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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Eph 1:3/NIV
Blessed is she who has believed that The Lord would fulfill his promises to her. Luke 1:45 NIV
Michelle, Lake Forest, CA
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” Luke 12:25 (NIV)
Walk in a manner worthy of The Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10 NASB
Diane Yeager, Tucson, AZ
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” Ephesians 3:16 NIV
Elizabeth, Fairfax, SC
“When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 10:23 NIV
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am the foremost of all. I Tim 1:15 NASB
Sandy Naples, Santa Clarita, CA
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:39
Reposting as I never found my post on/about 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 1st.
Martha Blacklock from Lubbock, Texas
“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.” Jer. 29:11 NIV
Stephanie L., San Antonio, “it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:11,12, NASB
How do I post without replying to another post?
Jennifer from Hilo, Hi…. “Casting down arguments and very high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor 10:5
Cocoa Beach, FL. “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.”
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Alyssa Tabor, Springfield, MO
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 NIV 1984
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh from hearing and hearing by the word of God (KJV)
Eph 4:29 KVJ
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
2 Thess. 2:16-17 (NIV)
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
I just completed Beth’s study on Thessalonians. This verse speaks to me in this season of my life. Moving to another state, sending my first born off to college 3 states away, and being far from my aging parents. Starting a new life with my husband and high school daughter has us looking outward to “they” and this verse speaks to every fiber of my soul and heart’s surrender to God’s purpose.
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Gloria Choate, Murray, Kentucky. “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:16 ESV
Phyllis Alexander, Baton Rouge , LA
“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 wildernessand streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
“Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already – you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there. ” Isaiah 43:19 GNB
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ESV
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Rebekah H.—Fulton, MS
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
— I John‬ â€1‬:â€1-4‬ NKJV
*working on memorizing entire book of I John! 🙂
Bonny Engen, Eagan, MN, “Mark 11:24, ” Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” ESV
Lisa S.
Kinston, NC
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
1John3:1-3 NIV
Cindy Willimon, Easley, SC.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. NIV Proverbs 4:23
fishers, indiana
Romans 12:2. Do not conform yourselves to thie standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.n then you will be able to know the will of God , what is good and pleasing to him and is perfect.
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.” NKJV
For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV John 3:16
“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
Robbie Calley, Bay Minette, AL; For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 KJV
He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it? It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground – when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32 (NET)
Fort Mill SC
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (â€Isaiah‬ â€55‬:â€10-11‬ ESV)
Brianna Taeuber, Frisco, TX
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1
Kathryn Gray, Atlanta, GA, “make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NLT)
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
James. 5:15
Greater is he who lives in me than he who lives in the world.
Donna, Katy, TX
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.” Ps 19:14
Lisa, SC
“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” Psalm 119:37 NIV
“Finally be strong in the LORD, Kathy, and in the strength of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you Kathy may be able to stand
against the schemes of the devil”
Eph 6:10-11
With a son leaving for rehab the beginning of Feb I know the enemy will try all he can to
shake my mind, heart, faith, question His Word and promises. But His might is Greater,
and He goes before me in battle…Jehovah Sabaoth is His Name ..standing under His banner
So do I. May the Lord heal them both.
Callie, Franklin, TN “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 ESV
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 NASB
do not be anxious about anything,but in everything prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. Phil. 4:6
Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Col1:10. Nasb
2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Cambridge, mn
Psalm 103:2 NIV
Praise the Lord , my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Richmond, Indiana
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
New International Version
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.
Ruth, Kitchener, ON
“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah 55:2 (NIV)
Sarah Hughes, Atlanta, Georgia
Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”