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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carolyn Borszich, Coweta, OK, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 ESV
Jill Wiggins. Salt Lake City, UT. “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1 NIV
Karla Spurgeon, Clovis NM, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important things than himself;” Phil 2:3 NASB
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10 NIV
Sandra from Northwest Ohio,
Habakkuk 3:17-18 NKJ
“Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls-
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Megan Lady, Abilene, KS. “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111
Abby Allen, Hoover, AL “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
Kathy Land, Shattuck, OK., “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.” Psalm 145:1
Tami Todd, Pleasant hill,mo, Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek The Lord until He comes and showers righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12
Shauna Humphreys, Muse,OK. “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 lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Kimberly Ellison, Ft.Worth, Tx. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 NKJV
Bonnie Martin from Scottsdale, Arizona
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
For the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
Debbie Trevathan,Sugar Hill,Georgia, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.Commit your way to the Lord,Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.”Ps 37:4-5 NKJ
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer”. Ps. 19:14 NIV
“Be joyful in hope patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Jen Koning, Mattawan, Michigan. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV
Stephanie Allen, Fort Worth, TX, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NIV
Don’t depend on your own wisdom. Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong. Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be strong.
Proverbs 3:7-8
New Century Version (NCV)
Samantha Pegg, Hiram, Georgia “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 â€43‬:â€19‬ NLT
Lorri Sapp, Oak Grove, MO, “in the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law but under grace.” NIV
Helen Roseberry, Redondo Beach, CA, “The Year of the Lord’s Favor:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,” Isaiah 61:1 NIV
Gina Frazier, Haleyville, AL” Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in out time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 Life Application Study Bible
Sharon Arends, Tabor City NC. “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that i may declare all Your works.”
Psalm 73:28 NKJV
Tessa Dudley, Los Angeles, CA Many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Micah 4:2 NIV
Kathleen – Conway, AR 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.
http://bible.com/59/isa.43.19.esv
Michelle Dobson, Anchorage, Alaska, ” And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My HOPE and expectation are in You” Psalm 39:7 Amp
Janet G. in Galena, KS
John 14:3 ESV And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Deuteronomy 2:3 You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north. (NASB)
Missy Newman, Andersonville, TN “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching.” Romans 10:14 ESV
Susan McAnally Mars, Pennsylvania
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 NIV
Tonya Trent, Lansdale, PA, Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:19-21(KJV)
Debbie from Bossier City. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the richest of His glorious inheritance in His holy people”. Ephesians 1:18
Rhonda R. Fleshman, Strasburg, CO
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 KJV
Marcy, Indiana, January 1 2:24 Proverbs 4:26 NIV
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Tiffany from Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1st Chronicles 16:11 KJV
Nora Houston-Burton, Winchester, KY “But my God shall supply all your needs accoNorarding to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19 KJV
Eph. 1:13 NIV And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
I love the assurance of this scripture.
Shaunte Macarages, Fayetteville, NC-“I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation.” Psalm 118:21 NKJV
Deanna Koehl, Montgomery, TX “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ESV
Kelli-White Pigeon, Mi.
“As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.” (Psalms‬ â€17‬:â€15‬ NASB)
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 NIV
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Matthew 6:34 NIV from Brighton. Learning how to trust God in everything.
Marissa Hernandez from Houston, TX
Romans 12:9-10 (NIV)– Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
In Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Nicole from Iowa:
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. (â€Jeremiah‬ â€29‬:â€11‬ NIV)
O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me,
And deliver me:
Psalms 7:1 KJV
Tamara Wetsit, Las Vegas, NV
Psalm 71:1 In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. NKJ
Julie Walker, Noblesville, IN. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29
Melissa Dunmire, Satellite Beach FL
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
April Mozingo, Garland TX, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my job by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-2 ESV
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NIV