Happy New Year, My Dear, Dear Siestas!
This morning I slipped out of bed while Keith and Beanie were still sound asleep and snoring. (Yes, both of them and both were under the covers.) I threw on my robe and slippers then did what I do almost every morning: I went over and pet (nearly shook) my trusty Sunny Dog to make sure my 15 year buddy was still alive and with me. I mostly have to touch her to communicate with her because she can hardly hear anymore. Praise God, she stirred immediately and jumped to her post right beside my feet. A northern had blown in during the night and the house was as cold as ice. I turned on the coffee maker, made a fire, grabbed my Bible, devotional book and cracked open a brand new prayer journal. (I’ve used the same one for years. I absolutely love the lay-out and the way it organizes your petitions and intercessions. It’s by Debbie Williams of Hill Country Ministries here in Texas.)
As I rubbed the clean pages I wondered what kinds of records and requests would fill them before the year ended. I thought how thankful I was to be a follower of Christ and not have to fear the future. I’ve lived long enough to know there will be pain, perhaps even suffering, but I also know that God will see us through and show us – not only His faithfulness but – His GLORY. A far more priceless gift than painlessness. I also know we will laugh (because that’s what our family does) and learn (because that’s a high priority to this bunch of book-junkies). I pray continually for God to grant my loved ones and me a Spirit of wisdom and revelation and I pray that for you, my dear Siestas, as well through the year ahead. To see Christ revealed then know what to do with that revelation is the highest mortal experience.
I told God this morning how thankful I was for His penchant for new beginnings. Just think about it. He’s the one who came up with New Years so we could have an annual new start. But we don’t have to wait that long. He also came up with 12 different months, 4 seasons, and 7-day increments we call weeks. But we don’t even have to wait that long. Every single evening the sun goes down and calls it a day then greets us the very next morning with a whole new start. Let’s face it. Sometimes a day’s so tanked, it just needs to end. Aren’t you glad a bad day always does? But, then again, we don’t even have to wait till morning. Because of Christ, we can have a new beginning any old time.
We are never further than about 18 inches from the next new start. All we have to do is hit our knees, repent, and ask God sincerely if we could just begin again. When secular psychology talks us out of taking personal responsibility for some of the messes we’re in, they inadvertently talk us out of repentance. And nothing is easier than repentance if we’re a willing soul. I told God this morning several things I just don’t like about myself. I told Him that I was sure He had His own list of things He wanted to work in me through 2008 but that I wanted to put some things out on the table, too. I have a feeling based on the conviction of the Holy Spirit that our lists are fairly similar. I jotted down four major things I’d really like to see change in me this year and I wrote them in the front of my new prayer journal so I can check with God on our progress here and there throughout the year. From the look of things, God and I are liable to be busy this year but that’s okay as long as we’re close. I love Him so. And want to love Him so much more. I know you do, too.
Oddly, in a way that only someone who knows Christ can experience, I didn’t feel condemned by my list. I felt free. Relieved. Not long ago someone I love said that he didn’t want anything to do with Christianity because of all the guilt it imposes. I was mystified. Guilt is the very thing Jesus has freed me from. Somehow, they just don’t get it. After I made my list today, I felt a release of hope and joy because I know without a shadow of a doubt that, if I’ll trust Christ and let Him help me every single day my feet hit the pavement, I have the victory. I am more than a conqueror. I’m not left to my own devices. I have divine power from the Throne of Grace and the indwelling Presence of Christ. So do you. Beloved, those are reasons to look forward to the coming year with a heart of celebration and expectancy. The plans God has for you in Christ are GOOD. And PROFOUND. We don’t want to miss them for the world.
I just want you to know that I look so forward to sojourning with you through the year ahead. God is already looking at our future as if it’s past. He has it planned to a “t”. Not one ounce of pain will be purposeless and not one inch of progress has to be joyless. There will be laughter. And there will be lessons. Guaranteed. If we will let there be. As my devotional reading pointed out this morning, God has Promised Land He wants each of us to possess this year. It is “a land the Lord your God looks after. He is constantly attentive to it from the beginning to the end of the year.” (Deut. 11:12) That means today all the way to next December 31st. He will be with us, Siestas. Every single one of us. WE CAN DO THIS. And, glory to His gracious Name, we can do much of it together.
May the beauty of the Lord your God be upon you, Darling One, and may He establish the work of your hands for you. Happy New Year with love.
Happy New Year to you and everyone at Living Proof Ministries! I am excited to begin this New Year because I have a new outlook on life and faith in God. I am beginning to see things the way you described today….that whatever happens, God has planned it to a “t”, whether it is good or bad times, painful or joyful, fast paced or slow paced…it is all God and it is all good! I finished your Bible study “Daniel” in December with the ladies bible study and I love learning how God had everything planned to a “t” and that he chose a prophet to show the human race hundreds of years before and thousands of years later that, indeed, He is in control and He already has it all planned out!Well, I better stop before I write a sermon! Love you all and have a Blessed New Year!
Sacha
Mama Beth- thank you so much for you encouraging words. It has helped me get into the right frame of mind to begin the new year! I love you.
I so loved this ,I love getting up & starting my day with the Lord & hate it when i dont.Today Iasked the Lord to let me all ways do a good deed, to let me hurt no one. will the phOone ring & I helped soemone for 4 hrs. ha ,all so l love starting a new year, new lessions & all that.I know life can be hard but I know I will never be alone.Thanks for shareing what all you do.Yep Beth I have my coffee with me to.I love staring writting in my new journal, & devationas.Beth may you have the best year ever may each day be the best than the last, may it all be great but if it isnt may you have someone by your side all ways,may your health be outsstanding, money be what you need,May your familey & freinds all ways be there with you, may you all ways be safe when you travel, & may each time you teach be outstanding,& may the teaching reach many people,keep Joy in your heart JESUS frist, others second, your self last.Yes we will have JESUS by us no matter what we may go threw.I can’t say with the words like you but I can say thanks for all you do & I love you.God bless & be with you all ways oh I have a 11 year old Cocker Tori & I do the same make sure she is stil hear.Thanks again for all you do God bless lvoe sister in Christ Victoria from NC
Thank You! I haven’t made my list yet but after reading about you making yours I am so ready to be freed to improve. Today has been I quote “a tanked day” I am taking my quiet now at near midnight of the first day of a New Year and I am ready for it. Thanks again.
Happy New Year to you, too, Mrs. Beth!! I am so excited for 2008 because I have no idea what it holds.
I too, am SO excited for Breaking Free. (Well, excited and scared because I don’t know what the Lord will have me break free from!) It’s one of the few studies I have not yet done. I know I am in for a ride!! I’m just thrilled to pieces to be back with you every Tuesday!!!
Thank you for your constant encouragement in the past and I can’t wait for new fresh wisdome in 2008!!
Much love to you and your precious family!
Lindsee
Loved every word of this.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Beth, thanks so much for the info. on the prayer journal. I just ordered one, and some of her Bible studies sound really good. Please pray for me not to fear pain. Please pray for my family in 2008. Please pray that we glorify God in all we say, think, and do. God Bless You and all at Living Proof. I am so excited that my Wed. night class is starting “A Heart Like His” and my SS class is starting “Stepping Up.” These Bible studies have drawn me so much closer to God. Thanks so much for this web site as well. I am so thrilled to hear you talk about Esther while it’s in progress.
You mentioned Sunny and having her 15 years now. We are just entering our journey with a new yorkie poo named Audry. She is such a sweet baby girl and we are buds already!
Beth, thanks for being so honest and not fake about anything. I made a big dinner tonight and my dressing turned out good! Hope yours was great on Christmas day.
Love you and pray for you sweet siesta,
Dana
That last sentence got me…
Psalm 90:17 – God gave it to me just a little time ago to speak to something so very specific I could have sworn He’d just written it and stuck it in my mail.
Thank you for your ministry, dear Beth. You mentor so many – I wonder if God allows you to see to what magnitude?
Blessings on your 2008!
Lisa
I too have a list and at the top of it is road-something-or-other. Bad or poor drivers are my biggest pet peeve. I’m asking for more grace and compassion than I’ve shown in the past, while driving my daily commute to work. I’m not proud of it but there it is!
I’ve also chosen a word for this year – conviction. Something I need to continually pray about and live each day. I’ve read almost every one of your posts from 2006 on and am happy to say that upon retiring I am enjoying your first post for the new year. I believe today that God answered one of my prayers for direction and it happened today in the form of your blog. Thank you!
In Christ,
Maggie
Beth………Just wanted to say thanks for always being a smile to my face. Linked into this from my daughter and it’s been a blessing. I pray you have good health and many reasons to smile in 2008. I think this will be one of my most challenging years. I’m facing a lot of things i never thought i would have to deal with. Mostly health/weight issues. Right now i look and feel like a total freak of nature. The only thing i know is that in GOD’s eyes i’m ok and thankfully he doesn’t love me less because i look like i do. That alone keeps me from doing anything totally stupid much as at times i think that might be the only answer to my self loathing. Please keep me in your prayers and i will continue to come here for bright spots in my day. GOD BLESS YOU!!
Hi Beth,
Happy New Year to you and your family! You are such a wonderful testimony of what God can do for and through us! Your continual praise and worship for God is inspiring, so I plan on “getting down on my knees” a lot more often in 2008. As we humble ourselves He will lift us up!
The beauty of the Lord is definitely upon you. May God bless you with His everlasting peace, joy and love for this new year!
Patti
Happy New Year Precious Beth and family. May God bless you all abundantly as you continue to study and teach His Word. I am a direct recepient of your teachings and passing the blessing on to my home and “camp”. ALL Glory to our awesome God!
Siesta from Tampa Bay, Fl.
Praise God for New Beginnings! I just finished your book Get Out of That Pit about thirty minutes ago. It was life changing! I am so blessed to pick it up and God gave me time to read it at night when the boys were asleep! (Five months later since it came out?) My heart had and has been singing Bebo Norman’s I Life My Eyes for about two days and then I finally got to the chapter about singing a song of praise! And it was confirmed, God is so good! Thanks for listening to God when he asked you to write that book for us! You have blessed this momma of two precious boys so much. Now I have to run blog about God’s goodness in hopes that my sisters will grab your book as well. Happy New Year! Mine could not have started out any better!
Blessings,
~Lori
Haopy New Year Beth,
I have only commented a few times but have been with this blog since the beginning. AMEN to having a fresh start whenever we are humble enough to ask. I am looking forward to Stepping Up we start next week! I was pleased that I did see one of 2007’s resolutions through to the end, reading the entire bible. It was my 2nd time to do so although the 1st time took 3 years. I encourage anyone who has not done so try it, it was truly a blessing both times.
Love,
Lisa
***AMEN***
I am looking forward to meeting all our siestas on these pages.
I too made a list for myself and God to track this year. I make one every year, I find it helpful.
Last year I took a huge step to allow healing in my heart concerning long over due forgiveness. It feels so good to start the year with a clean slate.
God gave me the verse in James 1
this year, to be a doer of the Word.
22 But (R) be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face [f] in a mirror; 24 for he looks at himself, goes away, and right away forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts—this person will be blessed in what he does. (S)
I can’t wait , He is capitvating me.
O Beth, I have been wrestling with these feelings of a fresh start over the last couple of days too. Like you, I remembered that each new day is filled with new mercy and as I have experienced new beginings. I love how real and open you are. it reminds me to not put or keep you on a pedestal. I know you don’t belong or want to be there, but what a great example and shining light you are to me. I pray a wonderful, God filled, laughter filled new year. Bless you, Carla
Dear Sweet Beth,
Happy New Year to you, too, siesta! And a big AMEN! to your words of wisdom. I,too, love new prayer journals, and I especially love my devotional book to be a journal book, too. My favorite thing is to go to my birthday devotional and read it on Jan. 1st. Since my birthday is in November, it gives me almost a whole year to ponder those words…and they always are profound.
We have been without a dog since June and so I went to the SPCA to get my husband a dog for Christmas. I got the most adorable 2-year old black cockerpoo and his name is Moses. I had to take him to our vet and had just gotten him settled down when a man walked into the vet’s with his magnificent, huge boxer. Moses began growling at the boxer. I was so embarrassed until I found out the boxer’s name is Pharaoh!
SUGGESTION FOR Y’ALL: I ordered as a Christmas present to myself all of Beth’s Scripture cards and have a suggestion for other siestas who have bought them. Punch holes in the corner of each card, and put on a large ring (buy large rings at an office supply store). Now it is so easy to find the Scripture cards and because they are different colors you can put them all on one ring, divided by faith, hope and victory or have them on 3 different rings. Hang them in your kitchen, near your make-up mirror or near your desk where you will see them often and it is easy to pick them up to read a Scripture a day. (This had to be done out of necessity since the boxes they came in fell apart.) BUT, it is the best way to have them readily available! If you travel or work, they can be thrown into your suitcase or briefcase and take up very little room, but can give you a perfect gift from the Lord each day. And they are awesome! So thanks, Beth, for a great idea. Much love to all of the Moores, Joneses and LPM staff for a wonderful 2008! God Bless!
Thank you. You just bless me and I’m thankful. Asking God to delight you fully and fill you completely and cause you to walk in every single path which He has marke–with joy.
Long ago I wrote to you about those notebooks of Melissa’s and how I agreed with her…a new notebook and new start are always so wonderful to me! Thank you LORD for NEW!
I also thank Him for the old…many words God has spoken to this heart from your lips or from your pen. Those old words still stir new…because they are His Words. And, my Sister, they have not returned void. No not one!
Much love to you!!
Holly
Beth,
What joy to hear from you on the first day of this brand new year.
I too had a time of reflection before God and I am so thankful He is not finished with me just yet. Our dear Father gives us every opportunity to come to Him without fear, agree with Him where we have fallen short and then start anew. Isn’t He the greatest! “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1
I pray that each of us will remember who we are in Christ. We belong to the King and no one can strip us out of hands. May we walk with confidence that whatever comes our way, He will be there and He is all we need.
I look forward to sojourning with you and all my Siestas in 2008.
God bless you, dear Beth.
Looking forward to meeting so many of you this year in San Antonio.
Did Jackson have a white Christmas in Missouri? I was wondering about him today.
Happy New Year!
Hugs,
Mary
His GLORY. A far more priceless gift than painlessness. Only one who had seen both sides of pain and glory would begin to understand this profound mystery. May His Glory shine brightly this year. Praying for Breaking Free and can’t wait. love to you and staff for all your sacrifices to His Glory, annette
Amen! WE CAN DO THIS! I love you all and love my siestas! Cant wait to meet up with everyone in San Antonio!!
I haven’t had the opportunity to read any blogs this past week, Christmas and all. But what a treat to read them tonight. Can I just tell you, it totally has blessed my socks off.
I began my New Year in much the same way, quiet alone with God writing in my journal. How mny of us Siestas in Christ began or day with our Lord and how amazing that throug His own blood are we connected! I love that about God.
As I have looked over my past year of twists and turns that God has brought me through, I know one thing for sure, it is more about my own persona relationship with Jesus Christ than anything and about taking Him on faith. And just when I think I know where it is He is taking me He never ceases to amaze me that only He really knows where we are going. (I love that about God too)
I wanted to tell you that because of you and your Ministry at LPM I am in fact on the ride of my life with our Lord, and I am doing things and going places with God that I never dreamed or even imagined, how amazing is God!
I have met so many Pharisees along the path and I a so thankful that God gave me an encorager. Thank you to all of you at LPM you are making a huge difference in so many lives and I am blessed to be able to say mine as well.
I am sitting here quietly at my computer while my household sleep listenig to Travis on my new iPod, my favorite favorite song since I was a child, “In Chrit Alone” and no one sings it quite like Travis. I know that God has so much more in store for all us Siestas this coming year.
God Bless
Mary
Beth,
Thank you so much for your sweet missive on New Years Day. I was thinking recently about another missive you posted not too long ago–about how there were 400 years of silence between Malachi and Christ’s appearance. During that 400 years, was there not even the still, small voice of God? I can’t imagine not hearing from Him at all. What a terrible, deafening silence.
Then I wondered–what about between the Lord’s ascension and now? Has that been 2000 years of silence–no prophets, no booming voice of God–or just a different form of communication, i.e., the voice of the Holy Spirit?
If you should get around to it, I’d love to hear your perspective on that in a future blog entry.
Blessings to you, Beth.
Thank you for reminding me that His mercies are new every morning. I really love how God works. It amazes me. I am the one with the bags ready to be packed. There are big things I have to do but praise the Lord I have peace now. I know that even the hard things are going to be worth it to my family. I’ve spent so much of today fighting false guilt. I was not the one to cause the problems that my family is dealing with but for some reason I feel overwhelming guilt for even entertaining the thought of removing myself and my children from an unhealthy situation. My friend pointed out to me today that I was not asking for a divorce just a safe distance. I know the Lord is not disappointed with my decision and that He will hold me up. This is not going to be easy at all but it is something I should have done months ago. Stand my ground and be a woman of my word. Thank you all so much for your prayers. They were felt and welcomed. Only He knows the plans He has for me. My prayer for this year is that the Lord will restore wholeness to my husband and break the stronghold of addiction and that we can be a stronger family in the end.
Beth,
I too got up this morning and shared a sweet and introspective time with the Lord. I thought back on 2007 and I am just so thankful that He is faithful even when I am not. I was learning about celebrations this morning and asking a lot questions. Don’t you just love that He is the one who thought of celebrations in the first place! I think your entry today gave me even more insight and I just love your line about your new start is just “18 inches away”!
In His unfailing love,
Missy
Happy New Year to you, too, Beth!
Two things you said really spoke to me — “I pray continually for God to grant my loved ones and me a Spirit of wisdom and revelation … To see Christ revealed then know what to do with that revelation is the highest mortal experience.” I do pray that I would have the wisdom to know what to do with the things I learn about Jesus as I grow closer to him.
“From the look of things, God and I are liable to be busy this year but that’s okay as long as we’re close. I love Him so. And want to love Him so much more.” I also want to stay close to him and come to love him even more.
Thanks for expressing the desires of my heart so well! May our Father grant us all much laughter and learning as we cling to him in 2008.
Such powerful words, dear Beth…. lately I have been struggling with the resurfacing of an old and, unfortunately, powerful and dangerous stronghold…… but the fact that God has provided each of us with a fresh opportunity to start anew with the dawn of a new year is humbling me to my knees in deep repentance and equally deep thankfulness. Yes, what you wrote is so very true and strikes a chord within me to hope in victory against my struggle… “nothing is easier than repentance if we’re a willing soul.”
a happy and blessed 2008 to you and each and everyone of your wonderful family.
with gratitude,
Maria Cristina
I never thought about God having a list of “new year’s resolutions” for me but that’s a pretty neat thing. (I can say that now with complete innocence just like someone pledging to go to the gym every day, but I have a feeling there’s probably much stretching and “pain” that goes along with it.)Thanks for the reminder that every day (or hour) can be a “new” moment with repentance and the desire to start again. Sometimes it’s easier to think you are stuck in whatever pattern you’re in until a big moment (such as the new year) comes along. God bless and as always, thanks for the words!
Praise God for new beginnings! And that His mercy is new each day! I cannot wait to see what the Lord has planned for all of us here at the Beth(ie) blog this year!
Beth, I can’t wait to see what God does through you in 2008. I can’t wait to see how your ministry continues to grow and bless all of us through you. And, of course, I can’t wait to see more pictures of Jackson! I feel you and your family are part of mine as well.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this blessing that is called the LPM Blog!!! Praise be to God.
Many major changes have already hit the pavement for me in 08, & we’re only one day in!!!! But, I stand in agreement with you – HE who promised IS faithful!!! I can’t wait to see what HE is going to do with this mess, I just know it will be glorious.
love to you all dear siestas – standing daily in HIS presence, we will all have a blessed 08
mistie woods – abilene
Happy New Year!
It’s freezing cold here…14 this morning in Arkansas.
My New Year’s desire is to have a normal year and to relax and be less stressed.
I lost both of my parents this summer and they left behind huge outstanding medical bills. I am begging God to take care of those. so I just want a peaceful New Year!
I have to admit that part of me was very glad to see 2007 come to an end!! It was a very hard year, BUT…
God taught us so much about himself during the year. While I don’t want to do any of it over, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. If I did, I would miss so much my God had for me!
He continues to amaze me. It blows my little brain to think that the God of the Universe has thought out every detail, every second of my life. How I can I not be head over heals in love with Him?!
I’m praying that God will knock the socks off of each memeber of LPM this year!
Anticipating HIM!
steph.
Happy New Year Beth, Keith, Amanda and Melissa!
Adrienne
Happy New Year to you and yours…may it be an amazing year for God in the Moore and Jones households, and at LPM! I’m thanking Him in advance for the blessings He will pour out over Siestaland through your words!
Precious Beth:
Happy New Year to you too, and thank you for this beginning blog post! I love new beginnings too!
My sweet husband of 30 years and I are greatly anticipating God’s goodness in 2008 with two events in our home: our first grandbaby and a new daughter-in-love. I am so overwhelmed with the goodness of God to me this day.
Thank you for reminding me there is always a place to begin – and it doesn’t have to be on a Monday! It can be at any moment in Jesus because He never sleeps or slumbers – praise His Name!
And thank you too, for reminding us that we are NEVER ALONE.
You are such a blessing – now I’m going to get up and add some items to my list of things needing change for the year – or better yet, for forever!
May your soul be as a well-watered garden, Isaiah 58:11
Your Georgia siesta,
Jan Morton
Thank you for your blog! It inspires me!
Andrea jpbeamer.blogspot.com
Happy New Year to you and your family and everyone here. I pray God’s blessings on you and your ministry, that He will be glorified and you will blessed beyond measure in 2008.
The verse I was given to start the new year is:
“My earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or death.” Phil. 1:20
I pray a year of boldness to maginify our Lord.
Have a happy Christ filled new year!
Wanda in Georgia
I can add nothing other than a huge southern “AMEN!”
Blessings over you, your family, and LPM.
Keeping my heart toward Jesus~
Fran
Good Morning and Happy New Year, Beth!
Thank you for your heart and the willingness to share. I truly look to you as a spiritual mom. I lost my mom 5 1/2 years ago and I savor your words closely to how I savored hers. Thank you for always pointing to Christ and never to yourself.
Have a great day.
The encouragement you offer reaches so much farther than you can imagine. Thank you for repeatedly taking the time to put your thoughts to words just for the benefit and edification of others.
My four-year-old and I were having a daily battle. As the day wore on, his behaviour would get worse and worse, requiring more and more negative attention from me. I tried everything until one day, after disciplining him, I asked him if he would like to start over. His face brightened and demeanor changed instantly. I saw an immediate improvement. Since then, we start over after every spanking, and recently have even gone days in a row without any! This principle of starting over made all the difference for him! It also has helped me remember that I can start over again any time I repent. Ah, the beauty of beginning again. Thanks for the reminder this morning – I can’t tell you how much I love reading this blog!!!
It’s going to be a great New Year, isn’t it?! I had to giggle a little when you were talking about repentance and the freedom from guilt in Christ. I realized, not too long ago, that I was actually beginning to look forward to repenting of my sin to God, just talking to Him and falling on His mercy so I could be free from my own junk! I was curious about this different attitude, so I talked to my Heavenly Father about it. I realized that, for the first time in my life, I was completely confident in God’s unconditional love and acceptance — He was NEVER going to say, when I confessed my sin to Him — “that’s it! I’ve done this a thousand times with you, and no more!” There is no end to His mercy; I am completely accepted in the Beloved, no matter how many times I fall. When I come to Him, and (now) freely admit that I can do NOTHING without Him, He is ALWAYS there, with open arms — Praise Him.
I love Him so much! I love this blog, where fellow siestas love Him bunches, too.
Oh yeah, one more thing…..I just ordered 2 of those prayer journals.
I have been using cute little notebooks and now I have something more organized. Thanks!!
Thank you Beth for the words of encouragement. What a beautiful description of repentance… God showed me something last year. That because he loves me (all his children)so much, He wants us to repent, cause it truly is for our own good, that He wants repentance because of his powerful love for me (us). He spoke it so strongly to my heart, “Repent, because I love you so much” and then he showed me in the Word the healing that repentance will bring.
I was so broken and happy at the same time, kinda like experiencing an oxymoron.
Happy New Year to You and yours…I will be praying for you.
AHhhhhh, Sweet Beth … How is that we have never met (although you did smile and say hi to me in Cleveland!!!) and yet you can speak RIGHT to my heart like you have known it for years… ONLY GOD!!!!!!! I am so thankful that He has placed us BOTH in such a time as this!
I love you Beth, my Siesta, and I thank you for being so willing to let Him lead!
Becky Jo
Beth-I loved when you wrote “I am a follower of Jesus and don’t have to fear the future”. I have been fearing..I know I am a Christian, but when I think of how I fall so short of doing what is right, or getting upset, or short tempered,or other things that I know are not of God, I feel like how can He really love me. It seems like just believing in Him is not enough. I feel like a failure in living the “Christian Walk” so to speak. I feel such a fear of death for this reason. I think it just can’t be that simple to trust God, believe in Him, try to do what is right, and all will be well. I am tired of living with this fear of the future,but since I am a Chirstian, I feel I can’t share these thoughts with people I know. If you can give me some insight I would appreciate it so much. I want to be like you and be able to say “I don’t fear the future”!
Happy New Year, Beth, and all siestas! I am feeling a tad gloomy today, feeling like with the busyness of the reason weeks I haven’t spent the time with God that I should have. And I will confess right now that I can suffer with self condemnation like nobody’s business! I threw in my Casting Crowns CD this morning and reminded myself how far the East is from the West! Amen? And I don’t live by what I feel but by the Truth His Word reveals! Thank goodness! And thank goodness, like you said, we don’t have to wait for each new year to start over…great is His faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see! Lisa
This post is so meaningful after having come off a year of spiritual mediocrity. Thanks for saying it as only you can, Ms. Beth! I’ve been freed by falling that 18 inches before Him. I read John 15 this morning and am committed to a year of CLINGING to Him with all my might.
Happy, blessed new year, siestas!
Kelli in Ohio
Dear Beth,
I had to smile at your morning routine. I too rouse the dog, grab the coffee, turn on the fire, grab my Bible, journal, and prayer book each and every morning. How I love early mornings with God when the house is quiet (except for the dog snoring–she goes straight back to sleep once she’s been outside!).
I love that each new day is a new beginning, a chance to start fresh and clean. As Anne of Green Gables said, “Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet.” And thanks for the reminder that even when those mistakes come, all we have to do is hit the floor to start fresh.
“I am making everything new!” What an incredible promise.
Joanne
I’ve recently (over the past several months) come to have two words run through my mind when I know God is ‘hemming me in from the front and from the back’-Sweet Conviction! It is so sweet to me to have from God. I used to think like your loved one as far as the ‘guilt=Christianity’ thing to an extent. Now I just praise Him for even caring enough to guide me!
Thank you, Beth for your blogsite! Thank you for your encouragement in the New Year! I hope you and all of the Moores and all the ladies at Living Proof have a Blessed one.
Please know our Ladie’s Wed. night Bible study here in Cincinnati are kicking off our ‘New Year’ with ‘Stepping Up’! We can’t wait!