Hey, you sweet things! It seems like forever since we’ve talked! Melissa and I had so hoped to be able to blog while we were in the Holy Land but the break-neck schedule and the slow internet made it the impossible dream. We and our group of 100 mighty women boarded two tour buses every morning at 7:30 and usually pulled back into one of three different hotels on our journey around 6:00 that evening. May I interject that it was HOT over there? And when I tell you we pulled into the hotel smelling more like sweaty camels than sacred pilgrims, I’m not kidding. Our consolation was that we all smelled the same. I took a travel size stick of deodorant in my purse and used it on the bus without shame. We’d clean up quickly then head to dinner at 7:00 then Melissa and I would head back to my room as fast as possible where I’d study for the next day and Melissa would down load pictures. We’d fall in our beds, rise early the next morning for more studying then load those buses again. It was a big fat busy BLAST. Not one single regret except that we didn’t have all of you there.
God gave us a fabulous group of women comprised mostly of LPM staff and volunteers (the trip was a thank you to all of them) and we were graced by the faithful presence of our God as we traced the steps of His Son from birth to childhood… to boyhood…to manhood… to His first miracle…to His ministry in Galilee…to the place where His sweat fell like drops of blood…to His cross…to His empty grave…then to the Mount of Olives where He ascended before their very eyes and will one day descend in all His glory…before every set of eyes on earth.
It was truly too much to absorb in one week’s time but many of us will ponder it for months to come. As you know, my darling firstborn was unable to go at the last minute. I am so proud of her for making that decision and, without hesitation, hopping in the car with her man to head for Missouri even before they knew what the outcome would be. I couldn’t quite get my head wrapped around not having her along on the trip because her company is so rich and impossible to replace, just like her sister’s. But I knew within a very short time that they’d done God’s will without question. They wanted so much to be able to see his grandmother before the Lord swept her home. As it happened, He simply could not wait another minute to have her in His presence.
“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone…the season of singing has come…Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” (Song of Songs 2:10-13)
Curtis and Amanda were there shortly after Grandma Dixon’s homegoing and for the rest of the week. Amanda said that the testimony of a long, enduring, loving marriage between Curtis’s grandparents was so powerful that it would mark them forever.
We missed her so much and I was deeply grateful that I’d already had the chance to take her on that very trip when she was 16. Melissa and I spoke of her constantly. I was touched in many ways this week in the Holy Land but I will share with you one primary gift God gave me while I was there. A number of years ago when Melissa launched full-steam ahead into an academic study of theology and Scripture, I began to worry that the critical aspect of that kind of academic education might snuff the flame that had burned in her from late high school to mid-college. There are many casualties. My heart also dropped into my feet as I realized that she was going to inevitably get hit in my behalf. She is to be commended for the way she handled it but that’s another story. I’ll leave it at this: it’s very hard to see your children have to deal with criticism toward you and be forced to answer for you. I can take the heat but I wish so much they didn’t have to. Anyway, as I sought God with my concerns, He supplied a Scripture that I felt He was inviting me to pray over her and believe for her. My fears were calmed over the completion of her undergrad work followed by two additional degrees. I refused to worry again about it even through some rocky places for her where she had to grapple with what she believed. While we were in Israel, I saw a young woman who had survived with her faith in tact. She is her own person – different from her mother, thank God – but full of passion. I saw a young woman who loves Jesus Christ. In fact, if not for Colin Fitzpatrick, I don’t think I would’ve gotten that child on a plane. I nearly fainted when I heard her ask our guide, my dear friend Arie, about the universities in Jerusalem. Then all I could do was shake my head and laugh. It can be a dangerous thing to raise your children to follow hard after Jesus.
I have seen a fresh revelation of Christ in the last week but not only through tracing His steps in the Holy Land. I’ve beheld it on the faces of His people. Many on the trip and my own beloved daughters, as different as they are, and as imperfect as they’d want me to tell you they are. They have each outdone their parents. Lord have mercy, what messes we were at their ages. Thank You, Lord, for full redemption. For Your willingness to change an entire lineage. Your grace is unfathomable. Continue to use it to set families free.
So, that’s a little of my story today. Thanks for listening to interminable musings. It’s so good to be back in touch with you. I am dying to know what you’re up to! Where does this 3rd day of June find you, my dear Siestas? Help me picture it!
You are so loved here.
Oh MamaBeth, it is so good to hear from you! We missed y’all!
Reading about Curtis’ gradmother makes me miss my Nana. She was the only person I was close to growing up, and I was devastated when she died when I was 21. I don’t have the security of knowing I’ll see her again because we never talked about God, and I didn’t come to know Jesus until many years later.
June 3rd finds me trying to get meds for my sweet dog (likely another bladder infection). I’ll see my counselor today, and then just another day wondering what is next. Finished school, still no job (21 mo), unemployment benefits about to expire. I need a job but don’t know who would care for my dog. I might look into working from home, maybe proofreading or editing?
Maybe today I will start learning my new Logos 4 Bible software. I need the Word to help against depression.
Love to you! 🙂
Well, Darling Siesta Mama, that was a beautiful rendition of your trip. I can’t wait to see some pictures and hear more stories!!
My day will consist of cleaning bedrooms, scrubbing toilets, cooking lunch, going to my part time job while my man stays here with the little ones. He will likely take them to the pool. Then when I arrive home, I will cook dinner, bathe children, then pick up with the evening chores of laundry, dishes and vacuuming. Then I will fall into my bed exhausted. And do it all over again tomorrow.
Beth ~ So good to hear from you! Sounds like an amazing time and amazing sites. As for what my June 3rd day looks like, I’m in the early days of a new baby #3 she is 2 weeks old and so precious, so beautiful, such a miracle. Praise the Lord! But Im also sleep deprived, hormonal, and at times overwhelemed. Help me Jesus! Im praying for His power and strength to rule and reside over me. Anyway thanks again for posting about your trip may God bless you today!
June 3rd… Laundry, haircut, a little “last minute shopping” then beginning to pack for an upcoming trip to visit my grandfather and parents. That’s good motiviation for all of the chores!
Welcome back! This summer our dear friends and my husband and I are watching your “Believing God” DVD series. We are all expecting GREAT blessings and a deeper walk with the Lord through this study. We did the Daniel study last year. My friend and I are giggling (quietly, without our husbands seeing us) seeing our husbands put up their “shield of faith” and miming the “I’m Believing God” gestures. They love you!!!….and so do we! Blessings on you this summer!
Hi sweet Beth! Your words brought me to tears. Beautiful.
Well, here in west TN it’s 400 degrees outside and the humidity just as high. Melting over here, but being the TX girl you are, I know you feel the pain as well. 😉
My boys are keeping me oh so busy with baseball and basketball camps and friends and ALL THE FOOD THEY EAT!! Oh my word!! Kroger loves me right now.
Have a gorgeous day! You are loved and prayed for so often.
Blessings~
Fran
We missed you all. It has been a little quiet here on the blog. I am so glad that you and your volunteers had such a wonderful tour of the Holy Land. I really want to be able to go one day! I can’t wait to hear more of the details.
Welcome Home!
Welcome Home! Great message this a.m. I am delighted to share with you that, on this day, I am a more secure woman today than I was yesterday, and more so yesterday than the day before that!!! Yep, it’s true! Thank you for your obedience in allowing our Lord to work through you to impact someone like me~my cloak of insecurity could have been made out of wool and soaking wet!! Now, it’s lighter and lighter as the days roll by! Woo Hoo!
Backsteps? Yes, with recovery that not only exists, but now is happening faster and faster….
Can’t wait to share “So Long, Insecurity…” with my sisters.
Blessings to you and yours today!
Glad to have you all home! Sounds like an amazing trip 🙂
Well, this Siesta is at home in Keller BUT I am supposed to be on a 30 day RV trip with my man and 5 kiddos!! We actually loaded up our 42 ft rental for a day, drove off and made it 3 miles away. Mechanics came to no avail and we unloaded the WHOLE thing 🙁
Now we pray and wait! 🙂
Sending lots of love!
oh beth, thankyou for taking me “there” with you through this blog today.
I am so thankful for just the little bit you shared because I am seeking his FULL redemption in my life.
HE is my repairer of the breach, my restorer and recompense.
I am working through So Long Insecurity and yesterday reached the chapter on “will we do it FOR THEM”..
my little girl, Mackenzie, age 10 came to my mind.
I have a difficult relationship with my mom, and so desperately want to be the parent God has called me to be.
He is leading me…and your portion that you shared about your daughters and HIS redemption over their lives and yours spoke volumes to me.
“mackenzie” means “testimony” and her middle name is “grace”….Ironically the Lord gave me that name for her 10 years ago..little did I know then what He had in mind for me through His plan of healing.
She is my “testimony of HIS grace..” through her HE is showing me HIS strength over my life.
THANKYOU BETH, for always heeding His call on your life.
Because of you, your girls and your ministry, HE is able to touch many.
ALL because of HIM,
Aimee
June 3rd finds me on vacation at the lake. I’m with my sweet family…. or part of them. Just me, hubby and our 17 yr old baby girl— our oldest girl is home with her sweet man.
God has shown up in such an incredible way. He has me knee-deep in a new ministry to women. Praise His NAME!
Last week I made my first visit to Houston (actually my first visit to Texas)from Georgia. My sister and I went to visit my cousin, a brilliant man who is stricken with a type of dementia and is in a wonderful care facility in Sugarland, TX. I knew you were in the Holy Land but I enjoyed seeing your city. We went to several restaurants and had many delicious meals. Have you ever been to House of Pies? I highly recommend it.
Today we are celebrating my first born’s 10th birthday! Corbin Thomas Cody is a blessing and all boy! (Just like his two little brothers!) I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love my boys!
WOW Siesta Mama……great to hear from you and catch a glimpse of your trip. I have never been to Israel and may not get the chance in this earthly lifetime, but there is always eternity…..but I could picture some of the places you visited in my mind’s eye….
Can I say Father forgive me for “envy, envy, envy”. So glad ya’ll had such a fantastic time. Sweet memories are made of things such as these.
As to what I am up to…..our Bible Bunny group is finishing up your Revelation Study…two weeks to go. It has been such a blessing to us…..I am also finishing up the school year with my grandchildren…I homeschooled them this year while my daughter went out and got a job. Unfortunately she is getting a divorce and homeschooled the children up to last year. Then I “retired” just in time to take over the homeschooling…God has such perfect timing. We stand in awe!!! I also get to look forward to the birth of my 5th grandchild in August. My son and his wife are having their first.
Thank you so much for your message in Grand Rapids!!! It was truly a blessing to all of us. I thank God all the time for the anointing on your life that you so generously share with all of us. You make me “thirst” after our God!! Cannot live without Him!!!
Sorry to have gone on so long…..blessings to your whole family…have a great weekend!!!
Bible Bunny in NO MI
It’s SO good to hear about your trip. What an awesome thing to get to do — I’m sure it was lifechanging for everyone — how incredible to get to see all those places!!! This 3rd day of June it’s a beautiful day in Kansas. I’m a stay-at-home Mom of 3 children. I have been saved since I was 6 years old and am now 27 and have been in the most difficult season of my life facing down strongholds of codependency, people-pleasing, insecurity and depression. I’m SO thankful for your ministry Beth. I just watched you on Life Today and am doing Believing God right now. I feel like at some moments I’m barely hanging on but I KNOW Jesus has provided the victory and I remind myself often of your encouraging story and if you can do it, through Christ, so can I. Love you guys so much! Your family is beautiful and blessed! Time to go fight the good fight of faith while I do some dishes and feed the baby 🙂
So glad to hear that y’all are back safe! Sounds like a grand adventure. I’m anxious to hear more.
I am preparing my heart for co-leading your “Loving Well” study. Beth there is SO MUCH to learn about loving. I am so touched by your admission of ministering to the group of people you do and wanting to make sure that you reach out to the others. The nobodies. The unloved.
I thank God for using you as His vessel.
Blessings to you and your family.
So glad to see that the “moore girls” are back home safe and sound! I have now purchased more copies of SLI and left a second copy at my local “Curves”….it has been enthusiastically shared by the ladies there….it seems when this book is shared, it brings whole flocks of the “insecure siestas” out of the closet. Praise the Lord for the healing and comfort and freedom from guilt and bondage that this book is opening the doors to!!!! God Bless you all!!!
Welcome home…I’ve missed you and I look forward to more stories and pictures. I’m looking forward to our upcoming summer study!! This will be my first with y’all online and I’m excited.
Thank you so much for sharing, Beth! Your post has brought me to tears. I think your line about “raising your children to follow hard after Jesus” is what got me. Our firstborn son went to Moody for a year and a half, and his flame was snuffed a bit when he found the Bible to be his ever-present textbook. Thankfully his faith is deep-rooted, but now he’s back home as a 20-year-old sorting out what God is calling him to next in life.
Our 17-year-old daughter is leaving for Africa in just 11 short days and will be gone for two months, so we are busy preparing for that. Talk about it being hard to raise your children to follow hard after Jesus! It scares me to think what God is calling her to do with her life, but yet there is an unexplainable peace about it in my heart. You gals have inspired me so much with your blog that I started one of my own, and it’s all about what it’s like as a mom to send your baby girl off to do God’s work, even when it’s Africa.
The day after she leaves, we are welcoming a French student into our home for a month. Our 14-year-old daughter has been studying French this past year, and this has been the desire of her heart as soon as she heard about the possibility. Our guest has never been to church, so we are fully aware that God is calling us to a unique opportunity. We’re looking forward to exploring our own stompin’ grounds through the eyes of a foreigner, and our 10-year-old son will be tagging along in all our activities like he normally does. God bless him — he’s such a trooper! He’s had another friend move away, so my prayer for him is that he’ll find a really good Christian buddy for next school year. He’ll be going to church camp in a couple weeks.
That’s what’s going on here! My husband and I really need and want to get away for our 25th anniversary, so I’m praying hard for that on top of everything else. God has been so faithful to us, and we give Him all the glory!
Thank you for sharing some of your experience with us. Today, I am entering the first day of summer vacation with my kids who just finished 3rd grade (my son) and kindergarten (my daughter) and feeling sad and overwhelmed with how fast they are growing. Thank you so much for writing about your relationship with your girls. He reminded me that my children are His and He does have a special plan and purpose for their lives and I am here to help guide them on the journey that He has marked out for them. To see how you continue to have such a close relationship with your girls gives me hope that each year with my kids gets better and better and there is nothing to be sad about with that hope. Not sure if that makes any sense since my emotions are pretty raw at this moment, but God used this post to encourage a mother’s heart. Thanks Beth!
Love,
Sarah Rader
Today I have an infusion scheduled. I have been off my MS meds trying to have a baby. It hasn’t happened and I have had a relapse. We are going to take a year and finish some things around the house and maybe travel some. We plan to try again this time next year. I hope this is what God wants. He has been silent, but I’ve been too stressed and busy. Seeking godly counsel, but no one is weighing in. Should we continue or wait a year? Medical help or is that like Sarah? Reading Proverbs and thankful and God is bigger than my plans.
your post moved me to tears. not only because your experiences were so beautiful & full of God’s grace, but because i too well understand what it means that raising your children to follow hard after our Lord Jesus Christ can be a dangerous thing. only, i’m on the children side. my parents have been faithful servants in ministry for the Lord since before i was born, and if there is any one major lesson i learned from them [besides loving the Word of God with a fierceness], it is to stick up for the truth in God’s Word no matter what the consequences [and not as much over the doctrinal differences we have but over things like showing the love, compassion, and mercy of Christ]. i have seen them do it and lose jobs and have to move because of it. it has been a powerful testimony, and i’m so proud of them. no small surprise that God has placed both me and my sister [along with my husband when he joined our family] into some of the same situations. but He was faithful to train us for it, and He has been so incredibly faithful to get us through those situations and even with strength and growth on the other side. what has been hardest i think has been for our parents to watch us go through it. they have been so supportive though, giving solid biblical advice when i know they really wanted to tell use to turn and run! while ministry includes pain sometimes, it also includes such joy and blessing, it’s always worth it. even when the pain seems to outweigh the joy, there is joy to come from knowing God is working in our lives, redeeming it all. even when it hurts, even when we make mistakes, He works it all for good for those who love Him. i’m not a parent yet, but reading this post from you also makes me shed tears for my children someday [Lord willing!] and the road they will surely walk. because no matter how they follow the path marked for them by God, it will be crazy and dangerous and wonderful. and i can’t wait to see that. i cry just thinking about it. isn’t God just the best?! thank you for sharing your heart today – it spoke to mine so deeply.
We had a wonderful weekend.It’s beautiful here in Weatherford. Getting ready to celebrate 24 wonderful years with my husband on Saturday. Every year at this time, I think back to those feelings of excitement that I had a few days before our wedding day. We both try to “re-live”,(mentally), that day and look at our pictures.
I’m teaching a summer school keyboarding and word processing class for middle school kids!!! My daughter is one of them…interesting!!
Vacation Bible school is next week! Can’t wait!!!
God bless you Mrs. Beth!!!
Ahhhh, you make me want more of Jesus!!
Thank you!
It sounds like a trip worth taking! Thank you so much for sharing your heart and what’s going on with you. I kind of imagine what your girls go through is (much larger scale) similar to what preacher’s kids deal with. My dad has been in the ministry for 30 years and I can’t even begin to share some of the stories that I could. But it boggles the mind that some people feel it’s perfectly acceptable to criticize someone with their children present, or share their criticism with the children in regards to the parent. I find myself championing my own pastor’s kids as much as possible because of what I’ve experienced over the years.
As for my day, my wonderful MIL is coming to my house tomorrow to watch my 2 boys (4 years old and 11 months old) so that I can go to a doctor’s appointment in peace. But this means that today is spent in Mach 10 cleaning mode. I love my boys, but they can get this house into tornado status in a heartbeat.
This 3rd day of June finds me somber and pensive. It is my husband’s birthday and he moved out three weeks ago. My three little ones are with him today and I’m lonely for them, for what I thought my life would be like.
I’m imagining your Holy Land Tour with tears of how special that time must have been. I’m hopeful to take that kind of trip one day myself.
Because my husband will have our children each Thursday night, I volunteered to host a Living Room Bible Study in my home on Thursdays! I’m so excited to be joining Siestaville in the Ruth study (though not on Tuesdays, we’ll do Thursdays) and five ladies have promised to journey with me. In this season of difficulty for me, I know our Lord has blessed me with this chance. It is something I could not have done before and now have the freedom to do so.
Thank you for bringing so many of us together!
Missy…you’re gonna be in my heart and in my prayers! I have a close girlfriend who is going through the same thing and I know how very much you ache right now. Sweet sister…you’re in my prayers!
Dear Missy June…. I am sorry for you somberness! I’ll be honest, I cannot imagine! My heart goes out to you today though. I will be praying fervently for you! May God bless your heart so huge that you FEEL it today!! And may your heart be receptive to all of His goodness! I know so many that wear your same shoes. I’ve witnessed from afar that those shoes are hard and heavy and hurtful to walk it. May God Himself pick you up and carry you through! He will, you know! That’s why our Savior died and was resurrected… in order to save us and raise us back from death again in all the very ways that we need for Him to!
may the LORD Bless you with HIS PEACE AND LOVE thru this unbelievable time. So glad you will have study around you. I believe GOD to speak a word of you this study and I pry IN JESUS name that you recieve it.
Yea for summer! Enjoying some relief from the hectic pace of working at a university. In particular, looking forward to supper and a movie with girlfriends tonight – a treat for my birthday! So grateful to God for Bible studying, praying, praise-singing friends!
I loved the scripture that you used when describing the Lord calling Curtis’ grandmother home. I’ve never heard it used like that before; How wonderfully romantic that is. I hope that’s how my family describes my departure from this earth.
Beth, you truly honor your girls with words of affirmation, etc… I know that they realize how blessed they are to be loved so much.
June 3, 2010 finds me sitting on my porch with my coffee, computer and Jesus. After working 12 days in a row, I think I will sit here until the heat and humidity overtake me. But most of all, it has me seeking the Lord in this confusing time in my life. After being married for 31 years and finding that “I’m changing” and the situation at home is not changing, seeking the Lord for the “right response”, for wisdom not to fall back in the same cycle that my husband lives in, to keep my feet moving forward in a godly direction and not in anger or wanting to “leave”, is most difficult.
I am thankful for the Lord and His guidance and thankful for people like you!
Wow, your week was much more exciting than mine. 🙂 Thanks for giving us a glimpse of it. I’m working on selling car wash tickets so the kids can go to church camp for a week. Struggling to stay in the word since I’m in between bible studies. The summer one at church has not started up yet. Feeling some depression trying to get me – probably just from feeling overwhelmed with the kids and not spending enough time with God. I’m going to fight it off this morning and go try to plug in again. 🙂
This 3rd day of June has me LARGE and HOT while my 3rd baby boy is finishing up his time inside my womb!! My 4.5 and 2.5 year old are keeping us busy and keeping my mind off the impending labor experience that I know is waiting for me!!
I traveled to Israel as a 16 year old high school Jr. and my oh my, did that trip change how REAL JESUS was to me!!!
Glad your back,
Shalom!!
I can’t edit the above, but I have to correct it, or it’ll drive me nuts…
Glad YOU’RE back!
I’m so glad that your trip was so amazing! I pray that I too may be found faithful, especially in the way I walk with the Lord, love my husband, and raise my children.
Let’s see… June 3rd finds me at home with my 2 precious boys, preparing to travel to visit my parents tomorrow to tell the rest of my family that we’re expecting! (Don’t tell, by the way, it’s a secret;)) I’m so thankful for my sweet family and even for morning sickness that lasts all day long.
The trip sounds like a big blessing for all who went. This morning finds me going to practice for worship and then making strawberry jam with my mom and 15 year old son. Teachers and students treasure summer vacation.
Where does the 3d of June find me?? I stopped and really thought about this.I could say it is a suuny, warm day here in FL,or things are great, but I took another look and decided to be truthful. I feel pressured to meet certain expectations for my family (I know give it to the Lord).Please pray that I’ll be able to discern what the Lord wants me to do and to let the rest go.I know people have far greater problems,so I feel silly even writing about feeling this my emotion pressure.
This may be frivolous too, but my 5 month multipoo puppy is having surgery next week and I pray for her and her vet.
Oh Beth…If you weren’t 700 miles away, I’d be hugging your sweet neck right now! I am so happy to hear from you this morning – truly I am. I prayed for your group in Israel, and I’m glad you wished we could ALL be there. I can’t wait to hear from Melissa – loved your words about her here. She is a delight. And I affirmed Amanda so much because as much as y’all missed her, her man would have missed her more. What a treasure your girls are.
June 3rd finds Gran Jan rejoicing in God’s goodness of adding 2 grandbabies to our family, a girl on May 10 and a boy on May 24.
My man and I are headed to TX this weekend for a conference in Dallas…
Is Houston too far from Dallas for me to come hug your neck? I mean I know Texas is big and all! Just kidding! I’ll be tickled to know you are nearer by.
If you want to see my new grands, please pop over to my blog, okay? http://granjansjoy.blogspot.com
Much love to you my friend,
Yours, GJ
PS: A prize is headed your way around June 16 🙂
This day finds us preparing for a camping trip for our family (my husband, myself and our 3-yr-old and 6-yr-old boys). We will be camping in the Smokey Mnts not too far from home. This is the first trip for our younger son. We’ve always left him with grandparents. I’m praying it is a fun, happy time for our family to love each other and grow together. But, right now I’m just praying for sleep!
Praise God for his creation. His works are beyond my comprehension!
so glad that your trip was such a blessed time. Glad everyone is home safely. Thanks so much for being so honest with us…you and your girls are a blessing to all of us.
This 3rd day of June finds me desperately seeking to know God more, to understand His ways, and to be faithful–faithful–faithful. I want to hear His voice, I want Him to be in my thoughts constantly, and I want to be consumed by His love. I’ve just completed the first week of Faithful, Abundant, and True, the Bible study I’m facilitating for my church’s morning study class, and I want to NOT shrink back, but to press forward. I want to grow to maturity in Christ. I want to be able to say with all my heart, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us today. I knew your trip would be just awesome. Praise God!
So glad all of you are back safe and sound!
Here in Virginia we are trying to make it through the last two weeks of school! And baseball season has started for my two boys. Which means practically a game every day, but thank goodness no game tonight. So I’m off to see my hairdresser Lori for some much needed TLC for my roots!
Much love!
Pam
Mine started reading Oswald Chambers and writing out Psalm 25 since that was his chapter of reference today.
Well very early this morning”the battle of the hot flashes begins” hair appt today and I might just come home /with a new do, much shorter do ! Hopefully get some playtime in w/2yr old granddaughter YEA !!! And then going to my mom’s (78yrs old) to help her pack for her NY trip to visit w/an aunt for a mo.and praying thru out the day that “My Precious Jesus” will send a cold front to Wetumpka. Al. Hope you have a great day and thanks for your words from the heart,I love spending time w/you & the girls here !
I’ve been waiting to hear from, my beloved Siesta Mama! So glad you guys are home safe. You are definately apart of my spiritual family and I cannot wait to hear about adventures that were never posted on this blog, but for now this is enough.
The 3rd day of June.
I’ve always been pretty healthy. Nothing more than a trip to the doctor for a common cold and sinus issues. Lately,my situation has been strange. I have lost some hearing in my right ear and I’ve had this constant wooshing sound in my right ear for about 3 weeks. It’s more like someone blowing into a microphone constant. The doctor said it’s probably my pulse in my ear. I got my ear checked and he recommended and some blood work and and MRI. I have two MRIs scheduled today. The doctors hope it’s not an anuerism or a tumor on the end on a nerve. I’m praying against that and have blessed my head and ear every night, cried before the Lord, and wrote down scriptures on healing, grace, and mercy.
The doctor’s assitant called yesterday and said they would be giving me highlighter in my veins and it would feel cold. (I would have preferred they didn’t tell me and instead take me by complete surprise!)
I read Beth’s post from after her surgery and it brought me tremendous comfort to see how strong she was under the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I can’t take anything without, staring at it and wishing the pain away, not even a paper cut.I’m the western wuss you talk about and I don’t want to be that way! Maybe that’s what God is up to. Lined up with long string of other very odd tough situations I’ve been in for the past 7 0r 8 months, I’m not too surprised.
Glad you’re back safely. Love you dearly. Please believe that. Please pray for God to make me strong and very courageous.
-Jessica
Hi Beth! And Melissa!
So glad to hear you are all back home safely from what sounds like a wonderful trip. To be in those places where Jesus walked, and to be at the Garden of Gethsemane and his empty grave; I simply cannot imagine how that would feel. I do want to go there one day.
You asked where this day finds us…. Well, today I am blue. Sad. Worried. My hubby has been sick all week – he is having severe headaches, nausea, (he has high blood pressure and is mildly diabetic) and with him sick, things at home are just chaotic and depressing. I feel oppressed and burdened.
I am doing the ‘Patriarch’s study, (I’m in week 3)and the point you made in week 1 about Hagar naming God “El Roi”, the one who sees me keeps coming to my mind. I’m comforted in knowing God SEES ME right now. I’m pressing into Him and praying.
Much love and hugs,
Adrienne
I love you, Adrienne! Wish I was there with you or you were here with me or we were anywhere, together!
Melana
Good morning Beth–I am so thankful you all made it home safely. I couldn’t hardly wait to log on this morning, hoping of course you had already posted! What a fascinating trip-breath taking I’m sure. I was not raised in church and am still a “new” Christian learning something new everyday. Your testimony continually reminds me to stay focused; I long to know and understand His promises as well as you do–I want that kind of relationship. I can’t hardly imagine what it would be like to walk in the places of our Jesus–all the way to the grave. How amazing!! You are an inspiration and I appreciate you and the time you spend growing us up. I am in Indiana where it is humid and rainy today. Although I love to be in the sunshine-the rain allows me time to stay in, reading the Word and worshipping our God. I love this time! Thank you again for all you do but mostly for just being you-you are dearly loved. Have a blessed day-I am thankful everyone is safe and sound at home.
Welcome home Beth. I really missed you.
Here in Northeastern Oklahoma we were blessed by a beautiful round of thunderstorms last night and into the morning. I didn’t sleep much but I got to talk to the Author of the storms and that was very much worth it.
Beth,
It’s great to have you back in Siestaville! I’ve always wanted to go to the Holy Land – and God willing, I will one day. Just to be able to walk where Jesus literally walked would be incredible! And to be led and taught by YOU would mean so much too. You will never know the impact your studies have had on my life.
I’ve thought about Melissa often the last few months as I, myself, am back in school as well. I’m 40 years old and finally got brave enough to work on my BS. My Associate was in Fashion Merchandising…not using it at all here in South Georgia – lol! I’m now working to receive my BS in Psychology with an emphasis in Christian counceling. I look forward to the doors of opportunity that I feel God will open for me with this training. But it’s very demanding being in school while also working full time. I’m a wife and mother to a 16 yr old son who’s been called to full time missions. I try to stay very active in my home church and in women’s ministry (where I feel my calling is). It’s a full load, but worth the time and effort. I’m actually going on my first mission trip next month. My husband, son, and I are going to Broken Arrow, OK on a Families on Mission trip through NAMB. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us!
God Bless you and your sweet family!
Lynn
Rochelle, GA
Oh Sweet Beth, we’ve all missed you so. My darling daughter, Anna Beth accused me recently of stalking you when she found me reading the blog for the umpteenth time. Perhaps I needed a little weening. God knows best.
I wanted to share this story with Amanda last week, but thought maybe it was best to wait until all were safely back home–so no one misunderstood me to be wishing bad on anyone.
Many years ago my Grandma Shade was a tour guide in the Holy Land. On one particular trip something happened with her ticket and she was not able to join the tour group. While in the Holy Land her friends’ tour bus was involved in an accident with a logging truck and several of Grandma’s friends were killed. She knew that had she been on the bus as planned, standing at the front as the guide, she would also have been killed. Though her heart broke for them, she’d been allowed to see God’s hand at work. She went to be with the Lord when I was in college, but I’ve never forgotten this story and have repeated it to my children. I was especially blessed recently to overhear one of them actually repeat Grandma Shade’s story to one of their friends, seeking to encourage them with accepting a difficult “no” from God’s hand.
It never seemed to me that Amanda struggled at all with God’s intervening, but I hope this offers a little encouragement.
Oh Beth, this post made me cry! I am pretty sure I am around the same age as your daughter (I am 28). I imagine that this post (if she hasn’t already read it), will fill her heart with such joy. What beautiful words you spoke over her life. I love what you wrote about it being a dangerous thing to raise your children to follow hard after Jesus. I am a missionary wife and mama at an orphanage in Guatemala, and I have seen how hard it has been on my parents to have us so far away…especially their little grandbabies. But, my 92 year old great-grandma says that she was praying for me to be a missionary long before I even existed…what a blessing that is over my life. I too pray that I raise my children to follow hard after Jesus…knowing though that that might mean they will be on the other side of the world someday! Thank you for sharing this post and for letting all of us into your family. What a blessing it is for me.
Now i just want to hug my Mama! 🙂
Good Morning Mrs Beth!!
I am glad that you have returned to us safely and I can’t wait to hear more stories from your trip! It sounds like nonstop fun!
Nothing special going on this morning…just work. In between phone calls at work, I’m trying to balance my checkbook and stay awake. I’m jamming to GLEE volume 3 so that helps a little…such fun music! Contemplating a Starbucks run because I decided to forego the normal Nonfat Toffee Nut Latte w/light whip for a Lg Diet Dr P at Sonic…trying to save some $$ as the Sonic drink was only .99 and the Sbux was not!
In between all that fun, I’m rolling around some words and thoughts that I’ve been trying to find time to blog about…God has pretty much said it’s time to deal with this stuff and we’re going to hang here until you do. And I am…trying to atleast. You know as well as I do when attempting to deal with something that you’ve been denying or hiding for most of your life, it’s so NOT fun or easy. But it’s something that I know I’ve got to do and so here I am…trying to do it!
I hope that you have a Happy Thursday and an even happier and restful weekend!
Love you lots and pray for you often!
Nikki
I am so proud of Amanda and Melissa! Growing up with my dad being a pastor, and now my parents being missionaries, I know how hard the enemy attacks the family…even when you are a young adult child. Your girls, and your grandkids, are in my prayers as all of you continue to follow hard after the Lord.
This 3rd day of June has me working on details, details, and more details. I’m the Missions Associate at my church in Springfield, MO which means I’m in charge of logistics and team preparation for all of our US and International trips. This summer we have interns serving for two months in Mexico and South Asia, four college trips to each of those locations, two sports camps in Mexico, a project in Bolivar, MO, a project in Kansas City, and three weeks of projects in Chicago, just to name of few. Along with that I’m working on details for a weekly women’s missions prayer meeting and starting a lifegroup for young singles. After my past I do not deserve whatsoever to serve at a church, let alone be on staff. But God’s redemption and mercy has been richly displayed in the past 9 months and I’m so honored to be able to serve Him! That’s my 3rd day of June. 🙂