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!
Judy Fuquay Varina, NC Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. NIV
Brooke, Cantonment FL: 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.
Valerie, SC
…whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything. ~ I John 3:20, NIV
(can I hear a woot for that?!)
I’m going to pick this and WOOT!
I spent the last 36 hours frantically looking for my spiral, and can’t locate it. I had picked a verse earlier for the 1st but can’t remember. I will NOT let this fester and instead choose joy 😉
Monique, Elizabethtown, KY: Direct my steps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me. Ps 119:133 NIV
Kristi, Cedartown, GA. “March on, my soul; be strong!” Judges 5:21b NIV
2 Samuel 7:18 NIV then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?”
Kathy, Grand Ledge
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalm 103:2-5 NASB
Kathryn, Reseda, CA – “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Colossians 1:9,10 NASB
March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21b(NIV)
Debbie in Jacksonville, FL
Romans 15:13 (HCSB)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 40:1
“I wait patiently for the Lord: he turned to me and heard my cry.” NIV
Christine
Fort Myers
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Romans 15:4 NIV
kimberly, el paso, tx
therefore, [I] make it [my] aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
2 corinthians 5:9
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
I meant to post yesterday but I think I might have forgotten.
Sherry, London, Ontario, Canada
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 NKJV
Cathy, La Grande – March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Cindy, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8 NIV
Juliana, Dahlgren, NAS
Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Isaiah 55:1
Christa, Greeneville, TN: You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139:3, NIV
Hey Christa, I have family in Greeneville, TN…and, Psalm 139 is among my favorites!! You’ve blessed me tonight!!
Matthew 7:13-14 Message
Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successsful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life-to God-is vigorous and requires total attention.
Debbie from Portland, OR 🙂
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NKJV
Jennifer, Garland, TX
Is. 54:10 NIV
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Robin, Austin, TX:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom 15:13 NKJ
Lindsay, Albuquerque
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 NIV
Kelsie (14), Albuquerque
“You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve” Luke 4:8 ESV
Alysa (10), Albuquerque
“Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man but God who also gives you his Holy Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 4:8 NIrV
Bless you sweet girls. I wish I would have been memorizing His words at your ages! March on!
Your Big Siesta from Arkansas, Dawn
LOVE IT! Keep up the AWESOME work girls!
James 4:17
Remember it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
NLT
Raelyn in San Antonio, Texas
Laur Spokane, WA
Praise the Lord.
Let them praise his name with dancing
And make music to him with tambourine and harp.
Psalm 149:1&3 (NIV)
(My daughters verse for her ballet recital. We are studying together.)
Debbie, St. Paul
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1 NIV
Thomasine, Rio Rancho Judges 5:24b(NIV) March on my soul; be strong.
Anne,Wauchula
March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Jeantelle, Lafayette, La
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths.
Psalm 25:4
NIV
Lauren, New York
“March on with courage, my soul!” Judges 5:21b NLT
Julie, Goldfield, IA
Psalm 18:32 (NIV)
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Lisa, Jefferson City MO
Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength
Andrea, Saskatchewan, Canada
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. ~ Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV
proverbs 1:8,9
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
Kim Slinger WI
Dawn — Buies Creek, NC
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
Colossians 3:23-24
Sharpsburg, Ga “Come and share your master’s happiness” Matthew 25:21
Andrea, Ontario, Canada
“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;do not fret-it leads only to evil.”
Ps 37:8 NIV
Ginger, Austin – Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Prov 18:2 NIV
this is VERY true!!!!!
Last time and yesterday I have had written verses ahead in my book but forgot to put them up here!!!
Mary, Zeeland
February 15th
For the word of the Lord Holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust. Psalm 33:4 NLT
March 1
Therefore, since we have these promises dear friends let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. II Corinthians 7:1 TNIV
Debbie- Yonges Island, SC
“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. Gal 2:20 NIV
Kellie Norris, mobile, al. My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.
Midge, Florence, SC March on, my soul; be strong!
Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Diane Ocala, FL
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10 NIV
Ann, Ostrander, Ohio – And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 KJV
Shannon, Houston – “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)
Candy Huntsville, AL
Judges 5:21b (NIV) March on, my soul; be strong!
Kim B, Center, TX – Philippians 2:13 (NIV) “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”
Deneen,Pittsburgh “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV