Hey, You Darling Siestas! I am beside myself with joy over all of you who will be able to join us for what I hope will be the First Annual Siesta Fiesta and I’m so sad to miss all of you who won’t. Every single one of you is dear to us. We’ll make sure you who are attending have all the information you need regarding pertinent events. At the same time, we won’t let the blog become all about that until then. We have some fun blog themes planned for the summer that will include all of us.
Just thought I’d share with you a bit before I leave work today. I’ve had a very busy week and weekend and my poor blonde brain has had it for today. I thought I’d set aside the research and just spend this last little while chatting with my very favorite blog-folks over a few of my favorite things that happened over the last week:
1. National Day of Prayer in D.C. was incredible. So profound. What could be more important than praying for our nation? My task was to shadow Dr. Zacharias so that I could learn the ropes. I bet Keith and I don’t have to tell you how meaningful our time was with him and his family. I fell in love with his wife, Margie. I had the unspeakable privilege with a number of others to get to attend a reception in the State dining room at the White House. (I drank coffee out of the most beautiful cream colored china cups with gold edges. It tasted extra good somehow). I also got to be part of a group that gathered there in a press room to hear the President give a very warm, endearing address about God and the vitality of prayer. We may or may not have the opportunity to visit the White House next year as an official part of NDOP because we’ll be under a new administration so I was extra thankful for the joy.
2. After hearing from President Bush, Keith and I jumped in the car with the Zachariases and headed to the Pentagon where Dr. Zacharias spoke at an NDOP chapel service there. This was one of my favorite parts for many reasons, but perhaps most understandably because of my Army heritage. Oh, how Major Dad would have loved that visit! We, then, went to the Cannon Building where the major event took place including messages, incredible music, and powerful intercessory prayer. During the service we sang all the patriotic songs that mean so much to us, not the least of which was the National Anthem. We closed with Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be An American” and I nearly bawled all the way through it. I’ve got a lump in my throat just thinking about it.
3. Now that I’ve told you some of the serious and profound things, let me rewind to my induction to the NDOP observances and tell you something funny. Keith and I were invited to a private dinner the first night we arrived consisting of about 20 people involved in NDOP. The FIRST THING that happened was the presentation of a gift to me from a darling woman who was attending this dinner. The gift was tucked inside a leopard print gift bag that had pink fur around the edges. Inside were…no, not White House mementos…no, not NDOP leatherbound daytimers (there were no such things)…inside the decorative bag were HAIR PRODUCTS. Yep, shampoo and what was famed to be the best gel in the whole U.S. of A. I’m proud to be an American. (I’ve got to admit, good hair products could be something to put your hand over your heart about.) I had two questions immediately overwhelm me: A) Was Dr. Zacharias awarded with a matching set of hair products? I conjectured not. B) Could I trust a woman from the dry, cold North to know how to hold hair in the wet, hot South??? I had the biggest laugh ever. Ellie May had come to D.C. yet again…but this time she was not leaving empty-handed. I wanted to beg Dr. Dobson’s and Dr. Zacharias’ forgiveness for bringing my reputation with me to NDOP but, alas, I believe I got away with the awards under their radar. Could they not tell from my hair though, I ask???
4. After all the observances for NDOP ended, we flew straight to Colorado Springs for the Living Proof Live event. On Friday, several hours before the event, I met a woman who told me about someone she and her group had encountered while checking into their hotel. As the woman checked in their sizable group, she asked why they’d come to town. When they explained, her face became radiant with joy and surprise as she testified of taking one of the Bible studies in prison and receiving Christ Jesus as her personal Savior. I was beside myself. I asked my buddy, Rich, to take me straightaway to the hotel so that I could meet her. She was not working the desk at that exact time but I was able to write her a letter and invite her to come as our guest. She had to work that night but we saw her bright and early Saturday morning for the second and third sessions and we gave her and her friend seats right up front. We hugged like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in way too long. She and I were two captives set free and not one more than the other. I could see her face the entire time I taught and, in doing so, strangely saw my own. I loved her so much. In fact, more than is possible for strangers. I knew it was the love of Jesus using my simple frame as a momentary conduit. As I felt the smallest hint of His love for her, I also got the oddest feeling that He loved me, too. After all, He came for people just like us. All 9,000 of us. None needier than the next. All saved by grace. Freed by grace. Oh, for grace to love Him more!
I cherish all of you so much. Allow me to voice special gratitude and affection to all of you who attended the Living Proof Live event in Colorado Springs. We are so grateful for the privilege to serve you. Let’s you and I give it up so we can live it up! Matthew 16:24-27
Tags: National Day of Prayer
WOW!! As if the Washington recap wasn’t cool enough! That sweet desk clerk getting to sit up front!! That just did me in… LOVE that story. I bet she is still dancing for joy…
O Beth! I love you! CO Springs was amazing and i cant wait to see you agean! Your amazing!
Beth,
I can’t even imagine how much you have further ROCKED this woman’s world by such a huge blessing. I was at the luncheon when this was mentioned, along with the devotion being literally boiled.
God’s favor!
Love you!!! And the Siesta’s
Yolanda
I’m so glad that Jesus loved her through you…how blessed you are to love with His love like that!
I am still taking it all in. So many things Jesus taught me through you–that self-protection thing, that feeding the immaterial soul with material and coming up empty from feeing our souls the wrong thing. Hmmm. So good!
I told my Chris about that and he told me of some food that people eat that fills up the tummy, but takes more energy to eat it and digest it than the calories they provide, and the people end up starving. Not sure where the reference is, but it sounded like a good example for your soul-story.
LOVE you!
holly
Thanks Miss Beth. Great post. I am so thrilled that you were willing to go meet that former captive! What a joy and blessing! May it be a lesson to us all to pause what we are doing or would like to do (nap, prepare for the evening, etc.) and go forth for what may be a GOD ordained meeting! Glory to Him!
Saved by grace, freed by grace, oh for grace to love him more. Amen!
WOW! WOW! WOW! Our God is so sweet the very thing that held that front desk clerk captive……..allowed her to sit front row at one of your conferences that makes me realize i want God to restore to me all the territory the enemy has stolen in my life……….
Beth,
I was one of the blessed 9,000 women who attended LPL in Colorado Springs. I am a “newbie” in the Lifeway family and had the privilege of being part of the “Fully Loaded” team who met with an awesome group of ladies the few days prior to LPL. I attended your event in Jacksonville a few weeks ago with some girlfriends and received a very personal Word from God. I had literally written the words
“Apprehend that for which you have been Apprehended” in my prayer journal a few days PRIOR to coming to Jax! Yeah!!I would have wondered what the other 14,499 women were doing there had I not seen the faces all around me getting their own personal WORD!! Our God is amazing.
In any case I am also a “newbie” BLOGGER and have begun to develop a new need for that “addiction” book that you referred to this weekend!
I love this!!
Thank you Beth, for your obedience, your WORD in season and your humility.
I can’t wait to hear what God has for San Antonio!!
Beth, hearing how something we’ve said or done or written has touched or impacted another is about as good as it gets, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing the story about the desk clerk. What a blessing for both of you!!
What a GREAT trip! I know it was rough changing times zones like that, but thank you for taking time to minister to someone like that even though you are so busy at conferences.
Let that be a lesson to all of us that we never know where or when God is going to call on us to lift someone up!
Believing God to do BIG things!!!!
Amanda in SC
Wow! The NDOP sounds like an amazing experience (hair products and all). But the story of the desk clerk getting to go to the conference and sit up front was too cool!
Thanks for the DC recap.
I don’t think there is anything more thrilling than knowing we have a new Siesta or Miesta in the Body of Christ.
I am trying to not to cry as I type. Glory to the Lord, I am ever so thankful His grace is poured out fresh each day…I am so thankful for His love, care, kindness, and mercy.
O how I love your stories and this blog!! I remember reading Feather’s From My Nest and both laughing out loud at some chapters (and even picture comments…the one where you included your hair as a family member!!) and bawling during others. That is just how it is when I read your blog! I am cracking up at the hair product story(I am with you bc I grew up in Houston & back then thought the turquoise can of Rave was my best friend) and then swelling up with tears as I read about “two captives set free.” How lovely it is that He brings all of us together like He has… and how blessed we are that He has used you/LPM to play a huge role in doing this! Thank you sooo much for allowing us to be a part of your life through this blog! It absolutely blesses me! Much love coming from Dallas!
Indeed, we are all miracles of His grace. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t want to ever lose the wonder.
Love and blessings to all of you,
Patti
Thanks Beth for the NDOP story and the recap of your time in Washington….what an incredible time for you.
I wanted to tell you about something that happened to me this week. I was at my oncologist office, and I was telling her that I would be moving and asking her if she could recommend an oncologist in Fort Lauderdale. A little bit later she told me that it was too bad I was not moving to Orlando. She motioned to one of your bible study books. that I had been working on, that lay on the chair in the office, and told me she had a friend who led Beth Moore Bible studies there. We both began talking about how much your studies had meant and how much we had learned. I asked if she had ever heard you in person, she said no. I told her she HAD to do it as the LPLive Events were incredible. She said her friend was asking her to go ,as she would go all over to hear you. I told her that you were worth going all over to hear.
As I got on the elevator I marveled at the goodness of God to bring the topic to HIM right there in the office.
Dearest Beth,
It is such a blessing to have the privilege of hearing how the Lord is working in your life. Thank you so much for sharing – it really encourages my faith.
Sounds like you’ve been in a whirlwind!! Hope you can enjoy a little down time this week and catch your breath.
When you have a moment (ha!), just wondering if we could get a little more info on your time with President Bush. How was that? What impressed you the most about Washington right now? What surprised you about the experience? Would love to hear your take on any/all that.
And finally, I sure wish you would release all of the CD’s or DVD’s of your events. I was at the San Diego conference and had to leave early and am so longing to hear the last session Also, sounds like Colorado Springs was great, too. Just a thought from a Word hungry siesta!
Anyway, can’t wait to see you in San Antonio and meet the rest of my Siestas.
Love and blessings to you all,
Gretchen in Thousand Oaks, CA
Thank you so much for the DC recap. Growing up an Army brat, I spent 4 years in the “suburbs of DC” and attended many NODP ceremonies. I think I might also have grown up with the MOST patriotic woman in the world. She is still as passionate about her country as ever….and on her knees so much more than ever before! She instilled in us all such a sense of country and duty and then also gave us the gift of knowing the One person who could save us and our beloved country!
You brought memories flooding back of my teenage years—I could picture you almost everywhere (I have even been in those rooms in the white house — though not when the prez was actually there!) And they would not give us a drink…out of plastic or china! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
I am so thankful that CO Springs was great! God always shows up in new and amazing ways! A woman at the well…a woman at the check-in desk…. He is so good!
Blessings to you all!
Paige
Beth,
I am fairly new to your ministries and let me say that I am hooked! Your words touch my heart in new ways. Thank you so much for your work and reminding me to look at everyone as Christ does.
My hubby and I went to DC in July- so amazing, I can’t even imagine how great to be there with so many other Godly men and women! With White House china and new hair products to boot!
What an honor for you! Praise God we have all been set free!
Heidi in Austin
Thank you Beth for that amazing recap. I am reminded of your comments about how as we involve ourselves in knowing the Word and our Maker, He allows us to brush lives we never would have anticipated.
I am so excited for you. I am overwhelmed by the tenderness He has for you and then pours it out to others through you. I am also touched by your humility. I know it wasn’t your first time, but you just got to visit with some of the movers and shakers of your time! WOW!!!
I hear the Lord saying WELL DONE!!! And you’re not even done! 🙂 May He continue to just pour favor out on you Beth. You inspire me to dig deeper, obey in the moments that my flesh screams NO, and continue in that intimate walk with The Beloved.
Love you dearly,
Jina
This was the first year in a long time that I was able to go to my church’s NDOP service and I was sooo glad that I got to. It was a special time and there was only 20 or people there. It was a sweet time and I can’t really describe how deeply I was moved.
I love the fact that you made it home with hair product from you trip to our Nation’s Capitol. No ol’ T-Shirt for you!!
Thanks for sharing about the sweet woman from the hotel! Such a beautiful story! I love the way God brings people in to our lives like that!
Love you!
Nikki
PS Are we there yet?
Prison or no prison – we are ALL needy, hurting sinners until the love of Jesus washes over us with gifts of repentance and faith which brings love, joy and peace!! I am so glad you got to meet this lady. And glad you shared the good story with us.
Oh! Beth how exiciting to be with the Zacharias in such a meaningful time and place! I love Ravi Zacharias! Have you ever heard his message he spoke at the Mormon Tabernacle in 2004? “In Pursuit of the Truth”. That has been one of the best messages I have heard about who Jesus Christ is.
And the last person who spoke at the Tabernacle was D.L Moody! Wow. I love you Beth. Thanks for sharing. Allison
Wow! It is simply amazing that the Lord would set up such a divine meeting! What a cool story.
Beth, I hope you know that your love for others encourages me more than you know. My prayer is that I would LOVE people with Christ’s everlasting love, and that it would show!
So much love to you!
Lindsee
Beth, it was so nice to have you here in CO Springs. And to hear about how crazy busy you were before you got here. Makes me all the more grateful. I hope you got a nap in yesterday afternoon. I think that my favorite line from the conference was – “when you find Me, you find everything.” Thanks for coming.
The trip to DC sounds surreal. Does it feel that way to you too?
Lots of lumpy throats and teary eyes in your entry and the video previously.
I can’t help getting all misty when Travis sings “Your Word is Life to Me”. And then I always think of “Daniel” and well…like I said, lumps…. tears. So much love for Him it make it REAL to me and His servant Beth.
Melana in Wyoming
Hi Beth and Amanda,
I have a quick prayer request to make, and I hope you will not find it silly. I have adopted five little baby bluebirds whose parents were not the smartest around! They built them inside a jet ski at my families lake house. We, unknowingly, put the ski in the water this week, and almost drowned them! They are doing fine now, even though their home was destroyed in this flash flood! We are now taking care of them, we have 3 boys and 2 girls! My prayer request is for one of the little girls. She took a spill today, and she hurt her little leg and wing. Please pray for all the little babies to survive, but especially for her to get better from her spill! I can send an update with a photo of our little ones if you like! Thanks so much. Brittany
Beth, I love you too! God worked wonders in my heart this weekend in Colo. Springs. I came to see you but God taught me that it’s not you I’m after but Jesus who is so apparent in you. Having read your blog since the beginning, I do feel like we’re old friends, and would’ve loved to hug that “frame” of yours! Consider this a virtual hug, and a huge thanks for helping me through yet another stumbling block this weekend. Love, Ellen
I was so blessed by the story of the desk clerk! Thank you for sharing that.
Love and Blessings,
Dawn
Ok-just wanted to clear up the fact that I attended the NDOP ceremonies and not some random grouping named NODP!!!
I should really re-read my entries!
🙂
I loved all the stories you shared with us..what a blessed week you had dear siesta. I loved the cup and saucer thing…that would be wonderful to drink tea out of.
love to you all
God is good. All the time.
I was rocked, blessed, and moved in CO Springs too! Thanks for the message Beth–God totally used His Word through you. Came home and blabbed about it till I fell asleep. My husband and I have been praying for direction and clarity regarding a church situation and after talking through all I learned we’ve had some greater focus.
Thanks for being a fun person who brings God’s Word in a fun but meaningful way.
Let’s do lunch.
Lisa
I met Ravi and his wife last year at the Cove. Now that’s a weekend I will never forget; not only is he one the greatest Christian minds of our generation, he has the tender heart to go alongside…so gracious and warm…both of them! Beth, you have experienced a weekend that most of us will never get to have on this side of eternity. Thank you for sharing it with us!
We’re having a real good-old fashion revival at our little church this week, and the preachin’ is a powerful Word! This young guy is one of the finest preachers I have ever heard (besides my husband and father). So glad to be in God’s house this evening.
On another note, I’m hosting a mini-Bible study on my blog this week and next on the story of David and Goliath called “Fighting to Win.” I invite all siestas over for a taste. There’s a give-away of course…Beth’s David devotional. But beyond give aways, I want to offer some of God’s Word to help us all as we seek to FIND OUR FIGHT and to get busy with the victory that is ours because of Jesus Christ.
Be blessed, siesta Beth. This NC girl’s life has been changed because of your obedience to teach and to serve in this generation. You have washed my feet, and I am humbled by your gift.
peace~elaine
So, did they work? If those hair products held up in southern humidity then you need to let your siestas know the names on those bottles!! 🙂
Oh Beth, thankyou so much for sharing all of this! My heart is so warmed in hearing of your meeting with the sweet woman in CO Springs. I love Jesus! It is amazing how connected we are to each other here because of Christ. My mom went home to be with Jesus about a month ago and I love to think about her family in Heaven, all the saints that she has never met, but now are closer than we can imagine! Thankyou Lord for adopting us!
Just amazing.
You Beth, have a beautiful heart.
I just have to tell everyone that God healed me this weekend of severe vertigo that I have suffered with for the last 8 years. God touched and healed me. See ya in Hotlanta!
Jenny in Bama
Giving it up and living it up is great advice – I esp. loved the story of our siesta who encountered Jesus behind bars – ’cause which one of us hasn’t spent time behind bars – and maybe even in bars, but I digress…
Thanks, Jesus, for freedom – and blessings on our Colorado Springs Sister,
Loving all of you,
Warm in Alaska.
Beth,
Thanks for encouraging this captive set free! Jesus is so sweet to use you to bless us!!!
Can’t wait till the Siesta Fiesta!
Thanks,
Lynn
Beth – It is great to hear from you and thank you for sharing about the National Day of Prayer. Dr. Zacharias is amazing – I love his voice and love to hear him speak. He is brilliant! I know you were blessed. And I know you he and his wife were blessed by you too!
Girl, you are a tender-heart for sure. What a great week – and thank you for sharing about how precious it was to meet and then to minister to the once captive now freed sister! Glory! I’m so proud she was given VIP treatment.
Thank you so much for being sweet to us siestas who can’t attend in August! My first grandchild is due around the Siesta Fiesta, or I would be there. His name is going to be “Zeke” for Ezekiel. I’m looking forward to seeing my son become a daddy!
I love you,
Georgia Jan
PS: I’m not sure that sweet Yankee girl can understand Southern humidity, but she did good by giving you hair products!!!
My Pastor preached from Daniel yesterday and I was so proud of myself because I knew exactly what he was going to share when he announced the chapter…I learned so much from your study on Daniel.
Love again –
Your Georgia Siesta
D.C. is one of my favorite places. I will be there for July 4th. I love patriotic symbols and all the glory of the Fourth. Next time you are there you must go to Baltimore…Ft. McHenry and see where Frances Scott Key wrote that awesome “Star Spangaled Banner” and to see that flag…as many times as I have been and it’s many, I still get teary.
How wonderful to share with the desk clerk. I remember one time working at a hotel and getting the fun of seeing Harlem Globetrotters with compimentary tickets…but to share in the joy of a former captive.
Looking forward to San Antonio
Beth, I just love you to pieces! Thanks for pushing me toward a deeper love relationship with Christ. Love, Jennifer
Ok. You went to a reception at the White House. Then you listened to W in person. Then you went to the Pentagon.
Whoa.
My little mind can’t wrap around that.
Also, LOVE the lady behind the desk. It was awesome of you to make her weekend like that.
You’re cool and I can’t wait to meet you for real in San Antonio.
My husband and I were at the Colorado Springs conference too! God had just spoken to me about being done with the inside and turning outward, what a confirmation I received from you Beth. I do love when God speaks and then says the same thing with just a little more emphasis through the mouth of another, just in case we didn’t get it the first time. Thanks for your obedience!
There is such a desire in my heart to meet you. I just wrote you a snail mail letter and I said in there that I would love to go out for coffee sometime in “eternity”. But just reading your post, I realize the yearning within my soul to connect with someone at some level with someone who has journeyed similar steps. I feel that I just must confess this seeing that I TOTALLY understand how unrealistic it is and how much God has brought a dear friend into my life who has journeyed with me. I stand as a person who has experienced significant healing (there’s always deeper layers). I do not want to put you on a pedastol. Bless your heart Beth, but I only want Jesus up “there” Honesty is important and so honesty is what is coming out. Thank you for being a fellow sister listening to Him. I look forward to going out for coffee (or diet coke) in heaven one day.
Beautiful Story!
Laughin’ to cryin’ – yet again.
That sweet woman from the hotel – I love her too!!!!!
I AM her too!!!!
Thank you sweet Jesus.
and thank you sweet Beth for sharing your stories and yourself.
I could not love you more…. of course, that’s what I said the last time I read one of your posts.
Thanks for the recap, Beth. The video of Colorado Springs makes me even more excited about San Antonio. I signed up last night to come, and at this point, like some others, by myself. I felt like God was calling me to step out in faith whether my friends could go or not. Definitely out of my comfort zone. Thanks too for the story of the desk clerk. It’s encouraging to hear about other’s victories in Christ. You are making a difference. Don’t ever forget that! Love ya!
Cindy R.
Oh man.. Beth when you blog with us you can take me so fast from laughing to crying. I Just love your heart.
Just reading about your schedule is exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time. Thanks for taking the time to let us in on some details that are awesome reasons to Praise!