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.” Psalms 118: 24-25 KJV
Katey B, Wilmington, NC Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor 5:17 NIV
Morgan Cooper from Tyler, Tx
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Amy Dublin,VA
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Erin from Kennewick, WA.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from Him.
~ Psalm 62:5 ESV
Raye M., Benton, AR
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, NIV
Frances E. San Angelo, Tx. Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” NIV