Hey, Darling Things! I am sitting at the gate at the small airport in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, about to take a long way back to Houston. I’ve been at a wedding (I first wrote “weeding.” I reckon a wedding can be a weeding indeed) all weekend and something kinda cool happened that I thought might encourage a soul that’s feeling cynical. The wedding rehearsal took place first thing Saturday morning rather than Friday night perhaps to leave time for several out of town guests involved in the ceremony to arrive. We were told that the breakfast buffet in our hotel was still open after the rehearsal and, typically, I was starving so I headed that direction fully prepared to eat by myself. I don’t mind that. Instead, and as only God could have planned it, five of us from the wedding party wandered in there at the same time, pulled up chairs at the same table, and ended up being almost the only ones in the whole restaurant. Not all of us at the table knew one another personally. We’d come to take part in the wedding ceremony of dear mutual friends.
Dr. Tim and Beverly LaHaye, Dr. Jim Dobson (my friend, Shirley, would join us a bit later), Heather Olford (the late Dr. Stephen Olford’s wife), and I tarried, laughed and mused over scrambled eggs and lukewarm coffee for a delightfully long time. (Dr. LaHaye was officiating over the ceremony and Dr. Dobson and I were each speaking. Heather is considered among those very dearest to the bride.) Our conversations took us to family, church, and the Savior we all have in common. Dr. Dobson (I cannot bring myself to call him “Jim” although I’ve known him for a number of years now. I can live with Doc so that’s how I refer to him when I’m feeling casual) told us a wonderful story about his dad, a traveling evangelist, who was at the pinnacle of an exploding speaking ministry when his wife told him she could use some help with their son who’d begun to give her a few challenges. (That would be Doc.) He dropped what he was doing, cancelled his calendar indefinitely, and headed home. Although he served a local church faithfully the rest of his life, he never recaptured the momentum of the ministry he’d had. He’d sacrificed it, providentially, for his wife and son.
Dr. Dobson later read a letter to us that his dad had written his bride for their wedding day. In it he expressed that, with eyes wide open, he was binding himself to her in covenant before God for the rest of their lives and that, should their marriage ever call for mental anguish, he would remain her faithful husband throughout. He explained that he considered the success of their marriage to be a husband’s responsibility and he would do everything he could to make her happy. And he did. As I listened to Dr. Dobson tell stories about his dad, I thought – No wonder he does what he does.
At that same table, Dr. LaHaye began to talk about end time events and I had to keep my chin from dropping to the floor. I thought, “I’m listening to all this from the prophecy man himself.” I mean, this is the guy that wrote how many books in the Left Behind series with Jerry Jenkins? And here’s the important part: he sat at that table of five and spoke of the signs of the times and the coming King with a twinkle in his eye and, I don’t doubt, a race in his pulse. Not one hint of burn out. Stunning. Girlfriend, you can be Post-trib or No-trib and still appreciate that. I watched Beverly, an author herself who has penned many books on what it means to be a Godly wife and woman, look with such affection on her man and such heightened interest in what he was saying…as if she’d never heard it. He spoke of how he loved her and how he didn’t know what he’d do without her. How she was the administrative one of the two. Several times over breakfast I watched them tenderly reach out and touch each other.
I’d never met Heather Olford before but I’d heard about her for years. She totally captivated me as she shared how we must hold fast to our passion for Jesus Christ, come what may. You could still hear a hint of Irish in her accent, having left her home country for her new husband many years ago. After saying goodbye to her beloved man of 56 years and entering her early eighties, anyone would give her permission to just coast her way home. That’s decidedly not what she’s doing. I found her utterly remarkable. I wondered if maybe she looked and acted 15 years younger than she was because she’d been unwilling to let herself off the seeking and serving hook. She referred to something she’d read in a devotional book and I marveled that this powerful woman of God intended to seek fresh revelation about Christ until the day she saw Him face-to-face. She spoke of Him with such affection that it made me want to run to my hotel room and fall on my face before Jesus and see what new He would show me, too.
All four of those people are fallible just like we are. None of them needs or wants to be placed on a pedestal but I will tell you where they’re well worthy of our respect. They have maintained Godly passion and spiritual discipline in a long obedience the same direction that has taken each of them on the road to suffering…and persecution. They are real to the bone and what they loved and felt compelled by Christ to give their lives to decades ago, they still love and give their lives to today.
I spoke to a flight attendant on a plane this trip who struck up a conversation with me over a book she saw me reading. She told me that she goes to church but her good friend won’t come with her. Even though her friend professes to love God, she thinks all people in ministry are charlatans. Some of you have undoubtedly been hurt by seeing the weaknesses and failures of people in the Christian world you admired. A scandal can be absolutely devastating and don’t think for a moment Satan isn’t hoping to take down a thousand with the one. When you lose your faith over flesh and blood, the devil has gotten exactly what he schemed. The warfare is inconceivably fierce against those out front and many leaders are caught off guard by it and seduced before they realize what hit them. God help us all. God forgive us all. God restore us all…as many as will let Him do what it really takes. At the same time, I want you, my dear fellow sojourners, to know that so many out there are the real thing. They love Jesus Christ and pray when nobody’s looking and get up in the mornings and open their Bibles for the ten-thousandth time. They weep before Him for lost and hurting souls and rejoice before Him over one touched life. They do a very hard thing for a very long time…and, often, under very harsh criticism.
Oh, Sister, don’t let the enemy get you in the trap of cynicism. Yes, there’s some inauthentic – and flat-out-false stuff in the church and we must go to great lengths not to contribute to it by insisting upon our own authenticity and humility and sound scholarship before God and man. But there is also so much good. So many good. Not perfect I dare say. But good. So many of you are among those. I read your comments and find myself edified and encouraged in Spirit. I pray that maybe these stories build you up a bit this Lord’s Day.
He is so faithful. I love loving Him with you.
Thanks Mama Beth!!! I needed that reminder and I’m so appreciative of you sharing that sweet time.
I hope you have a wonderful week ahead. Can we see some pix from Converge??? I thought about all our TX Siesta’s that night.
Praying for you always.
Merry Christmas!
Fran
Beth, I needed to hear this today. I have been in ministry for about 4years (not quite as long as your friends) and have already begun to lose heart a bit over the flesh and blood stuff that threatens my resolve. To “keep on keeping on” has never had more meaning for me. I wouldn’t even try to unload my heart right here but I just want you to know how glad I am for the encouragement your words bring. I love your heart.
~Elaine
Oh Beth
As I sit here with tears in my eyes, I hope you inlcude yourself as one of the “good” ones! There is not another woman in a “highly visible ministry” or any ministry for that matter, that I respect more!
As a pastor’s wife I know the struggles that those in ministry face each day. (of course not on the level of a Shirley Dobson or a Beverly LaHaye, goodness me! or may I add a Beth Moore.) But I am so very blessed to have one of those special Godly men that put me first; even over ministry when need be. I have recently been diagnosed with Crohns disease and will be tested soon for cancer, and my man has been right there every step of the way! Praise You Lord!
As for those of us in ministry may we be every mindful of the evil one and keep our eyes on Christ!
I know that one of your prayer requests is to “finish well” like a Heather Olford. I pray that over you this day!
Much love!
Kristi B.
Beth thank you so much for these timely comments. Thank you very much.
Vickie
Siesta Beth, You are right. Satan loves to attack the church from within, because then there are hurt feelings of the members and some of them never get over it, allowing Satan the victory. And when strife stirs up trouble in the church, then the un-churched see what is going on and think that they are better off not being involved in church! The lies he spreads hurt as many as he can. And it overjoys him when he can destroy the very workings of God. We need to be vigilant about prayer for our church leaders! Thank you for the reminder!
I love you. Delilah
Beth,
You have no idea how much I needed those words after a weekend of utter despair.
Thank you.
At this risk of sounding cliche and/or over dramatic, Beth, you cannot imagine how much your words meant to me at the end of today.
Thanks, Beth. Our home church, Wasilla Bible Church, was the attack of what is believed to be arson. Over a million dollars worth of materials (incl. offices full of commentaries, etc.) went up in smoke late Friday night. But oh, I wish all you Siestas could have been with us at our “Winter Cabin” (a/k/a a local middle school gymnasium) for service this morning.
What an amazing God we serve and I was so reminded that the enemy hates everything about Jesus – how He came to be with us, how He saves us from sin, how He sets us free, the amazing hope that we know He’s coming back to take us home. If it’s trying to stop the Magi in the first century, or burning down a building in the 21st century, the enemy is still trying to stop the message of salvation, freedom and hope that Jesus brings.
Thanks for the reminder of Godly, humble older brothers and sisters who have not just talked the talked, but truly walked the walk.
God bless the Body,
Warm in Alaska.
Dear Beth,
Thank you for this precious post!
You are so right..there are many, so many, who really love the Lord Jesus Christ and are pressing on in faith.
One such woman who mentored me through her life when in lived in OK is tonight sitting in a hospital room in Germany with her son who is fighting for his life. Just a few days ago, while he was serving our country in Iraq, they discovered he has acute leukemia.
I think of his mom, ever the faithful saint, and know that many lives will be impacted as they watch she and her husband walk through this heartache.
Amazing to just KNOW that they will glorify God no matter what!
If you’d pray for him, and the Siestas too, it would mean so much to the family.
They’ve set up a blog for him…
rootingforcoleman.blogspot.com
Thanks for the wonderful post!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for sharing your life with us. What an encouragement to be reminded that there are high profile Christians who are still living it out at the breakfast table in public and at home. God bless you and may He protect you as you lead the way.
Kim . . . who is
Grafted by Grace
P.S. Spent last evening going over the Esther bible study that our group will be starting in January. CAN NOT WAIT!!!!! Lives will be changed for eternity.
Your post serves as a reminder to pray for our pastors and church leaders and teachers. They are vulnerable and Satan does like to take down as many as he can with one hit.
May you be blessed with a fresh advent as we approach the joy of our Savior’s birth.
Jen
Thanks, Beth. What a blessed breakfast you had! I thought of you this morning reading the following from Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest).
“The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression, and speak it clearly and boldly.”
I am thankful for you.
Wow. Thanks for sharing that, Beth. That was very inspiring and encouraging.
Beth…
Two words: PREACH IT. From the rafters to the rooftops, this message seeks the heart of every believer on earth! Thank you for sharing the “insider’s” perspective of those well-respected and dearly loved saints who stand at the forefront carrying the banner of God before the masses. You, my dear, are in that company, and so beautifully fitted for what God has had planned for you all along. So beautifully fitted. Thank you for choosing this journey with God that includes so many of us. Thank you for reminding us day and again that you are “real to the bone” and flesh and blood just like we are. Thank you for being who God created you to be with a heart to love us… Even through a computer monitor and internet feed.
You are a prize in His crown, Beloved, and we praise our God that you are so humble as to share that prize with us… our Jesus.
Blessings and love, as Christmas approaches and our hearts turn toward the advent of our Savior in the form of a tiny baby’s birth. Oh the glory of that revelation… Almost too much to bear.
Love you!
How wonderful that God blessed you with the these people during your lunch. Dear sister Beth please know you too are among those who encourage and lift up others with the hope that a person can truly serve God without failure and corruption. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned from your honest sharing over the years. As I carry out God’s plan for my own ministry, your example not only gives me hope but also sets a high standard. Thank you for loving God so much and dedicating your life to Him. It reflects in all you do and edifies the multitude around you!
Thank you for posting this Beth! We were asked to be a blessing to God this week!
I am trying to stay postive not only in December but the whole year!
Sounds like a wonderful weekend. How I pray that someone will one day love me like Dr. Dobson’s father loved his wife. I am always encouraged to hear stories of such Godly love because they give me hope for the future!
I had the priviledge of inviting a friend from college to church yesterday morning, who had only been to church once in his life. He claims that the Christians he is around on a frequent basis go to church on Sundays and act “good” for that day, but come back into the business world the following Monday as if all morality has gone out the window. What a timely reminder you provided that there really are people out there “doing the thing” day in and day out. Thanks Beth!
What a awesome round table discussion that was ! I know you were soaking it all in. The one phrase you mentioned that spoke to me was ” Holding on to our passion for the Lord, Come what may.” Today I needed that. Bless you Beth
Thanks Beth for sharing…I love God, talk to him all day…have my quiet time (growing in what quiet time is) but I have not found a church here where I have live for the past 4 years…it is very clicky at most of the churches I have visited and I do not want to be a part of that…i just want to serve and grown…and guess what…i have gotten closer to God by not being in church these past 4years than if I had been in one because i am one of those people that follow others…guess what…being by myself (I do have a family) and not having anyone on earth to follow and I am following Jesus…go figure.
What a wonderful divine appointment the Lord provided for you. How special for all of you to have breakfast together.
I absolutely love James Dobson.
I thought of my parents toward the end of your post. My dad has been pastoring for 50 years. He just completed 50 years of preaching this past summer. He will soon be 75 years old and it blesses me so much to see him still so anointed when he gets up there to preach. My mom has been THE model pastor’s wife.
God has blessed my three sisters and me because of their faithfulness (and many sacrifices) through the years.
Thank you for sharing this with us today. God bless!
Love,
Valerie
refreshing, I need, a deep touch from Him. sincerely i believe i am more bound than you ever were beth. i know you say that but i think i have beat you on this one.
This brought tears to my eyes. I know we all go through seasons in our relationship with Christ. Yesterday in Sunday school we talked about being an overcomer and doing Jesus’ will to the end. (Rev. 2:26) Hanging in there – and not giving up. I think we all feel like giving up at times, but yesterday we closed with “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14) And realized that through the power of our Lord, we can overcome to the end.
The paragraph about the flight attendant’s friend caught my eye.
I read a wonderful book called , Stop Dating the Church and Fall in Love with the Family of God. It completely changed my attitude towards my small town church and the people there. You know that He says that when 2 or 3 are gathered together in My name I am with them. Jesus is at my church!
I would also say that Ms. Beth’s book, When Godly People do Ungodly Things, was also a wonderful eye-opening look at forgiveness within the body of Christ!
Only a few more days till His Birthday!!! Oh, my 3 little girls are: a wise man (woman – she’s 6), a sheep (this is the 2.5 year old) and an angel (4 year old). We’re acting out the Gospel lesson at the Christmas Eve service! Oh, the Angel of the Lord is a character! I wish you could all be there to see it!!!
Blessings, Kimber
Oh to be a mouse under that table! Thank you for the encouragement this morning! Merry Christmas Beth.
Thank you. In academic-land, I occasionally hear snide or accusatory remarks made about evangelical Christian leaders – people that I’ve looked up to for years. Sometimes a Christian witness seems so frail.
I remember the grad students in my French class discussing a paper someone had graded that analysed the Left Behind movies and how bewildered everyone (but me) was by the content. The professor of the class laughed and said, “I think I was ‘left behind’ years ago.” Truly we do not need to travel to find a mission field.
Thank you so much Beth for sharing your weekend with us! If you don’t mind, I want to comment anonymously today. It is so easy for me to get cynical. Me. A Christian of 30 years. A Sunday school teacher. etc. etc. You would think that after all these years I would have a softer heart, a more obedient spirit, a more yielding nature, but no. I still have to confess to my Lord over and over that I am just dust and that I need help in this journey of being His child!
I want to confess to YOU that there have even been times when I have felt cynical about you! (Please other Siestas….don’t stone me!) I do now ask your forgiveness!
Satan is so happy if he can get us to be jealous of the gifts and onointing God has placed on others. It can happen so quickly that we don’t know what hit us. I do NOT want to be that kind of Christian! I want to stay in right relationship with the Lord and with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Again….thank you Beth for giving us some insight into not only your personal life but the lives of these other great Christian leaders. Sometimes we tend to think that you all have lives of luxury and popularity when sometimes it’s just the opposite….with all the business of your lives I’m sure you have times when you feel extremely stressed and lonely. Thank you so much for being willing to displace your life and go and go and go and go to all the avenues where God sends you to bless women (and men) all over the world!
Merry Christmas Friend!
Beth;
Thank you for sharing…I know you must feel drained at times always pouring out to others. I’m glad that this time, you were poured into by your peers whom you respect and love.
I always secretly hope to “run” into you at an airport someday. Come to CA –Southern. The west needs you too!!! PS Please send more updated pics of the dogs with YOU!!!
I was just writing to someone this morning some of your own words from Believing God about being careful to be committed [first and foremost] to JESUS – not just to our commitment! “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 – Thanks for reminding us of our common place before the LORD – none of us is worthy without HIM!
May we never lose our PASSION for HIM alone!
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Thank you so much for this post!
With tears in my eyes, I have found cynism creeping in on me.
I have been bombarded with those in the flesh saying one thing but conveying something totally opposite with their actions. I have recently found that my desire for God has been drenched by a giantic water tower poured upon me.
But through it all, God keeps reminding me of something you, Beth, some time ago. “Ask God to give you the desire to seek, love and know Him.” This is what I am praying to God over and over. I want to know Him more, desire Him more. Not only so others can see Him more but also that I can be like Him more.
Thank you for the encouragement! It was God’s perfect timing!
Thank you, Beth. I’m praying for you today.
Leah, yes, yes to your comment, “…no one has the complete roadmap to what God is doing in their lives…we must walk by faith and stay faithful to the last word we heard from the Lord.” My heart is encouraged. Thank you.
Oh, how I needed to hear that.
Thank you!
You have built me up Beth. I must say one thing – a funny thought I had while reading this. Your breakfast sounded like one of those, “who would you most like to meet in Heaven” events! I would love to sit around the table with You, Dr. Dobson, Tim LaHaye, and Heather Olford. Sounds like a meeting of the minds (or would that be heart and souls?). Sounds wonderful – never mind that lukewarm coffee!!
I love loving Him with you, too Beth 🙂
You are just precious.
Thank you so much 🙂
HUGS,
Kate 🙂
I believe I will hold onto this post for a good long season. I am encouraged. I have been traveling all over Isaiah these days and my shall we say, tour of chapters 61, 50, and 32 this morning is well followed up by this precious encouraging post. Thank you for this peak into your conversations both at the hotel and on the air plane. Oh to have been a fly on the wall for both. 🙂
My goodness! As an author groupie, I would have just about died to have been privvy to such a meeting of the minds. How clever God must have been to get you all in the same room with only breakfast on your minds.
God bless you ALL for putting words on paper, in print and on the computer screen. For writing modern day love letters from our God directly to us. To me.
Much love, N@
Thank you for that fresh reminder of so many that have served faithfully through the years. What an example to those behind them. . .Oh how I long to be the real thing, but fall short so often. Thanks for your faithful encouragement this morning.
w
Dear one, thank you so much for the encouraging words for ‘trying’times. I is good to hear there are those we can still look to for spiritual guidance that have not been corrupted by the spotlight (you included) My husband also believes that all preachers are charlatans and the church is full of hypocrites and sometimes I just want to “throw in the towel” so to speak because of his negative attitude, but when I read such uplifting messages like this one, it helps me to continue. I know the enemy would like nothing better for me to quite teaching S.S., going to church AND leading your Bible studies (we have a great little group…going to do Esther in Jan.) Thank you for your dedication to God’ Word and all your encouraging words…we love you in Eldorado, Tx
Thanks for this wonderful reminder. Love ya, Shelley
Thank you so much for sharing. You’re right…..just what I needed. I’m so encouraged.
Shannon
p.s. the word verification to blog today was “coidi” stuck me funny for some reason
Thanks Beth,
It’s amazing how quick we can get caught off guard when we are focusing laterally. Yes, cynacism can be so quick to come it! That fleshly focus truly deminishes the vertical relationship our Father so desires.
Sounded like quite a wedding!!
Blessings,
Mare
Good Morning Beth,
It's not so sunny this morning here in the sunshine state;but my heart is so totally warmed as I read your lastest post to us all. Thank you for the words captured with sensible and authentic adoration of our Saviour. This post is by far one of the most meaningful I have read on this blog. I feel your pulse on this sweet time as you were celebrating the marriage of this couple. May God bless you richly these beautiful Christmas days ahead.
Scott & I celebrated 21 years together last Friday. Oh I love him more now than ever,he is my amamzing man. Funny,surprisingly sentimental at the right time, and a blast to be with.
Christmas weddings are wonderful!
May the bride & groom live long and fruitful lives in ministry with each other and Christ.
Merry Christmas Beth!
Deirdre
Your reaction to listening to
Dr. Tim LaHaye talk about end time prophecy, reminds me of my reaction to watching your teaching DVDs on the study of Daniel and the end time prophecies. How rich is the Word of God to provide us with hope for the things to come and those He instructs to enrich our understanding. I read this scripture this morning:
Isaiah 50:4 -The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
I love that!
Thank you for sharing that – it really inspired and lifted me up this morning!
Amen and Amen — I’m walking by faith and serving an awesome God! It is for His glory — not the glory of man.
People will let me down — and I will let people down. But God, He is faithful and true!
Thanks for the word I needed to hear … or is that read … either or both — I needed it.
Oh the wisdom that sat around that table that day. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall.
Thank you Beth for the encouragement. It is Monday morning and I have already had negative thoughts toward my pastor husband today, creating a list in my head of all his faults. How long has it been since I looked at him adoringly while he spoke?
Thank you for reminding me that Satan would like nothing more than to create a wedge between us.
Excuse me ladies..I need to get on my knees.
I can’t help but be curious to know who got married…it must’ve been very special people that they would have such saints be a part of their wedding!
Someday in heaven I would LOVE to have lunch at that very same table.
Yes, your words were refreshing. Thanks for sharing.
Kelli
Beth, I had several thoughts run through my head as I read this post. First, I forget that you are a “Christian celebrity.” I think that is because you have commited yourself to being the real deal with us. And for that, I thank you.
I also thank you for your contagious love for Jesus and the Word. Finally, thank you for the privilege of praying for you.
Terri
What an incredible time around the table, with so much wisdom. Your blog was quite encouraging today. I needed to hear that. Thank you for your obedience to His word.
Marlo Haft
Beth,
Thank you for that encouraging word, and thanks for sharing all that you did. It did encourage me and lifted me up this Monday morning! Love and blessings to you and I pray you have an especially blessed week!
Love you,
Missy in SC
Thank you Beth for the much needed words of encouragement. I have to say though my first thought while reading your blog was had I just happened to have been wandering through the hotel lobby in Harrisburg that Saturday morning I would have fainted dead away had I happened upon your breakfast bunch. Or at least wondered if I was dreaming seeing three of the most important influences on my life sitting togther over eggs! Holy cow! A little piece of heaven.
Love you!