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!
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. Phil. 3:14 NIV
rebekah (age 9), st. paul, MN
let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. remember, the lord is coming soon.
philippians 4.5 NLT
Sylvia, Georgetown TX
2 Tim 1:12b NASB
I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Jodi
Consort, Canada
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph. 4:29 NIV
JODI BATTLE, SAN DIEGO,CA
Colossians 4:6 (New Living Translation)
“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive, so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Sue – Newnan, GA
March on, my soul; be strong!
~Judges 5:21b (NIV)
Carolina – Ft, Lauderdale, FL
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
“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
Sarah Jenkins
Bancroft Ontario Canada
Sabra, Muncie: I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 Holman Bible.
2 Peter 1:6 NLT
“Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.”
Better late than never, right? Melanie, Rapid City, SD
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 NIV
Stephanie Burger – Sahuarita, AZ
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) And just so it is posted, my Feb. 15 entry: “Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Angie, Elizabethton, TN
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Luke 16:10 NASB
Pat
Brookings, South Dakota
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21 (NIV)
Brianna (san antonio): “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 NLT *sorry this is a late entry, I have a newborn (and two toddlers) so my brain is not up to speed! 🙂
Julie, Tallassee AL
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 ESV
@ginsamica
Amy, St. Louis.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Ephesians 3:12, NLT
Crystie Rhyner, Lancaster, SC
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Mary, Springfield, MO
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
NRSV
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1a NIV
Psalm 94:19 NIV
Lisa S. Olathe, KS – “The beasts of the field honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen,”
Isaiah 43:20 Amp.
Becky, St. Augustine,
“You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Psalm 32:7
NIV
Psalm 54:4 NIV
Surely God is my help; the LORD is the one who sustains me.
Erin, Little Rock
2 Corinthians 4:5-7, NIV
“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Amy Storms
Santa Clarita, CA
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Salli from Oakland, NJ
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
Leah, Atlanta GA:
“I love you, O Lord, my strength. 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 horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”
Psalm 18:1-3 (NIV)
Show me your ways,LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Kelly, Nashville
“But for me it is good to(AO) be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my(AP) refuge,
that I may(AQ) tell of all your works.” Ps. 73:28 ESV
Allyson, Tennessee: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
Late – I’m sorry!
Sarah, Avon Park, FL
“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.”
Psalm 63:1
“His compassions never fail. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24)
Vickie, Gainesville, Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord the Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Amberley – Pasco, WA
But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34
It’s from the NET Bible!
Wendy (Blacksburg, VA)
“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” -Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Angie – Houston, TX
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Callie Smith Houston, TX
Micah 7:7 (NIV)
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
Heather
Little Rock, AR
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
2 Tim 3:16 NIV Sorry so late, computer issues.
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training righteousness”
“Let all your things be done with charity (love).”
I Corinthians 16:14
Brenda, Jordan, MN
Proverbs 15:22b NLT “If you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise- the fruit of lips that confess His name.
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13: 15&16 NIV
Betty, Ft.Worth “Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so we may not perish.” Jonah 3:9 ESV
Nicole, Florissant, MO “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4, NIV
Kim Olympia, WA
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”
Psalm 42:1 NIV
Donna, Marina, Ca
John 10:10
The thief cometh not,but for to steal,and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might gave it more abundantly.
Dianne Groff
Henryetta OK
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 NIV
Trina,
Pampa, Texas
1 Corinthians 10:23 NASB
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.