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!
Rhonda, Bolivar MO.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 NIV
sonya
temple, tx
John 13:35 NIV
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Crystal-Milford, IA
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (TNIV)
Susan in Nashville, TN
2 Cor 9:8 ESV
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, I may abound in every good work.”
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
Amanda Hoyt, KS “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 ESV
Toni, Morgans Point, TX – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.
~ Romans 4:20-21 NIV
Teena
Cypress, Texas
Alice, Portland OR, “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Lynn, Lake Villa, IL
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
A gentle answer turns away wrath. . . (Proverbs 15:1) TNIV
Towson, MD
” But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” James 3:17-18 NIV
Diane Littleton, CO
Therefore, my dear brothers (sisters!), stand firm.
Let nothing move you.
Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Waylene, Loma Linda,
I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Ps 27:13,14 KJV
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Count it all joy my brethren when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Jas 1:1-2
audree faith
honolulu, hi
ephesians 5:26 (NIV)
“to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,”
Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. I will be with you just as I was with Moses; I will not abandon you;
I will not fail to help you. Constantly remind yourself about these laws! You must think about hem every day and every night so that you will be sure to obey all of them. For only then will you succeed. YES, be bold and strong!
Joshua 1: 9,5,8,9
The Living Bible
Debbie, Alpharetta, GA. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! NIV
Sara, Oklahoma City, OK
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly”
Psalm 119:1-8 NKJV
Krista, McDonough, GA: 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)
Jodi Alley, Humble, TX
If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5 NASB
Debbie, Alpharetta, GA. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! II Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Heidi Syverson
Clearbrook, MN
Psalm18:16-17: ” He reached down from on high nad took hold of me. He drew me out of deep waters, He rescued me from my powerful enemy. From my foes who were too strong for me”
Shirley Palm Coast Florida – The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD do not abandon those who search for you. Sing praises to the LORD who reigns in Jerusalem. tell the world about his unforgettable deeds. Psalm 10:9-11 NLT
Kathy-Aurora, CO
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:6 NASB
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Galatians 5:16 (NIV)
Tab Lewis
Greenville SC
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you!”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. colossians 3:23 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Pam, Wilmington
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:28 ESV
Deborah, Topeka, KS “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
Stephanie Lewisville, TX
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand days elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Psalm 84:10
Mandy – Powder Springs, GA
PS 40:1-3
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13(NIV)
Psalm 61:2 KJV
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. AMEN!
Karen, Dover, NH “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.” Is. 46:4 NIV
Adrienne, Clarksville
For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that He will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.
Deuteronomy 23:14 NIV
Sally, Lexington, KY, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23. 1 NKJV
Maria – North Dakota
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
Melissa, Locust Grove, GA “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73: 25-26 ESV
Crystal, Columbia “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.” Daniel 3:17 NIV
Mandy – Powder Springs, GA
PS 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
Fruita, CO
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10 NIV
Salena, Livonia, MI
Proverbs 31:30 NLT
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Kari, Camarillo: I am the living bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. John 6:51
Susan, Dalton, GA.
“For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NET)
Thomasville, AL
“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
Dianne – FL
“March on, my soul; be strong!” (Judges 5:21b, NIV)