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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3John 1:4
Kaye, Macomb,MI “He must increase, but I must decrease. ” John 3:30 esv
Laci, Longview, Texas “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. “(â€Galatians‬ â€5‬:â€16‬ ESV)
Job 6:8
“Oh, that I might have my request,that God would grant what I hope for,
Becky Wilkie, Southern Illinois
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1 NLT
Cheryl
Harrisburg, IL
“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
Rhonda Davis, Huntsville, TN:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
Jenna, Harrisonburg, VA
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord witjh gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100:1-3 NKJV)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock, my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14
Lorra Brown, Anderson, MO. “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” Psalm 119:15-16 ESV
Bonnie, Alexandria, LA
2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”
NASB
Matt. 6:34. (I failed to put the reference)
Alvin, TX ‘Stand before the Lord in awe and do not sin against him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation.’ Psalms 4:4 LB
Whitney Caves
Clinton, MS
I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the Lord will say to me and how he will answer my complaint.
Habakkuk 2:1 NLT
Heidi Leno Barrie, ON, Canada
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ” ~ Hebrews 4 : 15-16 ESV
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)
January 1, 2015 8:41 p.m.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are
crushed in spirit.
Philippines 4:11 I am not telling you this because 8 need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and everything that happens.
Amy Flanagan, Santee, Ca. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” EPH 2:10 NIV
Marilyn, -Houston TX- “Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear”. Isaiah 65:24 NIV
Charlotte
Lexington, KY
Duet. 6:5. NIV
Love The Lord your GOD with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.
Cheryl Patterson, Orange, TX, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (â€1 Thessalonians‬ â€5‬:â€18‬ NIV) I am a ‘Sister, loved by God!’
Glenda Healy, Guelph, Ontario: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIVf
Bethany Wright, Lebanon, TN
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn your justice like the noonday. Psalms 37:5-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Linda, Kalispell, Montana
Therefore if any man is in Chris, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. II Cor. 5:17 NAS
Sharon Mulkey, Powder Springs, GA
Do everything readily and cheerfully–no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Phil 2:14 MSG
Sue-Elise Flowers, Burkesville, Kentucky – But now, this is what The Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 NIV
Romans 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Rachel Dow, Clawson MI
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV
Trudy Bourquein, Lewisville, Texas. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Jennifer Yoder Middlebury,Indiana “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
Debbie Oliver – Cathey’s Valley, CA
“The LORD your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The LORD will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you.”
(Zephaniah 3:17 GNT)
Leah Cullen, Ramona, CA – “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” – Romans 8:16 (ESV)
Cynthia ~ O’Fallon, MO
Psalms 19:14 ~ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. NLT
Becky Wilkie, Southern Illinois,
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1 NLT
Avayd Ann Lacy Kansas City, KS
“For the Lord gives wisdom: from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 1:6 NIV
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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NIV)
Brieanna, Charlotte, NC
“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.”
Isaiah 26:4 NIV
Anna, Greensboro, NC
“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
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those
Who are crushed in spirit. NIV
Paula Rodgers, Norfolk, Virginia “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 NIV)
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength..” Philippians 4:13
Beth Aldrich – Cary, NC
You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.
Leviticus 20:26 (ESV)
Psalms 18:2 (KJV) The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3 NKJV)
Maysville, GA
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV
Evansville, IN
” You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes continually in You.” Isaiah 26:3 AMP
Beth, Omaha, NE–Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians, 3:1-2 NIV.
Ida Grove Iowa, NIV
forgot that before.
Shanda from York, PA: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus,” Philippians 1:6 (NASB).