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 ā and learning and thrilling and growing and wallowing ā go into the whole process of a Bible study journey. Many tears. Healthy laughs. Big eye-openers. Rich conversations. Moments of, āWhat on earth was I thinking??ā Above all, so much desperation for Jesus. If God doesnāt pour His Spirit into it, it will fall flat like a collapsed pup-tent. Thatās the Godās-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 lifeās 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 Iām going to end up writing about things in my life and family that havenāt even happened yet. Some of them will be wonderful. Others will be painful. Itās kind of like starting a new journal. There is a certain amount of trepidation because you simply canāt guess what will fill those pages. Itās a stomach-knotting blend of anticipation and raw fear. But what I forget sometimes in that anxious moment when I know thereās no turning back is the grace. The goodness of God. The fact that Iām invited to believe He was the initiator of it, as He is in all things faith (Hebrews 12:1-3) and that I donāt have to assume complete control over it. Iām invited to remember what life the Scripture has and how much this woman has to learn.
Good grief. Iām sitting in a salon chair about to bawl my head off. (Writing this to you on Friday.) Iāll 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 didnāt gnaw you like a bone throughout the whole ordeal. Itās 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. Thatās 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 ā 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 wonāt get a chance to blog much (if at all) while Iām 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, weāll stay in touch that way. (@BethMooreLPM ā 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 wonāt require an audience. Later in May they will come to Houston and we will do yet more taping. At that time (later in May), Iāll 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 wonāt 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. Thatās enough to make her push past her discomfort and get on the screen. In case youāre 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 donāt 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 Iād forgotten what weāre doing on here today???? No maāam. I most certainly did not. All Iāve just told you led to the Scripture Iāve chosen as my ninth verse.
Beth, Houston. āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Yes, Sir! If this selection resonates with you, join me with it! Iād 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??? DONāT YOU DARE QUIT!!!!!
I love you to pieces.
Heather, Shiloh, NC
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18
Gigi, Franklin, TN
Stop doubting and believe!
John 20:27, NIV
Struggling with memorizing: Prayers needed!
Sara from Knoxville, TN
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Carrie, Poplar Bluff
Ps. 117 NIRV
All you nations, praise the Lord. All you people on earth, praise him. Great is his love for us. The Lord is faithful forever.
Johannah, Alexandria, LA
“Who is wise and understanding amonG you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13 NKJV
Chyrll, Memphis, TN: “For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”
Hebrews 7:28 (NAS)
Sharen, Geelong, Australia
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
Isaiah 1:17 NIV
Karen Basham, Lutz, FL – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NASB)
Ginny- Georgia
The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Ruach HaKodesh be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 CJB
I choose to memorize with you this go round Beth, so
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 NET
Perfect for the journey I am about to embark on.
Valerie, Scott City, MO –
“For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:5 (NASB)
Callee from Houston: “May the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you through the power of Jesus Christ every good thing that is pleasing to him.” Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
Roxanne, Frankfort. “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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)
Michelle Parma Ohio
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Please God let it be so!
Teresa, Fort Collins: “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.” Proverbs 16:23 NIV
Stephanie, La Habra, CA “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 NIV
Grace, Chicago IL
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV
Christie Cheyenne, WY
Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord you God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Dawn, Zionsville
This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and he know me, that I am the Lord, who exercizes kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, delcares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-25 NIV
Jana, Brenham, TX
Philippians 4:5-7
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” NIV
Jenn
Frederick, MD
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (niv)
Toni, Benton, AR: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8
Colleen, Mae Sot, Thailand
Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?
NIV
Psalm 71:19
Cheryl, NC
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
~ Proverbs 16:24 TNIV ~
Valerie, Oklahoma
“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
Ephesians 3:12 NIV
Cathy, Dallas: Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Tinley Park, IL
“But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge – do not give me over to death.” Psalm 141:8 NIV
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12 NIV
M.J. in Lovington, NM
Jayme; Marietta, Georgia:
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.ā This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: āLove your neighbor as yourself.ā
Matthew 22:37-39 / NIV
“The Lord gives strength to his people.” Psalm 29:11 NIV Jeanette, Danville, Va.
“It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.”
Judges 3:2 ESV
Vicky, Germantown, TN
Who will not fear you, O Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Rev. 16:4 (NIV)
Paula, Brownwood, Tx
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14. NET
Natalie, Olive Branch “He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” Colossians 1:22 (ESV)
I’m joining you this week, Beth!
Lauren, Kansas City, MO: āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Lena, Wilmore
But one thing I do: Forgetting wht is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:13-14 (NIV)
Dutchess of Winterville, NC
Habakkuk 2:2-4 (King James Version)
“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Caroline, Vancouver, WA
āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Donna, Norman OK
Psalm 62:5 NLT
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.”
Jen, Auburn Twp., Oh: I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, Psalm 16:8-9 NIV.
Tina – Roanoke, AL
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10 NIV
Heather, Wilmington. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him, who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3, NIV
Pikeville, TN – “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” I Peter 1:15 NIV.
Jodi,Fairhope, AL: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 NKJV
Gracen- Floyds Knobs,IN
“He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber;”
– NIV
Laur Spokane, WA
We receive from Him whatever we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. 1 John 3:22 GNTD
Jeannette from Ellicott City, MD
I called forth the mighty army of Egypt
with all its chariots and horses.
I drew them beneath the waves and they drowned,
their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.
Isaiah 43:17 NLT
Stephanie, Winder, GA
Deut. 6:23 (NIV)
He brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.
Cheryl, Everett
Ps 27:14 Niv “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”
Angie, Benton “wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 NIV