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!
But the wison from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. James 3:17 NKJV
Lee Ann, Brentwood, TN.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5 NIV
Amber – Vienna, WV
…”For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
Rachael, South Riding
Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
Christie, Los Gatos. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42, NIV
Psalm 51: 10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Alexandra Sanchez
Megan, Los Gatos. “For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.” Habakkuk 2:14, NLT
Rhonda, Searcy, AR
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
When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins…He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, HE made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 NIV
Dee
Kyle, Texas
Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
It’s not 1000 its only 999 now!! Been without internet for awhile-wasn’t able to check daily on the LPM Blog!! Missed it so!! And yes, I will March in March!!!! Love Kari Jobe!!! Would love to attend if I lived there (I live in SC)!! But one day I can come for the first time and partake on an awesome adventure with the ladies at First Baptist in Houston!!!! God is awesome and we are all so very blessed!!!! I am so honored to serve such a mighty KING!!!!
Joy, Durham, N.C.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:53 (NIV)
April – Lubbock, TX
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -NIV
(p.s. Thanks for the Siesta Scripture Memory Team iphone app!!! It has REALLY been a great tool to help me memorize. I don’t always have my spiral with me, but I always have my phone!)
Jessica, Westminster MD
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. – Psalm 119:37, ESV
Kori; Trevor, WI; Ephsians 3:20-21 (HCSB)Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think-according to the power that works in you-to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Melanie, Groesbeck, TX
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV
(I may add verse 17: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.)
Amy W. – “March on my soul, be strong!” Judges 5:21b NIV
Belinda, Houston
Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. James 5:8 NIV
“Everything is permissible for me-but not everything is beneficial.. Everything is permissible – BUT I WILL NOT BE MASTERED BY ANYTHING.” 1 Cor. 6:12 NIV
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself & take up his cross DAILY & follow me.” Luke 9:23 NIV
JV
Boston, MA.
Michelle, Ontario, CAN.
NIV Romans 8:28
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Lisa, Little Elm, TX:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
your Savior.
Isaiah 43:1a-3a NIV
Miriam, Columbia
2 Peter 1:3 NIV
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
Cindy
Flemingsburg, KY
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14 NIV
Kim, Mabank, TX
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way that I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 NIV
Sophie – Birmingham, AL – “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident.” – 1 Cor. 1:20, The Message
Gayla, Lee’s Summit, MO
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.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV
Staci, Bismarck, ND–“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:1-2, NIV
Jeannie, Valdosta Ga
2 Cointh. 4:7 (NIV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Holliston, MA
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.
Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)
Amy Princeton, TX
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
Cindy Sacramento, CA Isaiah 46:4 NIV
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
James 1:6 (NIV) “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
“He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.”
~Daniel 2:22 NIV
Juliana
Livermore
“Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock? Jeremiah 23:29
Ainslie, Columbia SC
“Humble yourselves, therfore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
Naomi, Santa Barbara:
I Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Amy, St. Louis, MO
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)
Tobi, Rodenbach, Germany – My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they many know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2,3
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therin.Psalm:24-1[KJSB] Twyla McAmis, Cleveland Tennessee.
Just saw this verse Beth, and It spoke to my heart so much, I wanted to memorize it also. Thank you so much. March on my soul; be strong!Judges5:21(NIV)Twyla McAmis, Cleveland,Tennessee.
Tara S. Charlottesville, VA “Is not my work like fire, ” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29 ESV
Carmaris, Springfield, MA
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Since God assured us “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote: “God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get me?” Hebrews 13:6 The Message
Forgot to say…Stephanie S. Houston 🙂
Emily Newnan, Georgia
I love you, O Lord my strength. Ps. 18:1 NIV
Emily, NC
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
Christal, Winston-Salem
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NIV
Suzette Vidor,Tx
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new ” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Rev. 21:5 niv
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV
Kristin ~ Gahanna, OH The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
Martha, Natchez, MS
Psalm 119:105 (New King James Version)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Noreen, Bloomington/Normal: Philippians 4:6-7 “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.” NIV Bible