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!
Leslie- Tyler, TX
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.”
~Psalm 47: 1-2 (Today’s NIV)
Billie, Greenville, KY: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Jodi Paradise, CA
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22
Eek.. wrote it down in my spiral, but forgot to come over here and do so.
Sarah T. – San Diego.
“The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup, You hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.”
Psalm 16:5-6
But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16 NIV
Karon
Kingsland, GA
Emily
Florence, AL
He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:6-7. NIV
Michelle, Concord CA
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 NRSV
Anchorage
Colossians 3:6,7 NET
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them.
Heidi-Wasilla, Alaska:
“We put our hope in the LORD.
He is our help and our shield.”
Psalm 33:20 NLT
Anne, Ralph:
“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”
2 Chron.15:7 (ESV)
Deuteronomy 6v5
Love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Kris, Vientiane, Laos
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
I tried to post too early on March 1 (around 5:15 a.m.) and couldn’t get back to type it in until now, but I started working on it that morning.
1 Peter 1:7 NIV These [trials] have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:36 NIV
Kristen Spring Hill, TN
Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 58:4
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (ESV)
Rhonda ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan:
The Lord gives STRENGTH to his people; the Lord BLESSES his people with PEACE! (Psalm 29:11 NIV)
Jennifer, Monroe, GA
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this:”I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” Isaiah 57:15 NLT
Cindy, Huntingdon, PA
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Christy South Carolina- “Always pursue what is good for one another and for all.” I Thess. 5:15b ESV
Kim – Flower Mound TX
” My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 NIV
Carol
Carthage NY
Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14:1 NIV
Debbie, New Delhi, India: Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Proverbs 3:7 Message
Janet, Wingate, NC: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 NIV
Cheryl, Hattiesburg, MS
Psalm 29:11
May the LORD give strength to his people. May the LORD bless his people with peace. (ESV)
Jayme, Fort Worth: “March on, my soul; be strong!” Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Meredith, Mansfield, Colosians 3:23- “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart as working for God not man.” NIV
Danielle – Cumming, GA
Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deut 8:2-3
Sorry I’m late! Computer issues.
Margaret, Sebring, Florida.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:3, NKJV.
Barb, Hermitage, PA: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
Candace in Kentucky
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Renee, Cincinnati, OH
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
2 Cor 4:7 NIV
Stephanie, Mount Carmel, TN
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Psalm 119:45 NIV
Denise
Asheville, NC
Lamentations 3:2-24 (NIV)
“Because of 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 on Him.”
Heather, Nova Scotia, Canada
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 NIV
Mar 15 – Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”(NIV 2011)
Kathy – Seymour, IN
(Oh good, I’m not the only one who’s late…)
Nancy, Morehead, KY: “No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29 NAB
Psalm 86:11-13 (NIV)
Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
Angie
Deltona, FL
Martha, Waco. You were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires…Eph. 4:22 NIV.
Laurie, Tyler Tx: “Above all love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Marie, Easley SC
The one thing I ask of the Lord-the thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections, and meditating in his Temple.
Ps. 27:4 (NLT)
Linda, Mishawaka, In
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
Ps 91:1-2 NIV
My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. Psalm 35:28
MARILYN, VAN BUREN, MO
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS. FINALLY BRETHREN, WHATEVER IS NOBLE, WHATEVER IS JUST, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, WHATEVER IS OF GOOD REPORT, IF THERE IS AN VIRTUE AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRAISEWORTHY, MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.
PHIL 4:6-8
We know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
NIV
Becky, Scottsdale, AZ: “Don’t be afraid”, he said, “for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong.” Daniel 10:19 NLT
Oh my, I am sooo late,sorry!
Sally Middlefield
Romans 8:24 ESV
“For in this hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope.
For who hopes for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see,
we wait for it with patience”
Mary Ann from Summerville, SC
The Lord will keep you from all harm-
He will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8(NIV)
This one is for Kelly, Fairfax “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV
Still on board, just late, sorry
Candi,South Lyon, MI
“I pondered the direction of my life and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry without delay to obey your commands.” Psalms 119:59,60 NLT