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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deb Normandin, Anchorage, Alaska
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Therefore since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, annd let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Stacey, Williston, ND
Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Ruth Campos, Belleville, IL “ConfortarĂ mi alma; Me guiarĂ por sendas de justicia por amor de su nombre.” Salmo 23:3 Version Reina-Valera 1960
Naknek, Alaska
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matt 8:26
Willa, Rock Springs, WY. “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it…’ Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:15, 18 NIV
Angela Fitzgerald
Midlothian, Texas
Do not be anxious in anything. In prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present all your requests to God.
Phil 4:6
Wendy, Charlotte, NC. “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 ESV
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Becky Mims, Midland, Texas
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 NASB
Tanya Atwood, Tyler, Texas,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Isaiah 43:1 ESV
But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you O Israel: ” Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Sorry so late – just found this post. I posted on 1-15 on the blog and 2-1 on the Facebook page.
Christi Brotherton, Fallbrook, Ca. “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.” Ps. 119:30 NIV
Heather, Moscow Mills, Mo
“The wicked borrow and do not replay, but the righteous give generously:
Psalm 37:21 NIV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (â€John‬ â€1‬:â€1‬ NKJV)
–Praierieville Louisiana
Cindy, Clinton, MS
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)
Kim. Batesville, Ms. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Ephesians 4:31 NLT
Romans 12:3 NIV
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Sue, Broken Arrow, OK
1 Corinthians 13:1
” If I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
Sue, Broken Arrow, OK
NAS I Corinthians 13:1 ” If I speak with the tongues of men and angels but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
Search me, O God , and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting
Psalm 139:23,24
NIV
February 2, 2015 at 6:14
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
John 14:1
NLT
Gabrielle Wray, Wake Forest NC
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Shanna Roldan,Pueblo,Co
And Moses built an alter,and called the name of it Jehova-nissi.EXODUS 17:15 (KJV)
Isaiah 66:1-2 (NASB)
Thus says the LORD,
“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
“For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
Carolyn Dotts
Spruce pine, NC
Lamentations 3:25 MSG
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks.
Cindy Bowman, Boones Mill VA
“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.”
Deuteronomy 24:22 NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself. Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
Kearse, Denver CO
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Teri Ware, Monroe Ga. “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope.” Romans 15:4 NCV
Jaden Bowman, Virginia
So God created man,
In His own image,
In the image of God
He created him;Male
and female He created
them.
Genesis 1:27 NIV
Sara Swan, Valdosta GA
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30 ESV
Lisa
Hendersonville, TN
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are my ways higher than your ways
And my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9
Carol Hosaflook, Abilene, TX FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. Romans 10:13 (KJV)
Kayley Hibbert Camp Point,IL
It is for freedom Christ has set you free, stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 NIV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (NIV)
Maegan, San Gabriel CA
“He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! Trust in the Lord always, for in the Lord, Jehovah, is your everlasting strength.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 TLB
Jill, Winchester, VA
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 (NIV)
Teresa Shaw, Hendersonville, TN.
Do not be anxious in anything. In prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present all your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me lie down in green pastures,
He leadeth me besides the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anoints my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23 KJV
“delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25 NIV
“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.”
Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
Malisa Grantham, Tucson, AZ
I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. KJV
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 NIV
Jane Gill, Shreveport, LA
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
Christy McCreight, Arlington Tx, John 16:33 NIV. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Ephesians 6:10
I am strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
Anna
Auburn, AL
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (â€Ephesians‬ â€4‬:â€32‬ ESV)