My Dear Siestas, it has been way too long! I’m sitting here in my gown in my very own bed with pillows behind my back and Star lying across my feet. (She has no intention of taking her eyes off me today. The last time she looked away, I disappeared for 5 days.) I’ve already had prayer time and two cups of coffee. About to start on my 3rd.
So much has happened this week that has deeply impacted me but nothing, you might imagine, more than Melissa’s post. I sat in an exhausted heap at a long layover at an airport yesterday and read and read and read the blog and your comments. It was everything I could do not to roll in the floor. It was so much more than I deserved but a spring to a weary soul. I love my girls so much. I don’t just love them. I respect them. Like so many of you, they are such fine and gifted young women. God has given Keith and me no greater proof of His grace and redemption on our sinful, former pit-dwelling lives than our two daughters. Both of them are a little undone that they won’t be home for Mother’s Day this year (btw, look for a Mother’s Day post tomorrow – I think God has given me kind of a neat idea) but I have told them over and over (and meant it) that I am among the most blessed moms on earth who hear every single day from their children that they are loved. We are a very close family and they are my favorite people – wise and impossibly witty – on earth. Thank you for allowing us a little room to be family on this blog.
Many years ago I heard someone say (don’t even remember who anymore) that “no amount of success in ministry can make up for failure at home.” And I wrote that in the very front of my Bible and have it engraved upon my brain. Family life is tough. It’s never all clean and tidy because it is lived wholly without cover. We Moores, Jones’s and Fitzpatricks are not without bruises and scars from all-things-family but to know each other intimately and still respect each other is a profound gift of God we do not take lightly. I say again and again to you in hopes that you will be encouraged to hang in there, our family is a miracle and He can perform that same miracle in your home.
And now, for just a few other highlights – written in long hand, of course – from a very exciting week in Washington, DC. Because you’re my dear Siestas, I’m giving you the personal goods:
*Being told by a darling young woman that I mentor that, in her intercession for me, she’d never prayed so many patriotic prayers in her life and, at the end of a very intense time of prayer (by herself) for our national leaders, NDP, and those of us serving in the observance, she didn’t know any other way to close it. So she put her hand over her heart and said the Pledge of Allegiance. I laughed so hard I cried. I thought of it so many times during the week. But then when we said the Pledge together in the Cannon House at the actual observance, surrounded by these difficult days in our country and mounting persecution against the belief system upon which it was founded, my lip quivered so hard I could hardly get the words out of my mouth.
*Spending the week with Travis and Angela Cottrell. I’ve told you before how much we love these ministry partners of ours. These two unlikely couples have been on a wild ride with Jesus together for eleven solid years. We can almost read each other’s minds at this point. We pray for one another, serve together, and laugh until we cry together. Honestly, we laugh so hard sometimes we throw ourselves into muscle spasms. And Keith and Travis tease each other unmercifully and wrestle and punch each other, for crying out loud, like they are nine year-olds. If I snapped my fingers and said, “Stop it!” one time to the two of them this week, I said it a hundred times. Lord, have mercy. Then Travis gets up there and sings and I think, honestly, that he is the most gifted man I may know. Mystifying.
*Touring Mount Vernon. I’m not kidding. It was THE most interesting thing!! I’ve been to D.C. many times but I’ve never been able to take the time to go on the tour of George and Martha’s homestead spread. It is the coolest thing ever. The grounds are gorgeous and the house so entirely telling of what their lives were like. (Did you know he had step-children and no natural heirs? Did you know he and Martha raised their young grandchildren after the deaths of their own children? And did you know they had overnight guests several hundred days a year??) Michelle Parrozzo, my new assistant (Amanda’s age and a long time friend of Amanda’s), worked in D.C. for 6 years (in the Whitehouse, Pentagon, etc.) and, through her long list of connections, she was able to get the Cottrells and us (and her and her good friend, Lauren) a private tour. Mr. John Marshall was our Mt Vernon expert-guide and I learned later that he had the opportunity to personally tour actor David Morse as he prepared for the role of George Washington in the superior HBO miniseries, John Adams.) We history nuts were completely bug-eyed. I learned later that evening that they used to display George Washington’s Bible in the exhibit but it has been removed in light of all the secularization of recent years. (It’s a privately owned park so it’s not a government thing.) I found that flabbergasting.
*Having dinner with Caroline and Karen. The evening of the tour, we had an NDP dinner right there at the Mt Vernon facilities. Keith and I had the pleasure of sitting at a table with several courageous (and fun, by the way) God-seeking congressmen and their wives. Needless to say, I soon migrated to more personal conversations with the women. They were both absolutely delightful. Karen Pence told me something that I’ve replayed in my mind over and over. She said that a while back she checked with her husband’s office staff about what they’d need to expect schedule-wise regarding this year’s National Day of Prayer. One of the staff members wrote her back with details and told her that a woman named (well, you know…that’s so awkward) would be speaking and that she’s some Bible lady. Karen said her response was, “That’s my Bible lady!” Turns out she’s done many studies with us. It was one of the most wonderful things anybody has ever said to me. I was so tired on the plane ride home that tears stung in my eyes every time I thought about it. I have loved serving you women so much. I’d be honored to be your Bible Lady any time and would marvel over the grace of God to this needy life.
Caroline was equally delightful. She was from Alabama so her accent drew me in immediately like a bee to a honeycomb. I discovered in our conversation that she and her good friend, Sharon, had developed a reputation for their pound cakes and been encouraged to go into business. Pound cakes?? Did someone say pound cakes? Outside the Word of God and a great time of worship, can anything on earth minister like a pound cake? I sat straight up in my chair. These were words worth listening to. Worth salivating over. I learned that Caroline and her buddy have developed a small business right there in their own kitchens in D.C. and, since they’re both proper Southern women, they named it “Two Belles.” I assured her I would place an order the moment I got home and it was all I could think about that night. The very next night at the next NPD gathering, lo and behold, Congressman Aderholt delivered me two pound cakes, compliments of his beautiful wife. One was called “The Annemarie” (cream cheese!) and the other “The Miss Becca” (chocolate!). (They offer seven flavors and each is named for a woman who inspired the recipe.) Keith and I tore into those things with violence the moment we got to our rooms. Girlfriend, girlfriend, girlfriend. THE POUND CAKES OF MY LIFE. Honestly, we brought those babies home on the plane and I ate pound cake for breakfast just a few minute ago.
*Meeting honest-to-goodness present-day Esthers like Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen and Congresswoman Michelle Bachman from Minnesota. They LOVE Jesus and serve Him and the people He’s entrusted to them with utmost integrity and with a strong swim against the current. And don’t forget that God used Vonette Bright and Shirley Dobson to found and direct the annual observance of the National Day of Prayer and each has served several presidents of the United States. It really is awe-inspiring. (Y’all know me better than to think I’m on a feminist binge here. Woman to woman, I’m just telling you about some hard-working Esthers on our planet right this minute.)
*The Thursday observance itself at the Cannon Building. Profound. Surreal. Everything about it but here are a few things that especially moved me: the Joint Armed Services Color Guard marching in with the “Presentation of Colors” at the very beginning. My heart was pounding like a drum; the Ambassador of Zambia praying for our country in her wonderful thick African accent. I thought my soul would jump out of my skin; the official and personal message of General James F. Amos, USMC to us. He was so impressive. Everything you’d want a General to be. And he loves Jesus. His testimony took us straight to the battlefield and exploded our appreciation for our troops like fireworks on the fourth of July. Keith and I have talked about it many times since Thursday.
*Our NDP chapel at the Pentagon. Keith and I got to go alongside Dr. Ravi Zacharias and his wife, Margie, when they served in this position last year and we were both greatly moved by the people at the Pentagon observance. To be there this year was beyond what we could have imagined. Whatever you may be picturing, they were the furthest thing from stiff and formal. Very, very warm gathering. Sweet time of praise and worship. Many in uniform. Others right beside them who labor in administrative and support roles every day of the week. I share this with you to boast in Christ alone – goodness knows it was only grace – and because I know you won’t take it any other way than a sister sharing a highlight: they presented me and Lillie Knauls (who sang in the observance) American flags that had hung over the Pentagon. It was baffling. I would have given anything on earth for my dad, retired Army Major Albert B. Green, to have been there with me. Keith and I remarked later that he would have been right there beside us…and insistent on wearing his uniform, no less, whether or not we thought that was the best idea. Incidentally, he was buried in it. And rightly so. He bore a scar on his cheek where he took a bullet right in the face protecting democracy.
*Immediately flying out of D.C. in a bouncing prop plane in cloudy weather with the Cottrells and our good friends, Herb and Dona Fisher, to one of the largest NDP observances in the nation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We would be on the platform there in only a few hours. I cannot tell you what it was like to go from the very (appropriately) intense atmosphere of our nation’s Capitol into an open air, outdoor praise and prayer celebration for NDP in Pennsylvania. Both were so memorable and so distinct. Approximately 18,000 people gathered on those green grounds on the most beautiful afternoon and evening you could possibly imagine on the tail winds of an Eastern storm. Dona is the chairperson for that NDP event that she began under God’s leadership eleven years ago with 350 people. Oh, what God can do through a willing soul with vision! Through the years it grew into 10,000+. The gathering of diverse people (a number of Mennonites) from every conceivable background and denomination for corporate prayer on behalf of our nation was simply amazing. Dona chose children and high school students to lead the prayers this year and it was the sweetest, most convicting thing ever.
Well, OK. Enough is enough. But you prayed so hard for us, I could not even consider pitching you a few dry leftover bones. You mean more to me than that. I wanted you to taste the event like a piece of Southern fried chicken. Or maybe like a pound cake. You can have cream cheese or chocolate. I’m going to go cut us both a piece and pour me another cup of coffee. I wish so much I didn’t have to eat your part.
Siestas, I love you like crazy. Thank you for welcoming my family and me into your lives. Our deepest desire is to serve Jesus Christ. He is IT.
Beth, thank you for “filling us in” on the rest of the day. I was moved to tears during the broadcast of the events at the Capital. You represented us as Christians and this nation’s belief system in our One True God so well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What God will do with this in the minds and hearts of those who were listening in this nation and around the world will be powerful! I just know it!
My two children (one in Graduate School studying for finals and a paper due, and another teaching special needs children in another city) are not able to be home either, but we hold them close in our hearts, don’t we? Have a restful and wonderfully blessed Mother’s Day!
HE IS IT!
Thank you Beth and may God bless you and your family,
Love you
Thank you for sharing the “good stuff” with us. I enjoyed this post almost as much as a pound cake. (lol)
The Lord brought you to my mind so many times this past week and I loved being able to pray for you and all the events! It made me feel like I was a part of everything.
Thank you for being such an amazing servant!
Love you lots!
Kristi B.
MMMMMMMMMM! Yummy! Thank you so much for sharing the pound cake and highlights of your weekend. How awesome!
Thanks for sharing Beth.
Beth Moore,
So glad you met our WONDERFUL Congressman Aderholt. He is the bomb and has a precious wife. He met our family last spring break for a “bypass the crowd” tour. Took the time to take us on the floor of the House. My family LOVED it.
And, honey, Mount Vernon. We didn’t want to leave. We were there over a year ago, and we’re still talking about it. Did you go below the residence where they filmed National Treasure 2? Unbelievable!! We took the boat ride onto the Potomac. My baseball-loving, full-blooded B – O – Y still talks about this being his favorite stop in D.C. So glad all went well.
Thanks so much for the update on NDP. It was cool to see it through your eyes and even cooler that you are willing to be so real and share it here with us. And now I think I am going to have to revamp desert for Mother’s Day and make a pound cake for some reason I now have a major craving!!
Happy Mother’s Day Siestas and to you to Siesta Mama!!
I attended NDP in Lancaster and it was awesome…thanks so much for coming to our neck of the woods. You were great and worship was incredible-my friend and I were dancing up front at the end 🙂 what fun. I found this link through a friend on facebook-I am so excited to keep reading.
Dearest Beth,
THANK you for the D.C. update. I looked everywhere for a streaming video of your speech. I am so proud of you and would have loved to be back in D.C.to be a part of the NDP. You are also my Bible lady…the best I may say. Thank God for you and your ministry.
May God Bless America and have mercy upon this sinful nation.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Pam,
Chattanooga, TN
Hi Beth, I was one of the fortunate people who heard you speak at Long’s Park!! You never fail to inspire me! I started my day with you through Bible study (The Psalms) and ended it hearing you in person…..it was a great day! Much of what I have learned about our precious Savior, I learned through your studies!! Thank you for allowing yourself to be used of the Lord! Your journey out of the pit has shown countless women the way to living in victory in Christ……someday when we are all living with Him we can have us a great big celebration!!!! We love you!
Scripture memory Siesta,
Judi from Lancaster, PA
PS, my 16 year old daughter loves you too…during your message, she stopped texting! The ultimate compliment coming from her!
Thank you Bible lady for all you have done for us just by being obedient to your calling. You will never know in this life how many lives you have touched and led us to be better women for Jesus. I cannot even fathom how many you have helped to better understand God’s word.
Blown away in Florida, but not by a hurricane!
Miss Beth, I think this is my most favorite post of yours EVER. Bless you for being so generous with all these God-details. Just makes me want to praise Him!!
p.s. Amanda, I miss you!! 🙁
Beth,
It was so good to read your post today. I am very fortunate too in that I have a very close relationship with my mom. Not a day goes by that I don’t call her and thank her for her love and give her mine. Through all of life’s hard times, she has taught me to look for the positive and never be so serious you can’t laugh!
I, like so many others across this great nation, look to you as my BIBLE LADY! You have taught me so much and led me down such a blessed path, that I can honestly say I will never be the same. When I think of the scripture memory we are doing this year, such an easy thing but so powerful. I can’t tell you how much better my attitude has been having God’s word in my head swirling around combatting that stinkin’ thinkin’ I used to have. So powerful.
Though we have never crossed the same paths, I feel as though I know you well just from the blog and studies I have done with you. I am looking forward to seeing you twice in the next 8 months.
Love you like crazy!
Jan
We are so proud of you and just plain happy that you were the honorary chairwoman this year for National Day of Prayer. I just got back in town myself from a few days at the ranch, and each time I thought of you throughout the week,I prayed for you and Keith. Speaking of Esthers, my friend, you were raised yourself to authority for such a time as this in our nation. Thanks for sharing the highlights of your amazing week. Love, Annette
How I wish I could attend a NDP celebration in DC. How wonderful that would be. I will make it a goal.
I have my Great Grandmother’s pound cake recipe which is wonderful. Brings back such fond memories of her and her home. Miss her so much as all of my Grandmothers this Mother’s Day. May just have to pull out the recipe and celebrate their lives tomorrow.
Even though I don’t know you personally it is so wonderful to have you in my life and learning right beside you about the Trinity.
Love you friend.
This is awesome Beth. Thank you for sharing some of the highlights. On the NDP, I stood on the playground of my sons’ school (10 and 8), with 120 students, teachers and a handful of parents. My heart ached as I looked around. This small Christian school, after 40 years, may be closing this year, due to low enrollment and not enough funds.
My eyes were full of tears my heart aching…as I heard these students pray… I thought Abba, is 120 enough? Is that enough to save this school. All these little lives….
Sorry, your sharing, brought it to my mind.
If you could spare a prayer for Victory Christian School, in Fair Oaks California, I know 120 little hearts that would be blessed.
Thank you so much for being my Bible Lady! my friend and I pray for your safety and health when we run in the mornings. There are many who still need you to toss them a lifeline of hope so they can grab onto and climb into the mighty vessel of God! Thank you for doing that with so much kindness.
Except for the torturous details about the pound cake. That was brutal.
Beth – thank you for the update – it was loaded and I appreciate you taking the time to give details that paint a picture not only visual but with taste! We spent 6 years in public service and prayer is vital – it was my greatest personal encouragement when those we knew in Jesus let us know that they were praying… God be praised – love you like crazy too, my dear!
Malinda/Grants Pass, OR.
Beth,
Thank you so much for updating us. Isn’t it something how God is using this blog?!! I have been so anxious to hear from you after your week away. God truly has connected us through this means of communicating. We feel like family. God is at work through Scripture memory and I just finished Esther this week. He truly is IT… just as you said. Thank for loving Jesus first, your family and us like you do!
You are loved very deeply,
Susan in OKC
Mama Beth,
Happy Mother’s Day a little early! I just want to say I am so thankful for you and your precious family…thank YOU for sharing them with us! It really is a privilege to be a part of your lives. I loved reading every detail of your trip, loved hearing about Moon Pies and other hilarious posts, loved Melissa’s Compassion posts and love seeing and hearing about your precious grandbabies.
Most of all… I love hearing about your passion for Jesus and His Word! Know that your stir my heart to love Him more and love His Word. As a matter of fact, this Siesta Scipture Memory has been WONDERFUL! It is the first time I have memorized this much Scripture consistenly. Praise Him!!
Thank you for truly being such a great spiritual Mom to me!
Love you to pieces and pray your day is filled with His precious presence and supernatural restoration and refreshing! You are a rare jewel! 🙂
Prov 20:15 “Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.”
A Very Grateful Siesta,
Nicole
You are some kind of Bible lady. As soon as I read: “Her joy and excitement in Christ are contagious; her deep love for the Savior, obvious; her style of speaking, electric.” AND “Beth loves the Lord, loves to laugh, and loves to be with His people.”, I just knew I wanted to be….well, just like me but exhibiting those same qualities and characteristics!
I have done some of your studies off and on over the last 7 years, probably, and may I just say that as you grow older in years (sorry, but we all do) and in the Lord and has a ‘Bible lady’ you grow STRONG – it’s noticeable!!! I pray others see the same about me.
I have only known about this blog for about 10 months now (the first 5 months just reading) and participating starting in January with the siesta Scripture memory challenge. I echo so many of the comments already made to this post!
I have three grown children and I too am a testament to God’s total grace in my life and the lives of my children. My oldest, the only girl, is so much more the godly mom than I was with 4 little children. And my twin boys are both serving this country in the armed forces of the United States. I am so blessed by and proud of all three of them.
Thank you for not only teaching the Word but exhibiting the life to all of us in such a personal way, especially through this blog. I turned 50 this year, and always think of you as one of my girlfriends and can’t wait to see you in two weeks in Laramie. I’ll pray you’re well rested by then. 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day Mama Beth!
Beth, you are my Bible lady, too! I just love you and your family, and I’m so proud of you. (Not that you need to hear that from me)Thanks for loving Jesus and teaching us how to love him better.
Natalie
My Bible Lady,
Beth, I come to you with the deepest respect for The Lord, America, and the troops… that being said Ive had these questions regarding patriotism and its compatibility with the Bible. Im a twenty three year old baptist girl from texas, grew up conservative and proud and have recently come to question whether its christlike to be proud of my earthly country. So much of what Jesus teaches seems to point to us being part of the invisible Kingdom of the lord. Being set apart for that kingdom. Its seems like the early church in acts didn’t try to change the government they were under but instead became their own community within the nation that they lived in, being an alternative to earthly kingdoms. I have been wanting to ask you about this for a while but it never seemed appropriate. Now with this post it seems like it would be a good time. I know you are very busy and I totally understand if you cant reply, but I would love to hear from you as a women whos instruction Ive been under since I fell in love with Jesus in my teens and grew to love more through your books and studies. I come to you humbly, and hope this doesn’t seem disrespectful. I may just be an immature youngster who needs to be put in her place! Regardless I love you so much and would love to hear your thoughts.
Shaley Cates
Mineral Wells Texas
Mis Beth, you are so special and I am one that claims you are my Bible Study Lady!!! you move more to tears than any one has in years..the walls around my heart are coming down!
We are quite special!
love you,
Delilah in AR
That sounds so awsome, I so glad you could tell us about it. I did know all your facts about Washington and his home… I have a BA in History and my Mom loves George Washington.. in our family we joke about him being my Moms boyfriend. As for the cake I’m SURE you really hated eating our part! I’ll take a piece of each. Thanks for sharing with me. Janelle
That sounds like an amazing week! Thank you for sharing with us. I was excited when I saw some clips from the NDP in D.C. on TV. Thanks for being our Bible Lady!
Just thank you again and again for sharing with all the siestas! Since the media did not cover NPD, I was thrilled to hear it from your perspective! Yippee!! You encourage me more than you will ever know! I love you and your daughters too! Ain’t God grand? May He continue to bless us all!!!
Julie G
Jackson, MS
Glad to hear you made it home from a busy week. Being one of the siestas from north of the border in Canada, I had no idea about all this until I read it on the blog. Let me say, it encouraged me greatly to know that these kinds of things happen and to be reminded that there are Christ followers in government, who are doing their best to make a difference. I needed that.
Now, I also have to say that you are my “Bible lady”. I’m good at studying the Bible and keeping it just as head knowledge. You constantly remind me that it needs to go beyond that and make a difference in my life.
You are most definitely my Bible Lady, sweet Beth! And lordy mercy – I do love me some good pound cake! I actually make a pretty good one too – but I’m sure nothing like these “Belles”! My granddaughter’s name is Lily Belle – and she is quite a southern little princess at 4 1/2!
Beth, you are so blessed to have a family that loves you dearly! Snuggle with them all you can cause there ain’t nothing better!
Thank you so much for “representing” all of us Believers on NDP! I know you count it a privilege and honor! Blessings to you my dear friend!
Mammy
Mama Beth
as I begin mending the awful messes I have made in the past that have oh, so deeply scarred my family, I am *so* comforted by the words I read regarding your own family, particularly when you said that family life is never clean and tidy.. that it is lived entirely without cover. all these years I had been trying to do just that : pulling up one cover after another to hide the pain, the strife, the struggles… instead than doing the exact opposite!
thank you… What you said will remain firmly engraved in my heart as I and my family begin my journey of healing our scars, together.
maria cristina
PS thank you also for the wonnnderful recap! I remember visiting Mt. Vernon many, many years ago (1991 I think) and recall seeing George’s Bible in display… I’m saddened to read that it is no longer there. 🙁
P.S. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!!!!!!!!
Beth,
AnnaBETH is so beautiful! The pictures Amanda posted of her are showing her growing so fast! I just love the way she smiles. I know when I was praying for her before she was born, I would get a feeling of such gentleness. Amanda talks about what a good baby she is. I’m thinking she’s a special blessing (as well as Jackson) on this Mother’s Day, even if you have to delay celebrating until the Jones’ come back home.
Thank you for the DETAILS about your experiences with NDOP. I was working that day and haven’t been able to link to a re-broadcast, but I did watch your video on the NDOP site and LOVED the message!
God IS still on the THRONE. Thank God that our help comes from HIM and not our government.
Can I go with you next year?
Happy Mother’s Day, siesta. You’ve been a blessing to me.
Praying for you, always.
Love in Christ,
Deborah
Oh Beth – Happy Mother’s Day:
I got up early this morning and my heart is so full. I’m going to head over this morning to hear my son preach, and I am blessed to be his mother.
You have been my “Bible Lady” going on 13 years and for that reason I am a better wife, Pastor’s wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend.
I love you so – now even more because I am a history NUT! Could not have been prouder of you this week – representing Christian womanhood and the power of prayer!!!
Eat some more pound cake and make a pot of Gevalia coffee to enjoy with it…just made a pot myself.
Love you,
GJ
LPM & Siestas,
I don't know if you have heard the original song written & performed by Indiana Bible College entitled "Broken/Don't Pass Me By" I found it on You Tube. What a blessing to see it written and performed by young people. The song sums up the last two sentences of your post.
Sometimes to seek comfort, I open my Bible and put my head down on the Bible and the tears flow over the Bible all that is going on both in my own life and in the world. I take comfort that God is the Ancient of Days when my human mind doesn’t understand. I think about how Christ shed His blood for all our sin. My tears flow over God’s Word, the only way to dry my tears and have true joy and peace until Christ returns.
Thank you so much for filling us in! I wanted to so much to savor it and prayed for you!
I’ll have the cream cheese pound cake, so enjoy my piece too! LOL! I love that line about ministry…it is going into my bible too!
Thank you for sharing your week. I have been praying for you every time the Lord brought you to my mind, which was often.
It is good to know that there are Christians fighting for us in Washington. I hope everyone will continue to pray for our nation every day.
Sweet Beth, Happy Mother’s Day! You are a wonderful mom and a doting Grandmother (as am I..aren’t they indeed ‘Grand’?). Thank you for being you. I respect you and love you, dear Siesta!
Now, I’m going to pour myself a second cup of coffee..man, I wish I had a slice of that pound cake!!!
Beth – You are my Bible Lady. God used you to reach me several years ago. All I knew was legalistic, rule-keeping religion but had a yearning and a questioning deep down inside of something more. I was invited by a friend to their ladies’ bible study when “Jesus, the One and Only” came out. At first, I said no. (I couldn’t go to another denomination’s bible study! Gasp!) But, at her house on a weekend, she had the workbook out on her table and I glanced through it. My interest was peaked and I asked if I could still join the study. I have to tell you, all it took was seeing and hearing you for the very first time on video and my heart was crying — I WANT WHAT SHE HAS! That began my search and a hunger for more of God and for all that He has for me. Thank you so much for being faithful to His calling.
Beth I want to thank you for the things you a have taught me. Listen to your message from Friday as chairwomen for national day of prayer. You have as our Bible lady done so much. You have taught us to BELIEVE GOD not just believe in him. But to pray be faith asking BELIEVING and he will hear and answer.
Last Saturday night we came home my man and I . Had not been home long when we received a call from our Pastor. Telling of a young man of 22 years Derrick, who broke his neck diving into to shallow end of pool. This young man is a single father of a 3 year old. I keep children in my home he is a former parent/child I grew to love as all that have come my way to help raise there children. We fall in love with these families my man and I. I had the honor of being used of God to see him trust Christ as his Savior a little over 3 yrs before his baby was born as he was looking for a care giver for his to be baby.
I had no knowledge of how to pray on the drive to hospital. I asked God how do I pray. I got to hospital room he lifted his arm for me to hold it. I prayed with him believing that our God would redeem this body to fully restoration. The Dr. would not give any hope at this point. I asked Derrick if he would believe that God was able to heal and restore him. He said he was blessed to be alive, said he had been praying and talking to God. I told Derrick to not make any promise he was not going to keep.
I have visited and prayed with this young man every other night. He had surgery Tuesday to repair the 5th and 6th vertebra. The Dr. said even thought he was able to move his hands he could still be paralyzed. We continued to pray believing at one time I heard you say to touch the young and pray by faith, this I did with him. I can't remember the verse but I believe you said we also would receive strength. Tonight I went to visit him .I have been praising God and had to share . This young man who a week ago the Dr. would give no hope even on Tuesday after surgery. He had some kind of boots on his legs he had them remove them. Said I have something to show you as he was holding my hand. He could bend both his knees and drew them towards his upper body. Our God is mighty to answer our prayers, he hears before we have knowledge how to pray.
He will be moved to New Orleans to a rehab hospital next week to start rehab. But praise God has already started to show us that our prayer of faith were answered before rehab could started. He will be restored as we believed from the day off the accident. Thank you Bible lady for teaching us to BELIEVE, ask, pray, God is mighty to answer.
Happy Mother day Bible lady Beth Moore! This is my 11 mothers day that I have had since God took my baby boy home at age 20. I can truly say I have tears yes, but they are tears of joy. God has heard my cry to heal this young man to be made whole. You alone are worthy my Sovereign God to receive praise glory and honor. I praise you for hearing the desire of my heart. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. My 6th memory verse for this year. God bless the Moores, Jones, & Fitzpatricks as ya'll have us .
Love You
Celie
Beth Moore,
Thank you for sharing all the personal goods from the week!
And thank you again for you and your family sharing and creating this wonderful blog where I can come and gather with other people who know and believe that Jesus is IT.
Have a wonderful day.
Love and Blessings to you,
Michelle in VT
Love you Beth, thank you for sharing. It must have been so wonderful. And I always appreciate your humble heart. I hear it and see it in your writings, thank you. Allison
Hey Beth,
I just have to comment on Mt. Vernon, but I’m glad you enjoyed so much of your entire trip.
My children attended Teays Valley Christian School in WV. for two years, before we moved here. Every year, an awesome teacher and sista in Christ, Anna Miller takes her sixth graders to D.C.
I was able to go with my daughter’s class. I am also a history buff, so it was like dream vacation for me. Every time I talk with my husband about vacations, he is like beach, but I am always like D.C. or Williamsburg or anything with historical sights and museums. I am one of those people that can stay in one musemum all day long and just stare.
Anyhow, our last day of our week long trip was to Mt. Vernon. You lucky dog, we had to wait in line for a long time, but it was sooo worth it. The kids started to complain and I was like “Aren’t ya’ll soooo excited, I’m sooo excited!”
We rode the ferry over there and it was more beautiful than I could have imagined. I loved the paint in his family room. Yes, I know all the facts too, thank you (smile). Actually, when I paint my bedroom, one of these days, I want that color.
I was drooling the whole time and I spent way too much money at Martha’s store.
All the parents were tired and sore and I was like a kid in a candy store, getting on most of their nerves, not everyone, but most. Then, one our way home, I got bus-sick and it was not pretty.
Migraine.
I was happy to see that the Biblical inscription was still on their tomb though.
Okay, I just had to tell you about my experience there too. I think it is soooo awesome to stand where you know George Washington stood. Do you know he named our little town that we moved from in WV? Hurricane.
One more thing, I have never heard Amanda or Melissa speak, but I got to hear Melissa on the video. She has a very pretty voice quality. She really does.
Much Love,
Barbara Shrewsbury
Katy, Texas
Oh, Beth, I just love you like crazy! Thanks for sharing these moments with us and giving me such hope for our nation. Thanks for giving so unselfishly and you can’t even begin to know how you motivate me to live a better life. Bless you! (and thanks for sharing your poundcake with me:)
Barbara
I can not tell you the number of times you were on my heart and in my prayers this week. Feeling guilty that it never occurred to me to say the pledge at the end of my petitions. I love that!
Something tells me you may have been a little overwhelmed at the enormity of it all. I have no doubt that a GIGANTIC GOD covered and burst forth through you as a beaming light in a darkening place. And can I just say I LOVE MICHELLE BACHMAN. I saw her for the first time on television just a few weeks ago. Man, Jesus was all over her and she never had to say the first word about Him. I told Luke, “I’ll bet she’s a believer.”
Okay, enough. Blessings on you sweet, Beth!
Mama Beth, (even though we are the same age…) You are my Bible Lady too! I cannot express how God has transformed my life through your studies. I have loved each one in its own specific, special way, starting with Breaking Free.
Love that you and your girls share so much of your family life with all of the siestas. Eternally grateful.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Elaine
New Orleans
love love LOVE Mt. Vernon!!
We got to go last spring while my husband was working up there for a week. Mt. Vernon was THE highlight of our trip. It was fascinating learning all those things about George Washington! From his family story, to the guests they had, to how he took care of his servants, to how they ordered their paint in powder from England and had to mix it here…
His family story especially inspired me… I love all the details they give you. and I love all the rooms — just zoning out and trying to picture how it was for them back then. How simple things appear now, even though back then, it surely wasn’t.
It was an overcast afternoon when we went, and just sitting in a rocking chair out back looking out over the river — so peaceful.
We ate at the restaurant there afterwards and I fell in LOVE with the peanut soup. The whole meal was amazing, and that soup… Good Gracious! We loved the place so much we went back the next night and ate there again. (and the same sweet lady waited on us… said she’s been there for yeeeaaars, she even gave me a copy of the soup recipe). I can’t wait to go back again one day!
Thanks for representing us in our capitol Miss Beth. We stand tall and proud in our faith and our love for our country. So glad you got to have such a wonderful experience.
much love,
Lavonda
(an air force daughter and army wife in Atlanta)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us. Incredible!!! I’m so glad you got to do so much and see so much and meet so many who share in the grace of Jesus Christ as you work deligently to make him famous.
Blessings to you,
Royana
P.S. You are “my” Bible Lady also. Have been since “A Woman’s Heart”. How many years ago was that? As you once said about your daughters, “The first one was my favorite…and so were the rest of them.”
Beth,
You are such a huge blessing to my life. You help me understand that God will use and receive glory for ANYTHING I am willing to give him. that means the good, the bad or the ugly from my earthly perspective. Thank you for what you teach me about the bible. Thank you for what you teach me about prayer.
I love the variety of subjects you addressed as it relates to so much of my life.
May God continue to bless you richly being it Pound Cake or more importantly with the family (Moore, Jones and Fitzpatrick) He has created for you that you can help me on my journey to understand who God wants and can be in my life.
Because of Grace,
Sylvia V.
Jersey Village, TX
Happy Mother’s Day Mamma Beth! I hope you have had a wonderful one. You and your girls are such a blessing to us. May we honor God with our service to each other..
I also want to thank you for satisfying our curiosity about how the NDP went. Our country desperately needs prayer.
With much affection,
Your spiritual daughter in Christ Jesus,
Anna in MO