Hi, Girlfriends! I hope your weekend is full of joy and laughter and recreation and that God’s shown up in the middle of it one way or another. I just got home a little while ago from Pittsburgh and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God. Yet again, He granted us the most fabulous group. I’ve had the joy and challenge of 25 years of speaking and 11 years of Living Proof Live and I’m going to tell you that God has given us some of our neatest groups this very year. I have loved every single one of them, starting with El Paso in January.
These 6000+ Pittsburgh sisters were like bird dogs on point from the very beginning. Totally focused and into it. They came for Jesus and I pray with all my heart that they got Him. I loved them like nobody’s business. A ton of really young women. And, of course, plenty of sisters in their 70’s and up. They always bless me so much, especially as I see them worship. There is something so dear about it that it makes me want to bawl. We had women from – get this – 28 States (mostly PA, Ohio, NY) and representing something like 378 different churches. Amazing.
We had something happen this time that is a total first at Living Proof Live: A PUBLIC PROPOSAL! Our drummer, Kevin Jones, who we’re totally nuts about, got down on his knee right on the stage this morning and asked his gorgeous girlfriend, Ashley, to marry him. Opened the ring box and everything. Travis had set them up so, needless to say, he’s beside himself. Taking all the credit. I’m so ticked that it wasn’t me. You’ve got to understand that we have all (including Keith) been wondering when the woman of Kevin’s dreams was going to show up. He’s like the catch of the century and it was amazing that he’d made it to 30 as an eligible single, handsome, GODLY guy. This was a really big deal to all of us because every wonderful young woman we’d meet would raise our eyebrows on Kevin’s behalf. Nope. Not the one.
Then Travis invited Ashley to a worship event where he and Kevin were serving and that was it. Get the tux. So, Trav called me this week to let me in on the secret that drummer man had gotten a ring, and that’s when the conspiracy took shape. Because Kevin has been such a big part of our team for so long, it was only fitting for him to have that platform for his proposal if he wanted it. There was a big catch though. It also had to work out for Ashley to come all the way from Tennessee to the event. (You wouldn’t believe how many things had to go exactly right for this to pull off. God loves them. That’s all I’m saying.)
Lo and behold, because it was Kevin’s birthday, Ashley just happened to come to “surprise” him. To really get this scenario, you need to keep in mind that she thought she was the tricky one and that he’d never expect her to show up. Kevin took the chance that she might hop on the plane and had leaked the word to both their parents that, with their blessing, he’d pop the question this weekend at the event if she did. Right on cue, both sets of moms and dads snuck into Pittsburgh last night and to the front row of the arena this morning to watch the whole thing first hand.
Here’s how Travis set it up: we’d sung two praise songs this morning in our first session when he called three of us having birthdays to the platform. One of them was Kevin himself. The others were Tammy Jenson (one of our terrific singers) and yours truly. He led the whole arena in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday to us and then staged the brilliant part: Travis had asked Ashley to come up on the platform and present each of us birthday folks with bouquets of flowers. After she’d put them in our hands, Trav gave all of us that “clear the platform!” look and we scurried off. When Ashley naturally tried to follow us, Kevin grabbed her hand and told her to stay and the rest is history. I wish you could have seen her face. Honestly, Siestas, it was so romantic you wouldn’t have believed it. It made me want to march straight home and marry Keith Moore again.
It was so much fun. One of my favorite LPL memories of all. God loved it. I could feel it in my spirit. He got as big a kick out of it as we did.
Kevin & Ashley at Living Proof Live from Kris Seidenkranz on Vimeo.
Would you believe that the big proposal coincided with another LPL “first”? We had a young bride (22 years old) named Emily Venesky in attendance from the Pittsburgh area with her entire bridal party and get this: her wedding was TONIGHT. She would have walked down the aisle just 6 hours after she left the conference. When was the last time you heard of a bridal party opting for a Christian women’s event over getting their hair and nails done on the big day? I was floored. They were absolutely adorable. I pray that God blows their minds with favor over what they prioritized on this pivotal weekend.
Well, that’s all my news for now except for the fact that I got a brand new I-phone. And I am completely obsessed with it. I was a total power-texter on my Verizon Voyager. I knew it so well I didn’t even have to look at the darn thing when I jotted a text. My new I-phone has a totally different keypad, though, so I’m really having to adjust to texting on it but you just wait. I’ll be the reigning queen in five days flat. I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! There’s still a lot I have to figure out like how to answer it and stuff, which, of course, Travis knew. That explains why he grabbed it and took a picture of himself that looks sorta like he’s picking his nose with both index fingers and put it on my wallpaper. So, for now, that’s what I see every time somebody calls me. I’m getting Michelle to deal with it first thing Monday morning. In the meantime, I’ll just laugh my head off. I love my team. It’s like trying to work with a group of Godly 8 year-olds.
And, to our Siesta that very sweetly asked me if I was using a hands-free device while driving and talking to Melissa on my cell, yes, as a matter of fact I am. Blue Tooth. I’m so cool that I’m going to have to sleep in my sweats tonight.
Obviously, my team is working with a veritable 8 year-old, too, that looks suspiciously like she’s about to turn…
What a joy it must be to live and work around you! Your sense of humor, zest for life, love for Christ, and passion for those you've been blessed to serve with is AMAZING! Praying God's richest blessings on you today and always! Thanks for sharing life with us. Thank you for "birthing" in me a love for Christ and for His Word that gives freedom to the captive!
Free Indeed!
Jennifer
Tullahoma, TN
Happy Birthday sweet Beth! Love you so!
Watched the proposal video on Travis blog a couple hours ago and couldn't decide whether to clap my hands or cry…so I did both. What fun!
And the bridal party…that is soooo cool!
Prayed for y'all this weekend so I KNOW Jesus showed up! Yep, God is good.
Melana
Dearest Beth,
I don't know how old you're turning (and if I did I wouldn't DARE post it here:)) but I do want to wish you the happiest and most blessed of birthdays! God is great through you and through your ministry. May His precious name be praised!
Birthday hugs to you from a siesta in Lewisville, TX who loves her Beth!
Christin Warren
PS..I still tell feel led to share your "The Self Condemnation of a Red Bird" post from May of 07 with friends from time to time. What an incredible gift with words you have and what an incredibly insiteful, honest and precious blog. Thank you for…well just for being YOU!
The Journey Continues ~
Sounds like the event was blessed from engagements to engaging
6000+ women loving Jesus!
Bless you Dear Beth!
I am honored to have been studying with you for over 13 years.
I am off to celebrate my son's college graduation tomorrow in Santa Barbara.
With "Heaven Bound" blessings,
Kim Safina
Hilarious! Love the humor in all of it and the wonderful bride who came for the conference…wow. Wow!
Most of all, Happy Birthday, Beth!
I love you! I just love reading your posts while cracking up and tearing up all at the same time.
I already watched the video clip. TOO sweet!
Have fun with your new phone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
that conference sounds like so much fun! congratulations to kevin and ashley! i'm going to have to hop over to travis' blog and watch the video for myself.
happy birthday!
-kimberly
ps. i'm trying my hardest to make it to your LPL conference in albuquerque!
Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for coming to Pittsburgh!!! My three daughters and myself were at the conference and we had the time of our lives! Much worship, much laughing, much tears, much hearing just what each one of us needed to hear, and MUCH sweet communion with our Lord. The music, fantastic — the proposal, romantic — the the teaching, delivered straight from God by His humble servant! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
At peace during the "perfect storm", Sandy
PS Happy Birthday! Mine's on the 25th of June.
Happy Birthday Sweet Beth! I love you and thank God for your example. Many times I think, "I can be a godly mother because if Beth did it, so can I." My baby is Eliana Lizbeth but I call her Elibeth and think of you. Looking forward to the Bible study!
Beth- I am a fellow Hustonian-ish (Clear Lake) and we have been waiting almost 6 months for China to let us pick up the daughter they matched us with in January.
The Lord very clearly led me to your book Believing God and it has been so good for me through this journey as we have faced delay after delay. I am blogging about our journey and at times what God is showing me through your writing. Our blog is http://www.4uruthie.blogspot.com if you want to see this fruit of your ministry. Thank you for your honesty and insight. It has helped me to continue walking toward my promised land.
Ginny
Happy Birthday and thanks for the fabulous re-cap. I really needed sweet good news today!
Oh what a weekend you had!!
I am sure Pittsburgh was also in the most fabulous of moods since they won the Stanley Cup on Friday night…beating my beloved Detroit Red Wings. (I'm over it now!!!)
But I'm sure what happened at the LPM event was even more exciting than the Penguins lifting up the cup!!
How I just love hearing proposal stories!!! So precious and beautiful. And the bridal party coming before the wedding, also just so beautiful.
Thank you so much for sharing.
And Happy Birthday!!!
Love and Blessings,
Michelle in VT but a Detroit girl at heart 🙂
Beth this has to be one of my all time favorite blog posts. What a sweet story and sweet post. I just loved it!
Oh – I forgot to say Happy Birthday!!!
God is just so evident in your life (phil. 4:5)! Although I didn't have the pleasure to go see you in my hometown while I was literally sitting at home edging to go, I still would like to thank you for coming up here! My mother, along with many ladies from the Moon Township area in Pittsburgh, got to enjoy God's message through you.
A couple weeks ago, a few girls from my church just got done with your Esther study, and might I say, "Wow!" Being one who continually struggles being a teenage girl in this crazy world, that study has revived my well-being and my own spiritual walk! You were truly given the spiritual gift of leadership and love! For that, the thousands of Pittsburghers and all the others who get to be blessed by God's word through you are grateful!
[To God be the glory, great things he hath done. And loved He the world that he gave us His son!]
Sweet Beth!
I am just overly giddy right now! That video just about did me in today and gave me chills (because who wouldn't get chills listening to 6,000 ladies scream? It's what we do best during engagements!) and now hearing the whole story just warms my heart even more.
I am a hopeless romantic if you've ever seen one (Probably too much of one if I do say so myself!), so this was just the best.
It is just a reminder to this single girl that HE is FAITHFUL and in HIS perfect timing, He'll bring that Godly man into my life. Whether it's now at 24, or when I'm 30. Either way, HE has the perfect plan (and man!) for me. I will trust and believe HIM!
(Beth, just for the record, I give you permission to be my matchmaker. So, if you know of any single young, godly men in Houston, feel free to hook me up. I'll give you the credit. Ha!)
Needless to say, I loved this post and the video. Such a sweet day!
And, a wedding party and a bride at the conference??? How fun is that! Seriously, this was a fun day for y'all. And to quote you and Amanda, "all this and Jesus too?!!"
Glad you are back from a thrilling weekend. Love to you! Have a splendid Sunday!
Lindsee
P.S. Oh, and guess what I'm getting next weekend? An iphone! Woo Hoo! I'm just waiting till the new ones come out, but after that, we'll be phone twins! 🙂
Happy Birthday…and loved the recap…..
When you get the Iphone down would you post some tips….
I love mine, but after a month still struggle with the texting….my nails seem to get in the way of the letters….
Dear Beth,
I was blessed by the Pittsburgh weekend…thank you for being REAL.
I was beating myself up again for not having everything and everybody in my life in perfect order. Your message spoke right to me. Sometimes others seem like they have it all together the kids that do everything right…I am trying and my daughter was at a sports bar celebrating the penguins last night, and would not have considered attending the event with me…I am holding on to the scripture …train up a child in the word and he will return to it. Thank you for your message.
God's word will not return void, I believe that, thank you for reminding me.
Rose
Pittsburgh
Happy Birthday to the Sweetest Siesta in all the world. Love you so much sister.
ps..mine is November 19th…hahaha
A-Hem. (prepare the stage for Zoey~red fuzzy Sesame Street gal~cuz I know you watch that now w/ your babies.)
HAPPYhappyHAPPYhappyHAPPYhappyHAPPYhappyHAPPYhappyHAPPYhappy BIRTHDAY!!
I LOVE the story, and I love you for sharing it with us. But really, could a brutha tuck in his shirt for such a monumental event?
Oh well, in the joy of it I can overlook that. 😉 How spectacular an event to participate in!
Jillian
Laramie, WY
Beth…so blessed by this weekend…I got a word and it is not going to be wasted! Praise God for the team of people He put together there at Lifeway!
I LOVED THE PROPOSAL! And the glitter gal…I was sitting close to her, got a pic of the two of you and her friend's email so that I can send her the pic! She was tickled by that!
God bless you sister!
In Christ,
Amber
OHHH! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
I just happened to find Travis' blog by accident this afternoon, through another Siesta's blog. I watched the video and loved it, but it is so much better with YOU giving all the details! Thank you!
Happy, happy birthday to you, Beth!
You are so special!
I am one of the Pittsburgh Women and just want to thank you for an amazing weekend. I was able to attend with my mom and I feel like the bond between us is even stronger now. I left today feeling recharged and ready to take on the world! I hope you have a wonderful birthday this week!!
Bethany
What an amazing day! Congratulations to the happy couple and happy birthday to the most incredible Bible teacher I have ever studied under; and even though we really don't know each other, I hope it is o.k. to say, friend!
Thia is a very special day in my life as well. Twenty-two years ago today, on a Saturday, I married the love of my life! Who would have ever guessed back then that two Appalachian hillbillies would one day be serving the Lord in a wonderful missions ministry
in the inner city! God does have a sense of humor.
I wanted to let you know how instrumental you have been in the growth of this pastor's wives head and heart knowledge of the Scriptures! One day, maybe not in this life, I hope to share my testimony with you so you can hear all the ways you have influenced my walk!
Sending you a big birthday hug!
Much love!
I loved the part where you said you thought you were going to have to march right home and marry Keith Moore again 🙂
Happy Birthday!! I love all you Godly year olds! 🙂
What a great time! And who says Christians have to be dull! Happy Birthday and thanks so much for sharing you life with us!
Oh what a weekend with Beth and the Praise team. My 84 yr old mother said you put your heart and soul into this one. She couldn't talk enough on the way home about how "into it" you were. We have gone to at least 7 of the Living Proof Live all over the east coast and my mother accepted Christ at one of them. When we went to the Raleigh event a couple of years ago you could really feel the Spirit but it felt like he was there 10 fold.
I prayed all this past week to let your message from God speak to my heart this weekend. Well God knows the storm I've been in this last year and now I know why I have survived it, to praise HIM for protecting me from everything but HIS glory.
Thanks Beth for a wonderful renewing of my spirit.
Sounds like it was an incredible event. I followed along on twitter with Pam, Travis, and Sophie. LOVED the engagement video — precious. And loved your iphone carry case … snazzy.
Can't wait to see y'all in Memphis.
And 8 year olds are fun!
I want to thank Kimberly Meyers and your ministry so much for providing for me and my friend Shelly to be at the conference this weekend through scholarship tickets!! I have been unemployed for 13 months now and I couldn't have afforded this on my own!! God blessed our socks off!! 1st I got 2 free tickets to the conference from your blog which is linked to my blog!! 2nd My friend Shelly was able to go with me & her Mom lives in Bethel Park & let us stay over night, saved on gas & she watched Shelly's kids for her!! 3rd Shelly paid parking Friday night & today I was supposed to pay, but parking ended up being free!! 4th we had great seats, we sat 3rd row back from the stage both days!! 5th Beth, you spoke right to both our situations that we are both currently going thru!! Last, but certainly not least, gas to go to this conference was $20, someone ( I have no idea who ) put $20 in my purse when I wasn't looking!! I found it when I was looking for my keys!! We were so meant to be there, it was obvious!!! It didn't cost me anything except for the CD I bought!!!!!
Oh yeah By the way! Beth, Happy Birthday! Why don't you splurge on yourself this birthday and go buy a big box of ziplock baggies!! LOL!! Have a very happy birthday and I pray it is a completely God blessed day!
So glad to hear that you had a fabulous time in Pittsburg! Can't wait to see you in Stockton Ca. in 2 weeks!
Siestas: please pray for a young man that I met tonight at church. His name is Anthony and he is 24 years old. He has a little boy who is 2 or 3 years old and he shared with my friend Julie and I over dinner tonight that he is a recovering drug addict. He is seeking the Lord with such passion but is hurting over his past and his current loss of relationship with the little boys mom. Julie and I cannot be what he needs but we are trying to find a way to connect him with some of the men in our church….Just pray for him please…my heart breaks for him.
Thank you sisters!
Wow! Wish I could have been there- sounds awesome! Can you plan something fun like that for the simulcast???
Love, Rebekah
LOVE you, Beth. I caught a glimpse of the sweet tribute you gave to us Atlanta Deeper Still girls and it made me weep with joy. You ought to see Miller Grace's baby sister, Abigail Joy! She is living up to her name in every way. 🙂
Happy birthday from another June girl! (My Miller Grace was a June girl, too. It's a good month!)
What an awesome praise report from Pittsburgh, everything, from the proposal, to the bridal party showing up, everything…just AWESOME!!
Happy birthday!
and enjoy your new gadgets!
Try and get some rest from all the excitement over the weekend.
blessings.
Beth,
My 2 oldest daughters and I had the MOST wonderful time with you in Pittsburgh! What a joy to worship Jesus with you and to hear God speak to our hearts! I have experienced some intense storms that left alot of broken pieces followed by the bite of the serpent. But thank You Jesus – there was no venom and our God of peace crushed the enemy under my feet! The winds and the waves were overwhelming, but I still made it to Malta.
Thank you for teaching me how to love Jesus with all my heart – even in the storms.
Happy Birthday!!!!
Susan
Lititz, Pa.
What joy. Tears, thrills and chills and laughter all in the same blog.
Thanks for sharing the details and cool stuff with us. So wanted to be there – only 3 hours from home – but just couldn't do it this time.
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day
With love,
Kim . . . who is
Grafted by Grace
Oh my…. what a way to start my Sunday morning! You are so funny!
Seems like love was in the air at the LPL event! That means God was there -Praise Him!
Hope you have a wonderful Lord's Day! Blessings dear friend!
Sister Lynn
Beth,
YOu and I share the same birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY three days early!!
Thanks for the Pittsburgh recap. Already saw the video on Travis' blog. How adorable!! My man is romantic like that and that is something that he might have done, had he had the opportunity.
God bless your Lord's Day!!
Leah
Just back from Pittsburgh myself. Six of us drove down from Canada and had a blast. Several of us feel we are in the midst of perfect storms and we bawled the entire weekend. I'm commenting in the hopes that you will post the benediction that we said over one another at the end of the conference – it was so powerful. God certainly was in the midst of us in Pittsburgh this weekend.
Beth, I am honored, privileged, and overwhelmed to tell you that I was there at LPL Pittsburgh. When our Bible study leader told us you and the praise team were coming this June (and she told us all the way back in October!) I was beside myself. When God allowed a proposal to happen right before my very eyes, I just had to jump up and down and scream with delight that He allowed me, little old me, to be part of it! Like you, I wanted to rush home and marry my husband all over again.
Oh, I could just go on and on and on but I don't want to do that in comments. Words cannot, just CANNOT, express how grateful I am for you and your whole team. Not to mention your family, who selflessly shares you with us. I felt so guilty that all of you were away from husbands, wives, kids, grandbabies, and family this weekend to minister to us here in the north, but the gratitude overtook the guilt.
Thank you, thank you, THANK you for coming to Pittsburgh, and thank you, Kevin, for thinking enough of us to share such a moment with all of us. What a profound blessing to share your HUGE moment with you and Ashley!!!
You guys are ALL the real deal and your hearts for Jesus sparked a serious fire for Him in all of us this weekend.
Happy birthday, Beth!!! Okay, I'm gonna be quiet now and go get me some baggies. Because I have an obsession with them, too. Shameful, really.
Oh Beth…
I saw that video and bawled. Sophie had it up on All Access and who doesn't love watching a sweet beautiful precious proposal???
What a weekend y'all had???!!! I had y'all in my prayers and on my heart as I celebrated some fun times at a little Keith Urban concert Friday night. 🙂
Glad you are home safe and sound. Get some rest.
Love the entire team so very much!
Hugs,
Fran
And of course a HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all. Extra blessings over each of you.
Happy Birthday
You sweet thang you!!!
I love you Beth! What an encouragement you are to me! Especially the part about the young (30 yr. old) drummer waiting for just the right girl… I have 2 sons I'm fervently praying for God to do that for them and it's hard not to anxiously look at every girl wondering if she's the ONE… haha
I'm in week 6 of Believing God and have way too many index cards already! I'm going to need new notebooks! Happy Birthday siesta!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SIESTA MAMA!!!!! WE LOVE YOU AND CALL YOU OUR BESTEST FRIEND!
GREAT POST – CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN MEMPHIS!
JUDY
Irving, Texas
Happy Birthday and YEAH!!
happy birthday Beth and as I tell my kids I am somewhere between 25- 30
One of mine is 30 and says, mom that can't be I am 30 and I tell him, honey that is your problem not mine.
or you could do as another friend does and add the number together so as she will be 75 this year she is really 12 see we have it covered.
Astrid in Texas
Dear Beth:
I was so truly blessed this weekend more than you know. God is so truly awesome. In the middle of your conference, you spoke to me and my new friend, Ginny (we both came there alone), (there is a whole other story going on with me). Our pictures were on the screen with you sitting on her lap–is there a way that will be on this blog or sent to me.
I am and still in awe over how God's way of showing up in my life is bigger and better than I would have imagined. And you say that all the time. Please try to do this for your sista. I bet that you are exhausted because I am and I didn't do hardly any talking.
I love you so much. I thank God for using you to keep me from jumping in that pit that I was so close to going in before this weekend. Be blessed and get rest.
Love Julie Belden
Beth!! I LOVED the conference this weekend! I am a young Pastors wife and mother and was so blessed! I was also thrilled to be only 3 rows behind you during worship:) I was the pregnant one!:)(I'm pretty sure you patted my back on your way to your seat Friday evening) 🙂 Anyways, thank you for your word this weekend, you are awesome!