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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cyndy Rocco Patchogue New York
I,therefore,the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in the manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love. Ephesians 4: 1-2 NAS
Susan Thomson, Crockett, TX
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.” Matt 6:21 NLT
Ashley Collier, Walker, Louisiana
“Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.” (â€Psalms‬ â€119‬:â€35, 37‬ NLT)
Emily Stewart Bartlett, TN
Psalm 19:14 NIV May these words of mouth and this meditation of heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
When anyone is joined in Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 GNSB
Michelle Buhl, Olathe, KS
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, Worship the Lord with gladness, come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his’ we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfullness continues through all generations. Psalm 100 1-5 NIV
Sandy, San Antonio, TX
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV)
Deneen W., Sterlington, LA
“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalms 143:8 ESV
Saralyn // Lakeland, FL
He has given us the privilege, since we have been rescued from our enemies’ clutches, to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness in His presence all our days. (â€Luke‬ â€1‬:â€73-75‬ HCSB)
Kathy, Clarkesville, GA
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 (NAS)
Theresa Burwick, Alexandria, KY “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” Heb 12:12,13. ESV
DO not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer or petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minders in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6,7. NIV
Psalms 37:4
Delight yourself in The Lord and he
Will give you the desires of your heart.
Hutchinson, KS; You will keep in perfect peace, all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isa 26:3
Becky Mixson, Chattanooga, TN
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV
Linda Steinacher
Wichita, KS
Ez. 11:19A (NIV)
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them.”
Scarlett – Richmond Hill, GA
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
From Orlando
Psalm 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (â€Philippians‬ â€4‬:â€6-7‬ NLT)
Because I need to put all my trust in the Lord and not let anxiety and worry rob me of what God has planned for me.
Brooke from Grand Junction CO
Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. (Ish 43:18 Msg)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
“For the highway of the upright avoids evil, he who guards his way preserves his life”.
Proverbs 16:17 ESV
Beth Burrell Greer,SC
You are my Lord , my Holy One, my Creator, my King. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters
Isaiah 43:15-16
“Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.”
Isaiah 49:15 NASB
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
And you will seek Me and find me when you search for Me
with all of your heart. Jeremiah 29:14 NKJ
Peggy, Billings,MT
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Nancy Shippy, Tempe, AZ – Colossians 1:9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ESV
Mary J. Snell, GA – “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.” NIV
Kabrina Ethington
Chandler, Arizona
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (â€Philippians‬ â€4‬:â€6-7‬ NLT)
Because I need to put all my trust in the Lord and not let anxiety and worry rob me of what God has planned for me.
Layne Hall, Columbus, MS. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
Patty Vandaveer; Lake Jackson, TX
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Galatians 6:1 ESV
Angela Rowland, Shawnee, OK “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” – Colossians 3:1 ESV
Sue – Maine
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
*He restores my soul;*
Psalm 23:1-3
Maaike Veerbeek, Dordrecht, 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.” Jer29:11 NBG
Lori Fisk, Springdale, AR– “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 NIV
Bert from Rio Rancho, NM O Lord, you have searched me and know me! Psalm 139:1.
Alison Las Vegas
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27:1 NIV
Day 2…Jamie Hunt from Saint James, Mo. Proverbs 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Marsha, Pikeville,TN, “Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.” 2 Samuel 7:25 NKJV
Diana, East Peoria, IL
When I pray, you answer me; You encourage me by giving me the strength I need. Psalm 138:3 NLT
Sheri Swift, Woodlawn, VA I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJV
1John 2:24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. (NIV)
Houston, TX
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Nicole Powell, Plains, TX – For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)
Shelley, Rogers, AR
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV
Amanda Greer, Trussville, AL
“Finally, brothers and 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
Vicki, Overland Park, KS – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Laid off and searching for a job in his will
Anne Malone, Plano, IL. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Matthew 6:20, NASB
Victoria Ethington, Chandler, Arizona
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. (â€Psalms‬ â€143‬:â€8‬ NLT)
Praying to see where the Lord is leading me this year.