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) 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:
Your name, city, verse (written all the way out), reference, and translation.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kara~ Virginia Beach, VA
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
Judy Ingalsbe, Edmond, OK
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10 NIV
Pat Stokes
Portland, Texas
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.James 1: 22 NIV
ISA 33:2 NASB
O Lord, be gracious to us; We have waited for You.
Be my strength every morning.
My salvation also in the time of distress.
I am joining the study today! ‘It is for freedom that He has set us free.Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened, again, by a yolk of slavery. ‘. Galatians 5:1
Cynthia from Lake Kiowa Tx
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you
NLT
“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
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,to those who are called according to His purpose.
Iedereen heeft gezondigd en ontbeert de nabijheid van God; en iedereen wordt uit genade, die niets kost, door God als een rechtvaardige aangenomen omdat Hij ons door Christus Jezus heeft verlost. Romeinen 3:23,24. NBV
Nikki Kropf/Harrisburg, OR Psalm 118:24 ESV “This is the day The Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Peggy Jenkins from Homer, IL
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. NASB
Christy Swaringen, Rockwall, TX – Romans 15:13 NIV
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.
Val Parker DeQuincy, LA Casting all your cares upon Him, for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 KJV
Karen Anderson Minot, ND
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Dana O’Keefe Pace, FL
We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NIV
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13 NJJV
Collyn Drake, Broken Arrow, OK. 2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message
“My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”
Thomasville,Ga
‘Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ James 1:4
Harriet Anderson, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Psalm 73:26
“Though my flesh and heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” ESV.
Anita Dana, Picayune, Mississippi. 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
Sarah Raymer~ Atlanta, GA
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV
Agneta, Houston, TX
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 ESV
debbi, lancaster, ca
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy1:7 NIV
Adrienne Brown- Vancouver BC Canada –
Jude 1-2 Message
I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved by God the Father, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ. Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 NIV
Melissa Shaw, Walnut, MS “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 NIV
Linda from Denver
But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. (Ruth 1:16-18 NKJV)
Sheri, Black Diamond, WA, He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:3, ESV
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 NIV Baton Rouge, LA
Deneen Shrum, Blairsville, Georgia “From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” Psalms 61:2 ESV
Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love him. -James 1:12 HCSB
Robyn Lombardo, Picayune, MS. Psalm 27.1 ESV
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?
Beverly, Vicksburg, MS
Numbers 6:24-26 NLT “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.
Judy Woodward, Lake Charles, LA
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all
without reproach, and it will be given him.”
James 1:5 (ESV)
Mayo, Florida
Galatians 5:16 AMP
“But I say walk and live in the spirit then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh.
Angela – Owasso, Oklahoma – Philippians 4:6-7, ESV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Lost 3 friends in 6 weeks’ time over the holidays. I need that peace that passes understanding…
Kody, Tricities, Tennessee. Psalms 138v8
“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me, your steadfast love, oh LORD, endure forever. Do not forget the work of your hands.”
Nancy Cowart, Big Canoe, GA. Hebrews 4:16 NKJv
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Molly Mercer, Macon, Georgia
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him”
Ephesians 1:17 ESV
Brenda Dulin, Denton, TX “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV
Sarah – Grand Junction, CO
Galations 5:13 (NLT)
For you have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.
“Fear Not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard. Daniel 10:12 ESV
Vanessa Strickland, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Romans 8:1 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Valerie Padgett
Aurora, Co.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 NIV
Kristi Brookfield, Jackson, TN
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
I Peter 5:6
June, Coarsegold,CA: “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 NIV
Trish Y, Siloam Springs, AR
The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NAS
Barb * St Cloud MN/Benbrook TX–“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b NIV
Dorla in Lincoln,Ne
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:3-4a NASB