Hey, Sweet Things! I am taking the quickest possible lunch break with a bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats because my head in deep in the books today. Well, actually the Book. I’ve been studying for the Living Proof Live simulcast on Saturday and finished most of my commentary research yesterday afternoon. Not because I was satisfied, mind you, but because time was up. It’s always hard for me to finally go, “OK, that’s enough. Now start organizing what you’ve got.” At that point it’s time for the monumental task of sifting through, setting aside, writing a skeleton outline, then building the sessions on the material that made the cut.THEN, compiling illustrations.
All of this is a difficult process (oh, yes, it is difficult and it tends to get more so with time, not less) and woefully dependent upon the Holy Spirit. I desire so desperately to hear God accurately and with sensitivity but, needless to say, life and self can shout loudly over the small, still voice. Leaning in while everything pushes back can take every ounce of energy you’ve got. We are jars of clay pleading for that all surpassing power that can only come from Jesus. I rarely return from a conference where I taught copious material that I don’t think, in retrospect, I probably should have used that and not this. Said this and not that. Over-analysis is the suffocating tomb of teachers and, if we get trapped there, really good teachers can have pitifully short tenures. Those of us who are going to serve God for the length of our days (oh, Jesus, I want to! please help me!) have to make a choice to move on, whether or not the last lesson went like we hoped. I have to repeatedly ask myself one question: “Did you, as well as you knew how, take them to the Scriptures?” If no, I need to repent. If yes, I have to move on.
Anyway, I’m in the part of the process now where it’s Jesus, my Bible, my notes and me and the sessions are beginning to stand up and take some shape. This can be the most unsettling part because sometimes it doesn’t take shape until the midnight hour. Other times I’m not sure it ever did. It’s a faith walk, Girlfriend. I promise you that. But it is so worth it. Jesus is so worth it. I love the study process and any sense of His presence through the words on that page is what I live for. I am praying the material I feel like God has given me translates well on Saturday but I can at least tell you that I’ve gotten some private tutoring from it. He’s speaking very specifically to me about a particular challenge and changing how I deal with it.
I’ve got a long way to go in preparation so I can’t tarry on here today but I thought it would be so much fun to hear from those of you joining us on Saturday for the simulcast. If so, be sure to tell us the city and the location because it may be that several of you Siestas end up unexpectedly at the same place. Wouldn’t it be fun to meet each other face to face? I’ll also dearly love knowing that you guys are out there, in James 1 terminology, “scattered abroad.” (Which reminds me, we have 27 churches in Canada signed up for this simulcast! We were floored! So happy.)
Oh, before I get off of here, I have to tell you how much I loved your responses to the last post. It was a blast to hear all the ways you planned to stay in the Scriptures this Fall. I was familiar with many of the materials and most of the teachers but some of them were brand new to me. I stacked up some great ideas for future studies I want to take on my own. As my mentor always said, let’s all stay under many teachers! One helps bring us back to the center when another sends us over a cliff.
I love you, Sisters. I think of you every day.
My church First Baptist Vandalia,MO is hosting our very first Simulcast!! We are so pumped to hear the Word you bring Beth and of course praise God w/ Travis. Anyone in Mid-Missouri come join us!
Vandalia, Missouri. That is where my grandparents do their prison ministry. Small world.
I will be in Natchez, Mississippi at Parkway Baptist Church for the simulcast along with my friends doing the Revelation study with me!
Oh my goodness! I think I uttered the exact same sediments just this past week as I was preparing for opening day Women’s Bible Study at my church. Unlike your refreshing perspective of accepting the challenge as part of God’s calling, I was thinking that God must have missed the boat in asking me to do this. Feeling relieved that it isn’t just me. Thankful for your transparency.
Simulcast at Ocean Grove, New Jersey
I’ll be attending your Simulcast here in Roanoke, VA with our sweet “host” sisters at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Looking forward to hearing whatever God has laid on your heart. However you struggle in preparing to teach, Beth, we ALWAYS receive a WORD from you. And, I thank you.
We are hosting..new experience..at FBC Meridian MS. We have been praying without ceasing and will prayer walk today. Many attacks of the devil so we KNOW God is planning something BIG!
Wylie Baptist Church in Wylie, Texas
Can’t wait! I so look forward to these day-long adventures in the Word. Praying for you!
Rose in Dallas
I’ll be there with my mom, two aunts, and one of their cousins. Two of us hail from IN, one from OH, and one from NC. I can’t wait for a weekend with them! I’ll be leaving behind our two small boys in the very capable hands of their daddy. No better reason to give them a weekend alone together. Praying for you and your team! Thank you for all of your hard work, we are blessed and looking very forward to spending time “praising Jesus” (as my 4 and 2 year old say). See you there!
I’ll be there! Will be joining the ladies at The Chapel in Brunswick, Georgia. Can’t wait!
I will be attending in Detroit @ Grace Community Church. My friend who has never heard you speak is coming with me. I’m so excited to experience it with her. YAY!!
You’re the second one on these comments besides me, attending at Grace tomorrow. How cool is that?
There will be “Siestas” in the house!!!
Hallelujah!!!
I am sad to say I won’t be there, but the Lord has blessed the women in Ohio with a fall retreat at Seneca Lake Baptist retreat center. I have to say thank you and praise the Lord for your post. I have the joy of getting to lead two breakout sessions this weekend and I can’t even express the encouragement the Lord delivered through your post. Our pastor asked the congregation one Sunday to make the commitment: to be a part of the blessing if changed lives. Follow Christ, share His Word, His love in whatever way He prepares for you. Praise God that all over this great nation women’s lives will be impacted by God’s Word this weekend. He is mighty, faithful, loving and best of all, OUR KING!!!!
Mat God bless you this weekend with words and encouragement as you follow His guidance. I’m praying for you too sister!
I will attend my home church in Knoxville
tn at first bapist church concord can’t wait
We are hosting the simulcast on Saturday for the first time ever at our church in Grand Island, NE!!! My team and I have been praying since last November when we started our planning for the event and can’t wait for the Word you will bring on Saturday! Thank you for your diligent preparation and willingness to share. Blessings to you and your man as you continue in your ministry. Woo Hoo! Did I mention I was excited! 😉
I’m with the host church Happy Valley Church in Kountze, TX!!!! I can’t wait to hear the message!!! You’re in my prayers Beth!!!
My best friend and I will be on the front row (or as close to the front as possible) at FBC Simpsonville, SC! We will be joining a special group of ladies who love God and are ready for an amazing day of worship!
Beth,
We are so excited in Deep South Texas to be hosting the Simulcast at BT McAllen! I am coordinating our event, and so ready to drink in the message God has given you for us tomorrow. Trying not to get so caught up in the details, and take time to sit at Jesus feet this weekend. (We Martha types need to remember that quite often.)
We are praying for you and all those involved in making this Simulcast a huge success for the many women who will be attending all over the country and Canada!
In Christ,
Lisa
We are hosting our third simulcast on Saturyday at Traders Point Christian Church in Whitestown, Indiana. Cannot wait. Hopefully over 300 will be in attendance. Weather is going to be perfect to take a long walk and meditate after or during their lunch break.
Love the Proverbs 31:26 verse!!!!
Thank you Beth.
I am looking forward to Saturday, I will be driving an hour away to Ottumwa. I have prayed for you and your message and the people attending. In answer to the last blog, I am studing Titus from Precept Ministries, My husband and I have the HS youth on Wed. and we are doing Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian LIFE, Donald S. Whitney, and also I teach 4th and 5th grade SS even though I know the story the Lord shows me something new.
Attending the simulcast in Pasadena, CA at Lake Avenue Church.
I will be at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Hazel Green, AL!!!
Can’t wait!
I was so disappointed to learn no one in my area was hosting the simulcast this time 🙁 (San Angelo/Eldorado,TX) I will be praying for you, dear Beth, that God totally fills you with His Spirit to deliver what He wants you to say. I will also be praying for all the Siestas across our great nation & Canada that will be attending. I will be waiting for the download on your website in the near future. Love you, dear one!! Have a safe trip.
Donna, I’m disappointed as well that our church is not hosting the simulcast this year. I too will be waiting for the download and excited to hear the message God has for us. I’m excited to see so many churches in my home country of Canada hosting this year!
Hi Donna, my dad used to live in Eldorado, TX! He’s gone to be with the Lord now, but he loved that little town! I visited there once and it was such a quaint and sweet place with nice people!
I hope you get to see the simulcast……..I’ll be watching it from our church here in Melbourne, FL!
God Bless you!
I will be attending the simulcast at Open Arms Church in Schenectady, NY. God is already answering prayers because my mom is coming with me. I have spent the last 10 years praying that she would come to know Jesus. Praying that tomorrow her life will be changed forever!
(AND…I can’t wait to hear from the Lord too! Thanks for being such a faithful teacher, Beth!)
Of course I am going! Knoxville, TN – Faith Promise Church
I’m excited to be attending my first “Live” Simulcast at East Valley Bible Church, Gilbert, Arizona.
I did your on-line “Believeing God” study this summer, watching you on-line weekly for 10 weeks. What a great way to do a Bible-Study.
I attend Bible Study Fellowship, doing a new study of Isaiah, which everyone is all fired up about.
Looking forward to your “Live” study tomorrow. Praying that it all comes together for you Beth!!
Lifting you up in prayer, Dear Beth! I’ll be in fellowship with you in Tualatin Oregon! Have looked forward to this since last year’s simulcast and know it will be used mightily by the Lord!
I will be listening to you from Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapoilis, Indiana along with 300 others! May God fill you with just the right words and may you receive them! Thanks for being His servant! You are awesome!
Good Morning Beth
Some friends and me will be visiting at the one in Benson, North Carolina.
So excited and cannot wait!!
Praying for you and everyone!
I will be at Wynndale Baptist Church in Jackson,Ms. Cant wait!
We are taking a group from FBC Lavon, Texas to your simulcast held at FBC Wylie, Texas. Can’t wait and all the ladies are excited to hear from Beth.
Lavon and Wylie are located outside of Dallas, Texas
As I travel around and to work and back I see many churches hosting the simulcast. You are well represented in Texas – We love you Beth
mj
Long Avenue Baptist in Port St Joe, FL. (First time host site!!!)
Praying for you Siesta Momma! As well as Travis and all the others who have anything to do with the production of the Simulcast! May the enemy not have his way with anything personal or technological for this Simulcast. It is not his to have. All glory be to God! He is who we gather for to Worship, He is who we come expecting to hear from!
Not sure how I missed your last post – but this fall I’m trying something new – have you ever heard of Bible Study Fellowship? Well, me neither – until my sister-in-law told me about it – said I would love it. So I checked it out, decided yes I would love it, and jumped in.
So this fall (through the school year) I will be studying the book of Isaiah (along with thousands of other people all over the world), through personal study and teacher-led study.
I’m pretty excited about it. Isaiah has always been my favorite OT book anyway – so rich!
(Sorry I’m missing your simulcast though – I was invited to go with a group to a church in Powder Springs, GA – but had previously committed myself on that day. But I loved what you brought to us at First Baptist Woodstock, earlier this year! I was on the front row taking it all in as fast as I could!) Praying that the Holy Spirit empowers you, speaks God’s word through you, and that those holy words land on fertile soil, to His glory!
I’ve heard of BSF;) I actually was encouraged to try it while I was looking for a church in Savannah, heard good things, one of the siestas Janice I know loves it!
I was on the 2nd row:)…If you looked from the stage all the way to the left:)
I’m also doing BSF for the first time! I’m doing it at the First United Methodist Church in Acworth, GA. I think it will be great. I hope you enjoy it!
I di BSF with my Step-Mom & LOVED it. You learn so much. I sad to stop several years ago, but God blessed me with a Ministry Assistants position at my church. Who knew I could be one of God’s chosen to serve in such a capacity. Well God of course, but I never would have guessed.
BSF helped to give me some of the tools I use today as an MA. I hope you love, I know you will.
In Christ Alone,
Wendi Gale
I will be there! We are hoping for 2000 ladies! Indian Creek Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN. We have been blessed to have free admission, and KLOVE is letting everyone know. I so love a room full of womens voices lifted up in songs of worship to our LORD! And a room full of women gathered at the foot of the throne to hear what the Lord has to say! I am ready!
I’ll be there live in Chicago! Hopefully you will have a taste of autumn 🙂
Dear Beth,
God will rock and love on us so tenderly tomorrow through you and the band I just KNOW it. I will be there with a sweet sister I invited to be a on the prayer-encourager team who is a little nervous:),and with many others from our church here in the Chicago area. Beth your teaching and faithfullness has helped transform my life – it brings me joyful humble tears right now. I am on staff at my church and everytime we offer one (right now 5) of your studies they fill up within a week. May the truth and ways of God be revealed and redemeded in the hearts of each women and man with us tomorrow.
Stand firm and strong and sweet today, and I pray for good rest tonight for you.
Peace and Power in our Lord the true Lover of All who we are. May we reflect his love and glory and Wonder! Wendy
I will be attending at my home church, EaglePoint Church, in Jacksonville, AL.
Beth,
I am blessed to live in the Chicago area, so I will have the honor of being in Rosemont to see you speak in person! I will be joined by several of the girls from my bible study group.Your faith is such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing it!
Praying for you and your team! I will be there tomorrow with my mom, 2 friends and their moms live in Chicago!
So excited!!! Attending my first simulcast here at FBC Helena, AL (Birmingham area).
I’m reading this post and trying to understand how you do it. I teach a young women’s Bible study and am so challenged in this endeavor. My passion for young women coupled with the love & grace of God leads me to pour into their lives out of what God has done and is doing in me. Because of Christ’s love for me, I am compelled by love for these young women – to come alongside them, point them to Truth in Scripture, to encourage them, and pray for them. My heart beats wildly when I see one of the girls “get it” – when the light of spiritual truth goes on. I love investing in the lives of young adult women and diving deep into life on life ministry.
It’s easy to get defeated when a teaching doesn’t go just how you were hoping. Or even to walk into a teaching time totally drained and not understanding how you will make it through the lesson. And yet I can press on because it’s not about me. It’s all about the Holy Spirit and relying on him for the words to faithfully teach the Scriptures to these hungry women.
So I read this blog and find encouragment to press on. And I am filled with a huge longing to grow in hearing the Holy Spirit, to grow in passion for the Word, to grow in my teaching, and to grow in faithfulness to His word. Thank you for the encouraging example you are. You inspire me to dig deeper in the Word and to be faithful to it as I teach.
My surrogate mom invited me to hear you teach on Saturday and I look forward to hearing what the Spirit is speaking to you. I’ll be with you live in Rosemont – looking forward to it!
Will be at Grace Community Church in Houston. Sooooo anticipating a NOW word from God’s Word thru His precious child…YOU to ME, another of His precious children! Can’t wait! Prayin’ for ya!
Yes! 14 from Bethel Baptist Church in Janesville, WI. We are leaving this morning, going shopping, Cheesecake Factory for lunch, lounging poolside in the hotel tonight, and looking forward to whatever God has given Beth to share with us tomorrow–a perfect weekend!
“Did you, as well as you knew how, take them to the Scriptures?” If no, I need to repent. If yes, I have to move on.
THANK YOU for this! I taught a disaster Bible study on Wendesday night, and I haven’t been able to move on. I just wanted to do MORE — now I see that maybe I need to be satisfied with ENOUGH this week.
I’m not joining you this weekend. Our church is hosting a marriage conference the same morning. BUT, I’m looking forward to seeing you IN PERSON in Little Rock in April. I’m pray for you and your team!!!
I’ve been there so many times. Move on, Sweet Thing.
I will be participating at Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with my 16 year old daughter beside me! Can’t wait!
I’ll be attending at Crossroads Church of Denver with friends from my MOPS group. I can’t wait!! :0)
Doesn’t look like you have heard from Canada yet. I will be at Westney Heights Baptist Church in Ajax, Ontario, Canada with a friend who has not heard you speak before. I have been pumped since I heard about it.
Another friend and I were almost first in line in all that rain for a couple of hours when you came to Toronto in March. You walked up the the aisle and stopped right beside me to speak. Oh be still my beating heart! GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!
Hi from Canada. I will be attending the simulcast in Moncton, New Brunswick in the far east of this beautiful country. I just want to say “I love you, Beth” and enjoy your honesty and heart for God in your blog. You’re the real thing! Always happy to hear from Melissa and Amanda as well. Glad to be a “siesta”.
We have 15 women signed up to begin “A Woman’s Heart” study next week. That’s almost 1/3 of our entire congregation at our small church in Cambridge-Narrows, NB!! We did our first Beth Moore Bible study last year and the women just loved it. Praise the Lord! He is blessing my timid seed of faith in offering to lead the studies. Last year we had one study time and this year one in the morning and one in the evening. I would appreciate your prayers for us.
Nine of us in Northern Virginia just started that study this week. So blown away with the reality that God chooses to dwell with us!
Hey Beth,
I will be at the Simulcast in Oakland, Tennessee. Can’t wait to hear from the Lord!
I’ll be at the simulcast at my friend’s church, Sierra Bible Church, in Sonora CA!
Will be attending with my Bible study group at Great Bridge Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA. We are from Moyock Baptist in Moyock, NC.
I will be attending with 3 others in Santa Ynez, CA…cannot wait for another WORD from our Lord thru His willing and energetic and passionate sister and teacher Beth. Worship w/Travis too…WOOT!
Beth, I’m thrilled to say that I’ll be there live in Chicago, with two of my daughters. We can hardly believe we’re really going to be there! We’re coming with open hearts, ready to learn!