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.
Vicki C.
Fort Wayne, IN
Lord, you establish peace for us;
all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
Isaiah 26:12 NIV
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Ps. 27:14 NET
Brittany
VA
Rita, Cantonment, FL: “And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in the scorched places, and give strength to your bones. And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11
Amy – Cherry Hill, NJ – The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24, NKJV
Kristen, Three Rivers, MI. “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Liz – Edmond, OK; 1Timothy 1:17 (NIV): Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
(NLT) Psalm 18:1
Lindsey, Jenks, OK
“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God… And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” ~Philippians 1:4-6 NLT
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Julie, Minneapolis
Elizabeth, Birmingham
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26, NIV 2011
Erica, Ozark: Psalm 27:14 NET
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
Carrie, Chicago
Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT)
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me
Lyn, Casey, IL:
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressiongs from us.
Psalm 103:12, NIV
Kimberly, Circleville OH: “He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick, until He has led justice to victory. The nations will put their hope in His name.” Matthew 12:20-21 (HCSB)
Grace, Circleville OH: “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Bev, Ironton OH: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 (New King James Version)
Portland, OR
This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2b
Brenda: Denton, Tx “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET bible
Jessica, Ellis Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 KJV
Catherine, Lees Summit, Missouri
Hebrews 13:15, NASB: Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Julie, Cincinnati, OH
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Gal. 5:16, NIV
Pooler, GA
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. -Psalm 27:14
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 (NIV)
Tara, Powder Springs, Ga
“We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.” – 1 John 5:14-15
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding,
In all your ways, acknowlege Him
and He shall direct your path
NKJV
Pat from Indy
Tanya- Warren PA
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do let yourself be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Heidi, Mount Vernon, OH: “My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.” Proverbs 4: 20-22 (NIV)
Angela, Grand Ridge, FL
(continuation)… 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.
Ephesians 3:19-20
“Honor the Lord for the glory of His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.” Psalm 29:2
Pam, Greensboro,NC
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14,NET
Michelle, New Richmond – 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
Barb, Evansville, Indiana
Deut 11:15-17 (still working on the Shema part 2) NCV
He will put grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will have plenty to eat. Be careful, or you will be fooled and will turn away to serve and worship other gods. If you do, the Lord will become angry with you and will shut the heavens so it will not rain. then the land will not grow crops, and you will soon die in the good land the Lord is giving you.
“And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:7(NASB)
Cyndi, Friendswood, TX
Peggy, Arkadelphia, AR: Psalm 27:14 NET “Rely on the Lord! Be Strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!”
Rose, Dallas
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET bible
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105, NIV
Sherry – Hillsboro, OR
So, for the person who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, it is a sin. James 4:17 HCSB (Beth, I chose this before I read your blog this morning, really!)
Julie, New Braunfels, The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned so it will be, and as I have purposed so it will stand.” Isaiah 14:24
I will be praying for you all week!
Lindsey, Fuquay-Varina, NC
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 (The NET Bible)
Deb, Windsor, CT:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” – Isaiah 55:8, NIV
Cindy,Prairieville, Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 NLT
Donna, Huntersville, NC
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Ps 27:14 NET
Melissa- Midland MI
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN: “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Peggy, Corpus Christi TX. Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord. Psalms 27:14 HCSB
Kristin, Pottsboro, TX:
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. Psalm 19:7 NIV
Dawn,Aiken, Do not merely listen to the Word and deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
Ps. 16:5-8 NIV
Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Richmond, VA
Kimberly, South Dakota
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4
 Psalm 63:1 The Message
“God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you!
   I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
      traveling across dry and weary deserts.”
Holly
Geita, Tanzania
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
Isaiah 45:2
New International Version
Stephanie, Oscar, LA “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible