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!
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Nancy, St. Petersburg
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and not hypocritical. James 3:17 NET bible.
Tami, Palm Coast, Florida. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Star, Spring,TX: “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Jamie – Kansas City, Mo
Judges 5:21b NIV
March on, my soul; be strong!
Cindy & Corban (age 5)
Indianapolis, IN
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Eph. 6:10-12
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Col. 3:20
Christy from Lancaster, PA
“You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.”
Psalm 30:11-12 (NIV)
Crystal City, Manitoba, Canada
Colossians 1:4 ESV
“since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,”
Christine, California. Romans 12:6-8 NLT In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Kristi, Elba, AL: “Keep your servant also from wilfull sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgressions.” Psalm 19:13 (NIV)
Mindy, Sugar Land, Texas
Give me your lantern and compass,
give me a map,
So I can find my way to the sacred mountain,
to the place of your presence,
To enter the place of worship,
meet my exuberant God,
Sing my thanks with a harp,
magnificent God, my God.”
Psalm 43:3-4 (The Message)
Libby, Goodwine
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.” Jer. 17:7 NASA
MiChal, College Station TX
“May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5, The Message
“For we are HIS workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Suzann Benson
Kingwood WV
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But, if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:1-2 (NIV)
Lorie in Littleton, CO
Jean Schlosser, Rubicon, WI Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Kate DeWys, Zeeland, Michigan
“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:17-18 NLT
John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. NIV
Kay Chesterfield VA
Letha. Mountain Home, Arkansas. Proverbs 21:30 “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” NIV
Jamie, Bothell, WA:
2 Corinthians 10:5, NASB:
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Leanna, Lafayette, IN. Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. I John 2:15-17, NLT.
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you, He rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! Is. 30:18 NIV
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Eph. 6: 17-18a, NIV, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and reguests. With this in mind, be alert…”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God;trust also in me. John 14:Vs.1 NIV
Kelley Taylor, Tampa, FL- Psalm 73:26 (NIV)- “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Gail, Phoenix
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 1-2 NIV
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.” Psalm 118:8 (NIV)
Kathy
St. Louis, MO
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 63:4 NIV
Misty, Marco island; “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1 NIV
“IF MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND I WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.”
2 CHRONICLES 7:14 NIV
Andrea, Tulsa – “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.” – Isaiah 40:28, NIV
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
Psalm 119:45 NIV
Vicki, Chehalis, WA
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 NIV
Lisha – Visalia, CA: James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)
Sheri, Bolivar, MO. These 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. 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)
This is WAY cool in The Message, that’s where I first saw it.
Gretchen, Thousand Oaks, “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,” 2 Timoty 2:22-24 NASB
Kate, Ottawa area, Ontario Canada.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. We love Him (and each other) because He loved us first.
1 John 4:18-19
Teresa, Semmes, AL, Isaiah 42:8 NIV
I am the LORD; that is my name. I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.
Diana, East Peoria, IL
Isaiah 44:22 NIV
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me for I have redeemed you.
~ Cheryl ~ NC ~
~ 1 Corinthians 6:12 ~ NIV ~
“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.
Lori, Knoxville, IA
John 7:46, ESV
The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
Sacramento,CA
I will Praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my
hands. Psalm 63:4 NIV
Sharon, San Antonio,
Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
Ashley, Ponca City, Oklahoma
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Laura, Morrill “But I trust in you LORD; I say, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hands.” Psalm 31:14-15a NIV
Janet
Enid, OK
James 1:14-15 ESV
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Angela, Winder
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”–1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)
Kristi, Pocahontas, AR “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” Psalm 19:13 (NIV)
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV