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!
Amy H. Oklahoma City
Isaiah 46:3-4 (NET)
Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnants of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth and have carried since you were born. 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 rescue you.
Cathy, Gastonia, NC
“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 NKJV
Heather, Tallahassee “Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it, ” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (NASB)
Sandie, Knoxville
Ps 37:24 (ESV)
Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.
So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’. For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father know that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-32 NIV
courtney, moses lake, WA
2 Samuel 15:22 God’s Word Translation
Go ahead and keep marching
Matthew 18:10
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” NKJV
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
oops forgot my city!!
odessa, Tx
Rebecca, Louisa, VA: Therefore, my dear [siestas], stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. – I Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
Lindsey, Madison, GA
“For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12 {ESV}
Julie,Texarkana- Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. Psalm 16:5 NLT
Letty, Puyallup, WA
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 (NASB)
Karen, Denver. Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” Acts 5:29 (NIV)
Julie ~ Strongsville, Ohio
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19
Kristy, Shelby,NC “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
From Viv in Clovis
Psalm 97:
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory.
Psalm 18:32
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. NIV
Amanda, Kelowna, BC Canada: “Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 (NLT)
Tracy, Tyler, TX
“Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; persist in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NEB)
Psalm 80:3 (NASB)
O God, restore [me] and cause Your face to shine upon [me], and [I] will be saved.
Cynthiana, KY
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
Psalm 147:5 NIV
Joy, Altadena, CA
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19 NIV
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.
Psalms 25:1-7 (NIV)
Janelle, Dallas
“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
Becky
Pasco, Washington
2 Timothy 2:21 NIV
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Mary
Tacoma, WA
Judges 5:21b “March on, my soul, be strong”
NIV
Kara Ephrata, PA
“Because of what the Son has done, we have been set free. Because of Him, all of our sins have been forgiven.” Col 1:14 NIrV
Jane, Irvine, CA
“Do everything in love.”
I Corinthians 16:14 (NIV)
North Little Rock, AR
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple.
Psalm 27:4
Beth, I just wanted you to know that what you said today what something I desperately needed to hear. Thank you!
alicia,chicago…
“march on, my soul; BE STRONG!” judges 5:21b
(thanks for that one 🙂
Billie, Kailua-Kona
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
Ephesians 6:14-15 (NIV)
Sr. Rebecca, Clyde
That you may be invigorated and strengthened by all power according to the might of his glory to exercise every kind of endurance and patience with joy. Col 1:11 (AMP)
Paula, Lake Charles Philippians 4:6 (NET)
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.
Carrie Hunter, Hindman, KY
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagle; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 1 Samuel 64:4 NIV
Diane, Chesapeake, VA.
Deut. 14:2 (NLT)
“You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and He has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be His own special treasure.”
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 NET
Michele ~ Kenosha
Patti, Colorado Springs: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV)
I forgot to put 2 Timothy 1:7, so adding it here!!
Ashlee, VA
not to us, o Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
psalm 115:1 NIV
Heather, Petal MS
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will life up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63:4-5 (NIV)
Kathy, Lake Jackson, Texas
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redemer.
Psalm 19:14 NIV
I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4
(NIV)
Cori Burlington WA
Hannah R. | Norman, OK
“And His name will be the hope of all the world.”
~Matthew 12:21, NLT
Kelly
Marina, CA
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)
Ladonna, Cottondale, AL: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20 NIV
James 5: 11 NIV ’84
11-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.
Kay
Deer Park, TX
Sue, Earlysville, Va.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
NIV
I Peter 1:3 (NIV)
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV)
Mandy, Cottondale, AL: You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1 NIV