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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV
Pat Glidewell, Fort Worth, Texas ;Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (â€Psalms‬ â€51‬:â€12‬ NLT)
Michelle Dwyer, Santiago, Chile
Romans 15:4New International Version (NIV)
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
For You alone, O Lord make me dwell
in safety.
Psalm 3:8
(NIV)
Lynne VP Des Moines, Iowa “Do not conform any longer to the patterns 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
Barb A. Blue Springs, MO “In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 NLT
Mary McKeown Green River WY
Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (NLT)
Emily Carney- Clarksville, TN
 “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
Susan Nowlin, Longmont CO
“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.
Isa 43:18-19, NIV
Diane, LaQuinta, Ca
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land ,and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your offspring ,and my blessings on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3 ESV
Malou Tabelisma, Nashville, TN
“Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.” (Ephesians 6:5-8 NKJV)
Dawnathon – Airdrie,Alberta, Canada
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 NIV
Stephanie Garoufalis, Macomb, MI, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Lindsey Osburn, Hamshire, TX
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Phillipians 1:6 NKJV
Stephanie C., San Marcos, CA. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 ESV
Meg McClure Oldfort, TN “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” -Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Mallory Kennedy, Bakersfield, CA
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV
Emily, Derby, KS
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Marsha Daniell .Checotah OK
Numbers 6:24 KJV
The Lord bless you and keep you.
Lauren hodge
Livingston, tx
“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. (â€Deuteronomy‬ â€30‬:â€11‬ NLT)
Carrie Keyser, Raymore, MO
“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165
Jody Falk, Denver, Colorado
psalm 144:4. New King James Version
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
Veronica Lemon, Temple, Texas: “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)
Gwen of Doylestown, PA
“He says, “be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
Joeli Mulligan, Lexington, SC
For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20
Trisha Mugo, Allen, TX “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 ESV
Psalm 27:1 NIV
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
McKinney, TX
Greenville, TX
For the mountains may depart,
and the hills may sway,
butj my faithfulness shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not sway,”
says Yahweh, who has compassion on you,
Isaiah 54:10 LEB
Rebeca, Katy, Texas
Mark 11:25 ESV
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (â€Galatians‬ â€6‬:â€9‬ NIV)
Jennifer W., The Colony, TX-
“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
Donna, Houston, TX – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 ESV
Jennifer Negron, Dallas, TX
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, NAS
Lisa Tarpley, Auburntown, TN. “My lips will glorify you, because your faithful love is better than life. I will praise you as long as I live and in your name I will raise my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” NIV
Mackenzie Southern Illinois “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
Ashley Wheelon, Charleston, SC. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12 NLT
Amy Miller from Lake Stevens, WA
Hebrews 10:23 NLT
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.”
Katarina Irwin, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”
(2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV)
Bethany, Federal Way, WA
After the loss of my baby:
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11 NIV
Michele Copley, Mesa AZ
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
Kelli Archer, Lubbock, TX
“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
Karol, San Diego, CA
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Kristie Pierce Deane, Fairhope AL
“The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV
Brook Fiegel, Milford, OH
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV
Carrie Keyser, Raymore, MO
“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165 (ESV)
“All scriptures is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Joy Bergquist, Wichita KS
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (â€Psalms‬ â€19‬:â€14‬ NLT)
Danna from Anthem, AZ “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT)
Elizabeth
Wilmette, IL
Devote yourself to prayer, be watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2 NIV