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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer Diaz, Fort WOrth, Tx
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” Psalm 119:9
Catlett, Virginia
Song of Solomon 8:4 (NKJV):
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stiru p nor awaken love until it pleases.
Lorna Coonrad Austin Texas
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
With all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
KJV
Sharon, McKinney, TX
Isaiah 41:13
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.
Sara Arnett, Jackson, MI
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Metamora, IL
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Marlene Indianapolis, Indiana
“Be ye not afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” Nehemiah 4:14 KJV
Jenna Grantham, Tucson, AZ
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” – Psalm 111:10 NKJV
Angel Bryant, Oro Valley, Arizona Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16a
Heather DeVido Leesburg, VA
“But you are a chosen people, a royal, priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”- 1 Peter 2:9
Cara Carney, Mobile, AL. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 NIV
Beth Howard~ Gillette, Wyoming.
Lamentations 3:22-24 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.I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.”
Beth Howard~ Gillette, Wyoming
Psalm 60:4 “But for those who fear you, you have raised a Banner to be unfurled against the bow.”
Tempa, Johnson City, TN
“…The angel said unto them:Do not be afraid. I bring you GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY which will be for all the people.” LUKE 2:10
NIV
Jessica Aderibigbe, Camarillo, CA
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
Marcela Irvin, Goodyear Az
John 14:27 peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
KaRetha Kelley, Denham Springs, LA
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35(ESV)
Melissa MacPhail, Nova Scotia, Canada
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Amy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Deuteronomy 31:8 “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you, He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (NASB)
Vivian, Person, NC
“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.” Psalm 143:8, NKJV
Jenny Hogeland,Cullman,AL Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 KJV
Kathi Nitzsche
Lexington, OH
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
Philippians 1:3 NLT
Emily Allen, Clarksdale, Ms“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
Blaire C, Bloomfield Hills, MI
“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
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NLT
I forgot the most important part!
Jordan LaRoche, Houston, TX
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 (ESV)
Veronica Ford from Houston, Texas: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 (NIV)
Sandra Prescott, Garland, TX
“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.” Jer 29:11 NIV
Beth, Coon Rapids, MN
He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and it’s foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:8 HCSB
Jeri Kelley, Holland, MI
For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV
Kandy Hall, Huffman, TX
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Carria Guerra Riverside,Ca
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” -Roman 8:1 New Living Translation
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”(â€Philippians‬ â€4‬:â€6-7‬ ESV)
Jackie, Mobile, Al
“God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?”
-Numbers 23:19 NLT
Sandia Park, NM
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless ou abide in me.
John 15:4 ESV
Isaiah 41:13
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.
Thanks to Sharon for choosing one that so perfectly fits my need and mood right now. I need all the help I can get. :~) !
BlaĹľenka, Melbourne
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (â€Psalm‬ â€27‬:â€4‬ NIV)
Cassi Reyes
Chattanooga, TN
Romans 8:1 KJV
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Jennifer Reyes, Hammond, LA. “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalms‬ â€55‬:â€22‬ NLT
Mijn plan met jullie staat vast-spreekt de Heer.
Ik heb jullie geluk voor ogen, niet jullie ongeluk: ik zal je
een hoopvolle toekomst geven.
Jer. 29:11
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. – Proverbs 15:13 NKJV
Pam Shaw Katy TX…Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
1 Thesselonians 5:18
Samantha Jackson, Greensboro, NC. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5, NIV
Julie Fitch, Ann Arbor, MI
“We are destroying speculations and every loft thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NASB)
Pamela Nicholson, Cumming, GA
“I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:23 ESV
Jena Shockley, Ruston, Louisiana
“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.” Psalm 139:1 NIV
Liz from Hilliard, Ohio
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 11:19 ESV
Jennifer Waters, Camden, Arkansas
Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (â€Matthew‬ â€26‬:â€41‬ HCSB)
So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be nothing at all. 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 41:10-13
Joan, Allentown, PA
Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of My mouth. Proverbs 4:5 NASB