Hey Siestas! We’re two weeks out from our big launch and, based on the number of people who got Siesta spirals -not to mention those grabbing their own – we should have one titanic team! May God get much glory! (If you’re interested in a spiral and have yet to purchase one, click here for the details.) Numbers are nothing if they don’t translate into fruit displayed in our lives but if we truly decide to live out the words that are going to live in us, remarkable things are in store for the Kingdom of Christ among us.
Here is everything you need to know about how to participate in the 2013 Siesta Scripture Memory Team!
First, a few things up front since many people joining us have no previous interaction here:
*For you new comers, “Siesta” is just an endearment for “Sister.” There’s no club to join and no person you need to become. If you’ve trusted Jesus as your personal Savior, you’re a sister in Christ. If you don’t know Him, we’d love for you to stick around and get to know us and see if anything around here draws you. Everyone is welcome. Here’s a bit of our back-story on the weird name: When we first began the blog, it never occurred to any of us how much we’d come to love each other. As the community grew closer and closer and the participants more and more familiar with one another, one of you asked what name we should call each another. I tried to say, “I’ll tell you what we are: We’re sistahs!” but spell-check switched it to “siestas.” It stuck and that’s been us ever since. We even liked the thought that its actual meaning is to take a nap. We’ll know we’ve been a place of divine intervention if we’re a respite from the female competition and clatter out there. Only Jesus can give us that kind of relief in this exhausting culture.
*We call this a Scripture memory “team” because that’s exactly what we are. We’re a really long line of women standing shoulder to shoulder with our swords drawn. (For you newcomers, Ephesians 6 calls the Word of God the “Sword of the Spirit.”) And we don’t draw our swords to wound people, to convict our family members (God’s job) or to cut off the ears of our hearers. We draw our swords to fight the good fight of faith. While I was saw stacks and stacks of Siesta Scripture Memory Spirals being stuffed into envelopes for shipping, it hit me with fresh impact. What if thousands of women really did memorize 24 Scriptures in 2013?? What are the implications of that? What kind of repercussions might that have in our personal lives and our homes? That’s worth getting riled up over. SO, you bet this is a team. Don’t be too cool for it. Remember, God’s Spirit is a fire. If we’re too cool, we can’t help but quench it. If cheesy works around here, we’re not ashamed. Just throw in a can of jalapenos and grab a tortilla chip.
*Very often you will see me refer to SSMT. Just so nobody’s confused from the start, that is an abbreviation for “Siesta Scripture Memory Team.” If you’re not participating in SSMT, please know that we don’t limit the entire blog to our Scripture memory participants. It has a big presence on here because it’s twice a month but we still do lots of other things. Please don’t feel left out or forgotten.
OK, NOW FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS. You can cut and paste these somewhere if necessary. Here’s how it will go:
1. On the 1st and 15th of every month of 2013, you will find a post by 8:00 in the morning where I will ask for your memory verse and give you mine. This will begin New Year’s Day 2013. You are committing to 24 Scriptures in 12 months. In previous years, I’ve found this to be a very doable pace. If you do much more, you’ll tend to fall behind and not retain. If you do much less, the impact is negligible. You really can do this. So many of you will surprise yourselves with what you’re capable of doing in the power of the Spirit. Yes, it takes work but it’s tremendously fulfilling and the results are nearly immeasurable. Look at it this way: you’re going to be meditating on something: unforgiveness, toxic memories, misery, lust, greed, dissatisfaction, jealousy, competition. Choose Scripture! Christ Himself said as a man thinks, so is he. He also said His words are spirit and life. This is work worth doing, Sweet Thing. Never – NOT ONCE – have I ever known anyone to get to the end of a Scripture memory commitment and say that it didn’t make any real difference. Not a single time.
2.You are to enter the verse you’ve chosen to memorize for that two-week period within twenty-four hours of the post going up. I’ve been asked many times if it’s okay if you’re late supplying your verse and, yes, of course it is, but try to avoid doing it often. The people who make it to the very end of the year are overwhelmingly those who stay up with it month to month. Please know up front that one of the important parts of this process is the exercise of self discipline. This culture is mass producing wimpy narcissists. Year-long commitments like these that require punctuality and focused energy push back on that degenerating trend. All that to say, please don’t drop out if you get behind. I just want you to know that this will be much more successful if you treat it as a real, live commitment you are willing to work hard to keep.
3. When you clock in with your verse those two times a month, keep your comments limited to your name, city, verse and translation. Long comments on SSMT days are no-no’s. It won’t take you long to figure out why we maintain that rule. Wait till you see the powerful sight of hundreds if not thousands of verses flowing down the comment stream. It is a gorgeous sight. When you’re having a bad day, all you have to do is scroll down a few hundred of your sisters’ Scripture selections and I promise you, you’ll get a word. It’s a very powerful thing. Here is a sample comment:
Beth from Houston, Texas: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV
Always add your translation because so many of your sisters will want to know where you found the wording for your entry. One of the great impacts of this process is how much we reap from each other’s selections. Often you’ll see a sister say, “I’m doing the one so-and-so did last time!” (Yes, you can make a comment that brief. Those can be fun. Occasionally you’ll even see someone write, “For the sake of my marriage, I’ve chosen to memorize…” That’s okay, too, but try to keep it very succinct.)
4. THIS ONE IS KEY! As often as possible, choose a verse that means something to you in your present season or circumstance. This is the reason why we don’t all memorize the same Scripture. We’re not all going through the same things. The more you let God lead you to verses that direct you or edify your soul in your present circumstances, the more He will renew your mind toward your challenges. This is a huge part of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 where we’re told to demolish strongholds and take our thoughts captive to Christ. If you don’t have a verse on your mind or you’re drawing a blank when the 1st or 15th rolls around, you are welcome to share mine. I will always include it in the post. You might also look at a few of the comments and see if one of theirs resonates with you. I say this next part with a grin: try to refrain from memorizing Scriptures that you think your spouse or your children need to learn. Memorize what you need to learn. That means do your best to avoid jotting your verse on a stick note and planting it on your bathroom mirror where your man can see it and repent of his sins. He probably won’t because he’s got your game. I bet you can guess how I know that.
5. I strongly recommend that you stick with only one verse to memorize each time. (This is just a recommendation and not a rule. You’re free to do whatever works for you.) Keep it simple and meaningful. (If I were addressing you live, I’d have you repeat that sentence back to me so just go ahead and say it out loud in order to nail it down. That sentence could be your best friend through this process.) If you do too many verses or get too complicated, you will soon be overwhelmed and want to drop out. Better to do 24 simpler verses over a 12 month period of time than a chapter over the first month then quit. We want this to be a discipline we practice for the rest of our lives. Think marathon. Not sprint.
6. Either shortly before or after making your entry each 1st and 15th in the blog comment, write the verse by hand in your own spiral. (Again, that’s a recommendation and not a rule. I’ve discovered that there’s something about writing it with your own hand and picturing it later in your own handwriting that helps it sink into your memory bank. I’m not entirely sure why.) Take that spiral with you everywhere you go. Read it and read it and read it and read it. Do mental gymnastics with it. Flip that baby over and over. Many women have told me along the way that they’re not good at memorization and I truly understand that. I also beg to offer two responses: First, that may change. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to do something brand new with you. Second, even if you don’t get your verses down word for word, you are still meditating on them as you read and reread them. You still, thereby, accomplish one of the most important goals: captivating the mind to Christ. You just can’t lose on this one. Either way, it has a powerful effect.
OK, I think that’s enough to get us prepared for January 1st. Now, let me tell you well in advance how to qualify for our Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration on January 17-18, 2014 which is the biggest blast ever. I’m telling you about it now so that you can have it for a little extra incentive. Our main incentive is the will and good pleasure of God, of course, but He Himself authored great celebrations in His Name so feel free to be excited at the thought. Also, I want you to have plenty of time to start saving your money for your transportation and hotel. We do not charge for the event. Your entrance fee is your well-used spiral. By the way, we hope to have Travis back again to lead us in worship and Amanda, Melissa, my whole LPM staff and volunteer team will be there to serve you. Here’s how you qualify throughout the year:
*Clock in by first name and city at least 21 out of 24 times. (But please make your goal 24 out of 24!) Let me reiterate that you can be late with your entry on a 1st or 15th of any month but, by the end of the year, there has to be a record in the comment sections of you signing in at least 21 out of 24 times on a SSMT post. Make sense? Please give us 24 hours to post your comment before you assume it got lost. We still moderate all comments and the amount we get on SSMT days necessitates a slower pace. Thank you for your cooperation!
*Bring your spiral to the celebration. Again, that’s your ticket in.
*Be prepared to say any 12 of your 24 memory verses to another Siesta (of your choice) during the designated time at the celebration. (We get in pairs.) Some of you will be tempted to let this be a deal breaker but don’t back out! Siestas are really sweet and patient with each other and we are notorious for giving each other hints. We can even act out charades if necessary. If you’re one of those who genuinely struggles with memorization, just tell your memory buddy up front and she’ll give you all the grace you need. Tell her the gist of the verse as accurately as you possibly can. She’ll be able to tell that you are well acquainted with it and that the goal was accomplished even if you can’t say the verse word-for-word.
*Register for the event when the time comes. (December 1, 2013)
Whew! Have I exhausted you?? I’ve worn myself to a pulp. Sorry this is so wordy! We just want to answer as many of your questions up front as possible.
I want to tell you something before I sign off. I may sound like a broken record but you have to let me say it again as we embark on this wild journey together. You have impacted my walk with Christ. This community has given me encouragement when I was nearly down for the count. I am more disciplined because you are here. You make a difference in my life. You make me think, and laugh, and study. You offer me company when I am lonely. You stir me up to love and good works. You are used of God in my life to make this hard world a better place.
That’s what Siestaville is for. Women walking alongside women on our way Home, stirring up excitement toward that great day. SSMT is just one way we do that. AND IT’S A WHOPPER. Let’s do it, Sisters, starting this coming January 1st! I’ll talk to you again about other things before then but I don’t want the New Year to take you by surprise.
Your blog mama loves you.
So excited! Can’t wait to get started on this with my siestas/sista’s!
I am so happy to be a part of this! We are currently serving on mission in Lilongwe, Malawi and sometimes it’s hard being spiritually fed while on the field. Recently I have been lax in feeding myself and the Lord has been diligently working on me about that. I’m so glad He led me here! Can’t wait to get started. I’ll have to use my own spiral though….since any mail we receive takes at least 4 months to arrive! 😉
The fruit from doing this in 2011 was a truly transformed life! Can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for this next year.
Thank you very much for doing this Beth and LPM team.
May the Lord be glorified in and through us all this Christmas season,
Gretchen
Very excited! Our pastor has been convicted to preach through the Sermon on the Mount all next year and he has challenged us to memorize it all….it’s way more than I normally tackle, but if he feels so strongly about it for our church family, then I’m on board and looking forward to how God uses it in my life!
I am new to the Siestas:). But feel Ike I’ve been around for a long time. Can’t wait for my spiral to arrive and to begin memorizing scripture!!!!
Thank you Beth & LPM
I’m in! Ordered my spiral – this is going to be the fourth year I have done this, and it is such a wonderful discipline. Can’t wait to get started!
Beth and LPM!
thank you so much for all you do for us siesta’s!
i have to share with you that my church offered to purchase spirals for any woman who was willing to commit to memorizing the 24 verses. you won’t believe this… 28 women signed up! yay! this is huge. THANK YOU!
Jackie from MO
Jackie,
That is so wonderful to hear!
I’m EXCITED! In 2013 I almost didn’t do SSMT but I am GLAD that I did. It was just what Doctor God had for me in that season of my life! I was able to pull that sword and use it over and over and over again against the Enemy. I spend some time reflecting the other day and read back through my versus and I could CLEARLY see my UPWARD spiral!
Join us, you won’t regret if for one second!
Beth, Your comments about us encouraging you works both ways. Kind of like a game of volleyball. You set the ball, we set it back and you smash one over the net for a score. And we do it again and again. One of us without the other is weird and ineffective.We all get a chance to hit the ball over for score. You call us to the gym, we show up and the game is on. Our opponent is a defeated enemy with all of his lies and temptations.
I am so excited about starting this adventure in Scripture!!! Thank you Beth for all your encouragement!!
Beth, I am so looking forward to this. This will be my first time participating with SSMT. Love memorizing scripture. Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year to you and all the girls at LPM.
We are so excited that you are going to join us!
Hey Siestas, gals and dear ones….I’m in tears right now anticipating the work that God IS going to do in the year to come. I have a stronghold that needs to tumble and be torn down. One that I truly believe God WANTS to demolish and WILL demolish, but only with my cooperation. I’ve seen my Deliverer do the impossible when I committed another area of bondage this past year. If you happen to pause on this comment and read it, please pray that God Himself will lead me to Scriptures that will pluck and disable the power this stronghold has in my life. Praying, Repenting and Believing.
Joyce
there is nothing our God can’t do. He will walk with You and not allow you to be crushed. He will refine you and make you beautiful. I am praying for you.
Joyce!
I feel ya, Sis, you have my commitment to pray for you throughout this year – for reals – I’m excited to see what He does.
I am so excited. I have already started praying about the first verse I will memorize. I am hoping and praying to get a couple of my Thursday night Bible study to join me.
I have been trying to find a way to memorize verses, as my daughter does it with her AWANA book… and now i saw this posting. God may be just opening the door for me to start memorizing His word.
Thank you!
SOOOOO EXCITED!!!! I participated in 2011 it brought so much fruit! I have tried to continue in 2012, but not with the two a month. So looking forward to the sisterhood and encouragement and accountability! Love you all and can’t wait to get started!!!
And Mama Beth, right back at you with that lovely second to last paragraph! Thank you and love you!!!
Sarah, Marion, KS . . . ready to sign on!!!
I got my spiral note book today …. Whaaa Hoooo 🙂
I am new to this blog thing, so I hope I can figure this all out! I just ordered my spiral today so I am in!!
oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait! And I totally agree, I have met some VERY incredible sisters/siestas over the last few years who have all touched my life. And, special thanks to Beth and everyone at LPM for all you do for us and for loving all of us. You are truly a blessing!
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Ladies of LPM, I am so excited to begin this journey. And as the women’s leader at my church I am encouraging all of our women to get involved. It might be more on a local level through our monthly meetings and through facebook posts, but only if that is not infringing upon your team. If it is we can go another route, I just want it to be as simple as possible for us to partner together and memorize scriptures- basically remove barriers/excuses of “what was that blog’s web address again” and such as that 😉
Thank you so much for encouraging women everywhere and leading us to God’s word and ultimately Him!
It’s my very first time! I can’t wait!!!!
Game on siestas! I can’t wait to get started.
Oh yes, I forgot to ask, do we need to register somewhere that we are participating or just dive in on January 1?
Prayers and Blessings go out to fellow Siestas as we commit to God by soaking His Word in our minds and hearts this upcoming year!!! Yeeha SSMT!
Siestas are a sisterhood of Jesus gals that make a kingdom difference! I’m so honored to have found you all. Thank you, Beth & LPM Team, for serving us in so many ways on this blog and through LPM <3.
I can't wait to see where God leads us in His Word for what to plant in our hearts this year… and when the year is complete, the SSMT Celebration is awesome! I can't wait to see old friends again at the SSMT 2014 that I met at the first SSMT Celebration in 2010 (I missed the 2012 Celebration due to family circumstances).
God bless our Scripture memory!
Hello! Will we have an Iphone app to utilize for 2013?
Thank you!
Ruth Strohminger
We are working on one, Ruth! Will let you know when it’s up and running!
how about a droid app?
Great question! Not sure about that. But will certainly find out soon enough.
I would love am iPhone app as well. I am new to this blog thing so I need everything as easy as possible!
I’m new to this as well. I’m excited. Being so new, I’m not sure where we end up posting our scriptures. Will it be in a comment section like this one? Thanks so much!
Can’t wait to be a part of the TEAM again!
For the past two years, purposeful, structured, diligent, PLANNED Scripture Memory work has become the MOST FRUIT-BEARING DISCIPLINE I’ve ever practiced in my walk with Christ! Right now, the Lord has me memorizing Philemon after He revealed a stronghold of unforgiveness in my heart…
Thank you, Beth, for being the real deal.
I love you too.
Oh my, I’m excited beyond words! I memorized with my family this year (2012) and my 7 year old picked this verse this weekend “For the Mighty One has done great things for me, holy is his name” (Luke 1:29 NIV). Oh yes he has!
Can’t wait!
Love you all and thanks so much for your constant encouragement to me!
I am so excited. My 12 year old daughter and I will be participating together along with her teachers. The spirals were well received by her teachers. Amen!
I’m doing this with my 12 year old daughter too!
Fascinating to compare translations – each has its own impact.
1 Sam 9:27
KJV .. .but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
NKJV “But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God.”
NLT “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.”
NIV …”but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God.”
ESV …stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.
NASB …but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the word of God to you.
ASV …but stand thou still first, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.
Amplif … but you stand still, first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.
Hey Siesta’s bring this on. We need to apply the word of God to our lives.Memorize it so it is in our hearts so we can speak it over the life of others as well as our own I say bring it on
Not sure what you mean by website. My twitter account is lauriegirlxo
Would please love to join you…have such a heart for His Word – and sadly fall short in memorization – chewing through and not just plowing through. Was co-leadingroup of women and leadership asked us to do a study teaching and exalting Budda and God. 11 of 14 of us have left…but strong in our faith. That church going through so much… Heart heavy as I still pray for them. We as a family are seeking another church and I feel a bit gunshy – like I might set my family up for more hurt. But His hand was so evident throughout – so blessed to be a tiny part of His plan…my heart yearns to teach again – if it is His will… For now I know I have this time with just Him – no ladies groups as have to temporarily go full time an training in the wee hours to work as a nurse with chemotherapy- such a mission field there as well…Don’t know what future holds but would jump for joy at being connected and accountable in memorizing and meditating on His Word!! Love you, dear Beth and am a crazy Canadian – been praying an uplifting your family for years . You will probably never read this but will continue to pray for your ministry – when you came to Calgary – we were on our knees his June asking for a word – and you echoed our heart’s cry of what it’s all about: walking Home…theology matters…the enemy can try to take back claimed ground but push back…there is a pack of us women sheep – almost a small church size – weeping as we were broken by the battle – why one would pick something that so polarizes Christians…it talks about this in His Word…Anyhow, love you, and please never never give up on loving Him, walking in step with His Spirit an living out His Word.
I am so excited to see what God is going to do. I am already praying on what verse he wants me to take to heart. mama beth you remember it works both ways…you encourage us and we love you so. Blessings to all of you and your wonderful staff. Yall just make this heart smile and Siestas same to you as well
I attended the last event and it changed my life. Beth your bible studies and live events had already changed my life. I have never experienced anything like the SSMT 2011. Meeting so many Seistas. What an amazing group of women. I love you all live family. To hear Beth blog that we have changed her life blows me away. Then I think of how the Seistas I know have changed mine. I am so excited i can stand it! Last time the scriptures i chose ended up pulling me through one of the hardes times of my life. I had no idea when I picked them. God is so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’m all in!!! my fav part about the spiral & choosing verses that MEAN something… i love looking back & just from the verses remembering His faithfulness time after time. love that history w/ Him that I can see in my hands. sometimes you need that. 🙂
So excited, I had a rough time with this last time, but this go around I am trusting my fellow sista’s to hold me accountable.
I checked this today to see who won the goodies– I’m glad I did! I didn’t know about the SSMT for 2013, but I’m in. Thanks for all the typing, label sticking, envelope stuffing, and UPSing that you do!
You’re advice to memorize one verse at a time is good, and that’s what I did in 2011. However, I’m going to memorize the first chapter of James over several weeks and if that goes well, I plan to memorize the entire book.
Whoop! I’m so ready to get started on our memory work. This is a very special part of my year when we do this together. Thanks, Beth, it’s always great to hear from you.
So excited to participate again! Scripture memory had a huge impact in my faith journey in 2011 and I look for God to give me fresh words for what he has in store for 2013.
Love you guys at LPM! Glad to see Lindsee on the contributor’s bar – but sad to see Melissa’s picture go.
On board for 2013. The consistency of the plan attracts me.
Hi just read about the scripture memory team on twitter. I hope I did everything correctly to be a part of this. Love love the idea. Can you tell me how to order the spiral?
Hi Cyndi, click on the link in the first paragraph and it will give you all the instructions on how to order a spiral. Hope that helps!
So I stumbled on this blog a few short months ago and now am I EVER SO GLAD I DID! I’m so going to shoot for 24/24 verses this next year. I was recently prodded by the Holy Spirit to step up my game on memorizing the word, especially as it is what Christ used when He was tempted by Satan. If He did, how much more me. SO PUMPED!!! Can’t wait!
Hi Beth,
I am committing myself to this again in 2013. Last year I started then got a giant case of the “pity me’s” because it seemed liked everybody but me was memorizing. I now know how satan weaved his lies to make me feel this way. But, PRAISE JESUS, I still remember my first two verses from 2012!! I will not let the evil one defeat me again!
Thank you for reminding me why I am a small part of Siestaville.
Love,
Joan
I did this in 2011 and it was such a blessing. So happy to be a part of this again! I even spoke to several others and they are going to do this too! PTL
E-X-C-I-T-E-D
I am in… Hip Hooray I am so very excited . Praying for all that are doing this … HUGS Love ya all
Dawn
So excited! I’m looking forward to memorizing and seeing other verses. It is so very encouraging!
I got my spiral today…woo hoo!
I am a first-timer, excited to join the team!