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!
Sara, College Station, TX:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NIV)
Christa Denver, CO
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Tina – Cleveland, TN
Consistently one day late 🙂
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NIV
Michelle Moultrie, GA
I Cor. 10:31 (NASB)
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God
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)
Lorie, Columbia, SC
As for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me. Micah 7:7
Hattie Guymon, OK “March on, my soul; be strong!” Judges 5:21 NIV
Lucia, Valdosta, GA
“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)
Angie, Cynthiana, KY
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul. “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Lamentations 3:22-24
Tanya, Englewood, OH –
“My salvation and my honor depend on God. He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”
Psalm 62:7-8 (NIV)
JENN M FROM MASS;
JUDGES5:21 (N.I.V)
MARCH ON, MY SOUL:BE STRONG!
Dawn from Lake Charles, Louisiana ~ 2 Samuel 7:28 (niv)
O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we wil reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9 NIV
Jane
Boone, NC
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)
Joyce, Dalton, GA
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 (NKJV)
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.1Corinthians2:9(NIV)
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23 (NIV)
Monique, Wadsworth, Ohio
Hide me (them) under the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who oppress me (them), from my(their) deadly enemies who surround me(them). Psalms 17:8-9 NKJV
(I memorized it with the words in () as a prayer I pray for my children. I’m reading Power of a Praying Parent)
Lisa, Richmond, BC
1Tim.6:6 -” But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
NIV
“Your souls aren’t harmed by what you eat, but by what you think and say!” -Mark 7:15 (TLB)
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Stacey
Plano,Texas
Do nothing out if selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interest of others.
Philipians 2:3-4 NIV
Leigh, Olathe, KS
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us. – 2 Corinthians 1:10, NIV
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”
(Psalm 139:23-24 NASB)
Karen
Memphis,TN
I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)
Angel, Franklin, TN- For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV
Karen, Kelso, TN
“March on, my soul; be strong!” -Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Deb, Pierre, SD
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn Isaiah 61:2
Kim Northport, AL
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 TNIV
Lauren, Arlington, TX
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of His reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV
Jamie, Bixby,OK-She who gaurds her mouth keeps her life but she who opens wide her lips come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3 Amp.
Jennifer, Las Vegas: I will make rivers flow on barren heights and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into springs. (Isaiah 41:18 NIV)
Prissy Chambers
Midland, TX
“O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.”
2 Samuel 7:28 NIV
Holly in Huntsville “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you to give you a hope and a future.” Jer. 29:11
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
-Psalm 73:26
Nell, College Station: Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1 NIV
Mindy, Rowley, IA
James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed.” NKJV
Debbie, Muskogee:
My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. John 10:27 NIV
Shawna, Alabama….”Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”:)Proverbs 21:23 ESV
Mary, NH
1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. NKJV
Tisha
Pilot Mtn, NC
“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and deliverd me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 KJV
Pat,Las Cruces, NM
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 NIV
Wendy from Eden Prairie, MN
Faith (my 15 year old)
Naomi Hope (my 11 year old)
This time all 3 of us chose the same verse: Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
“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.”
Paula – Arvada, CO
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. Romans 12:2 NIV
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phillippians 3-13 Nell, Chattanooga, Tn.
Julie, Fort Worth
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
James 4:17 NIV
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NIV)
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Emily, Ida Grove, Iowa- Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Mandy – Indian Trail, NC
Romans 8:39 – No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Janeal, Abilene, KS
Psalm 91:1-2 NLT
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
“Lord, hear my prayer,
In Your faithfulness listen to my plea, and in Your righteousness answer me.”
Psalm 143:1 (HCSB)