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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michelle, Bend, OR – Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding – Isaiah 40:28, NLT
Amy Franklin, Jackson, MO. “But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 New International Version (NIV)
Dianna Whaley, Clovis, CA ” And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col 3:17 NIV
Jen Massara, Albany, Oregon. I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 NLT
“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
Martha Castillo, Avondale AZ. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 NIV
Ashlee Davis, Owasso, OK “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
Michele N, Dallas,TX
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.”
Psalm 119:10-12 NIV
Kristy T. River Falls, WI
But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. James 3:17, NIV
Now to Him who is Abke to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ask or imagine. Eph. 3:20-21
So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Debbie, Spartanburg, SC “Let the king be enthrolled by your beauty;honor him, for he is your Lord.” Psalm 45:11 TNIV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:22-26
Tracy McCullough, Conyers, Ga. Romans 5:12 ESV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.
Abby McBroon, Loudon,TN I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV
Lisa Cummings, Joaquin, TX, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, not sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1,2 KJV
âLet 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.â Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Jacki Brown -Brandenburg, Kentucky Whether you. Turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “this is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Tina Heath of Winona, MS
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what The Lord says – He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned: the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Nina, Stigler, OK:
Then I saw âa new heaven and a new earth,â for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, âLook! Godâs dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. âHe will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more deathâ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.â He who was seated on the throne said, âI am making everything new!â
Revelation 21:1-5a (NIV)
âRemember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
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 43:18-19 ESV
Danielle Bruner, Cleveland, OH, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” -James 3:10 ESV
danielle k, Nebraska!
John 1:16
Sue Burns, Peebles, OH
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:7-8 NKJV
65 N 3rd W.
From Red Bank, NJ
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
Gail from Bremerton, WA
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 NKJV
Rose, Vancouver, Wa
Establish my steps and direct them by Your Word let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Psalms 119:133 (Amplified)
Rachel, Mt. Carmel, PA – “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:13, NIV
Dee, Willmar MN
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (â2 Corinthians⏠â4âŹ:â7⏠NIV)
Patricia Calhoun, Wylie,TX- “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 45:10 ESV
Debbie Williams, Albemarle, NC, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 NKJV
Leann Mendenhall, Moore, OK. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV
Mary, Pelham,
Phil 1:6 (NKJ) Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you (me)will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Caryn Clarke, Mt Airy MD
Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. James 1:19 AMP
Deborah Edgar, Beaumont, Texas
Philippians 4:13
I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me…
Jo Anne Musick. Seguin, TX. Create in me, O God, a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. ESV
Central City, Kentucky
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do Your will for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on firm footing.
I’m starting the new year out in God’s Word and letting God lead me towards a new destination with a new beginning.
Shannon Smith, Newport, TN. 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 43:2 NLT
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5 NKJV
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consume, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;” therefore I will wait for him.
Lamentations3:22-24 NIV
Staci Mikeska Houston TX “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13 NIV
Lisa Doorenbos, Boyden, IA “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (âHebrews⏠â4âŹ:â16⏠ESV)
âMay the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.â Psalm 19:14 NIV
Diane Madore; Butler, Georgia:
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV )
“The dear of The Lord is knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Marce Gouldin, Onley, VA. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 ESV
Lori Ft. Myers FL.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NASV
Becky, Abbotsford, BC Canada, “Because of the Lords’ great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:22
Ally from MO. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the dessert. Isaiah 43:19 AMP