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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the message about The Messiah dwell richly among you
Colossians 3:16a HCSB
Sherry Mansfield TX
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and all your mind.’and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Luke 10:27 NIV
Lu Smith from Hendersonville, tn. “the Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him” (Ps 37:23 NIV)
Karyn H. – Costa Mesa, CA “Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalms‬ â€103‬:â€2‬ NLT
Tricia Dunton, Highland Park,IL
1/1 verse: 2 Cor 12:9 “But he said, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my wer is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ May rest upon me.”
1/15 verse: Col 1:19-20 “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
Cheryl; Morehead, KY “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
Psalm 17:6 NKJV
I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O GOD. You bend down and listen as I pray.
Ronda, Bremen, Ohio
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ione from Lakeville, MN – “The wisdom that comes from God is first pure, then peaceful, gentle and easy to please” James 3:17
Beth Howard~ Gillette, Wyoming.
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 glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Elizabeth Avery – Logansport, IN – Philippians 4:8New International Version (NIV)
8 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.
Cheryl; Morehead, KY “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
Tanya, Beloved, I wish above all things that though mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prosperth. 3 John 1:2 KJV
Gabby Potts, Cibolo, Texas. “After these things the words of the LORD came to Abram in a vision saying “Do not be afraid Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great award.” Genesis 15:1 (NKJV)
Carla van hemmen; Ede; The Netherlands,:
psalm 84 : 6&7
Gelukkig wie bij U hun toevlucht zoeken, met in hun hart de wegen naar U. Trekken zij door een dal van dorheid, het verandert voor hen in een oase; rijke zegen daalt als regen neer.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and you give strength to all. IChronicles 29:11-12
For where your treasure is, there your Heart will be
also. Luke 12:34(NKJV)
Naomi Josephson
Red Rock, Texas
James 1:19,20 NKJV
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Shannon Potts, Cibolo, Texas. “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4 NASB
Midland, TX
Proverbs 17:27
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
NIV
“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
Douglasville, Ga
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NIV
Kindall Walden Jackson, TN Psalm 100:4 NIV
Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you y ope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Romans 8:32 New International Version
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all–how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Julie, Coppell,TX~ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers. Proverbs 19:8 NIV
Carla from Nashville, TN Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Rae’chell Weaver, Wylie, TX “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
Sandy Norman , Baltimore, MD “Is this not the fast that I chose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6
Beth Araya – Missoula, Montana
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55: 22 (NKJV)
Paula,Gillett,”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Peggy Hodge, Monroe, LA. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 NKJV
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€10‬:â€5‬ KJV)
Amen!! We don’t have to be plagued by awful thoughts. Let’s bring those thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ ladies!! 🙂
Lisa DeVinney, Coxsackie, NY. “For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out…” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 HCSB
Kristi, Ypsilanti MI
Hebrews 12:2-3
New Living Translation
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;then you won’t become weary and give up.
Waupun-
Isaiah 33:2 NIV
“O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, Our salvation in times of distress.
Phil 4:9 Teresa, this same God who takes care of me, will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. NLT
Sheila, Cypress, 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)
Sandy Norman , Baltimore, MD “Is this not the fast that I chose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6 NASB
Jennifer Ransom, Warner Robins, GA
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 ESV
Belton, MO. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8 KJV
Kimberly Peterman from Perrysburg, Ohio
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they strength, and with with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”
Luke 10:27 KJV
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory , majesty, dominion, and authority , before all time and now and forever.Amen.” ESV Jude v24-25.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy snd dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colosians 3:12. NIV
Susan, Indianapolis, IN.
My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:20-22 ESV
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.
Matt 5:16 KJV
Tierra
Covington
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart. I will be found by you,” declares the lord. “and will bring you back from captivity…
jeremiah 29:13-14a (NIV).
Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer. Romans 12:12
Beth Ashland, KY
Akron ohio But I say this to u Love your enemies Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Nkjv matt 5:44
Chelsea B., Kountze, Tx,
God is our refuge and strength, and very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 KJV