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.
Alexander City, AL
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
I Peter 5:10 NIV
Tori, Winston-Salem, NC
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” -Psalm 27:14, NIV
wendy, broken arrow, ok
āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Sorry, May got here before I was ready. :0/
Becky, Brentwood TN
Ps. 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and
wait for the LORD.
NIV
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that the labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Please excuse my late post. I’m from north Alabama and have had no power since Wednesday due to the devastation from the tornadoes. But here goes…
LeAnne, Albertville, Romans 10:10″for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness…” NAS
God bless you, girl and so glad you got power back!
Deborah, Markham, VA
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”
-Psalm 51: 10,12 (NIV)
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23 KJV
Linda Bend, OR āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Martha, Pine Bluff,Ar
He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all,how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 81:32 ESV
Tami Decatur Tx. says,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Sandy in Amarillo, Texas
Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.
Luke 19:5 (AMP)
Rogers, AR “He who tills (cultivates) his land will be satisfied with bread. But he who follows frivolity (vain things) is devoid of understanding (heart).” Proverbs 12:11 NKJV
Tamara; Alabaster, Alabama: Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Isaiah 35:3-4 (NIV)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 NIV
For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea, causing it’s waves to roar. My name is the Lord of Heavens Armies. And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand. Isaiah 51:15-16 (NLT)
And here are my March 15th and both April verses (late:
Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:16 (NLT)
The Sovereign Lord has given me His words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. Isaiah 50:4
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. Isaiah 50:5
I’m late!
Valerie, Louisville, KY
Therefore ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:21-22 HCSB
Liz, Overland Park, KS – Psalm 27:14 (ESV) “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”
Linda, Bartelso,IL –Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 HCSB
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Ecc 5:2 NIV
Laura, Lexington, KY
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:18 NIV
Stephanie, Newport Beach
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14 ESV
Hannah;Dayton,OH;I Timothy 1:5,”The whole point of what we’re urging is simply loveālove uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God..” The Message
Rhonda, Sulphur, LA “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” -Philippians 3:8 NLT
Tiffany, Houston TX – Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Connie H – Forsyth, MO āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
“You gave abundant showers, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.”
Psalm 68:9 NET
Cynthia, Greenwood, AR
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” I Corinthians 15:58 NLT
Andrea, Houston
Matthew 17:20b
…if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, āMove from here to there,ā and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Michelle, Charlotte NC
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves”
Phil 2:3 NIV
Linda, Delray Beach, FL
“Though He slay me,
yet I will hope in Him.”
Job 13:15 NIV
Lorraine Tyler
“Rely on the Lord. Be strong and confident!Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Becky, St. Augustine
“I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Isaiah 61:10 NIV
Cynthia, Russellville Beth, I love your verse today. I’m going to claim it also.
āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Kathy
Dow IL
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21
NRSV
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Karen B.
Hope, AR
Lori Lehrmann ~ Port Arthur, TX
Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice and cling to him. ~Deuteronomy 13:4
Hebrews 13:5 NIV “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Pamela, Missouri (sorry so late!!)
By wisdon a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. ~ Prov. 24:3-4 (NIV)
Ringgold, GA
John 6:36 ” But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.” NIV
cont. my memorization of John 6:35-40
Cindy Gandy
Hazlehurst, MS
āRely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!ā
Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Shannon
White Hall, AR
Psalm 31:5 (NLT) “I entrust my spirit into your hands. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.”
~As I see myself, once again, handing over my spirit to Him that is utterly trustworthy! There are no safer hands.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Houston, TX
Melinda, Independence, MO
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 NIV
When I heard the title (as I have been anticipating the study) I felt my heart leap with joy and victory. I can’t wait. Just what the Spirit has been testifying to me and the battle that I am in. Praise Jesus and thank you for following Him. š
1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all Grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ after you have suffered a little while will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Dora, Houston, TX:
“For He Himself is our peace.”
Ephesians 2:14a (NASB)
“Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call insight your intimate friend.” Proverbs 7:4
Rebecca, Arkansas
“Remember not the former things,nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
Melanie, Portland, Oregon: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)
Karen H., Stephenville, TX
Psalm 27:14 (NETBible with Hebrew translation for middle part of verse)
Rely on the Lord!
Be strong and let your heart be confident!
Rely on the Lord!