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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sherrese Moore, Fairmount Heights MD âAnd He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,â Hebrews 1:3, NASB
Angie Clark. Alaska
Psalm 112:7 (NIV)
7Â They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Jennifer Egbert, Emporia Kansas “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” Psalm 103:1-4 ESV
Elizabeth Johnston
Guilin, China
Come now, you who say, âToday or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profitââ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, âIf the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.â As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16 (ESV)
Shirley Fontaine, Ventura, CA “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:14-21 NIV
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
NIV
Pati,Macomb,MI”I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears:behold,I will heal you” 2Kings 20:5b NASB
Burlington, NC “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
Debi Daniels, Edmond, Oklahoma, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Dot not tremble or be dismayed, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NASB
Denise, Hillsboro, ks
And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. I thess. 3: 12 (the Message)
Sacramento, CA
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Kat, Clayton NC. Romans 11:33 Oh how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways. NLT
We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy. Colossians 1:11 NLT
Vertina, Corpus Christi, Tx
âIf then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3: 1 NIV
Hanahan, SC
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen in eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:!8 NIV
La Grande, Oregon
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galations 5:22-23 NKJ
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Philippians 4:6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
This is my New Years resolution! NASB
Linda Knight Concord, California But this I call to mind,and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 ESV
Susan, Oklahoma City
“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
Isaiah 43:2 NKJV
“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.”
Heather, South Carolina
“Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may SING for JOY to the end of our lives.”
Psalm 90:14 (NLT)
Davina Brown, Amarillo TX, “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. ” Romans 12:2 AMP
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Psalm 119:14. The Lord is my strength and my song, He has become my salvation.
Hebrews 4:16 NKJ
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
18 Forget the former things;
Do not dwell on the past.
19 See I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I ammaking a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19
NIV
West Liberty, KY
Psalm 25:4-5 (The Message)
Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.
Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20-21King James Version (KJV)
Michele, Miami, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Deanna, 1-1-2015
But the fruit of the Spirit is love,joy,peace,patience, kindness, goodness , gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22 The NIV study Bible
Laurie-Allen, TX-
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV
Joining you in selecting this verse. It’s ideal for me right now! Thank you.
Ashburn, Va
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28, NIV
Amy
Buda, Texas
Joshua 1:9
“The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Paula from Evans, GA
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV
Thinking of forgiveness:
Eph 4:23 (NASB) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God.
-I Corinthians 2:4&5
luke 6: 46-49: NIV 46 âWhy do you call me, âLord, Lord,â and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.â
Christel Walker, Denton, Texas: but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 ESV
Mary Ellen, Wichita, KS- “Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust” Psalm 40:4 (NIV)
San Antonio, Texas
When I said, “My foot is slipping”, your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)
Mandi Burgess, Dacula, GA Psalm 103:1-2 “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul; and forget not all his benefits”
Clelia Peña, Sherman, TX
âForget 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)
Marianne, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
“And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col 3:17. NIV
Heather Smith, Nashville, TN
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
-2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
Kathleen Elliott
Jacksonville, FL
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil. 4:6 (NIV)
Marg Crozier, Yeosu, S. Korea
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 ESV
1 Corinthians 10:13New International Version (NIV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
April, Pleasant Garden, NC, For you will go out with joy, and be led forth with peace;
Isaiah 55:12a NASB
Cindy Rhoads in Broken Arrow, OK
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)