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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
psalm 16:1 keep me safe O God for in you I take refuge
NIV
Starkville, MS
Colossians 3:1 – NKJV
If ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Betty McPhail
Jan. 6,2014
Starkville, MS
Ephesians 4:23-24 -and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
NKJ
Pam Lakewood, CO
Joshua 1:9 “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.” NIV
Janice, Wisconsin
“Anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:38 NIV
Lisa, Brockway,PA
Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.NIV
Kim Branson, Green River, WY. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
Vanessa L, McKinney, Texas: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:14-15 ESV
Annie, Atlanta GA
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 NLT
Kat, Colorado Springs, CO Hebrews 13:7 (NLT) “Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.”
Beth Voss, Fort Worth, Texas. “Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4 NIV
Claire Veronie, Tomball, TX.
“But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:31-32 NASB
Lisa Hamilton, Clinton Township, Michigan – “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9 ESV
Proverbs 25:28 “A man without self control is like a city broken into and left without walls”
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.” Psalm 90:2 ESV
Jacque Haiduk Odessa,TX “The mind of sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 NIV
Marcella Posthuma, Cheney WA Eph 4:11-12 He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors,and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the working of the ministry for the building of the body of Christ.NKJV
Jessica, Long Island, NY
Isaiah 1:17 (NIV): Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
This is my first year to participate in SSMT. Memorizing anything is much harder, the older I get, but I’m so excited about this and I’m committed to do it. I’ve been walking around the house, quoting my scripture aloud throughout the day. And because of that, I have a couple of mini-siestas in the house. We’ll be doing this thing together!
http://youtu.be/-QyB578Hj74
Thank you for encouraging us to hide God’s Word in our heart.
Adorable little mini’s there, Jill! Welcome to SSMT Averitt girls!
Kathy, St. Louis, MO
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.” (Proverbs 24:17, NIV’84)
Stacie Duncan, Madison, Mississippi
Galatians 5:1
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.
Christ has set us free to live a life of freedom in Him. No one can ever put a harness of slavery(sin) on us as believers again (unless we allow it). We have to choose to live this life of freedom daily.
Erin Patz Green Bay, WI
“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
Jennifer, Peoria AZ
Matt 7:7-8 ESV, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks it will be opened.”
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17, NIV
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
Donna Oliphint–Mongomery,AL–
Proverbs 1:7(NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
EPH 3:20-21 NKJV, “Now in him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Andrea, Grizzly Flats, CA
“For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge” 1 Corinthians 1:5 NIV
Isaiah 26:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Jami Encina, Rochester NY
Psalm 34:8 NIV “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Cami L from Little Elm, Texas says,
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Phil. 2:12 NKJV
Barbara Alewine
Malakoff, TX 75148
fear not, for I am with you. do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Fairland, OK
Love does no harmto its neighbor.Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10 NIV
Waxahachie, Tx
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17, NIV
Ingrid, Tracy, CA But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” (â€Psalm‬ â€31‬:â€14‬ ESV)
Beth from Taylor’s, SC, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Proverbs 30:5 NKJ
Renate (Hap 🙂 Madison, Heath, OH. “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33a NIV
Wendy Pedersen, Dallas TX, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” Ephesians 1:3 ESV
Carrie Hriblan, West Virginia “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
Therefore as you receive Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ESV Colossians 2:6&7
Jenny Lawless, Oklahoma City, OK
“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.” Luke 1:45 NLT
Elizabeth T.
McDonough, GA
“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEB
Anne
Sioux Falls, SD
“So then you are no longer stranger or aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19 ESV
Wendi Spencer Cowpens SC
Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast. KJV
Lord, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things to profound for me.
Psalm 131:1
NKJV
Ginna, Griffin, GA
“Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11
Pam from Canton, MI “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise– the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:15,16 NIV (1984)
Jen, West Palm Beach, FL
Therefor, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
It’s a new year, Christ will help you start anew.
-reposted from Jan. 1st
Mollie, late but determined, Atlanta
Psalm 25:10 NASB
All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
Lynn from Divide, CO: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” Eph 1:3 ESV