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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Olivia, Rogersville, TN
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22-23 NIV
Shelby Shackleford, Hendersonville, Tennessee
For we know that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Mary Dalton, Illinois
Phil. 4:6-7 (ESV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Andthe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Samuel 6:14
Wearing a linen ephod, David danced before the LORD with all his might
Jennifer, Center Point,Iowa
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Kendra A., Houston
“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
“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.”
John 14:27 NIV
Susan Cahill, Mt. Morris, IL
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ” Acts 2:38 NIV
Alana Greenwich from Minden, LA
Acts 20:24 (NIV) “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
Tricia Graham, SoCal
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Kira Lee, Pittsburgh, PA.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
Stacy Fountain
Kate Fountain
Mary Dean Fountain
Bess Fountain
Dothan, Alabama
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23, NIV
Gina Higgins, Bulverde, Texas. “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” Philippians 4:5 NKJV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Philippians 4:6
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. NIV Is. 46:4
1 Peter 5:6-7 – Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Jenna Grantham, Tucson, AZ
“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” – Hosea 6:1 (KJV)
Rhonda Danville, Virginia Isaiah 30:18 NIV
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you, therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.”
Trudy Cox,Frisco,TX Isa 43:19 Behold I will do a new thing.Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.NKJV
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
And it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt…….
James 1:5-6
Billie Stone, Denton, Texas. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2. NIV
Samantha M, Morristown, NJ. “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.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
Leigha, White Oak, TX, Psalm 37:23-24, ESV
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”
Tamara Lane Spokane, WA
…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Ephesians 3:21 ESV
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Shannon; Misawa, Japan; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Hannah, Chandler, OK, Numbers 6:24-26, ESV
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Broomfield, CO Galatians 6:9
“Do not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time, he will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
“The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of sword and of spirit, of joint and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Melissa
Waco, TX
“The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of sword and of spirit, of joint and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Caroline
Waco, TX
“The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of sword and of spirit, of joint and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Jenna
Waco, TX
Ingleside,TX
Psalms 51:10 NLT
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal Spirit within me.”
Ruth Campos, Belleville, IL “JehovĂ es mi pastor; nada me faltarĂ .” Antigua Versiòn Revisiòn 1960 Salmo 23:1
Ruth Campos, Belleville, IL “En lugares de delicados pastos me harĂ descansar; Junto a aguas de reposo me pastorearĂ .” Salmo 23:2
Houston, 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. Phillipians 4:8 NIV
Hollie Berry, Murfreesboro, TN, ” Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.” Psalm 111:1 NLT
Nikki, Wichita, KS
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV
Krista L. Allison, Canton, OH
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (â€Romans‬ â€8‬:â€28‬ NIV)
Jo Harris, Cary, NC
Psalm 32:7, NKJV-” You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law.” Galations 5:22-23 NIV
“For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is power of God.” I Corinthians 1:18 NASB
Rene
Acworth, 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
Cristy Ricker, Goodlettsville, TN As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 NIV
Carolyn Zobrosky, Atlanta, You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. Psalm 77:14, NIV
Jeri Rosier, Portage, MI. “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you,he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Sherry Cunningham, Perry, GA ‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?’
Romans 8:31 NKJV
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if someone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
I John 2:1 NASB
Julie, Wichita Falls, TX “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 RSV
O taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. —Psalm 34:8 AMP
Lancaster, California
God is refuge and strength and ever present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1