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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rockford, IL
Isaiah 43:18
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Rene Sandifer, Overland Park, KS.
“You have revealed the paths of life to me; You will fill me with gladness in Your presence.”
â€Acts‬ â€2‬:â€28‬ HCSB
Jenny S Houston,Tx
” Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:12
Barb, Wisconsin
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most Highwill abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Ps 91:1 ESV
Lord, it is good to praise You; to sing to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1
Holli Worthington, Corona, Ca.
“Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP
Christina Beaugh, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (â€Isaiah‬ â€41‬:â€10‬ NASB)
“Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime and in the night His song shall be with me and my prayer unto the God of my life.” Psalm 42:6-8 KJV
Tina Duckett, Odessa, TX
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col. 3:17, NIV
Cathy Cofield. Simpsonville, South Carolina.
Breast cancer survivor June 30 2014 and this is verse(s) God shared with me via a special friend. <3
Romans 8:26-28
New International Version (NIV)
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Emily Kurtzleben, Sioux Center, Iowa.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11, NIV
Jen Lesak from Richmond, TX
The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Isaiah 51:3 (NIV)
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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 lift my soul Psalm 143:8
Catherine – Pineland, TX
Ephesians 5:22-23
Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Becky Gaynor, Hawesville, KY “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
Christine Stigall, Downingtown, PA
“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 (NIV)
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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NLT)
Autumn Fitch, Apison,TN. Proverbs 25:28, Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.
Hereford, TX
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm. 19:14 NLT
Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. I want to hide this verse in my heart so i remember to seek God always and early. ..before the heat comes so I will not fall – bible reading and prayer constant.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (â€Philippians‬ â€4‬:â€6‬ NKJV)
Kelley Burkett, Lake Elsinore, CA. 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
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” NIV
I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. Psalm 3:4 NAS
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. (â€Ecclesiastes‬ â€11‬:â€5‬ NIV)
Bonnie K, Bryan, Texas
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” John 9:3 NIV
Joshua 1:9 (HCSB)
“Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”7
Merrie
Katy, Tx
It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV
Sandy, Springfield, MO, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” John 17:17 ESV
Jessica Clark from Houston, Texas “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.” Hebrews 11:6
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
Lisa Abicht, Westland, MI – “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?” Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message)I’m starting off the year leaving the past in the past!
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17
Amy Beaman, Saginaw, Texas
And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Eze 36:27 NIV
Amber —Poulsbo WA
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Cathy Koski, Fridley, MN
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:3-4 NIV
Lisa Sams, Plano TX
01.01.15
Romans 13:33, NKJV
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Brandi Rood, Strawberry Plains, TN “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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 12:1-2 NIV
Jeremiah 29:11 KJV. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord,thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippines 1:6 NLT
After your season of suffering, God in all His grace will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
Riverton, Wyoming – Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me , he delivered me from all my fears. (NIV)
Tina, Eaton CO: Hebrews 4:16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].Amplified Bible
Pam from Natchez, MS Proverbs 12:17 ESV Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
Jami Holland, Fayetteville NC.
“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.” Ephesians 1:17 NIV
Kelly Stockdale Collierville, TN
Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Becky, Alberta, Canada
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done. I Chronicles 16:11
Tash Wichita KS Psalm 37:5-6 “Commit your way to the Lord;Â Â trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High” Psalms 9:1,2. NIV