Hey, Sweet Things! I’m sorry I’m not able to check in more often during this season! It’s mostly just me on here with you these days and the balancing act of a heavy writing and work schedule with a very busy family imposes some sizable limitations. To say that we all miss AJ is a vast understatement! I’m still so proud of her for the decision she made on behalf of her family. It was the right thing but we surely do have a gap around Siestaville. Thankfully, I don’t have a gap in my heart and home where she’s concerned. We all live life in pretty close community. Her little family is unending delight to me. We have LOVED having Melissa and Colin back! Their apartment is just darling and we so hope they stick around a while. Something really fun happened last night. Melissa and I knew we were going to be out much later than usual because we were hosting guests after Bible study so she asked Colin if she could just spend the night at our house. She lives much further out than Keith and I do and, after dropping me off at my house, she would have been super late getting back to her apartment. Colin blessed her to do that then called back a little while later and said he’d just come, too. So he packed a bag and they both stayed at our house. That is one reason why we love him to no end. He is a family man to the bone. Hopefully Melissa will be able to say hi a little more often on here in the near future. We are keeping her hands full but she has a soft spot for Siestas. That’s a fact.
I’m just sitting out on my back porch having a few minutes to myself. I’ve been throwing the ball to Star and watching her and Geli chase birds and reflecting on the last day or two. God brought us another astounding group of women last night. I have never seen a larger group with a smaller feel. What I mean by that is, they participate like they’re all on the front row. If I ask them to repeat something, they do it LOUD. They stay right on point and they’re happy to tell me if I miss a blank on their handout. (I love that. That means they’re paying attention.) Honestly, I think this is one of my favorite Tuesday night groups ever. I know, I know. I say that a lot. I fall in love easy. But my worst nightmare is that I’d just keep “teaching” the same people the same thing year after year after year after year and nobody’s heard a fresh word in five years but everybody’s too fast asleep to realize it. O Lord, deliver us. This is one reason why we have to study under many teachers and why teachers have to serve different groups. Sometimes we need to shake it up. It’s so easy to grow dull of hearing even a voice we dearly love. Sometimes all it takes is a break. Other times we need a change. Knowing the difference is critical.
I am so relieved and grateful to our merciful God that, for now, He’s bringing numbers of people we’ve never seen before and even their presence there stirs up the ones who have been around a long time. I love the familiar ones and the new ones alike. My concern is that women be in the best environment for learning and living the Scriptures. When we’ve ceased hearing or changing, we need a new environment. I am also mindful that, as I beg Him to keep me fresh and thrilled in His Word, that He often uses difficulty to answer that prayer. About the time I’m feeling a little lifeless or dull, something happens to make those words jump off the page again. Most of my revivals come from survivals. I still need Him so much. I need His Word. I need His Presence. I need His help. I need His deliverance. It’s weird to realize that sometimes our desperation for Him is an answer to our very own prayers to love Him like nothing else. He is so faithful. I shake my head at the wonder of Him again today.
Last night we had a treat that many of us are still talking about today. Kari Jobe and her band led us in worship. Many of us were first introduced to her through “Revelation Song” and are familiar with her through the Gateway worship projects. She is tremendously gifted, blatantly anointed, and absolutely delightful. Amanda had the joy of hosting Lysa TerKeurst at Bible study last night and afterward for a quick bite while Melissa, Michelle, and I hosted Kari, her mom, her sister, her coworker and several lifelong friends. By the way, you guys, Lysa TerKeurt’s book Made To Crave is flying off the shelves and into the hands of women who are being deeply effected by the power of Christ. It is one of two books I plan to read next. Made To Crave recently hit the NY Times Best Seller list and we praise God for drawing attention to this powerful message and messenger. I noticed that a number of you were reading it in your comments to the last post. We got to have Lysa at Bible study last night because she was in town for interviews all day today on our local contemporary Christian radio station, KSBJ. (89.3 FM – find it on line. You will love it.)
Here are a couple of pictures we snapped with our iPhones last night after dinner with Kari. We took several of the whole group with a regular camera but those haven’t made it to me yet. Is she the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?? (Yes, single, but not presently interested in everybody fixing her up with their best single guy friend. It is a shame though, isn’t it?) I was so glad that I changed my mind at the last minute and didn’t wear my tutu. She might not be ready for us to dress alike yet. I am going to get me one of those headbands, however. Just think what a poof I could get going with one of those.
This is Kari with Michelle who did indeed wear her tutu. You just can’t see it in this picture.
Well, my man is acting like he’s hungry and I’m supposed to do something about it. I am especially taken with him right now so I’m going to hop off of here and tend to him.Keith and I ride a roller coaster…and it’s sort of on the upside right now. Thank You, Lord. I don’t know why but I’m laughing out loud.
I’m so happy to touch base with you today! I love you guys like crazy! You know what I’d like to hear this week? One thing God is teaching you right now. Just one. Do tell.
Your Mama loves you.
Hey Beth,
I was thrilled to see you on here today. God is continuing to teach me obedience. Immediate obedience! We are studying Jonah with Pricilla and it is great. She is such a gifted speaker and really brings new and wonderful things to the table. God is changing me. He is so good. I love him like crazy.
Lawan
Phil 4:8
One thing that God has been opening my eyes to is to pray in a deeper way for my husband and for God to open my eyes on how to be the wife he has called me to be. Even when dreams don’t come true God is still in charge and only God knows the plans he has for us. After 9 years of marriage we have still not been blessed with children. But, God knows the timing and I am just so thankful to have this community of Women who love the Lord and want to serve Him more!
Learning that I have learned a lot in the last two years and I am growing – I have and am applying healthy boundaries in my relationships. God and I are digging into a broken heart and spirit to bring healing and change, the fruit of right with God living…
It seems like every time I open the Bible lately He is reminding me how much He loves me….I keep seeing the words “His unfailing love” and “His compassion” everywhere.
He is teaching me so much right now! One of the BIG things is how to abide in Him (listening, relying on, OBEYING)…also, He has been answering some deep heart prayers in such stunning (wow, I didn’t expect that!) ways. Its funny, I’m praying my heart out and eagerly looking to the left for an answer when its standing to my right tapping my shoulder. 🙂 God is so sweet and precious! Another thing (sorry I’m rambling) is just how much he has used my husband recently to speak such TRUTH to me. That too, has been so precious. Thank you, Lord! Have a wonderful day, Siestas!!!! 🙂 🙂
At this season in my life my husband has stage 4 mestastasized cancer, his mom who lives with us has Alzheimer’s disease, and my mom is being tested for lung cancer. In my own strength it is easy for me to become overwhelmed by all of this, but my Father God is teaching me during this season to not run ahead of Him, but to simply trust Him day-by-day. I am clinging to Psalm 91:2 right now: I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Knowing that He is my refuge, my fortress, my God, and that I can trust Him in and with all things, I can have peace and joy in these circumstances and truthfully say that all is well with my soul. Praise be to God!
Praying for you this morning Marilyn! God is your source and sustainer.
Hey Siesta Mama ~ when you wear your tutu please share pics with all we Siestaville residents to know we have the go-ahead from you! LOL! The latest teaching from the LORD has come in the form of Shingles, complete with a “kiss on my fanny” in the form of blisters, and suffering like I have never known. The funny thing is that I probably could have avoided this, had I taken the shot, but that too was a faith thing, even though in the midst of the suffering I’ve done a lot of crying. I’ve found the value ever more in the furnace of affliction and seen some need for change in some personal areas…”all things are lawful, all things are not expedient…” My sweet husband has seen my bare fanny several times every day to inspect the afflicted area and rub on cream to help with the pain. I’ve had to laugh, because an over 60 rump is not the prettiest sight in the world and I asked him if he was sick and tired of the “unending display!” (A little modesty here siestas…) God surely knows how to teach humility at deepening levels. I will also say I am perfecting “Cry Out” Prayers with honest to goodness crying. Funny thing is, the pain and the small rash don’t make sense, so we’ve decided I’ve got to get in to Dr. and make sure some other inflammatory deal isn’t going on with female organs since referred pain has attacked my left ovary. Do you get where I’m going? Still, my life is in God’s hands and He makes no mistakes. My Dr. couldn’t work me in until tomorrow and my ordeal started last Saturday. A mystery at work in intercessory ministry with the Heim family and learning of so many breakthroughs and miracles for Joanne through her husband Toben’s Twitter and The Simple Wife blog. What an awesome God we serve. Today they will be checking out her Long Term Acute Care facility and trusting the LORD to give precious Joanne the best in the business for her rehab. A miracle is unfolding before all our eyes. So I am Crying Out, Confessing and Consenting on many levels. “I called to You, LORD who are worthy of Prasie, and I am saved from enemies.”
Blessings,
Pam H.
Buena Park,CA
Hi There Seista Mama
Love the tutu and about the poof you would haveif you had one of those head bands you make me laugh love it.
I think all of us seista’s should get tutu and wear them to the 2012 SSMT LOL
One thing God is teaching me is to let go of the past and to not dwell on the past because it will pull you down everytime. Another thing He is teaching me is I am beautiful to Him no matter how others look at me and that He Loves with and uncondtional Love where man put conditions on love and He doesn’t and to not let people get to me espically my family to pick up my scripture verses and meditate on them and Jesus.
Thank you love you here in seistaville
Carol
Hello Beth! God is teaching me to keep the faith because I am trying like crazy to get the word out about my jewelry business! It has been really hard to keep going and not just stop and keep it as a hobby. But with dedicated prayer ( praying face down like you said in your bible study Stepping Up, which me and the ladies at my church just finished, I can’t pray any other way, I LOVE IT!) and advertising and TRUSTING that God has grand plans for my life even though I can’t see them. Thanks for all the encouragement friend!!!
~Molly P
Learning to trust when I cannot see…”that’s what faith must be”…
Bless you, Beth. The resounding theme in my life right now is the power of God. Over and over in one way or another it is brought to my mind. My memeory verse for now is IIPet. 1:3…His Divine Power. I pray for the unleashing of His Divine Power in my life for His great glory.
Deidra
To REST and REJOICE in His timing and sovereignty. He is good and does good. Period.
HUMILITY – it is not a pleasant lesson but I do need to be knocked off my pride every once in a while!
God is speaking to me about obedience and being radical in it. He has laid a ministry on my heart and given me everything I need to do it; unfortunately, I keep believing the enemy when he says I am not ready or it’s not going to work.
We have to make the choice to believe God, so I have begun reciting my 5 statements of faith from BM’s Believing God. In spite of my feelings or the junk from the enemy, I will start this ministry.
Monica
Thank you for your little chat session with us Beth.
I have been in organized Bible Studies for years. Many of them are yours I might add which constantly bless my heart to the core, my latest was the Revelation study, wow so powerful and deep. But, much to my surprise I feel like God told me no organized Bible studies this semester. My delima is always which one, there are so many great studies. He wants me to meet Him in scriptures all by myself. He wants to be my Bible Study teacher. I always do a devotional, always based on a book written by someone else to guide me too. So, this was quite intimidating to me, no one to tell me what to look up, no one to tell me what to study, no one elses interpretation of God’s Word and Scripture. I didn’t even know where to start, so I just started. God’s direction has been so amazing. He is leading my Bible study in this season and it is so rich!!!!! I can’t keep up at times. I can’t tell you how blessed I feel. I am still keeping up with Wednesdays with Beth though.Ha! Bless you and thank you for being an important part of teaching me how to love God’s Word.
God is teaching me that some things are better left unsaid. Love you Miss Beth.
Hey Beth~ first, I first heard of Lisa on KLOVE and something she said got to me and since I heard it I’ve bought the book. It’s my book for February (I’m reading a book a month; hopefully more than 1!). She had talked about God telling her that in order to get closer to him she had to stop having an inappropriate relationship with food. That stuck with me and since then I’m taking a new approach to my eating habits. I’m excited to see what other wisdom Lisa has in her book!
Also, I loved hearing that you had Kari Jobe at your Bible study last night! What a blessing! Kari went to my undergrad school, Oral Roberts University, for a few years before attending Christ for the Nations Institute (where my dad went too!). I’ve had the privelege of listening to her music and worshipping with her for the last six years. I’m humbled every time I listen to the words of her music. I have to say, I’m so jealous you ate with her and talked with her on a personal level. I pray one day I’ll have the opportunity to do the same. 🙂
Have a blessed day, Mama Beth!
Amy
Sweet Beth,
You are just gorgeous! I don’t have time to keep up with posts lately, but I just happened to read this one and saw that Kari Jobe was at Bible study on Tuesday night!!! The Holy Spirit has used her songs to bring enormous healing in me. I have given her cd’s to so many people who were going through extreme difficulty! I put her up there with Christy Nockels in the worship music realm. My daughters made up dances to “Healer.” I am so sad i can’t be a part of this Bible study, but God is showing Himself clearly to me, nevertheless. Praise Him! He is filling me with all joy and peace as I trust Him for so much. He does remind me to pray for you all every Tuesday and, rest assured, I do. I love you so much and look forward to what our Father will do through you, sweet sister.
God is teaching me forgiveness. Forgiveness to those who have transgressed against me and for those who I have sinned against. Thank you Lord for speaking to my heart in this area. I hear you. I am listening. I am acting. I am ALL IN!
The theme God has continually been ministering to my heart during this tough season is a combination of Matthew 6:34 and Philippians 1:27. Today, WHATEVER HAPPENS, live your life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. With the many difficult situations that I’m facing right now, God is continually reminding me to focus on TODAY. If I even begin thinking about tomorrow – panic tries to take over and peace is but a distant memory. But, I CAN do today. So I will focus on TODAY and do my best to live it in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ – because ultimately He’s the only Good News I need 🙂
Our great Lord is teaching me a lot, so it is hard to say just one… but I will share that He is teaching me to love His Word more and more. And that is an answer to prayer! Praise to His great Name!
He is telling me to remember that I am to SERVE His children and He will FIX them 🙂
I’m such a fixer and He really has to remind me.. that’s His doing NOT mine!
Gosh I love HIM! He’s SO GOOD to me!
Your posts and the Siestaville community continue to delight me! I’m so blessed to have found a second home here with such wonderful women, whom I love deeply without even needing to meet in person.
I am currently dealing with a heartbreak over a frindship ending, and God is teaching me quite a lot. He’s teaching me that it’s not for me to understand – or change – the heards and minds of others. I can pray for others, though, and know that it is within His power to reach them and heal them. And I can pray for his peace “that surpasses all understanding” to replace the hurt and confusion I feel. Praise God because I know he’ll do all of these things!
Dear Siesta’s 🙂
This is my first time being in this group, and I am happy and blessed to be challenged to memorize scripture! I need it in my heart desperately! God is teaching me all about trust in HIM. I lost my job due to my office closing nearly three years ago. I can’t seem to find a job to save my life! I don’t know how, but I have not needed anything really. thanks to God! Me being me, I worry constantly about everything. My youngest child will be turning 18 in April and her child support will end. As of now, this is the ONLY money I have coming in. So, the verses I picked to memorize are in Matthew 25. Right now I have almost got verse 1 word for word. I didn’t find this group until the middle of the month so I am a beginner!
Thanks to you all for having me! Happy Memorizing!
Renee
God has been using my husband so much over the last couple of weeks to teach me new truths. You know sometimes when God chooses to use your spouse to reveal truth to you it can be a harder pill to swallow than if a friend does. It did cause there to be some friction and fighting (more than we have ever fought in the almost 2 years we’ve been together but we are good once again :0) ) God is so faithful and just kept revealing the truth to me along with the insecurity that I was reacting out of. Funny how that works, and even when you don’t realize how you are acting or coming across to the other person. I guess what I am trying to say is that God is teaching me to react in a new and different way, to think before I respond or say something, and that my husband really does have my best interest at heart and that I have to trust. Not just him but my Heavenly Father who will never lead me astray.
So Long Insecurity!!
God is attempting to teach me that whenever He has me in a holding pattern, the point of that time is in the “holding.” When I am “stuck” waiting on Him, I am not abandoned – it isn’t that He has moved on to work with someone else or has put me aside for the time being. I am “on hold.” – Being HELD. By Him. Could I please just rejoice in that?! Thank you, Jesus, that my holding pattern is a time of being held by You.
He is teaching me to trust him with EVERYTHING.
He is a Jealous God and desires all me, and He is more than worthy of all the meditations of my heart, all adoration, praise, and worship. He is my God, and I am His; He loves me and nothing can change that. He is reminding me of His steadfast love and faithfulness to lead me in paths of righteousness, for my good and His glory! I need not seek to achieve it any other way. He loves me…amazing!
fear not
My Merciful Abba is teaching me that I can indeed do all things through Christ Who gives me strength!
I wish that I lived close enough to come to Tuesday night bible study! I would so be there!
Love you for all that you do for Him. You are such a blessing and I thank God everyday for what your ministry has done in my life. Thank you Lord!
I am learning to control my tongue. I have posted Psalm 19:14 on my desk at work which says “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my rock and my redeemer.”
He’s teaching me how to not be such a hypocrite. Plain and simple.
Sarah, thank you for your honest heart and response!!
If I squeeze it all into one sentence, does it count as one?
🙂 He is teaching me to put my trust in Him because he is my Strong Defender and Mighty Fortress.
Carol, Florence, MA
He is teaching me to TRUST Him…no matter what!! (I hope I am learning….that’s a hard one. *smile*). Love you Beth and praying for you and yours!
How can I avoid the dilemma of the double-minded man James warns against? I plead to the Lord daily for the salvation of a cherished loved one, but some days those prayers are not backed by faith that He will really do it. I truly am tossed about by every wave. Hourly I am on the crest of the wave of belief and total trust in His sovereign will – only to fall off that wave and be helplessly drowning in despair. I am like the man who told Jesus “I believe….help my unbelief”
Teaching me to wait on His deliverance- a hard lesson indeed.
I am learning that God is removing some things from my life that I don’t need. He has the plan so I am waiting on Him for the direction.
Beth,
I just want to tell you thank you for your transparent approach to teaching and following after Christ!! Your passion for Him in contagious!! I will be forever grateful to your obiedience to follow Christ and to pour into the hearts and lives of women!! As you already know, your Bible studies made such a difference in my mom’s life, who passed her passion for Christ on to me!! It is my prayer that the passion for Him will carry on in my family for generations!! Thank you so much for following Christ’s call for your life so that so many lives could be forever changed!!
I am not even sure that I can relate with words all that God is pressing upon my heart, but I know that He is there tugging at my heart strings and asking me to be obedient to His call!! It is my prayer that I will continue to pursue Him and to listen and wait for His direction!!
Cara (Shari Symank’s daughter)
God is telling me to listen more and say less. That is the message I am receiving in my role as a wife, my role as a mother and my role as a friend. So with that, I think I will now be obedient, enough said!!!
Lori
He is really teaching me about living in victory. It seems as if everything in my life right now points to living in victory through Him. Pray for me to allow myself to believe that He can work through me.
That He loves me
God is teaching to me to wait on His timing for His plan for my life which has been given to Him. It shouldn’t be hard, but it is. Especially for someone with Ph.D in control.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
There are so many things going on in my life right now that would normally overwhelm me. like house hunting for our first home, and not getting any of the one’s we have put offers on! We have a new baby (that was a suprise) He is AWESOME though and I thank God for giving me something I didnt even think i wanted or needed! Boy was i wrong!!! 2 girls in school, and it has been hard for me to put alot of time in with them 🙁 BUT..through it all God is teaching me to roll with the punches, deal with the stress and just be happy to be alive! I am so blessed and so thankful that finally at 32 I am able to just relax and enjoy things and not freak out when things arnt perfect!! P.S. I love this blog!!!
Just blogged about what God is teaching me. He’s using Luke 8:42-48 to show to me reach out to Jesus for everything and not to be worried by anything. To truly let go and let God be Who He is meant to be in my life.
You encourage me, Mama. Love you!
I am learning that my circumstances must not control my faith and my feelings. I just said on my blog last week, “Don’t serve your circumstances, make them serve you…plunder the riches” of bad situations and take everything good out of them you can. Now I get to see if I meant that. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and she let me know this morning that she will, indeed, have to undergo chemo. Big bummer. Even though it’s not happening to ME, it’s happening to me…you know? After a few seconds of ticked-offness, and saying “this had better work,” I was reminded of His faithfulness. Now the challenge is to rest there.
He is teaching me that it’s OK to be this CRAZY, WACKY CLOWN of a person – He made me this way and I bring Him joy. I can be effective for Him in this world. He’s blessing me sooooooooooooo…. and I do not deserve it!!!!
God is teaching me to rely on Him…to trust Him with my relationships and to believe He is enough. Praying for Him to bring love and comfort to my heart this day and praising Jesus for you Beth! 🙂
CALLING ALL SIESTA PRAYER WARRIORS!!
I have a sister in Christ that is paralyzed with fear and worry. She is having a biopsy on her breast today at 12:00 pm Central time. She has the starburst shaped cells that are suspisious looking. Please pray for her. I pray for overwhelming peace to spread over her, and her family. Thank you in advance for your prayers. We know that God is the great physician and that nothing is too big for Him.
We have just started Breaking Free at church and I am learning that to keep my heart far from pride I need to fear the Lord, keep seeking after Him with a heart full of thanksgiving. I don’t want to be destroyed by my pride and want to submit to a warning or rebuke with a heart of repentence!! In my most tender of times with God- I can’t imagine singing “prone to leave the God I love” and yet I lock arms with my Pride and walk away. Open my eyes and my hears to Your Holy ways Lord.