I’ve been thinking about something since a week ago Saturday that I’m not sure I can articulate well. I’m going to give it a shot, though. Over the couple of years we’ve shared this community, I’ve seen enough of you refer to teaching Bible studies or speaking at retreats or to various groups that it may, should God care to use it, answer a few questions. Or, then again, it could more likely save you the energy of asking them. Some things are just a mystery.
Like callings.
And grace.
And how much of an accomplished work has anything to do with human vessels or are we of no consequence whatsoever. The question is not, could God use anybody? We know that’s a yes. It’s not even, does God prefer weakness so He can show Himself strong? That’s also a clear yes. What’s less clear is how much that “weak-anybody” has one iota’s bearing on what God does with him from then on. And, what are the differences between the times we are called upon by God to labor intensely toward a victory with every last ounce of energy we have (Colossians 1:29) and times when we just stand there and watch God do the thing like we weren’t even there. Or maybe we see nothing happen at all and go home in near despair, only for somebody to drop a note to us and say, “God spoke the word to me that day that I’ve waited all my life to hear.” Sometimes they quote what they heard and you know good and well it wasn’t you who said it. God talked around you instead of through you.
So, what part is God and what part is man? Twenty-five years in, I have no idea. And, I’m just weird enough to be strangely exhilarated by the fresh pulsation that I don’t. Yes, of course, we’re told to walk worthy of our callings (Ephesians 4:1) but could we walk worthy enough to enjoy a consistent, full-throttle Presence and anointing?
I doubt it.
If these are simple questions with simple answers, you may not have been around this bend often enough yet. Ask some folks who’ve spent decades at podiums like Kay Arthur, Anne Graham Lotz, Louie Giglio, James McDonald, and a host of others the devil hasn’t yet harassed into quitting and they might agree that some things get more mysterious with time. Not less.
There are too many things that don’t make sense. For communicators who give one whit about being honest-to-God (I mean that literally) Spirit-led, filled, and anointed servants, there’s no finding a formula. There’s no learning how to hit and not miss. There is no exact list and order of Spiritual disciplines to practice. Fasting every Monday, for instance, may seem to be the key attraction of God’s favor for a while but it soon wears off and you consider whether or not to add Tuesday. Nothing “works” every time. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in fasting. I’m just saying that, if you think you can use it to induce God’s unwavering favor, you’re probably going to get pretty hungry. There is no secret PIN number for His ATM. It’s God’s safeguard for keeping us from being more committed to our disciplines than to Him.
Here are a few other things I’ve learned about gifted speaking. There is no physical condition or best mood to be in. There is no amount of self-abhorrence, self-flagellation, competence or confidence to make you best suited for a mighty work of God. There is no perfect place, format, or group where “it” happens without fail. There is no type of message that never falls flat. Or, there hasn’t been for me. There’s simply no outsmarting it. Absolutely no mastering it.
We’re splitting hairs here so stay with me until your mind gets good and muddled and only then will you get what I’m trying to say. To be sure, there are some basic ways we can cooperate with God for consistency and fruitfulness. Thank You, Lord. There are ways we can intentionally live our lives to His great glory and serve and love in His beautiful name. Bless You, Father. If not, in our earthbound wanderings, how ironically lost would we, the saved, be? But, as those who have the gall or call, responsibility or culpability to stand before a group of listeners, is there any way to insure that God will bless a message with a significant work of His Spirit?
I’m not talking here about manipulating God or trying to make Him behave. I’m not talking about trying to get Him to make you look good. I’m talking about the sheer attempt to prepare well enough, pray thoroughly enough, be humble enough (and not be proud of it) or do it all right enough in His eyes for Him to always perceptibly bless it. Honestly, there are just times when we disagree with God about what is best for Him.
What I’m talking about here is almost indefinable. I’d more easily be able to tell you how it feels than tell you what it is and yet sometimes it’s there and there’s no feeling it at all. Muddled yet? The closest I can come to naming it is God’s anointing and, if that’s the long and short of it, no wonder we can’t tame it or formulize it. The very nature of divine favor is that it is unmerited. And the very nature of God being God is that He is sovereign. As the Psalmist says, Our God is in the heavens and He does what He has pleased.
For the life of me I can’t figure out the common denominator tying together the times God really shows up. Two things are for certain. Sometimes He shows up without us even knowing it. Other times we’ll be positive He’s coming and later think He must have googled the wrong address.
This speaking thing is baffling. Beyond mastery. It’s not for the fainthearted or the full-of-themselves. Unless a person is certifiably clueless or narcissistic beyond all hope of recovery, he or she will soon discover that what ego it builds, it also tears down. What wins out at the end of any given year is a total toss-up. In human reckoning, you could be brilliant one moment and a drooling fool the next. You can give the same message three times and the Holy Spirit hit like a lightning bolt, give it a fourth time with the same passion and authenticity and have it fall, to quote my grandmother, flatter than a flitter. I’ve never known what a flitter is but I am more than sure I’ve been flatter.
Think twice before you beg to be up front. This is the kind of thing you only want to do if you can’t keep from it. If God ever throws you up there, best to just keep your ego out of it. You can either be crucified to self or let God give you a good killing right in front of everybody. You better learn quickly and repeatedly that it’s not about you and that self-loathing is as self-absorbed as inordinate self-love. And, whatever you do, don’t get into the rut of letting your personal devotional time with God get supplanted by preparations to speak or teach. The enemy will put few subtler temptations in front of you. Every decent Bible student knows we reap what we sow but the tricky part is the sizable time gap that can occur between that sowing and reaping. When it stretches over a considerable amount of time, we think we’re getting away with it. Maybe God’s even blessing it. In His strange way, you may not see the fall-out of the loss of lively, daily relationship with Him for months but make no mistake. It’s coming. It’s a slow bleed and often you’re not aware that the lifeblood has left you until you are stone-cold dead. Thank goodness God has a penchant for resurrections. You better guard your intimacy with Him like your dying breath.
God’s love for us and our value before Him are insurmountable and unwavering. Our daughter-ship or son-ship is unconditional. His worthiness is unquestionable. Let me say that again. His worthiness is unquestionable. These are the things that must occupy us. These are the underpinnings of our security as His laborers in this harvest of souls. Things like our fitness or spiritual performance or numbers don’t just ebb and flow. They shake like a bottle of oil and vinegar duct taped to a jackhammer.
I’ve thought about this off and on for twenty years and two hundred reasons but I’ll tell you what brought it all up on this blog.
Remember last weekend’s simulcast? Those of you who participated may remember me saying that I’d had such big plans for it. As well as I know how to decipher it, not selfish or temporal plans. I honestly believed that so many women giving up their Saturdays were worthy of much deliberation, study, and preparation. And it goes without saying that God was worthy of those things and more. I felt like He must have been up to something strange and remarkably eternal to have put together numbers of women none of us could have anticipated. My plan was to give a profuse amount of time to preparation and illustration so that I could actually be familiar enough with my material not to do my usual thing. My normal approach is something like – let me think of a delicate word for it – regurgitation. I seldom hit a platform unprepared but no one is going to accuse me of being impressively organized. For the most part, a thousand bites of information are swirling around like butterflies in my stomach and I just get up there and throw it all up.
The simulcast was to be the exception. I got home late the Saturday night before from a Living Proof Live in Florida and headed to church only to get a text from my firstborn, Amanda, telling me that her husband, Curtis, wasn’t feeling well and suspected something could really be wrong. In no time at all, he was in surgery with what his surgeon called an appendix that had gone off like a grenade. After sitting with Amanda at the hospital through the surgery, I moved into her house with my two beloved grandchildren and she moved into the hospital with her beloved man. That’s the way we spent the better part of four days.
Just like yours, our family comes first so I can honestly tell you that I had no second thoughts and, needless to say, not the least resentment. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything nor would I want to miss the next round. I have no intention of forfeiting my grandparent rights and responsibilities. I love Jackson and Annabeth like I love my own two daughters. Every minute I spent with them was my honor and joy and, yes, delightfully hard work. Every now and then I’d look up at the heavens and say something like, “Lord, I sure hope you’re preparing for Saturday while I’m keeping babies!”
And He was. He’s always faithful.
By late Wednesday night, Amanda took back the reins and her in-laws arrived first thing Thursday. At that point, my thoughts shifted totally to the simulcast. By Saturday morning, the Lord had graciously helped me prepare the two lessons. I was fine with them. Not fabulous with them but at peace. They were meaningful to me and appropriate for the occasion, I think, but, alas, not what I had planned. (Please don’t think I’m fishing for encouragement here. It would deflect severely from the point.)
This is where you come into the story. A few hours after the simulcast concluded Amanda called me and told me that comments were already coming in on the blog and that I ought to give them a glance. She thought I’d be blessed. I did and she was right, I was so thankful to God and was absolutely certain -100% – that anything of value was His doing. Then I came upon a comment I will never forget. It was posted at exactly 6:29. It said something like this: “I will always remember that we studied Ephesians 4:24 on 4/24.” (April 24th) Somebody may as well have hit me in the head with a sledge hammer. I went completely slack-jawed and stared at those words over and over. It had never – not once – dawned on me that God had given me Ephesians 4:24 (which was our primary verse and the whole theme of the simulcast) for 4/24. He’d given that verse to me several months earlier to memorize then I began to feel that it was His leadership toward our gathering. Still, I’d never put the reference with the date. I wasn’t that clever but God surely was. Here’s the verse. See it from the point of view of the person who has decided to put her insecurity behind her:
“put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
He’d had it all along. Planned it to a tee. Didn’t mean for it to be complicated. Wasn’t interested in a flawless delivery. Didn’t even need it to be great. Any jar of clay would do because anything happening on the visible platform was virtually incidental…as long as it didn’t quench the Spirit. All God had in mind to do was cut through the layers of technology until we could see straight into the beating heart of the Gospel: Jesus Christ can change your life.
That’s it. Plain and simple.
I love the mysterious side of God. I love that we can’t figure Him out. I love that He honors us by choosing us and humbles us by not even needing us. I love that He is wholly beyond formulas and manipulations, because goodness knows I’m not.
I love Him.
So, what do we do with all of this since we don’t know one iota more than we did? Just keep doing what we’re called to do. In season. Out of season. When we feel good. When we don’t. Believe Him to do something huge. Trust Him when you can’t even tell He did something small. Keep your heart in it and your big head out of it.
He’s the only one who can make it happen. As for us, we don’t even know what “it” is.
“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us.” Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT
Amen, Beth!
I keep finding myself reading this post again… I read it this morning prior to going work, I received it in an email when I arrived at work. Though I am totally amazed the the 4/24 connection and I did not pick up on it on my own. I was blown away at complete blog but two point resignate in me. The state about there not being a secret PIN number for Gods ATM and to guard your intimacy with your dying breath. I had taken a step backwards in my journey of security, so many people have a recipe for success, I realized today that if I guard my intimacy with Him, He will show me the steps to overcome my insecurity. I have come a long way but with a step backward was discouraged… but He get that and will help me gain that step back. Thank you Beth for words.
Amen~ Isaiah 33:6 He will be your sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
OK, I am a little muddled but here are my thoughts that came up and I fear that would muddle things even more but I am going to share anyway.
I know that in the last 10 years, the aspiring to be a christian speaker is all the rage (or so I hear). Almost like a fad only “Christian”. To add to that, the LORD has tapped me on the shoulder to teach/speak (whatever)Oct. 2005.Gasp. But I can share that in every “platform” HE gives whether its 200 women or 12 in a room, I tremble with fear inside because HE has a WORD, not me. And the more I am willing to go deeper, the more LIFE HE throws at me so as to give what is being said has some shred of credibility. Struggle, Pain, Trials, Suffering, Joy, Victory, Crawling to the Throne room…so I say to anyone who thinks they should do this speaking thing because it is so wonderful and lets be like Beth, I say LOOK OUT because the LORD is in charge and HE will use whomever in whatever circumstances He so desires. Face to the ground humble is a requirement knowing that if God did not lift up my head, I’d still be eating dirt! And on any given day I need to be knocked back down there (and He does)!
Beth, I would have never even BELIEVED GOD that he would call me to teach, had I not been through Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby then in 2004 took the online Believing GOD bible study BY MYSELF at 4am (had little ones) and balled my eyes out every single morning. After being a believer since I was 8, I always thought that God picked the pretty ones, the thinner ones, the “spiritual talkers” and whoever else, but not me. My sin of unbelief ended during your BG bible study and I am forever grateful to God for revealing that to me. Much love to you..Shelly
PS–I was in Tampa for LPM and still reeling from the Word God gave me re: my family. Awesome.
Hi Beth,
I just love reading your posts. I may not understand or comprehend all that you say but I always love the ending. I have truly grown to love God and His word in the last 20 years with your help. I have learned so much through you, Kay Arthur, Dennis Jernigan, Pricilla Shirer and Charles Stanley then I ever learned in church. I did have a couple of ministers that taught me a lot. I have a tendency to look at others, their actions and words, and think to myself they don’t get it. I do feel like a stranger in the land. With your blogs I feel like I can read and respond with God in mind and not wondering what someone is going to think about what I have said. (Maybe insecurity there) I don’t claim to be a perfect child of God because I am far from it but I do know that I am His child, He does have plans for me and that there is a satan who wants things his way. Sometimes I get the impression from most people that they don’t really believe that we are either on Gods side or on Satans side. It’s as simple as that. I want to be on God’s side. God is so awesome in what He does. It just takes spending time with Him to see what He does and to give Him the glory. Of course it’s usually hindsight. I give God the glory for the simulcast weekend. It was a great time and a great time spent with my daughter who has been 210 miles from home going to school. I pray God instilled something into her that day that she will be reminded of in the days to come. How I want her to come to know God intimately.
Thank you Beth for all that you do and may God continue to do a good work in you all the days of your life.
Bless us all.
Wow! Well said, Beth. No matter how hard I try to “figure God out”, I can’t fathom what He is doing and why. That’s why this is the verse on my spiral this month:
Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”
Thank you, Beth, for being so courageously vulnerable. Blessings on you and your whole family.
I love you, Beth. Thank you for being His vessel.
Dear Beth,
I have sung a song several times that says,” may all who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe, and the lives we lead, inspire them to obey. Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful!” Your ministry to me, helps me to be faithful. Yes, God could have used anyone, but He chose you, for such a time as this, to teach me what He wants me to know. It is my deepest prayer that my 3 children and my grandchildren will find me faithful, but mostly that my Father in Heaven finds me faithful. Thank you for being a willing vessel who stays faithful!! Much Love to You!
My prayer partner shared that you had posted on your blog since the Simulcast and I had to run home and read it. You called out Kodiak, Alaska twice during the event and that only re-affirmed just how special each of the “ones” truly is. Your words are encouraging in ways that are difficult to quantify at the moment.
To know that it is part of the process to not know what God will do when you go to present what he’s been working on inside of you serves as yet another example of God’s grace on each one of us. 4/24 will forever be a special day as that was the day I FINALLY listened to God’s whisper that I was indeed forgiven. It’s been a wild ride since and I am loving every minute of intimacy with God. He’s definitely doing a new thing and as you so eloquently put it, I don’t actually know what this new thing is, but I have such overflowing joy and peace from it that I HAVE to share it with those around me.
Thank you dear sister, for the encouragement, for your obedience, for your devotion, and your transparency. May God continue to use you to HIS glory.
I really shouldn’t read the things you write this late at night because now God keeps stirring in my mind these convictions, and treasures He wants to reveal to me.
I feel like this was a (good) punch in the stomach, as in, So often I just want to be doing something BIG for God. Of course you can do big things for God in what the world considers small but I mean, as I go through college I have this huge dreams but so often we, I, leave God out of that because I mean, leading worship, counseling, and missions are all godly good things. But, that’s not for me to choose. I know the passions God has put in my heart for specific ministries; but that’s for Him to lead and not for me to choose.
Oh so many more thoughts going on in my head right now 🙂
Dear Siesta Beth,
I have actually cheered God on to meet my own writing deadlines! I have taken a day off of work to write. Indeed, I took the day off work, prayed, praised, worshiped, and then sat down to write. “C’mon, let’s do it God.” More cheerleading to God. Nothing, nada, zilch. Took the day off work, praised Him, prayed to Him and nothing. I reminded Him several times that I knew I could not write without Him. I also reminded Him that I needed to write THAT day. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. The next day comes. I’m feeling pressured now. All day -nothing. That night, I’m relaxed, sitting and watching American Idol and my Faithful Father “just gives it to me”. The words are coming too quick for me to type. My Faithful Father, answered with His perfect timing, not mine! 🙂 I tried to plan it out, but He answered not when I PREPARED, but when I was UNPREPARED!!!! I cannot speak or write on my own. Speaking, writing, whatever God calls us to do, there is no method, except for a humble heart trusting in Him. (and kicking pride out the door every time it tries to rear it’s head!) To God be all the Glory, for without Him I am nothing. GOD IS IN THE DETAILS! I BELIEVE AND I KNOW IT! Jesus Bless you and yours precious Beth!!!
I loved this post Beth. As I watched the simulcast I kept thinking, ‘how could she be at all prepared with all that was going on in her life?’ But then of course I remembered who was really ‘in charge’ of that simulcast, and took a sigh of relief.
I SO connected with your post. Just when we think we’ve found a ‘formula’ or a scripture that opens our eyes… just when we think we’ve figured out God, He always but sometimes not so gently corrects us. I can always count on that! He is very good at telling me, ‘girl, you can try all as hard as you can, but you will not ‘figure me out’… I know that now. The more I try to NOT figure God out- the more I can relax and let Him speak to me. But is that just another formula to figure Him out?
I ate a wonderful lunch sitting outside at the simulcast, sitting next to a women whom I didn’t know, but had a wonderful visit with. A great event Beth… All over the country!
So I will end with what the dear woman, Teddy, continued to say to me throughout our lunch together. “God is Good all the time- and all the time God is Good. God is Good, He is Good, He is Good!” A woman who’s son died six years ago that week. It is what keeps her going she said. So now that keeps me going. If she can get through that without trying to ‘figure God out’ or ‘understand God’s formula’- and simply concentrate on “God is Good”… I’ll get through my stuff too. Thanks Teddy, it was great meeting you!
Thank you for this post. My mom began to teach a women’s Bible study last Sunday. She was so nervous she was shaking and felt like she did a horrible job. She doesn’t do much computer-wise, so I printed your blog post off and mailed it to her. My mom is very competent and will do wonderfully, but she just doesn’t feel like she does. I also offered to let her read my “So Long Insecurity” book. 🙂
Praise Him for a post that had more things I needed to read than I can count.
Wow. Just wow. I am always amazed at His power and love.
I wanted to share how amazing God is–through you, Beth that has carried me the last month. I have been following the blog and reading the book, but due to our life circumstances right now, missed the simulcast. About a month ago I woke up in a fog, said ‘good morning’ to God and in my muddled mind YOUR VOICE said back to me “Don’t let the Devil steal your confidence, girlfriends!!!” I didn’t understand it, it make no sense at the time, and I figured I had been too focused on the book, much of what was in the book reminded me of a Life Today taping that you did awhile back where you said these words. Within the next hour I had Joyce Meyer on tv—NEVER have the two of you said the same words–even if you teach on the same topic or verse. That show, one hour later, Joyce said the words, “Don’t let the devil steal your confidence”–okay, she left out the girlfriends!!—BUT–I took note, wow, that was too much–but I still didn’t understand it–I was fine. ONE HOUR later I received a devastating blow—IT ALL MADE SENSE now. God was warning me, preparing me, and comforting me. I can tell you, that even though that day was very difficult and things continue to be, God used your simple sentence to comfort me and let me know I am loved and not alone!
Thank you! You met me and my husband at last July’s taping of Life Today (his Valentine gift to me was the trip)and you signed my ‘feathers from my nest’ book–with the final words, “TRUST HIM” I know that I can and do–He knows me and HE knew that I needed to be prepared in just that way for what was to come. THANK YOU!
I didn’t get to go to the simulcast, but I did read the book. My son had a special olympic event to go to.
This last year I was surprised when a teen-aged girl came up and asked if I would be her mentor for confirmation this year. I was very honored, but I really had to pray about it as I had a tragic event occur in my life right after I was confirmed as a teen. After much prayer, I really felt the LORD lead me to it. I never shared this with the young girl, but I did share a few strongholds that were broken by HIM. It is not by coincidence that my bible study group is doing Breaking Free.
Confirmation was this last Sunday. I got the most beautiful card and hug and wonderful expression from this beautiful girl in Christ. The next day I read about the plunder that the LORD allowed the Israelites to take after captivity. This beautiful girl told me her name means a precious stone.
HE is the most wonderful, compassionate teacher. HE knows the hearts that we teach, and the hearts that are teaching it! Don’t you just love the way HE puts it all together?! In His Grace and Mercy, Your sister in CHRIST
This really blessed me as well as that Saturday. I know I’ve been called and have dealt with the insecurity of how and why me. You understand or explain, you just have know that you know that you know. He is and always will be! No form, fashion or formula.
I thank God for you and your ministry. Keep on keeping it real.
SIMPLY AMAZED at how God can use anything big or small to speak VOLUMES!! The 4/24 thing….BIG for me and TIMELY!!
You know – this post today just kinda falls right in with what took place at our house last night. I just love how God affirms and confirms things in our hearts with such generous grace in the form of His servants – like you my friend.
My husband is a pastor and I know full well what you are saying. There are times that the Holy Spirit has just fallen HARD on the sanctuary when he is preaching and it may have been just a simple sermon. It may have been the least likely sermon to have had such a huge outpouring of spirit. It helps us to see that it’s not about my husband – it’s not about us – it’s all about Jesus.
Last night – a young man and his wife came by our house fairly late. They just needed to talk and they just needed Jesus. They both accepted Christ last night and they said they want to be working for Him the rest of their days!!!! Yes, Lord – it doesn’t even have to be a Sunday – – or at church. Just like you said, God does it when He is ready and it’s of no consequence to us. He just uses who is available.
Love to you Beth –
Beth Herring
God is truly amazing.
Thank you Beth for your honesty and down to earth approach to life,spiritual and temporal. I sat here and read this blog and by the end was shedding a few tears. Our God is so amazing and I just love and will never understand how He works but that’s what makes Him God!
Blessing Siesta Mom
Beth,
While reading all of the responses to your latest blog, I remembered…the weekend of the simulcast.
I was driving in my car and your name popped up. We all knew how your body needed rest and yet this awesome responsibility was before you then…family happened.
My prayer that Friday afternoon, “Lord, Beth needs a miracle this weekend.”
I love this… He said, “Done”.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m a missionary and have been in the pit today. I’ve been feeling like nobody cares that we’re here and so why should we be? But, you’ve just reminded me that it’s not about me – it’s about Him working through me. Thanks for pushing me towards the “light”.
Also, I wanted to share that we’ve been doing your Esther study as a missionary community and it has been such a huge blessing. It seems that every week something different meets one of us exactly where we are. Thanks for doing what you do!
Hi there, I just wanted to pass on a thank you to Beth for this book. I was invited to the event last Saturday and then promptly purchased the book afterward. I read it non-stop and cried most of the way through. I am a mom of four boys and have been married for 16 years. Some of the information was a confirmation of things the Lord had brought me through in my marriage in the past.I had huge insecurities and jealousy in the past toward my husband. Thankfully Jesus helped and healed me. At the time I had cried out to God saying “Please just take away my jealousy and insecurity” I felt like the Lord replied to me saying “I won’t take it away but I will walk with you through it” I had to work hard in praying for forgiveness for comparison. thanking Jesus for how he made me, and proclaiming a few key scriptures over and over until I believed them. I have had freedom now for many years in this area. It is wonderful. Unfortunately, my insecurities have cropped up in new areas…fear of illness, death etc. So, back to my main point… thank you for this book! I am applying the principals in your book to these new areas of struggle. I know Jesus will be faithful to walk with me and see me through it to freedom! Thank you also for your vulnerability and transparency in your writing, I was also a child who had sexual abuse inflicted apon her at a young age. It was freeing to hear you share your pain as often people who have experienced this feel shame (unfounded shame) in telling others about it. It can’t be easy to write so openly and candidly but it makes you so relatable and loveable as well as encourages others to be transparent. Thank you ,thank you, thank you! I feel like you are my sister even though I’ve never met you.So, I love you my sister and keep on with what you are doing so very well!
Does anyone else feel vunerable after sending in a comment? I am searching for heart knowledge that I am love by God and I think this is coming from insecurity that I have felt all my life. And yes I have read the book, heard the CD and when to the simulcast. Beth you have become very special to me over this last year. I want to “get” where you are now, but am very stuck. Thank you for your ministry for all of us women!…Rebecca
Okay, so this may be unrelated to this post, but I wanted to share it somewhere and “communicate” seemed to be a good place. I am wondering if you have any Bible studies or series that deal with GOSSIPING? I am so apalled at what I see going on around me with friends/women/minstries/support groups etc. where gossip by one or two can ruin the whole entire place and ministry. Why do people seem to take this SIN so lightly??? I believe it to be the NUMBER ONE cause of dissent and bitterness among Christians and people will just justify it with “well, I shouldn’t say this, but….” and just go right along spreading false information and hurting others, even ruining reputations. Something must be done or I feel this is going to keep a lot of people from being where they need with God at this point in time and history. It must build a wall between them and God…I can’t stand it!
“Communicator” I didn’t realize that is what you are or prefer to be called, instead of “teacher”! I really like that!!!!! Thank you for being willing to be used by God to communicate His love to us!!!!!!!!!
lovingly, Barb
Beautifully put. Thank you.
You said it beautifully, Beth. It is so incredibly humbling to see God using my obedience to bring glory to His name, even when I feel like I’ve been a miserable failure.
I finally found some time to catch up on my blog reading. I read, with interest, this particular post because I spoke on 5/1 to 350 ladies at our church’s Spring Tea. You nailed it. We are just the lump of clay. Thank you for the reminder that God is the one who causes anything good to happen in the heart of the hearer. I am only called to be obedient.
From my 13 year old daughter. When you are in a battle, the people in the front take the most hits. The people in the back tend to be a “rear guard” for surprise attacks from behind. The soldiers in the middle are usually supportive. They help cover those in the front. Pretty amazing for a 13 year old.
Kels, Redding, CA
Beth,
Everything you write always rings true with me…I always feel like a kindred spirit with you….I thank God for you and your ministry… I am perplexed at how up and down my life often is but Ephesians 5:1 has set me free: “Be imitators of God therefore, as dearly loved children, live a life of love, just as Christ gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The part of the verse that has jumped out at me is “as dearly loved children…I just keep telling myself I am a dearly loved child, I keep just telling God I am your dearly loved child…whenever I feel like I am weak, or feel down…I know I am God’s dearly loved child….simple, but it has silenced all the defeated thoughts I tend to think….you have no idea how dynamic your simulcast has been to me and my coworker…I didn’t even invite her…cause I assumed that because she is Catholic she wouldn’t be interested in going…she asked me if she could go…I was so thrilled….we were singing and praising the Lord during the worship time! on Monday, she was telling me how she finally decided to forgive her sister and I know it is a good witness to her mother …we encourage each other to remember to put on the new self each day at work…The Lord is pouring out His blessings on us despite all the constant battles that occur at work. And a key point for me is the last letter of secure…being Exceptional….that is what I want to be…for the sake of my unsaved or backslidden family members and neighbors…thank you Beth for being an exceptional witness…and thanks be to God who is able to do immeasureably more than we can ever imagine or hope… for….
I love this:
“Just keep doing what we’re called to do. In season. Out of season. When we feel good. When we don’t. Believe Him to do something huge. Trust Him when you can’t even tell He did something small. Keep your heart in it and your big head out of it.”
We are currently serving in South Asia, and have had all sorts of random difficulties (spiritual warfare) in the past few months. But it does not change our calling, so we are doing our best to stand firm. Thanks for your words…they really resonated with me, especially in this particular season.
Dear Beth, I just had to comment on this post. As a speaker/teacher, I too, have mulled over the same questions! What a blessing to read your thoughts. It is a Mystery!THANK YOU for the challenge of not neglecting our personal devotions! I get so excited when I am preparing, to deliver a message. I cannot wait to sit in my office, and continue studying, oh, the thrill! And even though, I am knee deep, in The Word and commentaries, I have not had my PERSONAL time with the Lord! You are a blessing to me! I would love to have you visit me sometime at sueheimer.com
Hi all,
This is a bit off topic…have any of you read “His Princess Bride” by Sheri Rose Shepherd? The title draws me, but the concept is so hard – feels almost sacrilegous. She first wrote “His Princess” which from the blurb seems easier to hear. I am wondering if it is just the battle within me that is unable to hear it. He is my security, but is He my sacred Husband?
Thanks for any feedback!
lovingly, Barb
wow. I just got around to reading this while I’m sitting at work…two days before my semester is over…and wow.
As a rising junior, I threw myself at the Relay for Life committee chair here on campus because no one else was interested and I thought I was the best qualified, though I’d have NEVER gone for such a position in my entire life.
Beth, thank you for saying what you did about not jumping up front..because I was definitely doing that and needed a bit of humility.
It gives me hope to know that no matter what, He’s got a huge plan..and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m called to do…and He’ll work out the rest, including putting me in the positions that I need to be in.
Don’t I know that already? Surely…but how easy it is to look past it.
Beth,
You have no idea how much God uses you each day, not only in my life, but in the lives of so many “siestas”. Thank you for listening to His leadership. My husband had planned a getaway weekend to Glorieta, NM for him and I. I had to choose…..Beth Moore simulcast…..weekend w/pastor husband???? Glorieta was beautiful! It did not take me long to choose. I knew what you would recommend. I have read the book, and I thank God often for you and your willingness to be so transparent to all of us.
We have been at this location for a little over 2 years and we are currently studying Esther. This is the 6th Bible study our ladies have done since we have been here. Thank you again for listening and being willing to be used of the Lord. We love you. Kathy
Thank you Beth. This post really touched my heart. Lots of points that really hit me between the eyes and were a wake-up call 🙂
Beth Moore, you are so beautiful and I just love you, sister! When I “hear” you speak, I swear I can see glimpses of God. Thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing Him to use you. And, thank you for this blog. I completely understand what you are saying! Shalom.
I’ve just had to keep re-reading this. Thank you for sharing your heart and thoughts. This was beyond good for my little heart to hear.
I was blessed to get to go and hear you on Saturday – I have read the book and the simulcast was the icing on the cake – I took so many notes that I had to start using the back of my program. I want to thank you for being so real and open about your thoughts and life. You teach us how to seek God with all our hearts and I love how your desire is to get people into God’s Word. God uses you in such a mighty way – thank you for your willingness and sweet spirit.
Beth, what can I say but “thank you”. As a girl who used to use her “speaking gift” professionally and actually felt fairly competent…now I’m a homemaker and teach bible study and am painfully aware that it is *not* about me and my ability. It’s about Him and His sufficiency. And yes, I had to learn this the hard way.:) Love you, dear Sister.
got chills when I read about the scripture from the simulcast. the insecurity issue has reared its ugly head all my life. thankfully after the simulcast and reading the book, God keeps bringing Psalm 139 before me. He is so good!!!
I was so glad I went to the simulcast on 4/24. I have been insecure since childhood. Beth, your annointed message went deep down to my core. PRAISE GOD I’m not over it yet! I’m praying for my marriage, and for my seven-year-old daughter. I so want her to “get it.” I’m praying that she doesn’t have to waste precious years in the bondage of insecurity like I have. Now to balance reading the book AND completing Breaking Free at the same time…
I have never had a pastor or Bible teacher that relates, connects, or understands people (especially women 😉 ) better than you. Since I teach a children’s Sunday School class, you are my only Bible study teacher. 🙂
Thank you for caring so much. I know that YOU KNOW we are not just faceless numbers beyond the cameras. Bless you, Beth.
Michelle (Alabama)
Beth,
Thanks for your words. I feel like some of them were just for me – the part about guarding our time with God. It seems my intimacy with the LORD has suffered lately and I know it is my fault for putting other things in front of my time with him. Just yesterday morning I prayed that He would help me get back to Him. I know He was telling me to guard our time together.
Sometimes that time is a sacrifice in itself because I have other things to do (dont’ we all?) – laundry, packing lunches, fixing breakfast, etc. It is a planned sacrifice to rise out of the bed earlier than normal to make sure I have that time. But I know he honors that sacrifice and He is pleased to spend time with me.
I’ve also been pondering your same thoughts about where and when He shows up and the fact that we can’t manipulate Him. Romans 9:15b says, “…I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” (NIV)
Isn’t that the truth? And it’s good news! Ultimately He is in control and He will do things His way. We just need to be obedient.
And, I love the providence in your Simulcast story. I love that the LORD can work out all those little details that we don’t even notice. That is so cool! And it is just like Him to do it.
Thank you again for this very long post. I’m muddled too but with you and in awe of our truly amazing God.
“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” (1 Cor. 3:5-9)
Today’s reading out of “My Utmost for His Highest” (by Oswald Chambers) says this:
“We are living in a time of tremendous enterprises, a time when we are trying to work for God, and that is where the trap is. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus, the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans.”
To God be the glory!
THANK YOU for continually laboring to plant and water us with God’s Word, Beth!! God has certainly given the increase!! May our Lord richly reward you with His blessings today!
I just love ya to pieces!
Leah in Iowa
Wow, the timeliness of this message has once again hit me today. When I read this post several days ago it totally resonated with me. I wanted to respond then, but thought, “where to start?”
I’ve felt this calling for some time now, and just figured (still do) that it would simply be with my own little church family that I would share the love of Christ and encourage in the faith. That and perhaps some mission trips along the way.
Momma Beth, I received an email today asking me to speak at a women’s retreat. Because of your post, I can honestly say I am fully aware of what is asked of me. I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my journey with Jesus and humbled to the point of just needing to fall on my knees in awe that my Lord wants to use me. Does that make sense? I know it isn’t about me and I want to be an arrow that points straight to Him. I pray that I don’t fail Him. I’d be afraid, but I know He is faithful to tell me what he wants me to say. I’ll be terrified when it comes to speaking in front of people. I may sweat and turn red-faced, but it will be worth it if even one woman is encouraged in their walk with the Lord.
Thank you for your encouragement to us. In such an odd way, it actually encourages me that you still deal with butterflies and so forth even after all this time.
I have to say it again, “You speak my heart language and your family is such a blessing to us. What an incredible gift you all share with us–your hearts! You ladies are dear to me.”
One more thing… Ephesians 4:24 on 4/24! Wow! HE IS SOOOO COOL! He is such an AWESOME GOD! Man, I love that about Him. Love, love, love Him!
Once again, thanks for sharing.
Anna in MO
I am just now reading the blog, my dear Mother came to visit and we had a great time together! Thank you Lord!
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed this post! There is just so much we do not know, and I loved how God is a God of numbers! Eph. 4:24 wow’ed me! Love the irony of the date!!!! 🙂 One thing that came to me was we can never capture Him, we can only behold Him!
I love you guys so much! Have a wonderful weekend! My husband is coming home tonight from Texas! Whoo Hooo! 🙂
Blessings,
Lori in SW MO