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!
I will walk in freedom for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalm 119:45 NLT
Danielle, Missouri
“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:11 NASB
Abbey, Roseville, Ca
Therefore do not worry about tomorow for tomorow will worry about itself. Eachday has enough troubles of its own.
Mattew 6:34 NIV
Alisa Taylor
Clinton, MS
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:44&45 NASB
Nelly, Mission, TX, Hebrews 4:15, NIV, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet He did not sin.”
Krystle, Central Point
Psalm 29:11 NIV
“The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”
Cyndy, Columbia, SD
So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Tracy Carden
Whitesburg, TN
Lord, I need this peace. Help me focus on what I have learned from you!
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9 NIV
Jackson, MS
Isaiah 40:31 NIV “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.”
Katherine, Houston “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 2:3 NKJ
You’re blessed when you are content with just who you are- no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
Matt 5:5 Msg
Iris, Sherwood, AR: Let the word of Chrsit dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 4:16 NIV
Annie L. from Bloomington, Indiana
“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
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Carmen, Houston TX
Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
Hosea 6:3 NIV
Denise Deming
Mark 12:29-30 NKJV
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.”
Lisa, Bethany, OK
“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
Ephesians 4:7 NIV
Sharon, Florien La: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
Geri from Deer Park, TX
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
Isaiah 40:28 NASB
Jonda, Shakopee, MN
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
Heather, Wilmington. “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
Emily, Kalispell, MT
“He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good; and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Proverbs 16:20 KJV
Gina, Ridgeland, MS
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:5,6 ESV
Stephanie
Knoxville, TN
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
Joan, Hudson, FL
The world and it’s desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
– 1 John 2:17 NIV
Lynda, Ocala, FL: Acts 17:26 “…From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” NIV
Katie, Houston. “You gave abundant showers, O God;
You refreshed Your weary inheritance.” Psalm 68:9 NIV
Sandy in Amarillo
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel – which means, God with us.
Matthew 1:23 NIV
Kalispell, MT “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”. Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Grove, OK
I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will not set anything godless before my eyes. I hate the doing of transgression; it will not cling to me.
Psalm 101:2-3
NIV
Michelle, West Des Moines, IA
March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b NIV
Michelle, Chicago
“The mind of the sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
Sherrie, Rome
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11
Romans 7:6 NIV
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
“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 Cor 10:5 NIV
Jennifer, Nashville TN
Deuteronomy 14:2 Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession. NIV
Tammie, St. Peters, MO
“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)
Mallory, Hamilton, OH
Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 New Living
Katelyn, Abilene, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”; Psalm 143:10 [NIV].
Kristen Young, Baton Rouge, La
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 john 4:10 NIV
Jean
Franklinton, NC
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
~ Philippians 4:6, NLT
Jerri, Princeton
I lift up my eyes to the hills–where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
Darl, Bakersfield, CA “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
Lindsay, Albion, IL “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 NIV
Chelsie Benson, San Angelo: “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.” The Lord does not look at the things a man looks at.” 1 Sam 16:7 NIV
Brittany- Middletown, OH
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Odessa, TX
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”
Philippians 2:5
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NIV
Gina,
Cypress, Tx
James 5:9 Do not complain brethren against one another, so that you may not be judged. Look! The Judge is standing at the very door.
Amplified
Lynn, Red Deer, AB Canada
Proverbs 31:26 & 27 ESV
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.