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!
Sharon Lakeway TX
“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”
Lamentations 3:25 ESV
John 9:3
Neither this man not his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
Abby, Vacaville CA
Proverbs 31:12 NIV
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Jenny, Elida, “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11 (NIV)
Grace, Elida “Thank the Lord for he is good. His love continues forever.” Psalm 107:1 (ICB)
JoJo Sutis, Doyline, LA
“Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.”
JAMES 5:11 KJV
Sarah, Burlington, ON: “…so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:5, TNIV)
Debra, Ponte Vedra. Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. 1 Corinthians 12:4 The Living Bible
Debbie, Rochester, MN
Ps. 90:17 (NIV)
May the beauty of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
Valdese, NC
Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6 KJV
Eph 1:20
Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.
NIV
Shari, Augusta
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3+4 NASB
Elaine, Brea (Orange County), CA –
Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Thank you, Elaine! I am having surgery for thyroid cancer on Friday. It’s more complicated than usual because I already have one paralyzed vocal cord, and the tumor is very near the nerve that makes my working vocal cord move. If it is damaged I will have to use a trachea tube for the rest of my life. God is my strength; He is my peace!
Will be praying for you!
Praying for you, Beverly.
Lori, Lexington, KY
“I will not yield my glory to another.”
(Isaiah 48:11, NIV)
Roxanne, Greenwood, LA, Proverbs 31:17-23, KJV:
“She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.”
Jane, Milton, 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
Jane, that is one of my all-time faves. I draw so much strength and encouragement from it!
Dena’, Hindman, Kentucky Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 King James
Tricia Union, Ky
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock,
my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Saskatchewan, Canada
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. NIV
2 Corinthians 10:5
Jennifer Lutz, Fl
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10 NIV
Susan Norfolk,VA Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is ao work within us.
Elizabeth, Cincinnati
“For you created my inmost being;m you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well. ”
Psalm 139:13-14
Jeni, White Bluff, TN
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
Lyli, Fort Lauderdale
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17, NKJV).
Melinda, Oconomowoc, WI: Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing 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 (NIV)
Tanya, West Paducah, Ky “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 ESV
Andrea Hart Orlando, Fl Psalm 60:12 NLT
“With God’s help we will do mighty things…”
Carolyn, Dover ~
Isaiah 40:26 “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.
Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (NIV)
Kristen, Fort Worth, TX: Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Psalm 119:5
Cathy,Rhinebeck. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love beause he first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19(NIV).
Lynn, Pflugerville,Tx
“O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, You have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!” Psalm 71: 5 & 6 NLT
Sue, Groveport OH
“He pastured them with unblemished heart, with a sensitive hand he led them.”
Psalm 78:72
(dear ones, because of Christ, this is what God sees when He looks at us: unblemished hearts)
Adrienne
Jasper, TN
“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4 NIV
Jennie, Johnson City, TN
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:12 NIV
Lucy Bomberger, Watsontown, PA
Psalm 16:5-6 ESV The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Judy, East Chain, MN
“Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have see the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:11 (NET)
Krista, Jamesburg, Romans 8:38, NLT
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
Barbara, Warner Robins, GA
Lamentations 3:22 NCV
The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies never stop.
Viola-Lubbock, TX Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. NIV
Elizabeth from Rochester NH:
Deuteronomy 32:2, NLT
Let my teaching fall on you like rain;let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,like gentle showers on young plants.
(and can I share that my 8 year old daughter has made it her mission to help me memorize; we practice most nights before bed and she’s getting them down as much as I am – thank you Lord for your double portion!)
What a blessing!
Dawn – Clinton, PA
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26, NIV
Karina, Recife – Brazil
“God, when you took the lead with your people, when you marched out into the wild, Earth shook, sky broke out in a sweat; God was on the march. Even Sinai trembled at the sight of God on the move, at the sight of Israel’s God.”
Psalm 68:7-8 (The Message)
marching through March!
Kari, Midland, TX
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NAS) Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (NIV)
Brooke – Clinton, PA
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rom. 12:21, NIV
Durant, OK
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18NIV
Kimberly, Houston
The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11 (NKJV)
Amie, Rochester, MN
“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23 NLT
Jeanette, Indian Trail, 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.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
kendal, north wilkesboro, nc:It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faihtfulness at night. Psalm 92:1-2 (NIV)