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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liz Baird, Richmond VA, Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. â€Psalms‬ â€51‬:â€12‬ NLT (Thank you Alyssa, 10251!)
Spartanburg, SC. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” –Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
Susie, Nairobi, Kenya, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14 NIV
Then you shall call,and the Lord will answer;you shall cry,and he will say,”Here I Am”.
Isaiah 58:9 ESV
Nancy Stokes Jayess, MS:
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as opportunities for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ” Galatians 5:13 ESV
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phillippians 4:19 NASV
Robin, Lexington,SC. “It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed because His tender compassion fail not” Lam 3:22 amplified
Larissa Brewer, Nashville, Tn
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (â€Hebrews‬ â€12‬:â€1‬ NLT)”
Sarah Kozel San Antonio, 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
Amanda Greathouse, Lawrenceville, GA
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Ephesians 2:19 NKJV
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; they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Charla from Zebulon, GA – He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (â€Psalm‬ â€91‬:â€1-2‬ ESV)
Lynn Rogers, Brandon MS. 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
Karen Wolfenbarger from Seymour, Tn. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 ESV
Hebrews 10:35, NASB ~ Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Leslie, Norwood Young America, MN.
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!
They are innumerable!
I can’t even count them;
They outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up in the morning,
You are still with me!”
Psalm 139:17-18 NLT
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
2 Corinthians5:17
“Therfore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Libby Noland, Clinton, MO, “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great” Genesis 15:1 NAS
Heather Benak, Olathe, KS. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 King James
Stephanie-Cynthiana, Ky.
” For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:12-13
Amanda, Hawthorne, CA
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
Terri Hardy, Indio, CA
Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Robin Greenwood, Indiana. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 ESV)
“Nothing can change God’s plan for your life.” Isaiah 14:27
Mallory, New Orleans, LA “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'” Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€1‬, ESV
Roxanne from Sheridan, AR.
I thought this would be appropriate for my first post. “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalms 119:11 KJV I think this commitment I’be made is so I can grow closer to the Lord and sin is what separates us from Him.
Tonsy Cheek. Connersville, IN.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV.
Anna Fitzpatrick, Bala Cynwyd, PA
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
Jennifer, San Dimas, CA
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14, NIV)
Judy Sommerville, Simpsonville, SC
Psalm 68:4 Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds – His name is the Lord – and rejoice before Him. (NIV)
Stacey Burts-Redding,CA
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
Ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to
Escape, that he may be able to bear it. 1Cor 10:13 kjv
Pamela, Wilkinson IN
“The true children of God ar those who let God’s spirit lead them.” Romans 8:14
With the beginning of a new year, I want to be ever more conscious of letting God’s spirit lead every decision I make.
Corrie Freeman, Boone NC
Isaiah 43:18-18
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.
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
Colima Smith, Klamath Falls, OR
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Emily W., Austin, TX. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Erin, Kalamazoo, Michigan
“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:13,14 (NIV)
Sheila Hohimer, Springfield, IL … 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
Jen, Greenville, Kentucky. “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
Cindy Lane, Elk River, MN
All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.~~2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Alicia Payne ~ Rome, GA ~ 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 4:16 ESV
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Cindy Goree, San Angelo, TX Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Psalm 105:4 NIV
Clearwater, FL
‘The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.’
Deuteronomy 33:27 ESV
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.
Isaiah 43:19 KJV
Psalms 46:1 (KJV)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Shelley, Goodyear, AZ Psalm 18:1-3 NLT I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress & my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the LORD who is worthy of praise, and he saved my from my enemies.
Colleen van Nieuwkerk, Grande Prairie, AB, CANADA, “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” Psalm 16:1 ESV