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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luana Morse
El Paso, TX
“Now all are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation”. (2Corinthians5:18-19 NKJV)
Deb Walter:
Orofino ID
so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God
Colossians 1:10 NRSVCE
Sherry James, Raymondville, Mo– “I keep my eyes always on the Lord, with him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8, NIV.
Colossians 1:10
“so that you may 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.”
Kimberly, Starkville, MS, “Since you were raised from the dead with Christ, aim at what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 NCV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Pam, Alexander city, Alabama. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 NIV
Carrie Hriblan-Buckhannon,WV- Ephesians 4:29 ESV “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
You who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise His own people who are prisoners. Psalm 69: 32b-33
Luanne G. Waukesha, WI Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 NIV
Theresa Gilman, Marlborough, MA. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
Psalm 56:8 New Living Translation
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
I’m a little late to the party…. so sorry!
Barbara, Kentwood MI
“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!” 1 Sam 12:16 NIV
Escondido, CA “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Moon, PA
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Aurora, Nebraska, “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 entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 NIV
Stephanie, Humble TX
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Jacksonville
“He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.” – Psalm 111:5
Robin in Snohomish, WA
“Overflowing joy comes to those who follow God’s ways.” Ps 1:1 Passion Translation
Georgana, Leo, Indiana, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.”
1 Thess. 5:23-24, ESV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
Lisa; Brandon, FL; 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
Kathy Roach, Springfield MO
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 ESV
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Ginger Bales, Paragould, AR
“God save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might!” Psalms 54:1 HCSB
1 Corinthians 8:7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
Amy Reinke
Carroll Valley, PA
“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Acts 2:42 NIV
You are everything I need. Psalm 119:57 NIV
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” (Luke 1:45 – NIV)
Randi Rapid City, South Dakota
“Therefore God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love-the perfect bond of unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 HCSB
“So do not throw away your confidence: it will be richly rewarded (Hebrews 10:35 – NIV)
Emily Miceli, Glendale, CA
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:5 NIV
Modesty Brantley, Myrtle Beach, SC
“Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55:22 NLT
Andrea Green, Greenfield, IA
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Debbie Nance, Merced, CA
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28 NIV
Spotsylvania, VA
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…
Rebecca, New Orleans LA, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Sheila Salina, KS
For he knows how we are formed he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:14 NIV
Leah, Gouda, The Netherlands
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has give us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)
Maggie, Tupelo, MS
“Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and week knees. Make level the paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:12-13
Cypress, TX
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 NRSV
Maggie, Tupelo, MS
“Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and week knees. Make level the paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12:12-13 NIV
Stephanie in College Station, TX
“Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.” Romans 12:12-13, RSV
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us⊔ Ephesians 3:20, ESV
Robyn
Dothan Alabama
Jeremiah 31:15
ESV
“This the Lord says, there is a voice heard in Raimah,a lament of bitter weeping. Rachel is crying for her children,because they are no more.”
Deborah Schlafer in Sugar Land, TX
“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NLT
Cindy Paul. Shreveport, Louisiana
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.(!!) Isaiah 9:2 NIV
San Antonio, Texas
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Carrie in Monroe, GA
Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. Mark 15:23