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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 NIV
Elizabeth Hines, St. Robert, MO “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11 NIV
Karen DuBois, Lawson, MO
Philippians 4:6-7 HCSB
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Julie Jones; Hayden, AL
Isaiah 26:3-4. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Jordan, Sabillasville, MD; “eye has not seee, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him”; 1 Corinthians 2:9; New King James Version
Dont copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think then you will learn to know Gods will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
Cherri Thompson, Lancaster, California. “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27: 13-14 NIV
Sara Jones; Hayden, AL
Isaiah 26:3-4. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.”
Mallery Manahan, Sabillasville, MD; “The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits have been crushes.”; Psalms 34:18; Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own. Matthew 6:34 because I’ve been worrying to much about my grown stuff and stuff out of my control.
Stacy Klein, Medina, TN. “God didn’t give us a spirit that makes us weak and fearful. He gave us a spirit that gives us power and love. It helps us control ourselves.” 2 Tim. 1:7 NIRV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, days the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 NAS
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (NIV)
Finally, Brothers (Siestas!) 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
Carrie Davis, Marshall, MN “Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?” Isaiah 43:13
Patty, Brandon,MS Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 NIV
Rachel
Canyon, TX
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6, ESV
Wow, jump in 1 day late and see almost 16,000 responses already!!!! Can I get an “Amen!”?!
Fran, Opelika, AL
Ecc. 3:1 NIV: “There is a time for everything,mand a season for every activity under the heavens.”
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy !:7
Lauren Hunt, Lugoff, SC
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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. (â€Colossians‬ â€3‬:â€15-17‬ NIV)
For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 HCSB
Dorothy Neudorf Osler, Saskatchewan And so from 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. Colossians 1:9 ESV
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2) NIV
Prayer request for our family dealing with a great hurt- thank you.
Aleah Marsden, Vacaville, CA “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”
(This is my 3rd year doing memorization, so I’m pushing myself a bit to memorize all of 1 Peter 1.)
Jennifer, Saint Thomas, PA “Now above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. Your ‘yes’ must be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ myst be ‘no,’ so that you won’t fall under judgment.” James 5:12 HCSB
Brittany Hart, Jefferson City, Missouri. “Do not be anxious about anything. But in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God.” Phillipians 4:6 NIV
Audra from Charleroi Pennsylvania
Jeremiah 29:11
New Century Version (NCV)
11 I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.
“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” Proverbs 31:25 kjv
Karen , Bloomington, IL And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 King James
Cynthia Lau; New Market, AL
Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. NIV
I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1. NIV
Sara, Godwin, NC – “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.”
Luke 6:35 NLT
Teresa
Cartersville, GA
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on you own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
“As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” 1 Peter 1:15 ESV
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you; brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Psalm 37:4.5
Teach me to do your will for you my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. Psalm 143:10
Tamara Manahan; Sabillasville, MD; “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2; New International Version
So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 1 Peter 5:6 MSG
Deborah, Hendersonville,TN “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,so that you may prove what is good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” WEB
Ame Franks from Vidor, Tx: A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
Sue G., Rockwood PA For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12 NIV
Philippians 4:8(KJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Mary, Palm Beach Gardens, FL “May the LORD direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV
Krissy Moore West Harrison, IN In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Mathew 5:16
Maria Hogan from Tallmadge,Ohio
The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Kim B, Thatcher, Az
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. 1 John 2:24 NIV