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.
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!”
Psalm 27:14 NET
Jill
Laramie, WY
Laura ~ Saskatchewan,CAN
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Christy, FL – “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Ps. 90:14
Emily, Ida Grove, IA- I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:24 (NIV)
Vicki, San Angelo
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Dana Ashland, KY “Rely on the Lord! Be Strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Kim H., McKinney, TX
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
I SO need this verse today…… my heart is sick (and so is my stomach) with worry about my sons, but especially my oldest. Ugh…
Is. 41:13 (NIV)
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you “Do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD.
I will say a prayer for you, my sister, and for your sons. That’s all I can do , but we both know we serve a mighty God who can do exceedingly above and beyond what we could ever imagine. You are not alone. With Love and Prayers, Dawn.
Samantha, Marionville MO
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV
Jennifer M , mass
”wait for the Lord be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”Psalm;27;14
Judy, Oswego, NY
Galatians 5:1 (NLT)
‘So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.’
…if I rise on the wings of the dawn… if I settle on the far side of the sea…
Psalm 139:9
(memorizing the whole chapter this year!)
A fool give full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11
Kim, Advance,NC
” And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 NLT
Penny Mansfield
As he sought the LORD, God gave him sucess.
2 Chronicles 26:5 NIV
Ontario, OH
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
Star, Jackson, Tn
Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5
Shannon
Richmond, KY
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Julie, Winterville NC
Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord! Psalm 27:14, The NET Bible
Deborah, Mobile, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and self-discipline.” 2 Tim 1:7 NIV
Rachel, Blairsville, GA. (Finals week!) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Cassandra, Aldergrove, BC – She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. Proverbs 31:19 NIV
Sloan, Greensboro, GA
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.
Galatians 2:21 NIV
April, Vermilion
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
1 Peter 3:1-2 (NIV)
Kim, Searcy, AR “Rely on the Lord! Be Strong and Confident! Rely on the Lord! Psalm 27:14 NET
Karla, Maumee OH: ” Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
Kristi, Elba, AL: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Amanda Rearden, Windermere, FL (Orlando): “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Kathy, Hendersonville, TN
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Romans 8:13-14 NIV
Holly Mc from Tyler, Texas
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV
Katherine, Shiremanstown, PA
Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments. ~Deuteronomy 7:9 (NASB)
Jennifer in New Orleans: “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
james 4:7 submit yourselves then, to God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Betty, Port Orange, Fl.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19;14
Melodie, Orlando, FL
Jeremiah 1:9, MSG
God reached out, touched my mouth, and said, “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth-hand-delivered!
Ann, Rockwall, TX
Be still and know that I an God Psalm 46:10 NIV
I need to know this reference for my youngest child! 🙂
Kimberly Ocoee FL
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under lawÂŁ but under grace. Romans 6:12-14
So sorry this is a day late. I can’t believe I forgot!
Stephanie, Beaumont, TX:
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” 1 Peter 5:8 NLT
Dana, Murray, KY
I’m going to join you in your verse, because, well, it’s exactly what I need right now. Please allow me to say that I could use a prayer in that I have suffered such loss this year that I dropped out of the memory verses because my mind just would not cooperate. It has been a horrific 3 months, but I am not going to be defeated, praise be to God! I’m ready to jump back in and focus on some scripture!
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your path straight.
Proverbs 3:4-6
Karen, Kelso, TN”
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
Shannon, Birmingham, AL
‘I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world’
John 15:33 NLT
Deut. 7:9 NIV
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
Judie,South Bend: You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place Psalm 31:8
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
Tracy L.
Richlands, NC
I saw this one and jumped on it.
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
Sharon, Moore, SC –
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Vickie, Iowa Park “Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14 The Net Bible
“Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 The NET Bible
couldn’t find one better!
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness
of the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13
Kathy
Lynden, Wa