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!
Jennifer, Oklahoma City, OK: “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand to that person.”
Proverbs 3:27 (The Message)
Pam, Smithfield, NC
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me.” Isaiah 43:10 (NIV)
Julie, Springfield MO
Job 1:21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (RSV)
Ginger Walker, South Point, Ohio
Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:31 NLT
Mary – Alabama (a town so small you won’t know it, trust me)
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Ps 130:5 (ESV)
Ha! Me too:)
And your verse I also used for the first entry.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. HE WILL NOT GROW WEARY…HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE WEARY…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.”
HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!!
Judi
Lancaster
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,and your joy will be complete.
John 16:24 NIV
James 1:22-24 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
1Thessalonians 5:11
Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Nicole
Keller
Prov 14:30 NLT
A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones
Tina, Granby: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Jill Chillicothe, MO
“Because Your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify You.” Psalm 63:3 (NIV)
Jessica from Rockvale, TN
“Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.” Proverbs 6:5 (NASB)
Becky, Beaverton, OR
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Romans 8:9-10 NIV
Kim,Dickinson, ND
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Eph. 6:16 NIV
Heather, piedmont, Matthew 11:28 niv “come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”
Kelly, NY Isaiah 58:9 The Message
If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,…
Devanee, Ulysses: I have two:When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:19 NLT
and
I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. Isaiah 44:22 NLT
Peg, Hillsboro, KS
“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see – how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.”
Psalm 34:8 (The Message)
Carina, Simi Valley:
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
Shelley, Dallas
“We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.” The NET Bible
Diera, Austin “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NIV
Lyndsey, LA- Isaiah 61:4
Darlene Tennessee
Psa 62:6 He alone is my rock and salvation He is my fortess I will not be shaken
I do not know what I would have done without these verses
the last 3 weeks I am at my breaking point waiting on medical reports I will not know anything until Monday and I do not know how I am going to get thur the days until then Please Please Pray for me I can not tell you how much I need pray I am losing it
The word that I wanted to put on my facebook status when I awoke this morning (about 14hrs ago) was “march”….verb. I couldn’t think of a scripture to add with, so didnt post it after all
Cheryl, Uganda I John 4:15-16
“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in Him and He in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”
Kathy, Easley: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NIV
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV
Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Kim Wylie Texas
I have made you and I will carry you;I will sustain
you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4
NIV
Galatians 6:4
“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,”
Houston, TX
…….The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16b NIV
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Ephesians 3:20 The Message
Charmaine, Miami — O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NIV)
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. James 2:2-4 NIV
Wendy Raleigh,NC
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1John 3:1 NIV
Kim H., McKinney, TX
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
Anita, Lawrenceville
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 (ESV)
Lisa S, Houston
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you in joy, He will be quiet in His Love, he will rejoice.” Zephaniah 3:17 NAS
Michelle Martin Lakeland, Fl
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Amy – Fayetteville, TN
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
Denita-Lake Charles, LA “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” Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Ami – Cowpens
Matthew 6:15 NIV
15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Mark 13:37 KJV
What I say unto you, I say to all. Watch
Beth, Fountain Inn: Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. Psalm 119:49
Josie, Bossier City: When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. Isaiah 43:2, NLT
Natalie, Austin
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
col 1:110 (NIV)
Nicole, Seattle
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Belinda, Neely, MS–Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; Keep watch over the door of my lips. PS 141:3 NIV
Isaiah 55: 8 & 9 (NIV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Heather, Glencoe
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Lindsay, Warsaw, Indiana
Galatians 5:22 – 25 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.