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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
” Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! may your good spirit lead me on label ground” Psalm 143:10
Leann Dosher
Greeneville, TN
1 Corintians 6:19-20….. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,who you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Serena murillo, silver city, NM
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (â€James‬ â€1‬:â€2-4‬ NIV)
set me free from my prison that I may praise your name. Psalm 142:7 NIV
Debbie. Knoxville, TN. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NASB
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1.1
Taryn Crabill, Temple, TX. “Search for the Lord and for his strength and keep on searching.” Psalm 105:4 NLT.
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27
Heather Asher, Livonia, MI, USA, James 1:12 NIV
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him”
Amy; Simsbury, CT.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT).
Dale Lynam, Rocklin, CA “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV
Linda R Adzigian, Grove, OK
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need”
Psalms 23:1
Good News Bible:Today’s English Version
Rosemary Duncan, Baldwin,Florida. “You still the hunger of those You cherish; their sons have plenty and they store up wealth for their children.” Ps. 17:14 NIV
Melanie Wyatt, Knoxville, TN “Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts, See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
Casey Hendricks, Meridian, MS
“But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:11-12 NAS
Omaha, NE : No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
Esther. Jonesborough TN. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” Exodus 14:14 ESV
Gail Tabor, Anacortes, WA “But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 ESV
Kathy Bond from Wichita, Ks
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 4:1 NIV
Brenda Henning, Augusta, KS “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this, it’s a gift from God.”Ephesians 2:8 NLT
Kelly Sorenson, Tatum, TX
” Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
Cindy Toner, Mill Hall, PA, So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellows citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19 ESV
Vicki in Texas, Corpus CHRISTi. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Devi, Singapore
“Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” John 14:9 NLT
Lori, Bakersfield, CA
Psalm 37:23-24New Living Translation (NLT)
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Donn Nevill, Ft.Worth, Tx
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”I Peter 4:8 NKJV
“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
Carole T
Reno, NV
“You will be secure because there is Hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.” Job 11:18 NIV
Patti Leisure, Cornelius NC “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Tarsha Ahmad, St. Pete., FL
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV
Psalm 56:11
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Julie Christensen, Palm Springs, CA. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 NASB
Michelle-Fort Campbell KY
Phillipians 4:4-7 NIV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Emily C, Bothell WA “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'” Lamentations 3:24 NIV. I know I’m late to post but I’d love to join in!
With God’s help, we will do mighty things. Psalm 108:13
Sarah T
San Diego, Ca
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.
Psalm 16:8. NLT
Dorine van Loon, Papendrecht, The Netherlands. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Matthew 6:34 (KJV)
Yael Hernandez, New York,NY
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:37
So many things distract from our time with our heavenly father and just asking Jesus to keep my eyes on him and to worship only him.
The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
All those who practice it have good understanding.
His praise endures forever! Psalms 111:10. ESV
Paula Lewis Brunswick, Ga. “My prayer is not for them alone.I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message” John 17:20 NIV
Jackie Bundy, Gatesville, North Carolina
Ephesians 2:8-9(NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Sara Chan, The Woodlands, Texas … “Teach me knowledge and good judgement, for I trust in your commands.” Psalm 119:66
NIV
Stephanie Strange, China. “Teach me Your way, Lord, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.” Psalm 86:11 HCSB
I seek You with all of my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. Psalm 119:10 TNIV
Christie Gates, Cincinnati, Ohio
Romans 12:1-2 KJV
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Sarah Taylor, Oklahoma City, OK “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27 ESV
Heather in Cumming GA: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV
Psalm 119:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
Cheryl Gilliam, Fort Myers, FL
For it is God who works in you to act and will in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil 2:13 NIV
Alayne Schrock, Lima, Ohio “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV