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.
Cynthia – Richmond, VA – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NIV 🙂
Megan, Grants Pass
Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 (NASB)
Cary – Celina, TX
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Cathi – Morristown, TN
“Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don’t lose hope. Wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14 (NIrV)
Susie, Ft. Worth, TX But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (English Standard Version)
Midge, Florence “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Karen, Springfield, MO: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV.
Julie Jackson, MS
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
I wait in hope for You, Lord. You are my help and my shield. In You my heart rejoices, for I trust in Your holy name. Ps 33:20-21
Janice-Abbeville, AL
“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Exodus 14:14 NKJV
Kim, North Branch, MN
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness and contentment is great gain. NIV.
Jackie, Los Angeles, CA
“Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Petra, Ceres, CA
Ephesians 4:11-16 (NIV)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 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. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Bismarck**ND
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they wil walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible, Rhonda, Searcy,AR
Sarah, Isle, MN
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6b (NIV)
Elizabeth, OKC
“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:3 (NLT)
Whitney, Nashville. “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Stacy Featherston, Searcy, AR….
“I will praisse you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.” Psalm 63:4 NLT
Ashley, Colorado
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
-Psalm 118:24, NLT
RaeLeen, Greenwood,
” Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! ”
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Anna, Milwaukee, WI. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” NKJV
Jeremiah 33:3
Sarah, Euharlee and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:15-16 NIV
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Misty, Midland TX
Stacie L., Bulls Gap, TN –
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:2 (NIV)
O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you,
for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me. Daniel 2:23 NET Bible
Natalie, Houston,
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Phil 2:3 NIV (Thanks for the “Don’t you dare quit”!!)
Caitlin, Tulsa, OK – “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NASB)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 NKJV
Kristie
Queen City, TX
Leanna, Lafayette, IN. Joining you with:
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Melissa, Smithville MO~
Romans 15:13
“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.” (NIV)
And mine for April 15th that I forgot to post:
James 1:19
“My dear brothers, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.” (NIV)
Katherine Lee Jonesboro, AR
Ps 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!'”
ESV
Cindy, Tulsa OK
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Mary, zeeland Proverbs 4:23 ESV. Kee your heart with all viligance for from it flow the springs of life.
Matthew 10:39 (NLT)
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
Tami
Columbus, Ohio
Heather, Yankton SD –
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Lori
Fort Campbell, KY
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatains 5:22-23
Sharon L., Bulls Gap, TN. –
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Lisa – Idaho
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Christy, Summit, MS: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain for what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Kim B., Clayton, NC
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Janet, North Vancouver, BC: Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
Hilary, West Palm Beach, FL:
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”
-Psalm 20:4 (NIV)
Graduating (undergrad) in almost 5 days!
Kelley, Russellville
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” KJV Ecclesiastes 7:1
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16 NIV
Lisa
Van Buren, AR
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
NKJV
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 NKJV
Ashley
Queen City, TX
Ashlie, Dallas, GA
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Gal. 5:6 NIV
Jan, Clarkston MI
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)