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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bobbie Schultz Fontana, Calif 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
Chris, Colleyville, TX
“But his delight is in the law of The Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2 NISB
Nance from ON Canada
Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Psalms 51:1 NLT
Gala
Lubbock, TX
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Rebecca Rodgers, selinsgrove, pa “your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” Phil 2:15 niv
I have chosen you and not rejected you. 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…
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:9-10, 13 NIV
Allison Logan — Southlake, Texas
He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Isaiah 26:3 TLB
Margie, Camdenton MO. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
Laura K, Spearfish, SD.
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 ESV
Lydia – Colorado Springs, CO
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14 NIV
Paige Greene, Nashville, TN, …that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of our hearts enlightened that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19, ESV.
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, Let us cleanse ourselves from everything the Could defile the body and spirit and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
NET
Ann, Prior Lake, MN
“From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” John 1:16 NLT
Shelby, Glenville,NC
Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Proverbs 30:5 ESV
Sarah Beth Holland, Baton Rouge, LA
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6
We abolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Nancy, Edmonds,Wa
Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8 NIV
Joanne White, Gold River, British Columbia
The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe His promise to care for
them. Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the LORD. Psalm 106:24-25 NLT
Nina Martin, Taylor, Michigan
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philipians 1:6 ESV
Stephanie, Houston, TX
“But even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.” Luke 11:28 NLT
Lauren – Nashville, TN
“The Lord longs to be gracious to you, therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him”
Isaiah 30:18 NIV
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. Psalms 27:4
Lisa, Glenville, NC
Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those
who take refuge in Him.
Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 (NLT) (Sorry I’m late!)
Lisa Kephart, Mechanicsville, VA
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Brenda, Longview, TX
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2 ESV
Summer, Edmond, OK – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Kim Cliatt, Loganville, GA
” 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 44:18-19, NIV
The Lord is unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18
Suzanne Taylor Coalinga, California
“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.”
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
“…We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives, and we ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom.”
Colossians 1:9b NLT – Daily
Radium Springs, NM
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (â€Romans‬ â€12‬:â€1‬ NKJV)
Teach us to number our days carefully, so that we may develop a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 HCSB
Laura Guidry, Warrensburg, MO
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (â€James‬ â€1‬:â€2‬ ESV)”
Allison Brown, Hickory, NC
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:17b-18, NIV
Independence, MN “You are my witnesses” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.” Isaias 43:10 NIV
Ephesians 1:3 life app. study bible
Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
2nd posting, couldn’t find 1st post!
Bonnie, Hildebran, NC ~ finally found mine at church this morning!
And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (â€Mark‬ â€5‬:â€19‬ ESV)
Mckenzie Crook, Maryville, TN
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8 (NIV)
Lisa Labon New Waterford, OH
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
Jannet Ortiz, Geneseo, NY “Teach me to do your will,for you are my
God!Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” Psalm 143:10 ESV
Diane B., Cypress, Texas
Col. 3:16 (NIV) “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”
Pamela Cork, Hendersonville, TN “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Wendy, Littleton, CO
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
Proverbs 14:29 NIV
Whitney Harrington, Michigan
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV
Portland, Texas
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
Be anxious for nothing , but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God . Philippians 4:5,6
Mina, Silver Creek, Georgia.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Heather from Carmel Indiana: First verse will be my husband and my marriage verse: Phillipians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it to the day of Christ Jesus” NIV