How is my favorite blog community? I’ve been keeping a close eye on all of you for the last week but I intentionally left our blog wide open to Amanda as she went on mission to Guatemala with Compassion International. I am so proud of her. She went way out – I do mean W-A-Y O-U-T – of her comfort zone to take that kind of mission trip and see those horrible conditions with her tender heart. Don’t get me wrong. Amanda’s always been courageous but she has as sensitive a heart and conscience as anyone I’ve ever known. It’s part of what makes her the wonderful person she is. She can’t look intently at something without taking it on. The only thing further outside her comfort zone than going to those projects and that vulture-infested dump was then asking if anybody wanted to help. That’s the thing about taking a trip like that. Your comfort zone is forever changed. I think God means to get each one of us to a place where we’re more comfortable asking for help than we are with closing our eyes, turning our heads, and letting things stay the same.That applies to any dimension of life, really.
We are convinced that God wants us to take time out of our regular routine around here at least once a year to highlight specific world needs and offer opportunities to help. You are never under compulsion. These are just opportunities for those in search of some. A platform of this kind comes with serious responsibility and stewardship and is meant for more than a social outlet for an isolated sanguine. It’s a frightening prospect apart from the grace and mercy of God. About four or five years ago, Travis and I also heard distinctly (and separately) from the Lord about giving to the poor at our Living Proof Live events. There are so many great opportunities for giving that we’ve chosen to spread it out a little bit through the various arms of this ministry. At Living Proof Live, we partner with Samaritan’s Purse. Here on the blog, we partner with Compassion International and, through the Wednesday broadcast, we partner, of course, with Life Outreach and Mission Feeding. Our efforts are pathetic if God doesn’t add the increase through the power of His Spirit but we trust Him to do so. After all, it was His idea. He is the one who said,
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Praise His faithful Name.
We’ll move now from the sacred to the virtually meaningless and then hopefully back to the sacred. Since I talked to you last…
*I’ve had a weekend off. Got to sleep in. Read, read, read, and go on a walk and, afterward, drive over to see my dear sister, Gay, where she serves Jesus. I am so honored to pursue Him with my very own blood kin. She was the dearest thing in the world to me growing up. We shared not only a room but a double bed. That’s what you do in big families with small bank accounts. The word “mine” wasn’t in our vocabulary much in those days and we were the better for it. We shared the same dolls and were dressed in matching home-sown outfits a good bit of the time. We were inseparable till life took its grievous toll. Believe me when I tell you that we both earned the right to self-destruct. We never quit loving each other even through periods of hurt and silence. We just quit doing life together for a while. God is restoring to us the years the locusts have eaten. That’s another story for another time but one of the biggest things going on in my personal life. I love Jesus so much for what He’s doing. (OK, so that one didn’t turn out meaningless at all. Often when I write, I mean to head one direction and end up in another.)
*I’ve had a fancy dinner with my man. Colin and Melissa gave us a gift card for Keith’s birthday to a steakhouse in Houston that we really love and we shared a crab cake, each got a wedge salad with crumbled blue cheese, steaks (mine 6 oz filet, his, a honking – or shall I say mooing – rib eye), cheese grit souffle, green beans, and croissant bread pudding for dessert. It was incredible and so much fun. My man was so handsome sitting on the other side of that candle-lit table.
*Keith shot in two sporting clays’ tournaments over the weekend and won first place. The man can shoot. I love it when nothing perishes.
*Curtis and the kids flew back from his parents Saturday night and I got to see them Sunday at church. I so enjoyed just sitting with my son-in-law in the worship service. It’s rarely ever just the two of us and I am such a fan of his. We are blessed beyond measure to have the two sons-in-law our girls brought us. I got to have Jackson all afternoon until Curtis grabbed him to head to the airport to get his mama. I would love to have had Annabeth, too, but she’s pretty tanked after Sunday school and church and is most blessed by a nice, long afternoon nap. I’m the same way most weeks. I get to spend many Monday mornings with her anyway so that’s my consolation.
*Jackson had his very first soccer practice last night! Yes, Amanda and Curtis have entered the wild world of children’s sports. He was so proud of his shin guards that he slept in them the first night.I love the little dude so much.
*It’s still 100 degrees in Houston.Do NOT send me any pictures of autumn leaves. Melissa tried that yesterday and I called her mean names.
*There is a rat in my garage.
So, what are you guys up to this Fall? I’d love to hear about your plan for victory over the next several months! What Bible studies are you in this semester? Are you engaged in a small group or are you going solo? Do tell!
Sorry I’m all over the place. I think I’ve had too much coffee.
My life this week:
* I’m pretty sure I’m going to ask to sponsor a Compassion child from Guatemala for my Christmas present this year. I was so touched by the beauty of that haven of hope and safety in the midst of such overwhelming despair.
* My pride has taken a huge hit this week: I fell (backwards) off of the vanity in our master bathroom at midnight Friday night (I know I’m crazy… I just wanted to pluck a few eyebrows!) and broke my arm. So my mother-in-law is here helping me take care of our almost 4 year old, almost 2 year old, and my 24 week pregnant self.
* Still waiting on Fall around these parts too (high tomorrow is supposed to be 96 with 75% humidity… yay for finally cooling off!)
* Thankfully, if there’s any vermin in my house, I’m blissfully unaware of it at this time!
I love that y’all stop “normal” posting on the blog occasionally to highlight ministries. (Did I use y’all correctly? I’m still learning.) (Or is it larn-in?) I believe God dwells with the poor in a way we don’t completely understand. Reading Amanda’s words and knowing what it cost her to go on that trip to bless children in Jesus’ name … well, it was a beautiful thing. I’ll leave it at that.
I’m getting ready to start leading a Bible study born out of our MOPS group. This fall, we’re going to study John Ortberg’s book on the spiritual disciplines. He’s a fantastic writer, and I pray it will encourage the women to (like Amanda) stretch their comfort zones so they might know the fullness of Christ.
I love this blog. Truly. Proud to call myself a Siesta. I wish there was some way we could identify each other IRL. Maybe we could all tuck pink feathers behind our ears or something? Maybe a LPM tattoo on the back of our wrist?
I just started the revised Breaking Free, and am going solo. Sometimes I just need some lessons between me and God, and I need to isolate myself from group studies where I can get caught up with everyone else’s journey. I am so excited and can already sense a fresh new word from God. Breaking Free was my initial study, almost 10 years ago, and it’s time to revisit some areas of bondage. Praise God that He is always faithful, ready to love me, forgive me, and take me back when I continue to disappoint and turn away from him.
Sounds like fall (minus the temps) is already in full swing for you and the family. What a great season! But maybe you could convince the rat to leave the garage…
I am co-leading a small group of young single women as we study Kay Arthur’s “Lord, I Want to Know You” this fall, and I am SO excited about it! We are earnestly praying that our hearts are drawn intimately close to our Lord through the study of His Names!
Funny you should ask, Beth. I have a feeling this fall is going to be one wild ride. The Lord is leading me in fascinating directions. I’m in constant prayer (and receiving a good deal of assurance, praise my kindhearted Father) that one of those directions is home. I’m a divorced mom with three kids (12, 5 and 5) still at home and currently work 50 hours a week and drive 200 miles a day for that pleasure. I’ve been seeing my doctor about the resulting exhaustion, but only God can fix this mom’s broken heart. I’ve missed so much with my kids this year and just plain missed THEM. But, my beloved Abba is working it out. For one of the few times in my life, I am firmly buckled into the passenger seat and just watching the Lord drive. He knows so much better where He’s going and He’s never distracted by farm animals, yard sale signs or the smell of Starbucks. I’m happy to just go along for the ride.
Hi, Beth,
I live 2 hours east of you. My neighbor already has her fall decorations on the door and a cute scarecrow on her porch bench. I have a cute little scarecrow I prop against a plastic, but real-looking pumpkin, on my porch plant stand but haven’t put either out yet because I’m afraid the scarecrow would mildew in our 100% humidity and 105 heat index and the pumpkin would end up a pool of melted plastic!
I’m facilitating 9 women in our fall Bible study at church. We’re doing Here and Now…There and Then. Session Two was today. I thought nothing could top Session One, but today when you talked about Jesus in the midst of the lampstands, I wanted to jump up and join you on site–and I’m a melancholy! 🙂
Oh Beth, you are so darn cute! I love it how you update us on things going on in your life…it makes me feel like we’re just two old friends talking over a cup of coffee!
Fall is in full swing here in the great Pacific Northwest…not exactly the weather but the crazy busy-ness of life! Soccer, Nanny Job, Work, Kids, Hubby, Craft Nights, Worship Practice, Christmas Musical Practice, Bunko, and not to mention that my oldest just started Kindergarten!
I am excited though…today I got word that we are officially going to do your fruit of the spirit bible study early next month! Praise God!
Oh, and I’m excited to see you in Spokane…that is probably going to be the highlight of my fall season!
Love ya Beth!
On Monday in Richmond, Virginia, almost 30 women gathered to begin your Revelation study. Most of us have been together in Bible Study before and the summer apart was a long one! The noise was joyful as we hugged and caught up. We were also blessed with some new faces. Our pastor even stopped by to say hello. The first video has me excited to dig in to the Word!
It is still hot here in Richmond but we have had a few days that tell us Fall may come after all! My daughter has started the first grade and I was excited to learn (through the magic of facebook!) that her young teacher is a Christian. I am enjoying some one-on-one time with my two year old son now that his sister is back to school!
I started a study last night in our church with this blonde haired woman who thought she’d seen Jesus on 59 (its really 45) when in fact was Sam Houston. You might know her Beth!!!! I laughed and am amazed already of how many balls I had stuffed in my mouth to drop and LEAVE! God has already revealed to me that I’m not to stupid to understand tis book of the Bible and that it’s not a book of depression but one of encouragement. And as my daddy always said. Read the last chapter……WE WIN!!! I love you Beth Moore for a private reason I can’t share here but someday I will be able too. Don’t stop teaching the word of God like only YOU CAN DO!!!
Did I just see that Keith Moore is going to be speaking with you on Life Today????? Dreams do come true! I always wish that I could hear from him too! 🙂 Can’t wait for this weekend as well! Thank you for loving all of us, Beth. Your ministry means so much to me. You encourage me to love Jesus and people. Thank you! And please tell Keith we can’t WAIT to “meet” him!! 🙂
we just found a dead rat in our garage… i was not pleased.
i am doing “Breaking Free” again 🙂 I did it ten years ago as a young married and felt God wanted to to do it again as a momma. I am so thankful and the intro video confirmed it’s where God wants me right now.
ahhh. what a fall it’s been so far!
i am leading the updated version of Breaking Free and it is an anniversary of sorts for me! back in march of 2000, it was the very first Bible study i ever, in my life, facilitated. it was life-changing for me and throughout the last 10 years, the bible studies have been life-changing for the women’s ministry at my church!! praise YOU, God, for the marvelous works You have done!
the other very exciting thing happening is the marriage of my oldest son to a wonderful woman named Megan. the wedding is on Oct 1. one of the biggest blessings is my son telling me that he’s kept his True Love Waits promise he signed years ago as a young teen. I am so doggone proud of him. that is a huge accomplishment and i pray God will shower their marriage with many rich blessings because of their obedience!! again, Praise YOU God!!
Miss Beth!
Nice to hear your little update. I laughed out loud at the rat in the garage. Not laughing that you have a rat, but laughing because it just seemed out of place with the rest of your list! As my teenage daughter would say – Very Random, Beth!; )
I am SO ready to start Bible study!! I was not able to do Kelly Minter’s RUTH with y’all this summer but our women’s ministry team selected it for our kick off fall study.
Our couples Bible study group is doing a Fruit of the Spirit study this year. The first 6 weeks focusing on love, peace and joy. I think we could all use a little m of those!
I am anxious to get back into the Word with all my peeps.
Hi Siesta Beth,
Loved your “all over the place” post. 🙂 I had a “mouse in my house” last year. I’m scared of basically every creature God made, except for dogs, and so Steve thought I would make him sell the house. I told God I had “petitioned Him” to keep such creatures out of our home. Long story short, because of the mouse, we discovered a huge yellow jacket nest that had built into the wall of our sunroom and ate the wall away. Thousands of yellow jackets swarming and the only thing keeping them out of the house was some latex paint. The wall was gone. So, I say it and believe it: God is in the details. Even a mouse in the house. I have again petitioned Him to keep such creatures out my house. 🙂
Just started “A Woman’s Heart” tonight with a group of friends. We’re pumped up and excited! Loved the intro lesson!! Girlfriend, thank you for teaching His Glorious Word so relevantly! Jesus Bless you!!
I’ve been the past two years on a mission trip, just next door to where your sweet Amanda was, in Belize. Not the part you see on HGTV, but the remote part. Definitely out of my comfort zone. (Remember, I’m afraid of all God’s creatures, except dogs.) Yeah, I sleep in a net, and then can’t get up during the night to go to the bathroom. My roommates love the nightly ritual of enclosing myself within my net and laying bounce sheets all around the room (It keeps away some bugs, etc.)and actually almost wet on themselves. I think it’s pretty funny too, but I’m quite serious about it. I see the lizards crawling around and fall asleep saying, “Help me Jesus, help me Jesus”. And He does. The first year one of the girls on my team said, “Mrs. Rhonda, you made it with your net.” I told her that my physical net did offer me a great measure of reassurance, but God, Himself, had placed His great net of protection all around me. He’s so good. I wasn’t planning on rambling. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the posts from you three Siestas, and how thankful this Georgia girl is for all God is teaching me. God is in the details!
Hey Everyone!
I am so excited, my bible study group just started our new fall bible study tonight…Believing God by Siesta Mama. As I type I have my blue bracelet around my wrist…made from blue yarn from the preschool where I work!If you haven’t done this study…you gotta do it too…I can already tell it is going to be awesome!
There are about 8 of us gals from the same church in Sugar Land Texas! And I too am waiting for it to get cooler around here although I fear we will be waiting a long long time. The only way I know that it is Fall is by doing different crafts with the kids at school!
I’m off to Chicago with a girlfriend tomorrow! We are so excited to be seeing the city for the first time and being at your simulcast Live!!!
Our neighborhood group will start Priscilla Shirer’s new study on Jonah next week!
Looks like you will enjoy some cool fall weather this weekend!
God Bless!
Holly
Colorado
I’m headed to a Women of Faith conference this weekend, am about to start working on lesson outlines for a study on the Armor of God for our women’s Bible study group at church, and I’m visiting a new doctor tomorrow to see if he’s got any answers for this whole chronic fatigue thing. And I am happy to share here that God has given me the strength to walk in victory over a certain temptation for 60 days now!
Things are bright, despite my heavy-lidded eyes.
Oh! And looking forward to LPL at the end of October in Spokane!
I just finished the Esther study and am trying to finish the Ruth study we started here this summer. My daughter was in and out of the hospital all summer and I couldn’t maintain the online content. I have restarted scripture memorization with my cards and just trying to defeat the enemy and chains each day. Tired of dragging around the junk!
Just got my ticket for the event in Louisville next June. WOOHOO
How is she now?
Not much change. She has Transvere Myelitis and was left paralyzed in about 48 hours time. She has been a perfectly healthy child and this came out of nowhere. Thank you for asking.
I am a Missions Ministry Coordinator at a church in Kentucky. One of the main parts of my job is running a food pantry. Over the past few months, more and more people are coming in. Last month, we served 93 families. The most ever. We are having a CAN DO food drive next week and I am asking for prayers that we collect LOTS of food. I feel like God is playing out the fishes and the loaves in my food pantry every day. Our town is really suffering in this economy and it seems to be getting worse instead of better for so many. Please pray for lots of shoppers and donations!!!
P.S. I will start Esther next week and can not wait!!
Hey, Beth! Good to hear from you! 🙂 Let’s see… God has given me a full teaching studio at two different church academies. I am leading worship on Friday night for our church’s Ladies’ Stay-cation… It’s our answer this year to a fall retreat.
Then for the next three Saturdays, I am rehearsing a brand new show with the Nashville Praise Symphony. We recently held auditions for the group, and I barely squeeked into the violin section. lol My audition was HORRIBLE! But God in His wonderful graces let me play with them for another year. I’ll be sharing my testimony with that group at rehearsal on Saturday afternoon. We will start our benefit concert schedule in October.
On Sundays, I am involved with a ladies Bible Study (LIFE) group… and we’re working through your Here and Now, There and Then Study on Revelation…
I am praying about going on another overseas mission trip… to Peru this time. It would be over Spring Break.
Would love to hear more about you Ladies Stay-cation. Could you email me?
I have really enjoyed Amanda’s blogs. I have done a mission trip and it is very life changing. The people we served had no material possessions yet they had a faith in God that humbled me and had me saying, “I want that!”
My 4 year old and I are doing BSF. He tried it with me in the spring and for some reason hated it and is already nervous about going back so your prayers that it goes better this year will be appreciated! I hope to take my sister and niece through breaking free in Jan. We did their first bible study ever last spring, Living beyond yourself and they loved you and how you made God’s word understandable.
I started Get Out Of That Pit with two friends and then my fall bible study began with Breaking Free. Im guessing the Lord is interested in freeing me from something….
Mama Beth-
I love how you continually bless us by sharing your life with Siestaville. You are such a dear.
Whooo Hooo!!!! Our Church is hosting the Simulcast and I am the event coordinator. Needless to say we’re finalizing countless details with a terrific team of ladies. We are so excited and know that God is going to show up and show out mightily considering all the oppositions faced. God is really up to something BIGGGGG! The enemy is pulling out all the stops trying everything to derail, sidetrack, discourage etc. on top of that I am catching a bug. No matter what I have hopeful expectations that I will receive my Word and each woman in attendance throughout will receive theirs.
I will take a little break then our Tuesday Night bible study will begin The Patriarch. Although I led this study when it first was released I am as excited as ever. God has blessed our group mightily we have multiplied groups, yet continue with new sisters from throughout the community and witnessing transformed lives. I love these gals to pieces and couldn’t be prouder of them. They are not just hearers of the word but doers, they are not just acquiring head bible knowledge but we are walking this thing out together in Victory in Christ, loving and caring for one another all the way.
To God Be The Glory FOREVER.
Madelin,
ohhh, I am praying for you and your team this Sat.!!
…and the Patriarch’s study was my first Beth Moore study. It was so in sync with my life at the time, I could hardly pull my face off of the ground. So encouraged to hear of the testimony of the sisterhood there!
I join you in shouting Glory to our King!
Hey!
Did you say bible study? Whoo-hoo! I love bible study.
This fall, I will be studying JONAH: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer, as part of a small group. Once that is complete, we will move into Breaking Free.
Personally, I am digging into the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah.
God is at work and up to something BIG in my life. I want to take this opportunity to thank Him publically.
Keep up the Kingdom work.
Hugs,
Kim
I am still trying to cling to my bathing suit…but the weather here in Tennessee is telling me it is time to give it up. So, I have traded it in for while and will be entering into the world of Girl Scouts with my little girl. I signed her up, and agreed to be her Brownie Troop leader all in the same night…I am totally pumped…but really curious as what the Lord is up to. I am doing a morning bible study of “Experincing God.” It has been amaazing! I started it 10 years ago and never finished, so the Lord prompted me back to it. It’s funny how life is so diiferent 10 years down the road, believing God and breaking free!
We are back in the swing of school schedules which is nice, but did I mention I miss my bathing suit??
We have had a cricket somewhere in family room that “sweetly” chirped all night long. I found him…he is no longer a part of our abode.
Thank you for sharing!
I am going through the “One Year Bible” plan this year. It is helping much with keeping me consistent in daily reading/study. I am also convinced that Scripture memory is going to be crucial if I am going to be victorious in the battles I personally face. I am implementing the Spiral that you advised using during the Siesta Scripture memory time, and I love that I will be able to carry it around with me and study whenever I can.
This Fall, I am doing your “Revelation: Here and Now; There and Then” study with a group at my church. We are now on Week 3. I am so excited to be doing this study, as I will admit that Revelation has scared me in the past, yet I am now excited about studying it!
HI Beth – can’t wait until Saturday to worship with you live in Rosemont. Currently this fall just began BSF studay of Isaiah going to be awesome. awana just started too where I am a leader. Passing the Good News on from generation to generation! Praying for safe travels for you and your crew, see ya Saturday! Pamela
Oh sweet Siestas-
God is most certainly with us. But our life has entered a period of sorrow and mourning. We buried my father-in-law last Wednesday and we are struggling to say the least. I had myself convinced that we were going to do well with his passing simply because we knew it was coming, oh how wrong I was! I feel like we didn’t have any numbness and had to feel everything. My husband adored his father and had a unique beloved friendship with him….he is very much mourning the loss of that….as are we. This has been the first of our parents to pass, and the first grandparent our children have lost…we are all so terribly fragile right now. Please pray over us that God would be our portion anew every morning….that in his precious time he would turn our mourning into dancing.
Thank you for the love you give me here…I have been simply too raw to post on here for awhile, but have missed the community.
Love you girls,
Andrea S.
PS: Am starting Me, Myself and Lies with a group of women at church next Thursday….
We start your “Daniel” study tomorrow morning at our women’s Bible study in Lewiston, Idaho! We can’t wait! Oh how we miss gathering over the word as women all summer and the reunion is so sweet!
And I hope you catch the rat, Beth. We had a large vole/mouse-like creature in our house not to long ago. I was so sick of finding traces of it in my pantry that when we finally caught it… ALIVE mind you in a pillow case!… that my husband and I took it outside and ran over it with the van. He had the honors of holding the pillow case with the vole and I had the honors of driving the van tire over it.
I do believe it will always be one of our funnier memories. Two city kids living in rural Idaho… God has a sense of humor, indeed!
Glad to hear you are footloose and ratsy-free! Just wondering what kind of stain remover takes out rat guts? 🙂 I could see you two and have to agree–there must be a name for Him about his sense of humor!
Oh my— Daniel is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! You will grow so much!!!!!!!!!!
Peace,
Cynthia
Well this fall, my husband, 3 kids (10,8,7), and I are headed on a “Great Escape”. We are travelling for 5 months through 24 states in a truck and trailer. We are from Vancouver, BC, Canada, but eager to explore the USA. So far we have travelled 2000 miles in 8 days. gldevries.blogspot.com
My family is getting ready for our annual trip to Ocracoke Island (we homeschool, so we can!) and I will enjoy the most relaxing week of my whole year!
I will be doing your Revelation Bible Study with a group of 23 women from my church. Our will be helping to facilitate the discussion of the questions. My husband and I plan to discuss the study each night together after I finish the homework and I hope to bring home the video after each Sunday lesson for him to see.
We are looking forward to the fall and the cooler weather!
We’re starting a new bible study next week! You might have heard of it, “Here & Now, There & Then”. I’m especially excited since it was the inheritance study this past January that led me back to church after (way too) many seasons away.
Hi,
This is my first post…
I’m a 35 year old mother of 5 kids ages 11, 9, 8, 6, and 4. I have a degree in cell Biology but only ever wanted to be a wife and mother so I never worked a day outside the home.
Just wanted to tell you that your Bible studies in particular have drawn me back into God’s will and word as I’ve occasionally sunk into dry spells with faith or commitment. Though I came from a non-Christian home, God has shown me His love and presence at a very young age and I was drawn to Him. I was sick as a child and also a vicitm of sexual abuse. God knew I needed Him early on.
I’m currently doing the Living Beyond Yourself study online and am touched by something in every session. Thank you for being real. We can all have the victory in Christ, no matter what wounds we have and it is very encouraging to see the journey of others (not the edited version).
Much love,
Ingrid
Beth Darling, you just bring out the smile in me when I read your updates. If coffee does that to you I think I may have to pick up the habit — others would be thankful. However, I suspect its just who God made you to be and that wonderful Holy Spirit bouncin’ around in ya. Love ya. Thanks for all the work you do and for letting God use you as He does. You will NEVER know this side of Heaven the blessing you have been (and continue to be) in my life and the life of my daughter. You better look forward to some spectacular blessings coming your way….
I’ve had quite an amazing summer – two weddings (a son in June and a daughter in August) and a new grandbaby in July. Whew! So loving the way God grew our family in the last few months. Each addition was a much prayed for and wildly celebrated event! But wow, I’m tired and ready for a new season!
We have a group of about 30 going through Pricsilla Shirer’s “Jonah”. Challenging, convicting and encouraging all at the same time. Love Bible study with a group of hungry women. Nothing like it!
Hi Miss Beth !
Long time no “see” ! 🙂
Well, this past week was a fun one, in many ways for me. First of all, I got to celebrate my 43rd birthday with some close family members on the 7th. However, I have a whole lot more fun when I think about how “old” I am in Christ[7 years, 5 months today], than I do chronically speaking. 🙂
Then, I got to go to my youngest nephew’s birthday party in southern Milwaukee on Saturday; and two of my three older sisters always seem to want to at least get me a meaningful card for my b-day, even though neither one of their husbands are working right now, due to the great amount of lay-offs in my area. But, my other sister loves to make jewelry, so she put together a new cross necklace, and added a mini cross dangly thing onto the bracelet that she made for me last Christmas. And, my Mom “forced” a check into my hands before my b-day, and told me to go buy some new clothes for the up coming school year. I am feeling so blessed !
And, when I write about the “up-coming school year”, I do so in regards to my being a certified teacher. This will be my second school year teaching at this very small Christian Homeschooling Center called “The Ark” in northern IL. While I am there, I teach several different grade levels of children, which can become very “interesting” at times, but I love it ! I teach there 3 days per week, but it is more of a ministry to the children, and to the Lord than it is a “part-time job” for me. I truly feel that the Lord has called me here for this school year, again; as securing even a teacher’s aide [paraprofessional] job in the areas surrounding my hometown is nearly impossible, much less a teaching position.
So, through this ministry, I get to be a teacher, and even better than that, I get to teach the children about our precious Lord Jesus ! I have never been able to do that in the public school situations when I taught in them; but, I did get to tell those children that the black book that was sitting behind my “teacher’s desk” was the Bible if any of them asked me about it. And, that was just to the NW of Houston, from 2000 to 2004, so, yes, the children DID indeed ask me about it, which made me so joyful !
Unfortunately, one lousy thing happened to me during the past couple of days. One of my molars started hurting really badly over the weekend, so I ended up having to call a dentist to see to he could squeeze me into his schedule yesterday so it could be extracted. And, praise God, not only did I find a dentist who would be able to do so, but he also accepts this special card that I have for un-insured single adults in Wisconsin; which meant that I only had to pay him a $5.00 co-pay. Hallelujah !!! Otherwise, it would have cost me at least $250.00. Eeks! However, the not so grand part of having a molar extracted is that when the novacaine wore off early yesterday afternoon, my oh my, did it ever HURT!
🙁 Thankfully, after spending the afternoon and early evening lying in bed with ice packs on, the Ibuprofen that I was taking took away some of the inflammation, thus took away a lot of the pain; praise be to God ! And, although I have had to keep some gauze pads in hole where the tooth was, I was able to come to The Ark to teach today [along with regular doses of Ibuprofen]. Oh, and I have been forced to be on a liquid/soft foods diet thus far, too. Boo hooey !
So, what am I planning to do to stay connected with the Lord this fall? Well, I have been slowly working through your book, So Long Insecurity, and have been using the “blog study” along with it. 🙂 And, I get to teach the kids “Bible class”, too, so that should be really fun, as well. 🙂
Hmm, I just saw a tree that was beginning to change colors yesterday . . . And, our temperatures have been ranging from the 60’s to the high 70’s for “high temps.” here in southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois for the past few weeks. However, I DO honestly understand what you are writing about, my dear Miss Beth . . . I seem to recall that we had a Sunday School picnic on November 2nd several years back now in Houston, and it was 90 something degrees that day. Then, I wore a “sun dress” to church/Sunday School the following morning and had my picture taken with you. 🙂 And, even though our hair looked beaten down from the humidity, it is still one of my favorite pictures. 🙂
Have our dear Mr. Keith get rid of that rat in your garage !!! Yucky ! I still remember hearing you talk about him being able to figure out that he had rats or mice in his truck in Sunday School class, and later on the cd about Ephesians 6:10 . . . No thanks !
But, just so you know, I do remember the major issue behind that particular lesson more than I do the evidence of the rats in his truck. 🙂 It was all about how we can “Be strong in the Lord, and in HIS mighty power.” And, I will NEVER forget that lesson, because it was shortly after one of the most difficult situations in my lifetime; and for some odd reason, you kept on saying, “Be strong … Be strong … Be strong …”
And, the reason I remember that so well is because I was nearly crying that morning [with a tear or two falling, as well, as I KNEW that I simply could NOT “be strong” any onger … But, you went on to tell us that it IS NOT up to us to “be strong” on our own; as it is through HIS “dunamis” [sp?] strength by which we could and still are able to get through life’s major and minor difficulties. And, I so praise God for your teaching it to me/us in such a way !!!
And, if anyone else out there in this “LPM Blog-land” besides me wants to or “needs” to hear these 2 lessons, [as I did] they are on are on http://www.lproof.org website under “Stand Your Ground”, “Armed for War”, and are included in the CD set called “Ephesians, Chapter 6”.
Trust me, you will NEVER be sorry you heard HIM speak through our dear Miss Beth in this way … Thanks again, Miss Beth, for allowing HIM to work through you to come up with these 2 lessons, in particular. It may have taken me a while, but I was finally able “to get back up”, as you promised me that I could do with His help when we spoke very briefly after class that morning … Hallelujah !
And, “strangely enough”, that horrific situation ended up helping me share Jesus with a dear friend of mine 2 + years later, [who was going through a similar situation]; and she came to receive Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior through the Holy Spirit’s doing HIS work through “little ole’ me” on, of all days, June 6th, 2006, otherwise known as “6/6/06”, “Satan’s numbers”, supposedly… BUT, indeed, our God used that day for HIS GLORY in my friend Jeanette’s life ! I have never been so excited as to have been allowed to be used to help HIM lead my dear friend to Christ Jesus … 🙂 Hallelujah !!!
And, those lessons helped me to be a stronger Christian during my Dad’s last several months of life, while he under went chemotherapy treatments, brain surgery, [due to end stage Leukemia], as well. Then, finally allowing our Lord Jesus to take him Home to be with Him in Heaven in March, 2008. And, although I still miss my “Daddy” a great deal, I know that he could not get better here on Earth. But, more importantly than that, as his sister, my Mom, and as many family members as could come, we sang my dear “Daddy” [Duane] into God’s Loving Arms; even as the tears flowed from our eyes. We knew that we could “be strong” because of our faith in our Lord Jesus …
Miss Beth, thank you for being exactly who you are; and for allowing HIM to USE YOU to help and guide “baby Christians” like myself to remember that I am NEVER alone, as God Himself is within me [through the Holy Spirit] … And, for helping me learn that I NEVER have to rely on my own strength to try to “get through life” … Nope, His dunamis strength is always there for me/us to grab hold of. I pray that I will never, ever forget that Biblical Truth !!!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Janesville, Wisconsin
I am blessed to facilitate 18 women in the “To Live Is Christ” study this semester, which started 2 Tuesdays ago. It’s not that we are trying to have large discussion groups, it’s that we got alot more women at the last minute than we thought! We’ll praise the Lord and we’re doing just fine with the large groups.
I’m sorry it’s 100 degrees down there. We were at Lake Texoma over the weekend meeting my future son-in-law’s parents and it was pretty warm. And the spiders….wow! My hubby and I have never seen so many! We all went down to the dock to talk for a few minutes and had to swipe away new webs on the way back and that was only 15 minutes later!!!
Oh, and I guess I’ll be helping my daughter plan a wedding! I do bridal alterations and I used to be a wedding coordinator years ago, but alot has changed since then. I’m excited to learn it all over again!
What am I up to…. teaching for the first time in eight years, while still being wife and mommy (whew!)
Helping my babies adjust to a new school and a new schedule
Just began Faithful Abundant True 🙂
Trying to find the time to blog about my faithful Lord Jesus and the AMAZING and NEW things He has been accomplishing in my life over the past year, as He makes all things beautiful in their time…
And LOVING that I finally made LPM Blog my homepage 🙂
Love you, Beth. Your heart is such a blessing <3
This fall I have finally started a blog in answer to a lifelong call as a writer and a desire to record and ‘share’ some of the amazing experiences with which the Lord has blessed me. I started by sharing the story behind the ‘glowing cross’ in my profile picture. I put it on my facebook page first (although I posted it on my blog!)but I didn’t get up the courage to ‘share’ my blog at first. August 30th was the date I had accepted the Lord so I observed that date by posting the story behind that momentous day. I was inspired to write about my encouraging aunt by a challenge set forth by the In(Courage) bloggers. Then I finally shared my ‘blog’ address on Facebook and finally I sent it to my address book. So now I want to share it with you, Beth, and Amanda and Melissa and all you wonderful Siestas too! You all have shared so much of yourselves here in such a beautiful manifestation of the Body of Christ! In countless instances, even when I haven’t commented, you’ve inspired and encouraged me to be All that God has ‘designed’ me to be in His Glory!
http://deb-livingbydesign.blogspot.com/
Fall hardly seems that it’s here in Alabama. But for the “fall” semester I’m venturing out and co-leading a study with a friend of mine. I was planning on doing the revelation study, but when my friend asked me to co-lead and let me know what he direction he was going to go in, I couldn’t resist. He has recently discovered God’s love and been released from legalism, something I know alot about. He wants to share God’s love with the small group and encourage them to live completely for Jesus.
I have done many of your studies and I find myself pulling from those resources to lead this study. Some of the people in the group don’t attend church and I’m looking forward to God working. I think the biggest thing that I have gotten from your studies is a love for the Word of God, and I am excited to share God’s word and love with others.
I am actually starting Bible Study Fellowship tomorrow! I’m excited, a little nervous, but oh-so-ready for it! Happy anniversary to you and Keith. 🙂
I just kicked off your “The Inheritance” study last night with over 170 women! Woohoo! Writing homework for you, guess you left it out for me to do. (loving it by the way) We are in Bloomington, MN Our evening runs a little over two hours with your DVD, small groups and large group. Its my first year and I think God is showing me a new “sweet spot.” This series has carried prophetic words of “Revival” for our church. Loving it all and loving what God has delivered through you! We are all a twitter!
Beth… We have started Faithful, Abundant and True on Monday and Wednesday evenings!! Fixing our eyes upon Jesus and resting on the faith and wanting to go deeper still!! Will be attending LPL simulcast in Weatherford Texas on Saturday!!
Suzanne
Decatur,Texas
I hate to one up you, but I have bats. In. My. House. Five in the last two and a half weeks. Hopefully, the Desert Wildlife Specialist will remove them within the week. The good thing is that my husband and I and our four kids have laughed A LOT trying to get them out when the little nasties sneak in. 🙂
In a week and a half, I’m leading 40 women from our church on our annual retreat. We will be diving into John 4 and Col 3. I’m so excited and very nervous to be leading this time together. I’m hoping it will kick start a great semester. Crazy thing is that HALF of the women are college aged. Isn’t that so exciting?
A group of us just finished Stepping Up and I’m following it with A Long Obedience in the Same direction. I felt like I needed a good cool down after a long hard work-out. My heart is full right now. It feels so wonderful.
Love to you all!!
Angel in Tucson, AZ
I haven’t really recovered yet from a year of wedding planning accompanied by 3 lengthy hospitalizations of my MIL since Memorial Day, but fall finds me needing to gear up for Angel Tree (I’m our church’s coordinator). Just posted about it on my blog the other day, along with links, etc. Many more churches are need to partner with Angel Tree this year to meet the needs of prisoners’ kids so am hoping anyone reading this will consider it for your church.
I’m a bit weary from everything and could sure use some prayers as I undertake this next project. I’m sure the Lord will give me what I need as I need it — and I’m sure your prayers will help. Thanks to all in advance!
This is the fall to beat all falls!!
My oldest daughter (21 & married) and I are doing “Here and Now…There and Then” with about 10 other women. THIS is huge! I didn’t ask her, she just said she wanted to do it!
Going through The Hole in Our Gospel/six week quest, with my pastor and about 20 other people, including the 4 others that will be joining me in the next thing on my list…
I leave for my first mission trip ever, next month!! Headed to Zambia Africa for 9 days. Scared, nervous, excited, expectant, blessed…. This is NOT something I’ve ever wanted to do. God made me!
Then the week after I get back from Africa, I go to see my fave Bible Study teacher in Rapid City SD with the same oldest daughter mentioned up there. BIG answer to prayer. I’m in tears as I write this.
LOTS of blessings happening! And some sorrow. But God is good all the time, and He IS revealing Himself to me!
Love you so very much,
Melana 🙂
I love it! I couldn’t sleep so I decided to get up and work on some emails and was pleasantly surprised with this one from you!! THANK YOU for checking in and updating with what’s going on in your world & asking about ours!!
My world is full these days! Early this year I surrendered to Women’s Ministry – and this year will end with my very first opportunity to speak at a retreat! I couldn’t be more excited!! GOd is so faithful!! Birthing such a beautiful opportunity out of ashes! After surrendering to more than I thought was possible the Lord pulled me aside to have some much needed one on one time – He shared such beautiful secrets with me — and I can say as a silly human, I am awe struck at watching them come to life!! I can’t wait for November to get here!! We’ll have 75 women from three different churches – I am on the edge of my seat with excitment in all of this!!
My hubby and I are also trying to have a baby! We’ve been married for almost four years and we always said we’d wait for five before we started trying – but – oh man, no one could have prepared me for the day I realized I couldn’t possible wait any longer to carry our little baby!! We started trying in April – and are believing it will happen very soon!! But truthfully, it’s so painful waiting for a little plastic stick to say that magic word!On my stronger days- I KNOW HIS TIMING IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT! But on a few of my less stronger days it’s pretty painful!! There is a huge baby boom going on around me – and I couldn’t be more excited for all of my amazing friends, I’m just ready to share in that joy on a more personal level!!
Well – that didn’t end as cheery as it started 8/
It is where I am right now though – incredibly excited about the possibilities ahead and praying through it all that I would accept His timing and surrender my own!!
I would very much appreciate your prayers on both accounts!! I can’t wait to give a report of the weekend retreat!! ((and of course when we get some news of expanding our little family!!))
Beth, thank you again for asking how things are!!
Blessings to you and yours!!
Nic
Leading a small women’s group through Precept course on Romans, Part I, using Wayne Barber tapes (old tapes from before he turned gray):)
Hi Beth! I have heard of this thing called “fall” but since I live in Tucson, AZ, I don’t think I have ever seen it. We have 2 seasons here…Winter and Summer! After living here for 30 years, I am finally learning to stop asking “When is this heat gonna stop” and just rejoicing in the day that the Lord has made!
As for bible studies – I am currently doing “Freedom in Chirst” by Neil T. Anderson. 3 other leaders from my church and myself are kind of “piloting” this study, hoping to bring it into our church as a discipling study. I belong to a church that ministers specifically to people who are dealing with addiction issues. It’s called “The SOBER Project.” Many people are new believers or just learning about having a personal relationship with Jesus and they find us as they are coming out of prison, treatment centers and 1/2 way houses. We’ve found that as soon as they are finished with their “court ordered programs” they move on. Many go on to other ministries or move “back home” to reunify broken families. Unfortunately, some have not experienced a deliverance or do not fully understand who they are in Christ and end up falling back into their old ways. We are hoping this study will allow us to make the most of the short amount of time we have with them!
I am also blessed to be doing a study through my employer. I work for Family Life Radio and we are going to begin Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed (A Study of David). I am so looking forward to this as it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to do one of your studies.
God bless you!
Debbie
How awesome. As someone who struggled with major addiction I think programs like that are awesome. I see so many people who struggle with there addiction and have no foundation, no discipleship and no one to walk with them on their road to recovery. I love hearing about what you are doing.
In Him
Bethany
I’m so glad you asked! As it so happens, I have felt the Lord pushing me to lead a bible study…. so I have chosen your Here and Now study in my home with a bunch of women close to my age; AS WELL AS, start the same study at our church where there is such a lack of Sunday School options for young women to fellowship while getting into the word. I know your dvd is as long as a class, so just for the church group, I am choosing to have us watch it one week, and discuss/fellowship/pray the next. My husband has been on this church staff about 9 months and try as I might, I can hardly meet women…and I’m outgoing! But I also take the sit back role and let others lead whenever possible. So, after doing ministry in college and with college girls in my 20’s, I’ve just participated not lead and I pretty much raised my kids and let my husband lead his ministries in churches.
But it dawned on me, just WHO is mentoring the women 20-40? Many of my friends want to be with the older women, and I get that, sure, me too. But Beth, one thing God has done through your ministry in my life is fill a HUGE gap of needing a big sister to walk along side and mentor me the last 5 years ( I know hundreds of women say that very thing). I wish I had known you before that, it was just me and Jesus alot of the time. And now that I am 50, I think if I don’t help meet the need than WHO? I keep waiting for someone to step up…Lord, raise someone up….lots of praying. I told my husband, why don’t they see this need? And he said, Rene, you couldn’t put it into words until Beth stepped into that big sister role for you, either.An ahh-haa moment at midnight pillow talking : ).
So begining in Oct. they both will take off. My fear is that I may do something that isn’t needed. Crazy, huh? I can’t take the same advice I would give to someone else! I think that must be the tactic the enemy uses for alot of ways to keep us from stepping up when the Lord does the nudging. And the icing on the cake, is having my 23 yr. old who came to the St. Louis LPL be here to join in….maybe start her own group would be my prayer!
Sorry, long winded tonight. But you hit a hot button with me on this digging into the word this fall. After all, you did say do tell…
love you much,
rene
Yeah! So excited for you. And what a blessed bunch they are indeed to have you as their big sis. Remember that He chose us and appointed us to go bear fruit that remains. So when we’re faithful to what He’s called us to do, the harvest is up to Him. I know you already know that, but I love to be reminded every time we start a new study. Bless you!