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.
Patty, Ada, OK
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”. Romans 8:18 NIV
Kathy Aurora, CO
Psalm 62:8 NASB
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Maria – New York NY
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
Monroe, LA:
Keep on loving each other as brothers.
Heb 13:1 NIV
Jessica, Florence, SC:
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose this day whom you will serve,…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
“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 those who wait for Him!” Isaiah 30:18 NIV
Traci – Corona, CA
Psalm 126:6 (The Message)
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
LS in NC
‘to set the mind on the flesh is death but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.’
-romans 8.6 esv
Gay Bates, White Oak, Texas
Joshua 1:7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.”
Cheryl
Leesburg, IN
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, as you shine like stars in the universe.
Philippians 2:14-15 NIV
Janet Richland, MS
If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
Rachelle, Gardner, KS
Moses said to the people: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation. He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.” Exodus 14:13-14 Holman Standard Christian Bible
“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 (NAS)
Kate, Grapeland, Texas
Donna, Lufkin, Texas
Elaine, College Station, Texas
Laura, College Station, Texas
Emily from Washington, DC … “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Lu, Raleigh, NC Job 37:14 (AMP)
Hear this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
Emily,
Fuquay-Varina, NC
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
Allison, RUston
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abount in every good work.” (2Corinthians 9:8, NIV)
Tangila, Pearland TX
“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.” (Psalm 28:7 NASB)
Isaiah 26:3 niv “you will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Elaine Kiley Marietta
Sharon Lee, Riverside, Ca.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant
away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior. Psalm 27:9 NIV
Cassie; Fulshear, TX:
“Everything is permissible for me’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’—but I will not be mastered by anything.”
1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV
Melisa, Roanoke VA
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Sarah Millers Creek
Now to hime who is able to do immeasurably more than all we askor imagine according to his power that is at work in us.
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Psalm 104:34 NIV
Alisa
Clinton, MS
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Proverbs 28:13 NASB
Michelle, Columbus, OH:
“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.” Psalm 139:4,NIV
Beth, Oklahoma City
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 NKJV
Dena’ Davis, Hindman, KY ” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ” Mark 12:30 NIV
Michele, Weber City, VA
Everything is possible for one who believes.
Mark 9:23 NIV
Susan, Meredith, NH, “Blessed is the one who perserveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to all who love Him.” James 1:12, NIV
Erin – Springfield, MO
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
Avayd Ann, Merriam,KS. Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Ps 27:14 NET
Jennifer, Kodak, TN – Psalm 27:14 – I need both translations, hope that’s okay 🙂
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
(The NET Bible)
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.
(The Amplified Bible)
Lydia, Vicksburg, MS
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10a NIV
Cindy – Lexington NC
Nevertheless; God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription, “The LORD knows those who are His and everyone who confesses the name of the LORD must turn away from wickedness.”
2 Timothy 2:19 NIV
Nancy, West Virginia
Matthew 6:33 NIV But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Psalms 27:14
Rely on the Lord, Be strong and confident. Rely on the Lord.
Becky in Norfolk ~
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 4:25 Chattanooga, Tn.
Bailey, Knoxville
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
Kat-Albany
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 NIV
Janet
Enid, OK
Psalm 68:19 NASB
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
Ashley Dill Austin,TX
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 NIV
Melissa, Houston, TX, – “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 (NET)
Vevay, IN
Porverbs 15:33 NIV
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Allison, Annapolis, MD “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lead not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5, NIV
Susan – Maynard, MA
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
MarySue Auburndale, Fl
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Kelsi, Pewaukee, WI:
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.
Ephesians 4:15, NIV