Hey, you mighty warriors!
By the time you get this SSMT post, I will be on my way to Nashville for the videotaping of James: Mercy Triumphs. It almost makes me cry to see the actual (recently settled-upon) title in print. So much time and focus and prayer and frustration and second-guessing and bewilderment and wonderment – and learning and thrilling and growing and wallowing – go into the whole process of a Bible study journey. Many tears. Healthy laughs. Big eye-openers. Rich conversations. Moments of, “What on earth was I thinking??” Above all, so much desperation for Jesus. If God doesn’t pour His Spirit into it, it will fall flat like a collapsed pup-tent. That’s the God’s-honest truth. After 14 journeys similar to this one, I know just enough in advance to be dangerous. Enough to start shaking (not with anointing but mostly with anxiety) when the outline first goes on paper. I know now how life’s going to go on in the middle of it and how all sorts of unplanned ups and downs, woes and joys will mark its pages. I know now how I’m going to end up writing about things in my life and family that haven’t even happened yet. Some of them will be wonderful. Others will be painful. It’s kind of like starting a new journal. There is a certain amount of trepidation because you simply can’t guess what will fill those pages. It’s a stomach-knotting blend of anticipation and raw fear. But what I forget sometimes in that anxious moment when I know there’s no turning back is the grace. The goodness of God. The fact that I’m invited to believe He was the initiator of it, as He is in all things faith (Hebrews 12:1-3) and that I don’t have to assume complete control over it. I’m invited to remember what life the Scripture has and how much this woman has to learn.
Good grief. I’m sitting in a salon chair about to bawl my head off. (Writing this to you on Friday.) I’ll try to rein this one in and quit being so dramatic. This is no time to wear you guys out about the James Bible study because Melissa and I still need you to pray us through until the complete manuscript is turned in at the end of summer. The beauty of all the studies prior to Esther is that they were pre-blog and I didn’t gnaw you like a bone throughout the whole ordeal. It’s too late now.
Make no mistake. The studio audience, the LifeWay video crew, and I need your prayers like crazy this week. Yes, pray for us during the day when preparation is taking place but especially pray for us in the evenings on Monday (tomorrow) through Thursday. That’s when the actual sessions will be taped, two per night, back-to-back. And pray big things for the participants, too! They are so incredibly important in the process. Pray for them to get totally caught up in the Scriptures and in what God is speaking into their lives and be oblivious to the cameras. Pray for them to experience a powerful encounter with Christ through His Word and for Him to do something utterly remarkable in each life. THEN, pray for that anointing to also transfer just that heavily to the women who will one day watch the series on the other side of the screen. I requested a smaller group of participants this time (like I have at Life Today – the perfect size!) but that means the cameras will be much more obvious to all the ladies in the audience. Pray also for us to bond in the Spirit right from the beginning.
Thank you so, so much.
I won’t get a chance to blog much (if at all) while I’m in Nashville but Amanda and Melissa will chime in. I will try to get on Twitter a time or two a day perhaps so, for those of you who like that, we’ll stay in touch that way. (@BethMooreLPM – writing that kind of thing always makes me want to throw up in my mouth.)
After the sessions are complete, the video team and I will spend all day Friday doing some additional taping that won’t require an audience. Later in May they will come to Houston and we will do yet more taping. At that time (later in May), I’ll do the intros to the session and also an on-camera dialogue with Melissa over the project. She has been a huge part of this journey. In fact, she was the first of the two of us who felt drawn to this book of the Bible. She is not a camera hog and won’t let me add her name on the cover but it would be a crying shame for the women not to get a chance to connect with her on screen. She has zero interest in entertaining but she has a huge interest in studying. That’s enough to make her push past her discomfort and get on the screen. In case you’re not up to date on her part of the project, she is writing extra study portions 2-3 times per week of Bible study for the student that wants to go deeper.
I am always reluctant (as both my daughters are) to mention two of us instead of three. Amanda, Melissa and I are, as my people would say, thick as mud and we don’t like to pair off. As I mention Melissa often in this process, rest assured Amanda is cheering us on and praying for us every step of our way. She is not actively participating this time in the editorial process (I miss her so much) because her focus and energies need to be on her family but we three women are together continually.
SO, did you think I’d forgotten what we’re doing on here today???? No ma’am. I most certainly did not. All I’ve just told you led to the Scripture I’ve chosen as my ninth verse.
Beth, Houston. “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Yes, Sir! If this selection resonates with you, join me with it! I’d be honored to memorize with you. I will say it over and over this week. Maybe you will, too, and He will hear us each time and find joy in it. I pray with all my sappy heart that the Spirit of God loves to hover over this community.
OK, so what are your verses, Sisters??? DON’T YOU DARE QUIT!!!!!
I love you to pieces.
Jane, Normal
Ephesians 4:15, NIV
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Oops, It was supposed to say:
“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.” ~Amos 3:7, ESV~
Karen, Scottsdale “Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker” 2 Samuel 3:1 NKJV
Marge, Chili WI
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!
Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)
I can’t wait for the James study-thanks for sharing about your week and what you will be doing to get the videos ready for us-wish you would come to our church one day and video tape a study:) My goodness, would you ever be welcome! XOXOXO
Allison
Hanover, WV
Ephesians 3:16-20 (NIV), “I pray that out of His glorious riches that he may strenthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
Susan
Norfolk, VA
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
Isaiah 61:2 NIV
Robyn, San Antonio
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
NASB
Lori Beaube, Hazlehurst, Ms
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, NKJ
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!”
Psalm 27:14
The NET Bible
Chris
Canton, NC
Kathy, Shattuck, OK
Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV) “n him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”
Patty, Vicksbugr, MS
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His”. 2 Chron. 16:9 NASB
Colleen, O’Fallon, IL. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11 NIV
“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” Zeph. 3:9 NIV
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Adrienne, Clarksville, TN
” A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:10-12 NIV
Carrie, Lee’s Summit “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” Isaiah 30:18 NIV
Valerie, NJ
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Psalm 37:7a NIV
Sylvia V Jersey Village, TX
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Sandra,Florida. “I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. I looked to Him and my face was radiant, and my face will never be ashamed. Psalm 34:4,5 (NAS)
Psalm 119:17-18, NLT
Be good to your servant,
that I may live and obey Your Word.
Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in Your instructions.
Laura Greensboro, NC
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9 NLT
Earlene, Trego. “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 NLT
For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. Psalm 130:7
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Joan, Portage,MI
“But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love & compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will respond instantly to your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food & affliction for drink, he will still be with you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes & you will hear a voice say,’This is the way; turn around & walk here'”
Isaiah 30:18-21 NLT
Nicole, Stuttgart: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
Emily, Monroe LA:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor 4:18
“Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”
Psalm 100:3 NIV
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. Psalm 71:14 NIV
Tricia Faison Wendell, NC
Romans 15:13 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Kimberly, Denton TX
“But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7 ESV
Gretchen, Cincinnati
Psalm 27:14 NET “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
Iris, Sherwood, AR: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20 NIV
Nikol; Birmingham, AL
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.” Psalm 9:10 NLT
Melanie, Amherst, MA
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets…
Hebrews 11:32 NASB
Starla, Parsons, KS
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 NIV
Romans 10:17 NIV
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Jane,
Cuba, MO
Mariel, NC “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 NET
Delaney, Allen, Tx
Gal 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5 NIV
Praying! Thank you for faithfully ministering to the Lord. We love you. Praying Ps. 28: 8-9 over you this week.
Beth, Toronto: Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 29:2 NKJV
Andrea Hart, Orlando, FL James 2:26 NIV “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
~ 2 Corinthians 3:6 NIV
Shelli, Richmond
“You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great” (2 Samuel 22:36) NIV
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14 (NET)
Cheryl
Coffeyville, KS
“‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.” John 10:9 NIV
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9 NIV
Terri, Pleasant Hope, MO
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Amy – Gallipolis, OH – Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Kelley, Round Rock, Tx
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 (NIV)
Carol, Gig Harbor, WA
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” Romans 12:17