Do you need a little “umph” for your week?
Today’s date is one of my favorite days of the year for that – March 4th… March Forth. Get it? The difference between the two sets of words is one simple “u” – which may represent YOU???
I love this “March Forth” day so much because, as you’ll see below, God used it in the most mighty of ways during a time in my life when my strength was oh so small.
But even today, as I look around at life and what God has placed in front of me… and my family… and the day-to-day-life steps He is asking us to take by faith and trust in Him… God strengthens and encourages me to “Rise up, O (wo)man of God… Arise and walk… March forth in what I’ve set before you to do/be/accomplish through ME!”
And I am encouraged today. I’m ready to put on my Warrior-Daughter-of-The-King-Armor and March Forth into whatever it is that God has set before me, knowing that He is with me, strengthening me, leading me, loving me, and never leaving me nor forsaking me at any point in the journey! A men! (And as the army guys say it, Hooah!)
Do you or someone you love need to be encouraged to keep pressing on and not give up? May God use this post to help you:
March Forth on March Fourth – Today is the day, my friends!
I want to tell you a little story.
Two decades ago, our family plus four other families took an unpopular stand in our community. It was on the heels of another difficult and draining battle we found ourselves thrown in against the ACLU on behalf of Christian parents and children’s rights in public schools. (So many of you prayed for us through these battles – and we remain so grateful!).
Several years earlier, I received a phone call that literally rocked my world. I had been named in a lawsuit that the ACLU had filled against our public school system. This suit was full of misinformation and intimidation – containing lies about me, a group of parents that prayed for our school, a kindergarten thanksgiving prayer, and a Christmas kindergarten program.
Though I was named in this lawsuit, I wasn’t being sued, so I didn’t have a voice of defense. So after many tears and much prayer, we contacted the Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly the Alliance Defense Fund) and petitioned to enter into that suit. Another family felt led to enter with us. This suit was known as “Doe vs. Wilson Co.” – but I refer to it as “The First ACLU battle.” (You can read more about our first ACLU battle here.
During this fight we had tons of community support, public prayer rallies, and promises of “I’m behind you all the way!” It was us and the school system and the majority of our community on the same side and the ACLU on the other. (One day, I’m going to write a book about that!) After two days of us sitting on the witness stand in a federal trial, the judge ruled in Godly wisdom, upholding all of our Christian rights in the public square. We were battle-worn, but life moved on.
Until it was time for us to put into practice what the judge ruled was constitutional.
The following September, when it was time for See You At The Pole, students turned in family-made posters advertising the student-led event {which always took place around the flagpole BEFORE SCHOOL started}. This was perfectly legal and confirmed by the judge’s ruling.
These posters contained informational and advertising phrases like “Come pray with us” “In God We Trust” and “God bless America.” When we (the Praying Parent’s volunteer group) went to hang the posters around the school, we were told that they couldn’t be hung as they were, because they contained the words, “Pray” and “God”.
We couldn’t believe it! We had just spent several years of our lives fighting for this very thing – and because of the fear and misinformation and intimidation put forth by the ACLU, our school system leaders were willing to bow down to those unconstitutional threats and censor our children’s speech.
We were given paper and tape, and told to cover up the offending words, “pray and God.”
We knew it wasn’t right – but didn’t know exactly what to do… so we covered up the words, hung the posters, and immediately called our lawyer from the Alliance Defense Fund.
Though at the time, we thought that the first stand was hard, it wasn’t until we took the “totally unpopular stand” and had to file our own lawsuit against our board of education that we realized what “hard” really was. {I still hear our story told sometimes on American Family Radio… and I can look back from this vantage point and thankfully smile. Our story was also referenced in the movie, God’s Not Dead 2.}
The hardest days were not behind us… they were ahead.
Following the ACLU trial, with humility and trembling, we did what God called us to do, and we did it in His strength, alone. But it wasn’t easy. Although many family, friends, and Christian brothers and sisters supported and prayed for us, there were others that we cared about who ended their acquaintance with us. It broke my heart.
Those who agreed with the stand that we took would kindly imply things like “You’re so strong… You have so much faith…I could never take a stand like that…, etc.” Although the words were nice to hear, deep down inside I didn’t feel that those words were accurately me.
Because, personally, I was scared. to. death.
I was scared of what people would say about us, and about how they would treat our children. I was afraid of getting in a public disagreement. I was concerned with disappointing people and losing friends. To be flat out honest, I was worried a lot about “me” and “us” – and how this would affect “me and us” for the rest of our lives. I tried to remain strong, but I was so tangled up in fear and stress that my hair was literally falling out.
Twila Paris’ song “This Warrior is a Child” became my secret theme song. I would sing it with the Lord many times through out the day.
“They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down.
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around.
I drop my sword and cry for just a while.
‘Cause deep inside this armor…
This warrior is a child.”
When a “random” FB post changed my life:
I remember that I was having a particulary hard day on March the third last year. I was checking my Facebook status updates when I read the most transforming words. Our church’s preschool minister was known for writing goofy status updates, and on March 3rd, this is what he wrote:
“Tomorrow is March fourth. So, March forth.”
God used that silly FB status to speak volumes to me. “Tomorrow is March fourth. And that’s just what I want you to do. I want you to get up, and MARCH FORTH!… Stop looking around and being dismayed…stop being worried about pleasing anyone but Me… Rise up O (wo)man of God… Arise and walk… March forth in what I’ve set before you to do/be/accomplish.”
And that’s just what I did. Praise God, in His strength, I Marched Forth on March forth… and it made all of the difference – not only in my life, but in the lives of our precious family as we continued to take that difficult stand.
The Lord helped me hold my head up high with my face upturned to Him, and my focus switched from fear to faith. We were able to march forth, and eventually, the Lord gave us a second victory for Christian families in the public school system. Praise His Holy Name!!!!!
I share this with you today because:
1) It is March fourth. And on this day, the Lord is re-issuing that same call to us… March Forth with your faces seeking Mine, and don’t look around and be dismayed. Don’t look to tomorrow. Just look to Me in complete trust. To that, I say: Yes sir!
2) Because I have a feeling that someone needs to hear the Lord say to you right now – March forth! Rise up, O (wo)man of God… Arise and walk… stop being worried about pleasing anyone but Me… March forth in what I’ve set before you to do/be/accomplish.
3) If this was a word from the Lord to you, sweet friend, here is one more:
____________________ (Insert your name here):
“You are My servant-
I have chosen you and not cast you off [even though you are exiled].
Fear not [there is nothing to fear],
for I am with you;
do not look around you in terror and be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties,
yes, I will help you;
yes, I will hold you up
and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.”
Isaiah 41:9-10 (Amp)
You can do it! With the Lord’s help, you can rise up and March Forth, on March Fourth! I’m living proof of that – the only brave bone in my body comes from faith in Jesus Christ and trusting in Him! His Strength in us becomes our Strength for His glory and work! Praise the Lord!!!!!
A last word:
“Your God has commanded your strength
[your might in His service
and impenetrable hardness to temptation];
O God, display Your might
and strengthen what You have wrought for us!…
The God of Israel Himself
gives strength and fullness of might
to His people.
Blessed be God!”
Psalm 68:28 & 35
With love and prayer for YOU as you March forth on March fourth…
PS: If you ever need any help in standing up for 1st Amendment Rights (the Free Speech rights), reach out to some of these wonderful law firms (who are funded via donations and don’t charge the clients for their services): First Liberty (which is where our lawyer now works) and Alliance Defending Freedom.
