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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Debbie Faris, Boca Raton, FL
Teach me your ways, O LORD; make them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you. Psalm 25:4-5 St. Jerome
Luci Nicholson, Denton, TX I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV
Eden, Prattville, Alabama: 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)
Debbie Faris, Boca Raton, FL
Teach me your ways, O LORD; make them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you. Psalm 25:4-5 St. Jerome
Donna Gantt from Athens, LA: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
Gabriella Houston, Rocklin CA, Micah 7:18 NIV Faith Girlz Bible
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
Shelley Powers Hartford, Arkansas
1 Cor 2:12
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Kayley Hibbert – Camp Point, IL
Psalm 121:1-2 {NIV} I lift my eyes up to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Colossians 3:23
NIV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for The Lord, not men.
Susan Wimmer, Bristol, Wisconsin. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Christy Donaghy, Waco, TX. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (NLT)
Trina, Murfreesboro
“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
Brandy Solis- Fresno, Ca.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (â€Ephesians‬ â€2‬:â€10‬ NIV)
Brenda Hohweiler – West Chester, OH – “May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.” Romans 15:13(NIRV)
Shari Valdez, Long Beach, California.
And you seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV
Angel Turnbow from Haughton, LA: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 KJV
Diane Currie, Schertz Texas – “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12 NIV
Mary Thompson, Lynchburg, TN,
John 14:1 (KJV) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Lisa Jensen, Lyman, WY
Romans 5:8 NIV
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us.
Tari Hathcock, Washington, MO
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of gory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe
Ephesians 1:17-19a ESV
Treasure Ledder
Midland, TX
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV
Sarah Dashevsky. New Orleans, LA. 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)
Tina from Eaton, CO
******** Psalm 40 ********
1 I put all my hope in the Lord.
He leaned down to me;
he listened to my cry for help.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of death,
out of the mud and filth,
and set my feet on solid rock.
He steadied my legs.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise for our God. Common English Bible
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19 NIV
Teresa Van Hook from Oliver Springs, TN
“How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.”
NASB
Marylee Hamblin, Nicholasville, KY, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” NIV
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 5:5 NIV
Susan
Tyler, TX
1/15/15, 10:30 p.m.
“All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant.”
Psalm 25:10 (NIV)
Susan, Fort Worth
Isaiah 55:2 NIV
[2] Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Rochelle – Bryan, Texas
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 – KJV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear ?
Psalms 27:1 NVI
Romans 8:38-39New International Version (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
Sherri Wiseman, Port Republic, VA But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV
Lydia from Colorado Springs CO
Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matt. 10:31
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 103:2 NASB
Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits.
Kimber Perrotta from East Hampton, CT
“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” Matthew 19:26, NLT
Vicki Allen, Jackson,tN
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13. NLT
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficent 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
Tracy Chapman
Andice, TX
1 Corinthians 15:18
“Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:11-12 NIV
Carla Armstrong, Harlingen, Tx. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 Life App Bible
sascha Martinez, red oak tx
I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me Philippians 4:13 kjv
Janet Faucher, Phoenix, AZ
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7 NIV
Hebrews 12:14-15 “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” NIV
Angie Hall, Spokane, WA: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19 NIV and “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 HCSB