Dear, Dear Ones, I hope you’ve had such a blessed Lord’s Day. I have had the kind you hope for all week long. One that started way before I meant it to because I had a birddog home from the lease still on hunting time that thought she needed to check the backyard for wild game at 5:30 AM. I was so annoyed. I tried to go back to sleep but I so dearly love the morning before the sun – or anyone else in my house – rises. I just couldn’t resist it. I slipped out of a very cozy bed, turned on the coffee pot, made a fire, got my Bible and my Breaking Free workbook and headed to Keith’s leather chair, the place closest to the fireplace. I had time enough to do two whole lessons (no small feat, considering the author is very wordy and we must have looked up somewhere between twenty and thirty passages. For the love). Then I had my prayer time and told Jesus what was on my mind.
I thought Keith was going to sleep the day away so I finally awakened him at 9:00 AM and asked him if he wanted to go to church with Melissa and I. (He goes when he wants. I gave up trying to make him. If I pressured him to go when he didn’t want to, he did lots of huffing and puffing and squirming and sighing during the service and I’d start feeling responsible for the whole thing and begin having psychosomatic symptoms – panting, lip-chewing, coughing, itching, nervous giggling – doubling the distraction for those sitting unfortunately close. Keith also has trouble keeping his thoughts to himself in church. A fact considerably complicated by his increasing volume. He’s shot so many guns in his ears he’s a tad hard of hearing so he doesn’t realize how loud he’s talking sometimes. But only at church, come to think of it. I need to meditate on that later. Therefore, if he wasn’t happy with something – like the length of the service and how long the line was going to be at lunch – our entire section could well know about it. Hence, I no longer pressure him. Haven’t for a good long time. Don’t have to much anymore, anyway, because he’s pretty taken with our pastor. Which means he comes to church now a couple of times a month – Keith, not Pastor – which makes me a very happy girl. When he doesn’t, sometimes I guilt-trip him but I always wait until after I get home from the service. That way he doesn’t decide to go but in a huff.
Keith wasn’t in a Sunbeam Sunday School class as a small child like I was where the Scripture we most often chanted was, “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” Keith is not that glad. Says God isn’t just in a house. He’s also out in the wild. You can debate that one with him till the cows come home but all he’s going to hear is a gosh-awful mess of mooing. All said, if attending is his idea, we have a much more cheerful experience.) So, perhaps now you’ll understand how happy I was this morning when Keith said he wanted to join us.
Especially considering we were doing something different today, which he’d of been less likely to do. Melissa called me last night and asked if I wanted to go with her to a church she’s passed many times in her neck of the woods. She said, “I have a feeling it’s such a good church and I’ve been telling myself I was going to visit before I moved. My time’s running out. Wanna go?” And I did! So, after enjoying a leisurely morning of John Martinez coffee and Jimmy Dean Sausage with toast (50% less fat sausage and whole grain toast. I’m a health conscious woman), we headed out the door to fetch our baby daughter who will be married and move off a month from Wednesday. I was filled with inexpressible joy, feeling like the most blessed woman in the world. It was a gorgeous, cool and DRY Sunday morning in Houston, Texas, my husband was going to church, and, frankly, I was having a terrific hair day.
When we drove up, Melissa was standing in the parking lot, smiling from ear to ear, with a blouse and jumper on, tights, and black shoes. Her eyes sparkled in the morning sunshine like dewy blades of greenest grass. She looked about ten. Till you saw that Greek New Testament clutched in her right hand. The three of us headed in no time over to BridgePoint Bible Church and actually got to park up close in the “Visitors” section. Were we ever elated! The church was beautiful – modern architecture – and looked almost brand new. People were smiling, chattering, and either making their way into the sanctuary or out of the sanctuary, depending on whether they were in the first service or second. I was delighted to see everything from children (who departed at the end of worship for their own service) to senior adults in the service we were attending.
The worship service seemed to be a blend of contemporary and traditional. It began with a modern version of “Victory in Jesus” which made it a sure pleaser to both kinds of worshippers. The familiarity exuded a deep, almost palpable sense of happiness in my soul. I took a deep breath of the Spirit and sensed Him invite me to make myself at home there this morning. The congregation was so dear. Similar to mine in a lot of ways. Very warm and very worshipful but not overtly demonstrative. (Myself, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool hand-lifter and I certainly feel some freedom of expression at my church and felt that freedom this morning at theirs BUT I also believe in not being a distraction if that’s not necessarily the norm around you. I can dance my heart out before the Lord in my den or on the back porch all I want. I’ve learned along the way that we don’t have to save all of our worship for Sunday morning.)
Then I saw the sweetest moment between a senior adult couple sitting two rows in front of us. It almost put me over the edge. The woman – so gorgeous and so radiant in the Spirit – was familiar to me from Bible study years ago. I’m supposing her husband had battled health problems because he appeared very physically weak, though clearly joyful. Someone told Melissa that they’d been married for sixty years. He sat during praise and worship as she stood beside him, often lifting her delicate right hand before the Lord Jesus from an obvious overflow of love. At one point as the worship leader led us in the stone-melting song “Amazing Love,” the praise was so moving that the man, bent with age and confined to the chair by weakness, lifted both his hands. Just seconds later, his beautiful wife, standing closely to his right, slipped her left hand under his elbow to support what was very likely the sweetest, purest act of worship I may have ever seen. I could not keep from crying.
By this time, the entire congregation was ready for the Word and that is precisely what we got. The senior pastor, Tom Douthit, opened up 1 Corinthians 5 with us and taught us with love, compassion, and well-prepared-for precision, “How To Handle a Scandal.” Utterly fantastic. During the sermon is when Melissa and I almost forgot we were visitors. She and I kinda “do church” like our African American brothers and sisters do at my beloved Franklin Avenue Baptist in New Orleans. When someone’s preachin’ it up, we like to “talk back.” The good kind. Like “OK, now. That’s good. Yep. That’s good. That’s it now. Uh-HUH. Oh, yeah.” I’d go so far as to throw my shoe if I’d be sure someone would give it back. After all, I love my shoes. I nearly had myself worked into a Word-frenzy by the closing prayer. Keith was very quiet for a change. I couldn’t tell how he was taking all of it. Didn’t even hold my hand like he usually does. (And, oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you earlier that he usually not only talks loud during the church service. He also feels compelled to PDA. Light obviously. It somehow brings out the affectionate side of him and he likes to hug me a lot. Go figure.) At the very end of the service, he simply leaned over to me, took my pen out of my hand, and wrote on my program, A+. Yes, indeed.
It was a wonderful morning followed by a wonderful lunch, a nap, time with a novel on the porch, then a sweet – if lop-sided – conversation with you. My beloved Siestas. On the Lord’s Day. I want to close with words to a hymn we also sang this morning in the service. A song I had not sung in corporate worship in a while and the lyrics were so tender and dear to my heart that I fought back the tears the whole time. My memory swung back like a pendulum to my childhood as I could picture my family of eight sprawled down the pew. My grandmother was down to my left, just like usual, and in my memory, I could hear her singing, voice quavering with a mixture of emotion and age. We’d sung “How Firm a Foundation” often in that red-brick church nestled in the Ouachita Hills of Arkansas. As I sung them this side of an adult lifetime of God’s faithfulness, I was nearly overcome with emotion. That buck-tooth little girl with the battered and bruised heart – already long-since abused and deeply confused – had no idea how the words of that hymn would spring to life for her. I share them with you now, not because of what they mean to me but what they may mean to you. Today. Right now. Amid whatever you’re going through. Read every line. Ponder the truth of it. The hope of it. The promise of it. If you know the tune, sing it. Say it, if you don’t. Cry it, if you must.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
The last stanza nearly put me over the edge:
“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
(John Keith, 1787; Public Domain)
Dear Beth,
I have thought about your latest blog all day long. I know this may sound funny but it made me feel sorry for you. I guess it made me realize even more how blessed I am to have a husband that never has questioned in all these years of marriage about attending a church service. It’s not because he feels he has to, it is a genuine desire. I guess the reason I feel bad for you is that you touch the lives of so many and yet even though he is a believer it has caused stress. I know you have accepted it but I guess I just want you to know that I will lift you up in prayer. You have blessed and helped so many and I guess I just hate to see this for you. God bless.
Miss Beth, thanks for sharing about your maverick husband like you do, and with such love. It’s a true encouragement to the rest of us with maverick husbands, to love them and appreciate them for who they are. And my husband is all about the PDA at church, too, and I love it! 🙂
I love that hymn, written in the middle of the 18th century, because it reminds me that we are connected to the body throughout time. I think I tend to pain my brothers and sisters from centuries past in this dry little bubble, like they were always super solemn and didn’t have exuberance about their relationship with Christ. Well, you can’t read that last stanza and think there was anything dry about this man’s faith in Christ! Amen for that great lesson.
Thank you for the encouragement. You wrote that note straight to me today, can you believe it? Me and the rest of the 250 people who have already responded! It has been a weekend of reminders of God’s faithfulness in the midst of trial. Though the trial beat hard, I can praise God that my heart is at rest. He will not forsake and He who began a good work, will be faithful to complete it. Thank you, God.
I’m with Keith…I’m not big on attending church. I attend about twice a month, unless I am visiting other churches, then sometimes I fill up my Sunday calendar. When I don’t go, I head to the mountains! I’m a talker too. I don’t think I would throw my shoe though. My foster dad was the pastor of a church and someone threw their watch (he was rather long winded at times). It wasn’t even one of the teens either (we only became uptight when he cut into our $2 a car Sunday night at the drive in; to throw a watch would be death to our fun). He took it with grace though…he laughed, then bent down, picked it up, put it on, and said thank you.
I was in Houston this past weekend…it wasn’t just Sunday, the entire weekend was beautiful!
Beth,
I can’t quite figure out what it was about this post that was so touching. But I’ve narrowed it down to 3 things:
1. I always assumed the HUSBAND of BETH MOORE (that’s how I pictured the role) would be a regular, if not enthusiastic church attender. And he’s not. And that makes you–once again–as normal as the rest of us. If you’re normal and you can love Jesus like you do and know and understand His Word with the depth that you do, then by golly, so can I, God willing. And He is willing, isn’t HE?
2. I worshiped with you in that pew, watching the elderly couple that remind so much of Mr. and Mrs. Mac from my childhood church. Frail and old, but young in spirit and in love with Jesus.
3. The hymn. I haven’t heard it in years and could barely remember the tune. I’m still not sure I’m singing it to the right melody (you know how some hymns match multiple tunes? Or how Amazing Grace can be sung to the tune of Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles?!) I’m rambling. It’s not the tune, it’s the WORDS. Scriptural. Encouraging. Comforting.
Thank you, sweet Beth, for this post. Like the other 252 women expressed in one way or another – I just love you!
Faran in Arkansas
Oh! I just googled How Firm a Foundation and the first website I picked is playing the tune. I DID get the right tune! My grandmother would be so pleased.
Thanks so much Beth! My husband is the same way in church about the light affection. I do have to ask though, what is PDA? I’m sorry, I’m a small city girl from North Carolina and not up on all the acronyms. I appreciate you being real and sharing the normal side of your life.
Thank you for reminding me of that precious hymn. Sometimes a girl just needs one of the old hymn!
Beth – You are such an inspiration to me. I love how you share things that seem to be just what I need to hear. Today, you gave me a great reminder to not “expect” my husband to be a certain way. There are all kinds of Christians and I think oftentimes we pressure those we love to conform to some ideal image that we have – not one that God made up.
I’m so thankful for you. And I’m glad God brought happiness into your life after some tough years.
Ms. Beth,
This was a goodie, thanks for the reminder of that firm foundation. I love, love worship on Sundays and I am so grateful you had a good one. Thanks for all you mean to me.
This weekend my husband and I went to a marriage retreat and in a round of The Newlywed Game (or not so Newlywed), one of the questions was, “What female that is famous or is a celebrity does your wife most look up to?” Of course, we both put Beth Moore, and we got it right, we even won the game!!!
Beth, one of the blessings that God has been heaping on my life is this blog. I love it so much. I loved this post especially.
I haven’t been to church in months because I have been out of town a lot. I miss it.
Also, there is something about visiting a new church that is almost revitalizing – new faces, but worshiping the same God – it is awesome. AWESOME!!!!!! And I love diversity at church. Especially age diversity.
I have always wanted to be a morning person, but never succeeded. I am loving this semester when I have some time before my first class to put a happy face on…. But the idea of being alive before the sun has risen has always been attractive to me. Maybe if I got a dog like yours I would have more motivation…
Beth – I found two more obscure verses to “How Firm a Foundation”
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
WOW!
Love you –
Georgia Jan
WOW!! I don’t even know where to begin. To have me speechless is something in itself. The last time I wrote I asked for prayer while we are searching for a church. While the search continues, we were at a Baptist church and they are starting a new series with Jim Cymbala on prayer. He spoke of his eldest daughter at a time in her late teens where she strayed from the Lord. He talked about the 4 months he spent in prayer and the times of utter despair over his daughter as he had to continue to minister to others. Four months later his daughter came home, came back to God, I was there to hear this because my eldest is having a struggle in his walk with God. It gave me hope to hear Jim speak and left me with one thing: PRAY!! Every church we have visited, God has had a word for me. I love how God does that! I love Sunday’s the way you described and we had one yesterday. They go by to fast. LOL!What a wonderful song. The line,when through the deep waters I call you to go, reminds me of my season with cancer, the waters did not overflow me, He saw me through! He is Faithful!! Thank you for this post. Beautiful!!
Love,
Patty
It was amazing how God can give us hope out of something so incredibly simple as a blog. My man doesn’t enjoy going to church that much either. It was a blessing to me and a comfort to me to see that I am not the only one and that if Beth Moore can stand back and let God gently prod her man, I need to step back and let Him do the same to mine. Thank you thank you for this blog and showing us that you are just like us, not “above us” or that you think we are weak in our faith because we haven’t achieved. Thank you for showing me Jesus everyday, even if I don’t see it in the mirror.
Oh how I needed that encouragement this morning. I have been reading the blog for awhile but never commented. I have also been in a bible study group that has done many of your studies. But we have recently moved to Okinawa, Japan and I’m struggling. Mostly to help my children adjust. My sweet son is going to a Christian school and is having a hard time separating from me. I’m filled with guilt and doubt mixed with rays of peace. Thanks for reminding me who holds him, and me.
And to think there are those who don’t think hymns are relevant in today’s “modern church.” As Shirley Feeney used to say….
“P——Shaw!”
I LOVE worship music, that being said, sometimes the old hymns really do say it best. I love your wisdom with husbands, wish someone had told me that as a young bride. It took me a long time to learn that one and it is very good advice. When I “got over it” I found my nonchurch going husband more spiritual that many regular attendees! Check out the OLD version of Faith of Our Fathers (not the new one in most hymnals today). I wonder if you will be as moved and humbled by the words as I am. Shalom
Oh, Beth, what an encouragement to me to know your husband doesn’t always go to church. Mine never does. I am having to drag my two boys with me. I will stand strong because my Jesus is standing right by my side.
I attend a luke-warm church and would love to be in a place that “talks back”. Maybe it won’t be long now because my pastor, (new to being a pastor, not even a year yet) is intense for the Lord and is “taking the gloves off”. I can’t wait.
Thanks so much for sharing your intensity. It is a big encouragement to me. Thanks for being my mentor!! Love ya!!
Thank you so much for being so honest!! I am crying still thinking about that sweet old couple and praying that God gives me 60 years with my dear husband. Simply precious. Have a wonderful day! Love, Shannon
What a beautiful account of what was obviously a wonderful and blessed day!
Melissa
I’ve never posted a comment before, so I hope I’m doing this right – I’m a “sideline Siesta” just reading and being blessed by all of this, but I couldn’t help responding (or trying to) after reading the last few posts by Ms. Beth. God is moving in a mighty way in this 2008. Our women’s community bible study has just started Breaking Free – we’re expecting approx. 50 women and we know that God is calling each one – Jesus has come to set the captives free and what God has purposed, He will accomplish. I just had to post a praise to our precious Savior for the love He pours out on all of us. I ask for prayer for our group and all the other Bible study groups across the nation that are starting Breaking Free as well. I believe this is the year of the Lord’s favor for the captive that looks to the Lord for freedom….
Dear, Sweet Beth…I just love you so very much. Thank you for making me laugh and cry for the love of Jesus and His fingerprints on this world, as you so beautifully describe them. Onya, Sweet Friend!
Jax in AK
You’re so awesome, as usual with your words!! I’m glad to hear you and many others had a beautiful Sunday also.
We had the bluest skies you’ll ever see in Seattle yesterday and it was my man’s birthday. We drive about 35 miles to attend our church each Sunday. There aren’t many days during this time of the year that you can see every mountain and hillside that is in Western Washington. Our trip yesterday was BREATHTAKING, the entire way. We pass a tree by a lake that is very often the perch of one of the most regal Bald Eagles and he was there yesterday. My husband said now if we can just have the pastor we really enjoy, the day will be a great one!! AND WE DID!! It was a real “feel good” sort of experience. THEN, on the way home, the cars in front of us entering the freeway were all stopped, waiting for a doe and her fawn to cross the ramp!! A site I will never forget and to hear my man say “Thank you, Lord!” brought tears to my eyes! (Tell Keith to keep his guns in their cases!!)
It was an awesome day! We ended the day with dinner at one of our favorite places on Lake Washington and watched the sunset, which is another favorite thing in my pilot’s eyes! He loves his sunrises and sunsets from the ground or the sky.
Thanks for sharing your day, hugs to all the Moore girls and Keith, too!
Love and blessings,
Bobbie
Moving?!?
I thought Melissa was getting married….I didn’t realize she was getting married AND moving away! Of course, I’m still totally thrilled and happy for her, but now I’m kinda feeling sorry for us in Houston that she’s leaving us so quickly. I mean, she just got here, right?
When I saw “PDA,” I initially thought, “personal digital assistant” (those handheld electronic organizer thingies) but eventually figured it was “public display of affection” (I think).
Speaking of someone looking like she was ten….Beth, I remember coming into your Sunday school class a little earlier than usual and getting to sit closer to the front (maybe in ’03?). You had just entered the room and you were absolutely glowing with joy. I thought to myself, “She looks radiant in the most pure and innocent way, like a ten-year-old girl who knows she is so, so loved by her father. And she can hardly wait to share it with us.” It makes me very happy whenever I get to see that look on people. How nice to hear that Melissa had that look, too!
And thanks for sharing your story about spouse-church-attendance! There are definitely some very godly men who choose not to attend church every Sunday. (And I don’t believe it makes them any less godly when they don’t.) I’m probably getting closer to where I don’t insist my husband come to church with me (or get a bad attitude when he doesn’t), and just figuring God will work it out, one way or another. But I’m not there yet!
I wonder if this situation has been more common in recent generations. The other day I learned that for hundreds of years, men and women sat in different sections of church to worship (in Europe, and also further back in time regarding worship at the temple for the Hebrews). The idea of “family worship,” where the entire family (parents & kids) sits together, is a relatively new concept; I believe it was said that this practice actually started and became popular in America. I’d never heard this before and haven’t verified it or anything, but thought it was interesting.
Blessings,
Karen K.
Houston
could you be any cuter, beth? oh, me. i love how you write and what an encouragement to sing that sweet old hymn out loud!
Dear Beth Moore,
Hello there, this is my first time ever writing on here as I’ve come on here a few times over the past month, reading all you write (you make me laugh).
I saw you on T.V a few times as one of my friends watch you faithfully, I most say you are different, not being rude but you are and I like that about you as it seems like you don’t care what people think about you and that means a lot to me. (you seem real)
Anyways. I have come a long way and I would never talk or mention it to anyone but I can now admit my problem. I am sooo looking for prayer and I thought out here would be the safest as noone nows me so if people judge me it really wont bother me since you’s don’t really know me. (I hope you understand)
I’m 25 years old and I have been a drug user for a few years now and finally trying to change my life. As I don’t want to live this way anymore. I just started to attend a church but not to sure of it yet.
I want to be drug free.
Beth you seem like an honest and passinate person that I seem to respect so I am asking you to please keep me in prayer. I truely need it.
I want to win my life back
Thank you Beth
Tina
Dear Beth,
Hello from snowy Ohio! It’s an absolutely beautiful snow so we don’t mind…
Wanted to let you know that I’m on day 30 of 90 Days With The One And Only Jesus. How I fall in love with Him more and more each day. Thank you for pulling back the curtain on the Holy of Holies so I could hold my breath and see Him. I’ve always been shy of Him, I think…even though I’m 54. And now I see Him and am falling more and more in love each day. Thank you for your inspired writing. Our church is also starting your Stepping Up Psalms series this Wednesday, 1/16. Can’t wait….it’ll make the winter months fly by for sure!
And you are SO right…the hymns make me cry too. I think I remember my Mom and the sweet church from which I first learned about Him when I was a little girl.
God’s best to you and yours
I never heard that hymn before, but I’m going to copy it out and send it to some dear friends of mine that are having such a hard time spiritually and with health issues. So true so true those words. No matter what we go through or how much we falter in life how awesome God is and his faith and strength. My heart has been so burdened for many I know this morning. I hope the words of this hymn will cheer up and uplift my friends, it did me.
I thank God for you Beth and what God has done and continues to do in your life everyday.
Blessings Sarah- Prayer Warrior
Beth–I SO understand! It’s neat every-so-often to get to participate in a worship service that is out of our “box” (whatever our “box” may be). I attend a church where the members are very comfortable to demonstratively worship “in the skin God gave them” (as my buddy, Jean Thomason, a.k.a. Miss Patty Cake, commented a few years back after joining us for a service.) We have a good blend of modern and traditional with the worship music itself, and folks have been known to lift their hands and dance during both types of songs.
Anyway, we recently had the brother of one of our members start a “branch” of our church in a town about 45 minutes away, and the mother of this pastor went to be with Jesus after a long season of illness this past weekend. As I sat through the funeral and listened to Pastor Keith preach the eulogy at his own mom’s “homegoing celebration” as he called it, I was so moved by the faithfulness of God. Then, Pastor Keith’s wife Kerri, who is a worship leader and recording artist who usually writes her own songs or sings modern worship music, started leading us in a whole slew of old hymns and “Gaither” songs that her mother-in-law had loved…HOW REFRESHING to sing these hymns, one after the other–Great is Thy Faithfulness, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, It is Well with My Soul, Because He Lives, When We All Get to Heaven…with a consciousness about the lyrics that I never had as a child! It’s been over a decade since God moved me from the more “traditional” church I grew up in where we mindlessly sang hymn after hymn every week (we were really good at “doing” a church service–it all “sounded” so pretty, at least to the human musically-trained ear–we pretty much stunk at “being” the Church, though) to the point that we never stopped to reflect upon the precious proclaimations within those hymns. I bawled through every song today. God really is so good, and His faithfulness is so great! And, when I do turn my eyes upon Jesus, everything else DOES grow “strangely dim!” Oh, how I praise Him!
Beth, does it blow you away that your musings minister to so many people in so many different ways? It does me.
Penny, PDA is public display of affection.
Oh gosh, thank you so much for saying Keith only goes to church when he wants to and thinks God can be found in the wild. My husband is the same way. I just pray.
Lisa in Hawaii who’s working on Living Beyond Yourself (wk 6)
This is a first for me. I have always been to chicken to participate in one of these. I guess since I turned 48…well why not!! I do understand your comment on not wanting to be a distraction but Oh sister…I am all about raising of the hands and my voice to praise the One who is so worthy!! I love it that we have new artist who are taking some of the old hymns and updating them for our present styles of worship. The lyrics are still magnificent!!
I remember when the Lord called me back into his foal, one of the things He cautioned me about was draaaaaagging my husband with me. He had to go on his own. I am blessed now, that he attends church with me and our son every Sunday. But it did not happen for a while. Keeping praying sisters.
Beth, how sweet you are and I have to say you always make me laugh. I am getting ready to start “Stepping Up” this Thursday and I can hardly wait!! My “homies” ( a group of women I hang out with from my church) and I are all doing the study together. I ask them to bare with me when we first start the video and I hear your voice. The tears will fill my eyes as I am positive I will hear from the LORD through your teaching!! Just had to tell you. I’m sure you have heard it before as several of my “homies” sighed in relief that they were not the only one this happens to.
Praise HIM!!
My daughter is 7 and she still sucks her thumb. I am wondering if Beth sucked her thumb. My Emma’s teeth are beginning to buck.
Jenny in Bama
I feel like I’m married to a younger version of Keith. I’ve been so afraid to grow in the Word and to go to church on my own when he didn’t want to. I’m afraid we’ll grow apart if I grow toward Jesus and he doesn’t. It’s hopeful to know that my growth and his hunting don’t have to clash. Any advice on how to be happily married for years and years to a hunter who sometimes wants to go to church and sometimes doesn’t?
Mattie
[email protected]
can anyone give me any info on the bible study beth is currently doing? how long has it been going on? which one is it? what time i need to arrive to get seats? i truly want to go and cannot find any girlfriends who want to go with me–a little nervous about going alone. I love beth. we did her bible study at church called believing god and it was wonderful.. please respond to [email protected] Blessings!
Hi Beth,
Your fire and passion for the Lord gives me such a “kick-start” for the day! The hymn is very powerful in reminding us how we should give praises to God all the time! It sounds like you had a wonderful Sunday worship time with Melissa and your hubby!
Bless you my Siesta,
Patti
What a wonderful post. I felt like I was right there with you guys. Where is Melissa moving? I missed it if you told us. You made me think of my days in Church with my family. Once I twirled a big set of pearls during the service and the string wasn’t so strong… all those pearls hit that waxed wooden floor and rolled and rolled… My mother was giving me the “eye” and my grandfather was sternly tiptoeing around and picking them up, clearly ashamed. I was slumped into the bottom of the pew as deep as I could dig… I loved church on Sunday mornings. Once a woman came over to me and told me how lucky I was to have my mother, my dad, and all four grandparents there with me in church. I thought she was nutty, but that was the last time we were all together on this earth…. One day in Heaven we will all sing those old hymns again, the seven of us…. and if I see that lady coming, I’m not going to speak to her… haha… just kidding.
can anyone send me any info on the bible study beth is doing? i want to go but can’t find any girlfriends to attend with me..a little nervous about going alone.. please respond to [email protected]
blessings!
Hey Beth! Today was the first time in over 2 months that I have been able to sign on and read the Blog. I have missed this time of reading, for it is like fellowship with a sweet group of sisters to me. On December 6th, my daddy died of cancer at 77; having only found out about it 3 weeks earlier. It was the toughest thing I have ever had to do in my adult life – to see my daddy dying and in such pain. But, I rejoice in God’s plan, for after 23 years of praying that he would come to know Jesus, he did pray with me days before his death and I now know I will have two daddies in heaven. Praise God! My parents live in the same home with me and my family for 8 years now, and his presence is so deeply missed. I never would have thought that daddy would spend the last two months of his life dying of cancer in a hospital. But I would gladly walk that path again, for I know it was God’s will and path for bringing daddy home to him. I sobbed as I read the words to “How firm a foundation” knowing the truth and comfort of them more than ever before….. Thank you for your blogs, Beth, it is good to be back home with you and all the dear siestas. ~~ Helene
beth, that hymn was so awesome, thanks! also, i was cracking up reading about you and keith and church etc… my husband does the pda thing at church too, it is so funny! thanks for sharing your life with us!
Thanks so much for sharing so transparently with us. It helps to know that you are “REAL” and even though we like to place you high on a petestal, you are really just one of us experiencing daily life. We had a sweet service at our church too. It was the last Sunday for our current pastor who has served as an interim for the past year, but had previously served our church for over 33 years. He is so loved and the service was so touching. Next Sunday will be exciting also as we begin a new journey with a new shephard. I must share with you that I struggle alot in many different areas of my life, but God is always faithful. He has used you so much to minister to me, to teach me, and to guide me. I love you much!! How I wish you could be my personal spiritual mother…but I’ll settle for your wisdom by way of paper and video until we meet in heaven!
Enjoyed your post immensely! That Bible Study author sure has us flipping ALL over the place! What is PDA?
What in the world does “PDA” mean? Up at 3am needin a little siesta encouragement and praise be to God I received it! Jesus is my firm foundation and I needed that reminder bigtime. Beth I can’t wait to meet you (probably in heaven one day)..what a riot you are. I cracked up about the wordy author, the husband who has his own mind and does not go to church every week, and then cried about that precious couple and the old hymn that reminded me of my grandparents. Thank you for being you and sharing your life with the world.
Siesta in Tampa Bay
I sent the words of the hymn from your blog to my husband as an encouragement. He loved it and sent back the following neat facts:
This was a favorite hymn of Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. It was sung at their funerals as well as Robert E. Lee’s.
As always, thanks for brightening the day of others.
Ok-
I am late in making my words known and way down here at the bottom of two hundred and some replies I realize it may never actually be read! But that is ok. I am going to share anyway!
First of all, thank you for writing the way you speak, Ms. Beth. I feel like I am sitting at the kitchen table (or on the couch by the fire) listening to you! You are a blessing!
I loved the story of the couple. I think it is so amazing to see an elderly couple so obviously in love with each other and the King of kings! I always take it as a little love note from the Lord that me and my honey can make it a lifetime with Him and each other too! It reminds me that while I am looking at those who have been married a lot longer and seem to have stronger marriages than me as my example to follow, there may be someone coming up behind me who is looking at me! Oh that they will see the love I have for my Lord and also see how that love is poured out everyday in my marriage!
Thanks for the reminder!
I am starting the Stepping Up Bible study and am so excited! Thank you for doing the blog like everyone says it helps to know you are so normal! LOL
I’ve got so much to go to Jesus and confess. Thanks for telling us some stuff that makes it okay to lighten up on our husbands. I have been a bit frustrated…no mad…that he’s not into Wednesday nights or Sunday nights like me and the girls are. Pride says others don’t think we are as “spiritual”…what a load of guilt and junk! I confess it to Jesus and to you Siestas that I am turning from this wrong toward my husband. I’ve really thought ugly thoughts.
Okay…to lighten up the post.
Beth, I thought Keith was using a CELL PHONE PDA during church…when you said, “He also feels compelled to PDA. Light obviously”
I could see you being a bit embarrased about the light it put off during church.
Ok, there are so many posts already but I hafta hafta hafta write this down! I always check this blog and listen to miss beth here at work, because I do not have my own computer or internet access at home. I am thankful for my computer here at work, but my ability to really have her lessons sink in has not been the same when I have been listening in between sorting visa receipts, answering the phone, and processing payroll.
BUT, praise God my husband got a new laptop and lovingly passed down his “pre-owned” one to me and so last night I got to download my first real beth lesson, the Stepping Up Video, to go along with the workbook I just purchased. I went home, made a cup of tea, put on my pj’s, and cuddle up on my couch with miss beth! WOW! How awesome! I am so excited about this new resource. It was so great to just be able to focus on Jesus in the quiet of my own home with Miss Beth. I’m also going to start blogging my own self, so I’ll get to have a fun blue name instead of a black one. 🙂 Blessings, ladies.
Oh Dear Beth, how wonderful and touching was this post. I loved it! I so teared up at the picture you painted of the sweet elderly couple – him lifting his hands in worship before our Lord and his helpmate after 60 years still helping him….and helping him worship at that!! God is so Good!! You are so real and transparent – thank you – it is so encouraging to me to be that myself – transparent. I don’t want to be who everyone thinks I should be – I want to be real and transparent – that’s when HE can do HIS thang – ya know?? I know you know.
On a different note – I’m reading Feathers From My Nest – AMAZING!! I LOVE it. I’ve been cracking up over the “sing songs” only because I grew up with some of the same. Thought my family was just a little crazy – though that may be at least now I know we weren’t the only ones 🙂 Thank you for sharing some of your personal life with the rest of us – do you know HOW encouraging that is. I just love you so – I’m so thankful to my precious Heavenly Father for you and your wonderful obedience to HIM!!
Love, Love the words to the hymn!
Thank you again for sharing what was going on with you and your family – I can’t tell you how many post from all you Moore/Jones girls that I’ve copied, pasted and sent to many dear friends and how they have encouraged them in the midst of life.
Better go before I start rambling again – morning not a great time for me to post – I’ve had my Starbucks and the words just keep coming – hard for me to put a lid on it – but let me force myself…
Have a great one – love ya’ll soooo!!
WOW! Talk about confirmation….God has been showing me lately how total reliance on Him is important for me to be where I need to be and how that reliance shapes my thoughts and actions to where they glorify Him and not myself or the world……thank you for sharing and letting God speak through you.
Oh, that is the hymn that ministered to me time and again after the birth of my first child. She had health complications and was in the hospital awhile. Then, when she came home, hooked up to a monitor, I was trapped in the house for months, taking care of her. I sang that hymn thousands of times. Especially the part about deep water.
She’s perfectly healthy now, but it was some deep water that we went through for a while.