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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa Martin, Chesterfield MO
Teach me to do your will, for You are my God. May four gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing.
Susan Truelove
Indianapolis, IN
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 ESV
Deb N. Anchorage Alaska
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” Psalm 16:11 NIV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4: 13 NKJV
Angie, Jacksonville, TX
John 15:13 (NIV) 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
Krystal McKinney, Keller TX – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12 NIV)
Judy Gentry, Stigler, Oklahoma
Romans 12:14-15 “Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.” ESV
“For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.”
Ps. 33:4
Psalm 28:7 NIV
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:7
Verse #6 Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: (â€Philippians‬ â€1‬:â€6‬ )
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22 NIV
Linda. Jacksonville, FL
Philippians 1:6. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things. And he will cause you to recall everything I have told you. John 14:26 NIV
Jane Gill, Shreveport, LA
Matthew 13:23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. NAS
Kyleene Anderson in Yucaipa, CA “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “everything is permissible”, but not everything builds up.
Late start. But here we go. Aimee Adams,Highland, IN ~ “If God be for us, who could be against us.” Romans….
1 Samuel 1 12:24 NASB
Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
“But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:6-7 NIV
March verses:
Psalm 145
1. I will exalt you my God and King; I will praise your name forever and ever.
2. Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever.
My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever. Psalm 73:26
Teresa Shaw Goodlettsville, TN
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10 NIV
Late start, but here we go.
Anita du Plessis Jakarta, Indonesia
2 Corinthians 5:5 AMP
Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise].
Peggy Hodge, Monroe, LA 71203
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord!”
Psalms 27:4 NKJV
Aimee Adams~ Highland, IN-Late start…Psalm134:10 – Teach me to do your will, for you are my God, may your Good Spirit lead me on level ground.
I’m so happy to have this app. Now I can work on memorizing scritures.
Psalm 91:1 AMP
HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
Ashley from San Antonio, TX
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
Romans 8:38, NLT
“Beloved, let us love one another , for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” I John 4:7 ESV
Judy of Marietta ,GA says: May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Psalm 104:34 NLT
Judy of Marietta,GA says: I know , Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die. Jeremiah 10:23-24.
Heather Hanna, Anna, Tx
Matthew 20:28 NIV
just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.
Bennie Edwards – Amarillo,TX
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (â€Deuteronomy‬ â€31‬:â€6‬ NLT
Susan Hall, Sevierville, TN
But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.
II Thessalonians 3:3 HCSB
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life God has promised those who love Him. James 1:8
Susan
Tyler, TX
Posted: April1, 2015, 9:04 a.m.
“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ”
“To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?”
2 Corinthians 2:15, 16
Katie, Coventry, UK.
“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.”
Psalm 107v1
Marlene Indianapolis, Indiana
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 NIV
Tori, Willard, MO
Philippians 4:11-13 ESV
Not that I am speaking of being in neer, for I have learned in whatever situation to be content. I know hie to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
It’s long but if I can say this at any time I will find peace!
Melissa Ball- Salem Oregon
” How does a young man cleanse his ways? By taking heed according to your word.”
Psalm 119:9
NKJV
“The Lord is close to the broken-heartd, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.” Ps. 34:18 (NCV)
April 1, 2015 NIV James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights.
Samitra
Stigler
Psalm 143:10 ESV
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
Sarah Grant from Durham, Ontario Canada (joining a little late. Got my work cut out for me!)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”-Proverbs 9:10(NIV)
I like how the NLT says, “The fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom…” Powerful!!
Marie Skipper, Granger,Tx Hebrews 10:24 ” And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Rebekah Jones, El Paso, TX
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:24
NKJV
Proverbs 3:6 The Message
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
(p.s. while i’ve known this verse for years, the Message version spoke to me. HE alone is the one who keeps us on track!)
Proverbs 3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.