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!
Beverly
Jackson, MS
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5 (NIV)
Margaret, Kingsport
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:5 NIV
Charlotte-Ohio
March 1, 2011
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Proverbs 2:10
Kathy, Cumberland, RI – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV
Kelly, Fort Myers. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
catherine bethlehem
The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18 (NIV)
Beth, Toronto: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:15, 17 (NKJV)
Thank you for the ‘March Ministry’ Beth …. love it, need it and going to pray it … you sweet gift from the Lord!
Patti from HalfWay, MO
Psalm 139:14 (NIV) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.
Shari, Ohio. “And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NIV
Lisa-West Chester, Ohio
“You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.”
Ps. 68:9
I need refreshed!
Carolyn, Maryville, Esp 1:13 NIV And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit
Love your scripture sister!
Dayna, Ontario,Calif.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.
2Cor. 10:3-5 NIV
LuAnn, Port Huron, MI Now we have treasures in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 HCSB. I find it amazing that I wrote this scripture in my Siesta memory book, then went online to read what you wrote. Only to find that you mentioned it in your post.
Don’t you love it that God gives you the one to memorize!! I get so excited : D ~Dayna
Diane
Baraboo, Wi.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowhip with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1John 1:5-7
Jessica, Florence, SC:
1 Corinthians 10:13
You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out so that you can stand up under it. (New International Reader’s Version)
Mary, Ohio
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
James 3:16
Christy, Katy, Texas: “So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!” Genesis 16:13 The NET Bible
Emily – Fairburn, GA
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19 ESV).
Alicia, Great Lakes, IL
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Hebrews 4:14, NIV
Jess, Grand Forks ND
“Know the God of your father and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him you will find Him.”
1 Chronicles 28:9
Shannon, Greenville- “Whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him.” Luke 12:8
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. Rev.22:12 (NIV)
My daughter Jasmine says:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Rev.22:21 (NIV)
Newport, TN
Becky — Rushsylvania,OH
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 NIV84
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring and my blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3b NIV
Angela, Mansfield TX
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.”
Jeremiah 17:7 (NLT)
Kristen Keeling from Covington, Georgia:
“But my servant Caleb thinks differently and follows me completely. So I will bring him into the land he has already seen, and his children will own that land.”
Numbers 14:24, NCV
John 14:18 (New Living Translation)
No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
Lesley, Des Moines, IA
Jennifer, Singapore
Matthew 5:5-6 NIV
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Sarah Millers Creek
They are new every morning great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:23 NIV
Jodell, Frankfort. “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.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
donna- Spanaway Wa
Beverly, Ohio Psalm 107:9 For He has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things. NIV
Tricia, Xenia, OH
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Tammy-Siloam NC/Find rest,O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5(NIV)
Christine Lissoy, Irvine, CA: “He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it.” Phillippians 1:6 (NIV)
Julia, Glendora,CA. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 NASB
stephanie from Indiana
1 cor. 13 6/7…Love is patient, Love is kind, love is not jealous, love does not brag and love is not arrogant. Love does not act unbecomingly, love does not seek its own. Love is not provoked and love does not take into account a wrong suffered. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things
NAS-II Corinthians 2:14-17-But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the Word of God but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, in the sight of God.
Amy
Kansas City, MO
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 NIV
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Michelle, Waukesha, WI
..”but 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.”
Isaiah 40:31
Tammie, Carlisle, PA: Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16 NIV)
Amy, North Texas
“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good.”
Psalm 73:28a NAS
Michigan
Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty. He will cover you with his feathers, under His wings you can hide, His truth will be your shield and protection. Psalm 91:1,4
Marla Lame Deer, MT
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear for I with you; do not be dismayed for I am Your God. I will strengthen you and help you I will up hold you with my righteous right hand. NIV
Terryl, Temecula: “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”
Isaiah 43:10 NIV
Breanna (age14)
Russellville, Ar
Col 3:23 NIV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for men
Diana, North Attleboro, MA
The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 21:23 HCSB
“Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
Karen, Wildwood, MO
“March on, my soul; be strong.” Judges 5:21b NIV