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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lynn Rivera Cherry Valley CA.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 NKJV
Paige Tyra, Madison,MS- The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord. -Isaiah 38:20, NIV
Brytni Owen, Hermiston, Oregon
~”Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone, the new is here.”
~2 Corinthians 5:17 {NIV}
Psalm 90:12..”So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Kathy, Las Vegas, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things have passed away, behold, new things have come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT
Need to concentrate on getting healthier. My body is His, not mine.
Jennifer Adams, Canton, MS. “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” Psalm 86:5 ESV
Kim Winn, Paducah, KY
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
Carly Andrews, Duvall, WA
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26 ESV
Kristen
Missouri City, TX
Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
Psalm 105:4 NKJV
Cynthia Cox, Camp Wood, Texas For I know that plans I have for you says The Lord. ” They are plans to for good and not for disaster,to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Diane Schlender, Baraboo – “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior…” Luke 1:46-47 NIV
Sabrina Smead, Newton ia
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.
John 13:7 New Living Translation (NLT)
oregon Romans 12:2 NLT Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. then you will learn to know God’s will for you,which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Traci, Houston, Tx.
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things. Phil.4:8 HCSB
Stacy Hurst, TX
For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Psalm 84:11 (New Living Translation)
Julie Kearns, Jefferson City, MO “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NASB
Rachel in Andover, MN: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (â€Psalms‬ â€51‬:â€12‬ NLT)
Meg- Toronto, Ontario
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6-7
(NIV)
Melanie Brazzell , Tomball, TX
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us
Hebrews 12:1 HCSB
Magie Wolfe, Alamosa, colorado “Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place;he comes down and treads the high places of the earth. ” Micah 1:3 NIV
Robin, Chaska, MN “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds”. Psalm 9:1 ESV
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
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (â€Genesis‬ â€1‬:â€26-27‬ NIV)
Jamie Ray, Waycross, Georgia
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies (Proverbs 31:10 NIV)
Karen Pugh, Amarillo, TX
James 3:17 NKJV. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Teri, Gig Harbor, WA
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (â€Psalm‬ â€25‬:â€5‬ NIV)
Megan Morett, San Antonio, Texas “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 NKJV
Jessica Hill – Jackson, Mississippi
” Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 ESV
Elize from Manama, Bahrain. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said:”Here I am send me!” (NIV)
Rhonda Cutsinger, Pittsburg, IL, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16 NKJV
Robin Hocking, Cheyenne, WY
“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 43:19 NIV)
Susanna Andrews
Duvall, WA
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let me stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Psalms 121:2-3 NLT
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable –if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 Holman CSB
Amanda Schrieber, Macomb, MI
“Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a NEW THING. Can’t you perceive it? I am making a WAY in the wilderness and WATERS in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
Amen!
Do not despise these small beginnings, for The Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10….
God is in the small stuff of life, just pay attention!
Megan Czosnowski, Colorado Springs, CO
Joshua 1:9 nlt This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Cindy Keen, Stockbridge GA
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 HCSB
Bonnie Raguet. – Duluth, GA
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT
Need to concentrate on getting healthier. My body is His, not mine.
Anita Brunson: Austin, Tx
Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (NIV)
Ramona Reames, Albany, TX.
“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
Beth Ehrhardt, a Layton, UT
“Create in me a clean heart oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 NASB
Seattle, Wa. 1 Peter 2:1-3 MSG
So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.
Robyn Lowe, Lusaka, Zambia. “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
Julia, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV
LeeAnna Sioux Falls, SD “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:9-10. (ESV)
Amanda, Abilene, Texas
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 ESV
Claudia Weemes, Mesa AZ, Isaiah 43:18+19
18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 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.
Suzanne Conway; Nashville, TN; Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (â€Philippians‬ â€4‬:â€6‬ NLT)