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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Missy Sawyer, Columbia, SC – “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves [a]his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 – NASB
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 Young, Orangevale, CA
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
Annette, Toledo, OH
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11 NIV
Molly Carroll, Petros, TN: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. Philippians 4:6 TLB
Dainele Mendenhall, Longmont, CO
1 Peter 2:9, HCSB
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Stephanie Long, Anderson, SC “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
Deer Park, Texas
Lucy Ann Moll, Sycamore, IL
1 Cor. 10:13, ESV: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Isaiah 43:19 ESV
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.
Here’s to a new year and new journey.
Mary Morrical Aberdeen ID,
Psalms 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
– New American Standard Version (1995)
Heather,Phenix City, AL
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Pam Rowell, Round Rock, Texas
Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 HCSB
Tiffani, Walls Walla, WA. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NIV
Can’t wait to get started!
Melody, Jefferson Ga.
REVELATION 3:8 (MSG) I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you’ve used what you had to keep my Word. You didn’t deny me when times were rough.
In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy. Phillipians 1:4 niv
Laura Acuña, Damascus,Maryland.
” May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”~ Psalm 20:4
Isaiah 12:2New International Version (NIV)
2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.â
Karen Moore, Lubbock, Texas. Philippians 4:13, I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Mariska Laan, Lelystad, the Netherlands Europe, Ik laat jullie vrede na; mijn vrede geef ik jullie, zoals de wereld die niet geven kan. Maak je niet ongerust en verlies de moed niet. Johannes 14:27 NBV
Christina Brown
Louisville, KY
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Ephesians 5:1-2 MSG
2 Corinthians 12:9
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Cloverdale IN
Ashley Denning, Allen, TX. “Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” – Jeremiah 6:16 ESV
Durinda Abbott, Anderson, Indiana
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ROMANS 7:18 NIV
Sherri Henry, Emory, TX, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Jennifer White, Magnolia, Texas — Remember 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
Ann Brown, Acworth, Georgia. “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.” Job 23:12 ESV
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10 KJV
Becky Purchase, Euless Texas
Isaiah 43:19 NASB
[19] “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 12:2New International Version (NIV)
2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.â
Ramona, Great Falls, MT
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing”. Psalm 143:10 NLT
Sarah Meece, Union, Ky. “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)
Sheri Hughes, Florence, SC “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (NIV)
Jody Schwing, Troutdale, OR. 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
Because this is my hope after losing my precious son in 2012–love and miss you Chad!
Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who has sent me has 24eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 NIV
Ecclesiastes 4:14 niv
Though one maybe overpowered two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken…January 1,2015 @ 2:48pm
for God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power and love and a strong mind. I Peter KJV
Dora Robles, Harlingen, Texas
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Amber Daniels, Edmond, Oklahoma, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.” Romans 15:5 NASB
Diane Jackson, Riverside, CA
Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. Isa 54:2 NKJV
Lynn Grunder, Corona, California. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24. NIV
Woodstock, Va (USA) Even The Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17 KJV
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Phillipians 4:13
Nancy Kane Chattanooga, TN~Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Jenny Steward, Bend, OR. “For I know the plans I have for you,â declares the Lord, âplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.â Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Heather from Thompsons Station,TN. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing I desire besides you. Psalm 73:25 ESV
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”