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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lala Ball Cooper from Ruston, Louisiana, says–
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 (KJV)
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish,and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28 ESV
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV. Dawn from Attalla, AL
John1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Wendy, Cary, NC
Do not let this book of the law depart from your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may carefully observe all that is written in it, then you will attain your goal; then you will succeed. New American Bible, Rev ed
Pat Brandau- Mooresville, NC
“For I know the p;ans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future ans a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NAS
Cindy, Fort WorthTX. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5 NIV
Lisa Atkinson from Chappell Hill, TX
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” Psalm 119:105 KJV
Abby Fraser, Austin TX – “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Ephesians 2:19 NLT Lucas, Kansas
Kelli, Columbus, NC
And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lordās glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (ā2 Corinthiansā¬ ā3ā¬:ā18ā¬ NIV)
Kelsey Lusk, Fort St John,BC, Canada. “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” Philippians 1:9
ESV
Judy, Oswwego, NY
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthian 3:17 HCSB
Chiko N. San Francisco CA,
Psalm 90 vs 17 And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our handsāyes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it. (Amplified)
Meg, Hoover AL
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6 NIV
Rhonda
Mount Airy, North Carolina
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
Katherine Hamilton, Cincinnati, OH
“For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 ESV
Keady Garcia, Goose Creek SC
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
Gretchen Hanna, Mill Creek, Washington
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Psalm 119:37 NLT
*reposting, because I lost connectivity as I was posting the first time, and wasn’t sure if it went through*
Patricia Jones, Albuquerque, NM
John 1:1 NIV “In tHE beginning [before time] was tHE WORD [CHRISt] and tHE WORD was with GOD and tHE WORD was GOD [HIMSELF]” [AMP][Isaish 9:6] year word is resilient, be… silent, listen, and enlist so HE can bring us back into His Original Design of Fellowship with Him and one another
Debbie Murphy from Crownsville, MD
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. Romans 8:28 NIV
Kathie Francis – Portland, Oregon:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 ESV
Kim Davis, Bristol, Tenn.
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” Isaiah 42:6 (NIV)
Dawn Baumgartner, Lake St Louis, MO
But he answered, āIt is written, āāMan shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.āā (āMatthewā¬ ā4ā¬:ā4ā¬ ESV)
Adrienne, Valdosta, GA
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Melissa Sangster, Simpsonville, KY. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22, NIV
Sue Pickrell Naples, Italy Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as to the Lord rather than for men. Col 3:23 NASB
Sierra Westberg, Arkadelphia, Arkansas
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewel of your mind, that by testing you may decern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV
Romans 8:1 (KJV)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Franklin, TN
Colleen Robinson, Dennison, Ohio
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians 3:12-13 KJV
Carol Copeland, Trumann, Arkansas.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)
Amanda Killough, Wetumpka, AL. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1Thessalonians 5:16-18.NIV
Spring, texas. I came that you may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows. John 10-10 NIV
Katheen Knowles – Clinton, NC
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Cara, Dickinson Texas
NKJV
Proverbs 29:11
I pray that I understand that a fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.
Jill Holamon – Early, Texas
‘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.ā
Isaiah 41:10 NASB
Tina from New Hope, MN
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,”. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Cor. 12:9 (NIV)
Tammy, Winnsboro, SC
Hosea 14:1-4 NLT
Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down.
Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him,
“Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises.
Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we
have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.”
The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds,
for my anger will be gone forever.
Karla Tovar, Baldwin Park, CA: Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10
Sheryl Ewing– Golden, MS, ” As we have therefore opportunity , let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith ” Galatians 6:10– KJV
Mandy from Idaho Falls, ID
“The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:11-12 (NASB)
Kaylie Vega, TX
“Give thanks in everything. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB
Mindy, Minot, ND. “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deut. 31:8 NKJV
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Andrea, Massillon, Ohio
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Tim 1:7 NLT
Karen Sorrell, Butler, Kentucky
So then, if anyone is in Christ (s)he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – Look, what is new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
I am an ‘old’ Christian but have not put away all those old bad habits. This is a new year and I desire to be a new person with all things old passed and the new me moving forward in Christ!!
Glad to see someone from Pendleton County on here with me.
Debbie Sharp
Jill, Gresham, OR. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. Ps 103:13 ESV
Carla Fix, Greenbrier, Arkansas, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NLT
Stacie K
Springfield, VA
Colossians 3:15 NIV
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the stength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 NIV