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) 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:
Your name, city, verse (written all the way out), reference, and translation.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liz, Round Rock,Tx
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15 NASB
Janna Halterman, Fresno.
I already posted my verse earlier this month, but I wanted to share with you that my two year old daughter is doing this with us. We’ve put some hand motions to our verse (James 1:22) and she is doing great!! So little Faye is joining the team ladies!!!…and she’s gonna help keep this mama accountable 😉
Vicky Dennis – Burnsville, MN
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 ESV
Janet Mckerlie, Spokane, Washington, ” 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 NBSA
I posted my first verse in the wrong place,
Beverly Price from Conway, AR
“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)
1 Corinthians 9:27
“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Candis L. Oswalt South Bend Indiana
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 John 5:18 (KJV)
Austin,TX
Phil 4:8-9
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Psalm 121:1-2
A Song of Ascents.I will lift my eyes unto the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (ESV)
Panama City Beach, FL – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Julie Piesik-Allen Park, MI And our hope for you is firm because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,so also you share in our comfort. Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
Colossians 3:16 KJV
Libby, Rochester, MN
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you; and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
Proverbs 27:1-2 NIV
Staci Irwin, Nolensville, TN James 1:2-3 (ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3 NIV
Jessica, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3 NIV
Denise-Zionsville, IN
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Sorry I’m a little late in posting the first one!
Hilary
Orlando, FL
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.” I John 4:1; NLT
Barb Denker, Meriden, CT – ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)
Kristy Garrett, Pearl, MS “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV
Kim Gadwah, Pewaukee, WI – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NLT)
Tracey Beal – Madison, MS
“Therefore,if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV
Tracey Beal – Madison, MS
“Therefore,if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Lori Carbo, Gilbertsville, PA “Keep this Book of the 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)
Jeremiah 29:11 forgot to add the chapter and verse!
Marianna Behrends, San Angelo, TX “But when you pray go away by yourself shut the door behind you and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father who sees everything will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
Carrie
Prior Lake, MN
I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. Ezekiel 36:26 MSG
Erica W. Hatch, NM
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Rhonda Parsons, Lynchburg Va
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NKJV
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
Jolene Jenkins, Suwanee, GA “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Alana McCullough, Lorton VA, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” NIV
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Matthew 6:27
Sheryl Bowles, Shreveport, LA “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27 NIV
Proverbs 3:5&6 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
Tai Courtemanche, Silver Spring, MD
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 1 Corinthians 2:1
from Houston, TX
Isaiah 26:8 “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth, we wait for you; for your name and renown are the desire of our hearts”
Matthew 5:16 NIV
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven
” We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” Hebrews 6:19-20 NIV
Ephesians 6:10,11 NASB
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Susan Harris
Livonia, MI
Shawna from Chandler Oklahoma. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Ps 16:1&2 NIV
Keep me safe, my God for in you I take refuge I say to the Lord.”You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
Judy Uetrecht
Circleville, OH
Romans 12:19-21 NIV
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for Gods wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge, I will repay,” says the Lord. on the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.
II Chronicles 16:9 NASB
Becky, Houston, TX
The Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me – a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
Lesley Roberts, Fort Worth, TX. “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
From Fort Worth, TX
“Let us acknowledge the Lord, let us press on to acknowledge the Lord. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear. He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea 6:3
NIV