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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6
Sadie Ebberson, NEÂ Romans 5:3,4
3Â Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;Â 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Malinda Guider, Chattanooga, Tennessee. “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)
let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in good times for every need. Hebrews 4:16 (AMP)
Rosie Fakes Plainfield, Indiana. 1 Corinthians 13:4. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Tamara Featherston – Norman, Ok
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NKJV
Sherri McClure, Collinsville, Ms
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 ESV
Lindsay R. Phoenix, Arizona “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is The Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV.
Terri, Austin, TX
“…praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” Psalm 148:13
Stephanie, Charlotte, NC.
“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3, NIV
Lucinda Bomberger, Watsontown, PA
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV
Charmaine, Nashville
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son
purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Janna Barnhart, Houston, Texas
Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7. NKJV
Alise// Albuquerque, New Mexico
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians‬ â€3‬:â€14‬ // NASB
Emily,
Wheelersburg, ohio
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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ KJV)
Sandy Giesler, Carrollton, Texas, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV
Cindy Bradshaw, Murphy, NC
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” Romans 6:6-7 NIV
Amen
Stephanie Stout, Fishers, IN
“Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Hebrews 8:1 NASB
ESV Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
Just want to stay close to HIM
Eldersburg, MD
Psalm 73:24 (NLT). “You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny “
Cassia, Republic,OH, Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.NIV
Heather Moser, Graham, NC ~Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. (The Message)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12, NIV
Sara Deal, Cumming, Georgia. “I seek you with all of my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that i might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10-11 NIV
Robin Jones, Brookneal, Va “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
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jeruselam, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NIV
Tammy from Iowa
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
Petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
Kim Wideman, Lubbock, TX
“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.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Brenda, Wheeling;
Zephaniah 3:17 (old NIV)
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Denver, CO
“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.”
James 2:8 ESV
Deanna Montieth, DauphinIsland, Al “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own under standing; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Dana Mason, Chesnee,SC
Through Him then,let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15 (NASB)
Sheri Young – Fletcher, NC
Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. (â€Psalm‬ â€119‬:â€49‬ NIV)
1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. James 2:1
Dawn Smith Ft.Worth, Texas
Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (â€Romans‬ â€5‬:â€3-5‬ NET)
Letha, Mountain Home, AR
I have taken refuge in you, O Lord. Never let me be put to shame. Psalm 71:1 GW
I was here earlier at 10:00a.m. but I haven’t been able to find my verse on here as I look through all of these, so I’m going to post it again because I think I was on the wrong link earlier.
It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 (ESV)
Jennifer Chatman: Jonesborough, TN
Lori Lindsey, Terrell, TX
Psalm 130:1-2
Out of the depths I cry to you Lord; Lord let my ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
Rebekah H. Seneca, SC
“And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands:whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken.”
Ecclesiates 7:26
Kendra from Fort Wayne, IN. “You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.” Psalm 71:20 (ESV)
4414 Cactus Trail
Temple, Texas 76502-3241
Kira Scottsboro, AL
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Helen Yancey, Oxford, NC. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” III John 4
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 Corinthians 9:8New International Version (NIV)
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Darla, Pittsburgh
“Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent; and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever” Psalm 37:18 NLT
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:12-13
Madelyn Crawley, Conway,AR
Isaiah 43:19 “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 dessert.”
NKJV
Myriam, Rock Hill, South Carolina
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.
Gal 5:1
Romona Smith, Rosewood Heights, IL
You have given me greater joy….
Psalm 4:7 NLT