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!
Nancy, West Virginia
Psalm 62: 5- 8
5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken 7My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.:)
I don’t usually add commentary, but I love that you wrote “If God is saying go ahead, then GO.AHEAD.” Because of my verse, I feel that is EXACTLY what He is telling me:
Jenn, Orlando FL – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Kate from Cheney, WA
My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.
Psalm 62:5 Amplified Version
Becky, Owasso OK “Come [Becky], listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.” Psalm 34:11-16 NIV
Tarah – Rib Lake, WI
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV
Michelle, New Smyrna Beach
“We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that th eLord is full of compassion and is merciful” James 5:11, NASB
Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. Romans 8:5b-6 CEV
L Diane, Indianapolis
Correct me, Lord, but only with justice–not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.
Jeremiah 10:24 NIV
Tara, Tampa Florida.
1 Kings 3:12
“I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and descerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” NIV
Heather Marsten, Shokan, New York
Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV
“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying; ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.'”
Connie, Tyler
The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior He will stir up His zeal; with a shout He will rais the battle cry and will triump over His enemies! Isaiah 42:13
Psalm 16:5-6
“LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Kate, Grapeland, Texas (NIV)
Elaine, College Station, Texas (ESV)
Donna, Lufkin, Texas (NIV)
Laura, College Station, Texas (NIV)
Hebrews 10:22-23 (NIV)
“…22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscious and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
Thank you LORD!
Lynette, Nashville, TN
Our help is is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8 NIV
Nashville
Ephesians 4:18. “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.”
Colleen from Spokane Valley, WA
“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 NKJV
Michelle C., Double Oak, TX
“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”
Conne, Angel Fire,
“My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him: for my hope and expectation are from Him.” Psalm 62:5 (Amplified)
Sheryl, Pennsylvania – Luke 9:23-25 NIV
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. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
Jen Griffin, Jacksonville, Fl
Matthew 7: 13- 14 says: “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.” (Message)
Judy Baggett, Irving, Texas
“The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”
Psalms 16:5
Julie, Livermore
“So then, Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14: Vs.1
NIV
Erin
Stephens City,VA
Zephania 3:17 NIV
“Your God is present among you,
a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.”
Delaine, Plainview: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV)
O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
Isaiah 33:2 NIV
Carolyn
Oceanside,Ca
Lynne, New Mexico:
Ephesians 4:22-24, King James version
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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Blessings!
Julie, Wadsworth, Ohio:
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine powers to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
Karen, Russellville, AR
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35 (NIV 2010)
The Lord your God is with you. He is Mighty to save. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.Zephaniah 3:17 NIV~ bless you all very much in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.
But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me. My glory and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3 NASB
Sherrylu, Powder Springs, GA
“But this precious treasure — this light and power that now shine within us — is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.” ~2 Cor. 4:7 NLT …THANK YOU for the encouragement, Beth!
Amy, Marion, Virginia “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul; and forget not all His benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2, NIV
Sandy, Lexington, KY
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10 NIV
Kerri, Nichols, NY
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV)
Laura, Little Rock. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteromony 6:4-9 (NIV 1984)
Shelley, Tulsa,”The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Margo, Burlington Ont. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the LORD finally brought about. The LORD is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:11 (NIV).
Sharon
Titanyen, Haiti
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. Ephesians 6:12 NIV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Philippians 4:4-5 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 25:3-4 NIV
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (New King James Version)
Monica – Taylor, AZ
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers al sins… Proverbs 10?12 NKJV
Jennifer from Chantilly:
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to teh soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24, NIV
Kristin, Ohio
Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)
“Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long.”
Caroline, Philadelphia, PA. Working through Hannah’s prayer!
“There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”
-1 Samuel 2:2 KJV
Trish, Stevens Point, Wisconsin…Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough trouble of it’s own. Matt. 6:34 NIV
Sabrina
Morristown, Tennessee
“I wait in hope for Your salvation, God.” Genesis 49:18
The Message
Bettie
Pasadena, TX
Psalm 50:15
NIV
“and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me.”
Heidi, Boonville, IN, Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:3-4 MSG