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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amy Gress, Hoboken, NJ, “In this is love: Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1John 4:10
Tracy, East Petersburg, PA…
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:23-24.
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
Sue Lombardi, Corning NY
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
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.
Glenda Jensen, Waco, TX – Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
Jennifer Hancock, Campbellsville, Ky
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16 NIV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
Rahab Wambui. Nairobi,Kenya:”However,as it is written:”No eye has seen,no ear has heard,no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9,NIV
A’Dream Asbury Park, NJ
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (â€Luke‬ â€4‬:â€18‬ KJV)
Andrea, Raleigh, NC: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 NIV
Amy smith, Wilmington NC And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. â€Hebrews‬ â€11‬:â€6‬ NIV
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Karen, Claxton, GA.
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” KJV
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you such that is common to man,BUT God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. But with the temptation He will provide a way out so that you may stand up under it!
Aletha
Needville, TX
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(English Standard Version)
Why this verse…Because we all need hope, joy and peace through our Lord and Savior, so that we can encourage others with His words.
Jenny Reed, Lexington, Ky
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
Martha Black, Fort Wayne, “He protects His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the folds of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.” Isaiah 40:11 HCSB
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8. NIV
Jan Bean, Amarillo TX
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (â€1 Thessalonians‬ â€5‬:â€16-18‬ MSG)
Sounds like a great plan to tune into God’s word daily!
Susan Christian, Middletown, OH
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
Phil 4:19 “God meets all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
“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
This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners is the provinces of Pontus, Galacia, Cappodocia, Asia and Bithynia.
1 Peter 1:1 TLB
Lisa, Southaven, MS – “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Newport, TN. “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
Lauren, Boca Raton, FL. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6, NIV
Romana Rijken, Drachten, The Netherlands
“Mijn plan met jullie staat vast-spreekt de Heer. Ik heb jullie geluk voor ogen, niet jullie ongeluk: Ik zal je een hoopvolle toekomst geven.”
Jer 29:11 NBV
Gertrude, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, Luke 11:28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Ruth Strohminger , Westerville OH
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€5‬:â€17‬ ESV)
Kim, Pinebluff,NC
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4
Lisa Moss, Lancaster, TN
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24 NKJV
Nadean N from Louisville, KY Philippians 4:6
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV
Michelle Cook, Little Rock, Ar
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
26 But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 26:19 NIV
Laurie Goble, Strathroy, Ontario “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Rom 8:26 NLT)
Kelly Robison, Niles Michigan
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 1 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV
Lisa Maynard, Marion IN
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Michelle Faulkner, Birmingham, AL
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.” declares the LORD.(â€Jeremiah‬ â€29‬:â€13‬-14a NIV)
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV
Laura, Newton,NC
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. Romans 15:13 NIV
Philippians 4:13New King James Version (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Somerset, KY
Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 NKJV
Create in me a pure heart, O Gid, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Kimberley McClintock, Brisbane, Australia
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.
Exodus 19:5 KJV
Matthew 6:33 ESV
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Lauren DeFrain, Cincinnati, OH. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timithy 1:7 (NIV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Peggy Underwood from Winona Lake, IN. “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgement.” HCSB