We’re having some issues with comments on the video post. If you’d like to comment, you can do so here.

The Inheritance Bible Study from Debra Parker on Vimeo.

We concluded our Inheritance Bible study series last night and wanted to give you a glimpse of what we’ve been up to this semester. Many thanks to our Siesta Debra Parker for capturing these pictures and making this recap video for the blog.

*For the life of me I cannot figure out why, when I post these videos, the link to comments disappears. I’ve tried to fix it with no luck. I’m so sorry! I’ll open up another post for comments. -Amanda

My Dear Sisters, how are you?? I think of you every single day and love sharing all sorts of family and ministry things with you. We had such a treat last week that I want to share with you. We haven’t really developed a framework here for interns at LPM but one of our board members asked us if we’d consider allowing a senior in high school that he esteemed highly to work here for a week as part of her senior credit. We had a hunch that the blessing would be ours but we weren’t ready for how quickly we’d fall head over heels in love with her. It was our plan from the beginning to give her a taste of every position in the ministry and sit her in every department so her experience would be full. To get a taste of what my department (comprised of AJ, CJ, Melissa and me) does, I asked her to both open Tuesday night Bible study with a 3-minute greeting and write a blog article on Friday that I’d post today. I told her she could write it on anything she wanted because by that time I knew I could trust her character and that she was quite the communicator. Such a gifted and darling young woman! Below you will find her greeting to you. You will be able to tell immediately that you guys are considered a big part of ministry around the halls of LPM!

And now for Paige:

Hola Siestas (Ok…I just had to say it)!

I’m Paige Warren, Living Proof’s first official intern and a senior at Second Baptist School in sunny (and HOT, I might add) Houston, TX! This week has definitely been one of the MOST incredible weeks of my life, and I’d LOVE to tell you why!

It all began this past Christmas when I met Mrs. Moore at Second Baptist Church’s annual Kids Crazy Christmas Show (a mouthful, I know – we just call it KCCS)! I’m a member of the JUMP Team, an acting, singing and dancing ministry for kids, which performed at the show, and to my complete bliss and surprise, I was able to meet Mrs. Moore and her cute grandbabies. Little did I know that just a few months later, I’d be petting her sweet puppy and laughing at jokes at the LPM lunch table! How truly blessed am I?

Now, I would absolutely LOVE to fill you in on ALL the excitement of my internship at LPM, but if I did, you might still be at your desk at dinnertime! So, here’s a look into a typical Monday at Living Proof!

On my first day of the internship, I arrived promptly at 8:30am, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed; ready to go for my first day. As I pulled into the property, I noticed that Living Proof Ministries is not housed in a normal, run-of-the-mill office building, but an adorably cozy and beautifully decorated home where scripture competes for every wall space, Pottery Barn furniture replaces generic work desks, and laughter fills the office space. Although the norm for a teen internship is extreme nervousness in the form of sweaty palms and a dry mouth, this was certainly not the case for me at LPM. Upon meeting the ladies, I couldn’t help but feel like I fit right in! So welcoming and loving, the staff made me feel as if they were my very best friends…and trust me, ladies, their personalities can intensely mislead one about their REAL ages!

My first task? Stepping into the world of production with Evangeline. I was most surprised by the fact that LPM fulfills, packages, and ships all orders in-house. From Bible Studies to CDs & DVDs to Books, the LPM storage room has it all! The neatest part about the whole process is the fact that each order is HAND-packaged with care. They check, and double-check…and check again! As part of their ministry, the LPM staff and volunteers, if they feel led, pray over certain packages for the Word of the Lord to edify that particular customer/donor as they seek to know Him more! As Beth entered the room to welcome and thank volunteers and staff, she gave me a surprising challenge: “Paige, dear, we don’t normally do this, but…would you like to do the announcements and speak at Bible Study Tuesday Night? I’ll give you 3 minutes…” Wait, wait, wait. Could this REALLY be happening? A 17 year-old to speak at Houston’s First Baptist Bible Study: The Inheritance, packed with over 3,000 pairs of alert ears that are just waiting/dying to hear a good Word from Jesus?? “You’ve got to be kidding me!,” I yelled to myself. I leaped for joy at the opportunity to bless that many women! The Lord, I knew, would take care of the words…All I had to do was have a willing heart to bless others!

As we (myself and the lovely volunteers) packaged and jammed out to some cool worship music, I noticed it was already time for lunch! “Wait a second…where did everyone go?,” I anxiously uttered as I glanced at the clock. To my surprise, I found nine staff ladies sitting on the floor with fluffy blankets and Bibles in-toe. On Mondays, the LPM staff (minus Curtis…he is a guy, after all!) feeds on the Word of God together, growing, seeking and praying for each other to be encouraged in the Lord. They seek to be fed with spiritual food rather than physical food. “Of course!” Gladly, I plopped down next to Beth (Side Note: We’re not yet on first name basis, but it’s kind of hard after you’ve watched her passionately deliver a Word on Life Today or in Bible Study and constantly scream “You go, Beth!” at the TV). After a time of sweet prayer and study, it was time to head back to work answering phones with Kimberly! Now, although it sounds pretty easy, it was actually REALLY rigorous – especially when multiple calls can flood like a simultaneous technological deluge! I have SERIOUS respect for receptionists now!

Before I knew it, the day was over! What an incredible start to an incredible week at LPM!!

The following 3 days, the Lord worked seriously in my life as I worked side-by-side with these darling ladies. I’ve learned a GREAT deal about the ministry, it’s effectiveness, and EVERY facet of Living Proof that makes it Living Proof. However, I must admit that, although this internship has benefited me greatly through experience, the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity that makes it a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience is the blessing of fellowship. I cannot express to you in words worthy of writing the amount of joy, laughter, godly council, and Kingdom perspective I’ve encountered and been immersed in here! Viewing each aspect of the ministry has allowed my heart to burst with compassion for the lowly and excitement for the saved; laughter at crazy jokes and tears at the sincerity of their hearts. What makes Living Proof all that you perceive it to be is the fact that these ladies are REAL, live “Living Proof.” They love Jesus with their whole hearts and passionately yearn to seek Him more! Plus, they might just be the wackiest, craziest, make-you-want-to-sit-down-and-watch-their-sitcom kind of women! (We’re still thinking of the name…)

I consider myself blessed beyond measure by the Lord. His Joy is my Strength…His Joy is their strength. We’re not just co-workers for a week. This internship has made us sisters in the Kingdom for eternity!

Be blessed, siestas! If He’s working in a little 17 year-old intern’s life, I know He’s sure working in yours! Be blessed by the intense measure of His love for you!!! (Colossians 3:12) Hope to write to you again soon! (Maybe in the summer…you never know!)

Joyfully His,
Paige!

P.S.~ “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…!” – Philippians 3:8!

From the March 7 entry in Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman:

“There is no way to learn of faith except through trials. They are God’s school of faith, and it is much better for us to learn to trust Him than to live a life of enjoyment. And once the lesson of faith has been learned, it is an everlasting possession and an eternal fortune gained. Yet without trust in God, even great riches will leave us in poverty.”

Hi Siestas! We did a runners-up drawing today from our original Siesta Scholarship Fund post where y’all entered various churches to win an Esther leader kit. (This week we added a button on our sidebar that will provide a permanent link back to that post.)

Today we are giving away 25 Measureless Love DVD’s. Measureless Love consists of three messages (on two discs) by Beth based on Ephesians 3:18-19 and Psalm 103:11-12.

These are the churches and ministries that will be receiving a the Measureless Love DVD’s. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter!

Second Baptist Church Highlands, TX
(Submitted by Anon)

Healing Waters Church of God
(Submitted by Julie)

Providence Baptist Fellowship
(Submitted by Kelley)

Clark Street Baptist Church
(Submitted by Laura Beth Fletcher)

River of God Community Church
(Submitted by Teri~Facedown)

Oregon City Baptist Church
(Submitted by Beyond This Moment)

Christ Community Baptist Church
(Submitted by Bev)

For the Fame of His Name Ministries
(Submitted by Truthsharer)

Era Baptist Church
(Submitted by Cspann)

Swann Station Baptist Church
(Submitted by Tara G.)

Evergreen Baptist Church
(Submitted by Mandy Eley)

Lighthouse Rescue Mission
(Submitted by Leslie)

The Church at Tubac
(Submitted by Julianne)

Leaning Tree Church
(Submitted by Sugar Momma)

Immanuel Baptist Church
(Submitted by Linda LaFrombois)

The Unseen Hands Ministry
(Submitted by Anon)

Christ Community Baptist Church
(Submitted by Chad)

Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church
(Submitted by UL Cards Fan)

Cornerstone Bible Church
(Submitted by Karen)

Baptist Friendship House
c/o New Orleans Baptist Ministries, Inc.
(Submitted by Anon)

Hopedale Church of Christ
(Submitted by Nikki)

Calvary Baptist Church
(Submitted by Anon)

Navo Church
(Submitted by Screamofcontinuousness)

Covenant Life Ministries
(Submitted by Lyne Hitt)

Portico Church
(Submitted by Anon)

I was at my parents’ house last night, nursing Annabeth in the office upstairs while everyone else was hanging out in the living room. There’s a big bookshelf in that room that seriously might collapse if one more book gets crammed in it. Authors get sent all kinds of free books from their publishers, so our family never lacks in that department. I entertained myself by attempting to read the various titles, willing my blurry vision to focus. My eyesight is usually fine, but it’s been getting fuzzy at night since I’m a little sleep deprived. I was having trouble with one particular book title and then I realized it was Get Out of That Pit in Portuguese or something.

My husband, who loves to read books just as much as he likes to watch ESPN, certainly married into the right family. When we were newlyweds, he worked on the youth staff at the church we attend now. The church had a bookstore in it and staff members could have the cost of their purchase deducted from their paychecks. It was a little too easy, to say the least. Curtis came home with one or two new books every single week. He was only working part time and still finishing school, so it’s not like we had a lot of money to burn. I used to go in there and beg the manager not to let my hubby buy any more books. Jeanie, if Curt comes in here just tell him no! She always grinned and never made any promises.

Then for a season Curtis kept getting big boxes of old books given to him by his grandpa’s neighbor. Sure, these were free, but now there was the matter of space. Our house was absolutely overflowing with books. They were everywhere – under the bed, stuffed in our one small bookshelf, laying on the bar, stacked in random corners, and even filling our cars. It was madness. What finally saved me from losing my mind over those books was that with his next two jobs (including his current one), his offices had a whole wall lined with bookshelves. And there they all went. Give God some praise!

But don’t worry, we still have this next to our bed.

And since I cannot possibly leave you with such a tacky photo, here are some new ones of Annabeth. She was a month old on Tuesday. Can you believe it?

Here she is with her Big Pink Bear. I’m going to try to take her picture with him every month to show her growth.

She was obviously having some issues just now during our photo shoot.

This was my first attempt at taking her picture with Big Pink Bear at just a week old. Apparently she’s just not that into him.

*Comments are now closed*

Oh, I already love this post! While I was in my garage working out this morning, I was listening to my buddy Susan on the KSBJ morning show (KSBJ is a Christian contemporary music radio station in the Houston area and is so fabulous that it wins all kinds of awards). She let us know that it was “Read Across America” week and, thereby, gave me permission to give full sway to my favorite tangible obsession: B.O.O.K.S.

I love them. I love the look of them. The smell of them. The feel of them when you break a new one open. I love the spine of them. An out-loud read of them. I LOVE BOOKS. My grandfather was such a book nerd that my grandmother told him that, if she were ever widowed, she’d ask every male suitor if he could read and if he said yes, she’d say, “Pass on by, Brother.” He passed that obsession on to my mother who honestly loved a word fitly spoken more than anyone I’ve ever known. And she passed it on to practically every single one of her five children. Keith, bless the Father above for one of our very few similarities, also has the fever. Our idea of a great date is to go out to dinner then hit the Barnes and Noble. We get a cup of Starbucks first and don’t leave the store until we’ve drained it dry and opened every single book we can get our hands on.

I love books. I love to rub the palm of my hand over the covers.

So, here’s today’s topic. Name ONE – I said ONE, Siestas! – book you have absolutely loved (besides the Bible, our all-time, no-contest, unparalleled Book) and who it’s by, THEN give a brief reason why. It doesn’t have to be your favorite book of all time, just one you really love. List your information in this order:

• the book title and author on the first line,
• genre on the second line (fiction? non-fiction? biographical? autobiographical? Etc),
• then the short explanation why you loved it so much underneath. (Long ones unfortunately won’t be able to be posted so don’t write a book on your book!)

(Please be authentic and don’t bow to the temptation to impress your dear, impressionable Siestas by sounding hyper-spiritual. Unless A.W. Tozer really did write your favorite book, please don’t say he did. Grin.)

This comment set-up will make the list easy to read and, I think, really fun to peruse. I CAN HARDLY WAIT! Now, dang it, I have a lot of work to do today so I’m going to really have to fight to stay focused while we’re bringing in these comments BUT I will have the whole list of them to read a little later in my leisure. Let’s hear it, Siestas!

I’m wild about you. Have a blast in Jesus today. BE REAL, Girlfriends. One of my Scriptures out of The Message this weekend in my quiet time was this: “God cannot STOMACH arrogance and pretense.” (Proverbs 16:5) That’s a word, huh?

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU ON OUR SCRIPTURE MEMORY TEAM, IF YOU HAVEN’T SIGNED IN WITH YOUR MARCH 1ST VERSE, RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS POST AND GIVE IT UP!

*Comments temporarily closed until Wednesday, March 11*

Hey, You Darling Siestas!

This one snuck up on us, didn’t it? Short month but that’s okay. We’re up for it. Anyway, with all that life keeps throwing us and its relentless invitations to defeat, another Scripture swimming around in a busy woman’s head is a good thing, Girlfriend. Remember, even if you aren’t getting your verses word for word, the more you read them and take a stab at saying them from memory, the more your mind is being preoccupied with truth. Lies ARE being displaced. And so is the enemy.

I’ve had so much going on in my life lately that I’m sorely tempted to spend part of this post just chatting with you but I’ll do that later this week and try to stay focused on our very important task at hand: Verse #5!

I have LOVED my Verse 4! I keep picturing that heavenly scribe sitting in the Presence of God keeping a Scroll of Remembrance for all who fear the Lord and honor His Name. (Malachi 3:16) This time I want to commit Hebrews 10:35-36 to memory. Those of you who were at the El Paso LPL (one of my favorite all time groups!) will find it very familiar. I hope you’re still living it. I’m really trying to. Yesterday morning before I went onto the platform to speak at the Focus on the Family marriage simulcast, I whispered these very verses to my own soul in the presence of God. (I’m not used to speaking to a ton of men. Not my thing. Sometimes I imagine that they’re looking at me mean. I’m about to get tickled at my pathetic self.) God used these Scriptures to power-up my spirit and help me choose not to be intimidated. Then I had a blast…and they weren’t mean at all. I’ve semi-memorized the segment already but I want it to become a permanent part of my 2009 Scripture memory spiral.

When I look back at old spirals, my Scripture memory choices remind me vividly of the places I journeyed with God that year. I love reflecting and remembering how faithful He was and realizing, especially when I’m having a bad week and feeling a tad self-loathing, that He and I have come a mighty long way. I promise you that, for years to come, this spiral you’re filling with Scriptures will be so dear to you as you come across it here and there. Honestly, you will cherish it as such a token of your walk with Christ.

Okay, so here goes:

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded, YOU NEED TO PERSEVERE so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV

If you love it and it speaks right to you, join me, Sister! Let’s memorize it together! For all of you who have your own verse throbbing in your heart, let’s hear it. I have been so impressed with how you have constrained yourselves and listed only your verse, the translation abbreviation, your name, and your city the way I’ve asked you to. It’s such a powerful thing to read one verse after another. Remember, if you’re joining me on my memory verse, still type out the whole thing in your comment. It’s a very important discipline.

NO QUITTERS, GIRLFRIEND! NOT ONE! WE’VE GOT TO PERSEVERE! God has a great reward for us at the end of this journey and every step on the way. I need to see about 2400 comments pop up here within the next forty-eight hours. Don’t put it off!

Here’s a little extra encouragement from your own ranks. This is one of the Scripture memory testimonies from a Siesta on the post earlier last week:

Being in a season of feeling as though my world is spinning out of control – memorizing the scripture that God Himself (IN BOLD LETTERS) lays on my heart has been the BIGGEST thing that has happened in my life. In the past I have memorized but never stopped to ask the Lord what I should memorize (stupid or what?!)Now instead of wondering where the Rock is in the midst of the struggle I no longer WONDER where He is I KNOW where He is – His Word is giving me the brain surgery that I have been in need of – bless you Lord!!

Amen to that, Sister. This practice totally rewired my mind when God began to call me to it about 18 years ago. Without it I would never have survived an unparalleled season that followed on the heels of it. You, Dear Siestas, have become a highly esteemed part of Living Proof Ministries. Amanda, Melissa and I love you and we’re so honored to serve you. We hope that, between the three of us, and FOUR when we can get Curtis to sign on here, we can offer you some diversity and some wide-range, multi-generational perspective in the midst of a volume-10 call to unity. We don’t pretend to know what we’re doing all the time, but, Sister, we have a ton of love to offer you. It is our hearts’ desire to be your servants and to cheer you on in the most important journey of your life.

You are cherished here. No matter who you are. Where you’ve been. What you’ve done. We have a Redeemer.