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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whendy Hoch North Richland Hills, TX “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools but like those that are wise” Ephesians 5:15 NLT
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
(1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV)
Debbie Day, Franklin, TN
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
“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.
cathy mccoy,Portland,TX Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. Ephesians 3:20 NAST
Psalm 65:11 NIV
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.
Tammy Schroeder, West Point, NE
Let the word of God dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishingetting one another in allmwisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Pam-Lubbock,Texas “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commands of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. Psalms 19:7-8 NLT
Penny Ritter-Vian,OK
But let all those that put their trust in You rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them: let them also that love Your name be joyful in You.
Psalm 5:11 NKJV
Delaney, Plano, TX. “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?” Psalm 27:1 ESV
Tracy Leary, Richlands, NC. This is our family verse for 2015. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. 1 Ephesians 1:19a
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. heb.4.16niv
Susan Smith, Springfield, VA.
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 NKJV
Margaret, Marietta, GA Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Mark 10:9 NIV
christina moore, Plano, Texas. “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:17, NASB).
Mary, Birmingham Alabama
Psalm 42:1 NIV
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, Oh God!
Kaitlyn R. Cincinnati, OH
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
-1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT
Hollie Smith. Catoosa, Oklahoma. So you are no longer a slave, but a child of God; and since you are His child, God has also made you an heir. Galatians 4:7 NIV
Sandy, New Castle, PA 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
Judy Teague, Anna Texas ~ “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 (NIV)
Jackie Pope, Covington, IN. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3 NKJV
Michelle Davis, Pascagoula, MS
“Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:2 NIV
Denise, Winfield, Missouri. “Finally, brothers, 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 on such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
Vickie Gainous, Cairo, GA. “I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” Genesis 17:7 NRSV
Beth, St. Louis, MO “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. ” 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
Spring Hill, TN
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of Love and self-discipline.”
2 Tim 1:7
Dori Wooldridge, Indiana
Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.” NIV
Melisse Maser, Slippery Rock, PA
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB
Sara Morris, Marietta, GA
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
Brooke, Sevierville TN
2 Peter 3:18New International Version (NIV)
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5 NIV
Debi Ryan, Land O Lakes, FL
“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Mark 12:24-25 NLT
Amanda Lansing, MI. Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.” (NIV)
Kristin Johnson, Owasso, OK. “Finally, brothers and sisters, (I wanted to put “siestas” there so badly…) 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
Rachel Fields, Bedford, Indiana
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 NIV
Aimee Hale, Bartlett, TN. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Laura, Clay Center, Kansas
Jude 1:20 (Living Bible)
But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Selina Painter, Lynden, Washington. “But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.” Psalm 69:13 NIV
Marcy – Eagle Bridge, NY
“Forget the former things;
Do not dwell in 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)
Leslie Benson, Kansas City, MO
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”) (Proverbs‬ â€31‬:â€25‬ NIV)
Leslie Acree, Shreveport, LA
” I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
Dee Remick, Zeeland, MI NIV84
Psalm 139:1 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.”
Julia, Franklin, IN
“For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.'” Isaiah 41:13 NKJV
Brandi Hutchings, Littlefield, Texas, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:9-10 NIV
Ehrin- Corpus Christi, Texas
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood st the Altai. He was given much insenseto offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.
Revelation 8:3
Karen Smith, Angleton, TX.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exits and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Jessie, Jackson MO, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” 2 Thess 1:11 NIV
tara,
2 Corintians 13:4-KJV- For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
Brenda Gerber, Grafton, Ohio ” Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)
Misty Hayes, Carbon, Indiana
Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 NKJV