Hey, my dear Siestas!
Knowing I had to pop out of bed this morning to post for SSMT, I actually dreamed about you guys last night! We were at the celebration on a break between sessions and it was wonderful, beautiful chaos in the halls and teeming joy in the hearts. Now, that’s the kind of dream I want to have. I so hope you are well and that God’s Word is alive on your tongue and thriving in your everyday experience. Remember, He sends forth His Word to accomplish something. It’s meant to have effect and I pray you’re feeling the vivid power of it. I can’t think of the last time my memory verses came to me with more pure conviction. I can feel the friction they’re causing internally and the jagged edges they’re sanding externally.
Our minds are already four Scriptures stronger than they were when we broke open 2011 and that, my darling sisters, is a great accomplishment all by itself! I noticed we dropped back well over a thousand on the last SSMT entry and that’s completely normal. There’s no condemnation here. The natural tendency will be to have less and less participants as we have more and more verses to memorize. But I want to encourage you to stick it out if you possibly can because we’re not restricted to normal. The Apostle Paul claimed in 1 Corinthians 3:3 under the inspiration of God that we are more than “mere men.” In 2 Corinthians 4:7, he said we are jars of clay encasing the unspeakable treasure of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and that, through this treasure we “show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” A long way from normal. I always thought normal was overrated anyway.
I stared at the calendar yesterday almost with disbelief as February peeled off the page and I turned to March. As I glared at the word “March”, I thought to myself, “Not a bad theme for the month.” March, as a matter of fact, is a very Biblical word. The thought caused me to smile and then to look up every single occurrence of the word in Scripture and, there in those verses, the Lord spoke a fresh word to me. Maybe you could use it, too. Here are a handful of “march” Scriptures with a few thoughts that spun around in my bleached blond head:
Joshua 6:4 –
“Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.”
Perhaps it won’t surprise you that the word “march” makes regular appearances in this book of the Bible so, if you’re in the wilderness longing to cross that river of fear and enter a land of fruitfulness, you might venture a fresh look at it. Here’s what hit me about Joshua 6:4 –
Marching tends takes a heap longer than we expect and a different form than we might rationalize. Think how odd all that marching-around-in-circles must have been to some of those Israelites. On top of that, consider that God never instructed another group of people to take exactly that same approach again in the pages of Scripture. He told Abraham to do one thing. Moses, another. Joshua, another. David, still another. All were in keeping with His will and His character but the variance in prescribed acts of obedience reminds us that God is resistant to our relentless pursuit of formulas. God knows, if we could rationalize it, we’d institutionalize it. We’d have 2500 satellite locations of the “First Church of Seven Circles.”
In case I’m losing you, or the whole idea of marching through March is too much for you, I’ll speed up.
In 2 Samuel 15:22, David told one of his mighty men: “Go ahead, march on.”
Point? If God is saying go ahead, then GO.AHEAD.
I like that. Nice and simple. If go, then go.
Maybe what you need most of all this March is for God to march right through your wilderness and rain down showers upon it from the seas in His hands. Think of praying this segment today over the 30 days ahead.
Psalm 68:7-11
7 When You, God, went out before your people,
when You marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God;
You refreshed Your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
and from Your bounty, God, You provided for the poor.
11 The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.
(I love the part about refreshing the weary inheritance. Is that you, perchance?? It’s certainly been me at times over the last year. And how about V.11? Does that sound a little like Siestaville?? It blessed me to think maybe so.)
How about one more?
Isaiah 42:13 – The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior He will stir up His zeal; with a shout He will raise the battle cry and will triumph over His enemies.
And so, with all this March madness in mind for this month, could anybody use a really brief verse this go-round to help you catch up? Then I have just the March verse for you:
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Let’s hear it, Siestas! First name, city, verse, translation!
Beth, Houston. Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:11 The NET Bible
Amen to that. March on, Sisters! Your God is for you!
I love you guys.
PS. For all you Houston-area girls, Kari Jobe is our guest worship-leader tonight at Bible study. Come help me welcome her. We only have two more Tuesday nights in this series and you don’t need any background whatsoever to receive from our subject matter tonight. We’d especially love to have you if you’ve never been before. Let someone on my sweet staff know you’re there for the first time. They’ll make sure you feel welcome. See you at 6:30!
Bermuda
“When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you.” Proverbs 2:10, 11 NKJV
Jeanie, Arkansas
Do not be shaped by this world; instead, be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then, you’ll be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what’s good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect.
Romans 12:2 New Century Version
Paula, Batavia
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Psalm 139:13-14a NIV
Miranda, Atlanta: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers His righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12, NIV
James 1:26 HCSV
“If anyone thinks he is religious, without controlling his tongue but deceiving his heart, his religion is useless.”
“Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”
Hosea 10:12
Michelle, Russellville-
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV
Tiffany, Chesterfield:
The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the motives.
Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:1-3, NASB
Joni
Littleton, CO
Job 23:10-11 NIV
“But He know the way that I take; when He has tested me I will come forth as pure gold. My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside.”
Jennifer, Highland Village, TX
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Linda Bartlesville, OK
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The unfailing love of the Lord never ends!
By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness;
His mercies begin afresh each day.
Lamentations 3:21-23 NLT
Karen
Cumming, GA
John 15:5-8 NLT
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father”
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 | ESV
Ephesians 3:14-15 (NIV)
For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Kim
Loveland, Co
If your revelation hadn’t delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came. Psalm 119:92
(the message)
Amber, Houston. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who have been made in the image of God.” James 3:9 (NIV/NLT)
Martha (Lexington): Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Kirstin, San Antonio, TX –
Titus 2:11-12 NIV
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation toall people. It teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly possessions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”
Amber, Denton TX
Psalm 61:1-4 NLT
O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
Chelle in Mobile, Al
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening) I Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)
Beth, Birmingham
“Consider Him who endured much opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:3 TNIV
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
(Isaiah 46:4 NIV)
Peggy – Yorktown, VA
Isa 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. — NIV
Biddeford, Maine
“God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” Matthew 5:5 (New Living Translation)
Retha, Tampa
They serve at the sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about tto build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the patter whown you on the mountain.” Heb 8:5 NIV
Jae, Lenoir
II Corinthians 6:18 NIV
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Meredyth Cann
“because the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself,’The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.'” Lam 3:22-24
Darcy, Lenoir
II Corinthians 6:18 NIV
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Darien, Lenoir
II Corinthians 6:18 NIV
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Ashlie, Dallas, GA:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of break and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47 NIV Sorry so late!!!!
Hannah, Louisville, KY
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV
Emily Mechanicsville, VA NIV (sorry Im late on my “marching” orders)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6
Connie – Forsyth, MO Psalms 86:5 “For thou, LORD, art good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (KJV)
Isaiah 43:2
Kathryn, Jacksonville – “Lovest thou me? John 21:17
HollyAnn, Midland, NIV ~ “Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears, will reap with songs of joy. Those who go our weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying their sheaves with them.” Psalm 126: 4-6
Columbia, SC
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Lori in Velma, OK
Philippians 4:6 NLT
Do no worry about anything
Pray about everything
Tell God what you need
Thank him for what he has done
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Karen, Orillia, Canada “Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.: Ps. 63:7,8
Michelle, Kansas
“So then, my beloved brethern, let everyone be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you (NKJ which is able to save your souls).”
James 1:19-21, NIV/NKJ
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion which will never be moved. As the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 125:1-2 ESV
Regina
Romans 4:20-21
“Yet he did not waiver in unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in His faith and gave glory to God, being fully pursuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.”
Alice, Rockford, IL Proverbs 19:2 “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.” (NIV)
Janet, Winnipeg, Manitoba “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” (NIV) Hosea 10:12
Julie Elrod, Smyrna, GA: Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Please pray for my Daddy! He has AML and we received devastating news this week. I am NOT ready for him to go yet!!!
Nichole, Nashville, TN
“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.” – Philippians 3:7
Melissa Foster, Fort Myers, FL
I have heard of you by the hearing of my ear; But now my eyes see you. Job 42:5 HCSB
Lisa, Arlington TN: March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21b, NIV
Shelley
Springfield, MO
Psalm 121:3-4 (HCSB)
He will not allow your foot to slip;
Your Protector will not slumber.
Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.
Wava, Oldsmar, Fl
verse I forgot to post for Feb 15:
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.” NKJV
New verse for March 1:
Isaiah 26:3,4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” KJV