Hey, Siestas! Y’all are just the most fun ever. I so enjoyed all your reactions to the “goods.” I was also very tendered by our siesta who reminded us to pray for our single sisters who are fighting a few gray hairs (you can color those stinkin’ thangs!) and frequent bouts of loneliness. I know a number of single women who wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, are serving God like crazy in all sorts of unhindered ways, and they’d about beat us to death with their handbags if we prayed them up a husband. But, we want to be faithful friends and prayer warriors for ANY of our siestas who are lonely. Including those who are married. Nothing makes you feel more alone than a bad marriage. I know because I’ve had one. And I don’t have one now. Keith and I like to say that we’ve each been married to ten different people and they all look suspiciously similar.
On a very encouraging note, I was glad to also hear from the sister who has been burned by tons of girlfriends but is getting her feet wet again in Siestaville. I pray she’ll find this a safe and fun enough place to venture back out into some great Godly friendships that last a lifetime. This is no replacement for that but it’s a great encouragement to stay wildly connected to people and to be reminded why you want to. BigMama, I’m so sorry you’ve been under the weather! I feel like we live so close together I should bring you a pound cake.
OK, now this is the main thing that prompted me to hop online: I’m so pumped that such a number of you are starting “Stepping Up”! I loved that journey! Only one in the Psalms I’ve ever done. It’s based on an analogy drawn from the pilgrimage the Israelites took to Jerusalem three times a year. I was so intrigued by the whole concept. I’d honestly never paid attention to the caption “A Song of Ascent” above certain psalms nor had I ever heard a lesson on it. The study is really different from the others – and on purpose. God’s Word is so alive and fresh that there’s no excuse for cookie cutter studies. I hope so much God uses it to take you to the next level with Him. I’m so honored that you’d allow me to step on those stairs with you.
While on the subject of Bible studies, dear Siesta who got the regular book version of Breaking Free rather than the workbook, if you really have some major stuff to deal with (and who doesn’t?), please consider getting the workbook instead and perhaps giving the book to someone who isn’t as likely to do an in-depth study. Those are my favorite candidates for what’s called the “trade book” version of Breaking Free. For everyone else, the workbook is the way to take the journey. I’m a huge believer in the actual process of Bible study (i.e. turning to this Scripture and that, spending the time in tandem with God alone, writing down your responses, etc.) and never more so than in that particular journey. In Breaking Free, the process of poring over the Scriptures is itself a crucial part of the healing. Psalm 107:20 says “He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave.” Boy, have I lived that reality.
Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. No one loves regular books more than me. I have at least two going at any given time. I’ve been greatly challenged and changed by book after book and even added to the shelves by writing more of them than anybody wanted to read. When it comes to deepest, lifelong healing, freedom from bondage, and equipping for anointed ministry, however, I am convinced that the in-depth, life-style study of God’s Word is where it happens. I love plunging into it on my own but I also love a guidebook or map of sorts to steer my journey and that’s what discipleship materials are all about. (I have done stacks of other people’s studies. You might be a little amused that I’m doing the Breaking Free homework right now. It’s the first time I’ve ever actually gone back and done the homework as a participant. It’s been almost ten years since I wrote it so it’s hitting me like crazy.) I love any sound study of God’s Word. Digging into the depths of Scripture and having your mind deliberately and consistently renewed by God is what freedom is all about. Otherwise, we’ve got too many people to get mad at and never forgive as long as we live – and too many people to offend and never lay eyes on again. You and me – We need to be in SCRIPTURE!
Well, that’s what I got on here to say. I guess you can tell Keith isn’t home or I wouldn’t have had the time to rattle on. I was just so excited about “Stepping Up” that I got on a Bible study roll. I’ll go take an Advil now. I’ve worn myself out.
I am so glad you finally mentioned, ” Stepping Up”-:)
I know me and Jenny Hope were siked since the first week it came out, and probably were close to the first ones to buy it:)
My momma bought it for me for my bday, and I bought it for my Pastor’s wife and dear mentor for Christmas:)
Anyone who wants to really see what it is to worship, anyone who wants to know what to do when you are down and out and dont feel like reading a whole verse of scripture…you will love this study!!!!
There is a surprise addition in it too…but my lips our sealed:)
OMgoodness, I could be the promotional chick for this lol…
Anyway, great study, go get it:)
BTW- My Accountability Partner and I want to do, ” When Godly people do ungodly things.” so we are starting with the book, but if there are any siestas that have it chilling on a shelf in their home and our looking to pass it on…please contact me, for we our poor college students:)
Alright ladies, have a great TGIF!!!
Beth-I can’t spend enough time in Bible study and I too like the workbook formats the best. Taken from ‘Praying God’s Word Day by Day’ (which I have used daily with my Bible studies since its creation-did I say thank you?),for this morning one of the scripture you picked for today is from Jer. 15:16 “When your words come to me, help me eat them. Make them my joy and my hearts delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty, Increase my appetite for your Word, my Sufficiency!”-this could not say it better! No matter what is going on around me, I experience this incredible peace and joy when I am quitely spending time in His word or in prayer. It is my fuel, my breath of life, for my day. You are a blessing!
In His Graces~Pamela
I love the fact that you want to pop in here and encourage us. And I appreciate your words about the workbook vs. the “book” book. I think it’s easier for me to hide behind the regular book and keep my stuff to myself. Which doesn’t always provide the results that God would have me have. I am looking forward to doing the updated version. (I guess it must be time to deal with some of this baggage. I feel it more every day.)
Dear Beth,
I teach a Moms Bible study in Memphis and I know you have prayed for one of my sweet moms who was diaganosed with Stage 4 cancer at age 28 last April 2007. Her name is Stephanie Vasofsky. Her husband is Randy and her little 2 year old is Zoe. Our sweet little friend went home to be with the Lord this morning. She ran well and finished strong. She was at home surrounded by her husband and mom when she quietly stepped into the presence of the Lord. Absent from the body and present with the Lord. I knew you would want to know. You can read her site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stephanievasofsky. Blessings. Jean Stockdale
Thanks for the encouragement..I’ve been away from here for a couple of days and man did I miss some good stuff 🙂 I love Melissa’s private side…that will be my Catherine someday. I just ordered your 90 day journals, both of them and I can’t wait until they arrive. I loved your “Whispers of Hope” journal. It really changed my life with Jesus and taught me how to sit still with Him. Precious precious times. I recently finished Daniel…now that one stretched my brain to the max…I’ve moved on to Ezra and Nehemiah on my own and LOVE God’s heart for repentance, reconciliation and restoration! Said a prayer for Breaking Free group about the weeding out process. Thank you so much, Beth, for inspiring me to love Jesus more and to look for Him everywhere. Really, I just love you!
Beth,
I am currently finishing up “A Woman’s Heart” the updated version. This has been the most profound study for me. I think a study of the Tabernacle should be a required course for adult Christians. It is so rich and deep. God has used it so profoundly in my life and I’ve learned so much about Him and His Word.
The session you did on Zechariah and Elizabeth had me blown away. I could so relate to Elizabeth. It was so comforting to hear Gabriel say, “Your prayers have been heard”. I was so moved by it, that I shared it with my adult Sunday School class, and I could barely contain myself.
Thank you for allowing God to use to communicate so effectively His Word. I have been blessed.
Blessings
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I read this religiously every day but rarely (if ever) post. But I just wanted you to know how much that I love and appreciate you. You are such a wonderful, real person to us and for that we love you all the more. I was telling my husband the other day how much he should appreciate that I have such a wonderful mentor in my life as a woman. You have given me such a love for the Word. However, I have been going through a season of “uneasiness” as to what to do. You know the restlessness you sometimes get as people with your church, friends, etc. Then I read a devotion the other day that was called “A dead heart” from Proverbs 31 ministries and I really believe I am the walking dead, trying to fill my heart with everything but Christ. This season in my life is especially hard with 2 little ones (21 months and 7 years). Mind you I am the person everyone is looking to to get the “Beth Moore” study going at church, etc., but I just feel like the walking dead. Sometimes you get the feeling that he just wants to work on you and you alone. I need that. I have been a Christian practically my whole life (since 5) and at times that is what I think is most my problem. When did I start believing what I know because it is what I believe in my heart or how do you separate it from what you have always known? Does anyone dig what I am saying here? I guess I am just wondering if anyone has been here before. I know you have. I would just love to have your prayers. I want the joy again, the “realness” of being in his word and alive in serving my other siestas with bible study, etc. I guess what I am trying to say is I am tired of the “wrong” things and I want the “real” thing but don’t know how to start the journey to get it other than falling on my knees, which I guess is a good place to start.
And by the way Beth, my husband and I of 14 years have been married to at least 14 different people and yes, they all look strangely suspicious. How blessed and thankful I am that he would choose to stick it out with me. I love him so much. He is a keeper!!!
I love you-
Amy
Dearest Beth,
I am in the 6th week of a Woman’s Heart and will finish up hopefulling in less than four so I can start Stepping Up right away. We recently changed churches, so landing in a group Bible study has not worked out for me yet… but I have not given up! I just stay with a study and I buy the audio cds so I can get the full teaching, and not just the homework – though the homework is my favorite part.
I read Isaiah 58 last night for the first time and got such great insights. Sometime this weekend I am going to sit down with my Word Study Bibles and my commentaries and tear it apart. That, my friend, is my favorite way to really get into God’s Word. I love to dig and then I spend a week telling everyone I know about what I learned. I actually stopped, picked up my husband’s reading Bible and read the whole passage to him last night because I was so in awe of what God said. Pray for my husband… he struggles so to hear God’s voice. But I have learned that is between him and God, my role is to watch and pray and be so excited about the Word that he catches my enthusiasm.
Anyway… It blesses my heart to know you are doing your own homework. I love to go find something I worked through and rediscover something that spoke to me so profoundly. I marvel at the way God is good.
The “goods” on Melissa and Colin blesses my heart. My daughter, oldest at 18, is in her first serious relationship. Her beau is 19 and the godliest young man I have seen in a while. They are wild about one another, though my daughter had reservations because this boy has a life plan and marrying her is on it in the next 3 or 4 years. They have been inseparable over the Christmas break while he is home from college. He left yesterday to go back. This means it will be a good three or four weeks before they see one another again. My daughter said goodbye on Monday night and came in and bawled her eyes out. I didn’t realize he had left because he thought I wanted her to come in and he to leave… It was midnight after all. So, she called him and said that I was up and it would be all right for him to come back if he wanted – he did. He told her that night that if it were not a foolish decision he would take her and marry her right away so they never have to spend another minute apart. My daughter who has said over and over marriage is a distant future prospect for her was sobbing as she recounted his words. She smiled with a glow that only blessed tears can bring and I said, “And you would marry him, too, wouldn’t you?”
She said, “Yes… I would.”
I asked her if this meant she had decided she was supposed to marry him and she said, “Well, I don’t know for sure, but… I’m guessing so.” I told them both before Christmas when we had our intentions and expectations conversation that we had at least 8 years before all our kiddoes would be out of college and only then could we think about a wedding. Unless they decide and pay for one themselves… which is not what I would like to see happen. So… there it is, pray for us -we have a son and Three Girls… Oy!
It is so fresh to see young love in bloom in a godly light. They went to a homeless church and my girl was so excited she almost leapt. Anyway… I guess I am rambling, but what else do you do at 7:00 AM when you have been up for 2 1/2 hours.
Seriously though, would all the siestas please pray for a young family at my church. We learned the night before last that their 23 month old daughter drowned in the family pool. I posted more about it on my blog. The funeral is tomorrow, my heart is broken because I know the pain of surrendering your child to the Lord. Their faith is strong and their story of surrender is so beautiful, but I know it is tragic, senseless and it is faith shaking at the same time. Please remember them often their last name is Barnard.
Blessings,
Michelle
Dear Beth,
I have been wanting to do the Stepping Up study, but since I don’t know of a group here that is doing it, I may just have to do it by myself. Wasn’t there something Amanda posted on the blog some time ago – a link where we could look for studies in our area? Could that info be re-posted???
I did the Daniel study by myself last year, and then I sent my audio CD’s to my mom, who did the study on her own. She is 74 years old, and Daniel was her very first Beth Moore Bible study, and she loved it! She told me you are a wonderful teacher, and so funny too! I am so happy that she and I can do Bible studies together, even though she lives clear across the country.
I pray heaps of blessings for you!
Hugs,
Adrienne
Beth and Siesta’s:
What a delight for 2008 to see each one of us loving Him more! Our group is getting ready to start “Stepping Up” on Thursday evening. In December we finished Jesus The One and Only.
Can you tell me how to get on the Deeper Still-the blog? Also, there will be a large # of us going to Colorado Springs in May. Will there be anything there for the Siesta’s? We are in SW Kansas.
Thanks and God’s richest blessings and thanks to each one of you, YES, especially the Moore Siesta’s, for keeping this so REAL! And current.
Lovingly,
Yolanda [email protected]
Beth, I’m new to this blogsite, but have my own blog on xanga so I was interested in reading yours. . .love it. You are so real, funny and authentic, just like you appear to be. I am a “new associate pastor’s wife” and am just getting my feet wet in ministry alongside my husband (although we were foreign missionaries for awhile, being on a church staff is completely different). Anyway, we are getting ready to read through Get Out of That Pit with a group of women in our fledgling women’s ministry. I’m reading it now and weeping almost everytime. I’ve done Breaking Free and Believing God at my former church and loved them even though they were hard and painful. Please pray for us as we begin this journey with these dear women. I’m going to bookmark your website and visit often. Thanks for sharing so freely of yourself.
Your “Siesta” in Christ—Lelia
I am a newby around the LPM blog, and I’m so excited about it. Thank you so much for sharing your heart with me from this forum. I was one of the Raleigh girls to whom you first taked about the Psalms of Ascent and I look forward to going through the Bible Study. THANK YOU for all you do for the kingdom!
Ok! I am so convinced now! Sometimes, it literally takes the Lord coming out of Heaven and screaming the answer at me. Your post did just that. I’ve been agonizing over what study to do with the women in our church. My husband bought me the book (not the workbook)Breaking Free and I literally can’t lie down to read it. I have to sit straight up…sometimes stand up because I get so excited over what I’m reading. I felt like this study would be perfect for our women. So many of them are held captive by their “issues”…I know now that this is the perfect starting point for them AND me. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your ministry and your encouraging messages.
Love,
Lindsey in Louisiana
Beth: Good Morning to you from middle Georgia, you precious woman!
STEPPING UP is growing exponentially at my church. I’ve had to STEP BACK to Lifeway 2 more times to get more “Stepping Up” books because so many women have signed up. (Of course, after showing the promo DVD Sunday in “big church,” I should have just known that would occur! Your invite to come hungry to this Bible study just got all my girls revved up!) We should have around 75 women present for class, and I’m so glad!!!
Studying these Psalms will be wonderful. I have my paternal grandmother’s Bible and I love to go through and read the notes and things she has written in the margins and on little snippets of paper and envelopes or whatever she could find. The Psalms are so marked up – they were her favorite too.
I love that you’re doing your own homework – that is precious. You really are one of us siesta girls and that confirms your transparency once again.
Thank you, sweet Beth for encouraging us to stay in the Word and do Bible study and reminding us that that is where life-long healing and power comes from.
Thank you for stepping out so that we could step up to step over and break free!
You’re something else!
Love, Jan
Your Georgia Siesta
I am going through a little withdrawal right now, as I just started a Bible study that is not by Ms. Beth! It’s one by Mary Kassian called “Conversation Peace.” Have any siestas done this one? After only a day of homework, God is already working on me! So it’s looking like I’ll have some awesome material to get me through ’til April when we finally do Stepping Up.
Blessings to all,
Kelli in Ohio
Mornin Beth, Thank you for encouraging us to study the Word. I think I have decided to do you study on Jesus the One and Only. Starting next week at our church. Also I have done alo of Precept Bible studies with Kay arthur. This is really where it all started for me in studying the Bible a few years ago. If any of you siestas like her studies I have been watching her go through the book of Matthew on the internet on preceptsforlife.org. I watch the video that she does on tv. She is actually teaching from the land of Israel which makes it so much more interesting. So just some info for the siestas out there that maybe haven’t studied her Bible studies. Our church is so great because we have 2 of your studies, Beth, going in January, and 2 precept Bible stuies going also. It is wonderful. Have a blessed day Beth, and siestas. Kelly from Michigan
Now you know I’m never one to turn down a poundcake.
Maybe you can bring it when you come in August? 🙂
I need to be in SCRIPTURE, I need to be in SCRIPTURE, I need to be in SCRIPTURE…if I say it enough will I DO IT like I should? Why is it hard to be faithful in that area? I love God so much and not a minute of my day goes by that I’m not consumed with Him but the busyness of life and three little ones becomes my excuse to not be in the Word like I should. I hate that! My sweet little 6 year old who is but an average reader and couldn’t actually sit down and “read” the bible for his life actually falls asleep everynight with his flashlight open to his bible. But I go in spells, I will be faithful for a while and man do I love His Word when I’m in it but then it falls by the wayside. Thank goodness He doesn’t treat me that way!
P.S. Amanda, where in the world are you? We’ve barely heard from you in a while and I miss you…and Jackson. Need some updating on what’s going on in Dallas!
Lisa
Thank you for being so real, Beth, and sharing where you are in your life. After doing the Paul study years ago, I hurt so deeply for you with the personal situation you shared. Isn’t it amazing how God can connect our hearts as women over things? I’m leading an early 20s single mom in A Heart Like His, and God is doing such a great work in both of us! You have blessed so many by being loyal to your calling.
I’m hoping to do the Stepping Up study with a copule girlfriends over the summer during our “down time.” We’re doing Chip Ingram this time around as we just finished up Daniel in the fall. I am so looking forward to growing more….it never seems to be enough!!!!! God Bless!
I appreciate your comments to the single women out here. I’m one of them. I’m 40 years old and always thought I’d be married with 6 children. It can be very, very lonely. I’m very active in my church and love serving my Lord, but I still long so much for a husband. Sometimes I feel like us singles get forgotten about. Thanks for rembering.
I purchased “Stepping Up” back in November and am the facilitator, so of course I had to take a look at the lessons ahead of time. 🙂
I can’t wait for our group to start these lessons. We begin Mon. Feb. 4. I’m putting the announcement in our church bulletin this Sun. Please join me in praying for those who are supposed to attend. We have the sweetest group of ladies each time and are so blessed. I love that Travis sings in each one too. That’s a great addition.
I will be praying for Tulip in Idaho and for their tiny church to be able to do the studies. I have a cousin in Kentucky and her husband pastors a small church there. Our ladies group has shared some of the studies with them and took up a collection for them to be able to purchase the workbooks. We were blessed to be able to do that.
God bless you Beth and all of my siestas. Have a great weekend!
Love,
Valerie
Love! Love! Love digging into God’s precious word with you all…my love for His intimate words to His children has grown tremendously since I started studying under Beth’s teaching years ago. His word is alive and active and sharper than a two-edged sword…I need a fresh word all the time, and that’s not how I used to be. Thank you for being used by God to change my heart (replacing my heart of stone with a heart of flesh).
On a totally silly note, my friend sent this link to a funny, goofy song about girls with big Bibles…webmaster, feel free to delete this part of my comment if it’s not appropriate. I never want to offend..I watched the video and thought it was cute, inoffensive and funny, but maybe my perspective isn’t as sensitive as it should be…check it out, please, before posting…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYr3JuueF4
I started “Stepping Up” this week also! And I have been face down ever since! I am so excited to do this study with the women from our church and I have invited a friend who I think really needs to go on a journey with Jesus.
By the way, back to those beautiful girls of yours, if you ever are ready to tackle a study for mom’s growing up Godly women I would take that one and gobble it up! I have three young girls and I’m just praying that I don’t completely mess them up, I think it’s going to be hard because I’m pretty messed up myself, and my darn self keeps getting in the way! I would love to know your and Keith’s secrets to raising Godly women, because you (and I know God) from what I can tell have done a wonderful job!
Congratulations on the upcoming wedding!!
And pray for those of us now in our 30’s convinced God has forgotten about us! 🙂
Jera
Miss Beth,
I’m not sure if anyone has told you recently how *funny* you are. Girlfriend, you make me *laugh*! I was just rewatching/listening to the Who can you trust? series from life today. I needed to hear it again, and I heard it with fresh ears and learned some things I had not learned the first time through. And when you were talking about what if the worst happened and Keith *did* leave you for a 25 year old, and you said, “I’d have a fit. I’d tear off both her arms at the neck…” and then went on of course to say that your God would take care of you. But I have to say, I laughed so hard, and I was at work here, I caused a scene and people came to check on me. Thankfully I work in a wonderful Christian environment where people know I listen to you regularly while working, so they just chalked it up to another “beth moment”.
On that topic, I feel as though I need to confess/apologize to you, because I will often have the video going on one screen while I work on my other screen, and of course i have to pause you when the phone rings or when someone comes to talk. Don’t I always manage to pause you so that you are making the most goofy, silly face?! You’ll have your mouth open, one eye squinting and your finger pointing or something. Haha.. but then I just get tickled and know with your sense of humor I wish you could be here to giggle with me.
Thanks for being a part of my journey with Jesus. Thanks for loving Him and encouraging us to do so. Blessings upon this new study and in truth of course you can be challenged from your own study because it’s not about you, it’s about His Word, which *Always* challenges us afresh. Love you, siesta!
Oh, and I have to agree with Miss Janet about J. Vernon McGee! Thru the Bible! He’s another one that is so sharp and insightful but will crack you UP! Thru the bible is available on Oneplace.com, as is Miss Beth’s program, so check it out siestas!
Good Morning Siestas, This is my first time to comment but I have been looking at the blog for a long time now sharing with my secretarys whats going on at LPM I just wanted to say I love this site, when I get to work its the first thing I open to see if Beth, Amanda or Mellisa have posted, isn’t it amazing I feel so in touch with everyone I thought I would let you meet me and my staff. I’m going to have one of the girls help me get a blog but for now I will use my email Thanks everyone for your comments it seems if I have a bad day I can just open up the computer and take a look at everyone accross the country and their comments on things and it just makes that day so much better you are all so precious my little Siestas and you brighten my day more times than you could know. Bless you all, Much Love, Angel
Beth,
I love the idea of you working in your own workbook. I have done Breaking Free… and as a victim of childhood abuse, it led me from playing in sludge to working toward His victories. He is the great counselor and you have allowed Him to do a great work through you and because of that a lot of women have been freed.
Thanks a lot
Love,
barb
Thanks for the post about Melissa’s upcoming wedding. As a recent bride, I wanted to share something that I did during a wedding tea party for some of the women that have forever changed my life. The bridal tea took place a couple of hours before the wedding and included about 10 or so of my closest family, friends and mentors.
I read the scripture from Titus 2 about the older women teaching the younger women and went around the room and spoke a blessing over each specific person and how they had changed my life. Two of them were leaders of bible studies that I have been part of.
Of all of the events that happened that day, I will always treasure that time together with them.
I can’t take any credit for the idea, because it was God moving me to do that and also Amanda deserves some credit too, because she reminded me, in an earlier post, about that passage in scripure. It was perfect. Isn’t God good?
Thanks Amanda and if you ever want to talk about some of the joys/challenges of being a pastor’s wife, please feel free. My new husband is so in love with Jesus that he is in seminary to be a pastor. And He’s a really fine preacher! 😉
Sorry for the long post.
Beth,
I am almost finished with week 2 of Stepping Up and I LOVE it! But then, I love them all! I got started at our church 6 years ago with Breaking Free and now I help facilitate. I absolutely HAVE to be in one at all times. It is such a crucial part of my day that I cannot function without being in a Bible study (most often one of yours but occasionally I do others as well)! And I thank you for getting me started! God has blessed you with an incredible gift and I Praise Him for you, and I thank you for being obedient to His calling on your life!
Thank you so much for sharing with us here. I just love this blog, and after 6 years of doing your studies constantly, I feel like we’re best friends!
Blessings!
Michelle
Waco, TX
Beth, our group began “Stepping Up” yesterday morning. Thank you for the powerful intro. When you said, “is anyone just down?”, I felt God’s tender touch. I had an silent chuckle when you explained your proposal…with your exercise/aerobics background, I was afraid you were going to ask us to literally Step Up daily! =)
Dear Beth, I just had to let you know about our first night of “Stepping Up”. It was fantastic. We have a night group of 23 working women who are so excited to be studying the Word and learning so much. Out of this group there are 2 who are new to bible study so I am just so excited that they are coming and enjoying it! We always pray for you and thank our Lord for you writing these studies for us. It seems every one we do just get better and better. THANK YOU for listening to His calling. This blog has been encouraging to so many of us women, we feel like friends and family to each other and you and your daughters. Thank you for being so real to us. I am looking forward to San Antonio in August to meet in person so many that I read about their lives and thoughts.
Hey Beth! I am so with you when you say In-depth Bible study is a life long study! I have been facilitating or going to them for about 23 years (every since my first born was 2yrs.!) I have heard so many, many times from ladies in my study, after they have done the first study, that their eyes were so opened! They had no idea. Their comment was “I thought church was all their was!” They had no idea the treasures they would uncover in undepth Bible study. You are then forever hooked, addicted to the Word. I am forever grateful. I have to tell you one more thing! When our group took Daniel last August, my dear friend was convicted to start watching her diet (you know the rich foods!) She has currently lost over 100 pounds and her total motivation was Daniel. Her testimony is awesome. They are featuring her in our local paper this week! I am so excited I could just pop at what God has done!!!!!
Beth,
Funny you mention the Stepping Up study. I just began facilitating it 2 days ago (Wed., Jan. 9th), and I’ve heard nothing but great feedback. 🙂 I had worked ahead and am on week 4, but I wanted to save the DVD watching with the ladies so it could hit me fresh like it will/did them. Just want you to know that the almost 40 women in this study on Wed. mornings are expecting to hear from God in this study on the Psalms. And the cool part is….they will.
Thank you for being the humble servant God has called you to be. You’re one of my best friends and I only see you once or so a year at a LPL conference, with my best girlfriends of course. 🙂 We’ll all be in L’ville, Ky in Aug.!
Marcy
We just began our 3rd Bible Study Group Last night (A Woman’s Heart- Revised) and as we began to ask new women to join us, many said the same thing…They had never had good luck in joining a women’s group. Many said the experiences were not good…hurtful. They had faced lack of trust by other women, unacceptance. I keep hearing the same overwhelming thing, and it hurt me so. I wanted to convey to them not all groups are the same & how sorry I was they were hurt. This should not be the norm! I plan to change it! But Praise the Lord, 6 knew women joined our group, 2 of which have never been in bible study!
You are so right about how important Bible study is. We have a great group here in Lexington, NC. We have completed seven of your studies. I have grown by leaps and bounds with each one. I am hoping that our leaders will choose the study on Psalms soon. The Psalms have always given me such comfort. Amazing how alive those words are thousands of years after they were written. God is so very good!!
Siesta you never cease to just crack me up!! I’m so glad to know that you don’t take yourself so seriously!! Blogging to the point you need an Advil! hahah Love it!
I’ve done 5 of your studies and I can’t wait to sit down with you in heaven and rejoice over the work the Father did – and still does – thru you in my life!! He is good! I’ll be starting the “Ascent” in the spring and just about can’t wait!!! Thanks for your obedience and taking us places others have feared to tread!! GOOD STUFF!!
Val
Dear Beth, You are just the sweetest. Thanks for your continued comments about the community here. I love it too, and feel like I know you personally. Thanks for getting us all connected like this!
Our little group in Dalton started Stepping Up last night and I loved it!!! Travis rocked “My Passion”. I’m a pentacostal woman doing a bible study with a baptist group and I only pray that they will feel freedom to worship through the rest of the study.
I do appreciate any prayers for a husband that siestas throw up, as long as they know that I know that a man will not complete me, in Christ or anything else! (So basically, please pray!)
Thank you for continuing to bless and enrich our lives by being open to share in these studies. More than words… all I can say!
Praying for you and LPM as always!
Love,
Jenn
I heard you speak while in college at the conference Passion. The husband and I remember that you hit certain places in our hearts. I still have my notes and a deep desire for the passion of God. It just looks different now that I am walking with God in a different stage of life dealing with a multitude of post-partum issues.
We recently moved with a 7 month old to your city for 1 year. I was pleasantly surprised to find that you were doing a study because you lived here! My heart skipped a beat because I had been praying for a bible study to join where I could study God’s word that will help me deal with the issues that birth and babies sometimes bring.
I went to the last 2 weeks of Esther and am excited about “Breaking Free”. It was 10 years ago that I heard you speak and you said on Tues that it was 10years ago that you wrote this study. I am looking forward to freedom. Thanks for blogging. I hope you don’t mind, but I have linked you to my blog.
Dear Beth,
Congrats on Melissa’s engagement and upcoming wedding. What a joyous occassion! I do feel like we are friends having done almost all of your studies. Well, I just started Stepping Up with my Bible Study group and I’m sure it will be what God needs it to be for me. I wanted to share something which I found particularly intriguing.
Yesterday morning was the first morning I got face down on the floor – the unvacumed floor. I poured out my heart to God as we have just lost the mother of my son’s college roomate in a tragic car accident. She and her husband had stopped by the side of the road to help a single car accident and had gotten out of their car and were walking towards the accident. It was dusk and an elderly man (87) veered into the emergency lane and hit both the mother and the father. The mother has hovered between life and death for a month and just went to be with the Lord two days ago. The Dad still has significant head injury issues but we are praying for a full recovery.
So, things are sad and complex here given our relationship with the family. We set our boys up together in their room this fall (they are freshmen) and spent an enjoyable parents weekend together. We all live in Savannah although the boys are away at school. So anyway, yesterday I got down on my face and started to sob – why why why? You God are sovereign and I trust you but it is so hard. She left 3 boys ages 20,19 and 18. Plus there are other complicated issues involving my son with their son – so I was giving my overwhemed heart to our Great God. I asked Him to fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I could be a beacon in the darkness to those lost. Ten minutes after I got off the floor I received a phone call which sent me reeling into the largest emotional crisis I have had in years – all surrounding these events (my son has gotten into some bad things at school and I’m trying to help him set up healthy boundries which don’t feel good to him – and involves his roommate who has just lost his dear mother) anyway, the point is that as soon as I got face down the enemy came and attacked big time. It was a very sad and hard day with many tears. But our God came through at the end of the day when an acquaintance called to tell me that she wanted to call me to tell me she was worried about my son and his roommate and when I told her my discision she (who is a Christian Godly woman) told me I was doing the right thing and not to worry about wagging tongues. I truly felt God’s hand on the call as if to say “Yes my child, trust me, you are doing the right – although hard thing with these boys.”
So, I got down on my face this morning (a little worried about what might erupt today after showing such devotion!) but I feel his peace flowing through me.
Thank you for all you do for us – what a great teacher you are! Please pray for the Coe family to know God’s love and comfort during this terrible time and pray for my son to constantly ask the Holy Spirit into his life to keep him from dangerous temptations.
I love you and your team –
In His Amazing Grace,
Susan
Dear Beth, Amanda and Melissa,
First of all, congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Melissa…the two of you are a beautiful couple. Sounds like he will fit right in with the Moore clan! I am thrilled to hear that not only is Melissa gaining a wonderful husband, but the Moore’s are gaining a new son/brother to love! My prayers are with you all.
I have to tell you that Breaking Free is everything that you shared in your blog,and so worth taking the time to invest in. I know it actually takes less than three months to do on principle, but I have taken the last 9 months to go through it slowly and let the truths that God is teaching and the healing seep into my very marrow. It has been life-giving to me, and I thank you for the time you have taken to write and now update the study. (as wonderful as it is, if you are revamping it, I can see I’ll be getting a new version and soaking the Word in again through this study. For those of you who have not done Breaking Free…it really is THAT good!).
In fact, I have been recommending it in my coaching ministry and have used it to help my ladies learn to do Bible Studies and to unlock truth for themselves and find freedom and purpose in their lives. They have loved it. I’ll be starting a group this summer facilitating Breaking Free, and I look forward to what God is going to do through the study.
God is so Good…and His Word never fails!
Beth
Good morning this chilly Houston day – how beautiful it is . . . going to have to get outside and absorb it fully!
Was praying for our single Siestas early this morning (or late last night – I am such a night person!) as the Holy Spirit prompted me via thinking about the “anniversary” posting —– what dear hearts and lives were so sweetly revealed by so many comments – my totally bestest friend is divorced and still single (we walked through that with her MANY moons/years ago) and she is just the most pricelsss treasure to my heart . . . my man and I consider her so a part of our family, as does our children who are older – any special occasion – she is there! She is a right few years older than I, but for 31 years we have been great friends – she knew me when . . . ouch! Lots of water under our bridges.
Got my new freedom workbook yesterday – sweet hubby went to a Lifeway almost close to his work and then – ulterior motive maybe? to eat lunch at an Indian restaurant – he loves curry!! Was so neat to see it in my chair when I got home from worship practice. Picked it up last night to just re-read the introduction and see what the first memory verse was before I went to sleep – just got plain excited to do the study again – Our God shows Himself new every day and I am overwhelmed with His mercy . . . I praise Him that He will reveal more areas to be freed from and that I am not taking this journey alone – have all of you to share it with and those several thousand Siestas on Tuesady nights . . . I so do not take for granted that I can attend on Tuesday’s – I count it a privilege and a grace gift – every week when I leave I am in awe that Abba has me in a place where I can go . . . every week is a new adventure and joy ride.
There are so many places in this world where what we do on this blog, and the FREEDOM to study the Word and talk about it is forbidden —- we are blessed Siestas . . . so very blessed.
Praying peace for the single and again single Siestas today – and those with kids —- double portion! Father, be extravagant in their lives today . . . they need an anniversary present – – –
Blessed Weekend Siestas – my man and I are off for a Saturday photo jaunt – as always! and today, more leaves to pick up! You are loved! Dearly.
I am very excited about the next thing, which for me is Breaking Free. I have never done it, and with the truckloads of stuff I used to drag along with me, I am sure it will be difficult and amazing! I have to say I was heading toward Stepping Up, and I have been so excited about it, but I know the stirring and guidance of the Holy Spirit, so Breaking Free it is!
I just want to say again, how thankful I am for this blog. Since we just moved so far away, it is now the only place I have friends. So, thanks a bunch!!!
Love Y’all!
Holly, in NM
Like everyone else, Beth, I love you! Studying God’s Word with you has literally changed my life. I have done Breaking Free, and God certainly used it to free me from some nasty strongholds, but the first of your studies I ever did was Believing God, and ohhhhhh man, did God EVER do a huge work in me through that study! I have such a tender place in my heart for Believing God because of all He taught me and changed in me and grew in me through that time. I’ve done it twice and would love to do it again someday. I may be one who has to break free from Believing God! (the study only, of course, never the act of believing)!
Beth, I too am a “regular book” lover and usually have two or three going at once. I love the page on the Living Proof website that tells us what tools you use for Bible study, and I would love to hear about what “regular books” you are reading, as well! Kind of like “Beth’s Book Club”. 🙂
My Bible study group – the one who led me to Believing God and Breaking Free – disbanded about a year ago, and since then I haven’t been able to find another group who are DESPERATELY SEEKING JESUS, and not just doing a study because it’s the thing to do. I am asking God to put me in a group of women who are passionate about knowing Him. When He does, I’m hoping they will be willing to do Stepping Up, because I so want to learn more about the Jewish Feasts!
Thank you, Beth, for being willing to allow God to use your life for His glory and for the benefit of all who encounter you. We love you!
~Believing God for all my days….
Dearest Beth,
I want to thank you for your passionate love for Jesus…you are right, it IS contagious, and I have caught it from you!!
I often think of you talking about your mentors Buddy and Marge, and telling God “I want that!” I have taken to telling God that often when I see people in love with Jesus and in love with His Word.
“I want that, God!” I want to love Him with wild abandon and have a burning passion for His Word. I want to know Him intimately and walk with Him every single second. I want to be one whom He can esteem (Is. 66:2)
Thank you for sharing your contagious love for Jesus with everyone who will listen!
Good morning Beth, I just finished my homework in Psalms and I was laughing out loud about the “gravel in the forehead”. I was thinking that everytime I go face down, I go vacuum afterwards becuz I get a close up look at my carpet. With all of us going “face down” ,we should all have cleaner souls and floors! much love, Ann
We love you Beth
Just wanted to let you know, my heart’s desire for several years is to be free(free from fear). When I saw you were doing Breaking Free, o how much I wished I was in Houston so I could journey with y’all. Anyway, I discovered Lifeway.com has available downloads of the Breaking Free videos and audio versions for sell. So last night I downloaded the introduction. I am doing this study alone, but believe with my heart it is time. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. My heart and mind are being renewed through His Word. Please continue to pray for us siestas doing the study alone for Galatians 5:1.
Love ya.