Hey, Siestas! My man and I hopped on a plane yesterday afternoon for Nashville and we’re already back for crying out loud. It was meant to be a quick trip but it flew so fast that I’m not sure I didn’t dream it. Travis, our LPL praise team and I were asked to be part of the Sunday morning worship service for the beginning of this year’s GMA Week (the Gospel music thing that hosts the Dove Awards, etc.) When I got on the plane yesterday, AJ said to me on the phone, “Mom, come back with some blog-able moments. Remember your blog girls while you’re up there. Remember your blog girls!” And I did! I never forgot you! The problem is, I didn’t stay long enough to have something earth-shatteringly exciting happen BESIDES OF COURSE that I did get to serve servants in the merciful Name of Jesus which is a privilege I don’t take lightly. I’m not exactly sure WHO I served because the lights were so dim on the audience and so bright on the stage that I couldn’t see a soul. For all I know, Keith was the only one out there and I’m not sure he didn’t go to Starbucks for a grande Americana with an extra shot while I spoke then haul himself back in there before I finished the last eighteen lines of my final poem (JK. Didn’t really throw a poem on them). I think Travis escaped with him.
Keith and I did get to hang out in the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel and people watch for a few – I do mean a VERY few – minutes. And here are a few people we did not see.
Amy Grant. I’ve always liked her and kinda grown up with her through her music but I fell head over heels in love with her when I got to sit behind her at a Women of Faith conference a few years ago. Not only was she maybe the most humble, approachable person I’ve ever never expected to meet. She also had two very simple barrettes in that long gorgeous hair of hers and they didn’t match. I was endeared forever. But I think she has forgotten that we are BFF.
Nicole C. Mullen (and, as her personal trainer, I really needed to check her progress)
Third Day. That’s because I left on the First Day. I’m so bitter.
Casting Crowns. If we are the Body, where is the LOVE???
Michael W. Smith. I don’t even get to call him Smitty.
Mandisa. She hates me.
Not really.
Kirk Franklin. Don’t get me started. I did, however, hear “Stomp” playing over the speaker in the elevator of the hotel. It was the next best thing to seeing him live. I was coming down from the 20th floor so I got to answer the “GP, are ya with me?” Oh yeah… No one else in the elevator even sang it. I don’t think they’d had much sleep.
Stephen Curtis Chapman. His wife and I are both “Beths”. Does that count for a dang thing?
Most of the artists I did see were like twelve years old but I liked them. I liked them a lot. I wanted to be their friend. I liked their hair. And I wanted them to like me. But I don’t think they did. I think it was my hair. I almost had really cool hair today though. When I got out of bed this morning in the hotel room and stumbled into the bathroom, I glanced in the mirror and, had I gotten a level three Mystic Tan instead of a level two, I would have SWORN I saw Prince. Not A prince. Prince as in the artist formerly known as. My hair looked exactly like his. I thought about just spraying it like that but then again, I didn’t know if Keith wanted to escort Prince to speak at the worship service. I felt a sense of loss when I brushed it out though.
My personal highlight is that I really did get to hang around today after the worship service and hug women’s necks (willing women, that is. I don’t maul anybody unless she has popcorn) and get pictures made and, most of all, boast in the Lord and lay hands on a few and pray. The hardest part of the events being a little larger through this season is not getting to hug a whole passel of women and hear their God-stories and tell them eye to eye how much they mean to me. How dearly Jesus loves them. How He WILL redeem every loss. Every ounce of pain. Every season of sin. If we’ll let Him.
But I sort of get to do that here. All but the hugs. But, then again, sometimes you give a hug and sometimes you write one. Consider one written.
Tags: Music
Your wonderful stories from the trip to Nashville made my day–and made me laugh out loud. Thanks for the smiles and the long distance hug. They are just what I needed after a long day of teaching.
A big hug back to you, Beth.
Thank you for being transparently funny and just real!
I need more than a hug from My Father on this Monday as the Mom of young adult children break my heart, one more time.
I need to crawl in HIS lap and just be held.
Love and blessings,
Teri
P.S. I pray Our Father would give you a big burning passion to write a Bible Study on just Moses.
My first time leaving a comment, but I just HAD to!! You are TOO FUNNY!! I LOVED the bit about the artists you didn’t see!!! And if I had been on that elevator, I totally would have been singing STOMP with you! Oh yeah! Thanks for the laugh and keeping it real!!!
Beth, We had a wonderful community hymn sing in Nashville a couple of weeks ago. Amy Grant, Melinda Dolittle, Travis Cottrell, Bill Gaither and more. It was so fun to sing hymns with the Nashville
Symphony and community choir, a little taste of heaven. Hope you visit Nashville again soon.
Beth, We had a wonderful community hymn sing in Nashville a couple of weeks ago. Amy Grant, Melinda Dolittle, Travis Cottrell, Bill Gaither and more. It was so fun to sing hymns with the Nashville
Symphony and community choir, a little taste of heaven. Hope you visit Nashville again soon. Our home Bible study has just finished Believing God. I’m believing God!
Thanks for that hug…you don’t know how badly I needed it!
Beth, Our Bible Study in Nashville attended a community hymn sing a couple of weeks ago. It was a blessing to sing hymns with the Nashville Symphony. Amy Grant, Melinda Dolittle, Travis Cottrell, Bill Gaither were some of the artist there. It was a little taste of heaven. Hope you can come back to Nashville soon. “I’m believing God.”
I love you Beth Moore!
Jenny in Bama
ugh..I love you.
Thanks for the hug, Beth. I needed it!:)
Ok, you totally made me laugh and I sure needed that today!! I love that God loves to laugh and hear us laugh!! I can’t wait to hear Him laugh to!! Thank you!!! Kimberly in Northern Michigan
You are a treasure. 🙂
I just loved reading this today-you made me giggle and I was thrilled to do it :). And your hair story-I laughed about the “I felt a sense of loss” b/c I feel that way when I have to go to bed and my hair is STILL having a good hair day (a rare occurance to be sure)-what a waste of good hair! At least I’ll look good in my dreams or if the rapture happens while I’m asleep-haha!
Beth I love you! You bring a smile to my face! (my pimpled face. I hate pimples) 🙂 Blair
Hahaha! Beth, I love how you mentioned Amy Grant being your BFF…I always tell my roommate that you are my BFF – you just haven’t met me yet…I said this to the “checkout lady” at LifeWay the other day (while I was buying “To Life Is Christ”) and I’m pretty sure she thought I was crazy. Haha! 🙂
Beth
I know I loved you from the first teaching of yours I did. You first taught me I was not crazy because you loved the Lord like I did. I went to church with alot of people but nobody had a passion for Him except people like you, me, and all these wonderful siestas. So just think maybe you did not get to see those people but, I wonder if the angels in heaven ever bump elbows when Beth Moore is going to speak what God has revealed to her at a conference. Many hugs to you and all the siestas out there, I love all of you my sisters and some brothers in Christ.
Judy
Bethie,
I’ve been squishing spiders and dreaming about squishing spiders so it was nice to get up from some much needed (but not happenin’) beauty sleep and read about you. You hug that Keithmeister and tell him thank you for taking such good care of the Head Siesta for us.
Blessings,
Jan
Wow! You crack me up Ms. Beth! PS…grew up on Amy too…and still love her! Just finished Daniel tonight in Colorado Springs. Not dummer now!!! See you next week!
Glad the trip was awesome! We continue with Breaking Free in our church tomorrow night.
one day i pray i will be free,
Lisa South Africa
Thanks for this post. I usually read your blog first thing when I get to school (I’m a 5th grade teacher) and it always puts a smile on my face. Thank you for the work you do for Jesus. Be blessed today! – Dina in IN
You are so precious! Thanks for keeping it real! I feel the love.
Lifting a prayer.
Much love,
Angela
I am all grins at this!!! And man… did I need a laugh! Thank you!!! 🙂 Your humour is so fun! Thanks for pouring out a quick weekend for us!!
Oh and goodness sakes, thanks for the hug! Consider your hug returned in full (yet not too hard) squeeze! I’m a squeezer, what can I say?
Thank you for sharing and for the humour, Beth! We love you and pray for LPM!
In Him alone,
Amanda RKM
This was one of my favorite posts ever. It was hilarious! I love the deep posts too but sometimes fun (and a hug) is exactly what we need.
Still laughing,
Jaime
LOL!! I love the hair comments. Amen sister on waking up with “prince” hair! What an amazing experience to get to speak to so many people who love God. Do they show the gospel music awards on TV??
((((((((((((Beth))))))))))) written hug back at ya sister!
Blessings,
ConnieJ
I would love to give you a great big hug!!! Thank you for all you do for Jesus and us! I thought about you and my ladies Bible Study as I was in D.C. this week visiting my daughter. There is a cherry tree right outside her townhouse and as we walked in and out ( to go shopping ) those pretty pink blossoms would blow all over us !! Thank you Jesus for pink!
Hey Beth,
I must admit I was laughing out loud to the point my family had to hear this post. They didn’t get it, but I did!
In honor of Gospel Music Week I am giving away a FREE CD over at my blog. Any who are interested come on by and check it out:
My Free Give-Away Post
Blessings sweet sister.
Thanks for the laughs Beth, and hugs back to ya. Boomama, I would be screaming along with you!!! Or maybe pass out??!!! Yes Missy, I’m feeling old with you. Gotta love those younguns!
Deanna
Okay- am I the only one who thinks you are hysterically funny, or am I the only one so warped in my humor to get it? I laughed so hard I cried and almost had to call for back-up! Funny thing is, I could have sworn you and Keith are both BFF with me and my husband Rob, while you were up here in Redmond, WA last year! Alas and Alak!, Keith didn’t remember me! (Must of been the caffeine I was wired on!)Smile!
Love you-
Lisa in Kirkland
Thanks for filling us in, Beth. I’m in east Tennessee and take every opportunity I can to see the great names in Christian music I have listened to all my life. I had to add my story from this morning… My two boys (ages 14 months and 4 and a half years) and I were driving home from Target in my old, beat-up Corolla and “Shackles” came on the radio. I turned it up and was singing along and looked back to see my precious 14-month old dancing (as much as he could in his carseat), clapping, and, I kid you not, waving his hands in the air. =) My 4-year-old was dancing along also in his carseat. Oh that my boys could grow up without shackles and feel free to dance before the Lord and sing. =)
Nashville is hugging you back!
NOW…It’s time for you and the gals (and Curtis) to fess up…. how many miles is Starbucks from the new LPM office? I am praying that God blessed you with one close by! If not, hopefule there is a Mexican place around!
Beth
I can’t tell you how much I love your down to earth fun loving honesty!!! You’re what friends are all about!
Barb
Reading your post I laughed out loud so hard I actually snorted! Your rock sister!
I am cracking up!! I loved what you said about being Nicole C. Mullen’s trainer. I saw her at WOF and her arms are TONED!!
I am a Houston siesta and did Breaking Free with you (my first ever Beth Moore study) and couldn’t wait until the Fall for another one so some ladies and I just started Jesus the One and Only last night. So excited!
You make my heart smile, Beth. You’re so funny! Thank you so much for all of your encouraging, guiding, humorous, uplifting words. You are a blessing!!!!
Beth,
I just wanted to comment on the same name thing “we are both Beth’s”. Well anyway I feel exactly the same way. My name is Angela (although I go by Angie) and Travis’ wife is Angela and to make it even better our birthdays are both May 11th. I was in Omaha last year when we all sang Happy Birthday to her on the phone and it was my birthday too!! Just some cool tidbits. I love all that you are and wanted you to know that you have brought me to Jesus and have taught me so much in the last year. Thank-you soooo much.
Love, Angie (well Angela I guess)
watched you on Life this morning…great taping. God so annointed that session; it touched my heart and made me cry. We have to get over our WAS so we can have our is!
Ditto!
Beth,
My 22 year old son was there and was SO blessed by your message! Needless to say I had a little jealousy going on, but quickly confessed it!! He is a huge fan and he and I always enjoy sharing each other’s notes when we hear you!! He has also seen you several times at Passion…..so it’s not just women!! 🙂
Much love and hugs!
Wendy in Georgia
reading your post and as many comments as i could reminded me of a Jill Briscoe lesson…she was asked from where she drew her strength (not forgetting the origin) and she said she drew from the people who surrounded her…the company of saints constantly encouraging, edifying and building up the church of Christ..I guess she was referring to all these HUGE HUGS for you and LPM….and here is ONE MORE HUGE AND OHSOTIGHT HUG for you…i almost can’t let you go! but i know you have to get back to the work!
Beth,
Needless to say I was a bit jealous when my 22 year old son called to say that he would be hearing you and Travis Sunday morning! He said that it was incredible!! He and I so enjoy discussing your bible studies….he has heard you several times at Passion and has been known quite often to quote you! 🙂 Thanks for always being such a woman of the Word!!
Much love and hugs,
Wendy in Georgia
Beth, Beth, Beth……………
I had already made a comment on this post but HAD to come back today and tell you about my morning.
Our Thursday morn. Women’s Bible Study Group is finishing off our Spring with your 4 week “HE IS”
video! Today was week 1
OH SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You did not keep still!! I just wanted to stand up and say AMEN about 50 million times!!
Oh how WE NEED TO HEAR THESE WORDS!!
My girl-friend (who knows how God is ready to do something BIG in my life) said she thought of me when she was pre-viewing it at home last night.
I told her, well I am still moving, but not sure if I’m not sitting at His feet because of fear or obedience!! LOL I want it to come fast but also nervous of what He will ask of me too! I know I am ready… just the UNKNOWN!
Exciting times!!
Can’t wait to hear more.
Thank you for the video and keeping us THINKING AND MOVING!!!
Have a great day!!
This list and the paragraph about the youngsters is even better than a slew of stories. HI-LAR-I-OUS.
Hi Beth,
If I wasn’t so busy working the GMA gig, I would have gone up for a hug. (I was actually hoping it would have happened, more than I can say). Unfortunately I had to leave to go to my next assignment. Thanks for being bold and speaking truth. I was praying for hearts to be softened as you spoke.
You would have loved the worship service that evening with Smitty, Mandisa and Fred Hammond. Fred literally rocked the Ryman. It was a good come to Jesus meeting thru song! 🙂 Singing acappella in the Ryman is amazing…
Lastly, just how do you you received an internet hug???
1. hold out your arms
2. place right hand on left shoulder and left hand on right shoulder
3. squeeze as tight as you can
Wa La you just got an internet hug from Debbie, FTW, TX
Cool. Our pastor’s daughter plays and sings with Michael W. and they were pretty excited about leading the worship service for GMA. I would have also thought it cool to hear you, Beth Moore! Will Travis have a CD of the songs from the Stepping Up sessions? I LOVED those songs.
You crack me up!!! Okay, so have you been reading Junie B. Jones books? You are sounding just like her!! If you haven’t read any Junie B. books, siestas, you MUST. Actually, now that I’m reflecting on it…some of her predicaments…Beth, are you writing under a psuedonym? HUGS to you!!
Dear Siesta Beth. WELCOME HOME! I love Nashville. Will you be my personal trainer?!?! I’M DESPERATE! Anyway, I just finished this week’s Wednesdays with Beth and I am so glad that God didn’t answer your teen-age prayer. I prayed the same thing. He simply isn’t finished with us yet! PTL!!! What we would have missed! Can’t wait to see you in person again and will settle for Live Simulcast in the meantime!
Ann
Bedford, VA
Consider yourself hugged right back, Beth! Glad you had a great time in Nashville even though the trip was short. Your list of who you didn’t see made me smile!
Have a wonderful day!
Hi Beth! this is Julie from the tuesday night praise team. I’m proud of you for answering Kirk’s “GP shout out” when Stomp played in the elevator. Singing in elevators is the BEST!
Hi Beth,
Thanks so much for owning up to the Mystic Tan. I’ve never had the guts to admit it, but now I feel slightly justified! Just slightly. *grin*
I think I laughed through most of this blog! Thanks for that!!! I imagine it’s weird to have people leave comments that you don’t know. Especially since most of us feel a little connected to you from bible studies and reading about you. I’d love to share my family with you, check out our blog, whitefamilyof6.blogspot.com
Thanks for your wonderful ministry!