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!
Tami, DS, LA
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Cor 13:1 NIV
Orange, TX
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
This is Verse 6
I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Daniel 10:3 NKJV
I’m 9 days into my Daniel fast.
Amy, Omaha, NE
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)
Love doesn’t rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.
I Corinthians 13:6-7 NLT
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Julia, The Woodlands, TX
Psalm 34:1-2a (NLT)
I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly seek His praises.
I will boast only in the Lord.
I forgot to post my verse but I did get to memorize it!
Ellen
Colorado Springs
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and florish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It does not return to me empty but accomplishes what I desire and achieves the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)
Dana, Pflugerville, TX “Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
Roxie, Jerseyville, Hebrews 12:l NIV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Shannon, Tuscaloosa
Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. NASB
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, My grace is sufficent for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
“Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.”
Psalm 34:3 NIV
Holly Mc, Tyler TX
Commit your ways to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 NIV
Nancy, Morehead, KY
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” Ps19:15 (NAB)
Jan, Marion IA Psalm 91:5-6 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day, of the pestilence that stalks in the darkness or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. (NASB)
I will pray this, too, for our brothers and sisters in Japan and all of the persecuted church.
Jerre-Anacortes, WA
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1;2-3 NIV
Ephesians 1:16 (NIV) I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Kingsport, TN
And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Matthew 12:25 NASB
Rock Hill.SC
Psalm 116:1 NASB
I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications.
Laura Kathryne
Auburn, AL
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12 ESV
I John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. NIV
Melissa, Houston, Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God.” Galatians 2:20
Lynchburg, VA
Esther 4:14 (ESV)
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Psalm 40:5
NKJV
“Many, O Lord my God, are your wonderful works which you have done; and your thoughts towards us cannot be recounted to you in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
San Bernardino, CA.
Jennifer, Park City, Romans 12:9
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
NIV
Yelm, WA
Psalms 40:5 Many, Oh Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done, And Thy thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with Thee; If i would declare and speak of them, They would be to numerous to count
I posted this on #6, but this is my verse for #5.
Praise God, after 9 months of being unemployed, I started back to work. God is great, and He is bigger than anything I could ever imagine. So this one is pretty relevant to me:
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
never too late to catch up, right? my verse that i never managed to post…
sue, atlanta, ga “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” psalm 25:10 new king james version
Kimberly Jacksonville, AL ” Now the Lord is the Spirt and where the Spirt of the Lord is there is freedom” 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
Brittany, Louisville KY
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule. Matthew 5:3, The Message
Judges 5:21b NIV – March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b NIV – March on, my soul; be strong
James 3:17 NIV The wisdon that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility
comes wisdom. Provers 11:2
Beverly, Prosper, TX
Jeremiah 32.17
Ah Sovereign Lord, you have created the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. (NIV)
Always be joyful. Always keep praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. NLT
So late, almosted tempted to give up. But the LORD is not letting me.
Shelly, Seminole, FL- “Your mercy O LORD, is in the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the coulds.” Psalm 36:5 (NKJV)
Jennifer, Kansas
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose
for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11 NIV
Lindsey, San Francisco, CA – This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. I John 4:10 (NLT)
I kept my same verse from the previous time b/c I still needed it.
Sue in Grapevine, TX
Psalm 34:18 NIV The Lord is close to the brokenhearted & saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Stephanie, Lititz, PA
“But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain.” Psalm 3:3-4 NLT
Rebecca
Dallas, TX
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentlemess and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which bids them all together in perfect unity.
Alyson, Washington, DC: Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:24-25 NASB
Tami, Phx,Az
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NLT
Prov 12:18 NIV
Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Anita
Austin, TX
Sara, Orange CA
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Liane, Fredericksburg, VA:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (NKLV)
Barbara, Avon Park: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 NIV