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!
Kathy from Oakland, Oregon
“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
Daniel 2:20 Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever for wisdom and power belong to Him” (NASB)
Diane – Florence Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 KJV
“He who guards his lips; guards his soul”
NIV Proverbs 13:3
Jordan Upchurch
Albany Ky
Sharon, LP, MI
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God &, that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.
1 Cor 6:19-20
The New American Bible
Psalms 85:8
I will listen to what God will say
I know I didn’t post here. I’ve been memorizing and emailing my friend that is holding me accountable but…not here. I’m so bad. Sorry!
Philippians 1:8
For God is my witness, how I yearn
for you all with the affection of Christ
Jesus.
Tammy, Indianapolis
Matthew 7:12 “Whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them” (HCSB)
Bena ~ Pikeville, KY
This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. –Joshua 1:9, NLT
Be on Guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT
Lea Ann Bethany, Clinton, MS
‘Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much ore than they?’ Matthew 6:26 NASB
Dawn Missouri City, Texas
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Brigette Brock
Morehead, Ky
“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me..”
Habakkuk 2:1 NIV
Thy hands made me and fashioned me. Give me understanding that I may learn Thy commandments.
Psalm 119:73
The Lord is my portion, “says my soul therefore I will hope in him” Lam 3:24 RSV Ellen/Dallas TX
Grace. Decatur, Alabama.
March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b NIV
Lisa Gayle Houston, Texas
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, 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.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Karen, Cottonwood, CA
Oops…here are both my March verses:
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thes. 5:16-18 (NIV)
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (NIV)
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
Shanelle from Phoenix, AZ
March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Raleigh from Austin, TX
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls.” -Matthew 11:29 NIV
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of God. Gal.1:10 NIV
Ps 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. (He worketh.)
Psalm 4:3 KJV
But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
Kelly, Huntsville
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (NASB)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23 NIV
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NIV
I’ve got my verses each time but keep forgetting to post!
Lynnette in Houston
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins… He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:13-15 BM Revelation Lecture Series (NIV)
Dee
Kyle, TX
Lauren, Topeka
37:And he said to him,”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
38:”This is the great and first commandment.”
39:”And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
40:”On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40 ESV
Deborah, Mobile: Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth & the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock & my Redeemer.” NAS
Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Kathy, Seymour, IN
(No internet for a few days…)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Pam Chesapeake
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is make perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
Debbie
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Psalms 27:10 (Beth Moore Praying Scripture Cards)
Even if my father and mother forsake me, You, LORD, wil receive me.
(L0rd) Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I will find delight. Psalm 119:35
Valerie, Spring,TX – Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV
Marlene
Harleysville, Pa
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deut. 33:27 NIV
Queen City, TX
Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet now as I will, but as You will. Matthew 26:39 TNIV
Psalm 130:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word I do hope.
See Beth? – we really did listen in Fresno and are working on that “patience” thing!
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (NASB)
Anxiety in a mans heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 12:25
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two edged sword. Hebrew 4:12
Yet I am always with you: You hold my right hand. Psalm 73: 23 Christian Standard Bible
Lisa, Cartersville, GA “But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”
Psalm 3:3(NIV)
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NIV
A little late, but here’s my verse…
Psalm 139:4
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.