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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mandi C. – Hermitage, TN
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
-Isaiah 41:20 NIV
Linda New- Waverly, OH
He has shown you,oh mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
Wendy Junod – San Antonio, Texas
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 NIV
Rhonda
Gilmer
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra 7:10 (NKJV)
“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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NASB)
Downsville, La
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT
Angie Smith, Wooster, Ohio Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. Psalm 5:1-2 NIV
Thy word have I his in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11
Omaha, Nebraska
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful”. Hebrews 10:23 NIV
cant wait!!
Crystal Laiben
Cape Girardeau, MO
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her. Luke 1:45 NIV
Psalm 37:7-8 TLB
Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper. Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm.
A soft answer turns away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Lee Carpenter, Matthews, NC.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15 ESV
Alisha, georgia
Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!
Lamentation 3:22-23 hcsb
Julie, Bossier City, LA ~ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV
Waco, Tx
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. NAS
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. (â€2 Thessalonians‬ â€1‬:â€11‬ NIV)
Myra, Kissimmee Florida, “And now, little children abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28
Cheryl R, Midlothian Va
and we urge you, brothers and sistres, warn those who are idle and distruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patinet with everyone.
1 Thes 5:14 NIV
Gina, Georgia, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NIV
Diane – Albany, NY
“He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young” Isaiah 40:11 NIV
Cindie Watson
Fort Myers Florida
1Thessoalonians 5:6
Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
Donna N. from Hamilton, OH
“Training the body has some value. But being godly has value in every way. I Timothy 4:8a NIrV
Lexington, Ky
Proverbs 16:3 NLT
Commit your actions to The Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Kim Kelley, Greenfield, IN
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NLT)
Amy 7634:
“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” Romans 2:7(NIV)
Maureen Vaccaro-Santa Clarita, CA-ROMANS 12:1 (NIV)~”Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Lord, help me offer myself to You each day knowing that whatever sacrifice I make for You becomes my spiritual act of worship. I want to worship You, Lord.i want You to bless my most routine, mundane tasks and receive them as my worship of You. I love You, Lord and am SO thankful for Your mercy.
Steph Yeisley, Wichita, Ks.
“Do not remember the former things, not consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Angie Webb, Levelland Texas: Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, the true living God.
Tiffani Brown, Great Falls, MT
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (â€Isaiah‬ â€42‬:â€6-7‬ NIV)
Mandy Alquist – Palm Springs, CA
But first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matt 6:33 NKJV
Kerry pennington – Houston
Create in me a pure heart ,O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10. NIV
Rachel Clouse, Whitewright, TX – So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ* that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24 NIV
Isaiah 43:19 King James Version (KJV)
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Chelsee Hooper, Raleigh, NC
Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5: 17-18 NLT
El Paso, TX
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Eph 5:15-17
Hamilton, OH.
Numbers 13:30
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Debbie Bishop – Florence, AZ
“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
Tammy deGaravilla from Silsbee, Texas.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. “. Psalms 51:10-12 NIV
Angie – Manheim, Pa: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Lisa Shafer Missoula, Montana Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” NIV
I am a Citizen of Heaven, not america, and not of this world. I have PTSD from the war and have really had problems remembering things. I always carry a bible with me, I listen to the word and follow along or just listen and every time I will understand and remember things in such a different way with God unveiling new mysteries every time.
Debbie Johnson, Burleson, Texas “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
Vicki, Kearney, NE
“But forget all that–it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See. I have already begun! Do you not see it?” Isaiah 43:18-10 MSG
Linda Hall – Salem, VA Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. NIV
Bakersfield, CA
“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” Ephesians 3:20 MSG
Lorrie Beth Milton
Birmingham, AL
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
Lynne’
Ridge, NY
LAMENTATIONS 3:22
22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[b]
his mercies never come to an end;
ESV
San Clemente, CA
“And this is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1John 5:11-12