OK, Siestas, remember two posts ago when I told you about finding those old Scripture cards in that desk drawer? Eureka! Old girl struck gold again! To appreciate this particular brand of gold, you have to think in broad terms. In my family, amusement is a fist full of gold. Absurdity is a brick of gold. And a belly laugh is a ton of gold. To my dear friend Sophie (Boomama) and me, the national reserve of gold would be anything that makes us lean back in our chairs and clap our hands with glee. I’m not saying you’re going to get one of those. I’m just helping you sort out various levels of gold so that you know when you’ve struck the mama load.
I was three drawers down this time, looking for a set of immunization records which, incidentally, I never found. Since this is the second discovery I’m sharing with you from this old desk, I’ll provide a proper visual.
I love, love, LOVE that piece of stained glass above it. Keith’s youngest sister, Mary, salvaged it – with permission – from an old Methodist church under reconstruction. Our friend had it framed for us and we’ll keep it forever.
Back to the desk. So, this time it wasn’t Scripture cards from the family altar that I found in those bottomless drawers. It was speaking notes from the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Honestly, I sat in the floor slack-jawed, looking from message to message and laughed so hard that I could have cried. And sometimes I felt like crying so hard that I could have laughed. I wish you could tell from this picture how thick the stack is. (Every bit of three or four inches.) Some of the messages are on typing paper from my first word processor but many of them are handwritten on notebook paper.
How about a closer look?
Could you possibly have missed that I used HOT ROLLERS (I think you’re supposed to say it really loud) as an illustration?? I bet you anything it was to explain how we need to plug in to the Holy Spirit. Bless my sweet heart. I can hardly sit up to type. The worst part is that I am still using hair-related illustrations. One would so hope she’d grown in 25 years. Below is one of my favorite smatterings of messages. Please behold the broad stretch of topics. Can you make out the one at the top about “Table Manners and Table Settings”?
Talking was all I ever could do. My brothers and sisters were musical and theatrical. I simply talked. As you can see, it took me a few years to figure out what I was actually called to talk about. There were innumerable messages about Christian fitness in the stack. I may keep some of them. After all, Jane Fonda made an aerobic come-back. Here’s another one. The part that nearly sent me over to my side, kicking my legs, was the “POEM, end.” (It is of such importance that, lo, it is in my notes twice.) Well, of course, say a poem then end. That’s what speakers and even preachers did in those days. Please note my commitment to cultural relevance as the inclusion of a story about Rosanne Barr clearly illustrates. (Correct spelling of her name is actually Roseanne but I didn’t know that at the time nor did anyone ever whisper in my ear, “You’ll be showing these notes to a LOT of people in 20 something years.”) Oh, what I would give to know what story I was telling about her. As you might note, my source was the Enquirer.
No doubt, you are on pins and needles by now over this riveting post but, alas, the fleeting clock permits me, yea, only one more brick of gold. But it’s a doozy. This is a list of my seminar topics that I included in my “packet” to anyone who showed interest in asking me to speak.
Perhaps my favorite of all is “The Many Hats of God.” (I can no longer sit up to type for laughing. Lord, I am so sorry that I helped these innocent audiences of God-fearing women picture You wearing all manner of head gear.) My mind is eased only by the clear remembrance of often receiving a potted plant as honorarium. And, if you care an iota about accuracy, please picture me giving most of these messages wearing a corsage pinned over my bosom by the pastor’s wife. (That is not a bad word. Check your hymnbook.)
In closing, permit me to say that, if you think the (looooooooong) life of a Christian communicator is easy, you have clearly been set straight today. My son-in-law Curtis, is presently going through a stack of old cassette tapes of my earliest Sunday school lessons and messages to see what needs to be kept and what can be tossed. I can hardly look him in the eye right now. And he’s my pastor. Oh, the gifts that keep on giving.
Well. There you have it. Surely somewhere in those notes you’d find this saying: “Be patient. God is not finished with me yet.”
And, Lord knows, He’s still not.
Oh Beth ~ what a fun glimpse back into the past! Hot Rollers ~ Ha! I still have my set hiding behind the towels in my linen closet. Can’t bear to part with them, though they haven’t been used in about 15 years. Wouldn’t even have the prongs to keep them in, but there they sit.
So thankful I’m not the only one who cringes or laughs over her past passions and fashion trends.
Those treasures are a tribute to the faithfulness and fruitfulness the Lord has accomplished in and through you! So thankful for that, too!
WEGM hi Amos 8:11 God will bring a famine not of bread and water but the word of the Lord. hey thx for this greaat post today.. lonnng post short ok? went to a book party yesterday for Laurie Dodds(lakewood friend) and a older lady came up to me and asked me if i knew BethMoore and i had to hold myself back.Jenny Mc was laughing at me.
anyway she told me to tell you thx for changing her study
habit about God’s word when she was stuck in a hard place
and not growing in Christ. thx that you speak the spirit and in truth. Im mailing Melissa bday present early to you and Jim and i in Galveston and looking for a very funnie card for Keithy. God is greaat. also pray for Jordan a sweet wife when you feel like it thx Suey
Well, that is amazing….a full pot of gold. I’m just so sad that there wasn’t a proper poem at the end.
this why we love you, beth. thanks for keeping it real. 🙂
i’m remembering a sunday school lesson i taught to college students several years ago… about Jesus healing peter’s mother-in-law & somehow (since we only knew she had a fever) i applied it that Jesus can calm the “feverish activity” of our lives. well, of course that’s TRUE but really, the woman was just SICK. why oh why oh why did i try to make Scripture cooler than it was? as my kids say, EPIC FAIL. bless our hearts. 🙂
here’s my scene – i’m sitting in my usual spot at the head of the table, wearing my first pair of reading glasses. i’m sitting criss-cross applesauce in my chair. the washing machine is whirring. the kids are asleep in the loft above me. my mother-in-law is reading her email. my husband is reading scripture. i can’t laugh out loud! but my man looked over at me as i was grinning from ear to ear and just shook his head! i love/hate finding the stories i wrote when i was younger….
Oh I would love to look through those notes! 🙂
Just yesterday I re-read the last few letters my grandmother had written me over 20 yrs ago. In her very last letter, she talked about her favorite team – the Boston Bruins. And didn’t those Bruins just win the Stanley Cup.
Hey I’m all caught up on SSMT! 😀 I’ve been walking & working on them every morning. This last time I just copied yours 2Tim (but in Greek)- it is exactly what I need right now. God alone is getting me through this season. Thanking him for his presence and provision. There is power in the WORD.
Isn’t it neat that finding items that show us who we were enable us to see what we’ve become? Enjoy your stroll down memory lane…
Oh man! You know this very thing has kept me from writing and speaking!! I know I will go back over my things some day and cringe at what came out of my mouth or pen! But that is just part of it and it usually provides a good laugh. BTW. . . I did some of your early bible studies, you know, where you looked a little like Shelley Long, and guess what. . . I was still incredibly blessed!
You have such a way of sharing your life experiences that just makes me smile! It is truly a gift of God that few possess. As I read this post and your previous post, I could not help but think about the last anchor principle in my upcoming book ‘When Storms Rage – 21 Principles to Keep You Anchored Through Life’s Toughest Moments’ The principle is ‘Remember the LORD’ and it is great how He helps us even in that effort. Whether it is unearthing treasures in a desk, finding an old email, looking at pictures or simply reflecting – He affords us moments that encourage spirits, ignite passion and rekindle thanksgiving that He actually allows us to partner with Him in impacting destinies. Amazing! You are such a blessing to so many. May God continue to give back to you and pour into your life with surprise ‘pots of gold’ … pressed down, shaken together and running over … just as you’ve poured into so many others.
This is terrific stuff! I enjoyed seeing your “old” work! It shows how your creativity and study has advanced throughout the years….always letting the Lord speak through you, and never afraid to show us how real you are. Love you!
Anita
Purcellville, VA
By chance, I was witness to one of your early speaking engagements decades ago.
12 or so years ago I was invited to Houston to hear a wonderful group speak. You were one of the speakers.
I KNEW something had shifted, BOY had something shifted. Yes, you were still DARLING but your message was down right “dynamite”.
God had told me at a monastery in Colorado, he would send me some of his FINEST servants during the darkest period of my life these past 14 years and he has kept his promise.
You have been one of those persons dear Sister in Christ. I am so blessed and so privileged to have access to your mighty ministry. You are an example that God will continue to pour out his revelation to his people. Your life and the life of your loved ones speaks even louder (this is a compliment!) than your words. God Bless you and thank you for caring about us as you journey with your Lord. Thanks for the humor!
I love it! Definitely needed that little laugh this morning. It would be so beautiful to know how many women were touched by, and are still repeating the “Hot Roller” illustration today. Using it in their Bible studies. Mentioning it in encouragement notes to other women. I would imagine it’s too many to count.
Loved hearing about The Many Hats of God 🙂 God in headgear. Who would have thunk?! 🙂
I just might still have my button: “PBPGINFWMY” Oh the joyous memories.
Soooooo, what on earth does that long acronym stand for??? You gotta tell us now!
~*Adrienne*~
Darlin’, you are not alone in your painfully humorous reminiscences! It’s why I can’t keep a journal. I don’t think I could stand the humiliation when I’m even older and looking back.
For example: I actually read Desiderata as a dramatic reading in the Miss Christian Teenager of the Greater Pittsburgh Area Pageant. My evening gown was apricot colored and had ruffles where lo, there should be no ruffles. The crown (oh, yes, I won) was gold paper. There is photographic evidence of this awkwardness. I’m about to throw up in my mouth.
PS – Count your blessings. I saw your senior picture on Twitter. I believe you are about a year older than I, and you don’t have to live down the Farrah Senior Portrait Hairdo of 1977.
Oh Beth – how we love you so!! Thanks so much for sharing – you are pure GOLD sister!! I missed the “SIESTA” meeting in Lincoln as I needed to get my friend back to Kansas and since I haven’t been a full on participating SIESTA I was leery of showing up and having someone say “um yeah…you’re a part time SIESTA” not that anyone would but aren’t we goofy?! I check your blog a couple of times each week and am blessed by it and your love and devotion to our Savior 🙂 Afterwards I thought, dear Lord, if I missed the chance to meet her face to face I’m going to cry!
This post makes this fledgling historian’s heart soar. I have great affection for old papers. One of my greatest treasures is a box of my dad’s Sunday School lessons from his early years of teaching. Please please don’t “toss” anything. I can only imagine that decades from now, a Seminary or church library would be blessed to be gifted with the Beth Moore Papers so future students of God’s Word could follow the journey of growth He has led you on.
Amen and Amen Regan.
Keep everything Beth
It’s for the rest to learn with.
Poem
end
Springdale, AR.
Beth,
I admire your humble spirit. Thank you for sharing with us with genuine transparency.
Hi Beth – what a sweet post. Love the desk and stained glass above! I love that you still talk about hair when you speak! I am a true southern woman and have gone back to big hair. Yes, I have! I tried to conform but I LOVE big hair. Have even considered buying a new set of hot rollers!!! I hope you’re smiling when you read this! For some reason, my hair is important to the whole family. My kids let me know when my hair looks good or ….not so good.
Isn’t it fun to find those unexpected treasures? I’m usually half panicked trying to find something and then run across something that brings back so many memories that I lose sight of what I was trying to find and just…remember. My kids love it when I share these things too.
So, what do your notes look like now?
You are such a ‘together’ woman of God. I do pray for you and your family and staff often. I am on pins and needles to dig into the James study.
Thank you once again for sharing. You are a sweet siesta mama!
Love your transparancy and your sense of humor! Thanks for posting.
Posts like this one is the reason I read this blog faithfully!!! You made my day!!! You have made my day many times but this time I can only say “thank you Beth for being so honest with your life”. I know in my heart that each message represented on your paperwork were all messages from our heavenly Father.
We love you with all our hearts!
Happy 4th.
GG2002
Oh my! This blesses me so much! I loved seeing the HOT ROLLER illustration — and I’m still using hot rollers on occasion. Thank you for taking us down memory lane — it did my heart so much good. I’ve been speaking for about 5 years and oh my WHAT A difference today is from when I first began.
Beth,
I was thinking the same thing Regan was.. Don’t toss anything. I know you would humble enough not to compare yourself with the likes of Oswald, Spurgeon, or Amy Carmichael. But my daughter and her daughters’ daughters will feed on the spiritual food you are leaving for years to come. What if Oswald’s wife tossed her notes? Think about it..
God bless!
Carol in AL
I ‘heart’ you, mama Beth! 🙂
What an encouragement for me that I got to start somewhere with His ministry. Hot rollers and all 🙂
God bless you & thank you for the mid-week pot of gold!
I too keep my notes from sermons I heard and lessons I’ve taught and they are gold and worthy of keeping for future generations. I love finding handwritten stuff, that I did or my children, or even my husband. A treasure to be sure a legacy to pass down most definitely.
what a treasure! Lord knows, the hot rollers illustration might be the one thing someone still remembers 🙂
when i think back to a speaker at a youth conference from high school, the one thing i remember about the story of moses is, “i’m gonna hit you with my stick!” i’m sure the message was much different–something about how God uses the least likely to do great things for His glory!
i think it’s a gift to be able to laugh at yourself. 🙂
This made me smile. Thank you Beth for sharing with us all kinds of scenarios. And especially for the way you share Jesus. You are so real and I’m sure if more of God’s messengers shared in this way we’d win more of the lost. To all the siestas on here today have a great day.
In other words, you have GROWN into the BIG HAIR woman you are, lol….I know I laugh so loud at myself with my children looking at old pictures of the what my daughter calls, the evolution of my hair, I am so embarrassed at some of those pictures but you know I was being who God made me to be and isn’t he wonderful? I like my hair today, lol….We all grow in our love for the Lord and turn into the person he created us to be. I so love your honesty about yourself. It has been a real boost for me that makes me calm down about my faith, my persona, just love you Miss Beth…..
Carla,
I can remember my English teacher in the 12th grade who had lots and lots of hair and I thought she was the sweetest teacher I knew, even with her big hair.
Now, I feel like I am the one with the big hair and oh my goodness! …I don’t how to deal with it. lol
Oh Miss Beth!
You, like all of us have had to crawl then walk. It’s just part of the heavenly roadmap we must follow.
I’m so glad for you and your faithful study/ministry! Even when the message was about hats of God—I bet SOMEONE was changed for the better for HIM!
Isn’t God cool to use us if we’re only willing?
Don’t know why but I find this post so encouraging. I think it’s b/c we put so much pressure on ourselves to be everything NOW when God has called us to something that has to be developed in us. Great reminder that growth is required but God is willing to use us where we are at.
Think you should do an everything 80’s post w/ many pics and have us siestas do the same. We might find we’ve all made a little progress! 🙂
Beth, I’m still listening to your casettes (sp)from when you taught our Dayspring class! And they are good. 🙂
Laughing. You guys in that class were inconceivably patient with me! I will bear Dayspring on my heart forever. Thank you, Sandy!
This was too funny! Two things were especially striking to me: 1) The mention of a corsage b/c my mom (as church pianist/organist for years) has a boxful of these from many events. She offered them to me a while back…Bless her heart! 2)The comment about bosom b/c my 9 yr old daughter and her classmates laughed hysterically in school when learning the words to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Thank you for your transparency and precious family stories.
Bethie,
At least they weren’t pink sponge rollers…
Jan in Arkansas
I STILL use my HOT ROLLERS religiously! What does that say about me?
Oh, thank you for sharing this. I am very fearful of my new role (Children and Preschool Director), mainly speaking in front of adults. And this post was just what I needed today.
Everything in perspective…right? Baby steps…and what wonderful ones they were for you. Thank you for continuing your journey, and allowing us to watch and learn.
Oh, and don’t toss a thing, but maybe the hot rollers? =)
I’m thinkin….how kind of the desk to cough up such treasures and fun memories…as opposed to a hairball or something even icky-er! Kinda fun to see the old you. Some of us were dorky too 20 years ago, and God STILL used us! A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!
See, this is one of the many reasons I love you. Hot Rollers and Roseanne Barr. You are awesome. 😀
Dear Beth, I want to second the vote not to throw away the old notes. After my father passed away, I found all his hand written notes from teaching the adult Sun. school class. I also found a letter written by my grandfather to my dad on his college graduation day. The letter encouraged him to continue his walk with the Lord. These are treasures I will treasure forever.
Thanks, Beth, for sharing your walk with the Lord.
what a treasure – thanks so much for sharing! And I love the intro about the different levels of gold – that’s a great visual that we’ll be walking of streets of gold someday, how fun to visualize God laughing with all creation! (not at us, with us as my mom would say 🙂 )
I am amazed when I skim back through old journals at the “together” I thought I had achieved… thanks be to God that He doesn’t give up on any of us
Love from the heat of Phoenix desert!
Thank you, Beth. Now I know that I must, under all circumstances, keep my old lesson notes because I will be sure to enjoy them someday. As a teacher, I have considered good-natured (but secret!) amusement at student bloopers to be one of the perks of the job.
Now I know that twenty years from now as a Bible teacher, the amusement will still be one of the perks, but I’ll be the subject!
Oh Beth – you know this absolutely endears you to us even more!!! It is a mighty testimony to God’s faithfulness as well.
Today is the Feast of Saints Peter & Paul – I can’t think of two better patrons for you! Praying for you this day and always!! much love,
Sister Lynn
Beth, I remember going to a First Place Conference, I think in the early 80’s, in Georgia and you had just started speaking and I loved you then too!I’m sure God has blessed you since day one of your speaking engagements!Love you.
LOL! I am laughing out loud!! I too have those notes, scraps of paper lying around! Once I was speaking to a group of women about the “business of busyness” (UGH!) and sang the song from Veggie Tales “Busy, Busy, I’m dreadfully busy…” I cringe thinking about it!! Oh my word!
Thanks for all you do for the LORD-mine is a life that was changed! (still laughing…:)
This cracks me up! And encourages me that I don’t have to have it (my stories, Bible knowledge, presentation) perfect my first shot at teaching. Perfection is a constant struggle and one that keeps me from growth if I let it.
On a different note, I loved to hear the story of how the Lord has used John Piper despite his crippling fear of speaking as a youth! What a sweet reminder that it is really about God and His strength in weakness and less about our natural talents and gifts!! Praise God that He has chosen to do such a beautiful work through you, Beth!
I aspire to be a teacher with, Lord willing, one iota of the influence you’ve had on Christian women! Keep the posts and transparency coming!
What I can’t figure out is how you stay out of that gorgeous desk! I want to dive in and see what mysteries it holds!
Thank you for STILL using hair stories… it is what binds us girls together! If you stop … I might think you have gone bald! 🙂
I have never used hot rollers but the mental picture of you makes me laugh with joy! We used the old fashion pink sponge curlers in my house of childhood, had to wear those things all night with a scarf tied around to keep them from falling out, my grandmother would pierce my head several times with bobbypins to ensure I had curls come morning! It was her job to ensure I met expectations of cherubim curls. (a blonde thing I think)
Hold those notes tightly, they make take you through a low time or two, which can show you that God used you and matured you and that He fulfilled His promise to you!
I would have loved to hear your poem – even twice! Girl, you got us to drive long distances to hear your speak! That my dear is TALENT!
Keep checking those drawers – I would love to come and help but I am sure some of the things are meant for just any pair of eyes.
Call me if you ever decide to clean your attic!!!! 🙂
Tickled!! 🙂
We’re back in the States for 2.5 weeks. Mom handed me a stack of old school papers for me to go through…my 8 year old daughter got a kick out of them, too!
So so funny! I loved seeing your notes. You better keep those, I know 2 little kids who will treasure them some day!
A couple of weeks ago, my husband pulled out an old message to preach for a Wed. night service. I noticed on his notes that he had written it in the late 90’s. When the service was over, he asked how the msg was and I lovingly told him that I could tell it was from his early days! =)
Love you dearly!!!
It makes me so happy to see your notes. My less stellar speaking moments typically stem from over use of Lord of the Ring references. Approximately 1 out of 100 women appreciate them. I have consciously removed them but with great pain. At least girls appreciate hair talk.;)
Paco,
I love your LOTR references. If only your audience knew you were really a Mexican dude…
LOVE YOU! 🙂
Dear Guido,
I am slain.
Love,
Paco
Dear Paco,
I have never loved you more.
Love, Guido Hosay
oh Dear Sweet Mama Beth,
this post just made me giggle…I would be the one who would get the hot roller thing and I have short hair for goodness sake…what does that say about me? I just thank you for being so real. I saw you this weekend in Lincoln and totally blessed but I had to giggle to the LOrd when you were looking for a few verses and you would say Lord let that verse be there that shows this thought…I was like oh thank you Lord someone else who hopes the place they are looking in scripture is the right place. I so loved that…made me just want to come down there and hug you, but I didn’t want to get in trouble. I thought I was the only one who can’t always find the exact spot of Scripture at times but I know it is there. Isn’t God just a blast?
Love you
I am NOT a speaker. I think the Lord knew what he was doing when the ONE speaking engagement I was booked for was cancelled because of weather. Sweet mercy, I was so in over my head. But I had my notes ready, had studied for weeks, and had all sorts of funny stories written into my notes in BOLD PRINT – like HOT ROLLERS – so that I made sure they were included. I so tend to lean towards making people laugh…even though they would’ve probably been sympathy laughs at this particular engagement…
My dad, however, is a pastor of 40+ years and has used the same Bible all those years. It’s FULL of his sermon notes – literally every single page has something (a LOT) written on it. One Sunday when I was a teenager, I was running out the door late (shocker!) for church and grabbed his sermon Bible instead of my Bible. Nearly gave the poor man a heart attack. I learned never to do that again! One day, hopefully a LONG time from now, when he goes home to be with the Lord, I hope I get his Bible. What a treasure!