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!
Jeannie
Xenia, OH
Direct me in the paths of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
Psalm 119: 35-36 NIV
Valerie, Altoona, IA
I lift my eyes up 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-UK
Love this verse! Why do I sometimes think I can find help in other places?
Wendy
Clovis, CA
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.
Isa. 41:10 NIV
Judy, Dallas
“I sought the Lord and He answered me. He delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 34:4 NIV
John 21:17
The third time he said to him,” Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Patty Warner, West Branch, MI
My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior
Luke 1:46,47 NIV
Delores
Belleville, IL
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Sacramento, CA “I am convinced that nothing will ever separate us from God’s love. Death can’t, life can’t, the angels can’t, the demon’s can’t, our fears about today, our worries about tommorow, even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord (Romans 8:38-29) Long, but this is my go to verse!
Ashleigh, fort worth, texas. Niv Judges 5:21b “March on, my soul; be strong.”
Amber, Clarksville, TN
She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25 NIV
Deonne, Orlando FL
I’m new!
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14 NIV
Welcome!! Great verse… 🙂
Tammy
Glencoe, AL
“March on, my soul; be strong!” Judges 5:21b NIV
Deb, Topeka, KS
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
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. NIV
Reseda, CA
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. NIV
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverence. PS 32:7 NIV
Peg, Naperville, IL
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Connie Shorewood, IL
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV
Kelli, Anchorage
Psalm 19:14
My the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Hollie: Burns, TN
John 14:12 NIV
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Becky, Brunswick, GA
Luke 17:10 (NKJV)
So likewise you, when you have done all these things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’
Ginny
Rice Lake, WI
Proverbs 21:1 (NIV)
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
Terry
Washington, IL
March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b NIV
My lover spoke and said to me, Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me.
Sarasota NIV
Staci, Wichita – Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 NIV
Mara, Ridgefield, Washington
Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV
oops, forgot the reference: it is Song of Songs 2:10
Sarasota NIV
I refuse to peel off – I will keep Marching with the strong women of God! I missed the last verse, but I will carry 2 this time to make up for it! 🙂
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
and
1 Samuel 16:7b
The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Melody, Cleburne, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Phillipians 4:6-7 NIV
Suzanne, Cullman, Al:
We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. 2 Corin 4:8-9 NIV
Johanna, Forsyth, Montana- Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Pam,Greensboro,NC
“If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9, NIV
Joy from Clarksville
He is your constant source of stability. He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom. He gives all this to those who fear him.
Isaiah 33:6
NET
Marcia – Grand Rapids, Michigan – “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
Leigh, Birmingham
“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)
Allison
Central Asia
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
James 2:5 (NAS)
Heledd, Bridgend, Wales.
Psalm 18.2 NIV
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.
Jennifer H, Sun City, AZ
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV
Sheila
Garner, NC
Romans 12:12 (NIV)
Be joyful in hope
patient in affliction
faithful in prayer
Cindy Sheridan, WY
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 14:26 NIV
Okla. City, Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Julie, Jackson Mo “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Barb, Des Moines, IA
Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. John 14:1(HCSB)
Julie in Nebraska: Psalm 112:7-8 (NLT)
Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
Clarice, Knoxville, IA – ” An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, not evil, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12 NAS
Celeste, Laguna Niguel, CA
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue
to make your wants known to God.
Philippians 4:6 Amplified
Beth, Cleveland
Psalm 86:5
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
KJV
Susan, Longmont, CO:
March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Judy, Houston, TX
11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James 5:11 NIV
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalms 16:8 NLT
Mindy – McDonough,GA
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Cindy
Newton Tony, England –
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21 NIV