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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah Swager, Madison, AL “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5 NIV
Melissa B., Blandinsville, IL “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22 NIV
Helen, Spring Hill, FL “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Stacy Drake, Columbus, OH, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful I know that full well. Psalms 139:14
The Lord is my strenth and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
Psalm 28:7a
Micki Elaine, Atlanta, Texas. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 NKJV
Jan Goodson, Keller, TX. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Prov 4:23 AMP
Leslie West, McDonough, GA: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Paula, Monticello, KY. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”. Psalm 46:10
Suzanne-Asheboro, NCHebrews 4:16 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. NIV
Shalena Denike, Jackson, Mi
“God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” Psalms 51:10 ESV
Leona, Elwood, NE, But even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 1 Peter 3:14 NIV
Marija L, Guelph, ON
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go for unto You I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 NIV
Laura, Kansas City, MO “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 NIV
Heather Mode, Dallas, North Carolina. “Trust in Him at all times, O People; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalms 62:8. NASB
The Lord bless you and keep you; and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Numbers 6:25-25 NIV
Jennifer Swift, OKC, OK
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3 NIV
Linda Sommers, Xenia, Ohio
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Anne Thompson, Pella, IA, Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Deena Shepherd, Lynn Haven, FL, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 NIV
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 KJV
Jill McDill, Sunnyvale, TX, 10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV
Julia Schlabach, Ocala, Florida
“In the beginning was God. Gen. 1:1 NIV
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” John 1:1-2 NIV
“So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.” Ephesians 2:19 HCSB
Ulsan, South Korea
Sallie from Gatesville, NC
The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. (â€Proverbs‬ â€14‬:â€1‬ NIV)
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24 NKJV
Julie Boto, Keller, TX. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” (â€Philippians‬ â€2‬:â€14-15‬ ESV)
Valerie Boise ID They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. Psalm 106:20 NIV
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” 1 John 4:7 ESV-Renee Kennesaw,GA
Janet Hauser,Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
2 Cor. 12:10 AMP
For the sake of Christ Iam well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak (in human strength) then Iam truly strong (able, powerful in divine strength)
Stacy, Lisbon ND: Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1 NIV
Avril Crundwell, Canton, OH
Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19, (HCSB, Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Jennifer Watson, Ruston, LA
Proverbs 15:1 NASB – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV
Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform any longer 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.
Charlee Eekhoff
Pella, Iowa
Tina Barker , Atlanta, GA – Psalm 28:7-8 NIV – The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Cindy Matter, North Potomac, MD. “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 NASB
Cathy Griffis, Portland OR: “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” 1 Cor 1:7
JAN 2
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, to prosper and not harm you to give you hope and a future.”jerimiah 29:11
Fills my heart with peace
Meredith, Southern Oregon, “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19 NIV
Kathy Patterson San Jon NM
Hebrews 10:35-36
Do not throw away your confidence for it carries a great and mighty reward. You have need of steadfast patience and endurance so you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God and receive what is promised.
Lisa Mount Pleasant, SC
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Stacey, Williston, North Dakota, “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7 (NIV)
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 NKJV
Deborah Scruggs, Newnan, GA “So teach me to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Ps. 90:12 ESV
Julie Cruickshank Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Bethany, Modesto Ca.
1John 1:7 (ESV)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.