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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Katie Hartshorn, Jonesboro, AR
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He won’t let you down; He won’t leave you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6 (Message)
Yvonne van der Flier, Hoofddorp, Nederland:
Van dat evangelie ben ik een dienaar geworden door de gave van Gods genade, die ik ontvangen heb door zijn kracht die in mij werkt. Efeziërs 3:7
Annet van Ballegooijen, Linschoten, the Netherlands
Wees niet bevreesd, want Ik ben met u, wees niet verschrikt, want Ik ben uw God. Ik sterk u, ook help Ik u, ook ondersteun Ik u met Mijn rechterhand, die gerechtigheid werkt.
Jesaja 41:10 HSV
Jessica Ditmer, Huntsville, AL
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (â€Isaiah‬ â€41‬:â€10‬ NIV)
Lisa Glenn, Little Elm, TX:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Barbara of Medford, OR Mark 11:24, 25 ESV Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Christi McCullough from Moody, AL- “I sought the Lord, and
He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 (ESV)
Stacy, Costa Mesa, Ca
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22 (NIV)
Alysha Ruffatto, Bozeman, MT
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
Megan, Grants Pass, Oregon
James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:1-3 NASB
Michelle, Fayetteville, Romans 8:5 NIV
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
Donna, Palo Cedro, CA
“I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord. Ezekiel 37:14. NKJV
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.” Ephesians 6:18a (NLT)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10
The New King James Women’s Study Bible
Justine Swingewood, Johannesburg South Africa
You are worthy, our Lord & God, to receive glory for you created all things & by your will they were created & have their being. Revelation 4:11 NIV
Jo S, Durban, South Africa.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners”
Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Hanneke Stigter, Ridderkerk, the Netwerken
Mijn plan met jullie staat vast – spreekt de Heer: Ik heb jullie geluk voor ogen, niet jullie ongeluk. Ik zal je een hoopvolle toekomst geven. Jeremia 29:11
“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 (Holeman Christian Standard Bible)
Iva Tsvetkova, Sofia, Bulgaria: “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” Psalms‬ â€36‬:â€9‬ NKJV
1peter2:17 honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Sometimes I have trouble honoring our leaders but I know that God has placed them there for His
reason.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, Hebrews 12:28 ESV
Carla Goetz, Shell Lake, Wisconsin “The Lord, the God of battle, has spoken—who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?” Isaiah 14:27 Living Bible (TLB)
Alethea Savannah from Houston, TX
ISAIAH 41:9b-10 (Amp) You are my servant-I have chosen you and not cast you off. Fear not; for I am with you; do not look around you in terror or be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with my [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.
Crystal McClure Cleveland, Tennessee
“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
Monica ….Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” NKJV
Lori McGahey, Nashville, TN, “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
Kimberly Sutor, Burlington IA
But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.
– 2 Corinthians‬ â€12‬:â€9‬ (NET)
Jill Barker, Winchester, VA
Psalms 56:3 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (NIV)
Spreuken 3:5&6 / proverbs 3:5&6
Vertrouw op de Here met uw ganse hart
en steun op uw eigen inzicht niet.
Ken Hem in al uw wegen, dan zal Hij uw
paden recht maken.
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
Wendy Wheeler, Bartlett, TN He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30 NIV
Beth Howard~Gillette, Wyoming.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Vicki McInnes Ruakaka New Zealand “For the Lord will be your confidence and keep your foot from being snared” Proverbs 3:36
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
King James Version (KJV)
Erica Meshell from Wylie, TX
“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come BOLDLY and confidently into God’s presence.” – Ephesians 3:12 NLT
No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him. (The Mesage)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Kristen Buchta, Anchorage, AK “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Ruth N. Flower Mound, Tx
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.- King James Bible
Jen, zelienople pa
Let the word of Christ richly dwell with in you. Colossians 3:16
Cathy, Brighton, Colorado
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)
Trayc Foskett, Vancouver, Washington Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Stephanie Reynolds, Austin, TX, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5 ESV
Kris,Olalla, WA, Romans 15:13: “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”
1 Cor.10:13
13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High. Shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty ”
Psa 91:1
Vicki Vannaman, Diamond, Missouri. “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165 NIV
Amy Wallace-Delaware, Ohio
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (â€Isaiah‬ â€41‬:â€10‬ NLT)
Vickie, Hamilton, Ohio
Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Rachael Clinton
Chicago
Galatians 5:1
(NIV)
“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.”