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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kathleen, San Antonio, TX
“”‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40, NASB
Deborah H, Camden AR – Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)
Diane, Little Rock AR
Isaiah 41:10 “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.”
Trisha Wall, Midland, TX
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine!
I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from Me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed…
Forget the former things; do not dwell in 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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:1-2, 11-12, 18-19
Donna Butler
Katy, TX
Philippians 4:6 NIV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”.
Dennina Keen, Chehalis, Wash. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1: 4 NIV
But he knows the way that I take;when he has tested me,I will come forth as gold. ( Job 23:10 ) NIV
Kate from Cheney, WA
“How God anointed and consecrated Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with strength and ability and power . . .”
Acts 10:38a, Amplified
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18 (NIV)
Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119: 105 NIV
“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear The Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 2:7-8 NLT
Karen Canales-Lopez Buford, GA
“The Lord is compassionate & gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love” Psalm 103.8 NIV
Brandi Johnson, Center, Texas
Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret – it only causes harm. Psalm 37:8 NKJV
Andrea from Middleton MA
“For God is working in you, givingyou the desire and the power to do what pleases Him”
Phillipians 2:13, NLT
Ritta Goose Creek, SC
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27(NIV)
Judy Schultz, Fort Worth, Texas: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
Julie Wilson, Clarks Summit, PA
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (â€John‬ â€14‬:â€27‬ KJV)
Hear my prayers,O Lord;let my cry for help come to you. Psalm 102:1
Tiffany Taylor, Peyton, CO. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” Numbers 6:24-25
Proverbs 3:5,6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
My word for the year 2015 is TRUST and I know God will teach me how to trust Him every day in every way!
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Psalm 34:15 (KJV)
Mindy Long, Bowie, MD
Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Colossians 1:11 (KJV)
Wendy Wilson, The Colony, TX
Philippian 3:13 NLT
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead
Vista, CA
You have said, “Seek My Face.” My heart says to You, “Your face, LORD, do i seek.” Psalm 27:8! ESV
Thalia from Knoxville, TN
“And God saw that the light was good” Gen 1:4a NIV
Summer Richards, Garland, TX;
“May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:16-17 (NIV)
Lamentations 3:22-23(NIV)
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Tiffany Kiker, Amarillo, Texas, My dear brothers and sisters take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 NIV
Hi Tiffany! 🙂 Welcome to SSMT!
Kate Kiker, Amarillo, Texas, My dear brothers and sisters take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 NIV
Kathy, High Point, NC
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
2Tim 1:7 NKJV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.
Elaine Minton, Story AR
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”
I Corinthians 12:4-6
Cynthia, Russellville, AR
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13, ESV
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)
2 Corinthians 5:17New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Debra M., Houston, TX
For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job 5:6-7 (NKJV)
Ginny, Wilson NC
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 41:13 NIV
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8, KJV
Psalm 1:1, 2- Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
I can’t help but think that the translation for these verses is in verse 3. When we have hearts like this, he will make us like a tree planted by the rivers of water bringing forth its fruit in its season; our leaves not withering, our lives being prosperous.
Psalm 1:1-2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Raleigh, NC Psalm 25:2 Amp
O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.
Tina, Fort Worth, Texas, “How does a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” Psalm 119:9
Joyce, Sparta NJ
“I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 (ESV)
Nicci Thirkield, Higginsville, MO – The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” Matthew 25:40 NIV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the tight hand of my righteousness. Is 41:10
Christine Pittsburgh, PA
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Courtney, College Station, Texas: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Pennie Marshall, Lincoln, NE
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 NAS
Karen Laule, Queen City, TX
In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. Gen.1-1
New King James, Scofield study bible
“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
…”But, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33