Good morning, Sister Girls! It’s Tuesday and time to talk! I am so happy to have gotten the joy of connecting with you over the weekend. It was an unexpected gift on a rare lazy day. I’ve really been excited over how many sisters have chimed in lately for the first time. A heightened number of you have said in the last several weeks that you’ve been reading the blog for a while but you were commenting “for the first time.” I just want you to know that it’s the comments that turn this place into a community. Not the blog posts but the comments. That means it’s more your part than mine. That’s a pretty cool thing I think. All that to say, I love seeing somebody who’s been watching finally imparting. Welcome! You are freely loved here in the gracious Name of Jesus Christ. We cannot replace counselors or local churches or face-to-face, life-to-life friends but we gleefully do what we can do: encourage you in your walk with Christ.
OK, let’s get to today’s topic: Talk to me about someone Jesus brought into your life who really stretched you but won your respect. Maybe a very unlikely friendship or relationship that you know God brought your way to grow you and to open your eyes to the wide-sweeping work of the Gospel. Put another way, who sort of broke a mold for you? This should be fun. Only share a name where there is nothing that would make your person uncomfortable or embarrassed. This might be a good time to tell you that this community, because of God’s grace alone, gets an average of 10,000 independent hits a day. Only share what you mean to be public but, by all means, have joy in the process! Just don’t tell us a secret. Grin.
I love you dearly. I can’t wait to read these.
Almost three years ago I started a new job. I was wide eyed, and ready for a new adventure. In the next three days I became so anxious about a woman I share an office with that I actually quit. She was demanding, expected so much from me, could be terse and was not gentle. After lots of prayer, and talks with people I trust, I went back to work with the knowledge that God doesn’t work that way – the enemy does. Now three years have passed and I am still at the same job, sharing the same office with the same woman. God has opened my heart to her. I now know her story of hardship through her whole life, we are now close friends,and I think she is one of the strongest women I have ever met. Currently, I know God is telling me to invite her to church. Pray for me, and for Pat. Pray that God would use the way I live to touch her life and bring her to Jesus. That would truly be a God filled ending to a God touched story.
I never would have thought one of my best friends would be the pastor’s wife! But once I let my guard down and realized she is just like every other southern girl I couldnt have asked for anyone better. She has become someone I tell everything too, she helps me on my walk with God. Sometimes I get to even help her out! I couldnt have asked God to send me a better person to have in my life! She is a blessing and I thank him everyday for her! God knows when us hard headed women need someone else just like us in our lives!!!
A number of years ago I worked at a Christian drug rehabilitation program on the East Coast. I was a wide-eyed girl from Texas and was further away from home than I had ever been. Part of the program involved doing evangelism and so i had my “good Christian girl” face on with all my platitudes about what life in Christ could be. I started talking to a guy who looked at me and said, “Why are you so phony? I don’t care about hearing about a Jesus who only saves good people. I need someone who can understand and forgive me in my situation.” That one moment was rhema to my soul! I had been “taught” how to witness but in one moment I realized that this poor man understood more about the Gospel than I did. Jesus didn’t come with pat words, memorized scriptures – He came with love, understanding and forgiveness.
I had the privilege of knowing a woman as I was growing up that definitely “broke the mold” for me. I was raised in a very Southern Christian home and, as I am sure you know, there were certain things you just did and did not do in that environment. Mrs. Houghton (passed away 2004) lived out a true Christian faith in the 1970s – she was never worried about what people wore to church, how they looked, what their husband did for a job or what their background was. She saw everyone as an equal. She also (while the elders and deacons would spend hours discussing how to reach out to the community) would make sure the entire community around our church was fed, clothed, whatever they needed and always did so in a quiet manner – never bringing attention to herself. God truly blessed me with her presence in my life! I pray to become half the lady for Christ that she was.
I have had a friend for 5-6 years now who didn’t “fit the mold”. She is from the Northeastern US and brought with her some of that loud, fast-talking boldness that can make Southern woman cringe inside. She isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. A single mom with a child who is full of issues from early childhood abandonment by the dad. A woman grappling with her own horrific childhood. But she LOVES JESUS. She is being made new over and over. She is real. She wants accountability. She isn’t afraid of any topic. She has opened my eyes to the ways of the Spirit and the timing of all things being made new. It doesn’t happen overnight and it’s not supposed to. I love her tremendously and probably love Jesus a little more because of her.
God introduced me to my best friend six years ago at the age of 51. She has stretched me in ways I could not have imagined. I am now partners with her in several women’s ministries and prayer teams. I have grown in the art of friendship. What a wonderful God we have who would provide a friend I didn’t even know I needed who shows me His unconditional love every day.
jeannete :: my story is similar. after several years of hearing about each other through mutual friends my best friend and i met while working at a camp together. she was transferring to my college that fall so we became friends by default. we didn’t really like each other…we are really different. we both switched our majors to family & human services [our passion is helping teen girls] and have been partners in ministry ever since that first summer.
My “Testy “s
My walk would not be the same…
:)PTL!
I have a relatively new friend who hasn’t just broken the mold but pretty much obliterated it. She a 70-something woman from England whose brazen politics and ideas of what’s “proper” are only trumped by her incredible devotion to God. She doesn’t know a stranger and when she meets someone she invites them to her little proper Anglican chapel so they can meet with God. She stands about 4’10 but her spirit soars through the heavens. Her love of God’s creation is amazing and she talks to ALL of it every time I’m with her. God bless you, Glorious Lily!
Gruff. That is the word I would use to describe the first time I saw her. She was standing across the gym floor from me, with her little boy. My son ran into her son without looking. I smiled nervously as my boy didn’t even bother to stop and say sorry. She didn’t smile back. We spent three hours together at that first meeting and I was sure we probably weren’t ever going to really be friends.
Once we had time to talk I discovered that she is a mom of ten kids. She had nine in 12 years. (I guess you learn to be tough) 🙂 The one she was with when we met was a late baby. Most of hers are grown and gone.
She’s invited me over for lunch. I feel God has given me this friend to mentor me. During our lunch visit she admitted that sometimes she goes to bed at night and asks the Lord, “Did I even smile at all today?”
I jumped to a lot of conclusions when we first met. She is a very Godly gal and a great mom. I LIKE her alot!!
Funny you should ask. Rick Warren with his incredible book: The Purpose Driven Life. The first sentence, “It’s not about you!” nearly hit me upside the head and left me speechless (which is about impossible)! And YOU! Prior to your bible studies I had never heard nor seen His word spoken and packaged and delivered in only the way YOU can!
Important side bar: A few weeks ago a 65 year old woman bravely stood before our congregation and shared her testimony. She had just been diagnosed with terminal Melanoma. We sat speechless as she shared of her love for Christ and challenged and loved on the men and women in our congregation to keep on keeping on. She said she had an Ahha moment when she was given her terminal prognosis. Get ready for this……these words,”Who knows, for such a time as this” (ESTHER) flashed before her and immediately she had a peace that passes all understanding (and did until she passed). Our church did the Esther study last January. Flash-forward-she thanked you (Beth Moore) for bringing the Word in only a way that you can! Yesterday (Tuesday) my sweet sister in Christ passed on to the heavenly realm to see the “Holies of Holies” what a sweet reward! Thank you Jesus for Beth Moore and her entire ministry! Mama Beth you are deeply loved!
Chills and tears reading this. I couldn’t agree more that Beth’s Bible studies are life changing BECAUSE they are about THE LIFECHANGER.
Sweet. Can you say God-bumps?
Patti
When my girls were small and we lived in Upper Michigan, a series of life events occurred that placed us in Pickford, Michigan. I had started to work at an Independent Insurance Agency. We were Air Force, and never had much money, reason I started to work. However, I think God was putting us there. The owners of the Insurance Agency were the best example of a Christian Couple I believe I have ever experienced in my life. They took us into their family, and treated us like their kids. We attended family get togethers, Holiday Dinners, and they insisted our girls call them Grandma and Grandpa. I learned so much from Myrtle, and hope to someday be able to tell her when I cross that River. She has been in Heaven for several years now, but her favorite verse comes to mind often, and when it does, I look around and see: For this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps.118:24. Amazingly, it will come to mind when I seem to really need to look around and see something wonderful He has made. Then I know that nothing that is going on in my life is so bad that He cannot solve it. I just have to let Him. I am a firm believer that He puts people in our lives that will have an impact on us. This couple not only got us going to church, but got us involved. We met many wonderful and kind people in that little town, and after 35 years they still have an impact on my life.
My story is a bit different than most. Jesus brought someone in my life 4 years ago that stretched me in amazing ways as I had not wanted to get close to anyone for over 20 years. He brought healing in my heart and spirit because of her, but immense pain as we are, by her choice, no longer friends. The circumstances of our paths crossing was His doing as too many “odd” things had to happen for us to meet. We grew extremely close. One day, I shared my brother had died 20 years prior, but I had never healed as I suppressed my pain as I was only 16. We shared scripture, went to Bible studies, prayed and cried as I shared my journey. She called me her sister, not just a sister in Christ. She often referred to me as family and her best friend. Over time, as she pointed out different things she thought I should do or how I should respond, and our friendship wasn’t Christ centered any more, I felt much hurt and shared that with her as I felt criticized all of the time. She became angry at my not wanting to accept what she felt as “helping” me “heal”. I tried to explain that healing comes in God’s timing. Ironically, the healing began when she said we could no longer be friends and she had only said the things she had about me being her sister and her best friend because she thought it’s what I had needed to hear. Since I did love her like a sister, not just a sister in Christ, it was like losing my brother again as it was another sibling loss. So, because I was experiencing that pain once again, but as a much more mature Christian as a 16 year old, the Lord and I were able to journey together in my pain and I was finally able to experience healing with losing my brother. My once friend has left a scar, but I am grateful for the pain she caused to enable me to get in touch with the grief I felt in losing my brother. I was stretched in ways that I didn’t know I could go….but He was with me every step of the way! To God be all glory and praise – in our joy and through our hurt, He remains the same!
Thank you for being brave enough to share your story. I love that Jesus is always the only true answer. It all comes back to him and his love for us. I’m so sorry you had to go through that rough time, but am thankful it wasn’t wasted. You are LOVED!!
Big Hugs,
Michelle
I was taught in the Southern Baptist, 3 services a week, don’t dance, smoke, or drink doctrine. During a rebellious time which I refer to as my “woo-woo” phase I tried on various new age religions. One day I encountered a missionary on his way to an overseas post who questioned my faith during our long conversation. I thought I had done a pretty good job of convincing him of the “truth” when he smiled, patted my hand, and said,
“You are going to be fine, your background is showing!”
I have never forgotten those words althought I haven’t the slightest idea of the name of the man who said them. He was a man of GOD that touched me to my core.
Today, I am fine! I have returned with great passion to GOD and the religion of my youth. The nameless missionary reminds me to speak the truth with boldness and leave the rest to GOD.
Thank You, LORD, for being faithful to me and rescuing me when I was adrift. Help me to reach out to others who are lost, adrift and need You.
There is one family member,that I love,where our personalities conflict, mostly because their not walking with the Lord. I am learning unconditional love. I will be patient and wait upon the Lord, for he knows the situation more than I will ever know. So far I’m learning to bridle the tongue…
HI! Love to hear from you Beth! My person is my dear friend and roommate Jess Bailey. We had both lived alone for a while (giving us the godless pleasure of not having to share anything we did not want to)! She and I had both been praying about bills/ friendships/ future ect. and are part of the same body of local believers. I asked her if she wanted a roommate…she indicated she did not. Later she repented and admitted that she had been having dreams that we were to live together. It has been SUCH a challenge. Emotions range from ‘WOW! I love having a girlfriend to hang out with’ to ‘Dear Lord Jesus, please remind me how much YOU love HER so I can be kind to her!’ We have even had to bring in the other girls from our group to mediate in a couple of arguments. She is a STRONG Choleric and I am a Sanguine Choleric…so we butt heads! But Praise God He has been the Savior of our friendship on more than one occasion.
Thank you so much! Love you,
Michelle Buhl
My husband! I love him more than I knew was possible, but sometimes he drives me crazy. I’m just saying. I never knew you could love someone one minute so much you wished you never had to part, and not even 60 seconds later you wonder how in the world they got into your life. My husband and I are similar in many ways, but let’s just say we have our differences. I’m spontaneous, he’s a planner. I like spending money, he thinks it’s a sin. I like adventure, he likes routine. I like my cake dense, he likes his fluffy. I like meat (and when I say meat, I mean beef) and he likes chicken. I think being unpredictable is fun, needless to say he doesn’t. I say “milk,” he pronounces it “melk.” I like it warm, he likes it cold. But, nevertheless, he has smoothed out my extremities, and even now sometimes I’ll accidentally say “Are you going to sweep today?” to refer to vacuuming, and I swore I’d never add that to my vocabulary.
6 years ago I was encouraged to try out a new Ladies
Bible Study that was just forming at my new church. I had never studied the bible indepth and had never understood the importance of doing this. The study leader Marge encouraged all of us women, young & old, Bible experts & novices to explore all that the Bible offers believers to live a Christ like life on Earth. Now after all these years (and 12 Beth Moore studies) I have learned so much more about being a Christian and have made so many wonderful Christian women friends which would not have been possible without all of the effort made by Marge to keep us all involved in this group. I thank God for her and hope that she knows how much she has positively influenced the lives of so many Christian women.
My work force, 250+ women! In my department, 11 women!! Talk about being stretched and looking outside of the box of how things are suppose to happen! It hit me hard one day when I wasn’t being so respectfull toward another that I was being disrespectful to God. If I don’t want to be disrespectful to Him, I shouldn’t be to another since we are made in his image. Each relationship is different and I’m so thankful for the boquet of women that he has given me to work with.
Yet another ‘first timer’ on your wonderful blog that I’ve been enjoying for some time. I just felt that it’s time I ‘jump in’! At ‘just the right time’ that I was searching for??, I met a wonderful Baptist minister, who so lovingly and kindly let me know that it was God I was searching for, and he would help me look! We found him together(I think he already knew Him:), he baptized me, and later counseled and married my husband and I…….God is soooooo amazing and my husband and I just ‘love His sox off’.
Thank you for all the wonderful Bible Studies that have kept me ‘on track’, and loving God even more!
Okay Beth, this question finally got me to respond. Fifteen years ago a very spiritual woman came to work at my company and I couldn’t believe she would talk about God at work! I didn’t know that God had planted her right in my path. My religious background was not the same as her’s and I knew what I was taught was the truth. Within a short time I grew to like her and she invited me to her son’s baptism at her Baptist church. I was so moved by the worship and sermon, it was totally different for me. I never heard about being “saved” or “born again”. On Sundays I would go to my church in the morning and go with her in the evening to her church. Well after about 4 years, I accepted Christ as my Savior and learned THE TRUTH!!. She is now my sister in Christ and I thank God often for putting her in my path. I love to see what surprises God has for me, He never ceases to amaze me. <
I can relate to this. Many of my friends and family have much different walks with Christ, denominational backgrounds and ways of serving that I am often surprised by what we have in common as far as how we see the world, what strikes us as sweet and what world happenings break our hearts. Not that we’ll always see everything or feel everything the same way, but it actually shouldn’t surprise me, the common ground my friends and I share. We have the same Maker, the same Teacher and Savior. What a gift. So glad for your salvation.
My friend, CLS, saved my life. I was going through a season from “tangling with the devil” (as Beth would say) and during this process I was looking for a job. Someone called me with a job (the only job offer I’d get) from a place I never had heard of and certainly didn’t remember applying to, but she had my info and so I went on the interview. I was the least qualified to take the job and she knew that but offered me the job anyway because in her spirit she knew she was supposed to hire me. We became quick friends and I started coming out of my tangle with the devil and through a great depression. I even thought of ending my own life. It just so happened that CLS was a licensed Christian counselor and worked in the ministry and with her love, honesty, and patience, she walked me through the fire into the light of Jesus’ love. I had always believed in Jesus but never understood what it meant to have a relationship with Him. I do now, and I am sure that a lot of people I knew before wished I didn’t…but I am a much happier and secure person because of the relationship with Jesus CLS taught me to have. Thank you God for waling me through that storm!!
I love your story! I was only going to comment on one post, but what a blessing that your friend recognized the nudging of the Holy Spirit. I am so happy for you, your life and for your freedom! And for the friendship, too, of course. 🙂
I may have commented before, but I’m more a reader than a commentor. But your request this time I just couldn’t pass by. Our association which covers two counties has a director of missions and he and his wife have impacted my life greatly in my maturing process. It began in 2005 when I surrendered to go on mission with them. The LORD has taught me several things, “it’s not about me”, “it’s not my strength but HIS”, “HE provides and protects” and always “HE has a plan”. Thanks for asking.
I don’t know if anyone else will get this, but I’d have to say the “ghost of Deborah Past” I had a run of a life time with “her” and came to respect and befriend her in such away that God is moving in my life with sweet freedom and peace.
Love to you,
Deborah
I have enjoyed for a second time the “Stepping Up” Bible study. And after attending the Living Proof Live event in Lexington in August, I will never be able to sing “Victory in Jesus” the same way again. We so often are not excited about our victory that comes from our Savior. Because of the passion I have that God’s Word should be exciting and not just a Book, I am starting a Single Women’s Bible Study group from our brave participants in Divorce Recovery here in Lexington. Beth, I’ll never be able to teach His word as exciting as you do but I promise we will be on our knees and faces as well as shouting praises for our “Victories” we have in HIM. Thank you for the way you teach us about our God and that we can shout as well as fall down in tears.
I was single and in my mid-twenties and working at a Christian conference center in New Jersey. My best friend, who was also single, and I were very good friends with the director and his wife and two girls. I had only been out of college for a year and was beginning my “own” life. I was very mature in some areas and “not so much” in others. This man, who is only about 7 years older than I am, loved me enough to confront me when I was being immature and unwise. As I look back over my life, he stands out as one of the people who helped me to “grow up.” He taught me a lot about leadership, confronting people in a loving manner, and working through conflict as peacefully as possible. I live in the Midwest now and rarely see or communicate with him. But my friendship with him left an indelible mark on my life.
MommaBeth –
Your questions and this blog make me THINK – so lovely during a season caring for little ones. “Elmo’s world” isn’t exactly stimulating. (Every time you share a story about your beautiful grands I imagine my 23-mo-old princess and your little “Jedus” lover playing together! Priceless.) So this week’s question I answer with the CAPS in mind: Maybe a …RELATIONSHIP that you know GOD BROUGHT YOUR WAY TO GROW YOU and to open your eyes to the wide-sweeping work of the Gospel. Put another way, WHO sort of BROKE A MOLD for you?
This is no small thing – it’s my husband. God has used my relationship with him to grow me in ways I had NO IDEA I needed! Without my struggles with him and for our kids (and my hopes for God’s hand over our future generations) I probably wouldn’t know half my amazing sisters-in-Christ and I certainly would have a less mature walk with the Lord. As I continually seek solutions/advice/Godly counsel I have become (I hope) a more respectful and loving wife. The Lord KNEW what/who I would need on this journey and when/how to reveal the areas that needed His healing hand. Thank God for my tough and wonderful man – it is through my struggles with/alongside him that God is revealing His ministry purposes for me and through me.
Hi Beth,
I took Precept Studies for 10 years. I grew up in a denomination that didn’t exactly come up with the same “answers” that I found when I studied scripture for myself. Precept Studies deeply challenged the things I believed since childhood. When I studied scripture and learned what it said and heard what the Lord was saying to me through study… how could I deny it?! It was right there in front of me in black and white and sometimes red. It was not easy but I had to throw away some of the things I had learned as a child, even if my family disagreed with me.
Dear Beth, You are the one that stretched me and the mold certainly broke when you were made! I’ve done 6 of your studies and am currently in the middle of Revelation. I finally got to see you at Richmond with my 15 yr daughter Sarah ( as a birthday present). You were talking about the Greek and Hebrew words for tabernacle and how they both have the letters S-K-N. It hit me that the word SKIN fits that pattern and could mean that it is a tabernacle for the holy spirit. During the break, I went down to try to talk to you ( after my daughter’s urging). Michelle told me you needed time to talk with the Lord so I didn’t disturb you when you walked right past me. I gave my comment to a helper but I don’t know if you ever got it. It was a huge stretch for me to come down to do this. Later, I researched the word Skin origins and its at least 1000yrs old from the Nordic.
I hope you will make a place where people can give feedback from your studies. I have a few from Revelation already. Sincerely, Melissa (same age)
The man who came to pastor our church many years ago “broke the mold” of what I thought pastors ought to be and do. He wasn’t “touchy-feely” at all; he didn’t care about committees or programs or who was doing what in the church. He didn’t care about numbers or the budget or church socials. He never preached with only three points and a poem – nor did he ever get done by noon.
He seemed (to me) to preach the same thing constantly – and at first I was very critical of him (in my mind — God forgive me!). He could preach a whole sermon (and did more than once) on one word or part of a verse of scripture. He could see so much – I don’t mean physically see, but see with the eyes of his soul.
He was VERY committed to break the Word of God faithfully (if not methodically) week after week after month after month….even though people criticized, even when people refused to respond or even left the church.
But the more I listened, the more I understood – he LOVED God and he LOVED the Word, and he loved people — to the point where he was willing to give them what they needed, even if it wasn’t what they wanted. And the more I listened, the more I loved God and loved the Word.
Today I can say without a doubt that I am SO GRATEFUL that God put that pastor in my life. My understanding of scripture and love of scripture – and my willingness not just to accept things that are said, but to compare them to what scripture says comes from my years under his care in that church.
I am very quiet in a crowd, but have no trouble talking with close friends. God put a dear sister in Christ, Marsha Hutchison, in my life. We met at church and she asked me if we could meet one day a week to pray together since we worked in the same city. I agreed and over that year and a half praying with her, God helped me with my some of my shyness. I still don’t like to talk in front of a crowd, but I have been able to pray out loud with and for others. We have a prayer group at work and we meet one to two mornings a week for prayer, there are about 6 of us and I lead it! Praise God that is a miracle and it has really made me feel so much closer to Him
I have a friend who I initially met through a Bible study for post-abortive women. She was the leader. That was about 6 years ago and God has noto allowed us to go our separate ways since that first group. We’ve become great friends and walked with each other through some very painful and difficult circumstances. Yet she is still that mentor/teacher to me.
Unlike most people in my life she has been willing to stand up TO me and FOR me, willing to love me even when I know I have been very difficult to love, and willing to be patient with me while God has been doing some deep and necessary work in my heart. More than anything else she’s the only person I’ve ever known who has continually, without fail, in every circumstance no matter how big or small, always points me to Jesus. She’s always challenging me to seek Him more and follow Him further.
The first person that changed my life was a boss that I had about seven years ago. She worked from her home and I was her secretary. She was the first person I knew who actually read her Bible daily. It encouraged me to try. However, it wasn’t until about three years ago that God opened my eyes to his word. God knitted my heart to my dear friend, Susan, who initiated us to become accountability partners at a time when my family life was in disarray. God’s word was fresh and exciting and I learned to read to expect to hear from God. Susan and I are best friends today and workout together every morning at 5 am. She still asks daily what am I reading in the word and I the same to her.
What a fun one Beth. About 5 years ago I was sitting in a new small group of ladies. In walks a “church lady”. All smiles and full of Praise the Lord. I’m going to call her Natasha.
She’s about 20 years older than I am, been in the same church for over 100 years. Seen it all.I felt originally that the happiness was a front. I really thought I was going to end up wanting to smack her. Today we are still in small group together. I have come to know her and realize she is the most honest, sincere, God loving woman on the face of the planet! The smiles are genuine, she never turns down an opportunity to help and serve. She loves God first and she loves the rest of us like Him. I thank my Father every day for knowing I needed this Church Lady in my life.
I know you are a very humble person and find all the praise to wonderful for words….BUT, you have been such an influence in my life…..My first study was in 2000, “Breaking Free”. Whoa!!! Woke me up!! Then I did “Jesus The One and Only”, then “A Heart Like His”, and then, “A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place”. I have also done “The Patriots”, “Esther”, “Daniel” and of course “Believing God”. “Stepping Up” was also in there. Maybe I should have listed the few I have not done. 🙂
Beth, you have so excited me about the Bible and God, I can’t begin to express it here. “Your Inheritance” was over the top. I thank God and praise Him for your willingness to be used by Him in so many ways. Thank you for being such an “open” “surrendered” servant who loves our God with “all your heart, mind and soul”. Thank you for planting the need to know my God and read his Word in my soul. I will continue to pray for you and your family to be a blessing and to be blessed abundantly. Thank you Keith for allowing your wife to touch us….I’m sure you have sacrificed more than any of us could begin to know.
Amanda & Melissa, while I look forward to meeting your Mom in heaven, I also look forward to meeting each of you as you each have your own individual different additions to this ministry.
Blessings to all!!
Hi Beth
I have never wrote on your blog before I read alot about your family and saw many beautiful pictures over the past year.
In church I discovered I had another family ( i adopted a christian family or vise versa)
My mom stretch me when I was born again we talked alot on the phone about alot of things she has helped me and love her lots. Moms have a way of bringing things out
of you don’t they. I kept my feelings over the years inside and and said to her I don’t
want to go there . Mom told me I could trust her.
If you don’t you will never be free from the pain you inside you.
I have epileptic seizures since I was eleven and every year I would have to go for
a specialist and some tests. One year I remember I was in a hospital for a month.
during that time no one would tell me anything that was going on. I thought
I have a right to know but I was hurt and mad so kept my feelings inside
Later on in other realationships I was hurt again and never told anyone. When I
could no longer keep them to myself . I told mom everything and it was like a jar that
broke open. She helped me see that I needed to forgive those who hurt me and what
happened and renounce it to God. Through God mom helped me through it and I
thank God for setting me free and Mom has seen me grow and learn through my journey with him.
Hi Beth!
I have a friend who I have known for 5 years. She challenges me because she is not a Christ Follower, but I love her dearly. She tends to run hot/cold towards me..when cold, I am devastated! However, God has burdened me with praying for her soul EVERY day! And to continue loving her even when she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me. A friendship with her also holds me to live in a way that is reflective of Christ. Sometimes I want to slip into avoidance or judgement of her. Sometimes I am pulled to act like her…I have learned that His Holy Spirit is with me very close. I am continually reminded to empty out more of me and let all of Him in.
Beth… I pray for you and your beautiful family. Thank you for how you minister to us.
Heather
If it’s not too late, I love to tell my love story. Even though I was saved, baptized & lived a basically typical life, by the time I got to college I made too many wrong decisions & dug myself into a real pit.Several infact, I jumped from pit to pit! In the midst of all the craziness of college, there was one guy who didn’t party like the others did & always had an encouraging word for me. He signed with a pro baseball team & in the summer of 1979 he left college for California to pursue that career. We talked on the phone more & more as the summer went on, in fact so much, that I had to work two jobs & sell my blood to the Health Dept. to pay my debt to the phone company! It was worth it tho, because over the phone, he would read Scripture, tell me about the love of a Savior that still had a plan for me, that He’d never given up on me. By August, I had fallen in love not only with my hubby of today, but with my Savior. What he showed me was, how he, just like Christ, knew everything there was to know about me & loved me anyway. I finally quit listening to the enemy about how worthless I was & realized HIS blood had already covered my debt. (I still had to pay the phone company, tho!) I knelt by my bed late that summer, rededicated my life to the Lord & then rose in freedom like I had not known in years! I called my parents & said I want my Bible & please come get me, this prodigal was ready to go home! We have now been married & serving the Lord together for 28 years! Praise the LORD, HE is so good~ sk 🙂
love your story, thanks for sharing it!
Patti
I recently resigned from a ministry position at church, and the person who has replaced me in that role has been such a blessing in my life. Many people told me our family would have to leave the church because it would be too awkward if we stayed. It’s been anything but awkward. It has been such an unexpected blessing in my life! Their entire family has been such a breath of fresh air to our family. They are humble, encouraging, fun, and real. The new pastor & his wife have ministered to me in countless ways. They have a teenage daughter who has become great buddies with our teenage daughter…such a tremendous gift from God.
After the transition, I was offered an opportunity to stay on staff & work alongside the other pastors here in the same church. I am so very, very grateful to God for this new life He has breathed into my spiritual lungs. And to think what we would have missed had we just walked away!
I had never thought I needed a mentor in my life because I had a good, solid Christian family. I got involved with a leadership development program where part of the program was to meet regularly with a mentor. Needless to say I went my first meeting with the lady I had been paired up with a feeling of “I have to do this” and a bit of a sense of wonder as to why she would want to mentor me. She seemed like such a busy, successful woman and I just didn’t quite get it. I wondered why she would want to mentor me. I think we both wondered after our first meeting if it would work, but I felt like God was directing it. Over the course of the next couple of months as we got to know each other better, not only did my perceptions of mentoring change, but I began to see my mentor as an amazing woman of God who cared about me and my life in a way I wasn’t used to people outside of my family caring. And I respected that she did not come as a mentor with an attitude of knowing everything, but with the idea that she was someone on the same journey as a follower of Christ who just had the experience of falling down and getting back up a few more times. She is still someone I talk to regularly about life stuff and I’m glad she’s in my life (even when she challenges me with thigns I may not want to hear).
I have been thinking about this post since I read it yesterday. I cannot name one single person. Christ has put many people in my life you have impacted my faith journey, some directly and some indirectly, going back to my teens.
Recently, Beth, you are a wonderful teacher and have guided me to my love of sharing with Him through His Word. My beloved mother-in-law continues to be a great support in my faith journey. There has been the bible study leader who guided the Beth Moore studies at my own church that ultimately led me to begin God’s GALS with two other sisters-in-Christ. Also a recent indirect influence has been Stephen Moyer, strangely an actor, living in the ultimate Babylon. He seems to be able to live his life with integrity and humility in spite of being in the middle of the Hollywood lifestyle.
I love this forum to share with all my sisters. Please say a prayer of Thanksgiving and ongoing faith for my son, Daniel. He is being confirmed on Sunday. 14 years ago today he was baptized! Where does the time go?
Blessings all,
Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN
I was married for over 20 years to someone that was unfaithful several times. I finally divorced him and concentrated on my job and school. After six years, I met a wonderful man. By profession he is a Psychiatrist. He not only loves me but God through him has healed my wounds and my children’s. I am now married to my best friend and so on….lol God truly did save the best for last for me. Thank you LORD for your faithfulness…even when I was not always faithful to you.
This is easy! One of my exboyfriends was like the love of my life. I loved him so much and he was atleast obsessed with me. I wouldn’t call it godly love really on either side. Whatever the case, I invited a girl to church, later found out she had a huge crush on my ex, but i still had to love her in jesus name and guide her through Beth Moore bible studies and church services. She still attends the church I introduced her to and is still involved in bible study. I have to be honest it was hard because i still was in the process of detaching myself from him even though I was the one instructed to call it off… Stretched? Indeed! It was very rewarding, though.
Hey Beth,
I was racking my brain trying to find that one person you wanted us to talk about and I went through a bunch of my godly Christian girlfriends. However, I have to say that the person that has really affected me the most is my husband. He is not a believer and thinks I’m a “kook” since I was saved four years ago. I know that God placed him in my life to see if I was serious about this “christian thing”. The fact that we are still married is a miracle in and of itself! Instead of asking God to change him, my prayer is for Christ to give me the strength to love him exactly as he is warts and all. If God’s mercies are new every morning, why can’t mine be? I am also called to forgive him time and time again.
wow!! good for you!!!
Wow, Denise.
You just keep faithfully serving Jesus and watch what the Lord will do!
Yes, God is crazy in love with your man and I pray you fall deeper in love with him as the Holy Spirit woos your husband as he did all of us.
I will put you in my prayers! I can’t wait to hear the PRAISE and SAVED report!
I’m glad you are a kook for Christ! So am I!
Blessings!!
Hi Denise,
Your comment made me think of the verse in 1 Peter 1 that talks about husbands being won over without words by the behavior of their wives “when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” (1 Peter 1:2 NIV) I’m praying for you, and if you’ll give me your husband’s first name only in a reply to this comment, I’ll pray for him by name for his salvation. I do understand, however if you don’t feel comfortable sharing his name because God knows it anyway.
Prayerfully,
Patti Hayes
I started volunteering at a Pregancy Crisis Center about 3 years ago- I really had no earthy idea what I was doing, but they sent me a card saying they needed nurses, and I knew God wanted me to go. Short version, I now do ultrasounds for the 1st trimester and am able to meet these precious girls/women in desperate circumstances and learn their stories, I am humbled to be able to serve them.
Before this time, I had a different outlook on what a woman would look like who was considering abortion or who was post-abortive. Now, after meeting so many of them and loving them, my heart is soo very tender toward them and the countless others who are silent. My prayer is I will remember that I love because I have been loved. God alone, His Faithfulness, His Grace
I am sure most everyone here has either heard or seen the movie “Blindside”. We have our own personal story very similar to the movie but on a much smaller scale. We moved to the area in which we live in about 6 years ago and quickly found us a church to call home. Like all churches should be, this church really went to seek and welcome all walks of life, especially the ones that needed Jesus. There was this one particular young African American boy who began coming to church. The only problem was he dressed and acted like a hooligan. Wore his pants where his pants were not intended to be worn. He was down right scary! If my daughter saw him walking down the same hallway at church, she would turn around and walk the opposite direction. Are we getting the picture? I told my children they could be nice to him, but do not become best buds with him.
God has away to change they way we view people. This young boy who I encourage my children not to become best buds with is now very much part of our family. My two teens play in the youth church band with this young man. He spent last Christmas Day with us and we made sure he had a real Christmas. He told us that his parents quit celebrating Christmas when he was 8 years old. He is now 22 years old. He will be with us this Christmas and Thanksgiving.
God has poured a tremendous amount of music talent into this young man and has really done a major work on him. One day he may be the winner of a Dove Award and I will be thanking Jesus for allowing us to be part of his life. He has this family so much and continues to do so.
Terrie in Florida
First timer here!! Been following the blogs since the simulcast Sept 10. The hair thing was hillarious and I loved that you took one for the team, Jesus’ team. I grew up Catholic all my life. Six years ago, I converted over to Baptist. I joined a visitation team who went door to door praying for neighbors. I stood in the background the first 50 or so doors. On door 51, the younger lady I was with (who is now my best friend) pushed me up to the door, forced me to knock and pray with whomever answered. Scared to death, no words, I made it thru. I learned that day God had bigger plans for my life. Now I am a SS teacher, Childrens Ministry Director and I love to do public speaking and preach. I am currently working on my Divinity degree, 4 classes away from graduating. Beth, you are an inspiration and do a GREAT job! I only pray I can speak and teach as graceful as you some day. Thanks again. Go get em God’s girl, go get em!!
About 5 years ago the Lord led me to get involved in an outreach ministry. This ministry brought people from all denominations together to serve and reach out. Being raised a strong southern baptist girl…I had some pretty strong preconceived thoughts and opinions about women pastors. God crossed my path with one of the godliest, friendlist, most loving women that I have ever met. God completely shattered all my judgements and she is now one of the best friends I have ever had! She stretches me to believe God in ways that I have never experienced!
Five years ago this past April, God brought a very special person into my life. People often wonder why we’re such good friends, on the surface, we seem to be opposites. But God knew what He was doing when He made sure we sat next to each other at a conference. For the first time in my life, I’ve a real girl friend. I’d always lived such a solitary life, never getting close to anyone. But God had other plans and I’m so glad He did! She is a big part of my spiritual growth – mostly though all those Beth Moore studies! We serve together in Women’s Ministry at our church and I can’t imagine my life without her. I truly do thank God for this special friend.
I’ve always had respect for her even when she could control my whole face with two fingers. (you know, that chin position thing.) God brought me the most amazing christian second moma into my life when I was 14 and I am forever grateful. It’s hard being stretched at 14 when you know everything. Trust me when I say I was stretched in many areas of my life. I probably had a few torn ligaments. This is going to sound crazy but my parents never made me do anything I didn’t want to do. Forward a fews later I’m now 18 and learning how to obey, trust and do what Im asked to do the first time when asked with a happy heart all at the same time!!!!! It was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I can truly say I would not be the person I am today had God not brought our life’s together I love her so much and I believe you may know her. She used to speak at the women of faith things?? Well God is still using her and her family to strengthen me. I can remember telling God that I wanted to love him more than Kim because I knew it would be like a tonzillion!! I do love him a tonzillion!!!
Who stretched me? His name was Al. .My husband and I were invited to a small group in which he and his wife were the leaders. Our dentist and his wife were the hosts. First of all, I was nervous being invited as we really did not know these couples at all. All new people. There ended up being 5 couples, that have dwindled down to four now .. but we started small group about 18 months ago. LIttle did I know at the time, that God would use these people to be prayer warriors with me. Little did I know that these people would become some of my closest pals. A few people have joined the group and a few have left, but Al and his wife and our dentist and his wife have been CORE members. That first night of group . .Al stated what he could not wait for — ‘heaven, so he would not have to be married’ .. that comment struck me. I felt sorry for his wife. However, I would come to learn what he meant, how much he loved his wife, and presently . .. it was the beginning of a journey for me and my husband. . But. Al stretched me. he did every week – he still does .. he makes me think ..and enourages me to make my own opinions based on HIS word.
Thanks Al and to thanks to your beautiful wife too.