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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trish Derringer, Wetumpka, Alabama. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 NIV
Sheryl Hanson from Neenah, Wisconsin: “Endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.” Romans 5:4 HCSB
Joanna from Rockwall, TX: “Guide me in your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.” Psalm 25:5
Job 20:20 Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. ESV
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
1 Corinthians 5:17 NASB
For me this is beginning new habits in my faith life, eating, and friendships.
Nancy Ringer, Houston TX, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”. Psalm 46:10 NIV
Patience, Washington. ” I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
Ephesians 1:17 NIV
Kelly from Arkansas
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 NIV
JaneS, St. Louis, MO
“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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Cindy from Bend Or says Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, the old things passed away, behold new things have come.
2 Corinthian 5 : 17 NAS
Liz Kelley, College Station, Tx
“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NET
Christina Sheriff, Lebanon, MO, “To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33 HCSB
Carol Roskam, Jenison, MI “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.” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Rhonda Feenstra, Rock Hill, SC. “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (â€Jeremiah‬ â€29‬:â€11‬ NASB)
Amy from Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” Ephesians 3:17b-18 NLT
Susie McNeely Russellville AR
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.+
Romans 12:2 NLT
Maria Roate, Evansville,IN “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33 NIV
laura
Enumclaw, WA
Romans 15:13 NASB
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope by the power of the Spirit.
Isaiah 43:19 – Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Kristy Harbour, Clayton, OH
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. Proverbs 14:29, KJV
Debbie Brubaker, Robstown, TX “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8 NKJV
Amanda Lee Broadhead
Mendenhall, Mississippi
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 KJV
Beth Heneghan, Boston, MA. “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:14-17 NIV
Danielle from Oregon
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek” {Romans 1:16, KJV}.
Nancy Dill, Charlotte NC Hosea 12.6 NLV So return to your God. Show kindness and do what is fair, and waith for your God all the time
Earnestly remember the marvelous deeds that He has done, His miracles and wonders, the judgements and sentences which he pronounced.
Psalms 105:5 AMP
Rebecca Amaya, Elk Grove, CA
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Carol Ballard, Webb City, MO. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Leslie O’neal, Mendenhall, MS 2 Samuel 22:37 NIV You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
Jennifer Hostetler, Jonesboro, AR
I would have despaired unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 NASB
Kelly Sonderby, San Clemente, CA. “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NLT
Ashley Mosley, Las Vegas, NV
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father— and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15
Theresa, Chesterfield, Missouri “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”. Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Laurie Woolery, Palmdale, CA. “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” ~ 1 Peter 2:1 NIV
Trish Morgan, St. Clairsville OH “The Lord of heaven’s Armies has spoken- who can change his plans? When his hand is raised who can stop him?” Isaiah 14;27 NLT
Charity Verlander, Cardiff, Wales(UK) “For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:3-4
Anita Lupp, Cincinnati Ohio. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 NIV
Jennifer Hardwick, Scotts Valley, California
Colossians 2:7 NLT
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Jenny Wieland, Belleville, IL “Be strong and courageous. Do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Cassie, Seattle, WA “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” Psalm 1:1 (NIV)
Rachel from Danville, VA: “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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” [Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV]
John 15 New International Version (NIV)
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Katie Moran, Arlington, TX
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Elizabeth ~ Oak Ridge, New Jersey:
Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79 (HCSB)
Kelsey Long, Chickasha, OK. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Diane Cerda, Shawnee Mission, KS. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Cor. 10:5
Erin and kiddos – Esther, Miriam, and Paul. Springfield, MO. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. That whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
Betsey Reed, Plano, Texas. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV
Susan Iversen from Portland, Oregon “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NLB
Jodi Cox from Atlanta, GA
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me; thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalms 138:8 KJV