Remembering the Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration 2014!

Update: Ladies! Your group pictures (and a TON of other great pictures) are up on the flikr website for you to enjoy and download. If I could have I would have posted all of them here, but this is so fun as well! Click here and enjoy!

Happy Monday, ladies! I don’t know how many of you have the day off thanks to MLK, but either way I hope your week is off to a wonderful start. Contrary to our weather all day Saturday, we woke up to a very foggy Houston this morning. To me, it feels very melancholy. We also hope and pray that all 480 of you that made the trek to Houston, made it back to your homes and families safely and soundly!

Didn’t we have a fun weekend together? I submit that indeed, we did.

Just last night I hopped on Instagram and Twitter to filter through our hashtag for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised to see tweets still being thrown up! It was so fun to hear from so many of you. (If you wanted to take a look, just search #SSMCT2014)

The weekend started on Friday when Jenn and I went up the HFBC to get everything set up early. We are so grateful to the church for giving us this extra time because it would have been nearly impossible to have everything done if we only had Saturday morning, which is always crazy anyway! On Friday we were even greeted by our first Siesta, Linda, from Colorado! She offered to help so we put her hands to work as well. Thank you, Linda!

Actually, I take that back, we were greeted by our first Siesta on Thursday who rolled into the office parking lot in her motor home bearing a sweet gift and her entire family. By the time Sarah and her family arrived that day from Washington, I had already left the office so I didn’t get to say hello, but I have no doubt my coworkers took care of her and greeted her warmly.

Anyway, back to Friday, once Jenn and I felt confident that most things were ready to go, we loaded up and headed back to the office just in time to say a quick hello to Travis and Angela before Beth whisked them away for the night. This is how we left the church that day; all we needed was some ladies to fill those chairs and a Bible teacher to come teach us about our memory.

And then I went home and promptly washed my face, put on my pj’s, popped in a movie and called it a day.

Saturday morning came quick for all of us, but the day was finally here! Woohoo! I mean, let’s be honest, did anybody sleep well Friday night? I think we were all really anxious, and by anxious I mean excited!

Once I arrived Saturday morning I wasn’t at all surprised to see the line of ladies leading to the children’s area ready to check-in! We tried to efficiently get everyone through the registration line quickly so you could move onto more important things like making your coffee and meeting internet friends in real life for the first time. Oh, and take all manner of pictures!

Once 9:00 rolled around Beth gave us a warm welcome and then Travis kicked us off with some praise and worship.  And from the minute we began there was a sense of freedom and celebration in the room, and rightfully so! Memorizing 24 scriptures is worth celebrating! Besides the fact that all weekend we were face to face instead of screen to screen, I loved that we could say “Siesta” or “Siesta Mama” all weekend long without having to explain that term of endearment. Can we get an amen? Does anybody else look at you like you’re crazy when you say siesta, and you aren’t talking about a nap? Makes me laugh every time.

After worship we dug into the word and learned all about our MEMORY. And more specifically, how the Lord renews our mind with scripture memory. Here was our acrostic:

Memory is an inestimable gift.
Erasing memories may seem the goal, but reframing is what heals the mind.
Memory is the driving force of all relationship.
Ordered thoughts are most accurately remembered.
Remembering is to revival what forgetting is to rebellion.
You have the power to put good into another person’s memories.

Each point made was so profound, but I’m partial to “Y”. I so want to put good into another person’s memories. Let it be, Lord! Kindness goes so far.

Among the teaching and worship, we had a group picture time by our fantastic man-made Siesta tree! What you ladies didn’t see before the picture was the tree that had blown over. It was a sad sight to see but I’m more frustrated I didn’t get a picture because it was slightly humorous assuming all was well, and it was.

After our group picture we had the best hour and a half eating lunch together because HELLO CALIFORNIA WEATHER! It could not have been more beautiful outside. Thank you, Lord!

We wrapped up the last session by reciting our scriptures to those sitting around us and then we experienced a powerful prayer time that I won’t soon forget. At the end Travis led us in Amazing Grace and I recorded everyone singing, because it was heavenly. You girls came for Jesus and you got some Jesus, with an added bonus of laughter, celebration, door prizes and giveaways thrown in as well!

 

We said our goodbyes, prayed our way out of there and hope you all treated yourself to some tex-mex. Thank you for being such a fun group and thank you for letting us serve you. We really do love you and without your participation, SSMT simply would not exist!

We may or may not have snuck in a few pictures because by the end of the day we were giddy tired and realized that Nancy and Sherry were twins. Perfect.

Most of the staff had left by this point, but seven of us sat down for about 20 minutes and laughed a bit before we parted ways. Including those who had already driven away, there isn’t anyone else I’d rather serve with. These ladies work hard and have fun. We were tired but so full.

Real smiles.

May Christ make himself more real to you in 2014 than He did in 2013. And may your memories be run over by revelations of Jesus and GOOD THINGS! We’d love to hear why the Lord brought you to Houston this weekend and what He taught you.

We love y’all dearly.

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85 Responses to “Remembering the Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration 2014!”

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  1. 1
    Kristin A. says:

    Praise Lord for His Word! No SSMT this year, right?

    • 1.1
      Lindsee says:

      No SSMT in 2014, you are right. We only do it every other year. So God-willing we’ll strike it up again in 2015. But don’t let that keep you from memorizing. Find a group of girls if you can and go for it!

      • Amanda Porter says:

        Lindsee, I creates a group #LoveWhatIsTrue to memorize 12 verses this year.
        I would love for anyone and everyone to join me.
        Amandanporter.wordpress.com

        • Andrea Porter says:

          Hi Amanda! I just had to say hello since we share the same last name and a first name starting with the letter A. It was great to meet you at SSMT 2014.

          PB+J,

          Andrea Porter
          PB+J= Peace, Blessings + Joy 🙂

          • Amanda Porter says:

            Andrea!!

            It was so great to meet you. Praying blessings over you in 2014. 🙂

            Amanda PORTER!

        • Sandy says:

          Amanda, I would love to join you!
          Verse 1 Ps. 5:12, KJV, “For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

  2. 2
    judy says:

    And Thank you, Lindsee as well as the rest of the staff (and Siesta Mama too!) for everything you did that day that helped make it truly a day of celebration. It was so fun putting names and faces together, but much more than that, it was like being at one big happy family reunion! It still gives me chills when I think about standing in the room, reciting my verses and listening as others did theirs. 480 women raising their voices in praise and worship, speaking God’s words out loud to and over each other. It was an experience that I will not soon forget. It was truly powerful and thanking God for getting me there.

  3. 3
    lynda rickey says:

    Beth, Lindsee and LPM Staff, Thank you so much for hosting us. I had a wonderful time and met some great sisters in Christ. I am totally refreshed and ready for 2014. What a sweet sweet gathering this side of Heaven and I was blessed to be a part of it. Can’t wait for our next one. Lindsee it was such a pleasure to meet you in person and hug your neck. You are beautiful inside and out! Love you guys.

  4. 4
    Betty Marschner says:

    Dear Siesta Sisters,
    I failed just at the end to make it to the 24th verse memorized! In a way I did not fail becuz any verse put to memory is a victory over satan!! I have read hundreds YES hundreds of Christian books but I can tell you nothing stays with me like scripture does!! Some books have riviting stories of presevering through firey trials and the stories stay with me or a new principle stays with me a bit but it is the scripture that has the staying power!!!
    I may never make a SSMT event in Houston but you can bet your pretty boots I am going to enroll in the memory work every time it is offered because it is….. the soothing lotion on an intense burn, it is the drive up the driveway after being gone too long from home, it is the storm celler when a tornado passes over,it is the familiar in a cold strange site you wish you hadn’t visited!! Don’t laugh at these comparisions but His Word truly stands when everything collapses around me!!
    Looking forward to next year!!!
    PS I am happy you all had fun!!!
    Betty

  5. 5
    Volleyball Ginger says:

    Beth and the entire gang at LPM……thank you, thank you, thank you!!! My heart is full and I feel so blessed to have been there with everyone again. It was a hard year and I almost dropped out on several occasions but I persevered….SOOOOO glad I did.

    Anyway, we Siestas appreciate ALL of you!

    Blessings,
    Ginger
    Wetumpka, AL

    • 5.1
      Beth says:

      Ginger – I SO loved watching you grooving on the front row! Your enthusiasm was contagious and you were a blessing! See you in 2 years!

    • 5.2
      Missy S says:

      Ginger! My mom and I so enjoyed meeting you over the weekend! On the plane ride home, we kept talking about all the wonderful Siestas we met, and you were one of the names we kept bringing up! Thank you for introducing yourself to us and telling us your story. Keep loving on those middle school girls. They are blessed to have you in their lives!

      • Volleyball Ginger says:

        Thanks Missy….we loved chatting with both of you as well. Let’s hook up on Facebook! Ginger Sprague Lowe.

      • Cindy C says:

        Missy it was so nice to meet you and your mother! I still can not believe that Amanda grew up just down the road from you guys! Amazing how God puts people in our paths!

        • Missy S says:

          Cindy, it was so great to meet you and to sit next to you to, too! That is so crazy that Amanda grew up in Murrells Inlet! What a God thing! Hope to see y’all again sometime!! Blessings!

  6. 6
    kathypinkbicyclearkansas says:

    Amazing! What a great weekend. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to come as I had spinal fusion surgery and am still in recovery. This was my first big outing and I passed through the airport metal detectors in spite of having a metal plate and screws in my neck and shoulders. This weekend was a healing weekend for me. Thank you Beth and Living Proof

  7. 7
    katiegfromtennessee says:

    Lindsee, It was super nice to meet you in person at the event!:) I think The Lord brought me to Houston, to revive my spirit and encourage me to keep my mind set on things above, that is, the higher things. The Lord taught me much through Siesta Mama Beth’s message. The overarching word I got was this: to think on what is true concerning my past, present, and future even. When she mentioned the word, “true”, I knew that was what The Lord wanted me to focus on as I appropriate the victory Christ has given me as a child of God. That one word has helped me the most over the past year and a half because to say just that word to myself when I am tempted to be depressed or tempted by sin helps me to remember these verses, which are beautifully freeing if you really think about it: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure…lovely…commendable…excellence…worthy of praise, think about these things.” Truth is what we are to remember. PURE TRUTH. His Truth given to us about ourselves. There is absolutely nothing false about the Truth, and what is really true of us as women in Christ. I love that!! I am praying for that mind set on truth. A mind that meditates on what is true of me as His daughter. Then I will be being continually transformed by the renewing of my mind set on His Truth about me. I surely do love you all at LPM!! It was such a blessing to be in Houston this past weekend:)

  8. 8
    Sandy Bowers says:

    Boy, how I wish I could’ve been there! So thrilled for those who were able to make it! Looks like a blessed time was had by all. Here’s hoping for another SSMT in 2015/16! Love to all!

  9. 9
    Laura Proctor says:

    Thank you Ladies for all your hard work this weekend!!! It was such a blessing. The Lord brought me to Houston to learn that I have the choice to make good or bad memories, and I have to choose to put good in others memories. I’m seriously considering keeping up the scripture memorization on my own. What a blessing!

    • 9.1
      Kathy says:

      I am on my own. Just linked up to amandanporter.wordpress.com -see above. Sign in once a month for 12 this year. I wouldn;t not do it. Keeps me focused in prayer-what better way than on His Word.

      I pray these Scriptures the Lord always gives me as I excercise. Almost all the ones this year ended up being prayed and very applicable in Dec. over our 36 yr old son in laws emergency heart surgery. The doctors didn;t expect him to live-Glory Be to God-He is doing well and healing slowly. Tears for me whenever I share this at the closeness of eternity and how we each need to be prepared and pray fervently for one another at all times.

  10. 10
    Alyssa Molina says:

    Dear Siesta Mama and Staff,
    Wow! What a weekend! God blessed me in more ways than I could count this weekend! As I shared with my newly-met siestas, this has been one of the hardest years of my journey with the Lord. My husband and I have really struggled over the past 2 years after he spent an extended period of time doing mission work. We had just been starting to heal and really be strong as a couple again when our pastor admitted he had been involved in an affair. This was so devastating to us, as we were good friends with him and his family as well as with the woman. Since then another dear friend’s marriage has been almost broken by adultery, and another friends by pornography addiction. This is all since June y’all! :-0 We have been so stunned and heartbroken. But praise God for His word. It’s these scriptures that He brought to me over and over again when I have contemplated giving up on my marriage, my church, and/or my friends. SSMT was my joy-line and sometimes my lifeline. Though I came alone, I wouldn’t have let anything stop me from getting together with my siestas and praising our faithful and omniscient God who knew how badly I would need this when I mindlessly took up this challenge a year ago. Ok- I know this is too wordy. I love you ladies, more than you can know!

  11. 11
    Valerie says:

    Thank you Lindsee! What a beautiful recap of our time spent together on Saturday.
    I enjoyed the pictures and seeing familiar faces – new friends I made on Saturday as well as those I have met through the years.
    Thank you to all of the LPM staff. You are so appreciated!!! You went above & beyond to make sure we were pampered and loved. Thank you, Beth for the awesome lesson & as always it ministered to me. “Y” was the letter that especially spoke to me. I have the power to put good into another person’s memories. Also, thank you to Travis & the praise team for an anointed time of worship. I’ve attended all three of the Scripture memorization events & am already looking forward to the next one.
    Each time I meet new Siestas who become good friends. God showed favor to us in every way ~ it was a perfect day! Thanks again!!! Love to all!

  12. 12
    Paula Williamson says:

    What a wonderful celebration! This was a very
    special time for me and I left feeling so free and so blessed. Thank you to all who made this wonderful day possible! Thank you, dear Jesus, for giving us such beautiful weather so that our siestas who came from far cold places could bask in our beautiful sunshine! I cannot wait for Tuesday night because I live in Houston and am planning to attend the 7-week Bible study that our
    siesta Mama will be teaching! I am so ready to jump into the Word. To all who have traveled back home, it was wonderful to praise with you. Much love to all of you!

  13. 13
    Kristi S. says:

    I think this was the best event I have attended. I love LPL and go every time it is close enough to drive it. I also loved the last SSMT. This year was even better. I had chills from the beginning. This event was the answer to my prayers over the past couple months. God has shown me exactly what I need to do. I appreciate all the prayers I can get to help me carry this out and do God’s Will.
    Thanks to all of you at LPM. A special thanks to Beth. It amazes me how God uses you to speak right into my heart and particular situation. The first one of your bible studies I done changed me forever. I fell in love with God’s Word. I don’t just want to read the Word but study it and oh how exciting it is. Thanks for the best event ever. You are all in my prayers.

  14. 14
    Heather says:

    LPM TEAM,

    Thank You! Thank You! What a blessing you all are. You planned such a fun and personal day for all of us! Please know how much I appreciate you taking the time to make each of us feel special and proud of our memorizing scripture.
    I hope you got some rest after all the hard work you did. 🙂 Have a wonderful week.
    Many Blessings,
    Heather O.

  15. 15
    Sue Caldwell says:

    LIVING PROOOOF..Yes im refreshed for the next two years.
    You all are the bestie! Thank you,
    Merci, Danka,
    The word of God is quick, powerful and sharp like you LPM
    and Beth. have fun this year.

  16. 16
    Kim says:

    Hi Lindsee. I couldn’t make it to the SSMT Celebration this time due to health reasons, but I was praying for y’all, and I’m glad to hear you had a wonderful time! (-; Any chance those of us who completed the memory work but couldn’t come will be able to view Beth’s presentation online?

    Blessings, Kim

    • 16.1
      Lindsee says:

      Hi Kim, I will check with my boss, but I’m not positive we’re making it available. But IF we do, we will let y’all know. Blessings!

      • Kathy says:

        oh yes please do. would be like icing on the cake for memorizing but really only eternity will reveal the vast outcome of our changed lives because of His Word in us and of prayers we have prayed with these verses of intercession affirming His Promises, Grace and Love. i cannot live without memorizing them to focus in prayer -and believe me the Lord knows exactly which verse to impress on my heart to memorize as He knows the needs of those i am going to be praying about.
        some of us were so sorry to be unable to come, but would benefit greatly from even reading the script or hearing an audio version. thank you.

  17. 17
    Jennine says:

    Beth and the LPM Staff,

    Thank you for all you do to encourage us in our Christian living. We have been blessed above and beyond God’s amazing measure. Your generosity of spirit, of time, of talent and love towards us! You thought of everything to bless us from the moment we walked in the doors; you greeted us with your smiling faces, your love for Jesus and your graciousness. From the travel mug, the candy set out on the tables, the snacks, the lunch, the photos,(the boxes of Kleenex :-),the Scripture Tree, and the journal, but especially the worship music of Travis and the awesome truths of God’s Word Beth spoke so clearly to us! MEMORY – an inestimable gift indeed! Thank you, thank you. I pray that God will continue to REMEMBER you and pour out blessings upon you and your families, your ministries, financially, emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. Thank you from a Siesta and a short-term former volunteer at LPM (until a move out of state). It was great to see Diane, Evangeline, Susan, Sherry and Sabrina and your faithfulness to the “work” in this awe-inspiring ministry. Thank you again.

  18. 18
    Cassia Glass says:

    It has been wonderful this morning clicking through pictures to see new friends and seeing our lovely Siesta Mama taking the time to hug people and hold babies. I took this challenge desperate to be free of old fears, hang-ups and hinderances. It has been a year of exactly that, including deliverance from my near-phobic anxiety of driving in Houston traffic, deliverance from chronic migraines and the fear of how those headaches were always waiting to knock me out of the game, special empowering to take care of tasks that seemed beyond me, a burst of creative energy and a return to overall health that I have not known in at least five or six years, maybe more. Scripture memory coupled with this summer’s Gideon bible study was the key to allowing Jesus to free me from my prison and build in me a new level of boldness. Coming together with 480 other women who were on FIRE for the Lord was one of the great moments of my life. Through Jesus, we are a force to be reckoned with, a powerful agent of change. To quote our dear sister Priscilla Shirer, we are just girls…with swords. Thank you, Mrs. Beth and thank you, dear Siestas.

  19. 19
    Kristi Belt says:

    I just have to say that I was SO incredibly blessed by Saturday’s time together. The teaching was powerful and God was using it in my life. The worship time was much needed for this tired mommy. I am local, but came by myself. I sat by two other ladies who also came alone from out of town, and by the end of the day had made two very special friends! And, the testimony/prayer time at the end of the day may have ended up being my favorite part-though it’s hard to pick a favorite. What an incredible time! I left challenge, rejuvenated, refreshed, and exhausted in the very best way!

    Oh, and I also just have to say that I’m not sure the registration/lunch sign up could have gone any smoother. What a well-oiled machine. Y’all did a fantastic job getting the business side of things done well and us on to the rest of the day! Thank you so much Beth, Lindsee, and LPM Team! It was a blessed day! Cannot wait for next time.

  20. 20
    Ginger B says:

    Love this…

    Will there be a SSMT 2014? I haven’t seen anything, but have started mine anyway 🙂

    • 20.1
      Sandy Bowers says:

      Ginger,
      SSMT usually happens every other year….although of course, you can still continue it on your own. So watch for posts about SSMT 2015 toward the end of this year….if God wills it!

    • 20.2
      Amanda Porter says:

      SSMT is only every 2 years. I have created Love What Is True on my personal blog amandanporter.wordpress.com and would love for you to join me as we memorize 12 verses in 2014!!!

  21. 21
    Mariposa says:

    I am so sorry I was not able to attend this time. I had/have all 24 of my verses memorized. I thank God that you all had a wonderful and blessed time. Praying that I can attend again for the 2015 scripture memory group gathering.

  22. 22
    Ally says:

    I was indeed anxious on Friday night, not out of excitement but out of sheer anxiety and a self-conscious spirit. The enemy did all kinds of sneaky damaging things in my emotions and body Friday night to try to get me in a bad place before I came to the celebration. It’s because he knew God had me on the brink of something special. Something powerful and God-filled. Jesus set me free in His mighty victory this weekend. I will NEVER forget a moment of the experience. He made a MEMORY so that the lesson would stick. Thank you all for being so supportive and encouraging when I unexpectedly choked up. The reason was that in that very moment, as I spoke my one sentence, Jesus set me free of my addiction, my fear, and my anxiety from that former relationship. By speaking the words aloud of what He had done through scripture memory in a year, He freed me at last. Praise His Holy Name! And blessings to the sisters who came along side me.

    • 22.1
      Paula Wiliamson says:

      Ally, your prayer was powerful and touched so many of us!!! Thank you for having the courage to do it!

    • 22.2
      Bethany Scott says:

      Goodness, Ally, I sure do love you. He broke some major chains, didn’t He? This year is going to be fun ride.

  23. 23
    Kristi Belt says:

    Lindsee – I missed the name of the couple that sang with Travis and had a CD out. When I got back at the table to check out the CD, they were already sold out. Yea! Can you pass on their names and the name of their CD?

  24. 24
    Sarah says:

    Thank you Beth, LPM, and Siesta’s for a wonderful, classy event. God is good and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to join in.

    Blessings to you all!!

  25. 25
    Lisa says:

    Thank you so much for a wonderful celebration!! God spoke to my heart in amazing ways throughout the entire weekend. I give Him honor and glory and praise for who He is and how He wants to be involved in every area of my life. My husband and son are both Ministers and I am so blessed that God allows us to serve Him (weak and frail as we are.) It was good just to sit back and see Him work. The Word God gave Beth spoke directly to my heart and the praise and prayer time brought me right to His Throne – Praise you JESUS!! Looking forward to what God is going to do in 2014!! Praying for LPM and God’s direction for all of you.

  26. 26
    Kerre Bogard says:

    I was so excited to attend the SSMT 2014 celebration with my sister. I arrived with an outward appearance that everything was great but inside I was a very broken person. Through worship and Beth’s teaching the date originally on my name tag changed to 1-18-2014. That date will always represent to me a day of transformation. My self induced illness will not be my identity. Thank you SSMT team for all your hard work.

  27. 27
    katiegfromtennessee says:

    Ya’ll, I just found out that today is National Hug Day! I love that!:) ((((HUGS))) to you all, LPM and the Siestas:)

  28. 28
    Lynn says:

    God is so good. All year long, as verses were coming to me, I failed to realize that God was putting a theme to them. I began to notice near the end of the year. What is even more amazing is how Beth’s message spoke right into that theme. God pulled it all together to make me see that I have some memories that I have tried to erase on my own, but I am now learning to re-frame them instead. I am allowing my present to inform my past of truths I was ignoring.

    As long as my daughter and I were in the area with time to spare, we decided to attend Bayou City Fellowship on Sunday morning. We got the chance to see you, Lindsee, leading worship. You are adorable.

    In checking out when services were we noticed that there were 2 campuses now and were afraid we would not go to the campus where Curtis would be preaching. God answered my prayer…and made it obvious that it was Him when we heard that Curtis had NOT been at that campus for a few weeks. (Thank you, Lord). Curtis gave an awesome message, which once again God tied to other messages like what our church’s Women’s group is studying (which happens to be Beth Moore’s Here and Now, There and Then) and to what Beth spoke about in a recent post about revival. I love how God does that! You are all lucky to have such wonderful teachers down in Houston!

    Thanks to all of you at LPM for all you did to make such a fabulous time of worship (thanks, Travis!) and learning for the rest of us. May you be greatly blessed for all you do! And may God get all the glory for our hiding His word in our hearts in 2013!

  29. 29
    Karlys says:

    To Beth, Lindsee, and the entire staff of Living Proof: THANK YOU!!! This was my third SSMT celebration. Each one surpasses the last. You have no idea the impact you have had on my life since words fail me. Simply know that the entire staff (not just Beth!) is in my prayers because of what you do for HIM. Praise has been given to HIM because of you! You offer leadership to women around the globe. THANK YOU.
    May HE continue to bless you with HIS favor. May HE continue to grow your love for HIM. May you shine ever brighter with HIS Glory.

  30. 30
    Michelle O'Banion says:

    Ladies!! What an incredibly wonderful time!! PLEASE PLEASE know how much the entire LPM team is appreciated…. NO WORDS!!

    I wanted to share what I felt God say to me in regards to “healing” my memories. I will try to make this as short as possible (grin) – The entire teaching spoke to me, I just ‘digest’ all Beth teaches, !!LOVE HER!! I was particularly moved by the prayer time, like I told my husband – we seemed to accomplish so much – in such a short time. **** A M A Z I N G **** When Beth asked us to ‘get quiet’, even get out a pen/paper to write what God may say to us. Well, I thought (WRONG!) in a large crowd, it would be hard for me. But almost immediately, I felt “daughter, daughter, daughter” come up in my Spirit. The epiphany, though, was when I felt God complete this by saying to my heart –

    “YOU have always …. been …. my daughter”

    And later, too, as I pondered it I felt an emphasize on each word differently… “You HAVE always been my daughter” “You have ALWAYS been my daughter” etc.

    With my childhood being very dysfunctional (raised in a highly functioning alcoholic/all sorts of abuses home – with a mentally/verbally abusive stepfather) this had GREAT significance – thus, me always feeling like an ‘orphan’ per say. So to hear this from Him, was another huge, life-changing ‘truth brick’ in my soul….I received much healing again.

    I’ve been saved for 20 years, I am 46 now and how He continually keeps showing Himself strong, is indescribable. I aim to live my life for His Glory…and He proves to me over and over – THAT IN MY WEAKNESS HE IS STRONG – my part is simply to seek. And how in the world – could I not….. 🙂

    THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!

    I love you all!! Michelle ~*

    • 30.1
      Mary G. says:

      Dear Michelle,
      I was not at the SSMT celebration but as I sat here and read your words I have tears streaming down my face. I grew up in a dysfunctional alcoholic home and was not spared any kind of abuse. With the support of friends, my Pastor I made the decision to cut off ties with my very cruel family permanently just after Christmas. But I heard the words God spoke to you ring true in my heart as well. I am not an orphan, I have always been God’s daughter. Beautiful words spoken from a loving God’s heart. Thanks for sharing.

      • Michelle O'Banion says:

        Dear Mary, Thank You. Yes, I did not expect that kind of Word in anticipation of SSMTC. God has so restored my life as I, too, am cut off from my family – have been since 98. ‘We can’t make their decisions for them’ but we can pray for them – and not feel ‘guilty’ as God works in OUR life.

        THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU M A R Y !!

    • 30.2
      Sarah Marion says:

      Michelle
      We enjoyed sitting next to you and continue to pray for you. You were a blessing to us.
      The Marion Girls

      • Michelle O'Banion says:

        HI THERE!!! Thank you, Sarah!! It amazed me how even our seats were pre-ordained….. A M A Z I N G ….. I told my husband about you and your family. No words. I have felt your prayers, and just knew y’all were praying. Thank you for it, and I will keep you in my prayers… Hugs and Love…..

  31. 31
    Gretchen Heilmann says:

    Beth, Lindsee and LPM staff,
    How awesome it was to see you all in person and to be in such a wonderful and intimate setting. I attended with my daughter and we felt so ministered to and so loved. Before we came, I had asked God to show up BIG and to give a word to Beth especially for us, especially for Meredith. Praise Jesus!!! He answered that prayer in a way I could have never imagined. The event was the most powerful I have ever attended and I know that it changed Meredith and me. We were totally drained and puddles on the floor by the end. but in a good way. We went back to the hotel and napped!! Then had some awesome tex mex at Pappasito’s!! We totally enjoyed the lovely weather. Coming home to Ohio to the snow, and gray, and cold was a real bummer but we are filled with hope and armed with the Sword of the Spirit and memories that will get us through it. Thank you all for your hard work to make this a weekend we will never forget. How could we?? Jesus photo bombed every single frame!!

  32. 32
    fuzzytop says:

    I was so disappointed that I couldn’t attend this year, and I missed seeing siesta friends. But I am so happy to see and hear that y’all had a blessed time together! Hoping I can make it to the next one.

    Love and hugs,
    Adrienne

  33. 33
    Heather Smith says:

    Had the best time!!! Got back to California late last night, I get to pick up my luggage after work! (wink!) So nice meeting everyone! After the year I had (Stage 4 breast cancer) I cannot imagine getting closer or deeper, but willing and open. Fabulous weekend…..see you in 2015!!

  34. 34
    Marilyn says:

    Thank you all so much! This weekend was so amazing! The teaching, the worship and prayer you could feel God was there. What I brought away from this weekend is I’ve always struggled with feeling like I don’t fit in and not feeling special. I think (I know) it comes from moving around a lot when I was a kid, my parents divorcing, some abuse after that and being in an abusive marriage for 18 years. As I was sharing this in our prayer time I heard God saying ” I love you with an extravagant love”. Did I hear Him right? Well then it came time for the door prize drawing. I thought surely my name won’t be drawn, but then about the 3rd or 4th name I heard Beth say” Marilyn Beagle I like that name” I just couldn’t believe it! Tears started coming to my eyes when I heard the Lord say ” See, I see you”. Wow, He is so good. I know this is long and there’s a lot more I could share but I just want to end this by saying with my whole heart THANK YOU ! God Bless you all!

  35. 35
    Joy French says:

    Thank you ladies for a wonderful weekend – everything was excellent – your love and effort shined through! Blessings to you all!

  36. 36
    Suzanne in RI says:

    Dear LPM staff and Beth,

    Thank you so very much for your gracious and warm hospitality. Thank you for serving us, your fellow sisters, in Christ. We felt very welcome. May the Lord bless you extravagantly!!

    Thanks, also, to Travis and the Praise team, we were so outrageously blessed by the worship.

  37. 37

    Dear Beth and LPL staff, this past weekend was exactly what I needed. I am a mom of 3 and haven’t had a getaway for myself. Ever. I flew to Houston from South Georgia, not knowing a soul, and left with three new friends! What a blessing! And I just wanted you to know this – memorizing Scripture this year has gotten me through my son’s autism diagnosis. I love that you said the Holy Spirit will teach you things before you need it. The very first scripture He gave me last year was Psalm 77:11-12 which basically says that I will remember how God has been faithful in the past. Beth even taught out of Psalm 77 this weekend. Anyway, Christ gave me that verse 10 months before Jonah was diagnosed with autism because He knew I would need that reminder. He is so faithful. Thank you all for your hard work in making this such a special weekend for all of us!

    • 37.1
      SherryLPM says:

      Adrienne,
      We are so glad that you came! How very brave of you to come solo! What a testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness. Thank you for sharing that with us! You are loved!

  38. 38
    Jackie pope says:

    I attended with my sister and niece. What a wonderful blessed event! You were all so gracious and made us feel so welcomed. Thank you all and God’s blessings on your ministry!

  39. 39
    Tanya says:

    I am doing my own mini version with my foster mom and my 8 year old soon to be 9 year old daughter. We will go for dunkin donuts coffee at the end. All are excited about it!

  40. 40
    Jill says:

    Thank you Beth and LPM ,
    I had such a mountain top experience I am still glowing. I went solo and immediately made friends in the hotel workout gym with 2 siestas Esther and Monica . We walked over together and even went to hear Curtis preach on Sunday. I just look forward to every morning memorizing my scriptures. A few years ago I did the James study and I thought memorizing James was something I would never be capable of doing, now I am passionately beginning it.
    Loved the mug and the journal .
    Thanks ,
    Jill

  41. 41

    If someone would have asked me more than a year ago if I would be able to memorize 24 verses I would have been certain that there was no way I could do that. But I did! God placed in my heart a desire to work hard at it. I was able to recite all the verses. Only by the Holy Spirit.

    My husband came with me to Houston we spent five wonderful days together in the warm Texas weather (we’re from Minnesota) and enjoyed some yummy tex-mex and some wonderful seafood!

    I will be honest and say that I did not hear the Holy Spirit speaking to me during the session on Saturday. My husband and I have received some very disappointing news in the last few weeks (a lost job interview, and our daughter and son-in-law their first child to a miscarriage.) We feel like we are in a desert with no relief in sight.
    BUT I cling to the verses I memorized where God promises to never leave me or forsake me. I’ve been reminding Him of that. ha. More like reminding me.
    Anyway… so thankful for the opportunity to memorize so many verses. I know that God will continue to use them in my life.

    • 41.1
      SherryLPM says:

      Oh, Sweet One! I am so very sorry to hear of your recent losses. I am praying for you, your husband, daughter and son-in-law this very moment. I am so glad that you came and I pray that His word hidden in your heart will comfort and encourage you. You are so very loved.

  42. 42

    Yay! I’m so grateful that I was able to be there. I don’t really have words to describe the joy the LORD gave me on Saturday. I came on my own from Colorado but left feeling not at all alone and amazed by Jesus. Thank you to Beth and the SSMT team for all your diligent work and guidance.

  43. 43
    Sharon says:

    Can someone tell me how I can download pictures from the flickr site? Thanks!

  44. 44
    Judy Pauley says:

    Thank you all for a great weekend, I believe this was the best one of all. It was good to see old friends and to make new friends, also. Beth’s message meant so much to me. Thank you so much for all your hard work to make this weekend so special.

  45. 45
    Sharon J. says:

    Hi Miss Beth and living proof ladies!
    Loved this time with God and under Miss Beth’s teaching! A couple of things.. I was stressed about my verses for no reason :o) I met Evangeline( I’m sure I mispelled that)and a beautiful sister from LPM in a blue blouse handing out waters… you are all blessings! Everyone was kind and helpful.
    It was a blessing to say 2 verses to three different women. Those verses came alive as they were spoken and are so apart of me now. Jesus photo bombing every scene in my life ( what a great picture).
    We are taught in advance of our need- He gives a Word and then reminds us of it… The Lord just said,” I’m bringing THAT Word together”. And I knew, I knew 1996- forever ago- God spoke a Word in my life and it has sat there-nothing-I was so happy! So filled with Joy that He had a reason, He remembered and I am excited to have a date 1-19-2014 Praise the LORD! I was absolutely lifted up after that! God did a work. He worked as the LPM staff prayed around us. Thank you ladies for being prayer warriors!!! We were totally Blessed!
    A huge thank you to Travis and the worship team for leading us in worship.. God always speaks to my heart through his ministry!
    Thank you for the cup and journal too y’all rock!!!
    Blessings
    Sharon from Cali :o)

  46. 46
    Andrea Porter says:

    Hi Lindsee,
    Thank you so much for a wonderful SSMT Celebration 2014. I appreciated yours and the whole staff’s efforts to make the celebration so beautiful. Please pass this on to our Siesta Mama. Today, I remembered what Miss Beth said about Jesus photo bombing all my bad thoughts and memories of past sins and self condemnation. So, when those thoughts began to form, I pictured Jesus photo bombing those thoughts and he was dressed as the book character, Waldo from ‘Where’s Waldo’. I laughed until I cried. There is Jesus with a red and white striped tunic, sandals, round black glasses and a red and white beanie on his head. Oh my, that was quite a picture and he was being silly too, jumping out and throwing his hands in the air and he had a huge smile on his face. As soon as I picture him, photo bombing my thoughts, poof they go away and all I can do is laugh and thank my redeemer for saving me, oh how he loves us. 🙂

  47. 47
    Gay says:

    Thank you Beth, Lindsee, Travis, and all the LPM team! It was an amazing, wonderful, God-filled day! Thank you for all your hard work to put this together. What special memories I will carry with me always. Thank you also for encouraging us and supporting us in our memorizing of Scripture all of 2013. What blessings, what blessings! Thank you again, and again, and again!

  48. 48
    Pam Bryant says:

    This was my first time, but definitely will not be my last! What a great day with so many women with Jesus on their mind! In this crazy world we live in, having an opportunity to just hang out with believers, praise and worship our God and King then have God’s word brought to us,is like the icing(chocolate)on the cake! We had a great time, thanks for all your work to make it happen!

  49. 49
    Allison Ashton says:

    mmmm. nice pictures. But, I thought all of them were going to be posted, I only see a few and many repeated, the group shots?? mmmm.

    • 49.1
      Lindsee says:

      Hi Allison, if you click on the link at the very top of the post, you’ll find all of the group pictures and more!

  50. 50
    Donna says:

    It was a WONDERFUL weekend! Such a powerful message from Beth! Please, oh please, make this available somehow. I know it would speak to so many women. Thank you Beth and LPM for loving us and for allowing God to use you to minister in a mighty way!

    Jan. 18, 2014 is my date!

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