Hey, Siestas! So much love to you! I pray Christ is revealing Himself in unmistakable ways right now and showing up smack-dab in the middle of the most mundane tasks. Before I get to some of your questions, I’ve got to give a huge shout-out to God lest a rock cry out in my place. Can we say there ain’t no high like the Most High to Ocean Mommy’s 90 year-old grandmother praying to receive Christ on Thursday? That, you darling things, is something to celebrate!
All of your questions were terrific! Thanks so much for caring to know. I am answering a bunch of them here and hope to answer a few others in the weeks to come. If your question doesn’t show up here or in the next few weeks, it’s not because it was dumb or inappropriate. I probably felt like I couldn’t answer it well, sufficiently, or briefly in this format. If your questions were posed to AJ, watch for her to answer those in the days to come as well. These are just a number of the ones directed specifically to me. I may have paraphrased your question to make it a little shorter. OK, here goes!
*What’s the best way to show love to an “unlovable” husband? My darling sister, you be sure and get your cup filled to overflowing every single morning by Christ because the only way you’ll emotionally thrive under those conditions is to love him out of the overflow of Christ’s love for you. Something we learned in LBY is to Pour-Out/Pour-In. This is how it works: Pour out all of your concerns and hurts and confessions to Christ every single morning – don’t let them mount up or they will turn toxic and bitter on you – then, emptied before Him, ask Jesus to fill you back up with His Holy Spirit. See Psalm 62:8! You need Somebody you can tattle on your unloving person to and Someone who can also enable you to miraculously demonstrate love to him. Truly, it is the Most High Calling – see Luke 6:32-36. All of us are called to love people who “hate” us. We just may not be married to one. Also remember that love is not always a feeling. Sometimes when I’m dealing with an unloving person, I have to demonstrate the love of Christ and later my feelings tend to catch up with my actions. I am a big believer in solid godly counseling. Seek it if you need extra help. Also, I’m assuming he is not physically abusive to you. For any of you out there – married or single – who are being physically abused, GET TO SAFETY IMMEDIATELY AND GET PROFFESSIONAL HELP. If you are a mom, get your children out, too, and pray for the crisis to bring your abuser to repentance and the professional help he needs.
*Do you guys still have a relationship with Michael? On occasion and in some seasons more than others. I still have hopes that a day is coming when we can have a healthy, consistent relationship, but we’re just not there yet.
*What books are you reading? I almost always have what they call a “Christian inspirational” book of some kind and a Christian novel going at the same time. I just finished reading the novel Same Kind of Different as Me and I loved it. My favorite Christian inspirational book recently is Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson. In addition to those, needless to say, I am buried in commentaries and resources for Esther and have a tall stack for the session revision of Breaking Free, too. Since I got the question, “What are some of your favorite books?” I’ll go ahead and answer that one now, too:
I read constantly and enjoy lots of diversity in my reading. Therefore, I have to be willing to sift through doctrines or perspectives I may not share if I believe I’m going to discover treasures or even insights. I’m just giving you a heads-up that, just because I may be about to mention someone doesn’t mean I’d line up on every point of doctrine with him (nor him with me, goodness knows). It’s just that I’m old enough now (smile) and have studied long enough to not be at as high of a risk of getting tripped up as I might have been fifteen years ago. That said, if I’m researching an OT Book of the Bible, I always get works by Jewish scholars (I like to see their take on it) as well as Christian scholars. I’ve read many works of Jewish rabbis (love the late Abraham Joshua Heschel) as well as some Catholic monks. In the narrower mainstream, I love tons of authors and this, obviously, is where I spend most of my reading time. Some of my contemporary favorites are Philip Yancey, Mark Buchanan, Ravi Zacharias, Nancy Pearcey, Erwin McManus, and John Piper (I particularly love his devotional books and so loved his poetry book based on the Book of Job). I almost always read anything John or Stasi Eldredge put out there.
As far as novels are concerned, a couple of my favorite authors are Robert Whitlow (I’ve read everything he’s written) and Joel Rosenberg (I try not to read his stuff before going to bed or I’ll never sleep). I was very impressed with Joyce Meyer’s maiden voyage into novel-land. I thought The Penny was fabulous. (Jumped back on to add another author that I can’t believe I forgot to mention: JAN KARON and especially her Mitford series! One of you mentioned it in a comment and I hit my head like I shoulda had a V-8! That series is one of my all-time favorites! Floored I overlooked it!)
*What are your favorite Bible studies by other authors? I bet I don’t have to tell you how much I love and appreciate works by Kay Arthur and Priscilla Shirer. I have also done every Bible study Mary Kassian has published. If you haven’t done Conversation Peace, you just must. I love Jennifer Kennedy Dean’s works on prayer as well as Jennifer Rothschild’s works on ANYTHING. I devour anything by Anne Graham Lotz that I can get my hands on. I so appreciate Angela Thomas’s works. I totally dig Randy Alcorn’s Heaven.
*Who do you like to listen to on tape or CD? Actually, you didn’t ask me that. I made up the question myself. Grin. I just thought it would be fitting as an insert right here while we were on this subject. My favorite preaching to listen to on CD (besides my own pastor, of course) is Dr. James McDonald out of Chicago. I’m nuts about his style and the man knows his Scripture.
*What are some of your biggest challenges in ministry? Time, schedule, stress, NERVES, and thinking I just did a terrible job with a message and yet having to go right back out there again. Also just being scared to death I’ll blow it and hurt or offend the Body of Christ somehow.
*Two weeks left before there is one less (with the name) Moore. On the peace and calm meter, how are the four (original) Moores faring with Melissa’s wedding coming up? I loved this question and had to laugh. I don’t think you could necessarily characterize any of the Moore’s as calm at almost any time. Not one of us is laid back. We are passionate about almost anything and have lots of feelings about everything. Any peace we ever have truly is peace like a white-water river and not remotely like a pond. I have to tell you something we all howled our heads off about. Some weeks ago one of you left a comment on the blog asking – in your own fun words – if AJ and I were about to drive Melissa crazy over wedding stuff. It was about the same time another of you commented on Melissa being the quiet one of us Moores. Let me be joyfully and lovingly clear: we all dance circles around Melissa and there is nothing vaguely quiet about her. Remember, she’s the one that used to walk down the stairs when she was four years old and ask me first thing in the morning, “Are you going to boss me today?” Amanda is the closest to quiet in our family and, believe me when I tell you, she holds her own. Lis and I would both tell you that Amanda is by far the sweetest and wittiest of us. (She truly has one of the sweetest, most loving hearts of anyone I’ve ever known and is also incredibly clever.) Melissa is the wildest and funniest. Very, very affectionate, thank goodness, and disarming. She keeps all of us honest. Keith and I? We are simply certifiable. It is a very lively family. And Melissa is the boss. Just so we have that straight.
*If you could live your life all over again, what is the one thing you would do differently? The tears are stinging in my eyes and I’ll have to try hard to keep from sobbing on this one. The list of things I’d do differently is so long, I couldn’t pick one out and the worst of it so appalling that I wouldn’t share it anyway. I have been so stupid. I was so messed up and clueless that my healing took a long danged time. I am as true a testimony of the forgiveness and grace of God of anyone you could know. He has been utterly unreasonable in His love and patience for me and I will love Him forever for it. To love much after I’ve been forgiven much is my hope. I do, however, want to try to satisfy the question if I can with one thing that comes to mind: I wish so much I’d gone with my spiritual “gut” in a situation years ago where the Holy Spirit was warning me to stay back from something. Someone very godly talked me into not backing off. I just wasn’t ready to handle a situation like that and tremendous anguish resulted. Ironically, God also performed one of the biggest works of my life through it. He is such a Redeemer. His sovereignty is my only peace.
*If you could only give one piece of advice to your daughters, what would it be? To pray every day to love Jesus more than anything else in all the world and to deliberately practice abiding in His love for them. Hands down. No contest.
*How do you love someone in your extended family that passively or actively rejects Christ and mocks your walk with Him? I had this exact situation and I can’t guarantee this for everybody but, over time, God worked a miracle in our relationship. One of the things God taught me was to be low-key on the “Christianese” (religious vernacular) around him, but to be high-key on authentic love and joy – to live what I believed in front of him more than to talk about it. I have not won him to Jesus and I don’t know if he’ll ever budge from his belief system but, slowly, God allowed me to win his respect. He loves humanitarian work just like I do so we have that in common. He no longer seems to scorn Christ or believe that all Christians are hateful. I love him so, so much and would give virtually anything to spend eternity in the same place with him.
*Are you just exhausted after Tuesday night Bible study? Yes! And so is my beloved staff! We often get very little sleep when we get home that night because we’re so wound up. It’s a very long day for all of us but it’s the most important thing we do here in Houston, so literally no one complains. Thankfully, we get off on Wednesday afternoons after staff debriefing lunch. The exhaustion after Tuesday nights is nothing like after a conference, however. By the time a Living Proof Live event is over, I am – as my grandmother used to say – as limp as a dishrag. I feel almost bruised. God is so worthy though and so faithful to restore me and get me back on my size 7’s pretty quickly.
*I’m one of your BF posts that had an affair in the past. My husband and my God have forgiven and restored me. But I still have trouble with guilt around those who know about it. Any help? Yes. Trade the guilt around those people for humility. And don’t trade back. Also soak yourself in God’s Word so He can speak louder to you than anyone else. Memorize Scripture and when that condemnation comes upon you – from the inside OR the out – start rolling that Scripture around in your redeemed head for all your worth. Let the pain of every consequence lead you to deeper and deeper sanctification and knowledge of His Truth. And, as the Book of Jude says, after all you’ve learned and all you’ve suffered, if you see someone about to make the same mistake, do everything you can to snatch that stick from the fire. (VV. 22-23)
*Where was “Stepping Up” filmed? In a studio in Nashville and the audience was primarily made up of women who either worked at LifeWay (in all sorts of positions like customer service and editing) or had husbands who did. Some of the others were in ministry and just needed to be ministered to. It was a way we could give a small gift back to those who have partnered with us behind the scenes.
*I have always been taught that Jesus is the SON of God but I am so confused because I hear people referring to them as the same. This sounds dumb, but please clarify. You posed an important question! The Godhead – Father, Son, and Spirit – is three in one. All three were active even in the creation account (compare Genesis 1:1-3 that immediately distinguish between God the Father and the Holy Spirit as He hovered over the deep THEN see Colossians 1 where Christ’s activity in Creation is recorded.) That Christ is absolutely divine is clear in many Scriptures but here are a few: Colossians 1:19, “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.” Colossians 2:9 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” In John 14:9,11 Christ explained, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” John 20:28 also tells us that after Thomas saw the resurrected Christ and touched His wounds, he called Him, “My Lord and my God!” Hebrews 1:3 is one of my favorite verses of all about Christ: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.”
*Any chance you’ll do a study on Romans? My beloved editor, Dale McCleskey, needles me often about it but, no, I don’t anticipate it. I haven’t been very qualified to write any of the studies, truth be told, but I am vastly unqualified to write on Romans. I taught the entire book for a year in my last Sunday school class (only a few years ago) and those CD’s are available through LPM. I’m betting that’s as close as I’m getting to a study. Romans 9 nearly killed me. Then again, never in a million years did I picture writing a study on Daniel.
*Do you just humor us when we ask about that outfit or that pair of shoes or what kind of make-up you wear? Girlfriend, what are you smoking? Are you kidding me? I love it. I’d ask you the same kinds of questions in a heartbeat if the tables were turned. Right after Bible study. And while we’re on the subject, one of you asked about my favorite lipstick. (I just went and got my cosmetic bag. It has at least 10 lipsticks or glosses in it.) My favorite drugstore variety is Revlon’s “Moon Drops” Line in the green tube with the gold band. For those with my coloring and penchant for bright, the shade I wear most often is Peach #704. My favorite more expensive variety is “Dior Addict” that you get at Sephora. It hurts my pocketbook every time I splurge but it is gorgeous on. And, of course, I love me some lip plumper! But Sally Hansen on the drugstore counter makes about as good as any, at least in my and Melissa’s opinion. (I don’t think we’ve ever won AJ over to plumper. She thinks it stings. We think it’s worth it.)
*And, for all of those who hated that last question, this one’s for you: What do you like to do for fun? I am an avid dog lover and I could hike mountain trails until my legs were nubs. And I pump iron. Don’t even think of treating me like I’m just a set of shiny lips. Heehee.
*Beth, why do you love Siestas so much? Because they love Jesus like crazy and make me want to love Him more. And they can like their servants without putting them on pedestals. And they ask lots of good stuff and start lots of good discussions. That’s why. And I made that question up, too.
I love this diversion from the Super Bowl! I loved reading your answers and enjoying all the Siesta’s comments. Especially, Melanie’s poem written about you! What a talent she has! I think she speaks for quite a few of us regarding how you have changed our lives and hunger for Jesus and His love. You’re so an inspiration to me and many others.
Thank you for sharing your answers with us and I look forward to more from you and Amanda on this post. I, too, missed the questions (being on the west coast, I wasn’t up early enough!!) but everyone who did ask questions did a great job.
BTW, Karen Kingsbury writes great Christian novels. She has several good series!
Blessings to you all…….
Loved reading your answers to the questions. You are such a giving person. Thanks for taking time to share.
Love you!
Man! I go home for a weekend with the fam, have no internet and look what all I miss!! I have to say though that the questions asked were ones that I would have asked as well! So I got my answers any way!
And I have to say that I totally LOVE Jan Karon!!! I have met her twice and read all her books. I pass her stuff on to all my friends and family. Im such a fan that I dragged my Nanny and Nandaddy to Blowing Rock, NC where she lived when she started writing the Mitford series! Such a cute little village. I have to ask, have you read Francine Rivers? I love her books so much. Even my DAD likes her books. He wants Redeeming Love made into a movie!! My mom won’t read fiction and so anytime I have a book that I want to share with my family, I have to get my dad to read it. He’s read some crazy books as a result. My part is to listen to all the bagpipe and guitar music that he listens to. Kind of like, I’ll read that if you listen to this, deal. But it works!
Loved this post!!
And AJ, I totally feel you on the whole bad week thing. Its been a long one on this end! But Anne says in Anne of Green Gable, every day is fresh, with no mistakes. But my favorite quote on tough days is, Every day is a good day, some are just better than others. It came from a dear sweet senior gentleman at my home church. He said it everyday as he finished reading the weekly announcements. He passed away close to 10 yrs ago and I think of him all the time because he had tons of sayings like that. Isnt’ it awesome how God lets us remember the small things?
Hope you have a great week this week! May the “Tod” keep you in giggle-fits all week!
Dear Beth,
Can’t believe you didn’t include Kirk Franklin somewhere in the CDs you listen to!
Thought of Jackson the other day as I babysat my nephew. He ignored the music playing until Kirk came on…then he bounced to beat the band!
Joanne
I am so grateful that you and AJ make time for the blog like you do. You are truly a sweet woman of God to love siestas like you do! Thank you for being such a personal teacher and for making our God more personal to us! For all your love and time you pour into so many…love and blessings on you!!!
His, K in AR
Miss Beth: so enjoyed your question/answer session. I never miss you on Life Today: Wednesdays with Beth. It hits in the middle of my busy…too busy week, every time & right on time! I appreciate your obedienct to the high calling of God & the benefit it brings my daily walk with Him as well! Glory to the Most High God!
I was just doing a mundane task, and God DID bless my socks off! I ‘ve gotta share….
God has led me to write children’s ministry curriculum for our church for our kids ages 2 through kindergarten. It’s a 2 year curriculum split into two classes, with the younger class doing 12 OT stories per year and the older class doing 12 NT stories per year. God has had me write units on some fairly “common” stories from Scripture and some unusual ones. The trick is that they have to be written so that a 2 year old can stay busy through an hour of it and also come out knowing the story fairly well after 4 1-hour sessions.
Anyway, this past week, I completed the story about the Ark of the Covenant’s return to Jerusalem. One of my most favorite sermons I’ve heard on CD was Louie Giglio’s “Ichabod to Glory,” but try communicating that (with stories, songs, coloring pages, themed snacks, dress-up “pretend” activities, etc.) to a TWO year old! On Friday night, I was thinking: “Lord–are they REALLY gonna “get” this?”
This morning, that unit was taught for the first time in my son’s class. My little guy, Noah, is ALL BOY, and he’s only been in that class for 4 weeks (coming out of the nursery where they have to do very little structured activity). When class was over, the teacher looked tired (she’d had 13 little darlings this a.m.), and she said: “I’m sure Noah’s having fun in here, but I don’t think he got one thing out of the lesson. He didn’t stay in his seat or focus much at all.”
So…I had “defeated mommy” feelings AND “defeated Bible study author” feelings all afternoon. I hung up Noah’s coloring sheet from his class on the fridge at the house while he was napping. Later this evening, he came toddling into the kitchen as I was doing dishes, and this conversation took place:
Noah (pointing to fridge): Hey, Mommy! Dat’s MY pit-chur. I cowered dat!
Me: That’s right! Where did you color that, Noah?
Noah: At “chutch.”
Me: You sure did! That’s a good picture! Tell me what that is.
Noah: That’s Awk of Cub-nit. Day put on cart. You not post touch it–nebber, nebber, nebber (wagging finger and shaking head)!
Me (in amazement): What happened to the Ark, Noah?
Noah: Dat man (pointing to a cartoon Uzzah on his coloring page)…he touch it. Him died like dis–BUMP! (falls to the kitchen floor)
So–praise God! His Word is alive and ACTIVE! They DO get it! Satan can keep lyin’…but from here on out, I’m not buyin’!!!
Thanks for letting me share!
Thanks for your responses to the questions, I felt like you were speaking right to me. I could even picture some of your expressions.
Unfortunately, I missed the timing for questions. I was beginning a workout program geared toward students with disablities (like me) who are paired up another (non disabled) student to workout together. Now Beth, I think you know I love spending time with you and everyone in siestaville, but I wouldn’t have missed this cause I really need the workout and….HE’S SO CUTE!!! Gotta go, Love ya, Bye!
I have just two comments for you, Beth!
1. I just love you so so much
2. I think you are so so beautiful
(inside and out)
Kristi
Dear Beth,
Thanks so much for being SO REAL!! I truly appreciate your encouraging words…I’m going to start praying now for my children to love Jesus more and more each day. I look forward to checking your blog….it is always the “pick me up” that I need. My hubby is deployed to Iraq and some days are harder than others. I always find encouragement here. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to be a part of the taping of the Patriarchs in MD…what a great time we had! I am currently taking Daniel (in week 8). I am so happy to be learning so much about Jewish history & end time events…and yes I am committed TO LEARN!! Thanks for all you do. Your bible studies have been life changing for me!! I pray that God will continue to bless you, your precious family and your ministry. Whenever you are having a tough day, just remember your siestas LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! Enjoy Melissa’s wedding. That will be around the same time my husband is coming home for his mid-tour break.:-)
In Christ’s love, Denise
ps–Thanks also for sharing about Michael….I have often wondered.
Thank you, Beth, for the sheer amounts of time and energy you pour into this blog – as if your time and energy aren’t stretched enough.
I spent heartbreaking hours reading all of the stronghold posts, and joyful hours reading all of the freedom posts.
The tears are pouring on my keyboard as I type this, and I’m quite sure this isn’t the appropriate place, but I absolutely must let you know, Anonymous Siesta, that a statement you wrote literally made me hit the floor. Talk about breaking free in an instant. I committed a sin (as a believer)at age 21 which has haunted me ever since. I believe God forgave me, resigned myself to never forgiving myself, and limped along knowing that if God wasn’t mad at me, He certainly should be.
Then I read the one little sentence in your post which struck me with the force of a literal blow: “He knew it all before I ever did it, and He still chose me.”
Thank you, my precious, precious sister in Him, for changing my life in an instant. Thank you.
I have felt all these 27 years that I will never be able to face the innocent person in heaven whom I wronged so terribly, and I still don’t know what to do with that,(perhaps He will show me now how to deal with my shame,) but I finally feel fully loved by my Lord again. Your words were the key.
You are a hoot and I am so blessed to have found this blog! Thank you for the ministry of friendship.
Much love,
Kara
Please explain who Michael is. Thanks!
Hi Anonymous…
First I have to say that I am THRILLED THE GIANTS WON! I’m was born in NY and always cheer NY teams on.
And of course, thank you for answering my questions. Now I can laugh at the siesta thing, and it’s funny too when you consider it means nap takers…LOL..which I suspect none of us hot women are!
As for Michael, thank you for sharing that. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry Beth, and I will pray with that in mind for you now. Love you and hugs to you too.
Thanks Anonymous…hugs to you too and love to you too.
Siesta Stacy 🙂
You coldn’t possibly know how special it is to me that you share with the Sietas, with ME like this. God is not some big, untouchable god, high on a mountain. And neither are his servants. Don’t you EVER come to Detroit and be nervous that you’ll offend or do something wrong. You are slathered up in unconditional love whether the Enemy lets you know it or not. WE LOVE YOU. Though, to be honest, I think you’re a sucker to fall for the lip plumper scam. 🙂
Oh, I adore you.
I had questions but didn’t get on in time. For the record:
1) What does Keith do? (I mean other than serve the needs of his princesses) We know about all his caveman adventures, but he has or had a JOB, too, right?
2) Does anyone ever post anything mean or critical or nasty on the blog and either I’ve missed it (possible) or you don’t post it???? (My daddy always teases about having some Irish mafia hitman in Boston that he’ll call on if any of his daughters is in trouble…I wouldn’t hesitate.)
Love you.
Just had to share the silliest thing that I have EVER DONE!!!
My husband was out of town, my boys were at a church activity so my daughter and I had a “Girls Night Out”. After Mexican, we roamed the mall, picked out treats from Claires for her, and then it happened. I wandered into Payless, and there they were…those beautiful brown platform high heeled peep toed shoes…AND I BOUGHT THEM!!!
They are amazing!!! I’m 5’11” and wear a size 11 shoe…but I had to get these in a 12…and they were still FABULOUS!!! Not boat-like at all!!!
If I make it to a LPL event this year I will show them off!!!
Love to you all!!!!
April
Lauderdale MS
Oh, yes! “Annie’s Eyes” hit it right on the head.
BETH: HOW CAN WE BEST PRAY FOR YOU????
Loved your answers!!! You are a breath of fresh air Beth Moore (that is a compliment 🙂 !! I smiled and laughed out loud at your answers…You are the real deal!!
Love ya much!!!
What a great idea about the Q & A… I hope more will come…
Thanks Beth!
I’ve been looking forward to the answers and have checked often for them over the weekend.
I was reading your answers while my husband was watching the Super Bowl and I’d ask him from the other room every now and then what the score was?…..how much time left?….
I had to put this on hold when the game had 2 min. left. The game got pretty exciting.
I’ve spent a crazy amount of time reading different blogs this weekend. There are so many amazing women out there. Thank you Beth & Amanda for getting it all started. I’m lovin’ every minute of it!
Please pray tomorrow night as 26 ladies in our group begin “Stepping Up.”
Blessings and much love,
Valerie
Good evening Tas Philas or siestas. I enjoyed looking over all the data from the Q&A’s!
Beth, I have goggled “Buddy Walters” trying to find a video of him to see what you saw. Are there any available and how may I view at least one?
Glad to see Melissa’s nickname finally.
For you girls who are just learning about “siestas”…you have GOT TO go to the invitation to the Siesta Fiesta on youtube!!! The only way I know to get there is to look at the archives. It is worth the look. BTW Beth, how in the world did you do it without laughing??? Especially with the girls in the background laughing.
Love to you all!!!
Miss
Man, it’s been a hard day…I needed a nice talk (albeit one-way) with a friend! Thanks for sharing. I especially appreciated the advice for loving the unlovable–and you know, because I mistyped and my BF comment was not anonymous like I planned. Today is our oldest’s 10th birthday, and my parents didn’t even call. So I have been fighting being mad all day. Thanks for the wonderful advice–that goes beyond marriage to all relationships.
Love you, you crazy and fun and sweet and godly friend!
holly
PS You must tell BooMama and Big Mama how you start a fire every morning before your quiet time: real or gas? It will tickle them (and me) pink! And I KNOW you love pink!
Beth,
Thanks for the Q&A session. I just wanted to give a huge shout out, as Pastor James MacDonald spoke God’s Word into my life at a very pivotal point in my life about 10 years ago. I gave my life back to Jesus the first time I visited Harvest, and a year later, my husband (fiance’ at the time) and I were eventually baptized and married there, and our first-born was dedicated at that church. We have since moved to a smaller church plant further north, but I agree that James is a phenomenal bible teacher and he truly speaks the Word UNAPOLOGETICALLY. I’m thankful for all I learned under his teaching. And Beth, I’m so grateful to God for the ways He’s grown and stretched me through your studies. I never walk away from one of your studies unchanged. Thanks for ministering to us “siestas!”
I too love Erwin McManus and John and Stasi Eldredge! Captivating, anyone?!
This Q&A was too fun!
Beth and Staff, thank you, so very much, for Tuesday night bible study. You will never know what it means to us. We KNOW you have got to be exhuasted and you keep pressing on! I love seeing all your precious smiling faces. And I love that they are smiling. You truly all LOVE what you do! 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
Much love to ALL of you!
Lindsee
P.S. Beth, I loved reading the question about the getting noticed in the mall or wherever. I do not know if you get bombarded, but I do know that you got to meet my BFF (Jen the Newlywed) last week while there! I’m just a teany bit jealous that she got to give you and Melissa a hug. I was even there and didn’t bump into y’all! Maybe next time! 🙂
Darlin’ Beth, you are such a blessing! One minute I am laughing out loud (my kids are sure I’m nuts), and the next minute tears are in my eyes. And it is all when I read stuff you’ve written…how on earth do you be so profound and heart-touching (is that a word?)and still so much FUN???
Re: your Michael…have been keeping him in prayer much lately…I am so glad you can see him sometimes…
And your marvelous girls…I was raised with “Your religion is between you and God — KEEP IT THAT WAY!” To share Him so blatently and constantly with your girls as you do is an example and encouragement for me to do likewise with my five sweeties…and their brother.
Bless you! The Lord sure uses you to bless us!
I love it… especially the one advice for your daughter’s. I am Amanda’s age and this reminder was very good for me. Blessings!
You are precious! To me, to us, to Him even more. 🙂
Well that was just way too fun! I can’t wait for more!! Thanks for sharing so much with all of us. Just makes me love you all the more. I so have got to try me some lip plumper.
Our Bible study group just finished the Randy Alcorn study recently. I totally loved it – I had never really thought about Heaven that way, and it was awesome. I think it’s way cool that we’ve done the same one. 🙂
I too missed the 30 minute window – but I will reiterate what Keri said that those of you siestas that asked questions did a great job!! 🙂
This was so stinkin’ fun!! Thanks for sharing.
Love you –
Cynthia in OK
Dear Beth, I am in total agreement with all the blogging sisters; you and your family are such a treasure on this journey….thanks for making ‘holy rolling’cool!
I love you. there is nothing else to say that says it any better.
I know I already commented once today, but 2 more things.
Beth, I don’t know how many times I have told the story about sweet Jackson and how he says “please”…..more like
“puh-LEEEEEASE” and how we should cry out to God with the same kind of passion. LOVE that!!
Also, April from “Laughing Out Loud”, from one 5’11” siesta to another…..how about we get together and tap our super cool size 11 (or 12) Beth inspired Payless shoes together someday?? Bet there wouldn’t be too many of us!
I’m smelling some really good stuff over here and you didn’t even say which perfume you like. I know it’s the fragrance of Jesus that I just got a whiff of. II Cor. 2:14. Beth, you are so down-to-earth, so authentic, so full of, well, Psalm 86:11 walking in truth with an undivided heart and 81:10 opening your mouth and what comes out? HIM. You just so touched me with these answers and it was the fragrance of Jesus. And the one that I will hold in my heart for a long time was your answer to “if you could live it over again, what would you do differently.” I was sobbing just this a.m. about that same thing as I am such a changed person than I was even a couple of years ago and my 4 children—I would have done things different!!! But, I have this present moment to do that and I am alive. Your answer, though, was startling and encouraging and so full of grace for me. Especially when you spoke of not going with your gut. Something like that happened to me and it was so good to hear you say that. And God orchestrated it for me to get me to such a better place with Him. Loved that you called it redemption. Can’t thank you enough tonight for such authentic answers. I was just reading in a book tonight that said that the purpose of vulnerability is an “opportunity to get insight into myself so that I can be a happier person.” But, the purpose of authenticity is to “face where I am so that I can be lifted up into the larger story of God and serve his purposes more deeply and more fully in my life”—and that is so where you live. So authentic before all of us, not pretending to be more than you are. You’re awesome!
My Bible study group just stared the revised, “A Woman’s Heart.” We were all wondering about Michael tonight. I’ll tell them what you wrote here. I’ll also pray for God to bring about the relationship He wants for all of you.
Thank you for all the answers – I’ve had a blast reading them. I’ll definitely have to look into some of the Bible studies you recommended.
Firecracker, thanks for asking about this God thing. I would love to be able to converse with you about God and hopefully begin to help share with you why we (from all over the U.S. and the world) have come together on this blog as sisters…um, I mean Siestas! I’m not very eloquent and this is the long version, so please excuse me in advance.
I believe this God stuff is not only about life and death, but about eternity. Namely, where we will spend all of eternity after our lifetime on earth is finished.
I believe that one, true God has created the earth and all that is in it, including all humankind… and us!! I believe that He has created us with not only a physical body, but also with a spirit. God spoke about Himself when He inspired the Holy Bible, from which us Siesta’s have learned about who He is and what He is all about.
In the Bible, He explains that the first man and woman lived in close fellowship with Him and He met all their needs. He created the man to rule over the earth and the woman to be his helper. However, as a holy and perfect God, He had a couple of important rules for the man and the woman to live by that would protect them and their relationship with Him. The punishment for breaking the rules was death, spiritual and physical, and an eternity apart from Him in a place of darkness.
Long story short, they broke God’s rule and were punished. Through that first man, sin entered humankind and now we are all born with a sinful nature. (read all about it in the first 4 Chapters of Genesis in the Bible.)
Basically, sin is missing the mark of God’s best for our lives. He created us and knows how we are supposed to live best! Sometimes, we purposely choose to find our own way in life without God and that is sin. Sin also includes various kinds of things like lying, cheating, stealing, etc.
However, God being completely good in all ways, and knowing all things, knew in advance that the first man and woman would break His rules and He provided a way out from the eternal punishment. That way out was His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Through the first man, Adam, sin entered the world, and through Jesus, God’s forgiveness has entered the world.
God sent His own Son, who was perfect in every way, to die in your place and my place so that we would not be eternally punished for our sins. Even though Jesus died for our sins, He rose from the grave three days later and defeated death. He now sits at the right hand of God in heaven, alive forever! (Read about it in 1 Corinthians 15)
Through our faith in Jesus Christ, God’s perfect son, we are able to be forgiven of all of our sins and we are given eternal life with God in heaven. We are not required to be perfect or be good in order to get into heaven. Even the best behaved of us isn’t good enough. Nope, we only need to believe Jesus is the son of God and that He has forgiven us of all our sins. If we believe that and confess with our mouths that: “He Is Lord”, we will be saved.
How cool is that? Even while we were far away from God and our lives were a big mess, Jesus came here to the world, fully God and fully man and forgave us of everything we ever did wrong! Through Jesus, God sets us right with Him again and sets our messed up lives and hearts right-side-up again! Even better than that, through our faith in Christ we are set free from the fear of death! (If you are interested, you can read all about Jesus Christ in the book of John in the Bible.)
If you want to have forgiveness and peace with God and be secure in knowing where you’ll spend eternity, here’s what you can do:
Say a simple prayer to God, out loud if you can. In your prayer, admit your need for forgiveness, be willing to turn away from your sins, and accept Jesus death for your sins. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, come into your heart, and be the Savior of your life.
If you pray to receive Jesus as your Savior and you truly believe He saved you from your sins, the Bible says that your spirit, which was not alive because of your sin nature, will be made alive in Christ and you will receive a new spirit, a helper, called the Holy Spirit, who will come and be with you and help you to live right for God. He will convict you of sin and help you to stay on the path of salvation.
Firecracker, I hope you feel free to ask any questions you might have about God here on this blog. Hope this gets you started! Sorry this was so long!!!!
I’m with Amanda on the lip plumpers. I do not consider something that STINGS MY MOUTH to be an essential beauty item.
But now when that bleach stings my scalp, you will never hear me complain.
😉
p.s.
Have I ever told y’all that we did LBY as a bloggers’ study? About two years ago? And that it was one of the ways our little corner of the blogosphere started to come together?
Well, remind me. 🙂
Loved this post–I’m laughing right off my chair. Thanks..
Beth, you’re so much fun. Thanks for the post – I needed a good dose of Jesus and lipstick today,
Best always,
Warm in Alaska
-Actually at -17 I should sign off:
Freezing in Alaska.
Hi Miss Beth. I just want you to know, for all the times you say you love me, I love you too.
God has used you in more ways that you know in my life. Would you please just lift up my name before Him in prayer? I do know that He hears me the same as He hears you, but it would mean so much. And I’m praying for you too.
Love, Taylor
Oh how you bless my heart…and I’m buying some plumper today. :o)
Thanks for the Q&A Beth. I have always felt that I know so much about you, but the Q&A was really great. My girlfriends and I say that if you lived around here you would so want to be friends with us:) We all think we are so much fun:) Thanks for sharing your life with us, but most of all thank you SOOO much for sharing your contagious love for Jesus. I love ya! Michele
Beth thank you for your honesty. What blows my mind is your response to the Romans study! Your humbleness to this amazing talent that God has given you–writing bible studies-is oh so refreshing. I do know that if God directs you to a bible study on Romans, we will get one! He is so awesome, and thank God you are obedient. Blessings to you and your family.
Once again you have brought me to tears. You are so real Beth. I thank God for you. Believing God was the first Bible Study I took and I’m doing Stepping Up now. I’ve completed 5 of your studies and its my goal to do them all. I learn so much each time. By the way, I’m a Raleigh Girl and so proud to say that. I can’t thank you enough for helping me on my spiritual walk with God and you don’t even know how much you are teaching me. Thank You God. CINDY in NC
Thanks so much for your willingness to share your heart with so many….
Claudia-NC
Beth and Siesta’s-
James MacDonald IS great. You can listen to his daily message at http://www.walkintheword.com
He is so practical and Bible centered.
I smiled at the question asking about where you like to eat in Jackson Hole because every time I have been there I think if you are anywhere near I might end up meeting you at The Merry Piglets…they have the most yummy mexican food:)
Thank you Beth. I missed the question opportunity (I think-my memory is poor these days). We appreciate your openness and realness. God has used His work through you to bring me close to Him and I so cherish this relationship I have with Him.
Have a blesssed week!
In His Graces~Pamela
I missed the Q&A 30 minute window, too.. but like others, you answered some questions I would have asked! I love how personal you have made this blog – interacting with us as if we are really together – really friends. I totally feel like you girls ARE my friends, like I know you. My husband has gotten so used to hearing me say, “Beth said… ” that he doesn’t wonder who Beth is anymore!
I just started the last week of Stepping Up this morning and cried my eyes out over the lesson “God Talks Back”. I am waiting for an answer to prayer to be “loosed on earth” and how awesome to believe that it has already been “loosed in heaven”. Plus, I sat quietly and listened for Him this morning. And guess what?? He said he loves me, he is with me and is he is on his way!
Thank you, Beth, for all you do for us because of your love for Him… I look forward to reading Amanda’s answers, too!
Linda
ps – kim safina, your brother’s book has a great title. It reminds me of what our pastor is preaching about lately.
this was awesome – i love it!!! love oyu!!!
leigh
Thanks for the post dear Siesta Beth.
The Lord has had me in a few chapters of Ezekiel the last several months. I always think how exciting it would be if the Lord directed you to write a study on Ezekiel…ha ha ha
I lift you and your staff up as well as all the Siestas who will be at Breaking Free tomorrow night. I am thrilled to know how many women will be living lives in freedom and victory.
thank you for your sharing your heart with us, dear Mama Beth. I love you (tears stinging cheeks…)
MariaCristina