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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Becky, from Central Pennsylvania~
“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” (Isaiah 43:19 MSG)
Whitney Snyder from Houston, TX
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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (â€James‬ â€3‬:â€17-18‬ NIV)
Liz Dunton, Rocky Mount, NC
“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I will fear your name.” Psalm 86:11 NIV
Lynn from Brandon, MS
Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ amng believers. Anything can happen.” Mark 9:23 MSG
Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before the Lord with singing. Psalm 100:2
Jennifer Evans, Christiana, PA
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV
Connie Knott from Brandon, Mississippi
“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
Heather Mora, CA.
“My flock will be secure in their land. They will know that I am Yahweh when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslave them.”
Ezekiel 34:27b (HCSB)
Amy Anders, Avon, Indiana
Luke 24:45 NIV
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45 NIV
Lisa, McKinney, TX
Proverbs 31:10 NIV
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Amy – Wylie, TX
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12 ESV
Ruth-Anne Lynch, Garvagh, N.Ireland “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture”
Malachi 4:2 (NLT)
Kelly Stoneham from Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you” – 1 Peter 5:6 ESV
Pam from Rockford,MI.
“Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.” Proverbs 21:5 The Message
Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV
Bobbi – St Charles IA – Three things will last forever : faith,hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT
Janette Sanne from Bryan TX
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes it is like a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 NKJV
Helen Magana – San Bernardino CA – “Blessed are you, O Israel, who is like you, a people saved by The LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you and you will trample down their high places. ” –Deuteronomy 33:29
Shayla from Corpus Christi, TX
This is my Breaking Free verse!
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense.
Psalm 62:5&6 (NKJV)
Gay, Summerville, SC-
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Carole From Kingwood “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€18‬ NIV)
Casey Middleton from College Station, TX –
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – 1 Thessalonions 5:11
I am crucified with Christ and I know longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20. NIV
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Ashley Coward, Vanceboro, North Carolina. “25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindess is on her tongue…30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31: 25-26,30 ESV
Kerri Rawson, Detroit, Michigan “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. (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ NIV)
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31King James Version (KJV)
Melissa B. Hillsboro, Kansas For I know the plans I have for you,” declare the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Dacia from Van Alstyne, TX
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Kari Jacobson , Waurika, Oklahoma
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called to his purpose.Romans 8:28
Dayton Horton. New Orleans, LA.
Make it your ambition to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1Thessalonians 4:11-12, NIV
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 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. Isaiah 43 18-19 NIV
June Greenstreet from Bradford Ontario: “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.” (â€Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€19‬ ESV)
Melissa Seidler from Salem, Oregon
“I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
Donna from Springfield, IL – Revelation 21:5 NASB And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Kendall Reidenbach from Dover, Ohio.
“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 hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Stacy Burright Beggs,OK
Consider it a great joy my brothers whenever you experience various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance but endurance must do its complete work so that you may be mature and complete lacking nothing
James 1:2 HCSB
Jennifer Guncheon from Elgin, SC
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Marie, Easley, SC
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and faithful in all He does.
Psalm 145:17 NIV
Beth Hurst, Ypsilanti, Michigan. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3 NIV
Heidi Duffield
DeWitt, Arkansas.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”. (Hebrews 4:14 ESV)
Karina Samayoa, Panama City Beach, Florida. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” Focusing on the 3 things the Lord wants me to do: To give Him thanks, to call on His name, to make known his deeds. Psalms 105:1
Penni Jones
Kingwood, TX
“For those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” Psalm 9:10 ESV
Vicki Graham, Corinth, TX. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”(â€Psalm‬ â€51‬:â€10‬ ESV)
Jennifer from Lancaster PA
Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,
we will never give up (!) 2 Corinthians 4:1 NLT
Selina B. Barbourville, KY
But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in ALL manner of conversation.
1 Peter 1:15 KJV
Spring Branch, TX Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV
Monica Forshey, DeSoto,KS–
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 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.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
Kristi. Idaho Falls ID
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