Hey, Siestas! Boy, have we had some blog issues since I talked to you last! Remember that server transition I warned you about? Whoa. That thing has been a beast. If you find this posted, you know that it’s mostly cleared up. You’re kind of a big deal around here to us (grin) so you can know we’ve been chasing our tails trying to get everything fixed.
I have two really fun reasons to be on here today. First of all, we are beside ourselves to head to Fresno for our Living Proof Live this weekend! It’s time for our Siesta Scholarship Giveaway to any Siesta who wants to come but can’t afford the event ticket. We will fix up the first 20 of you who call 1-888-700-1999 and ask to talk to Kimberly or Susan. Remember that we are CST (2 hours later than West Coast) and our office hours are 8:30-4:30. Lunch is the usual 12:00-1:00.
Michelle and I will actually head out to California tomorrow afternoon so we can have an extra night to get adapted to the time change. This will be a sweet trip for Michelle (aka: Hawk) and me. It is our last official one together as LPM coworkers. Our two-year time period with Michelle comes to a close next week. We have always known our time together was this length so, although we will be so sad to say good-bye to one another, we are not taken by surprise. I have very little doubt that Michelle will always be in my life in one way or another. We were friends before she came and will be friends when she moves on to her next post. If we get a chance next week, I’ll ask her if she wants to get on here and say anything to you guys before she goes. She has loved Siestaville and has been the one to organize our group pictures at all our events for the last year. She’s a prize. I love every single person that walks through our LPM doors and look forward to what God is going to do next for her and for us but I have had a blast with Michelle. She’s quirky like I am and we have howled our heads off.
And now for the last reason I’m on here today! I have a friend I want you to meet. She’s a brand new published Bible study writer that I have known for a long time. I love to let you know what’s up out there in Bible study curriculum land. I will give you one heads-up before you watch our conversation. My bangs are going to drive you crazy. I cut them myself with a pair of paper scissors after I saw this. I was only three days from a hair cut but I couldn’t stand it anymore. Think of it as a blond eye patch and I think you’ll be able to handle it better. We’re trying to get better at our amateur video tapings. We have better sound this time because we actually have lapel microphones now but the light is so bright, we almost look like apparitions. I pray it’s the anointing you’re seeing shining on our faces but I think it’s just a bright, sweaty light.
Hey, while we’re at it, let us know of some young women Bible teachers you’ve really been blessed by! Let’s spread the word about what God is doing in women’s ministry in the Body of Christ. And, we who are older, let’s embrace these young teachers and let them teach us some things and let’s encourage them and give them lots of room! We need them and they need us! I want us to celebrate the generations around here and sow into one another actively. This is God’s way, Titus women.
I love you guys so much. I’ll talk to you again on the 1st for our Siesta Scripture Memory Post. Please pray for all of us in Fresno this weekend! Thank you, Sweet Things.
Jesus, come into our midst with power and authority and an affection so strong and evident that we’re healed by it.
Introducing… from LPV on Vimeo.
I am so excited for Tammie. Can’t wait to get the study!
Praying for y’all this weekend. I am so looking forward
to Little Rock!!!
Love, Love, Love it!!! Can’t wait to get a copy ;o)
Eee! I found myself absolutely GIDDY as I watched this video (and was actually waiting to meet someone in the foyer of HFBC (: ) it took everything for me to not start dancing around out of excitement! There were a few giggles I just could not hold back.
God has blessed me with the opportunity to be under Miss Tammie’s teaching on Sundays in her SBS and He has spoken through her in some mighty ways. Though I have only been in Houston for a few months, I feel like it has been so much longer with how richly the Lord has been pouring out His love, lessons, and blessings (among many other things) through HFBC and Miss Tammie’s class.
I SO look forward to the release TOMORROW and you can bet your sweet head I will be picking it up when I am off work (which happens to be at LifeWay…How convenient! (; ) The Lord is a wonderful provider, so good, faithful, and loving and His light shines greatly through HFBC, Miss Tammie, Miss Beth, and LPM. I am buh-lessed! Thank You Jesus and Praise the Lord!
One of my favorite Bible teachers: Jena Forehand from Birmingham, AL. She and her husband have an incredible testimony and a love for the Word. She is speaking at our ladies retreat for the 3rd year in a row. We just can’t get enough of her!
http://www.daleandjena.com/
I LOVED THIS VIDEO!!!! You gals are a hoot! So excited to hear of this new Bible study and will be looking for it on the shelf. Blessings, Tammie, on you as you have persevered over and over again to see the fruit of your labor. To God be the glory, great things He has done!
Can I just say “Thank You” for this video? I needed to hear every word of it. Tammie can’t wait to do this study!!!
Bless you, sweet Tammie. God is amazing. What a gift to have Beth as a mentor. It doesn’t get any better than that! Love to you both.
Enjoyed this! Can’t wait to do this study. Beth, love to hear from you. I have been looking every day for new blog! Didn’t realize you had tech problems. Praying for you all this weekend.
Love, Dayna
I am blessed every day by Ann Voskamp’s Blog:
Holy Experience.
I recently read her book One Thousand Gifts and have bought several copies for friends.
Ephesians 3:20-21
I couldn’t get this video to work on my computer or my phone yesterday. Now, I know why. I needed to hear this TODAY!! Bless God!! Thank you, and I can’t wait to check out this new Bible study.
Lindsey
Beth & Tammie, What an encouragement and inspiration you both are!! You made me smile! I am studing Romans 12, and God speaks about the spiritual gifts He has given each one of us. He calls us to share those gifts. Thank you so much for sharing! Sending love & prayers to you…
Hey there, Siestas!
Thanks for the warm welcome! I am blessed beyond measure to hear how many of you were encouraged by our little taping. God does indeed still use ordinary broken people for His Name and renown. From a young age Beth would say to me: “Tammie, seek the Caller and not the calling and you will run smack into your calling.” Those words have stuck with me continuously as I’ve carried the weight of God’s calling on my life while wrestling with uncertainties of what His calling actually looked like. Jesus has certainly ran me smack into my calling as I’ve fixed my gaze upon Him, obeyed His leadership in my life, served whomever-wherever, and flat-out enjoyed His Word and Presence from day-to-day. All to say do the same Siestas and God will blow your mind as well. Just remember, nothing compares to deeply knowing Jesus. Not even a calling, or doing something great for God. Christ is ALL!
Lastly, I read an Albert Einstein quote yesterday that reminds me of Beth and Marge Caldwell, how deeply I feel about them both: “Many times a day I realize how much my inner and outer life is built upon the labors of my fellow men (women!), both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I’ve received.”
Beth, words fail to express my love, gratitude and appreciation for you. This is not new news to you, but I will forever live to repeat myself. All of us Siestas are crazy about you!
Much love in Jesus,
Tammie Head
So excited to get to know you through your Bible studies! That is an amazing quote that I needed today, “Seek the Caller and not the calling and you will run smack into your calling.” I also needed your words about nothing comparing to knowing Jesus, not even a calling! Thank you so much! I see a glow of His presence and anointing just by seeing the video…and as a Siesta mentioned earlier, your lipstick is pretty too! 🙂 Do share!!!
Tammie,
Love what you wrote. May we all seek the Caller and live out Eph. 2:8-10!!!
Thank you!
Heather from Lewiston
Beth, thank you so much for sharing this video, it really spoke to me, you and Tammy both. You are truly a blessing to me and our bible study group. The last two bible studies I have done from yours has been amazing. God has opened my eyes like never before. Tammy’s testimony really spoke to me as well, (I liked your word”pregnant” ) God has taken me on this journey through the book of Jeremiah all because of your Daniel study/videos. After finishing the Daniel study last year, I wanted to know what was going on right before their captivity. So I started studying Jeremiah on my own and writing down what God was showing me. WOW It’s been amazing. I spoke at our retreat last month (shaking the entire time) about what God had showed me, but I don’t feel “finished” with it….this video was so encouraging, thank you….can’t wait to see you this weekend in Fresno! Love ya!
I too am so blessed by this video, Thank you!
I want to quickly share, that in leading a Bible Study recently, God did such a work. It was Lysa Terkeurst’s Made to Crave, and I highly recommend it. As part of the study, we prayed the Word like Beth has taught me. One of my participants “got it!” and the Word of God is changing her and that was the most exciting thing I have experienced as a “green” Bible Study leader.
Next up for our group is “Esther:It’s Tough Being a Woman” Cant Wait! Love you all!
I am excited to see what lies ahead for Tammie! Bless you Beth for being a mentor to her and to sooo many other women like me that you have never laid eyes on. I would also like to mention Jena Forehand, she is an amazing teacher and is totally abandoned to the Holy Spirit to speak and encourage women to “get real”. I am looking forward to what our God has in store for her as well.
Love to all of you!! Smooch!
Kim, Wylie TX
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly
rewarded.
HEB 10:35
NIV
Sorry I meant to but this on the scripture verses.
I am excited to get this study. My daughter is at DBU in Dallas and Tammie spoke there and prayed with her. Afterwards she called me and told me “momma your gonna like this lady” am looking forward to it.
Beth and Tammie,
Thank you so much for sharing your hearts and your testimony of how God has worked in your lives. I so appreciated what you both said about persevering in what God has called you to do. God truly used that to speak to my heart today. Just last night I was telling my husband that it is so hard to keep praying and keep going when it feels like God is not answering. God used you both right now to say to me, “I am here, my child, trust me in what I have called you to do.” So, thank you for your love for God, and thank you for sharing what he does in your lives. I could use prayers for encouragement and to keep on keeping on. I am praying for both of you.
Ok, have to say this first…your blog shows all the info on the last person to post on your blog…I don’t care who gets my email, so I’m posting anyway. 😉
Thanks for the encouragement…you’re video gave me warm fuzzies…and choked me up a bit like I was sitting right with you two. Thanks for sharing about mentorship & perseverance. I’m not a writer, but there are things He has called me to do that I just want to throw out ’cause it’s taking so long. 🙂 Ladies, your chat made my day!
Thanks so much to both of you. You have no idea how much I needed your encouraging words today. Tammie, I especially appreciated your words to those of us who have been carrying a word inside for a number of years. Beth, I’ve said this before, but what’s one more time? I have been corporately mentored by you for many years and the only time I came close to meeting you was at LPL/Lutz, Florida, but it was during the altar call and I was there as an encourager. It would take too much time and space to share my story, but I am in the process of writing a Bible study and Beth, I can’t tell you how many times in my writing and revising I’ve gone back to something I learned in one of the studies you’ve written, especially Believing God. So much so that at one point I wanted to write and ask if I could just include your name on the cover as that would save a lot of time with footnotes. No worries, I have every intention of giving credit where credit is due. You’ll be happy to know that I have someone who, as Tammie said, has called out my gifts and I think often of her words to me, especially when I want to give up. You’ll be even happier to know that I lead a prayer group of five and I am pouring my life into theirs and they will be the first to walk through this study. I pray for you and for LPM often and would so appreciate your prayers.
By His Spirit,
Patti Hayes
Love, love, love this video! Exactly what I needed to hear today 🙂 Thanks so much, Beth and Tammie, for encouraging us to persevere. I’m excited to check out this study! Thanks again girls! Love/Lyndsay
Please pray for a friend of our family who has a baby born with a heart devect and is not doing well. I know God is Good and I trust his wisdom. As a mother myself i wish there could be a miracle and a healing, I just would appreciate your prays. Thank you for your time. Patricia
Oh my word!!! Does your message hit home!! For years I have been leading studies that others have written. . .a favorite of course being Beth’s, but the Lord has been speaking to me for a number of years now about teaching what He has taught me. My argument has always been I am not educated (I also did not finish highschool) and some of the women have degrees!! We are now 4 weeks into a study I am teaching and your little video was a message of confirmation that it was the Lord I was hearing!! Thank you for being so faithful!! You are a blessing! Helen
Great post. I haven’t posted in so long but couldn’t wait to tell u about our little memory verse book. I ran into ha God had me run into a troubled soul. I wasn’t in my usual purse so I only had my memory verse packet. Girls I whipped out two of those scriptures , gave them to her and have prayed that she would allow God’s word to seep into those cracks of living life. Yeah yeah yeah!!!!!!
Hey ladies, check out Margaret Feinberg and her Bible studies. Very unique thinker and writer. We did her “Scouting the Divine” study with some young newly wed couples and loved it 🙂
If you guys are getting these I have a quick prayer request for my boss. She has just started the empty nest.. well in the fall and since then her mother’s health has been going downhill and no one knows why and they found out some of the medicine they have been giving her has been could have killed her. Since doesn’t know Jesus (my boss) and she and her mother really need our prayers. Thank you so much!!
Sounds like a great study! I heard her on All Access & am looking for to hearing her story & doing the study hopefully soon!! 🙂
Psalm 40:2
Looking forward to doing Tammie’s study. Thank you for introducing it to us. By the way, Beth. I like to think of chill bumps that come about when boasting in the Lord as “Glory Bumps.” And, don’t be so hard on yourself about your hair. HAIR is a reminder that Jesus is our Holy, Almighty, Infinite,Redeemer! 🙂
I’m so glad I logged on today to see this video! Our ladies have just completed “Believing God” and I think I’m correct—this is the same young woman that Beth called up onto the steps with her during that series!?!Wow! I can’t wait to share this with our group! Looking forward to the study!
Thank you! Tammie is such a huge encouragement to this writer.
This may not be the place, but my dad needs prayer. He recently went thru his 2nd triple bypass surgery. Blood thinners are too hard on him causing loss of blood … loss of blood just caused him to have another heart attack. Praying it is minor. As of a few minutes ago, he’s in no pain and is receiving blood. He had his first heart attack when I was a senior in high school … I’m 42 now … it’s been a long road for him. And praying the Lord gives him many more years.
Love, shelli
Loved the video… 🙂
When I lived in another city I had a wonderful Sunday School / Bible Teacher who was also the church secretary. She got to know everyone as they joined. She reached out to the younger and older women. She would stop what she was doing to pray over a situation and in her classes she did a lot of extra study that brought the lessons to life. I always felt up-lifted when I left her class. Please pray for her as her husband died a few months ago and as her health has gone down she moved away to live with her son and family. I’m sure she will find a place to minister there… as God is good like that… still keep her in your prayers. Her name is Mary.
Congratulations, Tammie! Can’t wait to do the study!
Pretty sure this video was just for me. I taught my first women’s retreat earlier this month, and had a very similar experience. “I don’t know how to do this…” and also, “There’s so much here, it could be a whole study…” My husband and I laughed (and I cried) through your entire video, because God spoke to me clearly. Thank you!
Amen! So, so happy it encouraged!
LOL Beth, your bangs are fine 🙂 But I know your hair is always talk of the town 😉 “Glory Bumps” AWESOME! Thanks for loving the Lord and loving all of us so much!
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Has anyone applied for Hawk’s position? I have a “mean look” just ask my children, especially in a church setting. 🙂
LPM you’re in my prayers as you travel to Fres-yes. Beth, may the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine from you! Looking forward to seeing the Vimeo.
Michelle, you will be missed by all of us, especially Beth who felt so safe with you by her side.
One of the teachers I have been so blessed to study under is Hollylu Coon. She wrote and taught “A Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Real with God.” I took the class over a year ago at our church and God is still using her lessons to grow and change me. (When you laugh and cry through God’s word together, you remember it!)
Thank you, Beth, for encouraging young teachers!
God bless you Tammie. Girl, I have a bachelor’s of science in nursing and a master’s of science in nursing and I still struggle with feeling as if I am not smart enough…that I don’t really deserve my degrees. In fact, the thought once entered my mind that I should not go to my Grad school graduation because I was probably not as “fit” for this degree as my fellow classmates! God change my heart, renew my mind! Jesus come and do a work in my life! Help me to overcome the devils lies!!!!!!!!!! I look so forward to your Bible study Tammie. Oh how I would love to live in Houston and sit in one of your Bible classes…
Haven’t been on my email much lately, but really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with things I have going on, but God is faithful and he knew I needed to get on email today! I just love to hear God’s work in others. Look forward to the Bible Study!
Anxious to get Tammie’s new bible study. I think Kelly Minter has a new one one coming out soon too. Loved her other two. You ladies are all so inspiring to me and you come at a time when I really need the encouragement and uplifting. May God continue to bless all of you in your bible studies and bringing God’s word and love to others. I am so glad I found this blog.
LuAnn
Port Huron, MI
Psalm 18:39 NIV
You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.
Thanks for sharing this video. It really encouraged me in more ways than one and I can’t wait to go to Lifeway to get the study!
How exciting!!! Tammie thank you for persevering!! 🙂
On a side note I am going to Israel 🙂 signed up for a holy land cruise back in October of 2010 we leave April 27th! I am so excited and a little scared! I know this is going to sound crazy but would you all say a prayer that the pirates don’t get me! I also will be going to Turkey Greece and Rome but am most excited about Israel. If you were to suggest one thing for me to see what would it be? I know with only two days there I will not get to see a lot. What was your favorite thing in Israel! I’ve missed being on here.
And I promise to sign in on time with my memory verses I’ve not been to good. I have no idea what’s wrong with me I love to memorize scripture!!! Im just having a hard time finding a verse!! LOVE YOU 🙂
Beth,
I’d email you privately, but have no idea how or if you’d ever get it. I’m blown away by this video, and had to tell you that.
I’m a lover of writing. I say it like that because I’ve always loved writing, but am not educated in this field. When I got out of high school, I wanted to do the thing that would get me through school the quickest, so off to beauty school I went. 🙂 Loved it and was quite good at it…but never had peace. I wanted to write. Yet, I continued to flounder, doing everything but the thing God had put on my heart to do.
My story is different than yours and Tammie’s. I wasn’t abused–well, I was, but it’s not a story I’m quite ready to tell, and it was by a boy on a date, not an ongoing thing–I grew up with a mother who was physically, severely handicapped from the time I was just a little girl. I saw first hand what it meant to truly suffer. My mother was one of the godliest women I’ve ever known, and so not only did I see the suffering, I saw how God used her THROUGH her suffering. I saw her choose joy, in the midst of terrible suffering. The hardest thing I have ever done in my life was leaving home as a young girl, just out of high school. Mom insisted that she would not be the thing that held me back, that she would not allow me to spend my life being a caretaker rather than pursuing the thing God had called me to do. Yet, I never pursued the real thing God had called me to do.
Years later, as I watched my precious mother spend the last few days of her life suffering beyond anything I can even imagine, the statement you made in your Esther study about sometimes our death being our destiny became very real to me. I’ve no doubt that part of the purpose God placed my mother on this earth to live out was so that He could use her in her dying days.
I’m telling you all this because God used those days to teach me a multitude of things, and one of those things is that my will, my desires, my wants may not always be that perfect thing that God has for me. God’s plan, no matter how painful it may seem at the time, is so much greater than our own. That Valentine’s day, as we watched mom “change addresses”, I cannot explain the emotions of that moment. While I was absolutely devastated to lose my mom so early in my adult life, the joy of knowing that her suffering was ended, and that on Valentine’s day, of all days, the Lord Jesus saw fit to take her home was just overwhelming. I knew God’s plan was so much greater than my own.
Since then, God has been working on my heart about writing about the issue of suffering. So often as Christians, we see those in our midst suffering greatly, yet we feel so helpless as to what their needs are. I’ve seen, first hand, those needs that the suffering individual may not feel comfortable enough to speak out loud.
I have no idea what it is God is calling me to write, whether it be Bible study, or some other sort of thing, but I know He’s calling me to write it. I’ve been struggling with my lack of education, my inability, and today was one of those days. Thank you for making this video. I had to pause it and just have a good sob, knowing God intended for me to hear it. I had gotten the email and deleted it, thinking I would visit the blog at some point and read it. A friend sent to me, knowing my struggle, and asked if I’d gotten it. She told me I really needed to watch…I’m so glad I did.
Thank you so much for your ministry, for sharing your heart with us. You cannot possibly know what an impact your ministry has had on my life. I wish Tammie that very best, and I cannot wait to check out her Bible study.
With lots of love, and a grateful heart,
Tami
Tami, I love that you are a Tammie, I think the Video message was just for you. Write the book. I have faith that you will can do all things with God and I would love to be reading your book/workbook someday. I felt blessed reading your mom’s story and just wanted you to know I think you have a life story that has a lesson we need to hear. Love you Siesta.
Loved that video..Loved the Pirate bangs :o) Tammie thank you for letting God use you . I appreciated your comment on following Christ and you will run right into your calling… thank you Beth for giving exposure to young women coming up in your footsteps. You Rock!
Loving Jesus!
Sharon J :o)
Dear Tammie & Beth~
Thank you so much for sharing! I know what it is to be “pregnant” with something that God has given and prompting to get it out. After speaking at a women’s retreat in Feb. 2010, and feeling like I just gave a tip of the iceburg, I wrote a testimony/journey/Bible Study last fall of 2010. I shared it online as an e-course with 35 women. At last, I feel that I have “given birth” to the thing that God set within me.
Love & grace,
jodi
I just want to say that I about fell off my chair around 13:17 into the video. I thought it was going to be a nice little intro for the Bible study (and it was), but then suddenly it was like Beth was talking straight off the screen and directly to me. Definitely a word in season! Thanks Beth and amen to that! Here’s to persevering in the things God has called us to! 🙂
Exodus 14:14
“The LORD will fight for you; you only need to stand still.”
Cindy Early TX
Luke 24:49 NKJ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Carla LaFayette, Al.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
IPeter 5:7. NIV
Vickey plumerville AR, Psalm 16:6 NIV The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places: surly I have a delightful inheritance
Debbie, Lorenzo,Tx. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV