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.
Kari, Grand Rapids, M
Psalm 145: 8,9 NIV
8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
Diana, East Peoria, IL
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature
but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
Romans 8:9 NIV
Karen, Birmingham: “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8 NASB
Cindy, Grapevine, TX, I Corinthians 1:4-6 (NIV)
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knoledge – because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.”
Molly, Macon
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”
2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (HCSB)
Tomi, Des Moines, IA
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 NET
Brooke, Birmingham, AL
But as for me I wait in hope for the Lord. I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 NIV
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
I Chronicles 29:13 KJV
Heather, Aberdeen SD
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 NET
Lacey in Indiana
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
Connie
Austin,TX
Ps 143:8 NLT
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you.
Lynette, Aurora, CO
Zepheniah 3:17 NET
The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love.
But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.
Psalm 71:14&15 NIV
Tammy, Howells, NE Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah 55:6 (NIV)
Stephanie; Utah; “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Tammy
Lusby, MD
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Nicole Bloomington,IL:
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 EVS
rebekah, age 10, st. paul, minnesota
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41.10
“He must become greater, I must become less.”John 3:30 GNT (John the baptist, speaking of Jesus.)
Leslie, Missoula, MT, The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. Isaiah 58:11 NIV
I LIKE IT, BETH!
Jane, Lexington, NC
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Patti Rae, Saskatchewan, Canada
Isaiah 55:10&11a NIV “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:” (to be continued May 15 :)!)
Linda Annville, KY
ADONAI, God! You made heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 37:17 CJB
Karen, Denver. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
Matthew 16:25 (NIV)
Shana, St. Paul, MN
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41.10
…”I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV)
Kara, Houston, TX
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NIV
Marty ~ Mobile, AL
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2
Amanda, Katy, TX
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NIV
Jennifer, Portsmouth, Va: “From the fullness of grace we have all received one blessing after another.” -John 1:16 NIV
Deborah, Katy, TX
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NIV
Chris, Louisville, KY
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen. 1:1 NKJV
Jessica, Toronto
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Roman 12:9 (NASV)
Kathy, Danvers
1 John 4:16 NIV
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
Randi, TN, Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Cor 9:24nlt
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NIV
Susie, Whitehouse, TX
Kat Clarkesville, GA
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (NET Bible)
Cindy, Clarksville TN: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, Oh Lord my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Fran, Stedman
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Jennifer, Knoxville, TN: So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Janifer, Glen Burnie, MD
Romans 8:15 NKJV
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Eleanor
Memphis, TN
Psalm 62:11-12 NIV
11) One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard; that you O God, are strong.
12) and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.
Cindy, Grand Rapids, MI, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 NIV
Jackie, Arnold, MO “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Jaye – Keller, TX
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
Lynn, Louisville,
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
Donna, Albuquerque, Jude 24:
“To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy-” NIV
Karen, Wildwood, MO
“I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.” Psalm 101.1
Lala from Ruston, Louisiana, says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 KJV)