Hey, Sweet things!
It’s Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend and I’ve had a really full but good day. Not that great a week, really, but a mighty good day. God woke me up with a release this morning from something that has been pressing on my heart. I just sort of heard a “Stop it” from God so I decided to stop it. Anyway, I thought I’d end the work week up visiting with you guys a bit before we lock this place up for three days. I will probably say hi before the weekend is over but I’ll have to see how the unplanned festivities go. For now, it is pouring a deluge in South Texas so whatever we’re doing, it is decidedly not out doors. No telling what my two dogs have done to my house while I’ve been at work today. (Star, my Border Collie, has been keeping Geli, Keith’s bird dog, company lately when the really hot weather prevents Keith from taking her with him in his truck. I can’t bring both of them to work without mass pandemonium.)
Before I head to another topic, I want to tell you that you really knocked it out on that last post and I’m so proud of you. Way to tell a girl how she can know God loves her. I watched some real live ministry take place on that last post (and so many others before it). I believe in the ministry that takes place here. I couldn’t have fathomed it in advance but our gracious God has lurked here and so many other places on the web and I am so much the better off for it. You know, you guys are the only reason I’ve never done the Facebook thing. I’ve always wanted to. Are you kidding? What sanguine wouldn’t? But I thought I’d end up getting so distracted by it that I’d lose my vision here. I’m so blessed to be a part of you and, for now, you are one of my biggest serving priorities.
And that’s the reason why I need to stop and say something in protection of this precious, hardworking, sincere and tenderhearted community. We exist to encourage one another to know Jesus Christ as personal Savior and to follow hard after Him. We love big doses of healthy, good, clean fun. We love to laugh. We don’t mind having a good hard cry together. BUT, we can’t consistently be a ton more than that. We can’t replace face-to-face families to many people and certainly don’t exist to take the place of our local churches. Few of us are confused about that. Here’s why I’m bringing all this up. I don’t want you to start getting worn out here or start feeling like there’s such a heavy weight of responsibility that you can’t even bear to log in. I don’t want you feeling guilty or condemned because you couldn’t read every single person’s comment. None of us can. None of us can be anybody’s everything. Let me say that again:
None of us can be anybody’s everything.
To attempt it is to play Christ. To demand it is to expect somebody else play Christ. Minister here freely and freely feel ministered to. Freely give, freely receive, the Scriptures would tell us. But do not let this place become a burden or a form of bondage to you. I just can’t have that. I speak for most of us when I say that what I write here on these posts is to every single one of you, new and old. You do the same when you write general responses. When you or I get a chance to shout something out to someone in a comment, it is never because we found her worthier than anybody else. I don’t have favorites on here. I really don’t as much as we sometimes tease. You don’t either. I also don’t get to read every single comment. Neither does Melissa or Amanda. Neither do most of you. Please know that this community exists to bring you encouragement. Not to add to your insufferably long list of things to do nor, worse yet, to add to a feeling of insignificance. Lord, forbid it. All of you are so loved and welcomed here. I would be heartsick for anybody to get on this blog that was formed to build you up and feel torn down.
By all means, please let your Siestas know when you legitimately need prayer and edification or just a big fat hug. Ask your questions! (I LOVED Erica’s question!) Seek some solid insight! Get together on the side. That’s what this place is for. But I say this to anyone with an intense emotional issue (Believe me, I’ve been there and have sought sound Godly counsel and highly recommend it): please don’t demand more (and more and more) from this sincere community than most women on here can give. Please be careful not take advantage of my girls here in Siestaville. They’ll bend over backwards for you. Don’t put more on them than they can handle or expect of them what they can’t deliver. It is my responsibility to be protective of this community. With all my heart I pray that this will remain one of the very few places in many of our lives where we don’t have to feel guilty and like we’re not enough for people. Please, not here. I say that with love. And if your comments get posted on these entries, you’re probably not who I’m talking about. Let me say frankly that there is a reason why we moderate comments.
Ladies, as you minister on your own blogs and as you participate here, please keep in mind that people can play you. One way you’ll know is if they just keep on and on with it and no answer and no encouragement ever suffices. Sometimes you can just feel it in your gut. That doesn’t mean they don’t need love and prayer and attention. It just means you don’t need to get caught up in a loop. We aren’t meant to take the place of professional counselors.
I love you guys so much. God has placed the stewardship of this community in my hands. I’m the Mama here. And sometimes mamas have to lay some boundaries. This is for your protection.
OK, some of you may not be able to get past that but for those of you who can, this is the real reason why I got on here today. I don’t know why but I’ve been thinking a lot about my grandmother lately. Maybe it’s because I’m a grandmother now and I’ve seen some life come full circle. Whatever the reason, she’s been in my thoughts more than usual recently. My grandmother was widowed when my mom was just fourteen. Four years later, Mom met my Dad and fooled around and eloped with him. When they got back to town, my mother’s mom got revenge I suppose by moving right in with them. She didn’t move out until her mansion was ready in Heaven. I was sixteen years old at the time. Translation? She lived with my siblings and me all our young lives. And, boy, was she a character.
Her name was Minnie Ola Rountree. With a smirk on my face, 30 years ago I suggested to Keith that we name our first daughter after her but he didn’t go for it. Minnie Moore. Don’t you think that would have been darling? Anyway, to us she was “Nanny.” (Not our first child. My maternal grandmother.) She was born before the turn of the 20th Century and lived long enough to ride a horse-driven carriage to town and watch a man walk on the moon. She believed until the day she died that we had a party line (you young Siestas don’t even know what that is. It’s not direct dial to Party City) and would stand over us when we talked on the phone for more than five minutes and say, “Get off that phone! Someone’s probably needin’ an ambu-lance with you on there chewing the fat!”
There were eight of us in all and by the time Dad would let us get two phones in the house (on the same number, of course), Nanny decided if she couldn’t beat us, she’d join us. We’d be on one phone with our boyfriends and she’d be on the other just listening in. You’d walk through the kitchen and there she’d be, sipping on her perked coffee, tuning in like it was her business. Oh, man, she dearly loved gossip. Watched her “stories” on the black and white from noon til 3:00 and only President Kennedy better interrupt her and, even then, it better be good.
She’d been raised in the country and mostly by her big sister. Her second parent was cold in the grave before she was out of grade school. Once a tall, educated man happened through those parts and took a liking to her and married her before she could think better of it. I guess she loved him more than anything in her entire life. His name was Micajah Rountree. They had seven children together. And buried three of them. Under two and a half years-old. Can you even comprehend it? She told me once that every woman she knew with a large family had gone through the terrible agony of at least one loss. They couldn’t have imagined medical care like we have today. In the cemetery where she is buried, she is one of many moms laid to rest near the graves of infants. It’s almost too much to bear to see.
But they had many good times together, too. My grandfather was quite the catch, becoming a mighty fine lawyer and serving in State government. He probably would have been a man of means if not for the Great Depression. Family legends made him bigger than life to me and, even though I never knew him, I set out to be just like him, majoring in political science and minoring in English. God ended up having other plans but not before the man’s legacy had left his mark. I am told he never saw his left palm for a book in his hand. My mom was just like him. I am just like her. Amanda and Melissa are just like me. We live to read. We are so amused that Annabeth can’t put a book down. Rountree blood has trickled down five generations.
My grandmother was a smart woman but her formal education did not quite match her man’s. We moved that woman out of the country but we never moved the country out of that woman. And we are so glad. She used sayings that my siblings and I still employ on a continual basis. When we moved all the way from Arkansas to Houston, Texas (I was 15), her world split wide open. She’d never been to a city you could call a melting pot. She’d say, “Don’t them ferners beat all!” Ferners = someone born in a different country. Of course, what Amanda and I love best about Houston is that it’s such a glad mix of ferners but that’s our taste. Nanny didn’t quite know what to do with such a big world. She never understood that they were just as American as she was.
My favorite thing she ever said – and she said it CONSTANTLY – was this: “Some folks, you just can’t learn ’em nothin’.” (Please use a long “a” sound on the “can’t.” It’s more like “cain’t.”)
I don’t want to be one of them folks that you can’t learn nothin. I want to keep learning as long as I live. Don’t you?
Now that I’ve talked on this long, I might as well tell you what’s kind of had me down this week. For the last several months, we’ve been working on the up-dated version of “A Heart Like His.” (Do not even talk to me about my hair in that video. Believe it or not, I did not do that hair. Another story for another time. Anyway, I happen to really love who fixed that hair so I’m going to keep my mouth shut.) I’ve enjoyed being back in the study of the life of David so much. Scripture doesn’t get any wilder or richer or more applicable than 1st and 2nd Samuel. What’s gotten to me over the last few weeks is not what I said in the original written version (17 years ago!). It’s what I didn’t say. Lord have mercy, I had just come out of one of the worst trials of my entire life. I cannot even express the pain I’d been through or the defeat that had threatened to engulf me. But try as you might, you could not find a single hint of it. (My Nanny would say, “Narry a hint.”)
“Woman,” I said to myself as I was recently reading through the original version and updating it, “Where on earth is your testimony about the grace of God over your pitiful, messed up life? Huh? Huh?” At one point, I read such a down-played version of some misery that I’d been in that I wrote out in the margin, “Rewrite, you big liar!”
It wasn’t really a lie. But it didn’t even begin to measure my true estate. As I’ve read over some of the early writings, I can still see a woman who wasn’t sure she could yet be herself. Thank God, the Scriptures speak loudly and clearly and they’re all we really need. But most of us could use a teacher who owns up to her own struggles and own defeats. Most of us need to know we’re in this together. Way back when I originally wrote “A Heart Like His,” I think I was too close to the fresh graces of God to truly recognize them. I hear a crescendo after that in studies like “To Live is Christ” but, not coincidentally, I don’t hear the full throttle, volume 10 testimony of what God had done for me until “Breaking Free.” There’s an obvious reason for that.
For some reason that missing element broke my heart yesterday. I’d teared up over it several times as I edited “A Heart Like His” but finally yesterday I just got up from my desk, went face down on the floor and bawled my eyes out before God. “I am so, so sorry.”
Praise His Name, He really does grow us up in knowledge and in grace. He is so patient. So merciful. But just in case some of you have only done one of the earliest unrevised Bible studies and didn’t hear it as clearly as you should have, hear me clearly today: GOD IS THE ONLY REASON WHY I CAN HOLD MY HEAD UP LONG ENOUGH TO DRAW A BREATH. ANYTHING IN MY LIFE OF VALUE IS FROM HIM ALONE. HE IS MY DECENCY. HE IS MY ONLY HONOR. WITHOUT HIM, I’M A TOTAL WRECK. I DO NOT DESERVE TO BE IN MINISTRY. I DID NOT EARN IT. ALL THAT I HAVE TO OFFER IS HIM.
He’s it. Plain and simple. Gorgeous and complex.
Some folks, you just cain’t learn ’em nothin.’ And I don’t want to be one of them. Lord, protect me from myself.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
Bawling my eyes out over this post! Thanks for everything my sweet Siesta Mama. We all know God is the glorious King, but we appreciate you reminding us. Some of us have done enough of your studies we’ve gotten to watch you grow and that gave me hope. I always said, if He did it for her, he’ll do it for me. Now I say, he’s done it for me, he’ll do it again. All glory to God. Much love in Christ.
Mama Beth,
Thank you for the laughter you brought to me today! Your Nanny Rountree sounds like “the spitting image” of my Mamaw Hay. Among her favorites sayings were, “Well I do declare!” and “If that don’t beat all!” And of course, these had to be said with the best southern drawl one could possibly muster. I thank the Lord for the amazing women in my life who have pointed the way to Him. Thanks to you for being so open and real with us. It touches me deeply.
Bless you Beth!!!
Our Father is heaven must be smilin down on you today!
Your authenticity, courage and LOVE for our Lord shines thru. The Heart Like His study was one of my first and I learned so much from you.Thank you, from a girl who also struggles with hair issues….:). I’d live in Texas if it wasn’t for my fear of never ending big hair days….
Your Nanny reminds me of my Grandma Flo , originally her kin came from Arkansas to Oklahoma. Man do I miss her. She introduced me to Jesus & gave such unconditional love. I have lived in CA my whole life , yet others often ask where I am from because I picked up so much of her country talk and mannerisms.
Thank you for being such a seista, mama & friend. So familar to me…you are a blessing to so so many & a fine example of a Godly woman.
With love & appreciation,
Rita
xo
(first blog ever )
Our Dearest Beth,
If you should shed a tear looking back, don’t do so from heart break or feeling like you were less then completely honest… I see it as God showing you what he has done FOR you and IN you.. saying LOOK MY DEAR SWEET CHILD, LOOK HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. CAN YOU SEE WHAT TRUSTING ME FULLY HAS GIVEN YOU,.. It’s a direct reflection of His awesome power and ability to make even the most barren soil flourish into the Amazon rain forest.( not comparing you to the desert dearest!)
.. This being said, I look forward to the rewrite!
I love the idea that you appreciate the “blood” in your blood. Just yesterday, I was telling a friend about my Granny Wild, getting all in a tizzy because she heard the farmers, from across the hill, bull bellowing.. he had gotten loose and was in our pasture.. Granny high tailed it out the back door, she grabbed a tobacco stick and ran through the field chasing that bull.. She was hollering.. “Wooooooooo Wooooooooooo SSSSSScccaaaatttt. I would swear that she cleared the fence like a hurdle but she was in her 70’s and wearing a night gown and milking boots, so I know it must be my imagination.
Goodness, I love some of the memories of my childhood. And thank you.. not all of my memories are worthy of remembering. It’s good to think of the positive..
Happy 4th Everyone.
~ just me in HIM
victoria
victoria the song catcher,
just picturing your granny out in that pasture hollering and clearing the fence in a night gown just about did me in!! hahaha
I loved your memories, too : )! Thanks for sharing.
rene
I love it!!! I could imagine it all. 🙂
Beth,
Thanks for not being God and wanting fame of man. Thanks for always leading us to the cross and not your ego. Your honesty and openess is such an example to Siestas as how we should approach our Lord! Yes, we need each other but there is a lot of a difference in one letter from need to being “needy”. Thanks for practicing and instilling boundaries. I am so thankful for a godly mentor who knew when to instill boundaries and when to say go to God. Because of His saving grace!
Cathy O’Connor
I love you my Beth Moore!
I meant to say my friend, Beth Moore 🙂
I love you, too, Deborah.
I really appreciated this post. I have been that woman–so desperately seeking for someone to save me so I would just regurgitate my junk over and over to anyone and everyone. Then I found Jesus. He really is enough. I realized I needed to revisit a painful loss in my life when I found myself bringing it up in conversation recently. God started working in my life and it was a-mazing. I can’t express what His healing means to me.
Beth,
You are such an inspiration! I am new to your blog and was hesitant to share on here.But after reading this post, I wanted to share what an encouragement you are. Please don’t ever second guess your early teachings . . . they show me the progress God has made in you and what He is able to do in me. I am a new teacher (something I NEVER anticipated) and I second guess myself everytime I get up. But I know that as long as I rely on HIM, He will supply what He wants said. I pray so fervently against pride … I’ve never felt like anyone was proud of me and I so want to make HIM proud. When women make positive comments, they are so hard for me to hear … they give me such a mixture of emotions. It is good to feel like someone is proud, but I don’t ever want focus to be on me, only on HIM. We will start our new sessions in September, and I would appreciate any prayers about this. Thank you for how you have allowed Him to use you. THank you for being so real and transparent.
Praying for you,
Kerri
You’re grandmother sounds very similar to my great grandmother. One of my fondest memories is walking to the First United Methodist Church in Whitney, TX on Sunday mornings. Another one is unplugging everything in the house if we could see lightning. She loved unconditionally and taught me to love all people of every colour. She said if Jesus loved all people, we were to love all people.
I so want my heart to be sold out fully to our Lord and Savior. I want to learn until the day it’s time to go home.
Have a wonderful July 4th Siestas!
Little girl in her Mother’s arms
Not knowing what tomorrow might bring
Pouring out her heart to God
Knowing He will help her through
Whatever life throws their way
For tomorrow is another day.
Life is sometimes not fair
Somethimes more than we can bare
But, You will laugh and you will sing
You can pick yourself up again.
Little girl in her Mother’s arms
You will look at yourself in the mirror one day
And say you are your mother
But you have a life of your own
And you can spread your wings, my child
And Fly.
Let God lead you each step
Trust Him every day
Little girl, so sweet and innocent
Keep a pure heart and mind
Your safe with Him and never alone
Just don’t listen to Satan’s lie.
Oh, if I could hold you close forever and never let you go
It would not give you the freedom to be what God can see
A little girl that grows up to be herself
And to Love the Lord eternally.
~joyce~
This is from my heart_trusting God. From this little girl to have the freedom God has to offer.
Mama Beth,
Your comments were appreciated and understood. Thank you
Your message on Grace , was meant for my eyes and heart. Thank you for taking time to write it down. I have a mission to accomplish and , had no clue where to start. You’ve given me that start… GRACE… GOd’s Grace, with out it, I am nothing, a sinner, a *rotten stinking mess*. Thanks and may God continue to bless you . I enjoyed your memories of your sweet grandmother too.
Your friend in Christ and Siesta.
Beth, thank you for this post. You speak the truth in love and I am grateful. I don’t think there is a truer statment than this one: “None of us can be anybody’s everything.” I am so embarassed to say I learned that lesson the hard way. God is the only One who can fill those shoes.
I was thinking of my grandmother the other day. She went to be with the Lord 27 years ago and I still miss her terribly. My grand daddy passed away about the time I got my driver’s license. My grandmother did not drive so we starting going places together having the best time. It will be so good to see her one day again. I am so thankful for the hope of heaven. Aren’t you?
Thanks for being our momma, Mama. Like the good momma that you are, you caught it in time. I was feeling like we were (I was) getting caught up.
I wonder if your other Bethisms came from your Nanny too, like: “blast it”,”shoot fire” and what’s the other one…oh I can’t remember at the moment and I don’t know how to leave this page and come back to it, embarassed to say. I could hear your accent getting thicker the more you talked about her.
You’re a character! Just like your Nanny. And I’m so blessed by you, your family, your ministry, and this blog community of real women after God’s own heart.
God dwells in Siestaville!!!
Thank=you beth for your amazing studies and bringing us all closer to our Sweet Lord = The Lord is smiling down on you young lady because you are out there doing what He has commissioned you (and us too) to do – soooooo excited about being a Siesta Sister, further growth in Him and having you as my Mama!!! May God shower you and your family with blessings!!!
My dear Siesta Mama,
I LOVE that you love us enough to set boundaries, makes me feel safe and loved.
I wish I had a dollar for every time I said to my children, especially the sanguine, “I wish you had known my Nanny.” She had such a way of making everyone feel special. She too watched her shows, but not if we were there, making us feel more important.
I so wanted to comment the other day about Pastor Gregg Matte but the tone went in another direction. He has been such a blessing to me. I had the privilege of hearing him after the SMTC and he had me at “If you have your Bibles with you turn to Genesis,” my absolute favorite book. But the more I hear him the more I like him. I have downloaded every sermon since then. He is who I listen to on my IPOD while running. He is a such a great speaker and his sermons are always right on. It has been a literal God-send to hear God’s Word taught in boldness and truth for me as I have come from a difficult few years when that wasn’t always my experience. Houston’s First is indeed blessed to have such teachers as you, Pastor Matte, and Curtis. Thank you Lord for technology or otherwise I know I would be guilty of the sin envy.
You are loved.
I too love listening to Pastor Greg Matte. It is fun to hear other sermons from pastors since I live here in Wyoming. And yes I still go to my own church every Sunday morning and listen to my own pastor. It is fun to see and hear what other Seistas are listening to.
Thank you so much!!! I was so excited that I could go to this church site and download messages on my IPod. It is such a resource for me and I love that I can use it to “redeem the time” Can’t wait to “get to it”
Thanks for the info on Pastor Matte. I will have to download and listen. I listen to messages in my car. After reading his book “Can Man Live without God”, I have been listening to Dr Zacharias… honing up on my apologetics.
OHHH! I love me some Ravi! The archives of his radio broadcast are on his website and most of them are just excellent. 🙂
Oh, Siesta Mama, I do so love you! I l.o.v.e.d. the stories about your Nanny and I appreciate your loving boundaries for us. And when I got to your testimony (in all caps!) about God’s sufficiency and life, I automaticallly started reading with my “Beth Moore southern accent” in my own mind. I had to laugh out loud at myself! You’ve had such an impact on me, I can’t even read you without mentally sounding like you!
I hope you have a restful long weekend. I can’t begin to imagine the kind of stressful, hectic schedule you keep. I get excited for you when I hear that you’ve been to your ranch or some other peaceful place. I think one of the things I most admire about you, besides your authenticity and sincerity, is your consistency in spending time with Jesus. My life and schedule is nowhere near as busy as yours and yet I struggle constantly with maintaining “intimate” time with my Savior. That being said… I’m gonna end this ramble and do my Ruth homework!
Love you all (and just wanted to tell Melissa I miss her… seems like she hasn’t blogged in awhile. Not throwin guilt here, just sayin =)
Oh Precious Beth:
I can’t imagine where I would be right now without all the love and support you give to us in Siestaville. I started my journey with you in Patriarch’s… I absolutely fell in love with Jesus all over again. And since I had never really read the word of God before… I started out at the beginning. Many bible studies later I love, love, love, the word of God…have a real good idea where most of the books are as you have us flip all over his words for homework and then memorizing scripture too with our cards… who can ask for more… except More love and fever for our Lord from our Siesta Mama…you said it best when you said…”if a little is good then MOORE is better..”
Thank you for being real to us… and letting us into your family and love for Christ…
Happy 4th … I love you …
Lichelle
Beth,
Celebrating with you and all the other siestas that HE is everything and that we are only clay, molded and shaped by His Hand. Praising Him for that today….because this mess of a woman needed to be reminded of that. What a wonder that He redeems us!
Love,
Sarah
Kentucky
Wow Beth!! Tears rolled as I read the last part of your post. The 1st part was a needed reminder for me (thank you) to be careful to not take on too much, but also, to not let my emotions in life overule relationships.
The authenticness of your life is the most beautiful thing I see in you. I am just stepping out of a very dark and trying season in life. I knew from the moment the circumstances came down I would have a story. But at times I wonder if I will ever have the chance to share. I know healing has to take place first and most don’t want to watch as the “bandages of the heart” are removed. You’ve renewed my heart…there will be a time…in His time…I will just continue to grow in the present – that’s all we have anyway. 🙂 Thank you so!!!
Hello Beth,
I am a part of a small Bible study. We’re working on Here and Now… There and Then. More and more the Lord is showing me the importance of persevering in faith. He keeps affirming to me that He’s in control. I need to daily trust Him. I WILL DAILY TRUST HIM! Thank you so much for your obedience to to the LORD! Thank you for sharing your heart.
Random Question: Will you be working on a Bible Study based on the Song of Songs in the future? I love how it expresses the genuine love between a man and woman, a husband and wife. It is so refreshing to read the Song of Songs. In a society that has twisted love and has perverted it, it affirms to me the importance of going back to the Word. It also expresses allegorically the love Jesus has for the Church. It is always wonderful to be reminded of how much Jesus loves us collectively and individually.
Hi Mavis! So glad you’re here!
No. I won’t. (I’m writing those words laughing) Only if God makes me.
or you could let Melissa loose on the Song of Songs. She has already posted some though provoking stuff on the subject…..I’m just saying…..
God help us all!
I hear what you say about being honest…So as I walk younger gals through life issues and know I can relate to their stuff, where is the line to good comfort and guidance and to much information?
I want them to know I hear their hearts and understand, I also want to be transparent and real, but not over the top.
Any suggestions?
(I usually pray none stop before a meeting and try not to go into condemnation after it…… often thinking on the drive home, “Lord I sure messed that up again.)
Beth: I was thinking about this post again today and I pondered about how one day Annabeth is going to be remembering her grandmother too, her Bibby. Not only will Annabeth have precious memories of a fun and loving woman, she will have a library of books and studies. A heritage and legacy written down to add to what was lived out by her namesake. I think that is so awesome.
GJ
Beth (and everyone else reading) – if you have not already checked out this site, you really should. It is stinkin’ hilarious. Read this post in particular and then browse the others. I promise you won’t regret it:
http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/05/3008/
I checked out the site, loved it. Thanks for sharing, you are right it was hilarious!
Thank you Beth for sharing honestly.
Beth,
I just love this community…it fills my heart about every time I jump on here. I won’t lie…I moved to a place where I barely knew anybody and felt so out of place that at one point I did feel more connected to this community than mine and I probably reached out in ways that were kind of ridiculous…but God is GREAT and has provided fabulous folks to rely on right where I am. My counselor has begun working with me over the phone and through email too…HA!
I love growing in His love and seeing others grow as well. Thanks for providing such a great environment for us to share with each other!
GOD BLESS!!!
Oh Beth,
Thanks. I so appreciate your sincere, honest heart. This post means so much – for it says so much. Thanks for your heart for Him. He’s using it!
Yes, sometimes we’re “too fresh” from a valley season that we don’t see it all, or express it all. No worries – He still uses what we offer and multiplies it! I not only loved “A Heart Like His,” but got so much out of it as God used it to draw me closer to His heart.
Thanks Beth. You’re a true sister. It’s a joy to walk this life out with you and the the other siestas!
Love,
Jo
Oh Beth!
I just did the old version of “A Heart Like His” in the fall and it was wonderful. It helped me grow so much and taught me a great deal about warfare and the Advesary. It was the perfect study for me at that time and God used it mightily in my life! I was going through intense warfare and it was the perfect study of God’s Word for me to do. I related to David in so many ways as he ran from Saul in the desert and wondered what had happened to the Calling on his life! That study into the Scriptures was/is a very, very precious time in my life and God ministered healing to me through you and His Word and I am forever grateful!
(and I secretly LOVED your hair the whole time being a “big Texas hair woman myself)
Thanks for sharing your gift with us!
Lauri Campbell
Fort Worth, TX
Beth, you are correct; I don’t have a clue what the first part of your post alluded to, but I do feel that you are a wonderful emmisary for Christ and His teachings. Truth be told, there are definitely some things that all of us wish we’d done differently, maybe our wedding, our parenting skills, or our other relationships. But perfection? Surely God is the only one who achieves that goal, but He knows our hearts, and He has blessed you with the gifts and graces to interpret His word, so that we may have fresh, new understanding of it. God also knows YOUR heart, and I feel certain that He is very pleased with what He sees there. Thanks, and Happy 4th!
Beth,
You have brought Gods comfort and love to more women than you could count in every stage of your walk. Just so you know during the time you feel you were not doing your best I was praising God for you and your obedience. our goal is to change and grow more like Christ with each passing day and each trial which is exactly what you have done and will continue to do. I love you with a love only Christ could explain seeing as I have never even met you in person, lol!
Amen!!!! well put, and so true! i’ve been pondering the question you asked a few posts ago about describing in one word our life right now. i have a lot of words, but just one is tricky. i thought of it today as i was driving with my precious little gift of God. Content. no, i am NOT a girl who has it all, but i have my Jesus, His Father and His Holy Word. i have so many friends who seem to have it all but do not have contentment. i have my wonderful husband, our health, our two boys and a house to keep us safe. i have both of my parents and they are happy and healthy. content. there are sooooo many more words i could give but that is the one i’m sticking with. and i’m with you on the learning thang beth. i crave to learn (almost) anything. thanks for putting it well put about God’s grace and mercy. little words, but HUGE in application, to me.
one little cute question that my five-year-old asked today (we just completed ‘Saddle Ridge Ranch’ VBS at our church). ‘What is Jesus Christ’s middle name?’ so sweet and innocent.
thanks for your work here to encourage all of us siestas.
What more can be said than praise be to the Lord God Almighty who reigns on His throne and in our hearts. I’m always so very thankful for your transparency, Beth. It speaks volumes to me of the great love and mercy of our Lord and Savior.
I come asking for prayer for my precious 16yr old daughter, who suffered a severe Brain Injury …her decision making is not good..she has lost some of her dearest friends who cannot understand why her personality has changed..My spirit is just crushed over this..Please pray!! Thanks!!
Oh, Kelly, what a difficult circumstance. I am so sorry for the pain and pray that Christ Jesus will show up at every turn. May He also perform miracle after miracle and restore her in a way that cannot be medically explained. We care so much.
Praying for you sweet daughter!!!
Have added you to my prayer list.
Praying too! I have teenage daughters…breaks my heart too. Praying Jesus will bring friends that understand!
I am praying for your daughter and for you tonight!
I’m sorry too Kelly. May God be YOUR all-in-all so His strength flows to both of you. God, I pray you would protect Kelly’s heart from aching too much and perform a miralce in her daughter; Thy Will be done, in Jesus’ Holy and healing name.
http://www.dedooutreach.com
This is about a Christian woman who I heard speak years ago, who just has an amazing story about her brain injury. I think you will enjoy it!
I love how we can express ourselves here, in an appropriate manner of course. This is a great community and I so appreciate the way I am supported here by lots of siestas.
I feel uplifted when I come here to visit. I feel like the Lord leads me to the comments I read and He tells me when to reply. This blog is a blessing. But you are so right we can’t be each others everything. Thanks for the reminder.
Love you Nanny recollections. I never got to meet my maternal grandmother but from the stories I have heard I think I am a lot like her too.
I think one of the things that endears you to so many of us is your honesty about your spiritual life. There is no doubt who is number one with you. As you say He is it-the thrill ride of our lives!
Thanks for all you do in His name!
Love ya loads!
Ditto!!! “I feel like the Lord leads me to the comments I read and He tells me when to reply. This blog is a blessing.”
God dwells in Siestaville.
Thank You God for the men and women who lay down their lives for our freedom, who sacrifice times like tonight that we get with our husbands and children and friends to spend together. May none of us take that for granted. Praise you Father.
Happy Fireworks everyone!
That was very inspiring! Love the Nanny stories too.
Thank you for sharing your heart, knowing how unworthy all of us are, but yet He still WANTS us and desires for us to minister His Word. And how He loves us so. You continually help me to see that!
Love ya! Have a happy and blessed Fourth!
Ms. Beth, our precious, darling Mama bear,
Thank you for the boundaries and lovin’ us all enough to give ’em to us.
Bless you!
I love the timeliness of the reminder that we are totally dependent on the move of God in our lives for EVERYTHING–especially on the holiday where we celebrate and are grateful for our INdependence as a nation. It’s ironic to think, but precious to know, that our every breath, word, and action is possible only by the Creator and Savior–our Jesus who calls us incomparably loved. Interesting.
Beth, I’m so excited to see you at Passion in January in Atlanta–I just saw the official update today. I can’t wait. 🙂
After reading your post, I, like you AM NOBODY WITHOUT CHRIST!!!
My husband died 9 years ago June 4 and ONLY with Gods strength I have found the new me in Christ – so very very difficult. I have just finished “Breaking Free” and I was Breaking Free of myself and feeling free/er (is that a word) to be who God wants. Then on June 9th my precious 6 year old granddaughter was struck by a car and died.
Trust me when I say ONLY GOD GIVES ME STRENGTH!!!
I am also doing the Bible Study this summer Ruth with you by Kelly Minter. I feel like Ruth sometimes, that God has turned from me which is only from satan. My GOD has not, however I am in a state where confusion is lurking. My daughter and grandson who is 8 witnessed the accident and it is devastating. Are whole family has and is seeking professional help with this one – it is too much! Pray for our family.
Thank you for the words in your post as I am crying KNOWING GOD it is ONLY GOD!!!
Connie,
I cannot begin to imagine your family’s pain. Jesus, please give this family some comfort. Will be keeping you in my prayers. Linda
Praying for you dear sweet one….you are so right..ONLY GOD!
Love to you and your whole family. I am so sorry for all your pain.
Kelly
First off, I just have to say a few things: Beth is awesome.(Not that she doesn’t already know this or hear this on a regular basis on this blog). I am semi-new to this blog. I started reading it after I did the SLI Simulcast at my morning church. Beth, you inspire me so much with your passion for the Word and your passion for God. I wish that one day, I can experience the same.
HI SIESTAS!(Not sure if I can claim that, since I am new here). Anyhoo….I was reading this blog post, and Beth said “By all means, please let your Siestas know when you legitimately need prayer and edification or just a big fat hug. Ask your questions!”
Well…I have a question, and something told me to ask it here. So…here goes:
I have been a follower of Christ for 8 years.(I am 27 now). You would think that my love of and passion for God would be through the roof after all that time, but sadly it is not. I’ve been struggling for the LONGEST time with having dedicated quiet times. Lately, I’ve tried to get back into it. I even bought a new devotional book that I’m very excited about. But…I just don’t feel like I’m learning, growing or getting anything out of my times with God. I get up, I read my selection from my devotional, and then I pray for a few and then I’m done. I should know my bible, I should be familiar(sp?) with God’s Word, I should be able to apply it, I should find joy in waking up and looking forward to reading God’s love letter to me. But it’s just not there.
As we all know, Beth is always telling us, pushing us to be in the Word and how important that is. And she’s right. Sometimes I wonder why God continues to bless and provide for me when I can’t even spend time with Him. It’s frustrating.
Any thoughts/ideas? And prayer is always welcome. 🙂
Thanks! And I apologize if this is out of place or too long.
Hi Nikkia, I have felt this way more to times then I can imagine. I have learned for me that I have to do it the best way for me. I just can’t compare it to anybody else. My question what works for you? Is it reading scripture, then pondering? Worshipping with music? Writing down your thoughts to Jesus? I will be praying for you Sista and know that you are not alone on this journey.
Nikkia, I think my best advice is to keep on keepin’ on. Don’t give up. And as far as all the “should’s” remember that God doesn’t grow us all at the same pace. In my life when I focus energy on maintaining my quiet time, the Lord is faithful to provide the nutrition.
There’ve been times when I allowed myself to become spiritually malnourished by having fairly shallow time with Him. It took a month or two after that to allow Him to replenish me back to a place of relative spiritual health. I’ve heard Beth use the analogy of splashing a little water on my face, (just spending a couple of minutes with Him), versus being knee deep in His Word (being in an in-depth Bible study).
I think this is a marvelous application of not being weary in well doing, because we will reap a harvest if we don’t faint. So don’t faint, sweetie!
Nikkia,
We’re so glad you’re here! Whether you realize or not, you’ve already made two huge strides in your walk with Christ.
One: you haven’t let your emotions override what you know to be you need to do as an obedient child of God…otherwise you’d have closed your Bible and given up on having your quiet time by now.
Two: you’ve had the courage to open up here. You are truly pursuing Christ with your heart.
Rejoice in these two accomplishments, Nikkia…God does!!!
I went through years of what sounds very similar to your description in this post. I didn’t realize that I needed to tap into the well of sanctification once I received salvation. My personal take today is that sanctification – the joy of walking in the Fruit of the Spirit – is Christ’s gift to us once we accept Him (see Colossians 1 and 2). The key for me has been learning that while salvation is immmediate, sanctification is an ongoing process that I have to pursue…at home, in the car, at the gym, on my Ipod, on TV…everywhere.
If you haven’t already, you may want to read “Breaking Free” (by Beth) and do the workbook as well. God used these as well as a group of lectures on The Holy Spirit to speak to me in this area. The lectures, delivered by my Sunday School teacher Karen Wilson, are available free of charge for download, at http://www.contendersofthefaith.org.
Hope this helps. You’re in my prayers!
I actually have a copy of “Breaking Free” and I loved it when I read it and go back through it from time to time. I’ve never done the workbooks, though.
The workbook was what really opened my eyes.
Hi Nikkia,
No one can make the Word of God come alive except God Himself. So pray for it, for His Word to become alive to you, to be relevant in your everyday everything. Just keep praying and reading. I know it sounds simple but I believe in prayer and that God wants you to understand and make you wise. It says in James 1:5…’if any of you lacks wisodom, let him ask of God, who gives all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.’
Isn’t that awesome! He wants you to ask and He wants to give.
Now…this is just my opion but instead of doing a devotional, I would pick a book out of the bible and read it as a whole over and over. Mark it up as you read, pray for understanding…get a commentary and maybe a different translation to read along with it and really dig in there.
And then do the devotional in addition to studying.
Again, that is what works for me.
Whatever you do, I just pray for you to keep at it…God’s Word is breath and life and truth!
How I pray for Psalm 119:03 to become reality for you…”How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Blessings,
michelle in VT
Nikkia, consider the parable of the sower Matthew 13. For me this illuminates where my heart is and why the seed (the Word) is not growing in me. If you see my comment to Yanna’s post (first page) about her idea with the picture of a pillow and fringe…consider the analogy of us being the pillow and the fringe being different things about us gifts, time, talents, abilities, thoughts, actions, sin, choices, time wasters, etc….right. So, in order for the pillow (being us) to reflect His Son Jesus, all the fringe that is not of Him or glorifying Him needs to be cut out. So, ask God to reveal all the fringe as Beth’s husband says “An ounce of pretension is like a pound of manure.” And there lies more freedom and tenderness and relationship with the King Himself. God Himself brings to mind right now all the fringe in my life from my past and keeps it there on my heart to show me how far we have come but what a wreck I was and am without Him. The old is gone and the new is awesome! Keep fighting and dig deeper. Hugs and Smiles!
Oh my gosh, the “I’m Just Sayin’ ” title to this post sounds like our house at the moment! I was talking to a good friend about parenting our adult (24-19) children and how I don’t like to give advice unless they ask…and then when I do I always end with:”I’m just sayin’ “. Now our entire family is using this ‘momism’!
Thank you dear Beth for your transparency with your life. Thank you for doing what is right with the boundaries of this blog:) You are real, you are gifted from The Lord, and you are definitely LOVED girl!!!
I so wish I could meet you in person some day to give you a real hug and not just an electronic bloggy one!!
Have a wonderfully,Blessed holiday weekend:)
Beth-Thank you for listening and following God as you help us towards our independence from the pit! We can celebrate our freedom in Christ! Your devotion to Christ has freed a whole lotta slaves! So when you watch the fireworks tonight, if the rain stops in Texas, think about each explosion of light being a new freed life whose life then splashes over those in their lives and brings a burst of light into the darkness! Because of your gifts being used for Christ, many women, (this one especially:) can truly celebrate freedom!
And may God Bless America!!
Dear Siestas,
I am new to this post, but have so appreciated the encouragement I have received in the Lord through all of you. Thank you, Beth, for your faithful, words of wisdom to us all. The Lord bless you today.
I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement to any Siesta out there today with a hurting heart.
Yesterday in my quiet time, I had asked the Lord if He would hold me the way James Robinson (from Life Today) had described God holding Him.
Printed on my prayer jouranl notes this morning was this Scripture, “As a mother comforts her child so I will comfort you,” (Isaiah 66:13). Then God also brought to my memory the verse from my daily devotional that morning that said “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them. And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them,” (Mark 10:13,16).
As a mother to four young children, I know how a mother comforts her children, she takes them up in her arms and whispers soothing words of comfort and enoucouragement. That meant Jesus was holding me in His arms as His daughter and blessing me! I was so thrilled and amazed by this mental picture! As I knelt in front of my couch, I imagined myself kneeling with my head lying in His lap. I felt His love pour into my hurting, broken heart and wept at His goodness to me to speak to me this way. I just had to share it with anyone out there who might be hurting today. Jesus loves You! Let Him hold you in His arms and speak blessings over you today! Let His love fill every empty, broken place!
Love in Him
Stephanie
Stephanie,
Thank you for the reminder Isaiah 66:13.
Okay…I promise after this comment no more from me for a while…I’ll give others the floor…BUT..it’s 4th of July morning and I was on my way upstairs to put my daughter down for a nap and ran into my aunt who is a devout Mormon. She was reading “Things Pondered” and I stopped and said…”she’s my favorite author…I love her..” and my aunt said in her little spanish accent…”I just picked it up for a minute and now I am crying…”
Ya know why? Because she’s a woman..a feeler, a lover and a fighter deep down and when other women who stand up and speak truth and do it in love and in humor…telling their life story…it begins to stir something.
Way to stir the pot Beth. I hope that all of us Siestas will begin to ask the Lord to show us how we can stir the pot for Him and bring Him the glory. 🙂
Hi Beth,
My grandmother was “Nanny” too. 🙂 How I loved her. Thank you for being so open, real, and honest with us. One of my favorite books is called Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. Changed my life. Of course, I still take it off the shelf and read it.
Much love to you!
Thank you for the reminder that the cyberworld does not (and should not) replace our real world family and friends. This post came at just the right time- a woman suffering contacted me about the subject I had written about (miscarriage) and I emailed back and forth with her for a couple days. I kept encouraging her to seek out family or friends. After reading your post, I very gently told her that she needed a real, live pastor- not me!
Happy 4th everyone!
A Heart Like His was also my first in depth Bible Study. I was in my early 20’s and had been a Christian since childhood but I had never experienced the Bible coming to life and and speaking into my soul like that. I didn’t know how to dig into God’s Word before that. God used that study in a big way in my life. I have done many of your studies and those of other authors since…but AHLH holds a special place for me.
Thanks for this heart felt post and for protecting our little community here.
Sarah
P.S. I thought your hair was cute in AHLH (but I am from the 80’s big hair generation) tee hee
Sarah,
I, too, grew up in a Christian home. I think it’s amazing that you can have Jesus’ truth all around you for such a long time and just not get it. Beth’s studies did it for me as well. A couple of years ago I prayed for a church (I had not been attending for quite a few years) and a womens bible study and the Lord led me to my church family and bible study all in one fell-swoop. My first Beth study was Believing God and I was hooked. I am spending more time in the Word and really lovin’ it.
We love you, Beth!
Sherry
We love you.
I am thankful for you and the ministry of Jesus Christ that pours forth through the teachings He has laid upon your heart, and this community of believers.
With love,
Yolanda
Thank you for being so real. It feels so overwhelming to hear only the “good” stuff from those in leadership positions. I don’t think I’m alone when I say I feel put down when Christian women can’t just be real and humble. Btw, your grandma talked very much like my grandma, who I miss dearly.
Though I don’t get on here often, I hope to more in the future. I’ve gleaned much from several of your studies and books and am reading “Jesus, the One and Only” right now. I love your books (we draw names for Christmas in our large family and they were on my want list right up there with my “Eternity” perfume. Unfortunately, my son only got me the perfume. 🙂 I am always inspired by the inspirations the Spirit gives to you.
Thank you.
Hey everyone. A month or so ago I posted something to the effect that I too wanted to be happy again. God has heard my hearts cry to become a woman free to be herself, to be happy being a female. I cried out to my God for answers and He is showing me that yes being a woman is fun in itself. I’ve read all the books but couldn’t seem to change in my heart of hearts. But thank the Lord I am changing and learning even at this age, mid 40’s. Please pray for me
whitestone
So happy to hear that! Praise Christ’s faithful Name.
Oh, Beth! Thank you for that reminder! As the teacher of a small Mom’s Bible study, I needed the reminder that “I am a total wreck” and “All that I have to offer is Him.” My pride is disgusting. I can make myself believe that I’m good, conveniently forgetting the terrible things I’ve done. I grew up as the “perfect” child… that’s where it started, but, believe me, I made the choice to ride that wave. Over the past several years, God has begun to reveal the incredible amount of grace and mercy He’s given me. It’s stunning to see… and humbling. I’m thankful beyond words that He gently reveals the truth. Can you even imagine that He lets us live after we take credit for something He’s done?!?! Anyway, I transcribed your quote into my journal. I praise God for you and love you so.
-Susannah