Hey, my dear Siestas!
I hope you are well and blessed in an acute awareness of the presence of Jesus with you this Lord’s Day. Hawk and I are sitting on the plane heading back to Houston from Orange County, California. I am writing to you from an altitude of about 30,000 feet and there is nothing but a carpet of cottony clouds as far as I can see outside my window. The pilot just came on the speaker to tell us that we have thunderstorms ahead and that it could really be bumpy for the next 20 minutes (the mere suggestion to keep our seatbelts fastened always makes me suddenly die to go to the lavatory) so if I have a sudden lapse in my spelling or judgment, perhaps you’ll kindly attribute it to turbulence.
We’ve had such a great time this weekend with the people we were graced to serve. Our Living Proof Live was in a church this time – Mariner’s Church – and we were so incredibly happy to be back in a house God frequents. They were so kind to us. The sanctuary is very close to the size of mine back home (theirs around 3200, ours ever so slightly larger) so it was a size that feels homey to me. (I know that’s so odd for you guys that have never attended a mega church. It’s not what I would have chosen for myself years ago either but it was God’s will and, this many years later, a joy.) I told this group first thing that it’s always a relief not to feel like we have to get to that city arena as fast as we possibly can and ask God to sanctify it from God-only-knows-what-was-in-it-last. I say that with a smile and not with self-piety as I really do know that we, too, along with every environment of every gathering, can only be sanctified and prepared by God. We’re not one bit worthier of His gracious presence without Him making us so. In fact, I’m fairly certain from the Gospels that He’s more grossed out by a gathering of sanctimonious, self-righteous, proud Christians who presume He’s there than He is by a group that desperately needs Him there. He’s funny that way. I’m not saying He always attends the latter’s gathering, especially if it’s downright sacrilegious, but that He might be apt to zoom there a little quicker if asked.
I love the team I get to work with so much. You surely know after all this time and all these mentions that I love Travis Cottrell (if you want to say the last name right, put the accent on the first syllable) I guess as much as I would if I’d had him (really young). I hate for him to even read that because he gives me such a hard time. Then again, he doesn’t really like to read anything much longer than a tweet (Oh, it made me so happy to say that. It will temper the nice thing I said about him) so there is every possibility he’ll never make it far enough into this post to hear me say publically that I love him. But I do. I also love the rest of the praise team. Generally speaking, they are not as much a part of my life away from the events as the Cottrells but many of us have been together a number of years and we’re close. This weekend in Irvine, we really missed our buddy Seth (who is working on his masters and had a school thing he had to attend). If you’ve ever been to one of the other LPL’s, he’s the other male vocalist on the praise team and so much cooler than the rest of us that we can only stand back slack-jawed over his coolness. I’m smiling because I know he’s going to hate that I said that. He’s not trying to be cool. He just honestly can’t help it. In his absence, however, we got to have Daniel, a worship leader at another great California church and another of Travis’s really good friends (he’s got a million in case any of us regulars turn against him). We loved him! (Daniel is who I’m talking about now. Try not to lag behind here.)
Now, if we could only get both Seth and Daniel up there at once, it would be almost more than the rest of us could bear. They’re both incredibly gifted. I’m so crazy about the women on the praise team: Lici (to help you picture who’s who, she’s the one who knocks it out on that lead in Travis’s version of “Victory in Jesus” and the one with the darkest tan unless I’m trying a new Sunless and it’s gone awry, which does unfortunately happen from time to time) and Julie (“Revelation Song “ and “How He Loves”) and Angela (oh, good grief, she leads on more than I can list but for a few, “Mercy Seat” and “El Shaddai”). I am no less crazy about the guys. Besides the ones I’ve already mentioned, there are both Kevins (one on bass and one on the drums) and Alexis (who is Angela’s man and who plays the keyboard with such glad worship that I almost can’t take my eyes off of him, especially if he’s playing while she sings) and then there’s Wes.
I have to stop for a moment and smile about Wes. I love him so much. He’s one of our shier ones so you can imagine what a hard time everybody gives him. This weekend I nearly busted out laughing during the last segment of praise and worship (when it was really upbeat or I wouldn’t have felt the freedom to be laughy) and the camera got right in his face and he turned his (hair-free) head the other direction so they couldn’t capture his expression. You know how guitar players sometimes have to make certain faces to play really well? (I do it myself when I’m playing air guitar at home in front of the bathroom mirror.) He preferred not to be caught with one of those. And I understand and not just from playing the air guitar. From speaking and getting my picture taken or video frozen in the least possible flattery. But I don’t want to talk about it. And don’t you think for one minute I haven’t seen y’all talking about it in your comments to the video greetings so I know for a fact y’all make fun of me, too. Your very own Siesta Mama! Honestly, is there no dignity to be had around here???
Laughing.
OK, well, we’re about to begin our initial descent into the Houston area so I’m going to have to close and put my seat back and tray table into their upright and locked positions. For Heaven’s sake, I meant to get on here and say something of value. Instead I have just invited you into the mindless musings of my bleached blond head. I’ve bored you to sobs. I’m sorry. But I really have good highlights right now.
The real reason I started telling you about the weekend and everybody on the team is because I’m just in a really grateful mood. I even got to stay after the event with a dear friend of mine and go watch her 11 year-old daughter play basketball at the YMCA. All these things together in one weekend was almost more joy than I could stand. I texted a picture of the game and scoreboard (we won) to AJ and Melissa and they both texted back with, “You are in your element, Mom!”
My heart is mush before the Lord right now. He has again answered the most important petition I ever place before Him: that He’d cause me to love Him and to love His Word and, secondarily (and scarily), to put me in whatever circumstances are best suited to set me up for those things. I say this just for today as I could wake up tomorrow and feel stale and stressed and numb and maybe even a tad ticked and not even sure at whom. I have no guarantees for tomorrow where my fickle emotions are concerned. We learned this weekend, however, not to worry about tomorrow so I can thank God with all my heart that this present day I feel love toward the One who loves me first.
From Charles Spurgeon this morning: Seek, O believer, that every good thing you have may be an abiding thing. May your character not be a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock!
Please, Abba Father.
PS. As only God could possibly have timed (perhaps He’s getting back at them for making fun of me), when I landed, I received a text with this picture of three of the guys from our praise team dressed to go…well, I guess, snorkeling. (They’re still in California.) I pray this is not their new singing ensemble but it does not look that unlike some of their other suits. Oh, that Trav would have been in this picture too!!
Kevin (drums), Kevin (bass) and, yes, my dear Wes.
I am so happy right now.
Beth ~ It would appear your cup runneth over, and poured all over me…thank you for making me smile.
And Welcome home…
Maggie Beth ~
This post makes me so happy because I honestly think I know all the people you mentioned. Of course, that’s siesta speak for “I don’t know them (except Trav) and they certainly don’t know me, but I could share a good bowl of queso (NOT guacamole – blech) with them and laugh like we’re long time friends.” I have shared an elevator with all of them, had a short conversation with most of them, and have been taken to the throne by all of them. And I’ve worked a computer with Hawk (at the SLI merch table) and absolutely adore her. She is your exact opposite and perfect match.
Love you all. Won’t see you till DS Bham, but looking so forward to lining up at least 6 hours early to get that front row-ish seat and get to worship together again.
What a joy – you might think it mindless from time-to-time, but I think what you have to say is priceless. Ever an encouragement just at the moment I need one. Will never be able to figure out how God does that, but oh so thankful that He does! !!!
Love you dearly
Kim
You are a joy!
Have you been a Flight Attendant in your younger days—or have you just flown a lot??? 🙂 You have those instructions down to an art!
I was blessed to see you in Redmond, WA when you did a LPL event at Overlake Christian Church (same location we saw Chris Tomlin in concert) and I agree…I enjoy the Church locations, too! I know you pray over each venue you speak in and it’s very evident that God is definitely in attendance and has ‘sanctified it from God-only-knows-what-was-in-it-last’. I just love your heart for all of us and what you do!!!
We went into Houston yesterday for some shopping..it was 97 degrees! We ended up at Landry’s on the Boardwalk for dinner and it seemed a little cooler, but I’m not so sure! The shade was even HOT!
Hope you’re home for awhile!!! Have a great week..
I am so utterly thankful for all of you and what you do, but I am always so glad when I know you’ve landed on your respective home turfs. I got to see all of those wonderful faces and hear all those beautiful voices last year at LPL Pittsburgh, and all I could think the entire weekend (aside from how floored I was at God’s unmistakable presence in that place, of course) was, “These people should be home with their families, but they love us enough to be here!!!” Please don’t forget for an instant how grateful this little pebble in the pond is for you all. Bless you!
Dear Siesta Mama,
May I say I love your bleached blonde self to peices!! And I wasn’t bored for one second! I was thinking about you today, which I always take as a hint from the Holy Spirit no matter who it is that maybe they need some prayer so you’ve been getting some of those sent your way too. I must ask was this their attempt at looking cool in scuba gear, cuz I was cracking up at that picture…maybe not cool, but pretty darn cute! Love ya Mama!
Beth,
In the terribly long letter I recently mailed you (sorry), I believe I said I could hardly wait to attend one of your LPL conferences. After reading this post, I’m practically bouncing off the walls!
I praise Christ for you,
Carole Anne
lovin’ your mood, siesta mama! thanks for spilling your joy out all over us, and yes, your highlights look amazing!! missed you!! glad the thunder didn’t bounce you around too bad! you had me giggling the whole way through that -and just for the record, i wasn’t lagging! i can keep up. thanks for loving HIM and being such a joy! we love you!!
Hi Beth, So sorry I couldn’t see you here in my neck of the woods. It was sold out months ago! But my 15-year-old daughter’s friend was able to go with her mother, and she told my daughter it was AMAZING! Isn’t that wonderful?
Next time you come to Southern Cal I’ll buy my ticket immediately! And hopefully bring my daughter 🙂
Karene in Orange County, CA
I’m happy too, Beth! Soaring from God’s GOoDness! My overwhelmation with His thrill in my life which He seems to have placed everywhere…. whatever the circumstance or situation… that’s so huge and wonder-full that I can hardly stand it, has be befaddled with an unadulerated flamboyant awe of my Savior! He can just plain out thrill a girl and make her feel especially favored! It’s a good feeling. One a girl likes a lot! And especially one she loves to feel!
My youngest is celebrating 16!!! today and her mother is wondering how in the world that precious adorable young little thang got there?!!! We stuck her and her brother off on an airport to California in the wee hours this morning for a two-week adventure of encountering their Jesus in a way that they’ve not encountered Him before! My husband and daughter just got back several weeks ago and their feet still haven’t touched the pavement yet. I’d say that I still have to look up at them when I talk… but I’ve got my own cloud and am riding on my own high with Him! I’m in awe…… I’m hugely in awe….. I mean, I’m basted in it and totally dripping with it! We’re all just like a grease-spot right now, we’re so soaked that we leave marks after we’ve left! It’s an overflow…that can’t help but squish out!
I’ll hush now…. but not necessarily because I want to. My dogs need to go out (to leave their marks too, if you know what I need). I just needed an outlet for a minute…. I’m loving my Lord!
🙂
Thrilled for you! I love that feeling!
Never bored to sobs with you, dear Beth!
And I AM blessed in an acute awareness of the presence of Jesus with me this Lord’s Day. Been walking with Him for some 33 years now, and I have NEVER looked forward to His day more than I do RIGHT NOW, in this season of my life. Love Him with all that I am and ever hope to be.
I’m so happy, too 🙂
Melana
Was such a fresh thought this past weekend, really thrilled me and I loved it – imagine a world that JESUS rules over! How wonderful!
Thanks for sharing, MamaBeth!
Your church seemed a lot bigger than that when I went to service the weekend of SSMTC. Course everything is bigger in Texas, right? 😉
Love you
p.s. – and I laughed at your tweet last week about God acting like he’d heard the Scriptures before. Good one! 😀
Hey Beth! Loved the post about the worship team! Got to spend a little bit of time with them when they were in Garden City, SC last summer for the Jesus Saves tour. (I went with some of my mom’s friends to feed them supper after the concert.) What impressed me the most about about them – in addition to their incredible talent and wonderful sense of humor – was their genuine humility. It didn’t take long for me to realize that you couldn’t compliment them (Travis, especially) if you tried. (And, I did try!) Anyway, I’m so glad God has brought you all together! He does know best…
Beth, I had the pleasure of attending the event this weekend at Mariner’s. God used you to knock it out of the park and I was so blessed by attending. I had the pleasure of seeing you about 10 years ago at Saddleback Church, my home church. I was just returning to the Lord and a friend insisted I go. On day 1, admittedly, I thought you were a little nuts. By day 2, I was determined to buy my first bible study and I have long since been one of your biggest fans. I chose, “John the Beloved Disciple.” 10 years later I think I have almost facilitated them all, many in my home. My Jewish husband is still not a Christian but he attends Saddleback weekly with my sons and I. I say this, because your message on persistent prayer (e.g. the bowls of prayers in Revelation) really ignited afresh in me to keep the faith. It has been 19 years. Also your authenticity about your marriage helped too because I love my dear husband but being of different faiths has its difficult moments – that is an understatement. I could go on and on because God has been so faithful and performed amazing miracles in our family (e.g. he goes to church, my sons are saved etc…), but I wanted you to really understand that you have been an amazing mentor to me and I audibly thank God for you every time I stick in a DVD and hear a WORD. Thank you for being you. I am sorry you have had to suffer so much in your life to be who you are, but from this side of the pulpit, I am thankful God chose you.
Oh how beautiful reading as you describe everyone! The songs they play and sing… Such a blessing. Oh I can’t wait till October when you and everyone come to Boston!!
But I loved when you wrote that you learned this weekend.. “not to worry about tomorrow so I can thank God with all my heart that this present day I feel love toward the One who loves me first.”
Oh that just brought tears to my eyes.
I feel so incredibly blessed today as my 13 year old daughter talked to our pastor today about being baptized. I just love that she is so excited and watching her grow!!
But I just really love HIM! God is so gracious and merciful.
So glad you made it home safe. Hope the bumps weren’t too bad.
Blessings,
michelle in VT
How precious, Michelle. What could be better than that?
Oh this just tickled me to no end….
It did take a couple re-reads in some sections to keep up with whom you were referring!!
Oh Beth, God is so good isn’t He? He blesses infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
Will be in touch soon.
With great affection for you and my Siestas!
Sister Lynn
We love these posts. It makes you real. We had thunderstorms today. I came home from church and lunch and just got started on stripping my sun porch when the storms came…I now have a lake in my front yard. We’ve had several inches this past week. It keeps my porch from geting done and makes me frustrated!
Have a great week
What an awesome time in Irvine, to sit in the “Upper Room” and feast on the Word. Thank you, Beth, for coming out West to share with us. Here’s a little diddy about your visit, (Sing to the tune of “The Beverly Hillbillies” theme song) loved the clip of granny asking for forgiveness, lol
Now listen to the story, about a girl named Beth
she spoke like a preacher,and barely caught her breath,
she even brought her young’uns, Travis and the crew,
they sang from their hearts, and sounded pretty cool,
Chorus, “we got anointed by them, pure, gold and Texas style
It didn’t take em long, to feel right at home
with Starbucks everywhere and the ocean waves with foam
the Lord was so good, and all of us were blessed,
Please come back soon, we want you as our guest,
Chorus again, “we got anointed by them, pure, gold, and Texas style” Amen…..
FYi, we got to say the Lord’s prayer out loud in my church today, (not typically something we do), it was a fresh reminder of how to prayer up the ladder, and a sweet reminder of my Abba and how my heart longs for more. How much more, you ask??? more than I can think or imagine. Thank you, Beth for coming out west and filling my cup. blessings. Love, Pam in San Diego
Pam! I sang every bit of it! Perfect fit! Thank you for the laugh!
So glad it made you laugh. You gave us so much over the week end, to laugh about, cry about, and ponder. Enjoy the evening with your family. Thank you again for all you gave. Love, Pam
So cute! I love this!!!!
Pam I love your song lyrics. It was a great LPL
Carolyn
Oceanside,Ca
Your talk of funny freeze frame pictures has spurred a confession…
At our house one of the biggest laughs with my younger two comes from rewatching my DVR’d Wednesdays with Beth. They beg for me play and pause it over and over. It doesn’t matter where we pause it, we get blessed with the funniest faces. The kids (and maybe me) just laugh and laugh. We love the animated you, Ms. Beth.
And the kids do know what a huge part of my spirtual life you are. Any legacy they are left comes from the absolute love of the Word you’ve placed in me. Our whole family loves and appreciates you more than words can say!!! Through the laughter and all!
Love and prayers!
Kelli
See there!!!!!
I too, Reverend Mother (picture the getaway scene in “The Sound of Music”).
Last year while doing your “The Inheritance” series, we had problems with the DVD player, it kept freezing up, and sure enough, most of the time the frame it caught you on was quite amusing. As an added bonus, then the picture would start to pixilate.
I wish I could say that we would never laugh at you, but… well… ummm…. hey look at the bright side – no matter what funny look is on your face, your hair always looks great! 😀
Dearest Beth, I was privileged to attend the Living Proof Live event in Newport Beach. It was marvelous…I took many pages of note. A number of the points that you addressed where things that the Holy Spirit has been impressing upon me in recent weeks. I look forward to getting the CD’s so I can listen again and share with my husband and some of the gals a church.
Will there be CDs available?! Can they be purchased through LPM? I would so love to hear the messages.
Some of the ladies from Cresent Baptist attended your conference this past weekend. And this week we start our VBS, Saddle Ridge Ranch, and in honor of Keith we named the carboard pony, Pony Bee. 😀
HE WILL LOVE THAT!!!!!
Those highlights DO look good. I noticed in the pictures from the 4th, when there was a shot of the top of your head…looking good, sister. Love you, love this post, love our Jesus…have a great week!
Welcome Home! Thank you for sharing about the praise team. They are incredibly talented!
🙂
Welcome home, Beth!
I am happy today too, for several reasons. I will try to be brief, but brevity is not my spiritual gift. Can I hear an “Amen” from like-minded siestas out there?
1 – A friend’s daughter delivered her baby girl 13 weeks early. After 2 days, the feisty preemie is hanging on.
2 – I got a “fresh word” (I’ve started to pray this before reading a familiar passage) about the story of David & Goliath. I learned that years passed between the time of David’s anointing and the time of his final battle with Goliath. During that time, God prepared David for the task ahead. I realized – that is why God is having me wait so long for the marriage restoration He has called me to wait for. There IS a purpose in the waiting – praise GOD!
3 – I drove by my beloved “ex”-husband on the way home from church tonight. I haven’t seen him for 7 months, so my poor steering wheel got the brunt of my excitement as I pounded the wheel with joy!
I’m so looking forward to re-reading 1st Samuel 16 & 17 this week, with fresh eyes!!
At my Bible Study last Wed. my pastor talked about that… about how David was prepared for his battle! It really made me think about how he is preparing me!
I’ll be praying for your friend’s baby!!!
Amen!!
WOW – GOD is so good – HE is so in charge!
Wish that I could have been there but we buried my little 6 year old student Andrew yesterday. My heart hurts…and quite honestly, my faith is weak right now.
Quick question: How do I separate my feelings from faith? It feels like my feelings are ruling right now….making me pretty weary and feeling a million miles away from the Lord.
Oh, Bethany, I am so, so sorry. You don’t have to separate your feelings from your faith. By faith, believe that He can handle your broken heart and doubting soul. Take every single thing you feel right to His Throne and find grace and mercy in your time of need. I notice that your blog is called “singing over me.” Be really still for a little while, Bethany, and lean in close to His heart. He is still singing over you.
You are loved here.
Bethany,
I am sorry for your hurting heart. Praying that you experience God’s grace for you one day at a time.xoxo
Thank you Beth and my sweet siestas for your love, your prayers, and for your words of wisdom.
I am so grateful that today is a new day and that His mercies are new this morning. For this moment in time, I am still and quiet and trying to hear Him singing over me yet. 🙂
Love you all!
You are precious to us, Bethany. Even in this, God will grow you and reveal fresh purpose and affection to you.
Bethany-
I think sometimes we have to get through our feelings first to get back to faith…I love the song by Amy Grant ” Better than a Hallelujah”…
God knows.
My friends just dealt with 3 deaths within the same family in 6 days; He is walking them through, and He will do the same for you…Cry as you walk with Him:) I will be praying for you:)
sweet bethany…i’m praying for you~
I am so sorry Bethany! HIS PEACE is with you always. May HIS Presence be about you!
Praying for you, Bethany! God’s truth is that He is with you, however you feel.
Oh no! That made my heart just sink. After burying my first born I had to just stay in the Word by faith and trust until my theology was a reality. We were never meant for death and it is so stinking hard! So thankful that God will destroy the last enemy…death!
Praying!
So sorry for your loss, Bethany. It’s so hard to see a young child die. It doesn’t make any sense. When my faith feels week, I have to remind myself that the truth of who God is, is the same no matter how I feel. God is a fact, not based on my feeling. He is real even if my feelings say He isn’t. He is the same, always. I read a quote once about faith: “Faith is believing in advance what only makes sense in reverse.” Our Lord is carrying you through this.
Bethany, I’m praying that God will keep you wrapped in His loving arms.
Bethany…
lifting you up before the Lord… you may feel far from Him, but He is right there waiting to hold you in His arms. Lifting up little Andrew’s family too. my heart aches for his mommy and daddy….
Dear Bethany, I’m so, so sorry for your loss. I just quick want to share with you a little “thing” that happened between me and the Lord a few years back when I was processing some serious grief/loss. At one point in time I became especially aware of the Lord’s Presence with me (you know how you can sense His Presence more acutely at times?). I waited awhile for Him to speak – but there were no words – simply His Presence. And then it hit me: sometimes there really are no words to speak to the pain – but that His Presence could speak more than any words; just knowing He was with me in the midst of it.
I’m going to pray for you over the next couple days that you will have a clear “knowing” of His Presence in your life in this place of deep grief and questioning. You are very loved, Bethany. –(can’t stop – when I typed your name it dawned on me that it was when He was in Bethany that Jesus wept over the loss of Lazarus and the pain that loss cost Mary and Martha. I love you, Jesus. Praying for you, Bethany…)
Dearest Bethany,
As someone who cares for terminally ill children I know how
much it hurts to say good-bye…Don’t worry about separating your feelings your faith…just know that God’s loving heart wants to embrace you with all your questions and your hurting heart. In those times I’ve had to say good-bye to another child I imagine them running into the arms of our Heavenly Father and God beholding all the things that made us love that child here on earth.
I’m sure when it’s your time to go home, Andrew will be there waiting to embrace you at the gate. I’m praying for you my dear Siesta in Christ, Marylee
Beth..
THANK YOU for blessing our socks off… wait we don’t wear socks in southern California… thanks for blessing our flip-flops off! what an awesome AWESOME time we had hearing God’s message through you and Travis’ team.
I wasn’t planning on going this weekend because it’s been sold out for months! but God wanted me there… because I had to hear every word…. and He made a way for me to get there….. i was truly blessed!
thanks for stopping by “irveen”.
elaine,
So happy for you…that’s funny!!haha I can just imagine your flip flops flying off your feet!!thanks for the giggle : )
Nothing can stop HIM, I LOVE THAT!
It’s great fun to be inside your head every once in while. And it saves me the trouble of going blond myself!
What a wonderful post. I can feel your joy. I know it as that time when you get to a place that you just feel warm all over and a smile won’t leave your face and you’ve just got to talk about it.. For me, that’s when I know I am in harmony with my God.
I share your love for Travis and the praise team. They are the best and when they open up, you know that God is in that place. Love that you love my friend, Lici, so much too.
Hi Mrs Beth! I just love it when you blog while traveling. Those posts are always so great…be it serious and deep or fun and random, they all are so you.
I am so glad to hear that the weekend was amazing in CA. You all were prayed for through out the whole time. How fun that you were able to go see your friends daughter’s bball game! I miss playing bball and can’t wait for the kids I babysit to start playing so I can cheer them on…I love being a cheer leader for lil players!
Hope you have a fantabulous week!
Heart you lots!
Nikki
Precious Beth, Travis and the LPM team,
I can truly understand why Kevin,Wes and Kevin are still in California!!
IT is hard to leave the surf,ocean breeze, kick back life of Cali.
Totally have the bleach blonde brain myself!
I am a true California “beach” girl since infancy. I have boogie boarded, surfed, bodysurfed my whole life.
I was a lifeguard/WSI Instructor for years! The Siestas will concur after meeting me and seeing all the SUN SPOTS from the years of slathering Baby Oil on my skin without sunscreen!! Ohhhh I wish I would have known the damage that precious sunshine would cause my 50 year face!!
Do you & the Siestas still love me with wrinkles???
I so wanted to meet you yesterday! Dave took me on a day date on Friday because I was pouting. I was overjoyed to hang out with Dr. Laura ( yes, the real one)in Morro Bay yesterday. We even talked about you! You and I need to talk!!!!
YOU ARE LOVED SO VERY MUCH SWEET BETH!!!
Go cuddle up with Keith and let your mind BE STILL…
I love you!
“Let your light shine before man, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
My Light is shining with lots of wrinkles from the sunshine!
With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
Cali Kim
you can see Dr. Laura Schlessinger and me in the blog below
http://www.kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
I love the mindless ramblings – lol. That is EXACTLY how I feel on an airplane. Mindless and rambling. Try as I may to give off any other impression that part of me will emerge. I have to tell you not only do I adore the writings of Charles Spurgeon but that quote is just wonderful!!! My blog has the word “abiding” in it so it is now a must have for me. 🙂
Have a blessed week! Or as a friend of mine say, “Make it a great week, because great weeks just don’t happen.”
Blessings,
Rachele, FW, TX
Beth, I want to thank you and the worship team for pouring yourselves out to us at the LPL this weekend @ Mariner’s. It has been at least 7 years since I attended one in San Diego. This weekend was a fresh Word for me in more ways than one. God knew EXACTLY what I needed to hear this weekend. Even those “last minute” personal stories/examples you shared were divinely appointed! 🙂 You are as genuine in person as you are on screen!
p.s. I kiddingly told my friends that I had to pray before your message that God would deliver me from being distracted by your darling hair and outfits…but I still wish I knew where you got that necklace you wore on Friday night!!;)
-Michelle, Orange, CA
Totally agree….. it was a cute necklace!!!!
God loves me sooooo much! It has been a dream & prayer to attend one of your conferences but in the fall, I did not have the finances to buy my ticket but early in the year when I was ready, I was so disappointed that it was sold out at Mariners. I tried everything to get a ticket for me & my 2 fabulous bible study buddies that I have been so blessed to study the bible with. We are in the middle of our 7th (living beyond yourself) study together. Boy did I ever have a pathetic embarrassing pitty party Friday thinking the event was 30 minutes away & I would not be able to be there. As I sulked AGAIN, my husband said very fleetingly that he just got off the phone with a client who was going & had an extra ticket. Praise the Lord praise the Lord. He see’s me! He is too good to me. 3 hrs later I was standing in the conference by myself but never alone. Haven’t used the word “prayer” in 30 hrs! 🙂 I know my Father see’s me & gives me the desires of my heart. Thank you for the “new discoveries”.
Monique
We love your team, too! I was so blessed by all of you in Grand Rapids a couple months ago. Also, I was at EPCOT a few weeks ago and hoped to see Lici at The Voices of Liberty. It was a Saturday and she wasn’t there. I wondered if it was an LPL weekend. Sure enough, she was with you at St. Louis. We went back on Monday and she was there! It was so fun to meet her and she said she was still chewing on your lesson from the weekend. Her voice is incredible there, too!
Your post was soo precious!!! Mama Beth at her finest 🙂 To top it all off you were in my home state….Born and raised in Anaheim California so not to far from where you were. I am happy to hear that God was alive and moving in CA. We attended a large church when we were stationed in WA and we sure do miss it. I honestly cant imagine going to a tiny church anymore!!! God Bless and I am happy you are home safely
Thanks for making me smile and laugh, Siesta Mama! Reading this joyful post was exactly what I needed to unwind tonight! I’m reading this after our first night of Vacation Bible School. We’re studying Joseph and his “journey from prison to palace”. How sweet to remind our precious children that even when hard things happen in life, God gives us a future and hope!
Welcome home and have a GREAT week! Love you tons!
You make me happy! I love you more than you love everyone of us!!!!
Sometimes when I pray, it’s all I can do to just sit, amazed in His presence saying, “Father, you knock my socks off…”
In the past week, He answered prayers that I hadn’t even prayed yet. Do you know what I mean? At the moment it happened, all I could do was turn my face to the sky and say, “You knew I needed this before I knew to even ask You for it.” His goodness is overwhelming.
I am at a tender point in my walk with Him. Almost everything makes me cry. This post was no exception, and I have to thank you for sharing your heart and speaking of your emotions. Sometimes I worry that mine interfere, but I just try to remember that Jesus understands, and that my tears over His goodness and mercy are just another way to worship Him.
Thank you, Beth. Much love to you.
OH they are, HE is so tender toward you. This weekend brought such a realization of how much HE LOVES ME…and then knowing that is not even on the map of how truly deep HIS love is for us!!!! Let HIM overwhelm you! You will not be sorry!
Praise God for all of the work He does through you Beth! This past weekend at Mariners Church was my first conference with you and the team – it was absolutely AMAZING!
I do pray that the message will be available online, because I just know that I could watch it/listen to it a hundred times and still learn from everything you said (There are also so many people I know who did not have the opportunity to attend – boy you sold out fast 🙂 – but would love to see/hear the message).
Thank you so much for explaining the Bible in a way that I understand and remember! You always speak my language!
Please come back to SoCal VERY VERY soon. You are dearly loved here!
God Bless you and your entire family!
i’m so happy to hear you had a great weekend, Beth! how i wish i could be on one of those plane rides with you. to hear of how God showed up and showed off would be a treat 🙂
…wishing you were coming to Minnesota again soon!
have a happy monday love~ Traci
I loved reading how God so richly blessed your weekend during your LPL weekend. Having just been through the one in St Louis, I am reliving our weekend through your descriptions of each and every person. What a Spirit-filled team that blessed me in so many ways. However, may I share with you how God blessed me this week? We were attending the funeral of my beloved aunt who passed away just 7 weeks after my much loved father-in-law. This on the heels of one of Satan’s most vicious attacks on our ministry (my husband is a pastor). With hearts raw and tender, we were singing her favorite hymns during her memorial service when my aunt’s precious 20-something granddaughter started worshipping her Savior & Lord with such precious delight. Needless to say, it was God’s gentle reminder that He has gone no where..He is still sitting mightily and unruffled on His throne ready to be my ALL. I was so humbled and yet so filled with His joy and peace. How many times do we let the junk rob us of His joy?
Praying that God will keep all our minds, hearts and spirits’ focused totally on Him as we strain toward what He has ahead for each of us (Phil 3:13-14).
Be Blessed!
Beth,
Thank you for thinking of ‘us’ seistas first thing heading home on the plane! Glad those thunderstorms did not distract you too terribly much. Kansas skies were filled with thunderstorms today, but tonight the Lord put on a most magnificnet array of every kind of cloud imaginable and in the most beautiful of hues. No 4th of July fireworks could match it! Just had to marvel…
Facing a ‘rock inscribing’ time tomorrow as our 3 couple small group meets for the first time as 2 couples and a wife…without her husband and our good friend, who went home to Jesus 4 weeks ago at the age of 57. Was the COO of a Nat’l ministry and one of the most Godly men I have ever had the privelge of knowing. BUT GOD… I am weeping foward, and me and Jesus had a little talk about that Friday. He certainly doesn’t waste ANY time taking head knowlegde to the heart. Truth be told, it’s one reason I am ever so crazy about Him.
Please tell me no other pillows met their demise upon your coming home this trip!!and BTW, how’d that darlin’ bag of yours handle the isles?!
Grateful to Jesus for “showing UP” and for your pure love for Him!
rene : )
just to clarify, the character thing I need to not be written in sand, is my complete inadequacy to minister to my friend now left w/o her husband (and their six semi-grown children). Oh, Jesus, please use me in spite of me.
Precious Bethany,
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of little Andrew.
Be easy on yourself. I stand in agreement with the wisdom of Beth’s words for you.
Be Still… Psalm 46:10
I wish I could wrap my arms around you and weep with you!
With “Heaven Bound” Blessings,
Kim from Cali
Thank you Kim. You are a precious siesta. I am absolutely uplifted by this amazing body of believers. Even though I can’t physically feel your arms around me, I know that they are.
Bethany, just remember that there is a time to cry. Learning this week through Stormie Omartian’s books to ASK the Lord to be Lord of our emotions. It’s helped me. Would a hug help?…I’ve got one just for you. There. It’s coming your way. Ecclesiates 3:1-8…
Loved the blog story today. I have had a few of those thunderous flights…one in particular…I was flying over Mt Ranier in Washington…and the little puddle jumper we were on…kept dropping…and then back up…you get the picture….I did not realize I was grabbing the man’s seat in front of me everytime it would do this…he was a priest…turned around and asked me if his rosary would make me feel better. I took it graciously and when we landed gave it back…holding it…and praying fervently…got me through the flight. He ended up in the class I was attending…and got quite a few laughs from this story during the 8 weeks we were there.
They look like a new “band” of super heros. SCUBA MEN. Or something like that. I can hear the introduction now: No famine, or pestilence nor flood can keep them away! No not even Jonah’s whale! Able to dive into the hearts of Praise Worshipers everywhere! SCUBA MEN!
Sorry, I digress!! I love people who can have fun, especially those who can laugh at themselves! LOVE IT!
Lori
Hey, Bethie!
Glad to see that you had a great weekend in Sunny Cal! 🙂
I totally understand what you mean by the “homey” feeling of the mega-church… I have been a member of several mega churches over the years as I have moved, and my HH and I joined a much younger and smaller (though not small when compared to other typical SBC Churches in the Bible Belt) congregation when we moved back to middle TN… We run about 700 or so on a typical Sunday. And we’re only 22 years old (or something like that)!
Have a great weekend. Have to get off the puter. It’s storming here…
Much love!
Dear Siesta Mama,
You always give us such wonderful glimpses into your world, would you mind if I gave you a glimpse into mine?
Almost every day I get to hold and snuggle babies that are battling everything from flu bugs to cancer. Whenever I do I pray over them for healing and who they will become. In those moments I feel the tenderness of Christ, and I pray that I will be an extension of His sweet love for that baby. It just doesn’t get any better..I just wanted to share, I hope you don’t mind.
With Love, Marylee
Oh, Marylee, what a calling Christ has placed on your sweet life!
Oh Siesta Momma! You crack me up! Your random posts that may start out as an intention for one subject and end up with random thoughts are awesome! I’m so happy to know that I’m not the only blonde that does that! I love it!! I have a question though…..is it alright to ask more questions about god and this stuff? I so want to learn and not hinder anyone, so if I shouldn’t ask questions please just let me know.
P.S. Keep being yourself! You make me laugh and smile!