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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kristen, Long Island, NY
Psalm 119:160, (ESV)
“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”
Mickey McCloud, Nashville, TN
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 NASB
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)
Jacquie Engbrecht, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1(ESV)
Cheri Velotta, Redmond WA
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
Tara Nelson, Vista, CA
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in Vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Haylee Garland, Cabot, AR “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
Katie C from Berlin Heights, OH
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5 NIV
Nikki Jones, Palm Harbor, FL
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26 ESV
Carrie Goza, Johnstown, CO.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV
“The Lord is good unto those who wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”
Lamentations 3:25 KJV
We live by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Bryn Marcus, Houston, Texas. “No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” ~ Ephesians 4:29 HCSB
Melissa Marschall, Caledonia, MN “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7
Lisa, Mauldin, SC
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 (NIV)
Denise Rothery Clinton, MS
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Phil 4:6 NLT
Ps 56:3
” When I an afraid. I put my trust in You.”
My verse; “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing.” Isa. 43:18-19a
Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” NLT
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Vickie Wheelis, Ruston, LA: “For I know the plans I have for you,” delcares The Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harrm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV
lord,meh rough all the generations You have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from the beginning to the end, You are God.
Psalm 90:1-2
Leslie, Oklahoma City
“The plans of the diligent leads surely to plenty, But those who are hasty, surely to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 NKJV
Christine Doughty, Kingsburg, CA
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. Colossians 3:17 NIV
Lynn Drost, Blairsville, GA
“Wait on The Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on The Lord! Psalm 27:14 NKJV
Heather from Austin, TX
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 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 43:18-19
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 ESV
Stacey Miller McKinney,Texas
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
Jasmine Echols, Fort Worth, Texas
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. [Heb. 12:1-3.] (â€Isaiah‬ â€40‬:â€31‬ AMP)
Amy, Rapid City, South Dakota:
Praise the Lord , my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
Psalm 104:1 NIV
Stephanie Ward, Wichita, Kansas, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Col 3:1 (NIV)
Meleah Jensen Baltimore, Maryland
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, (â€Ephesians‬ â€4‬:â€2‬ ESV)
Rene Murray, York, PA
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 NIV
Shanna Dorman from Bronte, TX
James 1:2-3
Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Danice
Atlamta, GA
Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isa 46: 4 KJV
Cath, Knox, PA
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Gal 5:1 (NIV)
Sandie Cornelius, Oneida, TN
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It. Lamentations 3:24
Hebrews 11:1
Kathy Freshwater, Vonore, TN
“Finally, brothers (sisters) whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8. (NIV)
January 2, 2015 at 10:45 AM
If I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
I Corinthians 13:2
Amber, Timnath, CO
You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.
Psalm 65:11 NKJV
Lisa, Granville, Ohio “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” II Timothy 4:5 NIV
Ephesians 2:8,9 NIV
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Glenda Locke, George West, Texas
“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (GWT)
Karen Glass, West Hartford, CT
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Alesa Lambert, Malvern Arkansas I said,” I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” Psalm 39:1 ESV
With my beautiful mini-me, Raychel. From grand ‘ol Iowa!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (â€James‬ â€1‬:â€2-3‬ NIV)
Mary Magnuson, Round Rock, TX. “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” Phil 2:2 NAS
Philippians 2:14-15 do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like the stars in the sky. NIV