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) Ā 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 ofĀ 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 areĀ 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:Ā
Your name, city, verse (written all the way out), reference, and translation.Ā
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 citizensĀ with the saints and members of the household of God.”Ā 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 householdĀ all we’ve got. Christ is so altogether worthy.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! One last thing before I say Go!Ā 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 upĀ on the SSMT informational comments. Ā 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. Ā I know it’s a bit complicated at first! Hang with it!Ā So sorry for your extra trouble!
Hey, I am so glad you’re doing this with us. So much love to you.
OK, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lyneeta, Midwest City, OK
My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:20-23 Holman Christian Standard
A Good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart.
Matthew 12:35
Patti Husbands, Dade City, FL (trying to post again)
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV
Laura, Fairfax, VA, ” Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26 KJV
“There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
Sherry, Hillsboro, OR “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NASB
Matthew 6:6 NIV
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father , who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Christin Pivero, Kingwood, TX
“If you remain in Me And My Wirds remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you”. John 15:7 HCSB
Priscilla Fair, Orange, CA
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints.
Joyce Attig, Corvallis, Oregon “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:6 NLT
My favorite verse is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Chelsey, High Point, NC
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, āAbba! Father!ā Galatians 4:6 ESV
LORD, who may dwell in Your sacred tent?
Who may live on Your holy mountain?
Psalm 15:1 NIV
Courtney, Midland, TX
“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore”. Psalm 16:11. NIV
Praise the Lord, I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Psalm III:1-2
Susan Chung, Long Island, NY. “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?” Lamentations 3:37 ESV
Kerry Jacobi, Birmingham AL, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:25 NIV
Allison Yount, Clearwater FL
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
Luke 1: 79 – NIV
Kathryn from Lone Tree, CO “For I know the plans that I [h]have for you,ā declares the Lord, āplans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11 NASB
Kelly Aylward, Glenwood, MD: “Let us then approach the 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
My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. Donāt lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to oneās whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22 HCS
Joyce, Northport, Alabama
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10
(NKJV)
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy.” Psalm 33:18
Ashley from Corbin, KY March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21NIV
Joyce Cantrell, Harrisonville, MO
Create in me a pure heart, o God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:10-12, NIV
Sermon on the Mount: Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them saying… Matthew 5:1-2
Kandy Elder, Irving, TX
Hebrews 13:20-21 NET
“Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
Liz Stewart, Lenexa, KS “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 ESV
Kristy, Slidell, Louisiana.
Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!
Psalm 51:2, NET Bible
Terri from Mechanicsville,VA
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
1 John 4:16 (NASB)
Vanessa
Johnson City, TN
Hebrews 12: 2 NIV
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Chelley, Muskegon, MI
How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Eph 1:3 NLT
Collette, Renton, WA
You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
Psalms 40:11
Debbie Reid, Sherwood, Oregon: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Laura Wetumpka, Alabama
You are my witnesses, declares The Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed nor will there be one after me. Isaiah 43:10 NIV
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. JAMES 1:22
Jacalyn Miles, Richmond, 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 ESV
“And so it turned out hat not one among them was needy”
Acts 4:34
Mandy Sandage
Redmond,Or
Shelley, Fort Walton Beach, Florida
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourageāwith great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothyā¬ ā4ā¬:ā2ā¬ (NIV)
Marietta, GA
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 17:8, NIV
Barbara Ford, Troy, Missouri. “‘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)
Jenny Tercero, Federal Way, WA “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10 ESV
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Andrea Cox, Howe, Texas. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
Kaylee Yoder, Fredericksburg, VA
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.
Galatians 5:1, NIV
Shauna Duty of Roanokle, Tx: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.
Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn away from it Proverbs 22;6
Becky, Cypress, Texas “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
“Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 NAS