***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
I’ve done it every time since 2009! ( I think that was the first year)
Can’t wait!!
Am looking forward to doing this again this coming year.
Looking forward to trying this. All for God’s glory!
Very excited to part of this community in 2017!
I’m so in! First-timer here, but super excited as I need a fire kit under me to resume my passion for God’s Word!
First time Siesta here! Excited to be a part of this team!
First timer, I’m so very excited
I am not exactly certain as to what I’ve signed up for here, but I am motivated to learn scripture and hide it in my heart as me sweet momma used to say.
I would love to do this. I’m a little confused. Do you needed to sign up or is just saying “I’m in” good enough? Will someone point me in the right direction? What is the best way to going about this great adventure? Helpful hints are welcomed. . Good bless
Hi Chantle! There is no official sign up, just be ready with your selected verse on January 1st! You will leave a comment on our SSMT blog post or Facebook post that we share on January 1st, and that’s how you join! You will choose a new verse on the 1st and 15th of each month, and by the end of the year you will have 24 verses memorized. Please let us know if you have further questions. Blessings!
How do we get this on Facebook?
Find our *new* official SSMT Facebook page named LPM SSMT 2017. Looking forward to seeing you ‘there’!
Looking forward to this again! My cousin, Alma, is such a blessing! She is the one that gets me involved in these cool things.
First Timer! Looking forward to the challenge!
I’m trying this for the first time this year. Really looking forward to it!
2017 is sure to be a busy year. What a better way to be successful than having the word of God front and center. Looking forward to making scripture memorization a priority.
I am in! I want 2017 to be the year my focus is on Christ alone.
I am a first timer…a little confused..So we comment on January 1st our first scripture, then the 15th our next one and then we are in? I’m so excited about this!!
Hi Amanda! Yes, that’s all you have to do. There is no official sign-up. Just be ready with your first verse on January 1st, and you will leave a comment on our blog post or Facebook post that day. So glad you are joining us for SSMT!
I love partcipating always. Thanks!
My daughter Ruby (10) and I will be joining you this year! Looking forward to what God has in store for us!
So excited to join the team and take this challenge on with y’all!!
Excited to be apart of this for the first time!
I have always wondered the best approach to memorizing more of the Bible. I have heard you discuss it many times over the years of listening to you. I sent this blog to 70 women I am in community with and hoping they will join SSMT 2017 along with me. I am looking forward to this 🙂
Always get so much out of doing this!
Excited !!
Looking forward to making God’s word a priority in my life. Reading and memorizing. Thank you!
I am so excited to get started!
I am so excited to Join the SSMT 2017! I will be ready Jan.1, and Jan. 15; with my Scriptures@
I can’t wait to do this with the “sistas”
I can’t wait to start this journey for the coming year.
Where is the blog post found?
Hi Patricia! Our first SSMT blog post will go live on the blog and on our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/LPM-SSMT-2017-1645349229098202/) on January 1st. You can check back then. Blessings!
First timer here! Ordered my spiral!! I know it won’t be here right on time, but I know I want to do this!! Can’t wait to see where the Holy Spirit takes me this year!! <3 Can't wait to see how many siesta friends I can make <3
My friend shared this with me and we are going to do it together this year. I am so excited.
I’m a newbie and am so very excited for this to kick off.
I am very interested in joining this team. Please include me.
First-time I am excited to start
Have been looking forward to this all year—I kept filling up my 2015 spiral in 2016 and am ready for another now. Thank you so much for doing this; it is a good catalyst for growth and accountability, and I love reading what others are learning. Love and prayers—Jennifer in Canfield, OH
Excited and grateful for the opportunity to participate!
I am excited to do this!!!
I am thrilled to be memorizing scripture with a team for the first time! It’s so hard to stick with it in my own.
You’re just what I’ve been looking for. Lord help this 60 year old with her memory. 🙂
Looking forward to this!
How amazing to be a part of this group of “Sistahs” who are actively willing to pour God’s truth in their hearts!
I can’t wait to join! I set spiritual goals each year and this one will be mine for 2017! Be Blessed!
I am so excited to participate for the first time! I have encouraged all my friends to join me on this journey.
Excited to do this again+
Excited to do this in 2017. Tried in a prior year, but I didn’t finish.
This year it will happen!
🙂 Erin
I am in!
Really need this now. Had a very rough 2016; looking forward to this in 2017.
I’m going to do this! I need to do this! I most likely won’t be able to make it to the conference thing because I have eight special needs children and legal custody of her three grandchildren and I usually can’t make it anywhere but I’m at least going to try my hardest to memorize verses .
Is this the registration?
Hi Titagee, there is no official sign up for SSMT. Just select your first verse to memorize and be ready to post it on January 1st! We will share a blog/Facebook post on the 1st and 15th of each month, and you will leave a comment on one of these posts with your selected verse, translation, name, and hometown. By the end of the year, we will have memorized 24 verses together. Please let us know if you have further questions. We are happy to help!
So excited to do this. Quick question, what is the difference between the spirals we can purchase? I’ve looked at the pictures repeatedly & think I’m missing something.
Hi Vanessa! There is nothing particularly special about the spirals for purchase. They are just the official SSMT spirals with the artwork on the front. Feel free to use your own spiral for the challenge. Please let us know if you have further questions. Blessings!
I definitely want to do this, I have never been able to memorize much esp since I was prescribed a certain med tht affects memory. So excited.