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!
“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.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (Today’s NIV)
Rea, Centennial, CO “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
Spokane, WA
Psalm 37:3 NKJV
“Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.”
Stacy, Detroit, Michigan
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Tanya, Valley Center, KS
“We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed.”
“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16 Amplified
Annabel, Valley Center, KS
“It is better to eat a dry crust of
bread in peace and quiet
than to eat a big dinner
in a house that is full of fighting.”
Proverbs 17:1 NIrV
Britt, Prior Lake, MN:
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
-Hebrews 12: 22-24, NIV
Hannah, Perry, MI
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:3-4, NIV
Patty Pierce, searcy AR
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing powwer is from God and not from us.
2 cor 4:7
Kathy from Ontario Canada:
“My soul melts with heaviness: strengthen me according to Your Word.” Psalm 119:28
Tamara – San Antonio, TX
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.” Romans 6:6 NLT
Sarah, Colorado Springs, CO
I’m finishing memorizing this from last time:
“For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.”
-Psalm 95:3-5
Hello Sarah! I wanted to say hello because I was encouraged seeing a Siesta from the Springs.
Erin – Wylie, TX
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
Tiffany, Columbus: “March on, my soul be strong.” Judges 5:21b (NIV)
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10, NIV
Liz, Edmond, OK; Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Christelle, Delafield WI,
Isaiah 41:10 (Amplified Bible)
10Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.(A)
Karla, Sheboygan. 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)
Talmage
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Mary Beth, St. Louis, MO
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…”
Philippians 2:14-15 NIV
Katie, Paducah, KY: “His compassion’s never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ ” (Lamentations 3:22–24) NIV
Petra – Ceres, CA Eph 1:16-23 NIV “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray 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 his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Elisabeth, Lexington, KY
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11
NIV
Nicole, Norman, OK
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)
Jen, Ireland
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.
Psalm 68:9-10, NIV
(I know it’s 2 verses, but they’re short and really go well together)
Dana, Blue Ridge, Tx
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 to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 27:4 NIV
Renee: Austin, Texas
May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV
Heidi
Fayetteville, GA
Revelation 17:14 (New International Version, ©2010)
14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followrs.”
From Davison, MI
“He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 62:6 (NIV)
Let Us Fix our Eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Amanda, Colorado Springs
“It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak!”
2 Corithians 4:13 NIV
Yanna Westmoreland, Bryan, TX “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:5 New Living Version
Louisville, KY
He will cover you with his feathers,
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection
Psalm 91:4
Becky from Marietta, GA
“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go”
Isaiah 48: 17 NIV
March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21b NIV
Deb Lexington,TX
Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast
love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed
like the eagle’s.
I memorized this entire chapter years ago and lately thought about breaking it up over a few weeks and working on it again. Nice to see it on here. Beautiful chapter.
Diane, Minnetonka, MN
You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is dependent on You, for it is trusting in You. Trust in the Lord forever, because in Yah, the Lord, is an everlasting Rock! Isaiah 26: 3&4
Holman CSB
Candace, Greenville
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 NIV
Heather, Spokane, WA
Do not be mislead: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
(1 Corinthians 15:33)
Debbie, Lorenzo TX: Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart Proverbs 3:3 NIV
Danielle, Ousden (UK)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Trina, Mansfield, TX. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15 NIV
Ginger; Paragould, AR;
moving right along in memorizing Psalm 139
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.” Psalm 139:6 NLT
Tammy,Monroe,Ga. Isaiah 57:15 NASB
“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spriit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite,”
Jeni, Southampton, UK
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…”
~Philippians 3:20 NIV
Sam, Boston
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Colossians 4:6
Jane, Normal, Il
As you know, we count as 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.
James 5:11 NIV
Thanks Beth, This is the one I needed this month! God is gracious!
Michelle, Scottsdale
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Amy, Charleston, SC: “I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me.” Phillipians 4:13 NKJV
Emily: Rockwall, Texas
“He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righeous and His ears are attentive to their prayer…”
1 Peter 3:11-12
Tammy, Monroe,Ga. Isaiah 57:15
“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.”