Hey, Darling Things!
I’m working from home today and thought I’d take a little break and let my study-brain relax a minute and tune my heart into Siestaville. Let me tell you how proud I am of you for clocking in with the same general number of 2nd verses as you did your first verses. The hard part is not the start. It’s pressing on all the way through the year to the finish. But, then, like all runners that make it across that beautiful line, we get to celebrate a huge victory that only comes to those who sweat it out. We give all praise and glory to our empowering, sustaining God and sit back for a reflective moment, take a deep breath, and feel His glorious good pleasure. Community will become more and more essential as we realize that, without making a public commitment and running the race beside a host of others in this Scripture memory marathon, we’ll probably fizzle out. There is no doubt in my mind that we’re more successful at this together than we are separately. It’s God’s way.
Yesterday was a really fun day at LPM. I already put this on Twitter but it took about a half a dozen of our staff members to put together additional shelves for the books Melissa has acquired since she last worked within the ministry office.
I have promised Melissa my library when God takes me Home, but if she keeps this up at this rate for the next fifteen years, she’s going to pass me by and I’m going to leave mine to Curtis. (That threat won’t mean much to you but it will get Melissa and her dear brother-in-law sparring again over who gets the books which, in turn, gives me a great laugh.) Amanda has been promised other things like what sits on my left hand. But I might spite them all and live a really long time…with colored hair and firm foundations (and I don’t mean the latter in the religious sense. Or the former for that matter. I cannot find hair color in the Scriptures unless I get to count head coverings which, to me, is not unreasonable. In that way and others like unto it, I am a very submissive woman).We’ll see how that pans out. (The timing of my demise not my hair color.)
The other really cool thing we did yesterday at LPM was preview the movie Courageous. It’s the new movie by the people that gave us “Face the Giants” and it comes out in September. (www.courageousthemovie.com) I will remind you guys about it when the release day gets closer but I can’t wait till then to tell you about it. Sisters, it was so good. I don’t want to give away the story line but I can’t quit thinking about it. They have done such a magnificent job with it. We honestly laughed out loud and cried and cheered. I can hardly wait until it comes out. I think God has something far beyond good, solid family entertainment for this film. I’ve told you guys before that, after retiring from the Army, my daddy ran movie theaters so I love few things on this earth more than good movies and great popcorn. (Yes, we popped corn yesterday. And I ate mine with a Starbucks instead of a coke which was an odd pairing and one I might not venture to combine next time.) The primary message of Courageous is targeted to our men who we all know are also targeted by our very vicious enemy. I really believe I can tell you in advance that the guys in your life will love the movie. Mine will and he’s not easy to please. Courageous scores very low on the cheese factor which we know drives most guys crazy about any form of Christian entertainment or encouragement. I dare say that we may be a tad cheesy in Siestaville but we try to keep our Velveeta loaded with jalapenos.
Lastly, I’ll tell you that we started our January Bible study on Tuesday night with one of the best groups God has ever brought our way. We were flabbergasted. May He be greatly praised and glorified in that sweet sanctuary where He’s met with some of His people so many times. We’ll be talking on here about meeting on Tuesdays but we won’t be talking on here about the material because I’ve established a gag order. Laughing. The on-site participants are previewing a (very little) bit of homework so that their experience will be richer but, for copyright’s sake and for future publishing, we’re going to keep it and the session materials low key. It’s not that we’re hiding something. It’s that it’s just a long way from being finished. I also don’t want hype. Ick. Even well meaning hype from those who are sweetly biased. I just want to study Scripture as God presents it to us in His own good time and His own good way. I won’t actually do the LifeWay taping for this series until late April when we do it with a studio audience and I’ll still write through most of the summer. I am reluctant to keep bringing up the series on here because I don’t want to build it all up in anybody’s mind. A curriculum that speaks to one person can hit another person cold. How this turns out is all up to the Holy Spirit but what I can tell you in advance is that, God willing, we will do our best to know that brief Book of the Bible by the time we’re done. Whether anybody will actually “like” it or not is up for grabs. James isn’t necessarily a party bus.
Well, I’ve had about as much of a break as I can afford today. You’re on my mind every day and I pray for you often.
Oh, and this is one reason I got on here today! You know what we’re doing to stay in the Word this early 2011 but what are each of you doing? (Besides memorizing!) Tell me what you’re studying right now!
I love you guys.
I am just starting to get involved in a BSF ministry womens class here in Knoxville! Its so great and all about studying and staying in Gods word. Woo! Also I’m leading a group of college girls through this neat study called breaking free;) we high five each other often and shout….CROSS THAT BORDER! 🙂
Just started David last night. I am so excited! It is going to be awesome!
Right now I’m a student in a Class that’s studying He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer. Boy, you are right! The sistah can bring it. 🙂
I’m teaching The Patriarchs to another group of ladies. We all voted and think that teacher can bring it, too! Just kidding. No voting. Just lots amens, tears, and changed lives, starting with me!
Soon we will be doing Faithful Abundant and True. Can’t wait!!!
His,
Jen
In my Women’s Bible Study, we are doing Priscilla Shirer’s study, He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear the Voice of God. In Sunday School, we will be starting a Woodrow Kroll, DVD-based study, called the Joy of Certain Salvation. I am loving both of them!
Tammy
Hi Miss Beth, I am a new Siesta as of last night! I have my spiral ready to print and am anxious to make my first post on verse 3! I have been working on The Bible In 90 Days! I am so excited God let me find you here. So blessed and thankful to be part of this.
I don’t know if this is bad or not, but I’m not really doing a Bible ‘study’ right now. I am actually using a Bible Gateway.com reading plan to read through the Bible in a year. In all my 38.5 years, more than half as a Christian, I have never read all the way through the Word. I was ashamed but I am no longer! I actually started back in October but I have yet to miss a reading and I am loving it. So in addition to memorizing 26 segments of scripture this year I also get to rejoice in reading through the entire Word!
Reading the New Testament with my 10 year old daughter. When our pastor provided reading plans for reading through the entire Bible or New Testament this year, she jumped right in! It never would have occurred to me that she was ready for this! I love her expressions when the individual stories she’s heard all her life are strung together in sequence. And she’s discussing what we read in an amazing way. This is an experience with her that I will always treasure and I’m asking God to give her vivid memories of it as well.
I am studying David and reading through the bible in a year! Also in Feb were meeting for 3 sessions on your study of God’s Love…very excited about this since I have not seen it before! We just finished up studying When Godly People Do Ungodly Things and it was life changing. I love this blog and I received my siesta memory verse kit in the mail and can’t wait to post my verse on Feb 1st!!!
We just started “Living Beyond Yourself” in our women’s Bible study group! I have already been so blessed and challenged and we are only in week two. Thank you for being faithful to teach the Word. Praying for you.
We’re doing your revised version of “David: Seeking a Heart Like His” at West Hartselle Baptist on Sunday evenings. There were 11 in the class this past Sunday for our preview session. Two other groups are meeting as well – one is doing Kelly Minter’s “No Other Gods” and the other is doing Priscilla Shirer’s “One in a Million.”
I feel like going back through all the comments and taking notes on all of these great sounding Bible studies. I joined a Community Bible study group for the first time this year, and we are studying the book of Luke. Learning a lot! God’s word is always timely and relevant.
Anna in WI
We’ve just started David: Seeking a Heart Like His and
already love it! Many of us did David a number of years ago and we’re excited that it’s been revised.
We’re also offering He Speaks to Me with Priscilla Shirer.
Bible Study girls in Dayton, Ohio are thankful for your ministry and God’s work in their lives. Blessings.
Hi Beth!
Have you heard of the blog Good Morning Girls? It’s WONDERFUL!!! I’m in a Good Morning Girls group and I’m going through James like they suggested. WONDERFUL!!!!
And, I have to tell you this, not only am I on my second memory verse with the SSMT, but my 4 1/2 year old daughter is, too!! We were driving home earlier and I was saying my verses out loud and she said, “Mommy, it’s my turn now. Can I say them by myself?” AND SHE DID!!! She quoted Col 3:16 and Ps 40:5 PERFECTLY!!! I’ve been saying them aloud all this time and she’s been listening!! What a blessing this was to hear!!!!
Thank you and your family for your ministry!!!
His,
Shari
That is so cool! My daughter (8 yrs.) thought it would be too hard, so I started handing her the verse and asking her to make sure I said it right. She sweetly corrected me and encouraged me, and in no time knew it, too! Wish we had started when she was 4.
I have just started the revised version of Breaking Free with a Wednesday morning group of ladies (40 or 50). I am so, so excited to be there again after not participating for over a year. This is maybe my 8th(?) study with Beth.
I live in North Dakota where our winters are frigid, to say the least, yet the ladies show up bright and early every Wednsday morning, coffees in hands. Many bundle up young children to bring in for the daycare provided. I am fortunate to have a young gal who comes to my home for my children.
I SO LOOK FORWARD to Wednesdays……..nearly as much as I look forward to my bi-weekly manicure at the salon. LOL.
Doing the revised DAvid, Seeking a Heart Like His
Getting ready for D. Jeremiah’s “The Coming Economic Armageddon”
Just went through my Beloved Disciple memorabilia from the tapeing in Athens and Ephesus. Found your poem/writing, Beloved Disciple.
Listened to the music by Travis and group. Still my favorite is: God and Man at table are sat down.
Each morning:
Haven Today’s offering of The Odes Project has been the most significant musical worship I have had the privelage to experience to date. These Odes/hymns were sung- offered to the Saviour by the first century Christians as they reflected on the God man, Christ.{many of them had seen and loved HIM on this side of Heaven.
most probably they saw him:
He is on my head like a crown
I’m putting on the love of the LORD
From the east to the west our love is poured out
I shall stand
My joy is the LORD
Alleluia
Flow through me
Meditating on Paradise
I Rested on the Spirit of the LORD
Eternal life has Arisen
I was Lifted up into the light
Fill yourselves with living water
I stretched out my hands
Sing Allelu
Love still yet!
Kerry
Decided 2011 was a great year to read through the Bible, with the daily devotional “For the Love of God”.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/
And in February our Bible Study will be doing “Breaking Free”.
Haven’t been able to attend a Bible Study through church for a while now, but am going through your Wising Up (Wherever Life Happens) series on my own. Whew – just WHEW! This is one powerful series and the Lord is really coming alive through it.
Loving this post – it’s so great to get some new ideas on what to study next!
Blessings, Siestas,
Gretchen
Our Tuesday morning Bible Study at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, TX is studying Nehemiah. I am a co-facilitator for it and happen to have your c.d.’s from the study you did when Melissa was sixteen and y’all were juggling cars so as to protect the Z 28. Such a funny story about you driving Keith’s Suburban with a frog inhabitant. LOL.
Last week I started “The Mind of Christ” by TW Hunt with a small group at my church. The study is actually being led by TW and his daughter, Melana, so just sitting in the room and listening to them talk was wonderful for me. He talked about what led up to him studying the material that became the book, and mentioned that part of what led up to it was that he had memorized the book of James and was meditating on it. Just that statement affected me so much because it showed what could come from such a dedicated focus on Scripture, and how both the memorizer and those that the memorizer ends up serving can be helped by it.
Half way through No Other Gods by Kelly Minter and LOVING IT.
Just started Break Free From your Sexual Past by Barbara Wilson – Yikes & Ouch.
It’s amazing how God is showing me how related these two studies are in for me. So excited about the Victory I can see in my near future!!!! Praise you Lord!
I use a simple pattern for reading through the scripture. I read two chapters in the Old Testament (Isaiah right now), one chapter in the New (2 Corinthians), a Psalm and a chapter in Proverbs. I love this system. It takes me through the Old Testament once over the course of a year and through the New Testament twice. As I read, I look for a key verse; most mornings, I find far more than one. This year I have added Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional to my quiet time – what riches!
Loved Tuesday night!!!
Studying (to lead) Jesus, The One and Only.
Remember how Mary “pondered” and “kept” things in her heart, things told her about her Baby? Well, something tells me, in conjunction with the James study that Mary didn’t tell her other children who their Big Brother was, exactly.
Funny thought…
“You kids just sit down here on the dirt floor and let me tell you something about your big brother, Jesus…well, He is the Son of God and if you mess with Him, let’s just say He could hurt you…REALLY bad!!!
That’s why I wasn’t His mother…lol
Right now I am going through your Daniel Study. I am leading a group of about 35 woman. (we break down into 3 groups too). We are in Week 7 and I just finished day 5 of the homework. I have to tell you that my mind is FULL and I am glad I have a few extra days to process it before our next meeting time, I think this is the very First time in my life that I am finding just what I believe on the whole subject. I am learning so much, but mostly I am learning where I stand on it all! Thank you for guiding me along my way,, and for encouraging me to go deeper on my own. Every single time I go through one of your studies I feel as if my Momma Beth is right there along side me reminding me that she knows I can do it! Even when I don’t feel I have it in me. Thank you so much for that precious gift! I will never be able to describe to you just how much you have meant to me in my journey to deepen my walk with Christ.
We just had our second session tonight of “Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed” at our Ladies Bible Study. I am enjoying Prsicilla so much and all God is teaching me through her words. I’m looking forward to your teaching next!!
We have a Bible Study group of best girlfriends (sisters) that meet once a week at my house. We have been studying together for about 4 years. We are doing, “Here and Now… There and Then”. We love it! I’m doing the scripture memory verses and I just read “Counterfeit Gods”, by Timothy Geller. This book is a really good read.
I, too, just finished reading your book Believing God…wearing my blue band actually 😉 And I laughed out loud when I had some thought go through my mind and I went..wait a sec..that’s a lie against #3 of those 5 statements. Been saying a few of them out at times and loving how quickly and concisely they cut to the truth of things.
I’m starting up a bible study/small group for women in their 20’s & 30’s at my church in February. This is really my first time ‘leading’ a bible study. We’re doing Angela Thomas’ Beautiful Offering study. Looking forward to it but wouldn’t mind any prayers people would wing up on our behalf that it bring us closer to God and being authentic in all our relationships. (Called the group A.W.E.some Women A.W.E=Authentic Women Everyday). Husband and I are doing a marriage course at our church for the next couple months as well. Excited to spend some time together just focusing on our relationship, continuing to God-center it and making it even better…remind ourselves we’re lovers not just parents 😉
Doing the SSMT verses for the first time and have two other moms doing it with me so we can be accountability partners to one another. Also trying to spend some quiet time reading in the Bible every evening. Praise and worship playing instead of secular music (part of my blue band commitment)…love how God can speak through the words of a song to something happening in your life right now. Plus a stack of books to read through this year on various things.
I had bible study this morning in my home with friends and neighbors! I can’t express how thankful I am for our freedom that allows me to open my home and study God’s word together with these women! We just started your revised study on David, this is our 7th study since we started meeting 2yrs ago this month! We now have 10 of us meeting each week.
It all started because a friend and I wanted to do your study on Esther and we could not find a church nearby that offered it.. I opened my house, God picked the women to come and we so appreciate you for speaking God’s word to use through your DVD’s!
I’m doing Esther with my good friends. Love it!! Such an amazing & thrilling drama.
God has brought to fruition a work in me, that, I believe, he has been preparing me for from the moment be breathed life into my tiny body. He has planted my feet firmly on “The Glory Road,” which is the name of the bible study I am writing. My first. I am being stretched beyond anything I ever imagined, but excitement fills me. I can do this only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit who continues to breath life over my journey each and every day. I begin the study with the glory of God’s creation, move through the desert where God’s glory dwells with the Irealities, and settle on His ultimate glory, our Savior Jesus. It is unique in format because it includes personal paintings of photos I have taken where God took me and spoke to me. It also includes a fictional tale about, a Princess and her King, which follows alongside the teaching. It is about the amazing King of Glory from which we were created and for whom we were created to praise. And the Angels cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord. All creation cries out your name.”
Thank you Beth…Your Bible studies have taught me truth, made me laugh, and empowered me to walk in the path God has prepared before me. May you be blessed this day and forever.
PS…I for got to add that all my Siesta Scriptures will be coming from ym Bible Study. How sweet that my Father knew I would need a little help to memorize the things he is speaking to me…
Finishing up a verse by verse study of John with an incredible group of Word hungry women!! Next we’re heading over to Job using Kay Arthurs inductive study. It never ceases to amaze me how God times our studies to fit so perfectly in our lives! We are SO looking forward to James!!!!! I’m a little new to the blog and diving into the scripture memory thus week! Love your guts Beth!!
Just started my second time through Breaking Free. Did the original 10 years ago. So excited. I took it on after 1/2 a year studying Isaiah with BSF – plan to continue with that AND Breaking Free – but the cool thing is BF camps in Isaiah – so I’m getting “two scoops” of that wonderful book each day as I study!
Love how God works!!!!
our wednesday nite womens’ Bible study, the Bible beauties, are in the middle of “a woman’s heart” and taking our time. we take two weeks to do one lesson so we have plenty of time for prayer and discussion. and then another small group of ladies i belong to are reading margaret guenther’s “toward holy ground spiritual directions for the second half of life”. just registered for your conference here in fresno, ca. on april 1-2. we are already excited to hear what you have to say to us and we are praying for you. it is always a blessing to hear you speak, live or on tape.
I’m finishing up your “Esther” study (LOVE it!)with one group, and beginning a Hebrews study with a second group – both groups are wonderful Godly women, and I am grateful for the chance to study and pray with them. Our GOD is an Awesome GOD!!
Studying Faithful, abundant true, week one…wow, what a lesson with Ms. Arthur…I wish I had as much scriptural knowledge in my little brain as that woman has accumulated in her lifetime…what a way to tear into the Word like she does…also studying on how to help my precious strong willed five year old spitfire of a daughter to grasp the concept of obedience the first time…I’m worn out from that one 😉
I am blessed to be new to a group of ladies who only one I have known (well, two, but one is out of the country now with her family serving the Lord in Asia). We meet in a lovely home where we share a meal, discuss our lesson, then watch a video. Right now we are studying the updated version of “David.” We have not been able to meet since before Christmas, and we are all ready to get together we hope this coming week.
I read this post last week that I would love to share. First, we do need to pray for our military, but so often those on the front lines of the spiritual enemy territory get forgotten. Let’s remember our missionaries. Here’s the post: “Praying for overseas missionaries as they seek to walk in close communion with their Heavenly Father; may their time in the Word and moments of prayer be greatly enriched through the power of the Holy Spirit” by Compassion Net.
See you on video! 🙂
Our women’s group at church just started “Faithful, Abundant, True” – from the Deeper Still Conference in Orlando. We just watched the first DVD on Sunday night. It feels great to be back into a Bible Study again!
Last fall I finished Deeper Still with a ladies bible study at a church. I had to drop out towards the end, and boy I missed watching Kay. The study was fantastic, but my priorities were to my crew at home and everyone kept getting sick or needing something.
I just ordered a book, One Thousand Gifts, and a few friends and I are going to meet for prayers and discussion.
Thanks, Beth, for the reminder “to study Scripture as God presents it to us in His own good time and His own good way.” This blog is blessing my socks off.
“Gripped By the Greatness of God” by James MacDonald finishing February 24th. Unless He leads otherwise, we’ll be starting “Experiencing God – Knowing and Doing the Will of God” by Henry Blackaby starting March 3rd.
My Thursday afternoon Bible study is just about
To start “anointed,transformed, redeemed”
We already did the other one by you, pricilla and Kay.
We loved it! Please keep us in your prayers-
We really love discussing your outfits – as we have
Done many of your studies- most of group started
The group pre- Katrina. Some of came to your
event here; it was wonderful!! We would love you
To come our way again sometime!
Love, Stacey
I got to preview the Courageous movie also at the INCM Children’s Pastors Conference in Orlando last week. It is AMAZING! Can’t wait for September. 🙂
Doing a Lectio Divina study through the Presbyterian lectionary for a couple of months. Not only a holy time in scripture but a holy time of quiet!! (Something that’s far too rare for a mommy of 3) 🙂
Our Bible study group just started John, The Beloved Disciple. I am so very excited about it. It never ceases to amaze me how God can use something written/taped years ago to bring such a fresh wind to my soul. Beth, I sooo appreciated what you said about the disciples living their biggest adventure with Jesus and sticking with him throughout the journey. I feel my life the past few years has been such a journey – that I don’t know exactly where God is heading. I have no doubt that it will continue to be hard, but more exciting than anything else.
The thing that you said that most ministered to my soul was “God is where he calls you.” Thank you for that word from God! I needed to hear that and it has encouraged me to keep on keeping on the path God has placed me on. That I AM in the right place.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
God bless you!
My precious daughter and I are doing Believing God together, although she is in Nebraska and I am here in Utah. We are getting into God’s Word and Believing Him for some mammoth miracles but we both have found such joy that sometimes it is all we can do not to jump through the phone lines and party like there is no tomorrow!
We are learning of His delight in us and just wallowing in His grace. Is it to sacreligious to wallow?
And I love the new bookcases y’all are building for Melissa’s books. My sweet hubby and my son built a library for me in our new house with bookcases from Ikea. I even have a LADDER-and for this bookaholic it is the dream of a lifetime. I still just sit in front of it sometimes and hug myself for the sheer wonder of having my beloved books on all those amazing shelves.
(and having my grandbabies sit in front of it with books in piles around them is frosting on my cake I can tell you!)
Just started Breaking Free tonight in small group and on my own I am on week three of He Speaks to Me by Priscilla Shirer and on week 2 day 5 of Beloved Disciple…which I am loving!
We are doing a study written by James MacDonald, called “Downpour”. It is the study of the book of Hosea. Can’t wait we get started next Wednesday! I’m so excited to get back into fellowship with my girls!
Have just begun a class called Boundaries (by Cloud and Townsend)hosted at my church ~ it’s the follow-up to the Divorce Care class I completed over the previous 13 weeks. DC was fantastic. Made some good friends and learned a LOT!
I’m reading the entire Bible in 90 Days with a great online community at MomsToolbox.com! We’re Tweeting accountability about the day’s readings and our observations on Twitter with the hashtag #B90Days.
God is showing me so much in His Word and how even the OT applies to my life and is NOT “just history.” I want to highlight or underline EVERYTHING. He is so good!
~Jennifer
We are week 2 into your Revelations Here and Now, There and Then study. All I can say is WOW!! Our ladies group is looking forward to the remaining 9 sessions and what God is going to reveal to each of us.
What a blessing you and your work have been to my daughter and I Beth. We thank God for the work He is doing through you in bringing Scripture alive and fresh to us and not only enabling us to learn new things but reinforcing and affirming “old”. God’s word is so beyond wonderful. Your work is not wasted. I hope you feel Him smiling on you. I can’t wait until you meet Him face to face and enjoy the full measure!
Meg and I are just finishing Breaking Free. It has been a VERRRRYYYYY long study (its taken much more than 11 weeks. I won’t tell you how long) but God has set the pace for the most part, I believe and He knew (and knows) exactly what was needed when. I think our next study will be “The Inheritance”. We so love the context and the word origins that you give. Ain’t God’s Word wonderful?!!!!
And of course, we are doing our memory verses. I love how God is picking verses that are “just right” and then dove tails them with other things that “happen” along.
Bless you Beth. Prayin’ for you!!!
Asbury UMC Tuesday Night Ladies Started Priscilla Shirer’s Jonah last Tuesday night. What an inspiration she is!