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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary Beth Handley, Roanoke, VA, “I have written to you, children, because you have come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have come to know the One who is from the beginning. I have written to you young men, because you are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you had victory over the evil one.” 1 John 2:14 (HCSB)
Jenna Martinez, Burleson, Texas. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22
Laura Foss from Oak Hills Ca.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patKent in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
ESV version
Rosemary Osborne from Central City, NE “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43 NLT)
Jessica Fearn, Massillon, Ohio
My verse came from the King James Version
Robyn, Roswell, GA –
“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”
Luke 1:45 NASB
Bristow, Virginia
Isaiah 49:13
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains!
For The Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his
afflicted ones.
Kim Blair, Royse City TX
“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” (NIV)
“Where there is no revalation, people cast off restraint: but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Proverbs 29:18 NIV
Martie Carter
Belton, TX
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV
Denise McHone, Elkhorn City, Ky
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17 KJV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 5:1-ESV)
Temple, Texas
January 1, 2015
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (â€Colossians‬ â€1‬:â€13-14‬ ESV)
Kristin from Piscataway, NJ
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (â€Romans‬ â€8‬:â€28‬ AMP)
Jill, Dunedin,
What good is it , my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds ? Can such faith save him ?
James 2:14 NIV
Kenna Davey, Overland Park, Kansas, “See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
Ashley Karg, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. “Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.” Isaiah 52:2 NIV
Michelle from Fort Collins, CO
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NRSV)
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mother, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen,” Eph 4:29
Anne/Indiana
“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.” James 1:5 NIV
Karen R Ford, Stilwell, Oklahoma ~ Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Nikki, Kansas City, MO
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21, ESV
Blessed is she who has believed that the LORD will fulfill His promises to her. Luke 1:45 NIV
Susan, Simpsonville, Kentucky. I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
Sorry, Beth, I did not read instructions well! I left off my name and city in the post I made just a few minutes ago… Love technology!
Lisa, San Antonio, TX – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 NIV
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. Isaiah 61:1
Kerri Eichorn, Wichita Falls, TX. “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.” Psalm 25:10, NIV
Kristina Pindell, Burkburnett, TX
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:44 NASB
Markets, South Portland, ME
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. Isaiah 46:4 NIV
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
Jenny Stade, Clovis, CA
Brandy Metzger from Bison SD-
Matthew 7:6 “Gont give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn and tear you to pieces.” (HCSB)
Katie from Abilene, Texas –
​ “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
Debbie Liggett, Colleyville, Texas.
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Angie Jackson, Minden, LA
All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. 1Corinthians 9:25-26a (NLT)
Nancy Altizer, Chester, VA: For we are God’s masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus; so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Eph 2:10 NLT
Cedarville, OH
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men,
Colossians 3:23
Alison,
Tustin, California.
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17 NIV
Jenna Smith, Milliken, CO
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 of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:9 ESV
Gennie Hamilton from Granbury, Tx. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk up rightly. Psalm 84:11 NASB
Laura Spragg Gainesville Tx “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for diaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)”
Jana Sandoval; Atlanta, Georgia. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 ESV
Kim Ross, Ordway, CO “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” Ephesians 1:18 NIV
Dee Shera – Jacksonville, Florida
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV)
Ephesians 3:20-21New International Version (NIV)
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NAS
brittny, OKC, OK
And we know the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
1 John 5:20 NLT
Shari from El Dorado Hills, Ca: Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” ISA 54:10 The Message
Anita Jennings
Dubuque, IA
Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
(Hosea 6:3, ESV)
The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Kelly Eitzen
Tigard, Oregon
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – NIV (1984)