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!
Helen, Broxton Georgia
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 104:1-5 NAS
CeCe, Girdwood Alaska
I Corinthians 13: 6-7 EVS
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Vickie: Doniphan, MO
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.” Psalms 119:11(NIV)
Shanda, Tyler, TX:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 23-24 NIV
Beth, London Ontario
“He gave them exactly what they asked for – but along with it they got an empty heart.” Psalm 106:15
Andrea, Hobe Sound
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Kristen, Oklahoma City “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” James 1:17 NIV
Melanie and Kara Miller, Nampa, Idaho
M: Eph 1:7 NLT – He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.
K: Ps 103:5 – He satisfies me with the good things I long for. Then I feel young and strong again, just like an eagle.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth: meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8 NIV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understand.”
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Zan from Franklin, TN
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Allison, Annapolis, MD, ” Find rest, o my soul, in God alone; My hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O People; Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalms 62:5-8, NIV
Charlotte, Worsley, Alberta
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Jeri B., Battlefield, MO
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me”
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Lynn
Rochelle, GA
Marge Turner – Chili, WI
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30 (NIV)
Brandy, Siloam Springs, AR
I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV
Valerie, Knoxville TN
Psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior, my God.”
Lori, Owasso
Psalm 73:25-26 (New International Version, ©2011)
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Alyson Lung
Longmont, CO
Before a downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 18:12 NIV
Karin from Brandon, MS
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV
Laura, Southaven, MS: :”The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 NIV
Crystal, Everett-Ontario “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (New International Version)
Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV
“So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Jackie
Pearland, TX
Eph 5:33 (NIV)
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Tracey from Knightdale, NC:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29, NIV
Meg, Richmond, VA
Look to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God. – Hebrews 12:2, ESV
Natasha, Omaha
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26 NIV
McDonough, GA
“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18 (NIV 84′)
Kelly, Eupora, MS
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 eneies.
Isaiah 42:13, NIV
Isaiah 40:28 NIV
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
Kyndra, Houston, TX
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowlege him, and he will make your paths straight.”
(NIV)
Debra, Many, La
“This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day and having prepared everything, to take your stand.” Ephesians 6:13
(Holman)
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1
“you shall love the LORD your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind and all of your strength!” Mark 12:30 GNT
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb.” Pslam 139:13 NIV
Sabrina
Lincoln Nebraska
Psalm 139:1-2
You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
(New International Version)
Joni,Cincinnati:(NLT) Psalms 18:27 You rescue those who are humble, but you humiliate the proud.
Wanda – Laurel, MS
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Luke 6:45 (NASB)
Kristen Cottingham, Three Rivers, MI
“But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work hard at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.” 2 Timothy 4:5 NLT
Megan, Charlotte, NC
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 NIV
Alicia, McDonough,GA
Psalm 30:5b
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Lydia; OKC, OK
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.”” James 4:6 NKJV
Carla-LaFayette, Al.
The Lord is my strength, and my song, he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14 NIV
Vivian
Birmingham, Alabama
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving
Psalm 28:7 (New Living Translation)
Laurie from Eureka, Missouri
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8 NIV
Byram, MS
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ESV
What can we say about such things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31
Holly – Allen, Tx
Sarah, Christina, and Esther May; Wenatchee, WA “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)