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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jenni Dunn; Petal, MS
“The steadfast love of The Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22 & 23 ESV
Kathy French, Austin, Texas
“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and of King of kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.” Revelation 17:14 NIV
Bev Brandon, Austin Texas. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20. ESV.
So this joy of mine has been made complete. John 3:29
Aimmi Adams, LaRussell Missouri
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others more significant than yourself.
Philippians 2:3 ESV
Posted on January 1st, but can’t seem to find my post 🙂
Matthew 22:36-39 NIV
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in law? Jesus replied, love The Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your souls, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself.
Ruth Cole, Shreveport LA
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8. ESV
Kimberly from Springdale, AR
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; (â€Psalm‬ â€130‬:â€5‬ ESV)
Amy McMillan, Macon, GA: We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NLT
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14 (ESV)
Jennifer Camp Hill, PA
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 ESV
“Come and hear, all of you who reverence the Lord, and I will tell you what he did for me”
For I cried to him for help with praises ready on my tongue.”
Psalms 66:16-17
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Joy Huffman, Shoreview, Mn. “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 ESV
Morgan Myers – Chandler, OK
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:1 NKJV
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Cor 10:5 NAS
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 NIV
Cathy Eden, Mobile,Al
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my
Heart trusted in HIM, and I am helped: therefore
My heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will
I praise HIM. Psalms 28:7 (KJV)
Carla, Douglasville, GA.
“I waited patiently for the Lord;and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 KJV
Katie, Karuizawa, Japan: My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5 (NASB)
Posting again, since I don’t think mine from 1-5 showed up!
Chris DelMoro, Beckley, WV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear & timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
Proverbs 15:2 (NIV)
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
“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
Beth Howard~ Gillette, Wyoming.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Juneau, Ak.
Eph.3:19 KJV
To the the love of Christ, which passengers knowledge,that year might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Tricia, Greer SC, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phillipians 4:6
Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit.
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
Joel 2:25: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten – the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm – my great army that I sent among you.” (NIV)
Karen Quast, Melbourne, Australia
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 [NIV]
More than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Matthew 6:33. CEV
New Zealand,
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12, NIV
Virginia, from Mebane nc.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 3:14 NIV
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame because i know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
2 Tim 1:12 NIV
Mary
Woodway, Texas
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Tracie Johnson, Taylorville, IL
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1 KJV
Rosemary Laxton, Darlington, County Durham
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:he that cometh to me shall never hunger;and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 ( King James Version)
Amy Culpepper, Whitehouse,Tx Isaiah 43: 18-19.
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. Romans 12;12 NKJV
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen.
Rebecca, Sykesville, MD– Psalm 40:16.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
“Your work I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11NIV
Jody Johnson Madison, MSBut I say to you, love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:55 NKJV
Stephanie Watson, Branson, Mo
Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment.
Jessica Cavegn, Bethlehem, GA. “O Lord, you have searched me and know me. Psalm 139:1 ( NIV)
Julie McDevitt “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.” NIV
Ephesians 17b – 18″And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you might be filled to the measure of the fulness of God.”