I loved my devotional this morning. It helped that I actually got to sleep in because I have the day off. Worked all weekend. And I do mean WORKED. I love the Deeper Still events but, because they last a half day longer than a regular LPL’s and the sessions are super long, you go home pretty wiped. Hence the day off. (I don’t take Monday’s off because of staff prayer time.) So, I was really rested when I was sitting propped up in my bed having my prayer time this morning. The Scripture hit me so tenderly that I nearly cried. You know the story. It’s about God’s fulfilled promise to Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Read the portion again and intentionally look at it as a woman because that’s sort of what this post is about. Be amazed and thankful that God has a long history of also making and keeping promises to women.
Genesis 21:1-7 (GW)
1 The Lord came to help Sarah and did for her what he had promised.
2 So she became pregnant, and at the exact time God had promised, she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age.
3 Abraham named his newborn son Isaac.
4 When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.
5 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.
6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.
7 Who would have predicted to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet, I have given him a son in his old age.”
I got stuck on that part that says, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” I sat in a carload of women in front of the hotel in Denver Saturday night. We’d just spent all evening together at a restaurant. You might reason that we’d spent all weekend together but we just kept talking a hundred miles an hour and didn’t want to get out of the car. It’s just a woman thing. Our ages ranged well over twenty years but for that moment, we were BFF. Kelly Minter and I were in the back seat and I looked straight at her and said, “Yep. This is what I love about women. I love being a woman.”
Cheesy. I know.
But I do.
I thought it was so cool that Sarah knew that many would laugh with her. If I were a betting woman, I’d wager that she was talking about other women. I can’t see the men really slapping their leg over it, then clapping, and then throwing up their hands and shouting, “Glory!” like me and my buddies would do. I’d bet they just slapped Abe on the back and said, “Way to go, man.” Most of the time, if God’s really done something cool in my life, I like to tell my girlfriends about it because I know they’ll laugh and clap their hands, too. In fact, I intentionally tell the ones that I know will most appreciate it.
It doesn’t have to be something really huge like Sarah’s miracle either. Women can find all sorts of things to laugh with one another over. Here are a few I’ve experienced just here lately:
Melissa: While we were in Israel, we went out in the parking lot to wave good bye to the first half of our group departing for the States. The rest of us would not be going till the next morning. There was a bit of a delay and they had to sit for a few minutes before taking off so I decided to start entertaining them (outside the bus on the pavement) with cheers, a few little dance moves, and kicking my feet to the side and clicking my heels (yes, in a dress. It is a move I do very well). To my great surprise, Melissa got into it with me and up and did two cartwheels for them. (Not in a dress.) It made me so happy that I laughed and laughed. My little budding scholar! I said to her while I bent over laughing, “You have what it takes for women’s ministry, Honey!”
Amanda: Melissa and I always say that AJ is the funniest one of the three of us. She’s just not the extrovert so it’s not as obvious. Here lately she hopped in the car with me on our way somewhere and I said, “What’s that in your hand?” She said, “My Weight Watchers charm. I got it for reaching my goal. I’m going to put it on Annabeth’s charm bracelet so she knows what I had to do to get over her.” I clapped and laughed, not only over AB’s well deserved charm but over AJ’s darling college-looking post-partum figure. A met goal is worth laughing and celebrating together.
Kelly Minter: You know what a big fan I am of Kelly’s. I love her. I love watching these young women teachers come and take their places. I cannot describe my joy or my peculiar feelings of elation over it. I sat on the front row at Deeper Still next to my beloved Priscilla when Kelly took the stage to share a devotional early Saturday morning. As she took that platform, she would speak to more people (by several thousand) than she’d ever addressed before…and she killed it. (I hope you realize that’s a good thing.) Honestly, I pumped my fist in the air and yelled, “Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!” Hawk looked around and said, “Did anybody hear her do that but me?” I couldn’t help myself.
A person I can’t name yet: A very dear loved one of mine is expecting her first baby and I am beside myself. I nearly hurt myself with joy when she told me over the phone. I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. I love God for what He’s done in her life. I will love this child next to my own blood grandchildren.
Another really close loved one: She’s the one whose 1-year chip from AA I showed you several weeks ago. God is so busy restoring the years the locusts have eaten in her life that, if He weren’t omnipotent, He’d honestly have no time for the rest of us. We have laughed and laughed over the wonders He has done in her behalf.
What about you? Is there anything wonderful God has done in your life – big or small – that this community of women could laugh with you about? Look back at those Scriptures. Has God done anything for you about which you could say, “God has brought me laughter” or “Who would have predicted…?” Give us the chance to clap our hands and laugh with you.
I’ll close this post with the devotional that accompanied those Scriptures this morning. It’s Charles Spurgeon. It about killed me in the Spirit. I loved it so much. Enjoy, Siestas. Your Mama loves you.
It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws, that the aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it is beyond all ordinary rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner, should find grace to bear about in my soul the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus. I, who once despaired, as well I might, for my nature was as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed as a howling wilderness, even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto holiness. Well may my mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the singular, surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found Jesus, the promised seed, and He is mine for ever. This day will I lift up psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low estate, for “my heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in Thy salvation.” I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell, and my most blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me.
Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening.
PS. Speaking of things fairly peculiar to women, I thought I might go ahead and tell you that I typed this whole thing standing up in my wrap-around terry cloth robe so my self tanner could dry. I want to be tan on my birthday.
Yesterday, my two girls (ages 8 and 6) were going through their “treasure boxes” from the year. (The mountains of artwork, notes and pictures from school and church that accumulate in a year). They were determining what to keep and what to throw away, and my youngest was having a hard time parting with any of it. She decided instead to put on a puppet show with some of her artwork. I can tell you that I have not laughed that hard in a long time. I don’t even know entirely what the whole show was about–but it did involve Queen Esther getting eaten by a singing angel (who was at battle with a leopard puppet). 🙂 Pure comedy. God so often uses my kids to teach me to not be so task oriented (“Okay–let’s clean out our treasure boxes and throw some things away.”) and instead just enjoy and laugh—and that we did.
Happy Birthday Beth!!!!
I’m laughing because a recent mammogram scare turned out to be a cyst. The comfort that God provided me in the “not knowing time” was amazing. It was as if He plastered his message to me on billboards all across my life. It was amazing!!!
Who would have predicted that at 47 years of age and after being out of school for 28 years I would be back in college working towards an undergraduate degree to teach elementary education? Even better, who would have predicted that I would earn an “A” in my first class? TOTALLY GOD! HE GETS ALL THE GLORY!
Happy Birthday Beth! I love you!
Okay………..about 6 mos ago we all decided that we would be attending the LifeWay conference in Irving, Calif. All but one of us procrastinated about purchasing “bracelets”. We did not know that the venue was going to be in a smaller than usual building and not thinking that it was California we were going to (we are in Nevada)…….our women’s ministry leader announced at our Monday night study that the date was SOLD OUT !!!!! SOLD OUT !!!!! How could that be! we hadn’t purchased our “bracelets” yet !!! We were crushed. One of us had the foresight to buy early and she was the one with the “golden ticket”. She was going with a dear friend. Okay, what was I going to do without my yearly Beth “fix”. Went to prayer (one of “dealing with” the disappointment) and just let it go – that’s the way it was, felt at peace about it and, let it go. Wouldn’t allow myself to think about it as I didn’t want to “deal with” the disappointment those thoughts brought. Was happy for my siesta, really I was, but …………. A couple of days ago, out of the blue, I get this phone call from my siesta……her friend had canceled out on her, she had an extra ticket, would I like to go with her? WOULD I LIKE TO GO WITH HER !!!!!!! I jumped with joy and laughed with such gladness, my husband thought I had gone mad 🙂 I first gave thanks to the One and then if I could have reached through the phone I would have hugged the breath out of my siesta !! Sorry, I hope this doesn’t make me seem insensitive, really, but I can’t deny that I am delighted that, thanks to the kindness and thoughtfulness of my siesta, I will be able to be in a place where God always shows up – amongst women who love Him madly, hearing from a woman who always delivers His message with loving clarity and sing praises to Christ with an equally blessed praise and worship team. And sharing it all with a very dear siesta. I am laughing with such joy, I can hardly stand it.
Just have to say that things have been tough as of late…and I was thinking I didn’t have much to laugh about right now; until you ended your post with “Your Mama loves you”. I haven’t heard those words in almost 15 yrs (my Mama went home with Jesus when I was 21)…and I laughed! That’s just what I needed to be reminded that indeed, even still, my mama loves me!
I’ve smiled, laughed and eyes full of tears today for my cousins that TODAY picked up their long awaited adopted daughter. God is so good and He knew that she would meet her family on June 15th. They got the call just yesterday and drove across two states — now she is in their arms and her sweet picture just posted to Facebook. Praise God!
HALLELUJAH!
Thank you for this! It brought me to tears. I have been struggling with infertility for 8 years and currently in the middle of my 2nd IVF cycle. I heard the story of Sarah a few years ago and thought that if I am ever able to conceive a boy I would name him Isaac. This has brought me hope. This journey has brought me so much closer to God reading the blog everyday brings me joy. Thanks!!
Praying for you….
Adrienne
If I could sing, ( I make joyful noises), I would often burst into ” look what the Lord has done”Last month I recieved a 5 yr. medallion from Celebrate Recovery. You are so right Beth, the Lord has restored the years the locusts stole. Today I’m beginning to grasp the depth & breadth of God’s love for me! (Thank you for helping me with that journey Siesta Mama!)And today I reserved my place to go with my church ladies to Deeper Still in Birmingham! We were just discussing, with joy, how excited we are about this opportunity.
Also, God has blessed me with such encouragement on my struggle with weight loss. There is a gfted,, Godly young woman (Lindsey Feldpausch)who writes about having the right heart before God. I have been blessed to be somewhat of an encourager for Lindsey. Who would have thought 5 years that I would be an encourager for a Godly young woman.? Well, praise God, He did! I do so love you & your precious family Beth. Thank you all for sharing your lives with us. Most of all thank you for your obedience to God in sharing this gift He has given you! Happy Birthday! Bet you’re enjoying that IPad!
I truly love your “p.s,” it certainly brought laughter to my day. Thank you for being so candidly honest!! Thank you Beth for the reminder of Sarah and laughter, we have plenty of it here at my house. Sometimes, especially when I am watching a nature show, or visiting the zoo, I picture God up there just chuckling at some of the strange looking creations he made, and know that he just has to have a sense of humor.
On Sunday, I took my youngest (11 year old daughter) and two of her friends to a Carrie Underwood concert at Rupp Arena. I saw you there once! It was pretty spectacular but my favorite part was when she sang Jesus Take the Wheel and then went into How Great Thou Art. So many hands raised, praising the Lord. It was such a joyful, wonderful moment that took me by surprise.
This past weekend was one of the best weekends in my life. I had a girlfriend come to Denver for the DS conference. Another friend living in the area that we both know came over as well, and none of us had seen each other in 25 years! We laughed and talked ’till all hours of the night (well, morning). I also had two other siestas stay with me…it was such a blessing! I live alone and company doesn’t come around often, so I’m always excited to have people near me; but, this was my first sisters in Christ company, and it was AMAZING! The Lord poured out on each one of us this weekend and exceeded all our expectations.
I heart you!
I AM SO SO SO SO SO happy for you Kate:) love you much, and you rock at skype…just sayin:)
Oh Beth. I pray God will have you read this comment.
I am 32 and have done every one of your Bible studies. I have found Jesus over and over with you.
I am overcome with infertility treatments at the moment. My husband injected 7 vials of medication into my abdomen just this morning. I have done everything I know to do and I’m leaving the rest to God. That’s so much easier typed than done.
The mascara is flowing and the Holy Spirit has met with me at the Mac Book.
Thank you, sweet friend. You are as true as ever.
Please say a short prayer for the outcome.
I love you so.
I am praying for you A.E.
Happy birthday!! You are so funny!! I love getting with my sistas to talk about things God has done in our lives! It’s so uplifting and encouraging! I just want to praise God for filling me with joy! I’ve been specifically praying for it and have made it a choice to choose joy!! God is so good!!
I laughed and laughed at church Sunday. We had special music by a precious young family of 5. The children are ages 4, 6, and 9 and they sang “I’ll Fly Away”. Without ever missing a beat the youngest, a darling little girl, raised her dress HIGH, sang with her back to us, climbed up on a stool very lady like w/ her ankels crossed, climbed down, twirled, clapped, and just sang her heart out. Her older sister and brother just kept right on like it was an everday event and Mom and Dad quit trying to corral her after about 2 minutes. We laughed til we cried. I know just know Jesus loved it too!
It is “funny” that you would post this today. I feel the need to tell on myself. I hope you will think this is funny and not block me from posting here anymore. I sent you a card for your birthday. It will stand out from the others because I’m pretty sure it will be the only one with a napkin in it. I felt silly sending you a napkin, but it says something like,”Happy are the people who’s God is the Lord”. Ever since I saw the series,”The Happy Blessing” on Life Today, whenever I see things that combine “happy” and “God” you immediately come to mind. As a bonus, you will now have a napkin to use when you eat your cake tomorrow;)Hope this post made you smile. Love you! Joan
My current blog post (9 Lives? How About 19?!) is one recent cause for laughter — God gave us a miracle and granted my mother-in-law more time here on earth. Praise Him! Come on over and read about it!
twenty-two years ago my marriage was nearly destroyed when my spouse broke my heart by having an extra-marriatal affair. but thanks to the Lord and His wonderful miracles, we both turned our lives over to Him at that time, and He restored our marriage and has given us not only a precious, loving marriage, but two beautiful, (now married) children, and a WONDERFUL six month old grandson! we just married off our youngest son last week as we have looked back at our lives and our blessings, i have slapped my leg, clapped my hands and had LAUGHTER in the Lord!
hAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!
Who would’ve predicted that a few hopeful women from church, who thought they’d get together once a week in the summer to study your new Revelation series, would turn into a group close to 50!
We are praising HIM!
Loved your post, Beth. But the funniest thing of all was the picture in my head of you standing and typing as your self tanner dried. Now that is just too good a visual image!!! Hope your birthday is blessed beyond measure!
I have prayed for several years that God would give me a ministry to give out of my struggles and hurts. He has answered in the last few weeks in a way so different from what I could have asked or expected. He delights and surprises me!
Would love to hear more about this as I’m guessing others of us are wondering what God may do with us.
Thank You Sweet Seista Mama you are one awesome woman,
Thank you for serving us women here on the blog and at your conferences.Thank you for the encouragement you have been to me thanks for bringing the word to us. Happy Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday Sweet Beth have an awesome day with your Loved ones and be blessed.
Thank you you always make me laugh
The verse that comes to mind right now
She is clothed with strength and dignity she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25 NIV
Well I was working out at the gym this a.m. always have you video’s on my mp3 player and I usually almost always listen to you or Travis but I was watching one of your video’s and oh my I laugh because you said something funny cannot remember exactly what it was but I got some of the strangest looks like whats so funny only if they knew that I was listening to my most favorite person in the world and listening to my own seista mama.
Have a great day
you are loved so much
Love Carol
One more thing anymore spills at the airport this weekend that super seista mama cleaned up?
Just thought of that
Happy Birthday Beth (Tomorrow)…”When I think of all of the things that never would have been if YOU hadn’t been…I celebrate the day you were born.” -Flavia
Ain’t that the truth!!! I love you!!! Your teachings have been mind blowing, mind altering (in a really healthy way) and mind cleansing. Can’t wait to see what God will do next through you. I pray a year of health and heart filled adventures in your life.
Beth Craig
California
This past Thursday, after 15 months and 5 days of unemployment, my husband had the profound privilege of getting up to go to work. We praise the Lord for His sustaining Hand, no matter it looked like a check from the Employment Security Commission or a gift card slipped into our hands annonymously at church. And I praise Him with tears of joy, for providing work for my dear man, who just like Adam in the Garden of Eden, needed God to give him a job to do so he wouldn’t lose his mind. God is so good.
My husband and our family recently moved across the country, literally! We moved from WA state to NC. Our 3.5 year old has had to learn all new names of places and it has been fun to watch.
My husband had to take a business trip to Miami a few months ago. He was talking with our daughter about it and that he would be gone for a couple of days.
The next day we got in the car to take him to the airport. Charli Kate asked, “Mom, where are we going?” I replied, “We are taking daddy to the airport so he can get on a plane and go to Miami.” She abruptly said, “No mom! It’s not YOUR-ami, it’s HIS-ami.”
I nearly peed my pants laughing, I was so proud of how her little mind was at work and blown away by her conviction.
Oh now, that is just too funny! Love what kids’ll say!
For years I prayed for some friends. I didn’t need anything deep and heavy. I have been blessed with a “best friend”. Just some women to hang out with and do stuff with. This morning I sat around the table on my best friend’s deck with 4 other women while our children played in her back yard on the swing set. We didn’t discuss anything earth-shaking or deep. Just some amazing God stuff and girl stuff. And a lot of mom stuff. The best part was the laughter. And it was even better because the laughter was about stuff our men would never understand.
Thank you for posting this. I have been struggling deeply with the “no friends” issue myself, and you made me realize I haven’t asked God for friends! Duh for me! How could I have forgotten this simple, easy thing? Guess I’ve been in too deep with my complainings to remember to ask Him for what He already knows I need. Maybe He’s just waiting for me to ask so He can bless me as He did you, and have me recognize it was Him. Hmmm….thoughts to ponder. No wait! I’m gonna go pray right now!
I loved this post! LOVED it!! I am a lover of all things random!
Happy Birthday a day early!! I am sure you are going be looking super stylish with your tan! I can’t do a self tan or spray on tan because it makes me too orange looking. When I get a tan, it’s usually a result of being burned. Plus I get a lot of freckles when I’m in the sun and unfortunately, self tan does NOT add freckles, so I just look like I’ve been playing in dirt or paint! I know it’s horrible and I’ll probably get chastised for it, but I’m a big fan of tanning beds. I can go and not get burned, starting out really slow of course, and it also soo relaxing!
I hope you have a SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS birthday! Love you lots and so grateful to “know” you! I pray for you and yours often!
With love,
Nikki
Yeah, but can you say that backwards? Hi Nikki. Thanks for bringing me to this roundup. D’you hear the one about the man with the wooden leg named Smith?…
What was the name of his other leg?! 😉
Nikki…I was waiting for it…knew Mary Poppins would be apart of that comment somehow..and that’s why I love you:) I wonder if Julie Andrews is a siesta:) lol.
Speaking of turning orange…that happend to me, now my daughter calls it OOMPA LOOMPA LOTION
First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to beautiful YOU! I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you as you bless so many others!
I have to admit, I chuckled at the thought of you standing there “tanning” as you wrote this blog. So thank you for providing a much needed moment of laughter in the midst of a hot summer day with 3 girls home from school… 🙂
Enjoy your day!
I wish I could attach a picture to show you what I laugh about EVERY SINGLE DAY…
Background, I went through a very painful and surprising divorce several years ago and one of the hardest things that I dealt with was walking around ringless. It sounds dumb but it really made me feel like I didn’t have a place. I knew some of my issue was deeply rooted in pride (it was a big and pretty diamond, being honest) but some of it was about the loss I felt. I NEVER spoke of this to ANYONE but God. And we talked about it A LOT. Well, at the first fancy shamancy event I went to post divorce, they had a raffle for a bracelet. My Mom bought my sister and me an entry. Well, when they had the drawing, I went to the bathroom… When I walked back into the large filled ballroom, they were discussing how there HAD to be a winner. My Sister looks across the room at me and I JUST KNEW. Yep, our sweet Savior gifted me with a dainty platinum and baby diamond bracelet that I treasure not for its worldly value but for what it stands for. I have a place and I am marked. Every single day. I tend to rub the sparkly parts when I pray just as a reminder of how He listens and cares. And now, I can’t wait for the day that I get to GIVE this reminder to someone who also needs to know that she has a place and value.
Clap with me and celebrate a God who can use JEWELRY to clean a TARNISHED sould. AMEN!
First of… A ba-lessed HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Beth!! I am praying for the best darn celebration a woman can have!
God has caused me laughter and tears and joy and perplexion all at the same time over some of the funnest (and scariest) things. I had a baby at 42…not quite a Sarah story but it felt like it to me…but, I digress.
NOW…God is sending me to Africa for a short-term missions trip. I don’t know how (it’s big bucks) but I do know why. He’s got something He wants to grow in me. I am scared to death and practically giddy with the expectation of what He will do to get me there and what He will do with me once I get there. Priscilla’s Word this weekend was for ME! I am COMPELLED to go.
I’m not trying to kiss up or be all hoity toity, but you hugging me this weekend and telling me you were glad I was there….was a blessing to me. I esteem you greatly and love how you have brought me to the Love of my life. Jesus is my life. You are a huge part of this journey.
Melana 🙂
Melana – you have no idea how much joy you bring me! I am so thankful that we met on this journey together. I love that you heard YOUR Word, loud and clear. You go girl! I know we would laugh and high-five each other if we were here together right now…
Love you,
Adrienne
If only I could hug you right now! Love you dearly 🙂
Love this! I am thrilled for you and will be praying for the beautiful Moose mama (think how sarah would have explained that!?)
I am so excited for your trip to Africa! I got yer back (’cause u my home skillit biskit yo), and I’m praying that all your needs be abundantly met for what He has called you to do!
Kate, you know I love you….but “skillit biskit yo”??? What does that even mean? 🙂
*sigh* Melana, Melana, Melana
Home = homie
skillit = friend
biskit = something that sounds better than home skillit bacon and grits.
yo = well, YO haa haa
Oh….well that clears up everything.
A-balessed! I love it!
Wow girl, I am so proud of you! Will be with you in spirit:) or better yet…take me with you in stick person form:) love you!
Just starting to read your blog daily Beth and thought I would start to leave comments once in awhile. What an encouragement to share things that give us joy and make us laugh!
My oldest son, Owen has been a giggler since he was 4 months old. I swear he giggles more than that kid on youtube when you get him going. He is now turning 3 in October and still brings so much joy even through difficult times. You just have to laugh with him!!
Many times my mentor and I have laughed over the things God has done for us. We call them “coiencidences” but we know it’s the sovereignty of God. The most recent example is the fact that I’m working in a job that hold a very difficult environment, only to have one of my managers tell me about how he is living in sin and want desperately to go to church, be saved, and start a Christian charity. He told me that he thought God could never forgive him, and I laughed on the inside because I have been struggling with not believing that God can forgive me. God never ceases to amaze me with the people He brings into my life.
We have had much laughter this past 10 months…..our son who has battled mental illness and addictions, all at the tender age of 27, has been well and recovering. It is still a day by day trial but my company offered and incentive trip for 2 to the Mediterranean and he was my guest! We had a ball and laughed alot! It would not have been possible just 10 months ago—–we give God all the glory!! He majors in the Impossible! Also, we have an 11 month old Havanese named Oscar who keeps us chuckling daily — he has personality plus and loves everyone!
Happy Birtday to you Beth! I pray for you and your family and for all of us who love you and love the Word more because of you that this is just one more of the many, many, many to come! Have a blessed day!
God has done a glorious miracle in my marriage. We will be celebrating 5 years on July 9th and I couldn’t be happier to be married! 🙂
I recently wrote a blog post about God’s amazing grace, love, and mercy in my marriage. Here it is: http://lovejoyandlaughter.blogspot.com/2010/06/warning-long-vulnerable-scary-for-me.html
Happy Birthday, Beth!! 🙂
Oh, Beth, your self-tanner comment has me cackling already. I delighted in a belly laugh just last night as I enjoyed a game of Scrabble with my 19 & 20yr old daughters; (yes, bribery was involved by the name of Starbucks). My oldest had just plopped a word down and was trying to give a sound of exaltation. Instead she managed a sort of snorting sound that nearly choked her. We laughed till we cried. Thank you, Lord for girls home from college.
Thank you, Beth for inviting us to call you our Siesta Mama. Happy Suntanned Birthday from one of your girls.
Love,
Kath
Hmmm..mm_ you have a 100 year old pregnant woman, some cartwheels going on, weigh watchers and a tan all going on…LOL. Thank the Lord for laugher and His goodness!
During VBS this week I presented the gospel to the kids and ask them if anyone wanted to be a Christian. One little boy was very excited about becoming a Christian.
So, I sat down with him, went through the scriptures and we prayed. After we got down, he said, ” I am a Christian, I am a Christian.” He went to see our preacher and he was still saying, “I am a Christian.” He told everybody.__ I gave him a Bible and devotional book then he replied, ” Is this for me, because I am a Christian?” Yes! Thank the Lord someone is excited about coming to the Christ. I laughed and cried, if we could all be like a little child.
This week did not end there, but I was asked to teach Sunday School for a group of women on Sunday morning.
So, I ask the Lord to help, I could not do this alone.
God used me for His glory and I was also able to share some things I learned from your book on insecurity.
After Sunday School I went into the “barefoot church”
service. I looked in front of me and these women all had their shoes off and we don’t even have feet-washing at our church…now I could not help it I thought now that is secure in the house of the Lord…so funny.
It is with complete JOY that I’ll respond to this post today. My husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this past March and needless to say Hawaii was not in the picture as I had always dreamed. We have two boys in college so we settled on a one night getaway to “Amish” country. Beautiful in its own way — still not Hawaii. However our families had not acknowledged our milestone as I thought they would. With that being said, they had been planning another getaway weekend for us. They presented it by having us go on a “paper chase” or “scavenger hunt” of our love life where we visited the first place we met and had to complete a charade to receive the next clue. Then “Going to the Chapel” where we said our vows and my sister appeared from behind the car in the exact 25-year-old bridesmaids’ dress with a cake where they proceeded to blindfold us and have us feed one another a piece of cake. They led us to our first home, our second home, and back to my mom’s where the immediate family gathered and asked my husband to share our engagement story. I was surprised to learn that many of them had never heard the story that he proposed at a Lionel Richie concert by giving me a little aspirin container and told me he had a headache. Needless to say, there were no aspirin only my engagement ring. This was happening right in the middle of the song “Endless Love.” Can you believe that they found Lionel is playing in Connecticut this coming Saturday and they somehow got us 2nd row seats to his concert! I say this is one of the most romantic and unbelieveably generous gifts we have ever received. We were completely overwhelmed! We leave on Saturday morning and return on Monday morning, just in time for my husband to get back to work! We are truly blessed beyong measure and we see Christ’s hand all over our lives. Please trust Him with your future — He knows us so much better than we think He does. I just had to share this because it seems that we need to celebrate marriage more in this country and the rekindling of the love we had and have for one another as the years go by. Can’t wait for this weekend! I hope this gives you all something to laugh about or at least smile about : ) God is good isn’t He?
So many things that I’ve ‘laughed’ over and about with my friends lately but one of the biggest is how God has made Himself known in a huge and glorious way the past 5 or 6 months in my life. He’s taken me from someone that would read her Bible (if she read her Bible) out of duty and feeling like I have to, to someone that loves to be in His word because it lets me know who He is. You’ll appreciate this, but I’ve begun to believe that 1) God is who He says He is 2) God can do what He says He can do 3) I am who God says I am 4) I can do all things through Christ and 5) God’s word is alive and active in me. 🙂
I FIRMLY believe that your ‘Believing God’ Bible study has helped me in ways that I don’t even know yet. All glory and honor be to His name!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Beth,
Your posts and writings bring laughter and joy each time I read them. God uses your sense of humor, honesty and willingness to be vunerable to show His grace and love. Thank you for being so faithful to His call. Have a wonderful Birthday and enjoy every minute of it…
Happy Birthday Beth! Blessings to you!
Two weeks ago I was visiting Mackinac Island, MI with my Mom, Dad and hubby. We were staying across the lake in the city and bought two day passes to ride the ferry over to the island. We went the first day and all came back early. The next day Mom and Dad came back early while Willie and I decided to catch the late ferry back. After a wonderful day together hiking, biking and enjoying the beautiful island, we went to the dock early to wait on the 8:00 ferry. We waited until 7:45, still no ferry and no other passengers. THEN we noticed the closed sign on the ferry office door! We checked the times listed outside the door and found out the last ferry leaves at 6:00 on weeknights, and this was a Monday night. So there we were….stranded….no clothes, no purse, no parents, cell phone going dead. Thankfully my husband had his debit card and we were able to get a room. The park bench would have been a little chilly that night! Anyway, it was a time of laughter, we had a blast. My friend said it was a God thing! I think she’s right. 🙂
Love, love, love Mackinac Island! Does Main St still smell like homemade fudge? Sigh. Haven’t been back since I was a kid. It’s a “fer piece” from these parts.
Kathy,
It does smell like that delicious fudge. Among other things, with all those horses! 🙂 But the lilacs were in full bloom, ahhhh every time the breeze hit my face it was the beautiful scent of lilacs. Hope you get to visit again sometime.
I love Mackinaw Island! What a truly special place it is! So glad you didn’t have to sleep on the park bench!
Thanks Michelle, I’m glad too! 🙂 It really is a beautiful place to visit.
It’s on my bucket list to visit. We were just talking about it a couple of nights ago.
I think the coolest thing to happen lately was last night when I was texting my dear friend and siesta Fran Thomas,
I have been going through an interesting time in my world lately, and she said, ” I am begging you to do ” One in a Million”…and she told me how I could watch online etc.
then not even and HOUR later I was talking to a friend from church on FB messenger, and was mentioning to her how my friend felt led to tell me to do ” One In a Million”, and she said, ” Well, you might want to wait a little, because we are doing that study next in the fall.”
Now you will see texts about this all over people’s phones, and twitter, because its just how God rolls, and I just love Him:)
And Beth you are my hero, because of that crazy-dancing lady example you set…I do the kickline easily to any song I feel like:) So thank you for that:)
Love all of you bunches:)
angie
P.S-
Happy Unbirthday today, and Happy Birthday tomorrow:)
God filled our house with laughter–He gave me a son while on the mission field–a place I didn’t want to be. He gave me a daughter through adoption (name is Faith) when I’d lost two, and he gave my third child as an added bonus and unexpected surprise.(name is Will)
Yes Lord! Yes Lord! Yes Lord!
I get bug laugh out of the fact that God has called me to start a ministry in Paris, France. i have never been there. There are two friends of mine that will be helping me start it. Both of them have been to Paris. I think it’s funny and so odd that God chose the one person who hasn’t been to lead to this.
I also got a laugh over the weekend that involved you, Siesta Mama. My church went to Yosemite on Saturday, with optional camping Friday night. Well, the store at the campsite sold none other than Moon Pies. Naturally, I thought of you! I was really tempted to buy all of them and send them to you!
God bless,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, I have some contacts in Paris who run a ministry for kids (sharing Christ through the arts) who otherwise would hang in the streets. Click me and I can share their info with ya. Paris is incredible! I can’t wait to return!
~Kate
I’m a school teacher, so I have some timne off that job for a while. I spent the better part of May dreaming of this spectacularly relaxing summer….but I have children. Who need to go places. So i’ve spent the better part of June in my car. But God puts hilarious and smile-inducing incidents and words and food in my way ON PURPOSE!
The best this week? amber haines at the run amuck (http://therunamuck.com/2010/06/10/note-to-self-on-how-to-keep-the-crazies-at-a-minimum/) wrote about the hysteria brought about by hormones and it was FUNNY! She’s an awesome Christian woman with a powerful testimony and a super sense of humor.
Happy Birthday Beth!
Tonight several of us girls are going to Peggy’s to have a girl’s night out. And I’m going to get on the big raft pulled behind a jet ski. Have never done it because I thought I was too old and too fat. Now, after losing 118 pounds I think age will have nothing to do with it. Got to have friends around when I totally wipe out or succesfully ride that wild raft. You can bet either outcome, we will be laughing.
You go, girl!!! I don’t know you sweet sister, but I’m SO proud of you for your accomplishment.
My wonderful older sister has always struggled with her weight, and she lost 42lbs last year!!!! She’s like a flower who’s just seen the sun. At 51, she had almost given up hope of regaining her health, but she DID IT!! God is so good, isn’t He?!
I hope you had the time of your life on that raft!
Beth, today you have caused me to realize why I love being a woman so much. Thank you! Okay. Things for you fellow siestas to laugh over with me:
1. I had a cashier at the checkout yesterday look at my blue bracelet and say,”me, too!”
2. After 2 yrs of praying that I could leave my high stress job, I was offered an old position at Starbucks back. Yeah, coffee!!!!
3. I’m 27, been overweight for 10 yrs and just lost my first 25 pounds ever!!! It’s amazing how spiritual bein healthy is!
4. Yesterday for the first time EVER a guy flirted with me, told me I’m pretty, and that he’s interested. Who cares if it goes anywhere. Just that conversation taught me so much!
5. After years in complete bondage all over the place, God has pulled be out of so many pits that I officially was asked to teach/speak to teenagers for the first time this week. My first audience will be over 500 teenage girls that go to my large church. I’m talking about my story. And BREAKING FREE. I absolutely never thought I’d get to do this!
I love our King!!!!!
You are such an inspiration Elizabeth. I don’t know you, but just reading that made me say it!:) God bless!
This is my favorite story… Isn’t God just great???
This may sound a little bizarre…but let’s face it, an elderly woman having a baby might sound a little bizarre too. For years I have struggled with some health issues that could not be addressed by traditional doctors. At times I really thought I was going to lose my mind. I knew that God could just look at me and heal me from all the junk I was experiencing and yet my struggles continued. Well, last fall I reached the end of my rope. Could not handle ONE MORE physician telling me they didn’t know what was wrong. And then I stumbled on to the idea of trying some “gluten free” food in place of some things I knew my body reacted violently to every single time I ate them. Guess what? The g-free stuff didn’t make me sick. I prayed and asked God if he was sure this was where we were going and he begged me to trust him on this one. Well, November 1st I went gluten free and life has never been the same. I have been dramatically healed in ways I cannot even begin to tell you. And here’s the thing that makes me want to bawl…I’ve had people come up to me and ask about my experience and I’ve seen their health and lives improved as well. Sometimes we just have to DO whatever the crazy thing is he’s asking us to do…and then he completely blows us away. I cannot get over him.
I didn’t grow up in youth group, in fact didn’t become apart of one until the summer before I left for college. I loved working with kids and was very intimidated by the thought of ever working with anyone older. What did God do? He called me to work with a very challenging youth group as a freshman in college and then led me to marry the youth pastor I was certain I’d never fall for. Now I adore youth ministry and can’t imagine serving with anyone more incredible then the man I call friend and husband and father to our two beautiful children. I love how God knows what we want more then we do. He’s definitely a God of beautiful laughter!
Beth,
Today is my birthday and this post was SUCH a blessing! Just a little bit ago I was having so much fun in the kitchen with my kids and singing LOUD “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong and just praising the Lord for His many blessings the past year! Wish I could take you to coffee for your birthday and laugh with joy about the mighty God we serve!
Love in Christ,
Katie
Happy Birthday, Katie!
Thank you Kathy :o)
Beth
God has done so much good things in my life to laugh about. A
recovering drug addict I dissided about four years ago I needed to
get high . I did and what was the one thing I wanted so bad while high
to spend time with god . Being high I could not understand what I was reading
but he showed me that this is what I need to spend time with him not the drug.
I’m not laughing at this yet. But I would if I wasn’t so sleep. The past year I have lost
100 pounds mostly by excerising . I keep telling myself and god I just can’t get up
that early in the morning. I had to get up at 200 am in order to workout
for one hour to get to work at 5am. For the past two weeks I had to be at work at 3am 🙂
so I guess he showed me it is something that I can do
My husband and I are parents to a beautiful daughter who has been very happily married since her wedding day in 2003. She and her husband have two adorable sons one almost 3 and the other 4 1/2. Another baby is on the way due this September and the baby is a girl. Since finding out about the pregnancy the boys have become quite interested in our daughter’s growing middle. Our youngest grandson just walks up to her pulls up her top and touches and talks to the baby — doesn’t matter whether at home or in public. While recently visiting with my daughter and her family, my youngest grandson who was snuggled up close to me on the couch turned and looked up at me, poked my boob and said ‘baby?!’ Well, I was speechless. Thankfully my daughter jumped in and helped out. You should know that my boob is not anywhere close to the size of my daughter’s baby bump. Anyway, this is just one of a zillion examples of the pure joy my hub and I have had the privilege of enjoying as Granddaddy and Nana to the two most amazing grandsons on earth. In the midst of a broken world what a gift it is to be able to smile and look into the small faces of two little boys whose smiles light up the world. Yep, laughter, joy…so thankful.
Happy Birthday Beth! May your special day be filled with many blessings.