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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hannah | Lake Forest Park, WA
1 Thessalonions 1:10, NLT
Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Kelsey Butcher, Bloomington, IN. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
Julie in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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. (â€Romans‬ â€12‬:â€1-2‬ ESV)
Nicole Blake, Severance, CO “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:7 ESV
Sara Neal, Searcy, AR “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” Luke 1:46-48 NIV
Philippians 4:4-6
Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say again rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and do not forget to thanks Him for His answers.
(NIV)
Ellen Keck, Findlay, OH.
“Those who love your law have great peace and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalms 119:65 NASB
Janene Ford, Henley, MO. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Ginger Lazzaro, Matawan, NJ
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
Jennifer Willerton, Cypress, TX, “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” -Romans 8:12
My first verse! 2Tim 1:7
” For God has not given us the spirit of fear,but of power and of love and of a sound mind”
Kim Hernandez, Roswell, Ga ” In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.
Psalm 33:21 NLV
This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Ann McQuaid,Greensboro,NC Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NSRV)
Terry Stacey, Poquoson, Virginia “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.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My Strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJ)
Jennifer Chandler, Mason Hall , Tn.”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves.”
Ephesians 2:8
Stacy Brown, Americus, GA
For all the promises of God in Him are YES and in Him AMEN, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who has also sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (NIV)
Bonnie Hinman, Joplin, MO.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 TNIV
Sharon, Surrey, North Dakota
” O remember not against us former iniquities:
let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us:
for we are brought very low.” Psalm 79:8 KJV
Liz Klein, Costa Mesa, CA “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Heb 12:1 NAS
Jessica Rust, Bellingham, WA “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
What awesome Words, Jessica! Will pray for you as you & Peter raise three boys and live these words before them!
Brandi Victoria, TX Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgivinings, present your requests to God. Philippians 4: 16 NIV
My verse is: Psalm 145:14 – The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Kathie Nappier
Aiken, SC
In Him we have redemption through His blood, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV
Patsy Myers, Kingsville, Texas–I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33, NLT
Lynn White, Maryland, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Sarah Brewer, McKinney, Texas. “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while, as they saw best; but God disciplined us for our good that we may share in His Holiness.
Hebrews 12:10. NIV.
Cynthia Branim, Shreveport, LA  “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NASB
Vickie Kreis from Davison, MI says Jude 1:24 To HIM who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before HIS glorious Presencd without fault and with great joy.
Evelyn Melendez from McKinney, Texas. 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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NLT)
Susie Greene from Pinehurst, NC. Keep this book of law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV).
Valerie Fernandez, 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
13 For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living? Psalm 56:13 NKJV
Macedonia, OH
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and Lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proversbs 3:5 & 6 NIV
Always need this reminder!
Pam, Florence, AL
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Philippians 4:4 ESV
Norwich , CT Give Thanks to The Lord for his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
Christine Esposito, Atlanta, GA, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Jamie Thrash from San Juan Capistrano, CA. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5 NIV)
Andrea Drennan, Greeley, Colorado. ” The one thing I ask of the Lord- the one thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 NLT
Brittney Spencer, Calgary, Alberta : 2 Cor 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
Molly, Portland, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;” 2 Peter 1:5-6 NIV
Janet Blankenship, Nacogdoches, TX, “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him shall not parish but have ever lasting life.” John 3:16 KJV
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your wonders of old. – Psalm 77:11
Angie Woodsmall from Wapello, Iowa. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)
Gwenn Erlinger, Frisco, TX. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5, NIV
Melissa Davidson, St. Louis MO, “She opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness” Proverbs 31:26 NKJV
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
“Hear O hear Lord and be merciful to me, O Lord be my help. You turn my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever” Psalm 30:10-12.
Ps. 37:3-5 NASB
“Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it.”