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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
Karen Kochheiser, Galena, Ohio
” Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ ”
Romans 5:1. NIV
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Kelli Cardoso, Inman SC. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all of these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 ( KJV)
Peggy from Flushing Hebrews 11:6 ESV And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Robin Rexroad, Conway, SC
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19. NLT
Rosalind, Charlotte, North Carolina. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 KJV
January 1, 2015 at 10:39 pm
Faith Tausch, Helotes, Tx
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ” Take and eat; this is my body.” Mathew 26:26 NIV
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yeilds the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Cherie, Marietta, GA. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Traci, Branson, MO Colossians 3:5 Therefore [b]consider the members of your earthly body as dead to [c]immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [d]amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come [e]upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 [g]Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old [h]self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being [i]renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
Marlo, Austin, AR
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
Jennifer Harshbarger, Springboro, OH
“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 NIV
Lori Behrens
Granbury, Tx
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (MSG)
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
Ella Kelly, Farmington, NM
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
And whatever you do, weather in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 NIV
Barbara-York, PA
Joshua 1:8-This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you should meditate on it day and night.
So that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success. NLT
Ann Gregory, Lewisville, TX; Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” NIV
Kim Pace, Brentwood, CA
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 ESV
Andrea Farrier, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
“But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphant procession in Christ, and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”
2 Cor 2:14, NIV
Sue Price Houston Texas
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 NISB
Carrie Biddle, Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. “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 41:10 (NIV)
Brittney Zimprich, Ellensburg,WA
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 ESV
Lydia, Lewis Center, Ohio
Psalms 31: 14-15
‘ “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say you are my God.” My times are in your hands; Deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me”
Kayley Hibbert – Quincy, Illinois – So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 NIV
Erin, Joplin, MO
“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14, NIV
Kathleen Heath, San Antonio, Texas “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NKJV
I forgot protocol too!
Sylvia Hess
Cartersville, Georgia
Autumn Cowling
Metamora, IL
Ezekiel 36:31~”Then you, my people, will know I am the Lord when I open up your graves and bring you up from them.”
Jodee – Lee Summit, MO
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalms 1:6
Betsy, Sunbury, OH
Proverbs 1:7 NLT
Fear of the lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Pat, Williamsburg, VA
“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
Susan S. , Madison,MS
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Gwen from Longview, Tx. – He has told you O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 ESV
Brenda Reynolds, Rye, AR ““He reveals mysteries from the darkness
And brings the deep darkness into light.” Job 12:22 NASB
Kim Puhrmann from Newell, IA
“Be joyful always: pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will in Christ Jesus”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Sydney Jones, Raleigh, NC. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NIV
“Bless The Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Psalm 103:1 KJV
Colleen Graeff, Springfield, Missouri
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22
Jeanete Gallegos, Albuquerque, NM, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.” Psalms 56:3 NAS
Kami Hamman, Lawton ,OK
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 4:19 NIV
Ashely, Nashville, TN
Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears The Lord is to be praised.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1. (NIV)
Linda Fox, Wilmington,NC. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Psalm 139:23 NIV
Karen Collier from the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV)
Kathi Field, Long Beach, CA – – James 1:2-3 ESV
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Belinda from Carlsbad, California:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Melissa H, London, ON, Canada. “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).
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV