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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tasha, Edmond, Oklahoma
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 ESV
Tasha, Edmond, Oklahoma
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 ESV
Darcy – Spokane, WA
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:24-26 (NIV)
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 paths, Proverbs 3:5-6
Robin Shackleford, Hendersonville, TN. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears The Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Liz Stewart, Minneapolis Minnesota. In him we have redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of our sins, in accordiance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1.7. TNIV
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:12 niv. Franklin TN
Anne Overbay, Spokane, WA. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT)
Holly, Grande Prairie Alberta. 1 John 1:5b-7 “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (niv)
“So chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG)
Romans 8:26 ESV-“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Teresa Shaw – Goodlettsville TN
âFor God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.â 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Isaiah 55:8-9 ” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares esays the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.(NIV)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (â1 John⏠â4âŹ:â18⏠KJV)
I am not sure this is getting included in the challenge. I saw it on the first one after I posted it but haven’t gotten any notices on it since. If you could please let me know if it has been included that would be a great help. Thanks!
Valerie Padgett, Aurora, Co. Verse #2 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ( NIV)
Beth Howard~ Gillette, Wyoming.
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what isthat good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge, His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4 NIV
Constance Neuville
Burnsville MN
Galations 6:9: Let us not be weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we don’t give up.
Joli, GA- “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. (Eph 2:8-10, NIV)
Amy DiGregorio, Lynchburg, VA
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)
1Cor 16:14- Let all you do, be done in Love.
Psalm 13: 5-6 NIV
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lordâs praise,
for He has been good to me.
Holly
Somerville, TX
“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing here! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19
TNIV
Donna Morris, Montgomery, Tx
“trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness.
Psalms 37:3 NKJV
Pam Pruett, Clarksville,Arkansas
Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him”. Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
Kimberly Dandridge, Saint George, SC. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10, NIV
Becky Schuck Conway AR Colossians 1:9 Ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Heb 11:6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Joy Britton
Sulphur Springs, TX
Psalms⏠â63âŹ:â7⏠(NASB)
For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
‘Rather, clothes yourselves in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.’
Romans 13:14 NIV
Jeremiah 15:16 “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight.”
Amy Bham AL Hebrews 4:12 NIV
For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NIV)
Jenny, Bradyville,TN
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps:” 1 Peter 2:21, NLT
Jabez called out to the God of Israel:
“If only You would bless me,
extend my border,
let Your hand be with me,
and keep me from harm,
so that I will not cause any pain.”
And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:10 HCSB
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 NIV
“You shall therefore love teh LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.” NASB
Mikayla, Kathy, Kasi, Hannah, Emily, Kelley-Rowlett, TX
“Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 ESV
Ginger – Charles Town, WV
9 If I rise with the sun in the east
and settle in the west beyond the sea,
10 even there you would guide me.
With your right hand you would hold me.
11 I could say, âThe darkness will hide me.
Let the light around me turn into night.â
12 But even the darkness is not dark to you.
The night is as light as the day;
darkness and light are the same to you.
Psalm 139:9-12 NCV
Bev in Kansas
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 NIV
Psalm 84:11NKJV
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
John,15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, Just as I have obeyed my Fathers commands and remain in his love.
John, 15:10
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, as I obeyed my Fathers commands and remain in his love.
John,15:10
If you obey my commands,you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Fathers commands and remain in his love.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Matthew 7:1-4
âJudge not, that you be not judged. 2 sFor with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and twith the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but udo not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, âLet me take the speck out of your eye,â when there is the log in your own eye?
Lori Russell, Chattaroy, Washington “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil”. Ephesians 6:10-11. ESV
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see