Hey, Sweet Things!
I feel like I’ve lived a month-full of events since the last I checked in with you but decided in retrospect that maybe God had kept me busy so I’d leave up that last post a little longer. I knew in my heart that many of your lives were touched by hidden disabilities just as mine has been. Some of yours, vastly more than I’ve experienced but I know some of the pain and bewilderment and fear. My prayer is that, at the very least, you know you are not alone and that God sees every struggle and is moved to compassion by every heartache. He is still our Healer and when healing doesn’t come the way we wished and prayed, He is still our Strength and Sustainer.
OK, let me think what has happened around the Moore world since I talked to you last. Thursday morning I had the great joy of heading to San Antonio for one of my closest and dearest spiritual daughter’s first baby’s birth. (Did you follow that??) I have known Amy since she was barely out of college and came to work at my home church years ago. We were not instantly close because of such a wide age gap between us but God wove our hearts together through the ups and downs and twists and turns of time. For years now we have been as thick as blood. She is big sister to both of my girls and I love Amanda and Melissa even more for always opening their arms to her. As tight as the four Moores have been, I have never for one second been able to tell that they felt the least bit threatened as Keith and I loved this young woman second only to them. I relish so many dimensions of life in Christ and one of my top five favorites is family that He brings together, not by natural means but by the bond of the Spirit. The riches are immeasurable.
Amy moved to the Texas Hill Country where her man works after they married two and a half years ago. Then eight months ago while Keith and I were at our cactus ranch, I got a text from her that said, “Hey, can you call me when you get a minute?” That was not unusual but I just had the weirdest feeling in my stomach. I dialed as fast as my fingers would move and when she answered, I blurted out, “Are you having a baby???” And we both screamed and then cried. Amy married just on the other side of her mid-thirties and God knew that the desire of her heart was to have a baby. I was all about rushing it but, since I had no control, I let Amy and Steven do what they thought was best. And, boy, did they ever do a good job of it.
Michelle drove me to San Antonio so I could still work on my laptop in the front seat of the car. When she offered, I reasoned that it was a tad above and beyond her job description but she countered that I am her job and, after all, it was a workday, and, furthermore, when I’m out of the office, she doesn’t have as much to do. The truth is, I think she caught a bad case of itchy feet from me and I’m just as glad. She is the easiest person in the world to travel with and a big help to boot. Her Dad works for Marriott so she got us two rooms close to the hospital for $40 each. Not bad at all.
I stayed in touch with Amy and Steven all the way from Houston to San Antonio and made it to the hospital in time to lend some support to my sweet girl while she labored from 6-9 centimeters. I was so proud of her. I’ve thought a lot about Amy and Steven and that baby coming in their later thirties rather than their early twenties. I know this is not always the case but, as for this young woman, she felt so blessed to be carrying that baby that she virtually never complained about being sick or, as most of us feel from seven months to nine, ample of stomach. She was nothing but grateful all the way from push to shove. As I stared at the two of them staring at her, I wondered if I’d ever known a baby that was more welcome or more apt to be savored every single second of her young life.
Ainsley Elizabeth was born to Amy and Steven at 6:12 PM as Steven’s parents, Amy’s mom, sister, and brother-in-law, and our dear friends, Steve and Bonita Seelig, and Kimberly McMahon and I waited nearby on pins and needles. Steven shot me a text about ten minutes later and we shouted till the dead could have been raised at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. In no time at all, we all got to go back and see as beautiful a newborn as any of us had ever laid our eyes upon (needless to say, alongside Jackson and Annabeth Jones). A little while later while I was hogging her, everybody but her parents (busy with the doctor) gathered around to gawk at the gorgeous reality of her. I said to that darling little thing, “Ainsley Elizabeth, the generations welcome you! Come into this family and be loved!” And she had an expression like she might do just exactly that.
Ainsley and her absolutely darling new Mommy. I normally would never post a picture of a woman who’d just walked through the Valley of the Shadow (what my mom called childbirth) but Amy looked so fantastic that she earned this. This baby wasn’t even an hour old in this picture.
Since I did that to her in her unadorned hour, I think it is only fair that I show you a regular picture of Amy with her man. This sits on an end table in our den:
Back to the hospital Thursday night. This is some of our very best lifetime friends, the Seeligs, with Ainsley and me. Steve is a minister at “the other” big Baptist church right down the road from us and has been on the LPM board of directors since its inception. He is a nut just like he appears to be in this picture and that’s why I’m posting it.
This is one we keep looking at and laughing. I mean this in good humor and with nothing but respect (and our dear Sister Lynn knows that’s the truth) but doesn’t Ainsley look a little like Mother Teresa as an infant here?
This is Ainsley and the uncontested man in her life: Daddy.
And this is Miss Pris all by herself. This is her first outfit and I was given the dubious honor of putting it on her:
I got back Friday night and threw a roast in the oven and sliced potatoes in a pan and prepared a heaping helping of birthday dinner for one of my favorite men in the whole wide world. Curtis Jones turned thirty and our entire family unit was there to celebrate. It was one of those nights you can’t really plan when everybody laughs like there’s no tomorrow and makes big over everything. Colin and Melissa gave Curtis a great set of speakers for his I-pod and we turned up the music and danced our legs off on the kitchen tile. Well, at least Amanda, Melissa, Annabeth and I did. Keith wanted to. I could tell. He just wouldn’t bring himself to do it since the other men were sitting back laughing while we were carrying on. Believe it or not, Keith Moore was a disco king back in our college days and could twirl a girl on the dance floor with impressive flair. After we were entirely out of breath, we crowded around the Cotton Bowl until Amanda, our resident Aggie, just couldn’t take it anymore. All of us texted each other the next day and said what a blast it was.
Such a great welcome to the weekend then yesterday came.I spent the first part of it in near euphoria with both my daughters at lunch at a great little tea room by the ministry. Melissa had a decked-out veggie sandwich and my favorite pasta salad in the world. AJ had chicken enchilada crepes and a green salad and I had chicken and spinach quiche with tortilla soup. Man, my mouth is watering thinking about it. We then dropped Lis off at the ministry to do some catch-up work then I took AJ home and grabbed the boy. He, Buzz Lightyear, and I headed to the park where we played for about the next hour and a half. If I loved this boy one iota more, I’d break into pieces.
Then I got a text. A horrific thing happened in Arizona, sending shock waves all over the United States. A gunman unloaded a semiautomatic weapon at a public gathering for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. He wounded thirteen people and stole six precious lives right out from under their families. One was a nine year-old little girl. A nine year-old little girl. It’s the kind of thing that makes you throw your hand over your mouth. A bloody rampage. What on earth makes a person do a thing like that, we wonder. What kind of world is this we live in??
These are strange days. Terrifying days. Sometimes I just sit and shake my head and wonder what on earth is ahead. During those times, my mind often turns to the divinely intended irony of the exact same phrase found in Acts 2:17 and 2 Timothy 3:1 –
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Acts 2:17
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 Timothy 3:1
A few days ago an older man I respect so much told me that he was scared to death for our world and that he believed we were facing history’s most perilous days. I hadn’t even unpacked my suitcase yet from a conference where I saw 22,000 college-age men and women wildly proclaim the Name of Jesus, pore over His Word, and support His cause with over a million dollars for missions. I thought of the irony. I thought of the truth. I thought of the prophesy of the worst of times and the best of times. The same days that will give rise to such peril will also see the rising of a refined church. Darkness will come but light will shine in the darkness. The shroud of death may threaten to cover the earth but the tender cries of newborns still remind us that beauty can rise from the ashes.
Somebody new might read this post and think how idealistic and out of touch I seem and that’s okay. Enough of the rest of you know that I didn’t even make it out of toddlerhood as a budding Pollyanna. Though many of you suffer in ways I can’t imagine, I have ongoing hardships and some personal challenges that seem overwhelming at times. Even in the midst of escalating horrors, Scripture commissions us in the final words of Romans 12, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Some verses skim easily off the surfaces of our lives. Others make it deep into the echoing chambers of our hearts. Psalm 27 is one of those for me. I memorized it years ago out of the KJV at a time when I thought I’d be swallowed up whole by my enemy. To this day, I call its closing words back to my conscious mind every single time I feel overcome by evil.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV)
The goodness of the Lord. Here. RIGHT HERE. In the land of the living. May He strengthen your heart. And may He crowd around the suffering with such force and affection that His healing presence is palpable.
We are praying for you, Arizona. And we are so, so sorry for your suffering.
Like the other have said, thank you Mama Beth for sharing just your everyday life with us. It gives me such hope. Hope that the generations in my family will be redeemed. My precious baby girl is just 9 years old and the AZ news broke my heart, but God’s Word in Psalm 27 and the reminder of those precious college students at Passion was just what I needed! Much love and prayers to you and your family!
Thank you Dear Beth for this post. What a delight to witness the joy of your spiritual daughter and the joy of those who love her.
I have decided to use Ps 27:13,14 for my second memory verse. This verse keeps hope alive even after long years of difficult waiting. Out world needs this hope in so many many circumstances.
I join you in prayer for those who have suffered from the tragedy in Arizona. I cannot imagine what the parents of the young man who caused this nightmare must be experiencing. God Bless and I pray our Lord will pour his river of grace over Arizona.
Dear Beth,
I was just reading an article on that sweet little girl that was killed. I was surprised to see that she was born on Sept. 11, 2001. To think that she was born on such a tragic day – but must have been such a light for her family. How sad to think that she died on a tragic day as well. Just breaks my heart!
Such a beautiful baby! And all the words so beautifully written. May He strengthen all involved, their families and especially those who do not know His loving kindness. Please use this to draw them to you Lord!
Thank you, Beth for the awesome reminder that we live in a fallen world, but we are able to experience the joys and blessings of new life.
Please, I would ask you all to keep my hometown (Tucson, AZ) in your prayers. Prayers for healing for those still in area hospitals, those who lost loved ones and friends, our first responders- both police and peramedics- who did an awesome job- but are only frail humans.
We need continued prayer.
I was reminded today that we all will try to make sense out of this tragedy, but will not be able to… For how can you make sense out of something senseless?? You cannot.
First to confirm with good humor and respect – I agree… little Ainsley looks like a mini-Mother Theresa! May she also resemble her in her heart for the poor ones of God.
Thank you Beth and all my siestas for your prayers for Tucson and Arizona. We are all in shock… pouring over the papers and TV news trying to understand why this happened. But you cannot make sense of the senseless.
We are slowly hearing from friends and neighbors who have loved ones who were injured or traumatized because they were at the event. We are praying for them all.
God’s mercies are new every morning – praise Him for His faithfulness. In our crazy mixed up world, His love alone sustains us.
‘you cannot make sense of the senseless’ is so true!! Our tho’ts and prayers are with you all in AZ.
I love you, Lynn! Thank you for the sweet grace to smile over Ainsley’s fun picture. You are such a joy to me.
My heart hurts for you Arizona! I have a very close friend in Tucson and it is just so so so sensless and scary. God is in control even when the world is spinning out of control. That is the only thing to hang on to. These are hard, evil, and confusing times and I think satan wants us to doubt the soverignty of our great and powerful God but we (I) have to hold fast to the truth. And that is that He cares…He is not uninvolved….and He will make all things new.
Thank you Beth for addressing yesterday’s events.
And congratulations to Amy and Steven on the birth of their beautiful little princess!!! It is very encouraging to me as I’ve entered the second half of my 30’s without a husband or a child. Not how I had envisioned or dreamed about my life.
Bethany, I feel one half of your pain. I thought I was on my way to both when I made a very poor choice that has brought about some very difficult consequences. While I now have a husband, the dream of a child seems worlds away and is discouraging to say the very least. I promise you, wanting what God wants for our lives is so much sweeter than getting what WE want for our lives. And that sweetness permeates every moment of the wait.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I just wish I had believed those words a lot more when I took one step outside of God’s will 4 years ago. That one step led to miles and miles on a lonesome journey. No thank you! xo my sweet Siesta!
Everyone I have talked to is so at a loss over what happened in Arizona and I was thinking how often we say “all we can do is pray” when we need to be on our knees more often doing just that. Praying for all the families and especially Christina. I can’t even imagine what her family is going through. To hear her Father today, how short our lives are and most of us don’t use a 1/10 of what God gives us. Just praying, praying for these folks. Yesterday we found out my nephew, 26, born months premature has an inoperable brain tumor and they sent him home with increased seizure medication. How grateful we are to have had him with us all these years. How short life is………
Beth – How I loved your post!! It covered all bases from the glorious gift of new life – to the deep, deep sadness of life lost! Thank you for being real! Thank you for sharing all my “mama feelings”. Thank you for loving life and being so concerned for life, all at the same time. Only a believer can experience this. A believer that finds their peace in God’s presence. Thank you!! Can’t wait til January 18th!! Love, Mammy
Beth – you have no idea how your Bible Studies, teaching LIVE on Tuesday nights, getting to shake your hand several times, and reading your blog have helped me! The sharing of your LIFE – with all of it’s realities – both good and bad – is so healing to me! My past seems very similar to yours – without knowing all the details – and I can say without doubt – that the Lord will take what was meant for evil, and will bring good from it, when we give it to HIM! I pray the same for the most recent horrible incident.With love from one of your fellow sister’s in Christ – who loves you, thanks you for your honesty, and opening up your life to others! Malinn
Beth , you’re so fun!! I love knowing that you enjoy life like you do. With all you have endured and battled through to victory it is a good blessing to see you loving and being loved!!! I too look at life in this world right now and wonder,” What is going on?” Can’t people just live and let live? Why can’t we love each other, bless and be blessed without all this cauous? Thanks for reminding me that even in the midst of some horrible events, life can be good and God is still on His throne! I love you so much for keeping it real, Carla
We LOVE Mrs. Seelig!!! She was the music teacher at my children’s school until last year and they would CHEER on the year they got Mrs. Seelig and boo on the years they didn’t. My 9th grader would ask her elementary siblings each year … “did you get Mrs. Seeling?” They are all lamenting for our first grade son (and our 4th grade daughter) that he won’t ever get to have Mrs. Seelig and Savannah won’t get her anymore. Rummel Creek misses her! SO fun to see her on your blog … I can’t wait to show them tomorrow.
And … I’m so wondering if Kimberly McMahan is the one who grew up at Tallowood? Perhaps not, but I’m gonna call and ask her anyway.
Sweet story!
I smiled at your reference to Psalm 27, such a “stone of remembrance” to me of an altogether bright and dark time in my life. Verse 14 in particular was a lifeline to me during that long season of joy and anguish. God is so good, in both the best and darkest times. He remains faithful and unshakeable.
Beth…
Thank you! You have no idea how much I needed a reminder of those verses! I was just finishing up my Bible time and read your post….and those verses…..God’s answer to me! Thank you 🙂
Sounds like you had an amazing weekend!
Congratulations on the birth of your grandchild! 🙂
Thanks for the reminder in Romans 12, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Makes me think of why it’s important to still smile and be kind to people even if they say something mean to you.
May God continue to bless you and keep you, your family and prosper your ministry to win souls to Jesus Christ!
Thank you so much for sharing Ainsley’s birth story! It brought tears to my eyes, especially as a single woman edging closer to mid-thirties, hoping that one day I’ll marry and have children. Reading about Amy reminded me that God is the one in control of my timeline.
Thank you Beth, for allowing God to use you to speak Truth into humanly unexplainable situations. I am refreshed and encouraged by the evidence of God in your life and words.
Loved all the pics of “Mother Teresa” 🙂 Also loved the one of your crazy minister friend 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
You bless me. Thank you for loving God with all your heart, soul and strength. Thank you for teaching.
Beth, May God bless your tender heart. In Your busy life that you can spend time in the hospital at the birth of a precious child and then come home to a wonderful family celebration only to have a national tragedy touch your heart. You are truly a woman after God’s own heart. What an example you are to all of the women whose lives you touch. We are truly blessed by God to have you here for such a time as this.
Well Beth, very few can take us through the gamut of emotions that you do in one post. You certainly have a way of writing that is inspired, challenging and encouraging. Bless you! I want you to know that I am praying for you this year. I don’t need to know specifics because, of course, our God already does…He’ll hear and respond. Bless you again. In His Name…Debbie
What encouragement, Beth. He is coming back for a bride who has made herself ready, w/out spot or blemish. It is so hard to imagine but what the blood of Jesus is able to accomplish will be accomplished in the most unidealistic of times – to His glory. “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
I love it that Daniel also tells us in 12:4, that “many will go here and there to increase in knowledge”. I truly believe as the realization of His return glares us in the face, our focus will be riveted towards Him and Him alone. All else will be counted loss.
Praying for those who lost their lives and for the their loved ones who are left to hold the broken pieces. May the Compassionate Healer comfort them with His love, presence and power.
I ,too, thank you Beth for sharing your life with us. Our 4 children and 6 grandsons are spread across the U.S. I cherish those times when we are gathered and all laughing and dancing and being silly.
Our youngest daughter, Mandy and her hubby, Brent are expecting their 1st child next month. We can’t wait for his arrival. Yes, grandson #7. Will there ever be a grand daughter?! Gotta love those boys, a breed all their own.
My heart,too, pours out to the state of AZ. I heard on GMA that the 9yr old little girl was born on 9/11/2001. She was 1 of 50 babies born that day featured in a book about or maybe titled, ‘Children of a Brighter Future’. I pray for those precious parents, their grief, sorrow and loss. A pain only God can heal.
Hugs to you all.
When I read this post…and your others, too….I can just feel the love that you have for your family, special friends, us….I mean a real genuine, gut-wrenching love….and I wonder why I do not “love” as strongly as that? Don’t get me wrong..I love my family..but seems like we always have some kind of turmoil going on that disrupts us…one of my New Year’s “goals” is that I have more compassion…and be more loving. Believe it or not, that is not always easy!
~Beth
I was reading some Psalms-27 was the first one. Then I read your post. Oh my!
The world is so full of things that point us constantly to God if we only would pay attention. When I see that beautiful little baby girl in her little Ainsley outfit I see an amazing miracle that God created! And then to experience the ugliness and sadness of what happened in AZ…the only response I have is to look to God and cry out for help for the victims and the shooter’s family!
Encouraged, Blessed by you my dear dear sister.
Thank you so much for this post. Sharing, as you did, the joy from the new little life that recently graced your extended family, was a welcome respite from the news of the tragedy in Arizona. And what a blessing to be reminded that, though trials and tribulations will come, our Awesome God is preparing us to be salt and light in an increasingly dark time. Think of all the “young lights” you ministered to at Passion…what unabashed love they have for Jesus! I too believe there will be rough times ahead, but I believe the light that will shine through them will be something we can’t even conceive of.
My prayers and heart will continue to go out to the wounded and all who were affected by the shooting. I am believing that our Father will work things together for good, even in this horrible situation. Peace and blessings to you and all…
What a sweet, blessed baby girl. I had my two youngest sons in my mid-late 30’s. It is a very special way to do mommyhood. Congrats to all!
I am speechless over the Arizona incidents. Southern Sudan is voting to break away from the Arab/Muslim north. Flooding in Austrailia. Cholera in Haiti. More than 140 million orphans in the world. I have a huge world map hanging on the wall in my garage. Every day I see it and wonder what is next. All I know is God is faithful. He is holy. And He is glory.
thank you for a beautiful post. I as well feel we are being ushered into a time described by the two truths mentioned in the bible. Thanks for the reminder to hold fast to God. He alone is our strength and refuge.
Chrystal
Thank you Mama Beth, you always give us such balance in the word.
Praying for Arizona. Praising God for that new life!
Beth,
Thank you for the encouraging words, thoughts and prayers. My heart broke for Tucson and am praying. I wanted to also thank you for your message last Sunday to those 22,000 HS and College students in Atlanta. My son was one of those in attendance. I was so thankful that he too was blessed by your ministry.
In Him,
Lucia
Beautiful Beth. Thank you for continuing to help all of us lift the veil that keeps us from seeing God. Psalm 27:13 is my life verse and brings me to tears whenever I recite it, think it, pray it, read it. The version I have memorized goes like this “WHAT WOULD HAVE BECOME OF ME HAD I NOT BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE LORD’S GOODNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.” Amen.
I’m defiantly too old to call you Momma – sista will have to do. Oh, how I wish I had remembered this scripture Saturday morning! Wait on the Lord! I guess I’m still having to learn most of my lessons the hard way. Guess what my next memory verse will be? LOL!
This last blog is such a picture of life; fun, beauty, wonder, tradgedy, horror and a perfect call to action as followers of Christ from Romans 12:21: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. A good friend and mentor wrote a song that is a perfect fit for this time and this post:
Lord send a revival
For your glory that all may see
Oh Lord make it my heart’s desire
Oh let it begin in me
~Come Alive by Greg Johnson~
I pray for a revival of the Holy Spirit in all of us to God’s glory. Let it begin in me . . .
Beth,
That sweet, babay you are holding is just too precious. How happy I am for you and her family. I know that God’s blessings and love will be all over her life. I smiled as I read the blog this morning. When I saw the pics of Ainsley, I thought of my own son, Brandon, (now 13 years old) on the day he was born and what a wonderful joy it was for me.
I feel your heart when you speak of the Last Days and all that has occured this weekend in Arizona. It just breaks my heart. But thank you for sharing your heart with the blog world and encouraging us with the beautiful words of Psalm 27.
You are a blessing to the world Beth, keep up the great work that you do for God’s Kingdom.
I have never submitted a comment before, but while reading
“Thy Hand”s comment, she put my feelings down exactly. I am always encouraged by Beth and her Bible studies and I thank God for giving her this ministry and I thank all of you who post so many encouraging and uplifting responses.
Thank you for this post, Beth! The events in AZ really penetrated my heart with such sadness this weekend. I was recently beachcombing for seashells while on vacation in FL and I kept coming across all of these broken pieces of what used to be big, intact shells. Despite their brokenness, their colors were still vibrant and the designs still so beautiful, I decided to pick them up for my collection. It got me thinking that God does the same thing with us. Despite our brokenness, rough edges, and imperfections, in the light of His presence, we are still so beautiful and lovely to Him. He makes us beautiful, whole, and complete the more we draw closer to Him and allow Him to put us back together. Living in such a challenging world, it gives me hope to know He is there and able to make everything good.
Yes I have been praying for all the people involved in the shooting and their families. I was wondering how important you have to be to be considered “assassinated” instead of just “killed.”
They are reporting so much about Congresswoman Giffords, the judge, and the 9-year-old girl, but I haven’t heard one detail about the other three or the 13 injured. Thankful that God loves each of them the same, and cares just as much about every victim, and he knows each of their names.
Also thinking about the shooter. NOT defending his terrbile actions by any means. Thinking about all the reports calling him crazy, mentally unstable, etc. Especially regarding the last post. Wondering what was going on in his head. Maybe if he had gotten the right care or spiritual nurturing long before this, maybe this would never have happened and all those lives would not have been shattered.
Thinking about the families of the victims, and if some of them are asking God why he allowed this to happen, because I’ve been wrestling with the same question. I am scared of the last days and all the things going on in this world.
What a blessing it must be to have a baby, I cannot imagine. Congratulations to the new parents, she is beautiful.
Mama Beth,
Thank you so much for keeping it real and reminding us how much we need to trust that God is ever present in our lives. That we need to look to Him for comfort and peace in these very hard times.
Praying for Arizona and all the families affected by the shooting. So, so sorry for their loss.
What an amazing post Beth! Thank you for reminding us that God has it all unnder control. Those are great scriptures to remember! My heart grieves for those who lost their loved ones in Arizona but it is great comfort to know that we can hope in the Lord who is “working all things out for our good.”
Also, thanks for showing us pictures of that beautiful baby girl. Yes, she does look like Mother Teresa in that pic. Let’s pray she grows up with a heart just like her. ;o)
Lastly, Happy Belated Birthday Curtis!
Have a wonderful week, Siestas!
Kimberly
Yesterday, sitting with my Sunday School class of one, who had just returned from Passion, we talked about this very thing…about how God will pour out his Spirit in the last days…and how we had both experienced just that in the last week. Wow.
I truly enjoy this site and your blog, Beth and the comments. It is a true community. I have always been hesitant to join in these type of sites before. I don’t know why….must be some of my insecurites (just finished reading and crying and praying my way through Beth’s book, So Long Insecurity…..) Anyway, here I am world! It is precious to me that you, Beth, open your life to all of us. It is so very encouraging and such a blessing.
And like the rest…this shooting just opens wounds. I think our country has now had so many of them that none of us are untouched. I live in Ky and my son was in 8th grade at Heath when the Heath shootings occurred, Dec. 1, 1997. I did not know any of the victims at that time but everyone was affected by it. I will never forget that day. And everytime there is a shooting, it brings that back afresh. I pray for those personally involved and that community. May God’s grace fall fresh on them.
I woke up this morning with what you wrote on my mind.
I reread your blog. There were many things you wrote that stirred my heart.
I also have 3 more verses to memorize this year.
My Mother has stage 4 lung cancer . She is living with me and my family . She has many lesions in her brain. With all that she is sometimes difficult to be around.
When I read Psalms 27:13 -14 out loud to my Husband this morning I bawled.I am still bawling like a baby.
Thank you so much and Praise God for HIS word. HIS word heals and ministers to me so much.
I agree with you watching the birth of a child is indeed amazing . In 2010 I had the awsome privlidge of handing my first Grandson to my Daughter. We bawled and shared a moment together I shall treasure in my heart forever. My Son inlaw is faint of stomach when it comes to surgery so I voluntered whole heartedly.
Then later in September my other Son in law could not do the surgery thing so I got to see my 5th Grandchild come into this world Molly is her name.
I love babies they give this family of 14 something to laugh and cry about everyday.
Beth God uses you to stir me. Thanks for being HIS willing open servant.
Thank you Siesta Momma for….well for just being you. Your faith and “realness” have been a blessing to me for over nine years when I started my first Beth Moore Bible Study. It was “A heart like His” (the original)and we did not even have visual. We just gathered around a table and put the CD player in the middle and listened to you teach God’s Word! Today I am reminded that God is “….making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wastelands” Isaiah 43:19
I saw the father of the 9-year-old girl from Arizona on the Today show this morning. So, so tragic. She was born on 9/11/01 and taken on another day of tragedy.
These are the times ladies.
I’m going to enjoy “my time” today by playing w/ my kids in this wonderful snow we recieved in Tennessee!
Can’t wait for the 15th! Already got my verse ready!!!
I sometimes wonder how it is possible to be so full of joy and so full of pain at the same time…and yet, these are the richest, God-filled moments of life.
New life…..and then tragic death…..pain and glory all mixed up together. Such a strange juxtaposition of the two.
But this we know:
God is STILL seated on His Throne.
Praying abundant blessings on the new lives, and abundant comfort on the altered lives that surround us. Father, have mercy on us all.
Thank you dear Beth for sharing so much of “you” with us. I love it so much that you feel as real and as dear to me as my “everyday” friends! 🙂
I have been so overcome with sadness over the way our world is going….the sadness….the brokeness….the heartache. I see it every where I turn and my heart just hurts for people in the throws of life, especially those that are in the the throws of it without the hope of Jesus. You said “These are strange days. Terrifying days. Sometimes I just sit and shake my head and wonder what on earth is ahead.” And that resonates with me….sometimes I find myself saying “How much more Lord, what more!?!”
Praying for God’s healing, loving, comforting touch upon every life in Arizona that was touched by Saturdays tragedy. That He may be their strength and their portion.
In Him,
Andrea
God bless you Beth Moore! Love, Kimberly