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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tara from Ogallala, NE
“I command you: be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Katelyn Pafford, Spokane WA
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3 ESV
Proverbs 25:28 ESV
“A man without self control is like a city broken into and left without walls,”
Leslie Phillips, Murphys, CA
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 NIV
This may be a second post- I went back through to see which verse I had submitted to memorize because I failed to write it down, but I could not find it so I am posting again to be sure. I’m sure it was there, but I could not even remember the day I posted it. 🙁 Hopefully my scripture memory will be a little better! LOL!
Chrissy Jones Clemmons,NC
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14, HCSB
2week!
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes there steps.
Julia Brockelman, Granbury TX
“His Divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 HCSB
Kelly from Atlanta, GA- Claiming victory on Satan’s mindgames….
Then I replied to him, “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”
Nehemiah 6:8 HCBS
Tajuana ~ Midland, Texas
Philippians 3:13b NIV
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind, and
straining toward what is ahead.
Licking Mo,
Give to every man that asketh of thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
LUKE 6:30 NIV
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 1 Timothy 1:7 KJV
Michelle Geisendorff, Rowlett, Texas. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV
Debi Phinney, Moline, IL “…..All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5: NIV
Camon Criger, Longmont CO. January 15. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD and to do it and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Kristin from Spokane, WA
“Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.” NKJV
Jasmin Montgomery, Hereford, AZ
“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 Corinthians 10:5
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)
Zephaniah3:17 NIV ” The LORD your God is with you. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Jill Jackson, Yuba City, CA. “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.” Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Bailey Cooper
Keller, Tx. (Luke 6:37 NIV)
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power 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. (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)
Auburn, AL
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. – Psalm 119:10 NIV
Evie
Cedar Creek,T
Neh 8:10 NIV
Turn your weeping into joy through faith, and the joy of the LORD will be your strength.
Heather Moore Sevierville,Tn
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you,; seek and you will find,; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10 NIV
2Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away;behold,all things become new.
Vicki Smith, Cleveland, TX “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Sam from Greensboro, NC
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. —Psalm 16: 8
Stacey, Williston, North Dakota
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16
Cathy McKenzie, Ft. Smith, AR, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5:22-23 NIV
I chose this next verse as a follow-up to continually remind me that if I am in the Word, these things should be what others are seeing and hearing from me.
Kim Daniell – Villa Rica, GA
“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 (NIV)
Julia Thomas, Brandon, FL
And the peace of God which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (HCSB)
Jeanna Romans, Bel Air, MD
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalms 34:14 KJV
1 Thessalonians 16-18 ESV Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Jeremiah 1:19
“They will fight against you,but they will not defeat you,because I am with you to protect you!” NCV
Lerato , Johannesburg South Africa
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
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.
Becky Mims, Midland, Texas “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3 (ESV, ASV)
The Lord is My Strength and my Shield, My heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for Joy and I will give thanks to him in Song. Psalm 28:7 NIV
Psalm 16:2 NIV I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
Jamie Samano, San Diego: Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Amy Allen, Wooster, Ohio
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men I would not be a servant of Christ”
Carrie Donnell Tallmadge, OH
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16 tniv
Alison Greever, Juneau, Alaska
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14 NIV
Dana M. Baton Rouge LA.
For I know the plans I have for you declares The Lord, plans to prosper and not harm you, to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
Riner, Va.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:23) KJV
Debbie Hall
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62: 1-2 NIV
Rachael from Heath, TX
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” NIV
Queen Creek, AZ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
Colossians 3:2
Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ESV
Valerie from Mesquite, TX
Philippians 4:4 (NASB)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.