Good Tuesday morning, Dear Siestas!
I pray your week is off to a great start! Mine started with a powerful sermon by my pastor, Gregg Matte, and an equally fabulous worship service on Sunday next to some of the people I love most in the world. Like numbers of you, I’ve been in the same congregation for many years and have deep investments in relationships there. Within six or seven rows of where we usually sit, I have dear friends from kindergarten to their seventies (yes, in our contemporary service). I’ve known many of the adolescents all their lives and have watched some of the young couples grow up, fall in love and get married. In fact, I stood with a few of them. My church is a wealth to me. I had the privilege of praying with one of my close 8 year-old friends at the altar on Sunday whose granddaddy is in the hospital and has her scared half to death. There’s just no way I can tell you what those moments mean to me.
I’m an early riser by habit but I was dead to the world Sunday morning and way overslept the clock. I got up rubbing my eyes and said to Keith, “Blast it, I’m up too late to get ready for church.” He very uncharacteristically said, “You can make it!” and I got ready in a record 45 minutes. (Keith does not have a churchy background and is not very churchy by routine. He is often very amused if I play hooky then act guilty about it all day. He’ll think of things to bait me then laugh his head off when I fall for them.) I told him never to expect me to get ready that quickly again but I was so glad we went. It was a truly great service.
My man is one of the most unique people I’ve ever known. He’ll say absolutely ANYTHING which means he’s been known to hurt my feelings on (frequent) occasion…but then he sends me a text while I’m out of town with just one sentence: Come home to me. And I do. I love him so much. He also does really unique things. When I got home Saturday night, I saw this pile on the kitchen counter:
He saw me staring and said, “Oh, I cut the fringe off that fancy pillow on the couch.”
I’m sitting here speechless just as I was that night. But I am bent over laughing. That’s my man. He thinks an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure.
OK, my other random thing is that I have a new travel case for my Bible and computer. I AM SO HAPPY! Perhaps you are not a traveler and do not understand the great importance of your carry on. It is your best friend on the road. It’s under pressure to meet all manner of requirement like fitting in the overhead and going under the seat and rolling down an Express Jet aisle. It also has to be cooperative in the security line when you’re trying to pull your laptop in and out and put it on the conveyor belt. These are not small matters. It also has to fit the large box of Hot Tamales one of the guys from the production team gives me as a reward at the end of most conferences.
To tell you how challenging it is to find exactly the right bag, I have carried the same one for some 12 – shoot fire, maybe 14 – years. The handle is almost impossible to get up and down any more and it’s beat nearly to oblivion. I love it so much though. It’s been good to me. Loyal. I even feel a little guilty about the rest of this story.
Sabrina, my coworker, has tried so hard to get me a new one through the years but I always have a reason for rejecting this one or that one. About a month ago, Hawk and I were at the airport on the way to a conference when we spied a woman with the cutest powder blue bag I’d ever seen. It had never hit me that my bag could be useful AND darling. What was I thinking??? Anyway, we attacked her, got the information on the brand, and ORDERED THAT BABY. Rich and Ron from the LPL team have helped me haul that one black carry-on all over the United States for years. They were so shocked to see the new one, they were too frozen to even lift it in the car. “Whose is this??”
It’s mine! I just love it! And so far, through two trips, it’s passing all my flying tests. It’s a bit too wide for my taste but its cuteness is giving it the advantage at this point and is making it worth the trouble to turn side-ways down the aisle. I may get annoyed with that after a while. We’ll see how it goes.
My small group and I are loving our Ruth study so far! Like some of you, we are meeting each week with one another and every other week with the Siestas at large. The first week of homework is fantastic. Don’t you love it? If you’re doing a different study this summer, tell us what it is!
I cannot say enough about our St Louis group. They were absolutely incredible. God was so gracious to grant us a strong sense of His Presence. He is all we have to offer. All we have of value. So many Siestas were there! We tried hard to get the Siestas together at the end of it for a clandestine group picture but most of them didn’t see the slide we’d been slipping up on the screen during break times. I didn’t get to meet Sister Lynn and I was so ticked! I did, however, see her beautiful face out there. I also got to meet five of our other regulars who were so darling that I could hardly stand it.
Well, Siestas, I better get off of here and down stairs at LPM for lunch. We’re eating in today. You are on my mind every day. Just wanted to say hello!
Erica, I walked away from God in anger and disappointment. The Lord had hurt my feelings, so I left my faith to find a fresh path. Although I walked away from God, He did not walk away from me. The Lord allowed me to experience life in the wilderness of doubt, but He was always there watching and waiting for me to return. Eventually, many years, I allowed myself to feel His presence in my life. Little by little the Lord called me back.
Midland Kay
Erica,
I know He loves me because He sent His Son to die for me. When I look at Jesus, I see the Father. He is not terrifying or confusing. He is love.
Through the pages of the Bible, He weaves His love story for us. From the very first pages, when those He loved dearly chose to walk away from Him, He pours out His love in the promise to redeem us.
I have found that He is all He has promised to be.
Ms. Beth, this my first time to comment on anything. But I so wanted you to know. Me & a friend attended the Pastor’s Wife Conference last March in Nashville, TN. You have no idea of how that weekend has impacted our lives. My friend lost her husband of 7 years last June. She did not realize how the words that God spoke through you during that weekend would help her through this difficult time. You know how sometimes we don’t realize how God can still use something a year later. Well she texted me a few days ago and said that she had found her notes from the conference and how those words spoke to her through this new season in her life. Please pray for her and her 6 year old daughter. Their names are Angela and Sidney. Thank you so much, I just love how real you are. You have touched my life through your books in so many ways.
Bonnie Y.
Thank you so much for telling me this, Bonnie. I am so thankful that weekend ministered to you and your friend. It meant a lot to us, too. I remember almost every single moment of it. As for her happening upon her notes, that’s the power of God’s Word alone. Only it can still be alive a year later. May God continue to show Angela and Sidney miracle after miracle.
Beth,
When I first read your post on my Iphone today, I thought that pile of fringe was a pile of shrimp or crawdads. 🙂
Love you,
Susan in OKC
I just want to tell you how much I appreciate your blog!!! Today has been quite stressful, and the pillow comment made me SNORT out loud! I am laughing so hard! 🙂
I really wanted to participate in the Ruth Bible Study, but unfortunately, the ladies at my church at not doing a Bible study right now. I wanted to start one on my own, but I am 31 yrs old and I was afraid that would be presumptuous of me and might offend some of the older ladies. I don’t want to come across like a “know it all” but I just hunger for His Word and think it would be so much fun to share and discuss with other ladies… What do you ladies think?
Have a wonderful week!
Melanie
~ melscoffeebreak.blogspot.com ~
Sweet Melanie, don’t forget Paul’s words to Timothy to let no one despise his youth, but to be an example to the believers. You just might be the catalyst needed in the lives of older and even perhaps more mature believers. I know I am sharpened by younger and more energetic women in my life. You certainly don’t sound presumptious to me. Your hunger for God’s Word will very likely be contagious. Wouldn’t want to stifle that now, would ya? I know you’re praying. Me too.
Erica, your tender question brought tears to my eyes. I think that your question has been answered by MANY folks, and I will stand by what they said. But just know that just knowing that you don’t KNOW He loves you makes me cry. I’m praying that He downloads the knowing right into your heart NOW.
Beth,
My group of ladies (we call ourselves the Bible study Babes!) is doing Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh. We begin tomorrow. I can’t wait.
I had a weird dream last night that you had come to my area (MA), and I had forgotten about it and had MISSED YOU! I was so stinking mad at myself that I even woke up ticked. 🙂 I am glad it was just a dream.
Much love to you..
Jen
Jen, I had not heard of that book by Sheila. I bet it’s fabulous. I hope you guys have a blast.
My daughter and I are doing a different study. We are doing A Woman’s Heart updated edition. 6/23 was our first day. I know it is long but please read and pray for us.
We signed up and had great start on both Me, Myself & Lie and So Long Insecurity but we didn’t get to finish either one. I am still reading LSI at bed time (when I am not mad at my daughter). It sounds casual but I am trying not to be. I can’t seem to move on but keep going back to the book.
Me and My daughter!! We are going through some very difficult time. We both need some physical and emotional healing…and our relationship to be restored. I finally said to her last week one evening that I am done with her, at least that’s what I thought. God didn’t wait too long. The next morning during my prayer time He spoke. I need to do my job. I am the one who need to help her out and …I better be strong. We are to do another study. I though it was Ruth. Right on time, right? I talked to my daughter and she agreed that we need to. We went to a lifeway but she didn’t pick Ruth as I believed she would when I introduced it to her. Surprisingly we both agreed on A Woman’s Heart. We both made commitment sheets and signed. To do quite time in the morning and do home work everyday and do DVD session every Friday FAITHFULLY. We will both meet as group members and the leader guide book will be our leader. We will both read the questions together before DVD session so I won’t be prepared ahead and become a leader. We also bought a new devotional book for each. It is Kay Arthur’s Search My Heart, O God. Please pray for us. I so want us to get what we suppose to get through this study. Thank you for reading.
Chae, that study of the Tabernacle ruined me for anything less than a life in Scripture. I pray that Christ will captivate both of you right away and that you’ll see it to the end. He is so worthy of it.
I can’t belive you reply to my comment. Thank you for your prayer.
Chae,
I’m praying for you and your daughter. You are such a faithful, brave and strong Momma. Hang in there.
Many people here know my story, my 17 year old boy who tested me every which way to Sunday and left me confessing to God that I was done being his mom on the way to pick him up from the police at 5:30 am. I had a moment something similar to yours as we made the drive that cool October morning. “You have to be his mom because I gave him to you. You have to be his mom now so he can be the man I’ve created him to be then.”
I saw a picture of my boy as a baby and then as a man teaching others. My heart melted before the Lord.
I continued to contend for him and began praying Philippians 1:6 for him that day. What I did not know was 10 months later I would surrender my oldest child, my son, to go home to Heaven. And, God answered my prayers in spite of the enemies best intentions of stealing my faith, killing my son and destroying my family. For my son, Philippians 1:6 is true and his faith now complete in his relationship with Christ.
I would venture to say there is a great anointing and calling on your child’s life and the enemy is about ensuring that does not get done.
Not everyone’s story is like mine. God doesn’t always allow for earthly death to be the answer, but in my case Justin’s home-going opened the windows of heaven and poured out the blessing of God in so many lives it is hard for me not to be sorry about it.
If I had any insight to share from my experience it would be:
1.) Pick your battles: I would have concerned myself less with the little things that were not vital to his growth and reflected more of my preferences than hard fast rules.
2.) Listen to her heart: I would have listened to his heart more. My son wanted to change in the worst, worst way. He didn’t write much because he had a learning disability but he did one Bible study devotion I bought him when he was like 13 or 14 and he wrote a number of things – one of which was “I need to be a better man.” His heart was to change but his flesh was so weak and the enemy knew every chink in his armor. He lived like hell everday of the week and fell on his face before God each weekend seeking to find the change he longed for but could never find.
3.) Ask God to give you a vision for your child’s life. Not that you can speak to her about, but that you can pray back to Him.
In short, I would have listened more, loved more and spent more time just discovering who he was – and helping him grow the way he is bent.
I pray this is helpful and please know the Lord is very attentive to where you and your daughter are right now. You are both precious in His sight.
Love and Hugs,
MB
MB,
Thank you so much for sharing yours. I was going to typed “your story” but it is more than that and couldn’t find the right word for it. I am crying. Why my God love me so much…? I am His worst child. I get knock down by enemies every other minute. Sometimes I even feel too scared to get up because I know I will fall into the same trap again. The battles with enemies are so..so hard. Many times..I see Jesus but I still choose to bow my head to the enemies because sometimes give up is easier than “stand firm in faith”. My prayer always started with “Father I am sorry”. I wish I don’t have to say those words…at least not every day. I love my God so much. Ah….Jesus!! I can’t wait for His coming day.
My daughter is 22. I didn’t understand why but I knew I was supposed to leave a comment the other day. I never do but on roll calls because my insecurity of broken English but I don’t care anymore. So Long Insecurity!! We both are sweet and holy looking church going people. I don’t want to share our problems with others because to protect my daughter. We will over come this battle but I can’t say other will if you know what I mean. I have one very faithful prayer partner whom I share with everything but zero closest friends. I asked God to send me friends one day. He has done it and still doing it. About 4 weeks ago one group invited me to their weekly lunch gathering. They are good Christian ladies and I like them (but not yet sharing our battle) and …now this……through internet. I printed out your insight. I need to read it again and again….. and ponder all it in my heart. Thank you for witnessing!!
Forget about it! The Tabernacle study will have you in tears every session! Stick with it-each session is incredible!!!!Oh, how exciting for you and your daughter, I will be praying for you!
Thank you Katie. This is so weierd (can’t spell?). I feel like I know you forever. Am I the only one feeling like this? I am loving it.
help..I finally got to the book store to buy my Ruth study and they do not have it..Family Christian Book Store. How can this be?? They can’t even order it. They had plenty of Beth Moore studies so at least someone else must like you Beth here..but alas nobody must be doing this study anywhere around here in IL. I am not a happy camper for sure. I will be traveling from Chicago area down thru IN, KY, WVA to Va so if anyone knows of a store I can stop in along the I65-I64 corridor please let me know. I do not want to order it aqt this late date..just jump of the road and buy it..thx a million
Suzie,
Go to Lifeway.com and check for store locations in the area that you are traveling. I would call ahead and make sure that they have it in stock and ask them to hold one for you, that way if they don’t they can order it for you and if there when you are passing though.
Steph
Ok….I’m LOVING this bible study….I have some friends that are “interested” in my love for the Bible and am trying to do this study (in my own words) on my blog. I’m chuckling to myself because I’m seeing Boaz looking a little Donald Trumpish…but w/o the “do”.
I love, love your bag and if I ever see it I will checking for a pink one!
Blessings, sandi
“An ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure.”
Laughing out loud at that saying, and the picture.
So, he cut the fringe off because he thought it was pretentious?
My husband makes fun of my “fancy” pillows but hasn’t cut the fringe off yet.
He thought the fringe looked gnarly. He’s just a wild man. That’s all I’m saying.
Beth, the bag IS darling. I hope it doesn’t annoy you having to turn it, after a while it will just be habit to turn it. I have to adjust to each new hand bag I get, but in the long run I am happy :o)
We are doing the Inheritance at our church for the summer, and I am just loving it! Lots of meat to chew on, AND not having homework is just perfect for me this summer. Have a wonderful week. luv ya <3
Well, I am not doing the Bible Study with the group – BUT a very dear girlfriend and I are doing the REVELATION study every Wednesday during her lunch break. I stopped working in March at a Fortune 5 company and I come back to get a dose of your teaching and give encouragment to a fellow sister. Love that study!!!
You certainly won’t get bored, Juli. Grin. That is one wonderfully, frighteningly wild book.
We have 60 women doing your Stepping Up study this summer…it’s a great turnout for the summer and they are all loving what God is showing them throught it.
The comments from this post are so amazing!! Reading through them has been a sweet gift today. He meets us all so perfectly different 🙂
I love Him. I love Him. I love Him.
As much as I tried to keep my eyes on the adorable new carry-on, they got stuck on the rows of books there. Mercy on me when any size library of resources trumps my heart for fashion 🙂 But seriously…
Girl, are you a fellow library freak??? I honestly could stand in my office and stare at commentaries for hours on end. I have been so blessed that LPM has built such a library of resources for me through the years. Not pearls before swine. I live in them.
Beth,
Thank you for the post. I have a sweet little 5-year old who recently moved to our city and church b/c her father is military. She has some fear struggles that have put her into therapy at her young age. She’s precious and, thanks be to God, she is right at home in mine and my husband’s little Sunday School class. We are familiar to her, though we’ve only recently met. She can’t stand strangers, but comes running up to us every week. I got to see her tonight at our “at the park” Ladies Bible Study. Tonight, a great friend and myself hosted our first Summer Bible study gathering for the year at a local park (allowing mothers/grandmothers to bring their children/grandchildren). The rain band from Hurricane Alex (praying for all South Texans, by the way!) reached up to our spot in northern Texas and we had to wrap up our study as a downpour hit.
We are reading John MacArthur’s book, Twelve Extraordinary Women. Tonight, we only made it through the introduction, Eve, and Sarah. But, we grabbed hold of the fact that God loves women, often uses their stories in the Bible to point us to Christ, and that, throughout the historical record, when Christianity has grown, the social, political and economic rights of women have expanded. Where Christianity has been stiffled or disallowed, women’s rights and freedoms have suffered. SOOOO fascinating! We had so much more to chat about, and many of us have been texting (from our dry, safe homes) about how much fun we had in God’s Word.
Hunger for His Word!!! What a praise!
Thank you for the encouragement that you give to those of us throughout the world who are stepping out boldly to invite women to study God’s Word and get close and snuggly with Jesus Christ. I had a hundred reasons that Today was not a good day to start the study, but pressed on because of God’s encouragement. Good fruit resulted from tonight’s gathering, I am certain of that! We prayed, we read the Word aloud, we discussed it and we marveled at God’s amazing grace and mercy and committment to hold fast to His promises. God keeps His promises. He just does.
What a day!
(Also, remember your post about Sarah laughing? Two of our ladies were talking about how that just jumped off of the page to them when they read it in Genesis.)
T_Marie
Beth,
Okay so I really like this random post. Snicker! Snicker! The whole cutting the fringe off the pillow thing is just too much fun. Did he tell you why he cut the fringe off or is the assumption that it just bothered him?
My husband has not got a churchy background either, but that man – God love him – loves our church and goes when I oversleep the alarm. I’ve been sick off and on the last few months and find myself slow recovering on weekends. So, my man would let me sleep on Sundays in May and go retrieve the sermon for me and report it back to me when he arrived home.
I’m not doing the Ruth study. God has me on a new journey inspired by the first four verses of 2Corinthians 3, and thoughts of what I would do if I no longer had my Bible book (for whatever reason) and so I purposed in my heart for God to show me where He would have me start memorizing it chapter by chapter. So, my summer study is a chapter of the Bible at a time until every word of the 66 books is written on my heart. (My guess is I’ll be at this long after the summer. HA! I feel like Psalm 119 might be the one that takes me a whole year to absorb.)
I am starting with Psalm 34 as God gave it to me the other night as a friend and I prayed through some very difficult memories and the sweetness of it’s words just landed on me like a healing balm.
You bless me still Mama Siesta after being with ya’ for seven years in the pages of Scripture I remember the first time I heard you talk about memorizing a chapter of Scripture at a time and I said, “I could never do that.” I’ve done it once and now I’m about to memorize so many more… Isn’t God fun? He took my own doubts and turned them into a deep desire to know Him more.
Love you to pieces. 🙂
Michelle
Beth,
You are such a blessing to me! You have no idea! Your new bag may be cute and darling, but it has NOTHING on you! I love reading your posts because they ALWAYS make me smile!
Thank you so very much for what you do and for making me feel genuinely loved by you even though you’ve never met me!
Beth, did you look through all those responses to Erica?
So many from different approaches, many referencing your teachings. You taught us well.
So, how proud are you of us? 😉
Blessed beyond description. “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” 1 John 3:19-20
The bag is adorable…
When I first saw the picture of the fringe, I thought it was a pile of REALLY BAD hair extensions. I was thinking surely to goodness, Beth wouldn’t be getting extensions! LOL
Well, just like a ladybug – true to its nature, I clumsily landed here for a few days and now must flutter away. An oppurtunity has presented itself to do the Breaking Free Bible Study. And where I am in my life right now I think it is necessary. I did this study once years ago but I really wasn’t ready for it. I am in a different place now. I need freedom. The coping mechanism I used to survive as a little girl has become my prison. I have been its captive since I was 8 years old. It parented me. Comforted me. It was a safe place because my reality didn’t have one. You all seem to be such a sweet group. If any of you happened to land on this please pray for me. Please pray for some sort of breakthrough. I really need and want so much to be free. Just don’t know how to be. Thank you Beth for the path you have walked. You took something that almost destroyed you and you let God have it. I really want to do the same. I hope I can. love ladybug
Praying for you littleladybug.
Blessings,
michelle
cute littleladybug,
landed on your note…and I have prayed for you. I have not done Breaking Free, but know you will be more effective in every way once you are free from your strongholds (just because I’ve been there). Beleiving that God will run to you as you reach out and surrender to Him your old coping mechanisms; and trade them in for His truths! Setting prisoners free is his speciality!
xoxo, rene : )
I’m so glad you feel like you’re ready for Breaking Free now. I am praying for you to experience true freedom from hurts of your past as God takes you through this study. But please keep being a part of this community of bloggers. You are welcome here and loved here. Please know that I care about you! God bless you!
Beth, the bag is adorable! I absolutely love bags, so much fun! We had 3 additions to our Bible study tonight! It is a really good study. I am the facilitator and no one really seemed talkative tonight, kind of felt like I talked a bit too much to fill in the gaps of silence but overall I think it went well. We may even plan a girls’ weekend and come see you in Lexington. Thank you for organizing the Bible study! Melinda
So much love the new bag..VERY you 🙂 Puts the old one to shame for sure 🙂
Siestas…I’m new here, only posted here or there…but would you all hate very much to be praying for me tonight? Feeling very much like the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Blessings to you ALL…
I hope it is not too late to get the book for bible study. Still would like to do it. SO what about theblue bag? What’s the info on it? It looks like a good size.Thanks. Love readin all your books and the blog about you and your family.
I am so bummed I missed the Siesta picture get together. I had even emailed LPM to see if there would be a Siesta get-together. I was in some instense time of prayer during the break and don’t know that I ever looked up to the screen during the break. Boohoo
*Erica, I saw your previous comment about knowing God loves us. I had a stinking, rotten childhood and should’ve become an alcoholic, drug addict with a ton of kids if my family history would have repeated itself. However, I am a mother of 4 and I am and have been in church most of my life. I really “got it” when I was 25. Meaning, I knew God was after me. He had pulled me through all of that garbage for something. I am still waiting to see my purpose, because as Beth said this weekend we can deal with pain easier than purposelessness. He has set me apart and blessed me beyond measure. I don’t see a flashing billboard each day that he loves me. However I do see smaller, more frequent things that says he loves me. Each of us has to look to that and he will minister to each of our hearts. He created us and he knows each stitching of our heart.
I will pray that he will reveal himself to you!
Bethany, I am so sorry to hear about your student. I have a very special place in my heart for people with autism. I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
My favorite lesson in the Ruth Study so far has been in Session 1, Day 5, “Two Journeys, Wherever You Go”. Never before had I noticed how Ruth allowed Naomi’s protests three times before she responded. Surely Ruth was ‘slow to speak’, a trait I myself need to cultivate. I learned so much in this lesson about this bible character I have always loved. And I have fell in love with Kelly Minter’s style and have ordered the “No other Gods Study to do after we finish this one.” I hope that the guide through that study will still be up at the end of summer through the fall so I can go back and do it (belatedetly)along with your guides, Beth.
You blog is such a blessing and encouragement to me, Beth. I thank you for it. I think you are so relateable because not only are you one strong seista, but a regular lady- with a passion for bags!
Beth I never knew you liked hot tamales. Another reason why I love you so! 🙂
Beth,
Once again, I would almost bet money that our men are kinfolk somehow!! My man is JUST like that, in so many ways. He hates pretension and keeps me grounded. He also gets a kick out of that “feeling guilty” thing–he can’t even fathom it! hahaha
Oh, how I can’t wait for all of us to meet up in heaven one day! The stories we’ll be able to share. And, I bet we’ll find that we’re kin!
Love ya
Julie B in Virginia
I am starting the Daniel study on Monday. I canNOT wait. I did the study several years ago and I am looking forward to doing it again. There is so much in there that I know I will learn more this time.
I’m facilitating Faithful, Abundant, and True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still for my church. There are 8 ladies in our group and we’re really enjoying this study.
Love the powder blue bag! 🙂
Where did you get that cute bag? I have a trip coming up on the 12th!
Would love to do the Ruth bible study, however I live in Canada. With shipping charges etc. the workbook comes in around $50 US. Can’t afford that. It’s not available in our local Christian book stores either. So disappointing…
Dear Erica and Rebecca,
I think it is the enemy who wants us to think God doesn’t love us! Yes, I have struggled with that too. Honestly, listening to Miss Beth http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/living-proof-with-beth-moore/listen/ and reading her books: “Get out of that Pit” “So Long InSecurity” and “Breaking Free”, helped me believe He could love me, Sweet Beth’s passion for Jesus is catchy – to see/hear her mirror His love!!
It’s been a process – a choice to believe it! To memorize verses that declare it over & over – how much God loves us/me.
And a book I just read, “A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23” by W. Phillip Keller – points out how much we are like sheep – and shows how INVOLVED a shepherd has to be to take care of his flock. Jesus said He is our shepherd – Psalm 23 is much more powerful for me now!!
Sometimes we have to go thru bad things in our lives, Beth’s example, her walk, her talk and life experiences prove anything can be turned around for God’s glory (I hope that’s ok to say dear Siesta Mama!). He is standing with His arms wide open calling to you to believe that He loves you!!! Tell Him you want to believe Him and to help your unbelief – that’s what I have been doing, then sit back and watch how He lets you know! Here is a sweet song by J.J. Heller – “Your Hands”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlL8LayF0uw and another one by David Kauffman: “You cannot go below my resting arms” http://new.music.yahoo.com/david-kauffman/tracks/you-cannot-go-below-my-resting-arms-step-7–218088496
Much love to you and I pray that you will KNOW how much God loves you!!!!!
Barb
(awesome new carry-on Beth!!!)
Cute bag! My favorite red bag, about 7 years old, did not meet the carry on rules of too many airlines and was causing problems from being too “pouffy.” But I got talked into a navy one at Sam’s with acceptable consumer ratings. Love that engineer I married almost 38 years ago, but consumer ratings ALWAYS outweigh “cute”.
Beth, I am so surprised that on those sleep in Sundays you don’t just sing that great hymn, “Just as I am”, drink your coffee and go! 😉
Love the new bag! Hoping you are liking the new look of your fringeless pillow.
Super cute bag! I am doing the Ruth study solo and I do love it! As a group study, we are doing Believing God and it has been wonderful! We meet everyone Monday morning and then have lunch afterwards with our kids (I hired babysitters for the study). We are just so blessed by you and by our time together and our time individually with God – it’s so true, we can be so different but can come together in bible study over God’s word and have so much in common and develop such a strong bond. And Beth, this study is so powerful – last summer I also did this study and God revealed Himself to me in so many ways through this study, I was always just shaking my head – wow! But this summer I really felt He directed me towards this study again for a new group of women who had expressed interest in a summer study and I decided to go with this feeling. Now in the study this time, He has taken it to a whole new level of belief – same study – I’m shaking my head again! This is all new to me – I had no idea life could be like this – I’m in awe most of the time and so thankful and not deserving of any of it! Thank-you too for this new life because you helped direct me here! Wow – I was going down such a different path a few years ago… How is it I was so fortunate to have found my way?
My Beth…you have been on my mind all day today. I wanted to tell you about my last 24 hours…
I had a hard night last night. My husband and I had a fight, and we honestly do not fight. In our entire seven years of marriage I have never had my blood boil as it did last night.
I quickly realized that this fight had nothing to do with me or my husband…but that it was a plight of the devil. You see, this morning I started leading a bible study at my church…Believing God. I firmly believe that the Devil knows that we are going to learn so much about ourselves and about our precious God in this study…so much so that he was trying to get me all torn to pieces in an effort to stir me up.
Well, I am here to tell you my dear Beth that God is in control and that I am certainly Believing God today to guide me and to move that Devil far, far away from this Siesta.
Thanks for your awesome teaching Beth….I’m excited to do this study with you!
Girl, you stay in there. Expect the devil to rise up against that one but expect God to tower over him like a gorilla over a flea.
I will…I was thinking about it more last night and realized that the devil knows which buttons to push…and he’ll push them HARD!
Realizing that it is a spiritual battle and resisting the urge to go into the “poor me” mode is super exciting…another step in my ever growing faith!
Kristina,
I will be praying for you as you lead this study. One thing I have learned about the plans of the enemy – “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes)
I led a grief recovery group at our church this spring. We had such glorious victory coming out those meetings each week, but let me tell you I would come home dancing on the clouds only to have the enemy brewing a storm at home somehow.
He threw it all at me… Distraction, financial struggles, bickering with husband and difficult moments with my daughter. I began praying with our night receptionist before I went home at night for protection and for God to thwart the enemy’s plans. Keep with it – You will be so amazed by our God’s great love for you in this endeavor. He is everything good.
Blessings.
Michelle
Thanks Michelle! Your words were very encouraging. I’ve never led a bible study before and will be careful to watch out for the enemy’s tactics. I’m excited for what God has for us in this study and know that God will be victorious!
Same thing is happening to me this year in leading the Believing God study. Don’t know if you’ll get this – I haven’t been on my computer this week and was just looking at the blog. Distraction seems to be the technique used against me – I’ve been very busy and was finally looking forward to a month to focus on bible study and came home to horrible hail damamge on my house and a letter from the IRS telling us we are being audited. Normally I would FREAK OUT but I prayed about it and saw clearly it was a distraction – sorry you are having this happen to you but it feels good to relate to someone else! I will close this comment by just saying that God is working it all out so I can have this time with Him!
Good morning Beth!! Ok… I wanted to share a blog post with you… you inspired me- and you didn’t even know it!
I was able to locally watch your ‘So Long Insecurities’ conference a while ago and came away with a heavy heart because I am a child of God and I don’t even let His promises soak into the core of who I am. Anyway… I’d love for you to stop by and check it out!
http://raylenenicole.blogspot.com/2010/06/latest-craft.html
Beth,
Got so wrapped up in thinking about Erica that I forgot to leave a comment for you. Just have to tell you that I loved that quote “an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure” and think I should have that framed for my house! And yes, I was bent over laughing at that one!
Thanks for sharing your life of randomness with us!
mk
Dear Beth,
I am a bible study teacher based in Manila, Philippines. We just completed the Annointed-Transformed-Redeemed series and LOVED it! They dynamic of 3 teachers and their own unique “teaching” style was like manna from Heaven. We will be commencing the Patriarchs in August. Two other women groups in Manila will be doing Beth Moore studies as well, one will be engaging in Breaking Free and the other in Daniel…
We have never met, but we all feel like we know you dearly. You have been a hand picked spiritual mentor to many of the women in our group by the fingers of God and we are blessed beyond words by your passion and obedience and love for Christ.
A thousand thank you’s for sharing your heart and your life and your faith with us all. You inspire us to become warriors in the word of God.
Love
M
What is even stranger is that I feel like I know all of you as well. It’s just a God thing. He weaves hearts together on deep journeys.
I need help and insight with Day 3 of our study. I am doing it solo and I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the point of who wept going forward and who wept going backward?
Would love your insight on this!
Let’s talk about it a bit in our next discussion time. You can be sure to expect me to point that one out on Tuesday’s video greeting.
Beth,
When I could not sleep this morning I got up made some tea and laughed till i cried reading todays entry. I have adored you for years! Thank you for being you and willing to our Lord! In His love, Kendall
PS very cute carry-on (I am a traveler too)
I so needed your randomness yesterday. Viewed it on my phone, but waited til this morning to reply. I really wanted to see the fringe on the counter better! That is priceless. So happy about your new bag. I love totes, purses, bags..and that one is too cute!
Thanks so much for being who you are!
Pam
Super cute carry-on, mama! You asked about summer bible studies…I would LOVE to doing the Ruth study, but I will save it for later because I begin leading/facilitating a small group of ladies next Friday night and we are doing “Living Free”. Ever heard of it? 😀 Siestas, pray for me, please. Pray for my group of sweeties – that God will open up His word to us and speak through it, that we will hear and see and know, and that strongholds will be broken and left behind. Love to you, Mama Beth and all the Siestas!
Our group (we did the Esther study in the spring) didn’t know about Ruth in time to make plans to do it with you. However, some of us went to the “So Long,Security” simulcast and felt we need to read the book. So we decided to have a Book Club meeting three times this summer at a Christian coffeehouse in our area and discuss six chapters at a time from the book. We’ve had our June meeting and are excited about getting together for our July club meeting. We plan to begin “Wise Up” in the fall. Thank you for being such a blessing to the Body of Christ!
I faithfully follow this Blog, but rarely leave a comment. However, I couldn’t resist leaving one after your recent post. I, too, just ordered the exact same bag, but in pink. I can’t wait until it arrives. I know I am going to love it and be stylish all at the same time!
You are kidding!!! I love it!
I love the blue bag! Its awesome! Beth, when you coming to Hershey? PLEASE come back! I love the new videos that really make you feel like you are there–and I so wish I was! Blessings to you.
Beth, I know exactly what you mean about being at home at your church. Recently we moved from the church we’ve attended since we were married (13 yrs). We had to move to an adjoining city and are now attending the biggest church in probably this part of Virginia. It’s huge. We’ve been here a year and I’ve just never felt at home until last week. I helped with VBS. We had over 400 kids and I just really got to meet so many people. I finally just felt like it was my “home” church. So nice to have that feeling again. Even picked up 2 possibly three women to join me in Ruth study. I was doing it alone. So excited and settled. Praise Him!!
Hi Beth, Here in upstate NY we are just finishing school for the school year, so we are starting summer Bible Study on July 7th. We are doing Mary Kassian’s “Conversation Peace, The Power of Transformed Speech.” We did another one of Mary’s last summer,”Knowing God By Name,” when you talked about her. A few weeks ago we finished “Daniel,” and we were so blessed. We are hoping to do “Ruth” in the fall, then another one of yours. Thank you and God bless you for all your love and encouragement. BTY..how about coming to Syracuse NY?
You will love “Conversation Peace”! My staff and I have done that one together, too.
I have never been more proud to be a part of Siestaville.
Erica, the encouragement of your Siestas is always here for you. We can learn so much from each other. That is the blessing of this blog. Be encouraged too, that so many will be praying for you.
Beth, I’m going solo with A Woman’s Heart, God’s dwelling Place for the summer. I am so blessed by your studies when I can savor them and go “deeper still” and in the summer I have the time to do that. My summer spent with Believing God was life altering.
Chao, I encourage you and your daughter to stay with this wonderful study. Maybe we can get in touch if you need a nudge to hang in there. I know we will be richly blessed by it. My email is [email protected]
Thank you, Beth, for giving us this forum where we can live out Christ’s command to love one another.
Margie by the Sea,
Thank you so much for your encouragment. I got your email in safe place. I am about to do day 5 homework of Week 1. Tomorrow will be our first discussion day. Have a bless stuying God’s word.
Chae