***NOTE: If you are looking to register your verse 1, go ahead and comment with your selected Scripture on the “SSMT 2017: Verse 1!” post.***
Hey Everybody!
We are revving up around here for SSMT 2017! The Scripture memory team we host and support every other year is the most extensive thing we do around here on the LPM blog, so you can know that you are the size of an Airbus on our ministry radar right now. 
We are elated about the year we have ahead and believe with all our hearts that God finds tremendous delight in this group of diverse women banding together to memorize His Word. Here is everything you need to know about how to participate in the 2017 Siesta Scripture Memory Team! Please be sure you make it all the way to the bottom of the post where you’ll find the information about our matching spirals.
First, a few things up front since many people joining us have no previous interaction here:
*For you new-comers, an explanation of the name is in order. “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 cheer each other on, hold each other accountable, and urge one another to make it to the goal – 24 verses systematically memorized in 12 months – through a process that requires significant practice.
*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.
*Why 24 verses? In previous years, we’ve found this to be a very doable pace: 1 verse every 2 weeks. 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: we’re going to be meditating on something: unforgiveness, toxic memories, misery, lust, greed, dissatisfaction, jealousy, competition. Let’s choose Scripture instead! Christ Himself said as a man thinks, so is he. He also said His words are spirit and life. This is work worth doing, Beloved. 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.
OK, NOW FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS. You can cut and paste these somewhere if necessary. Here’s how it will go:
2 Options for you!
1. Print your SSMT 2017 cover from home.
(I took this picture with my phone standing on the shore of Galveston Bay, mesmerized by that sky. You can find a lot prettier beaches but I’m not sure our wide-open Texas sunsets can easily be surpassed.)
There are two sizes to choose between for your spirals. Click on the size cover you would like to print for yourself then adhere it using any of the methods we suggested. You can certainly use regular printer paper but cardstock works perfectly:
2. Or, Order the spiral from LPM.
Our Siesta Scripture Memory Team 2017 Celebration will be in January 2018. 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. More information still to come.
Whew! Have I exhausted you?? I’ve worn myself out. We just want to answer as many of your questions up front as possible.
I want to say something to you before I wrap up this diatribe: this community means something to me. I love it because I love you. I think about you on an ongoing basis. So does my staff. You are a huge part of this ministry. Thank you for the privilege to serve you and to embark on another wild journey with you. May Christ find such delight here that He astonishes us with His presence, favor, and power.
So, welcome to Siestaville: women walking alongside women on our way Home, stirring up excitement toward that great day. SSMT is 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.
I love you.
Beth
Yay! So happy for SSMT agaIn…
I have always wanted to memorize more scripture and I am excited about this!!
I need to get into God’s word
Everett, Wa
So excited to do this in 2017. I have started many times. UT have not finished. This year my goal is to finish strong.
I can’t come to the event because of health issues but I’m going to purchase my spiral tomorrow so it will be all ready.
Judith, we are so happy to have you join in our scripture memory journey!
I can not wait!!!!!
That’s awesome, thank you!
Excited to memorize
I am so excited to do this again! The last time was absolutely life changing for me! I prayed for God to give me each scripture and I have called them to mind and shared them with others more times than I can count! What a great way to start 2017! A new year with a new word!
Extremely excited for this coming year. Desperately need to replace my thoughts with the Word of God!!!
I am just tickled to see this post. I need to get back to this and so I am in. Can’t wait to see what God has in mind for us to take to heart.
I would love to be a part of this SSMT group.
Looking forward to memorizing scripture with everyone.
This will be my first time joining you all! Im nervous but I have a stronghold in my life that I’ve pleaded and prayed over and I’m going to use this opportunity to let God change my mind over it. May I have complete freedom over it by this time next year by letting God renew my mind and wash me in His word❤️ Help me be strong and courageous Lord❤️❤️
Be
I’m so excited!!!! I was wondering if we would do this again!!!! So blessed to be able to do this with you all!!!! God is Good!!
Blessings
Sharon
Dear Beth,
I am so excited to start up again with SSMT for 2017!
I participated in the SSMT in 2015. This was my first time and I completed all 24 memory verses. Memorizing the verses was such a help to me in my daily life and Christian walk. I still carry my 2015 spiral note cards with me. Thank you Beth and Living Proof staff members for this ministry. I love submitting the memory verses online, it keeps me accountable.
Kimberly
Thank you for sharing, Kimberly! I’m so glad you decided to join us again for SSMT 2017!
Excited about starting SSMT 2017. I thank the Lord for His Word.
I’m ready! Psalm 139, here I come.
Can’t wait!! Thanks LPM for leading us in this. I never dreamed I would be looking forward to scripture memory, but it is the most powerful thing I have ever done.
Woohoo!! I am so excited to see this! I’ve been waiting on this post for a few weeks now. I have participated in SSMT the past 3 times you have done it and I attended the past 2 times. I am excited to start memorizing some Scripture!
Wow! So glad you are joining us again, Adrienne!
This sounds great! How do I sign up for SSMT and how much is it?
Hi Georgia! There is no official sign up (and it’s free!). We will share a blog post on the 1st and 15th of each month, and all you have to do to participate is leave a comment with your personally selected memory verse. We will launch SSMT 2017 on January 1st, so check back then to start the challenge with us. Blessings!
Hi Living Proof!
I love this scripture memorization and have been sensing God leading me to memorize scripture. I was wondering if the scripture that is chosen can be somewhat accumulative of previously memorized scripture? For example could I memorize Galatians chapter 5 13-26 as part of the 24 verses, just one verse for each two week block of time?
Thanks for your help
Trina Hathaway
Port Angeles, Washington
Hi Trina, yes! You can memorize any verses – your choice. Blessings!
I’m in and so excited. This is a discipline I really need to begin.
Looking forward to 2017. Praying about we’re God will lead each of us.
Yay!! I’ve been waiting to hear about this and looking forward to it!!
I am looking forward to participating in the SSMT challenge again
Charlotte from Modesto???? We should go to Houston together then :o)
I did this in 2015, and am excited to get start in January. Love seeing what verses others have chosen and how God is using His word in their lives.
Thank you SSM Team!
I’m excited!
Ok, I’m in!
Excited to do this again! God bless
So excited!!
I can hardly wait!!!! Need this so badly. RaeLeen
God is going to show up! We just have to faithful and trust in Him. Thank you for all that you do for the kingdom of believers!
This is so exciting! I am a newcomer to the SSMT. Do I need to sign up to be on the Team? If so, how do I sign up? Thank you much! Dianna Matli
Hi Dianna, there is no official sign up. We will share a blog post on the 1st and 15th of each month, and you will join the challenge by commenting with your personally selected memory verse. You can choose to leave a comment on the blog post or on our Facebook post through our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LPM-SSMT-2017-1645349229098202/?notif_t=page_fan¬if_id=1481240166773579). I hope this helps!
I’ve tried this the past 3 times it’s been done and I always fall off track. Believing 2017 will be the year I commit and make it through to memorize all 24!!
I think I love this.
I can’t wait!
I would love to be a part of SSMT in January. I just learned about if from twitter!
Thanks
JoEllen
This is Laura Kennedy from Westminster CO. II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ he is a new creature; the old things passed away, new things have come. NASB
What a great verse! We will officially start the challenge on January 1st, so be sure to repost to our first SSMT post. Blessings!
So excited to begin the memorization.
Woo Hoo!! So excited to begin my second SSMT! Looking forward to the journey and the celebration next January. Come on ladies! Let’s hide some more of His Word in our hearts!! ❤️ Love you!
I would love to be a part of the scripture memory. It will be tough as I tend to not follow through, but I would like to try.
Penne
SSMT
I want to do the 2017 memory project!
I want to be apart of this
I am excited to participate in SSMT again. Early in the New Year I will undergo my 3rd spinal surgery since 2011.
SSMT will once again help me hide the Word where I need it to be.
I’m excited to start in January and already have some verses chosen. We can do this together and with God’s strength and encouragement.
I’m excited about this coming year.I gave my last bundle of verses away to a friend in the hospital to read. They were in my purse and she had nothing to do. She was so happy. I’m so blessed to be able to share this again with her this year.I cannot wait. Seista!!
How fun. I’m terrible with memory. Sign me up. Maybe it’ll work my brain.
Great job Beth!!! God bless you more. Am a Nigerian-American. When I was in NY till last year I watch you on James Robinson on Wednesday mornings, how I miss it.., but now in Nigeria on an assignment . I love this idea SSMT . My question is are the scriptures going to be from your choices . I think that will be great.
Thanks
Love
Wunmi.
I am excited to give this a try and to be a siesta girl with Bethe Moore. I do sometimes struggle with losing things and memory, so hoping I will succeed. I will try hard and with God’s goodness and grace, I’m sure it will help me. Thank you for this!