I can’t remember who came up with this word, but somewhere along the way Travis Cottrell and any other (generally invisible) male blog readers acquired the name “miesta.” It is, of course, the male answer to “siesta.”
I want you all to know about a very special miesta who was used by God to bring Christian women all over this nation and even across the world together for Bible study. His name is Lee Sizemore and, to say it simply, he was the visionary and the video producer for the first 10 Bible study series my mom got to film. Had health concerns not necessitated early retirement, he would have also produced the three that followed. From A Woman’s Heart to The Patriarchs(ten years later, and dedicated to him), Lee worked tirelessly to produce discipleship materials for women like us. He also produced video-driven Bible studies for many other teachers, among them Anne Graham Lotz, Jennifer Rothschild, and Angela Thomas. I’m sure many of them felt about Lee as Mom did. She considered him one of the dearest friends she’d ever had and one of the most significant co-laborers God, in His measureless grace, had ever sent her way.
When I was sixteen, Lee hired me to be a production assistant for the To Live is Christ series. I enjoyed getting to work behind the scenes with his team so much. Lee was always there with something encouraging or amusing to say. Throughout the years it was such a joy when the LifeWay team would come to Houston or when I had the chance to be on another film set. They were a very special group of people with an exceptional, wonderful leader.
After an almost three-year battle with severe health problems, our brother Lee Sizemore went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, March 22, 2008. The next morning, as we all celebrated the Risen Christ in our man-made church sanctuaries, Lee got to see the resurrected Lamb of God with His own eyes and worship in His visible, glorious presence. Though tears fall from my eyes even now, it blesses me to know that our dear friend had this privilege.
Lee leaves behind an adoring, faithful bride of nearly 40 years named Myrna, two sons, two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren, and a slew of friends and co-workers who all loved him very much. His absence will leave a tremendous void in their lives. Myrna’s birthday is this Wednesday and her precious husband’s funeral will be held on Thursday. I know many of you have watched the Bible study videos and will want to cover Myrna and her family in prayer during this difficult week. Thank you in advance. Myrna is a siesta, so if anyone wants to share a word of love, encouragement, or thanks, we will make sure she gets to see it.
*Lee is the one next to my mom in each of these pictures.
The Patriarchs
Living Beyond Yourself 
Breaking Free
Myrna,
I am sorry for your loss and so appreciative of your husband’s ministry to so many of us. I pray for God to be your Comfort, Strength, and Companion as you walk the journey that lies ahead. May He be all you need.
Mandy
To Myrna and Family, The Moore’s and the many family and friends who are grieving the loss to us on earth and celebrating the gain on the other side of the Veil in heaven:
I am praying that you all are blessed with an extra measure of Comfort from the God of All Comfort and His Holy Spirit the Comforter. I pray you are all blessed with an extra measure of peace, as Jesus is the Prince of Peace and brought to us His peace and the Holy Spirit to bless us after His resurrection. I pray you are all blessed with moments of sheer joy amidst the tears as memories and love fill your hearts as you remember you beloved Lee. He is probably not resting now, but leaping, dancing and singing – I’m sure the praising has not yet stopped… and I hope it doesn’t until I get there at the very least. But, what Lee is is whole, complete and gloriously present with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray you receive a special anointing of God’s precious love and grace as His mercy flows into your aching hearts and eases the burden of Grief. He loves you so as do I and I pray Lord God that You would show Yourself in the grief of this family as Your glory is revealed in
the suffering of those who loved Lee. I ask all these things in the name of our Sweet Savior who died for us – Jesus. AMEN. God Bless You ALL!
Thank you Amanda, for letting us know.
Myrna, I am so sorry that you had to say goodbye to Lee. Amanda’s words about Lee seeing his resurrected Lamb on Easter morning were so touching. Such mixed feelings. Happy for him, sad for you. I’ll be praying for you this week. Your siesta, Su
Though we can rejoice that Lee is at last dancing down the streets of heaven in the presence of the One he loved and served, the weight of grief at the passing of such a special man is still very heavy.
Myrna and I went through baggage check in the Tel Aviv airport together when we left Israel after the filming of Jesus, the One and Only eight years ago. I remember her as a warm and gracious lady and will hold her close in thought and prayer especially over the next few days.
I’m praying for God to comfort your family in special ways too, Amanda. I know you all truly loved Lee and, of course, all anyone had to do was see Beth with him to know how deeply she loved him. May God bless you from the incomparable riches of His grace.
Mrs. Sizemore,
I have already prayed for you. I appreciate so much the work you hausband has done for all of us. I will be remembering you this week.
A sister in Christ.
Dear Myrna, I don’t know you or Lee but my life has been immeasurably impacted by both of you. I can only imagine how your prayers and support of your husband allowed him to go forth with such inspiration. The studies have brought me so close to Jesus and I pray the generational impact will be deep. Thank you for all the work we didn’t see and may you be comforted lavishly by God. Blessings to you.
Dear Siesta Myrna –
My mom, from California, my sister, from Colorado, and me, from Alaska, all converged in Baltimore for the Patriarch taping in 2004. I was so blessed by the LifeWay staff during the week: their kindness, professionalism, and their Christ-likeness was such a blessing (on top of Beth’s teachings). I know the staff was a reflection of Lee’s heart – and that Lee’s heart was a reflection of Jesus.
Thanks for sharing Lee with all of us. I’ll be praying for you,
Warm in Alaska.
Our prayers are with you during this time. We are sorry for your loss but have grown leaps and bounds from the study’s that have been producted by this man and his team. Thank you for sharing this with us in the world.
God Bless!
Kelli in Colorado
Myrna, Thank you for the blessings I have personally received from many of the video studies Lee produced. Not just Beth’s but many from Lifeway that he was involved in. My heart aches for the loss of your help mate and yet Praise be to our God that we have proof that you will be with him again and for now that God will hold you in the palm of His same hand that the power of the cross flows thru. Glory!
Blessings,
debi – missouri
May the peace of God comfort Myrna, Lee’s family and all those he touched who held him dear.
Thanking and Praising God for the gift of this man!
Myrna,
My heart aches for your loss yet rejoices for your husband’s gain all at the same time. My prayers are with you that God would envelope you with His warmth and love and an extra measure of grace for the days ahead. May you find strength and encouragement in those you hold dear.
Melanie
Myrna,
Your husband has blessed us as a partner with Beth in bringing us these bible studies in ways you may never understand this side of Heaven! Lee has honored His Lord with His talents! May Our Risen Lord be so near to you in the coming days and weeks. We love you dear Siesta~
What a sweet tribute, Amanda!
It never occurred to me until now to thank all of the “behind the scenes” people of the Bible studies that have changed my life over the years — especially Lee!
Thank you, Mrs. Sizemore, for sharing your beloved so we could learn at the feet of our Beloved over all of these years. I appreciate Mr. Lee’s spurring on of Beth to spur us on through the studies!
Blessings,
Dori
Myrna: you and your husband have literally helped thousands of women dig into the word of God and learn in a fresh new way. What an honor! THANK you, THANK you, THANK you…also, please know that we are praying for you and your family as they say goodbye here and he is welcomed home there…even knowing he is with our Lord and Savior, doesn’t make the loss any easier to bear. Please know I am praying for God to comfort you and to give you peace.
Myrna and family,
I am sorry for your loss here on earth, but am thankful you will see him again in the future.
I pray for you all to be comforted by our Lord and Savior.
Lee truly celebrated Easter this year…
Myrna,
I am so sad for your loss, but rejoicing your precious husband is with the Father. What comfort and peace you must feel to KNOW where he is. Imagine all he is seeing, feeling, and experiencing now. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Amanda,
Thanks for keeping all of us posted on all the details.
To Myrna and Family, I am so grateful for your husband’s ministry to me. I am forever changed because of what he has done here on earth and I am sure countless others are also. I am lifting you and your family up in prayer. I pray you feel God’s presence and love for you during this difficult time.
Lord bless,
Crissy
To Myrna,
I join my siestas in praying for you and your family. I pray God will bring comfort to you and your family as you grieve the loss of your husband. I am forever grateful and thankful for Lee and how he ministered to all of us through women’s Bible studies.
Love,
Patty
Myrna our dear Sister and Siesta,
Please accept my condolences at the loss of your husband. It was probably difficult sometimes to share your beloved with so many others. What a ministry and legacy for your family! My prayers are with you and your family this week. Take your comfort in Him.
What a joy it must have been for Lee to spend his first hours with the Savior on His resurrection day!
Melana
Myrna,
I have only had the privelage of watching one of Beth’s bible studies and it was Jesus the One and Only. Thank you for sharing your husband with all these bible teachers.
Praying for your entire family this week and beyond. May God comfort you and may you feel His arms around you during this time.
In His love,
A fellow Siesta
Dear Myrna,
Know that you and your family are being held in prayer this week and in the weeks to come. May the tears you sow in faith during this seasson of you life bear and abundant harvest of joy.
blessings,
Sister Lynn
I dont have words at atime like this, like I want.My heart brakes with you. but how he must be dancing in the streets. A freind of mine dad died the 21st, they had the vewing 23 that night.Yes he is with the Lord all so.You all are in my prays.May God bless & be with you allways in all you do & where all you go.God bless love sisterin Christ Victoria NC
Myrna, family and friends,
What a precious man in the Lord. How wonderful it must be to have a husband, father, grandfather who has led a Godly life. How blessed we all are for all his work in the videos. Myrna, my prayers are with you during this incredible loss. I pray the Lord Himself will minister to you on your birthday.
Dear Mrs. Sizemore, Amanda, and Beth: At a time like this I wish so much for the right words, phrases, or prayers to bring some kind of comfort to you and your family. I know, and celebrate with you, the fact that Lee is indeed in the very presence of Jehovah; but I also know that grieving his loss here can be overwhelming. I just wanted to tell you that what you’re going through matters to me, and that I am praying for you. May the wonderful memories encourage and cheer you and the hope of reunion one day bring many smiles to your face.
Grateful that we do not grieve as those who have no hope,
Shelley
Myrna
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ cover you with His love and peace during this time. I will be praying for you and all of those that loved your husband.
Your siesta in Christ
As a young child, Lee always made me smile. I always loved seeing him at church because he was on MY level in his chair. Growing up with his children and one of his daughter-in-laws now being a very dear friend of mine, I sit here in tears. Tears of joy because Lee is WALKING with Jesus at this moment. Tears of sadness for my friends I hold very dear to my heart. I KNOW they LOVE JESUS and serve him to the best of their abilities on this earth. Heaven Just Got Sweeter because Lee is there. I know he will be STANDING at Heaven’s gates to welcome Myrna with his arms wide open. At such a young age, one of his daughter in laws just lost her mother to cancer. But, the beautiful thing is, they KNOW the best is yet to come “When we ALL get to Heaven….” You are all so precious to lift this wonderful family up at such a time as this and in the days ahead. Just as a friend, I find comfort in all the prayers being lifted after knowing and loving Mr. Lee most of my life!!
Love to you ALL and I will see you Wednesday!!
Rachel
Myrna,
I will be remembering you and your family this week. I know that while Lee’s race is complete, yours continues. I’m sure that brings a mix of emotions. We will be praying. Thank you for the blessings the Sizemores have brought folks all over the world.
Beth, Amanda, & Living Proof staff,
We know your hearts are also tender. Know that we will be praying for you as well.
What a precious legacy this man leaves; not only to his family who can remember with joy and thankfulness a man who glorified God with his example and love for them, but also to those countless women who will continue to benefit from his professional efforts. Our hearts are with you, Sizemore family.
Thank you Amanda for allowing us the privilege to pray for this dear man’s loved ones. I can’t wait to meet him one sweet day!
To Siesta Myrna and her family, I lift you up in prayer before the Lord of mercy and endless grace & ask Him to support, carry and cradle you with His everlasting arms throughout the days, months and years ahead.
For Siesta Beth and all those who cherished his friendship, I offer prayers of sweet memories and hopeful hearts that await to see him again.
At the age of 32, we buried my sister (age 37) on our son’s third birthday. It was difficult to make the transition of mourning loss to celebrating life.
But, by the grace of God we do not mourn as those who have no hope. Not a better time is this expressed than on the day our Lord arose from the death conquering death and the grave. His death points us to the next step- resurrection!
I will be mindful to pray for this precious saint’s family and friends. You are dearly loved.
I am reminded of the blessing earthly death can be for us as Christians. I am strengthened by those faithful Christian men and women who pass into their eternal heavenly fellowship with Jesus and it is a true gift that though we are sad, we can truly celebrate a life wholly lived and a passing on sweetly deserved.
I have experienced my own loss as of late with my second miscarriage only a few weeks ago. C.S. Lewis’ book, A Grief Observed has served me well in my own state of grieving.
To the Sizemores~~I pray that you will be covered in God’s love, grace and peace this week.
Thanks be to God for the work of Mr. Sizemore who made it possible for us to get to know our Lord more through the study of His word.
I am very sorry for your loss and will pray for your family this week. Jill
Dear Amanda,
Thank you for this post. I will be praying for the Sizemore family this week. Amanda, your words speak volumes about the character of this dear man of God. I will pray for his family and for all who will dearly miss Lee.
Yours in Christ,
Mary
Mrs. Sizemore,
My heart aches for you. What a tremendous mix of emotions to experience over the Glorious Easter weekend.
Sometimes when we’re in the midst of dark times, it’s helpful for a sister-in-Christ to shine a light on familiar life-giving scripture. With that, my prayer for you is to find strength and comfort in Ps 34:18 “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” and…
Ps 119:28 “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word” and…
Ps 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Rest in His Shadow (Ps 91:1),
Susan
Peace be to Lee’s memory, and may God’s grace bring comfort to his family and friends in the days to come. Myrna, my thoughts and prayers are with you this week and in the days ahead.
To Myrna and beloved family,
Your week is filled with grief and joy all mixed together. Oh what an Easter Lee must have experienced. Please know that the Lord touched numbers beyond numbers through the work of your husband. Thank you for allowing him to share his gift from the Lord with all of us. Our lives are forever changed. Blessings and hugs to you and your family.
It’s so easy to forget about all that takes place behind the scenes of these Bible studies. This is surely a reminder to give thanks to the our God for all those who make it possible.
Through Mr. Sizemore’s ministry, my life has been gloriously touched. Thank you.
Much love and many prayers,
Kelli
My family lost someone special to us this week, too. I know both she and Lee are rejoicing together in heaven with Jesus…and that should bring us comfort down here when we feel sad. I will pray for you this week, Myrna.
LORD we thank you for the ministry that you placed in Lee; which has affected so many women accross our nation and even throughout the world. Thank you for the life that you gave him and for the hope and promise of life eternal through your son. LORD we lift up Myrna and the rest of Lee’s family and we ask that you see them through the mourning process. Engulf your loving arms around them and give them the peace that passes all understanding.
I Jesus name we ask these things oh LORD.
To Myrna and the Sizmore family, the Moores, and all of Living Proof Ministry we so feel your pain. We’re Siestas, it comes with the territory. We are praying for you and hoping that in these coming weeks God shows up and you feel His comfort as you grieve this great loss. Myrna we are out here, so if its 1:00AM and you need to write it out we are out here, to listen.
Myrna,
I am praying for God to be your strength, comforter, and faithful companion during this difficult time. may you feel His love and peace as you make the journey. May you know that we are all praying for you and your family.
Dearest Myrna-
I pray the Lord’s peace and comfort upon you as you walk this new stretch of road before you.
What a legacy Lee has left here on earth… Oh that we can all have a like legacy by where the Lord says, “Well done my good and faithful servent.”
Praying for you dear sister in the Lord.
In Him,
Chelle’
Amanda,
Thank you for sharing your heart with us. It struck me that your heart was already heavy with the memory of your dear friends from the other day and now this dear friend also. Although you learned so very much from them and they are with the Savior and nothing is more wonderful, I know it must still be painful for you and those who knew and loved these dear servants of the Lord. Thank you and here’s a circle of Siesta hugs to you here on earth until we meet in heaven.
Mrs. Seizmore,
I am so sorry for your loss. I am truly grateful for the ministry your husband helped to make possible. He has been a part of changing countless lives and I am sure his reward in heaven will be great. I will be lifting your whole family and the extended family like Beth and Amanda up to God for comfort and strength in the difficult days to come.
Myrna , I too am sorry for your loss. May the Lord comfort you and your family and friends in these days ahead. I pray that He will meet all your needs and comfort you with His peace. In the mighty name of Jesus.
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Amanda, I know you and your mom, and the Sizemore family will miss this incredible man very much. It sounds like he touched so many life’s by working to produce so many wonderful studiesfor so many.
We will pray for all of you.
Melissa Sugg
Goldsboro,NC
Myrna, I was so saddened when I received word from LifeWay yesterday of Lee’s passing. I adored your husband. I had the privilege of meeting him years ago about a future DVD project, but alas, it would not transpire under his direction. Even so, we would remain in touch over the years and I was honored to be called his friend. He was such a gentle and kind soul with such a gift for the calling God placed on His life.
Sweet sister, I know you are grieving the loss yet rejoicing in Lee’s gain. I will be lifting you up in prayer this week as well as the days to come. I hope God allows our paths to cross someday…it would be an honor to meet you.
Dearest Myrna,
My heart grieves with yours at the loss of your precious husband. My prayers will be with you through out the coming weeks and months. I pray for you strength and courage, comfort and encouragement, peace, and to be enveloped by the love of Christ. I praise God for the ministry of you and your husband and want you to know that you all have made a Kingdom difference. There are souls in heaven because of the work your husband, and I’m sure you too right along side him, have done. I praise God for such a faithful servant as Lee, and I pray you find comfort knowing that he has gone home to be with his Father. Lots of love and blessings, Jillian
Myrna and family – your husband has left a legacy far greater than you know. You have no idea how much his dedication to this ministry changed my life by being able to participate in the studies. May God wrap his loving arms around during this difficult time and may His love cover you completely.
Kim
Sweet Myrna….
My heart is with you friend. My heart hurts for you and the loss of your precious man and the person your family loved so very much.
I will cover you in prayer this week as the sweet Lord brings you to mind. Wednesday is the day that we will have a Beth Moore Bible study so it will be most appropriate to give thanks for the man who helped us all grow closer to our Lord and Savior.
I pray that you have His peace and comfort and presence surrounding you in ways that you have never known before. And, may Jesus continue to be the thrill of your heart.
Much love Siesta~
Fran
TN
Dear Myrna and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. We have all been blessed by the work of your husband and the talents God gave him. Lee is now in glory in a healed body. Praise God!!
I know that desperate feeling of being left behind by someone you dearly love. I lost my precious daddy on March 13th. I didn’t know the pain of such loss. I was so blessed by this man of godly character. His journey into heaven was quick as God was merciful.
I so look forward to the day that we can all be reunited with our loved ones in the place of healing comfort. When we all get to HEAVEN, what a day of rejoicing that will be!!!
C