My friend Debra wrote about her Tuesday night Bible study experience last week. I asked her to let me share it with all of you and she was sweet enough to say yes. Debra was the photographer who made the Inheritance slide show for our blog last spring. I appreciate that she’s helped me convey what our Tuesday night Bible study is like in photographs and now in written images.
Houston Girls, this is in honor of you and everything you do to make it to Bible study. We know it isn’t easy. We love you!
A Little Late
I was running a little late to bible study last night.
And so were some others.
In the midst of the craziness I could not help but smile from ear to ear.
The drive for me is about 30 or so minutes. Not too bad. I was super excited when somehow, even though I left late, I made it by 6:30 (start time). Then I realized that I was not the only one who might have gotten a late start. The car line was long and all my normal parking spots were full. The music went up, a quick “I am here” text to Lindsee was sent, and the wait began. All was going fine until the dreaded moment that my bladder started speaking to me. And please read speaking in a LOUD voice. Maybe even loud with a little screaming tension. Another text was sent to Lindsee: “Please pray my bladder holds up.” I am pregnant. I started to really worry about my, uh hem, problem, and the walk from wherever I would end up parking.
I rolled down the window and asked the Mr. Nice Police Officer about the nearest restroom. The look in his eye was almost enough to laugh about. I am guessing his reaction came from the dead serious plea in my very own eyes. “Uh, ma’am…” and basically with his eyes he said, “Nowhere close…” My best bet, he says, is to get out of line and go to a fast food joint a couple blocks back. I do it. And I laughed a lot. All by myself, laughing my head off, and trying not to go.
Uneventfully, I made it to the restaurant. And then I made it back to the line that I had waited in for 45 minutes. By now, the praise and worship portion was over and Beth was teaching. The line was still long. The women were still walking up in their fast-as-I-can-walk-in-heels pace. Finally, I made it to the last parking garage. The police officer comes to my window to share the news that the garage is full. Full, as in there is NOWHERE else available to park. No more garages to drive to or to wait for.
I spot a bunch of cars heading into a neighborhood. I decide to follow. I park along a street, making sure to obey all traffic laws, I hope. Finally I am there, sort of.
Grab the purse, Bible, and lock the door. As I started walking I noticed the people in front of me and behind. Some where on their cell phones, some chatting with friends, one crying over a bad day, but all headed in the same direction.
Together, we walked the blocks to the church. Time did not stop us. Full garages did not stop us. Even bushes did not stop us.
As I finally reached the church my smile was the largest it had been in some time.
I LOVED just being in this place where God pulled so many hearts together. It was all about Him. This generation of women are hungry for their God. It was crazy. It was beautiful. It was a lesson all on its own. My heart was happy just to be in the presence of these fellow crazy women who would come laughing and crying, hungry and tired. We were not going to a concert, we were not even going to see Beth, as lovely as she is, we were going to meet with God, to praise with our sisters, and to be reminded that yes, indeed, He LOVES us. And we love Him.
Beauty.
Today I am sporting some blisters from wearing my happy shoes. Every time I feel them I smile and remember the sights of last night.
I made it to my seat at 7:30. It was an adventure, for sure. Note to self: next week, don’t be late. All is well. I will treasure the moments and the lesson.
Love this! Thanks for sharing.
Amen!
I was late too! I parked and hiked along with everyone else.
BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!
Tomorrow night I will be there at 5:30!!! LORD WILLING!!
Thanks for the laugh!
That was the one of sweetest stories I've ever read. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing, as only a Siesta could!
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Thank you for sharing…..Love this. The message is loud and clear, gotta meet with my sisters in Christ and my GOD!!
Blessings,
Bible Bunny in NO MI
P.S. Be sure and go to the ladies room before you drive…..but then you are pregnant so that might not make much difference. 🙂
So sweet!
Perseverance….you overcomer!
Might one a "Depends" on for backup next week lol.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I would move to Houston just for the Bible study if I could. Seriously.
Congrats to all who have kept on keepin on.
That play-by-play was so sweet. I'm sure getting there will be easier soon. It seems to always straighten itself out after a couple of weeks. Literally. People finally realize that they have to park really straight in those tiny parking spaces so they're not over the lines – and everyone can have a space. Glad you had fun with the situation. Thanks for sharing her story with us, Amanda.
Girl i can relate to the bathroom stuff. every hour like clock work.. but we don't have your mom there. Thank God 🙂 we do have her bible study there Esther. only about 10 of us. Thank God. love ya, Jeanette
Angels on the Wing;Susie,please pray for me, I am seeking for work,not yet happening, trusting God for the chance to go into ministry. Very lonly for godly women in my life, and last desire of heart, a prayerful,godly man whom is patient, genttle and kind with the heart of Jesus,is there a man out there for me like that? who will not abuse me, or drink alcohol or do drugs, cause I have had enough trauma from that, and I need healing emotionally, and spiritually aboout such. Please will someone give me hope, for my faith and hope is wearing thin, Please dear Jesus,hear my plea!!!! In Jesus Name, I ask,amen. angels on the wing!!!! susiexoxooxoxo
The amazing thing is while I was perusing the different blogs last week, I specifically read this post. Out of all the posts to read – I love God and His ways.
Siesta OC
Thanks for sharing! Very sweet.
"We were not going to a concert, we were not even going to see Beth, as lovely as she is, we were going to meet with God, to praise with our sisters, and to be reminded that yes, indeed, He LOVES us. And we love Him." AMEN! I have only had the opportunity to be at a live event a couple of times, but this is how I felt too. We just moved and I miss my home girls Bible study too. Looking forward to the blessing of new home girls!
Loved this!
Where in the world was this bible study? I guess when I read Beth's blog about the Houston bible study I pictured someone's home with a small sweet group of women…HA!
And do ALL women in Texas where heels everywhere they go? I was in Texas a little over a month ago and I'm telling you I didn't see a whole lot of comfort shoes! I love you Texas siestas!
oh this is just so sweet. How I wish in my neck of the woods you saw ladies nearly sprinting for bible study…. I would be at the front…just loved this story and how you thought of us siestas.
Hopefully tomorrow you will not have to sprint and get your potty break too. Enjoy your study.
love and blessings
Way to perse-dang-vere!!
And though you didn't comment to this effect, I am sure that God blessed your perseverance with some special nugget that night–He knew you were going to make it just in time for what he had for you! Thanks for sharing; I was cracking up the whole time. P.S. I can't believe the church has a parking garage. You all must have as many parishioners as we have in our entire city.
AMEN!!!
Aw!!! Love it!!!
Awww, so glad she made it to a restroom and to bible study!
Oh, I will miss you tomorrow night- I usually drive from Austin and connect with my Houston friends- for many personal reasons I am "stuck" and cannot get to Houston- so lots of love and blessings for tomorrow night- I am awed as Beth shares how God is speaking to her through this study- To all of you who make this opportunity possible- Thank you!!! There is no way to share how appreciative and honored we are to be a part of this ministry- we are a part of something AMAZING- God Bless
I love hearing these stories!
:o)
I agree it would all be worth it to just to gather with other sisters and worship and do some good Bible Study. Fortunately for me, parking was not a problem at out Esther study (I'm loving it already). It was getting a seat so you could see and write at the table that was challenging. Now that is a problem I don't mind having!
I have been looking on lproof.org for the past few days for a sheet that we were supposed to print and put in the slipcover of our notebook.
Beth talked about it last week. I must be looking in the wrong spot because I cannot find it anywhere?
Can you please tell me where it is?
Thanks!
PS I memorized my verse from Rev 17:14 already
They will make war against the LAMB but the LAMB will overcome them because HE is Lord of lords and King of kings and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers.
AMEN!
Lord, please find me faithful!
Thanks for sharing this sweet, sweet story! Praise Jesus for all of us getting to be in His presence. Blessings!
Wow, what a great example to me about positive attitude! I am sad to say that all I could think while I was reading this was that if I were in the same situation I would have been frustrated with the traffic and an anxious mess because I was missing something. I need to remember this the next time I am late, sitting in traffic and/or held up by other people. I need to be joyful in the moment and let God teach me in the waiting.
Heather
And we know it isn't easy for y'all to put such a thing together! Only Jesus, and HE is so worth every headache trying to make it to bible study. As your mama would say, "He is LIFE!" And life is simply crazy sometimes. Crazy and beautiful!
Thank y'all for all you do to make it happen, and for doing it with excellence.
Debra, you know I love you and that I'm glad you found a bathroom.
Amen to running late! You know, more than a few lives were saved on 9/11 because they ran late that day! Praise Him for lessons learned by tardiness!
That is so sweet!
I love being in Bible study with my fellow sisters.
Our ladies started "The Inheritance" last night at our church and we had 35 in attendance. It was wonderful! I attend a Baptist church, but half of the women who came last night go to other churches in our community. Isn't that amazing?!!
I'm so thankful for Bible study and for my Heart to Heart Sisters. We are blessed to have this privilege.
Thanks for sharing this great story.
Sometimes I wish I lived a little closer to Houston. 🙁
I'll be there in Jan. though!!!
Only He would be worth all of that to get there on Tuesday nights. There is nothing quite like worshipping on Tuesday nights with 4,000 other women; nothing quite like it!!!
To Susie (angel on a wing):
HANG IN THERE! A good man is hard to find, but there is One who gave His life for you and He's all you need to be whole. He loves you and cannot wait to hear your voice and rescue you from this sometimes ugly world. If you give Him all your attention and focus you will not be disappointed…He will NEVER let you down.
I know it can be lonely without an "other half" but you can just know that a lot of women who are married can feel lonely too. I have learned (and it sounds like you have too) that lonely is better than in a pit. You are so wise to wait on the Lord for someone who loves Him like you do. I will be praying that your Divine Husband will make His presence real to you today; and every day.
Love Ya Sis!
What a wonderful & beautiful post. Thank you!
Debra thank you for allowing Amanda to share this! what a blessing to all you read it!
Oh how I miss Tuesday night Bible Study!!! I remember the first time I went…I had NO idea. I called my mom from the parking lot after the study, as I was waiting in line to exit, a very, very long line. "You will not believe where I am!!! You will not believe the line there is to get out!" What sweet, sweet fellowship and what a precious anointing of the Lord each time was.
Lindsee. You made me laugh once again, and you know I love to laugh with you. Tonight, my friend, tonight.
Thanks, Debra- I had decided not to go tonight but then just thought i'd PEEK at the blog….hmmm there i read:" I LOVED just being in a place where God had pulled so many hearts together!" and "my heart leapt" (my quote) I was Happy (isn't that JOY?) too last week so i guess i will "drop the ball" and head off for some joy tonight… i really do want to be among the "called, chosen and faithful" thanks Amanda for this blog! do i need to note this in my revelation notebook. ( Ha! I'd prefer to call it my apocalypse file for shock value !)
This is incredible. The LORD revealed a mystery to me yesterday and in the center of the words He gave me: "Understanding, Might, Acknowledgment, Crown, Knowledge, Foundation, Kingdom, Wisdom, Lovingkindness and Victory" was the word "Beauty"….and I pondered it. I knew in the Spirit it meant more than my limited knowledge of Beauty…the word Beauty seemed to speak to me of Christ or Holiness as I pondered it, and then this Post "A Little Late" made "Beauty" crystal clear. He is our beauty and we are His beauty. I am smiling too.
Thank you so much Amanda for sharing with all we Siestas what Debra wrote and experienced at Houston Tuesday Night Bible Study! What a blessing…
Hugs in Him,
Pam H.
Buena Park, CA
Roxanne –
/biblestudies/fall2009/
oh i love my sweet debra and lindseelou!!
Oh, thank you for sharing! I, too, had a difficult time last week! My issue was that the parking lots were full (even though I was there on time) and that the church van (we drive from Conroe) was Too Tall to fit in the parking garages. One particular Mr. Nice Parking Garage Guy told us that we could fit, but I think that he could hear us all squealing as we tried to get under that swinging yellow bar. You know, the one that says something like, "If you are trying this and you hit me, then you are really not a good judge of size and perhaps should have your vision checked". You know, something like that. Any way, he and his buddy were laughing at the fact that we were all hunched down inside of the van, as if ducking would cause the van itself to obey our wishes and crouch down as well.
He let us park in the handicap spot, right inside of the entrance, since it would have been even more difficult to get the entire line of cars to back out and let me around. Really, quite ridiculous! But, we tried!
Perhaps tonite we should all pile on a Vespa!
Looking forward to it!
This brought back memories of plodding through Houston traffic to get to Beth's Bible studies. So worth it in the end, but the journey was frustrating sometimes. Now that I live 900 miles away I would gladly go around 610 during rush hour to get to meet with all of you precious siestas. I miss y'all so much.
Wow! In my little town, I have never had to work that hard to get to bible study and I'd consider half-an-hour a long drive to get to bible study! That would mean me going to another town and I always find one in Moscow, so I don't have to drive that far. Interesting how your point of view is different depending on where you live.
Hey Debra:)
Thanks for posting that, you have a heart for God that is inspiring:) You are content no matter your circumstances here and that is a blessing for me to see:)
Bless your heart! Pregnant, late, and needing to find a parking spot and go to the restroom!
katiegfromtennessee
Especally for Jesus Chick, and all my other sisters in Christ, I must say that I was so comforted from your response, you know Jesus is our Husband in the Spirit, and to be reminded that He alone knows all about me, and cares for the desire of my heart, you gave me hope and for a day or two it was wearing thin. Praise God, he doesnt want me to settle just for anyone, but Glory to God, in His time, he will fullfill my hearts desire. But my first Hearts desire is to go into the ministry full time, I need to go to Seminary Collage, and that is the most important thing to me in this whole wide world, to serve Him ,to share His Word with the world, and to see so many healed and saved through His Blood Atonement,and to see many receive Christ and receive the anointing upon them, this is my main focus, so as He lives I can face tommorrow, and thank you for being there at a very present help in trouble. Praise God for all His Benefits, I stand on Deuteronomy 28, read it , it sets me free indeed!!!!!!!Love you so Jesus Chick, and I am one too, love in the Holy Spirit and thank you reminding me that I am not alone, for He is ever with me and each of us.God Bless, Angels on the Wing!!!!!!Susiexoxoxoox
LOVE IT! I'm going to share it with the women in my bible study today – we start Stepping Up this morning.
Littleton, CO
I am also attending your home bible study for my first time ever! I have been doing your bible studies since 2004, one or two a year and four years ago we moved to Willis, TX. A year or so later it dawned on me she only lives an hour away!! lol…needless to say a couple ladies in my church who have been to several of your bible studies were talking about going and I jumped in the carpool!! It has been a BLAST! I was fortunate to get there an hour early, stand in line and watch women go as fast as they can without breaking the "no running" rule! I was so excited last night because I was able to get a seat in the very front section! Can you tell I'm excited! And oohh…powerful message from God last night! Our carpool drives for about an hour or hour and a half and just our conversations on the way home have been constant goosebump God moments!
Lovin' every minute of it!
Ivy Morrison
Willis, TX
Priceless! Thanks for bringing a smile to my day.
Lori (aka tolkienfan)
That is great! It's amazing to hear that so many women are battling time, traffic, and their bladders in order to fellowship and live (not just learn) God's word. I am moving to Houston in just a few short weeks and look forward to joining with all you other women of this generation in Bible study.