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) Ā 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 ofĀ 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 areĀ 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:Ā
Your name, city, verse (written all the way out), reference, and translation.Ā
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 citizensĀ with the saints and members of the household of God.”Ā 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 householdĀ all we’ve got. Christ is so altogether worthy.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! One last thing before I say Go!Ā 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 upĀ on the SSMT informational comments. Ā 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. Ā I know it’s a bit complicated at first! Hang with it!Ā So sorry for your extra trouble!
Hey, I am so glad you’re doing this with us. So much love to you.
OK, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: The father to the children shall make known thy truth.”
Isaiah 38:19
You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way,
and when you lie down,
and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:7
Gwen Farley, Lubbock TX. Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalmā¬ ā62ā¬:ā1-2ā¬ NIV
“Show me your ways Lord, teach me your paths.”
Psalm 25:4 NIV
Isaiah 41:10-14
Don’t be afraid for I am with you, Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. See, all your angry enemies lie there confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing. You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. For I hold you by your right hand-I, the Lord you God. And I say to you, Don’t be afraid I am here to help you. Though you are lowly worm, O Jacob, don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you . I am the Holy One of God.
8220 Partridge Bend Cove
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12;1-2)
Jumping on board late but here are my first 2 verses
Houston, TX
“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 a hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Candy Perry
Lawrenceburg, Ky
January 24, 2015
Zechariah 8:16
These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
– King James Bible “Authorized Version”, Cambridge Edition
1 John 4:4 (KJV)
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Jenni Banicki – Elk Grove, CA “for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” Deut. 20:4 (ESV)
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NASB
Lancaster, CA
“The Lord, who is always thinking about us, will bless us.”
Psalm 115:12 (GW)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.
Isaiah 55:8-9
Psalm 143:8 NIV
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.
2nd verse
Jeremiah 29:11
“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 a hope and a future.”
Royse City, TX
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,ā declares the Lord, āplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Rebeca
Katy, Texas
Job 5:8-9 (ESV)
āAs for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.ā
Romans 8:38-For I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels or deamons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, 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. (NIV)
Susie Lucas, Bowling Green, KY. “I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Rosario Kowalski, Springfield, Mo.
āFather, the hour has come; glorify your Son that
the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him
authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all
whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life,
that they know you the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom you have sentā. John 17: 1-3 ESV
OOPs! Not sure how my husband’s picture came up as my Avatar, but yes, I am a female. This was my post for Jan 1-15th, so I will post my second scripture hopefully with my own picture!
Tiffany T. from Irving, TX
“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, TNIV
christie,
memphis, tn
Hebrews 4:12 ( RSE )
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Anita Hayes, Justin, TX
Psalm 63:7 ” For Thou hast been my help and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy. Psalm 63:7 (NAS)
Mindi Geyer, Silvis, Illinois. āDo you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary. There is no limit to His understanding.ā Isaiah 40:28, HCSB
Lacey (Rockwall, TX) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 ESV
Trechell in Spring, TX
“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.” Psalm 16:7 ESV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10
NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
NIV
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines; though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food; though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in God. I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Katie Rush, Westfield, Indiana. “He must become greater; I must become less.ā John 3:30, NIV.
Verse #2 (had difficulty logging in š )
“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matt 7:8 NIV
Elizabeth Neumann, Renton, WA.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a, ESV
Christina Luther
Roseburg, Oregon
Ant the Lord came and stood and called as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
1 Samuel 3:10 AMP
Amy, Everett WA, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (AMP)
Amy Oland
Durham, NC
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV
Shand Cheesman
Danville, IL
Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ. And to know this love that surpasses knowledge ā that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Jesus said “These thingsI have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
John 15:11
Stephanie Knight, Sedona,
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” -Ephesians 4:29
Khakki Bonner Nashville, TN
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ESV
Pam Cleary-Remus. Illinois
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. NKJ
Janelle MacKay, Malta,NY.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:25-27 NIV
bonnijean from Wichita, KS. “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” Luke 1:37 AMP
Cecelia Martinez Fort Worth,TX “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 ESV
Tammy Fisher, 108 Mile Ranch, BC. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16 NIV
Cynthia, Missouri
May God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, He will surely do it. 1 Thess 5:23-24 NIV
James 4:7 NLT
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust. Psalms 91:2 KJV
Jennie Bowers, Deland, Fl
I Love you O Lord, my strength . Psalm 18:1
Dianne, Lafayette, LA
My salvation and my honor depend on a God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge Psalm 62:7 NIV
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; (ā1 Thessaloniansā¬ ā1ā¬:ā1-4ā¬ NASB)