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!
And Moses said to the people, “do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lors, which he will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight foe you, you shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:13-14 NKJV
Katie
Raleigh, NC
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NIV
“All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.” Colossians 1: 10b, NLT
Rachel
Tucson, AZ
Psalm 46:1-2a NIV
“God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.”
Brea B., Birmingham, Alabama
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2 (NIV)
Aidy, Sherwood Park
**Sorry I’m so late. We just got back from vacation: )**
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
April, Conroe, Tx
Let us acknowledge the Lord, let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.
Hosea 6:3
NIV
Rebecca, Greenville, SC
Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
Tammie
Skull Valley, AZ
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:12-13 NIV
DLynn; Amarillo (not used to that yet);
He is your constant source of stability;
he abundantly provides safety and great wisdom;
he gives all this to those who fear him.
Isaiah 33:6 NET
Leslie, Rochester, MN.
I will not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but will be strengthened in faith and give glory to God, being fully persuaded that He has the power to do what He has promised. Romans 4:20-21 NIV
Linda from Colorado
Psalm 68:11 (NIV)
The Lord announces the word and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.
Love it!
Beth, I’m from Omaha, NE and I just started your “TO LIVE IS CHRIST” Bible study. We all fell in love with the words you gave,(not sure if it was a poem or not). It went something like this “Make me a student.
Not of higher learning but of your higher way.
Not to expand my mind but so my heart can change.
Give me the courage to withhold nothing from you worthy of a lesson.” There is more to go with it but not sure of all of it. I have been nominated to “find it” but don’t know where or how to go about it. PLEASE HELP…lol. Thanks. God Bless you and your day!
Hi Mickie, I’ll forward your question to our Resource department to see if they can help you out with this request. 🙂
Amie, Glendale, AZ: “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” 2 Sam. 7:18b, NIV
“Nothing in the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before Him, and to Him we must explain the way we have lived.”
– Hebrews 4:13
Mary Alice, Colleyville, TX
Better is little with the reverent worshipful fear of the Lord than great and rich treasure and trouble with it. Proverbs 15:16
Rebecca, FL
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Janet, Auburn, Matthew 19:26 NIV With God ALL things are possible
Brandy, San Antonio “O that My people would listen to me, That Israel would walk in my ways.” Psalm 81:13 NAS
lisa,long beach,wa
thank you beth for this post- i love and needed every morsel of it.
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Farmington, NM
“And Jacob awakend out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” KJV
Kelli
Texas
1 John 4:18 ESV
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
Kim, Atlanta, GA
Gal 5:1 NIV — It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let ypurselves be burdened again by a yoke of salvery
Becky– Alberta, Canada
You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
Matthew 5:3,4 The Message
Lindsay, Wenatchee, WA
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NKJ
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18
Mary Ann Ringgold
“In quietness and trust is your strength”.
Isaiah 30:15
Amanda~Guntersville, AL
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)
Every day I will parise You and extol Your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:2
Mary from Atlanta.
And they were calling to one another,
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isaiah 6:3
Mary from CT,
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living.
Psalm 27:13 NIV
Lynda, San Antonio
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Phillipians 4:8 NIV
Philipians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea “Peace! Be still.” And the wind ceased and the was a great calm.”
Mark 4:39
Carolyn**Bismarck, ND
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
Lynn, Orlando, Florida
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone whould be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
~ James 1;19 NIV
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32 NIV
Catherine, Montgomery: Above all,love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1Peter 4:8 NIV
Angie, from Ormond Beach:
Colossians 1:17-18 (NIV)
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.
(Memorizing Colossians in one year)
Lisa, Siloam Springs, AR
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5 (NIV)
Turkesshia Moore, Greensboro, NC
Matthew 23:12-And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Turkesshia Moore, Greensboro, NC
Matthew 23:12-And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. NKJV
Stacy, Amherst
“I will praise the Lord at all times, I will constantly speak his praises.”
Psalm 34:1 (NLT)
Dee, Houston.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beth A- Greenville, SC
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 NIV
God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.
Psalms 18:24 The Message
Char
Pampa, Texas
Cindy, Raleigh NC
Psalm 103:1 (NIV) “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
Jillian, Laramie
“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”
Isaiah 43:10
NIV
Sonjia from Raleigh,MS: “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Cindy, Louisiana, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for you were bought by God with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1Cor. 6:19-20