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!
And his armor-bearer said to him,”Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, i am with you heart and soul.” 1 Samuel 14:7 ESV
Shawn, Georgia
Kelli
Colorado
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (King James Version)
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (King James Version)
Tara, North Platte, NE. Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go, whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)
Jamie, Houston: I John 1:5 “God is light, in him there is no
darkness at all.” NIV Bible
Lana, Champaign, IL ” All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim.3:16-17 NIV
Amber, Alexandria VA
John 14:1, 14 (NIV)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
vs 14 “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Mary Ellen, Billings, MT
“For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11 NLT
Sandy, Arkansas
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it”. Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Lacey, Bath, PA
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4, ESV
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” NIV
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:12-13 NIV
Mary Ellen, Billings, MT “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer.29:11 NLT
Julie, Ozone,AR – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT)
Jenni, Vivian, LA “The One who calls you is faithful & HE will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV
Aliza, NZL. The Lord says, “Forget what has happened before, and do not think about the past.
Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV
Patti,Clemmons, NC.- 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
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Deut. 6:4-9 NIV
Jenna
Benton,AR
Amy, Huntsville AL
“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)
Psalm 139:15-16
My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me when as yet there was not one of them.
oops, I submitted it before I finished…
Jennifer – White, GA
NASB (Psalm 139:15-16)
LaGrange, GA
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Phil. 4:6-7
Bev, Louisvile, KY
“Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name,there I am with them.” Matthew 18:19-20 NIV
Karen
Naples, FL
“But my servant Caleb—this is a different story. He has a different spirit; he follows me passionately. I’ll bring him into the land that he scouted and his children will inherit it.”
Numbers 14:24
The Message
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12 (NIV)
Angie, Redding
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, He is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my father and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:21 (NIV)
“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 heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
Elizabeth
Dallas/Fort Worth
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
John 14:1
Philippians 1:6 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. NASB
Beth – Ashville, Ohio
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guitly conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV
Tara, Mantorville, Psalm 28:14 NKJV Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord.
Ann, Fez (Morocco)
Proverbs 4:23, NIV
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
JoAnn, Jonesboro. “I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.” Psalm 119:101 NLT (2nd ed)
Sue, Abilene, Kansas – Psalm 34:8 (NKJV) O taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man (or woman) who trusts in Him!
Catherine, Grants Pass, Oregon
“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Lydia, Vicksburg, MS
“Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14 NIV
Manchester TN 1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV Therefore humble yourself before the mighty hand of God, that He may exhalt you in due time. casting all your cares upon Him for He cares.
King George, VA
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
Lynn, Springfield, MO – “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Phil 4:6-7 MSG
Joan, Washington, MI
Heb. 7:25
Therefore He (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always live to intercede for them.
Amen and Amen..
Also, I memorized but didn’t post last month. I thought, who will possible care anyway I’m just one of thousands….I know now who cares.. Jesus cares!
Katy, Round Rock
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 NIV
Sharon – Glennville, GA
I Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
No eye has seen, No ear has heard, No mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him.
San Augustine
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Lyn Steriti
Littleton NH
Is not My word like a fire? declares the Lord, and like a hammer which shatters the rock?
Jer. 23:29 NASB
Sorry, so late, just got back home from traveling
beckie, Florence, SC
Desire without knowledge is not good, and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.
Proverbs 19:2 NRSV
1 day late;outpt surgery on 03/01;
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
I just wanted to let you know if you are like me and you do not have a good memory. That just reading and meditating on His word WORKS! I am excited.
Angela, Springfield, Ohio
“He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:2 NIV
Jennifer, Loveland, co
Dear friend, guard clear thinking and common sense with your life; don’t for a minute loose sight of them.
Proverbs 3:21 The Message
Sarah, Marion, KS – “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:4-5 NKJ
Brenda, Flemington, NJ
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Heb. 11:1 NIV
Lori, Acworth, Georgia
Galatians 6:9 (New International Version, ©2011)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Shannon, Elmira, Canada: Psalm 63:1-8 (NLT) O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your santuary and gazed upone your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.
Sarah, Vancouver Wa