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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shreveport, Louisiana
“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
Becky McInerny, Edinburgh, Indiana “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Kristy Frisco, Tx
Isaiah 54:17 NIV
no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD
Stacie Kilgore- Lee’s Summit, MO; “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me,for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:5 (KJV)
Bev Gore – Houston, TX – Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Deborah Barmer, Seward, Alaska
“Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:2 NIV
Janie Phillips, Indianapolis, IN. Lord you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1. NIV
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1: 9-11
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2
Christy, Conroe, Tx. Isaiah 43:18-19
“The Lord says, “forget what happened before, do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a new road in the desert. I will make rivers in the dry land.” International children’s bible (it’s what was close by)
Brenetta Robison Independence, MO “And he said: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;”2 Samuel 22:2 NKJV
Melanie Ceynar, Houston, TX. “One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:13-14, NIV
Goroka, Papua New Guinea
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1: 9-11 ESV
Zella Walborn, Bluffton, Indiana. “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)
Dianne Windsor, Mountain Home Arkansas
Job 13:15 Though He may slay me, yet I will hope in Him. NIV
Micah 6:8
He has told you, o man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Leah
Greenfield, IN
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
Psalm 105:1 NLT
Jamie from Paramount, Ca “when I am afraid I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” NIV psalm 56:1
Angela Dunaway, Jefferson, Or. How precious are your thoughts to me oh Lord. How vast is the sum of them. Psalms 139:17
Abita Springs, LA
The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (â€Habakkuk‬ â€3‬:â€19‬ AMP)
Brighton, Colorado
But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease,without fear of harm.
Proverbs 1:33
NIV
Carrie Ford
Cody, Nebraska
You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29
New English Translation (NET Bible)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Naperville, Illinois
Stephanie Hamburg Ar. 2 Corinthians 8:11 NLT. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.
Tricia
Wilson, TX
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-7
NIV
Sally Lucas, Lexington, SC Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister unto the hearers. EPH 4:29 KJV
Karen, Dripping Springs, TX
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Shelly, Clarksville TN. “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)
Helen
Gatesville, NC
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:5 NIV
Kristin, Grandville MI,
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
Fort Sill, Oklahoma
The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom, all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10
Andria
Madison, AL
Psalm 36:7-9, ESV
“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with Gog and the Word was God. John 1:1 HSCB
Jan Fulshear, Tx
Michelle
Greer SC
Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 HCSB)
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
Kymberleigh, Southaven, MS, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4 NASB
Cindy Landrum, Bridge City, Texas. “I love You, O LORD, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 NASB
Gidget Lentz from Mississippi
Thought this was fitting for the start to a New Year
Psalms 90:12 NIV
Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Cor. 9:15
Erin Brooks, Kalamazoo, Michigan. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)
Every word of God is pure: He is a shield to them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5 American King James Version
Sarah B.
Gainesville, GA
“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10-11
Sarah Spencer, Marion, KS, No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV
Brooke, San Antonio, TX “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)
Martha…Natchez, MS
“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3
NIV Essentials Study Bible
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT
Aiken, SC
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 desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19
Brady Griffith. Moulton, AL. 13 years old
Exodus 14:14 God will fight the battle for you.And you? You keep your mouths shut!” (MSG)
Terri Shellenbarger, Hale, Michigan. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NIV.