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!
Terri from Mechanicsville, VA
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it!
Genesis 4:7 (NIV)
Tammy Elrod, Mechanicsville, VA
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wingls like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will work and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
Matthew5:14a KJV
You are the Light of the World
Shannon in Louisville, KY
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
~ Psalm 82:3 (NLT)
Praying for Bowen Hammitt (almost 6 months old) as he undergoes his second heart surgery tomorrow. http://www.bowensheart.com
Jamie, Raleigh, NC
Judges 5:21b – March on, my soul; be strong! NIV
Holly, Boulder
The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8 NLT
Psalm 126:5,6 (NLT)
“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed but they sing as they return with the harvest.”
Nancy, Sanger, TX
Bobbie
College Station, Tx
1 John 4:11 (NIV)
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Kristi, North Webster, IN
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 NIV
Carol
Albuquerque, NM
Psalm 62:1-2 NIV
1- My soul finds rest in God alone my salvation comes from him.
2- He alone is my rock and my salvation heis my fortress I will never be shaken
Carol
Albuquerque NM
Cindy, Gold Canyon, AZ. “This is what the Lord says – Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 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
April, Blacksburg, VA:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Kristy from Princeton, NC
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Eph 6:10 NIV
Kristin, Jacksonville. Psalm 23:1-3 (KJV)
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. Romans 14:13 NLT
Kristie
Queen City, TX
Brigid (Johannesburg SA)
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 NKJV
Barbara, New Orleans
God makes everything come out right; He puts victims back on their feet. Psalms 103:6 The message
Chris, Louisville, KY
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5 NKJV
Nightingale – Miami, FL
Matthew 6:33-34 (MSG)
“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
Lisa D., Alpharetta, GA
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:13
I forgot to add that’s the NIV. 😉
Kelley, Russellville
John 14:2-3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” KJV
Randi, Knoxville, TN
“March on, my soul; be strong!” Judges 5:21 NIV
Donna
Eldorado, Texas
Jonah 2:8 (NIV)
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
posting for my friend, Sandy R., Eatonton, GA
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)
Amy, Moncks Corner, SC. “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast lvoe with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations,” Deuteronomy 7:9, ESV
Robbyn, Dickinson, North Dakota
“March on, my soul; be strong!” Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Karen R.
Coffeyville, KS
Ps 5:1-3 (NIV)
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Rebecca, Pineville
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives 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 2010
Courtney, Fort Collins, CO
“You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 NASB
Jennifer, Madison,OH
I Corinthians 15:58 NIV
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Dora, Birmingham, AL
I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3 NIV
Jody, Alvin TX
Deuteronomy 10:17 (NASB)
The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
Kellie Dallas, TX Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city (KJV)
Susan, Chesapeake, VA: “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”
-Isaiah 64:4
AnnJanel, Jacareí, São Paulo, Brazil
“And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort” II Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
Linda,Westport
“Wait for the Lord;Be strong,and let your heart take courage;Yes wait for the Lord.
PSALM27:14
Lanie Beth, Locust Grove, GA Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Dixie, Santa Monica California,
2 Samuel 22:20, NIV
He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because he delighted in me.
Darcy, Houston “March on, my soul; be strong!” Judges 5:21b NIV
Susan B. – Chapin, SC
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)
Dana, Lexington, KY
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
Kay, Diana, TX. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Rom 12:3. KJ
Marilyn….in Mississippi
“Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”
Acts 2:28 KJV
Sallie, Tupelo, MS
Mark 10:27 (New International Version, ©2010)
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Lu, Raleigh, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7, NIV
Rayna, Olathe, Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Phil. 2:3 NLT
Dawn in Monett, MO
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised us is faithful.
Lauren, Biloxi:
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18
Amber
Shrewsbury, England
“The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” 1 Corinthians 7:4 NASB
Kelly, Auburn, Al – 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut. 6:8-9 NIV