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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah Shadle, Independence, Oregon
Lean not on your own understanding but in all things acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Don’t try to do the day to day thing your own way but ask him and he will guide you.
Tricia, Huntington Beach, CA
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2. NIV
Eden DeGonia, Marshall, MO
“You have searched me, Lord,and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psalm 139:1-2, NIV
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “here’s a good seat for you” but say to the poor man “you stand there quotation or quotation sit on the floor by my feet,”have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2: 1-4 NIV
I am God’s Possession
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV)

Kelli Watson Glendale, AZ
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (â€James‬ â€3‬:â€17-18‬ NIV)
Justine Cheney, WA
Jeremiah 29:11 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
Lisa Friar, Keithville, LA. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 ESV
Valerie
Sparks, Nevada
Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4c (NAS)
Lori Eagen. Windsor, Ontario, Canada…”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Pam, Hotchkiss, Colorado
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. Galatians 5:1 NIV
Kim Knaust, Claremore, OK
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. (â€Colossians‬ â€1‬:â€9‬ NLT)
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 desert and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19
2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Lyn Brewer ~ Spartanburg, SC
“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
Lana, McAllen, TX “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them” 2 Timothy 3:14 NKJ
Fran, Gainesville, FL
In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:1-2 NIV
Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV
Lola . San Jose, CA
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalms 16:5-6 ESV
Meg Grizzle, Fayetteville, AR “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
Susan Fisher, Biloxi, MS
“Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith and
trust and reliance (on the power invested in Me) be it done to you”
Matthew 9:29. AMP
emi, white house,tn: “And Mary said,”Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:38 ESV
Forgot city: St. Louis, MO
Kendra Husband, Charlotte, NC,
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you
And give you peace. ” Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
“Be still, and know that I am God;I wil be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”Psalm46:10 NIV
Valerie Mote, Alpharetta, GA “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139, ESV.
Holly Cogdell, Lubbock, Texas , “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT
Ann Sutton Travelers Rest, SC
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. And uphold me by your generous Spirit. Psalm 51:12 NKJV
Beginning the new year with praise, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”.
Ephesians 1:3. NASB
Alison Personette, Plano, IL.
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt. 6:34 (NIV)
“And this is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Sara Freeman, College Station, TX
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (â€Romans‬ â€15‬:â€13‬ NLT)
Joy, Altadena, CA
“This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming-it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.”
Habakkuk 2:3 MSG
Heather Walker, Raleigh, NC, Psalm 13: 5-6 NIV. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for HE has been good to me.”
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
“Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.”
Colossians 3:16 CEV
Julie-Rose Tedrick, Whiteman AFB, MO: “Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.” Zechariah 9:12 NLT
Michelle Veller, Chicago, Illinois
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
(Hebrews 10:23 NIV)
Sunny Rush,
Cove, Oregon:
” For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:6 ESV
From Trenton Michigan. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance, perserverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3 NIV
Traci Koziczkowsk, Rosholt, Wisconsin. John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (nkjv)
Alaina Harrington, Denton,Texas.
“My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 NIV
“Always be full in the joy of the Lord. I say it again-Rejoice!”(Phil. 4:4, New Living)
James 1:25 (NIV) “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.”
Mary Katherine McCollor, Hemet, CA.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV
Julie Squire, Haltom City, Texas, “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16, NLT
Becky
Waukesha WI
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Falisha Boland, Fruitland, NM “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” – Psalm 119:105 This scripture to me means if we utilize God’s word to guide us in our journey in life, we will always know in which path to take when the path seems so uncertain. Our Father will direct us when the darkness is all we feel and see. He will always be the light at the end of the tunnel.
Susan V from Chicago suburbs “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 43:19. ESV
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV
Kedra, Mitchell, Indiana. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. ” Proverbs 3:5,6 NIV