**Siesta Celebration is January 20-21, 2012**
Hey, Darling Things!
I’m writing you from about 28,000 feet in the air, glancing out at a sunset heavy with steely thunderheads and striped in army blues. I am on my way home the long way from Columbus, Ohio. After our Living Proof Live ended and we ate lunch at the arena, we all headed to our various vans so we could make our ways to the airport. I hopped in the front seat with Rich because Ron and his darling wife Nancy had already headed home. Several of our other buddies were in the back chattering away when Rich overheard me say to my man on the phone, “Honey, I won’t be late! My fight is at 3:47 and I’ll pick back up an hour so I’ll have a nice long evening with you.” Keith was feeling poorly with a chest cold and laryngitis and I really wanted to get back to him.
(Rich) “Beth, you have a layover.”
“A what?”(Like I don’t know what that word means after nearly 30 years in thin air.)
“A layover in Denver on your way home. I think you get home kind of late.”
“But I had a nonstop flight to Columbus!”
“Well, you don’t have a nonstop flight home.”
And he was right. I hadn’t even looked at my arrival time in Houston. So, this afternoon I flew from Columbus all the way to Denver and now I’m on my Denver flight making my way to Houston. This weekend I’ve lost an hour, picked up two, then given one up again. Try to do that math.
But to say it was worth it is an understatement. We had 7000+ women in Columbus, Ohio who were in the mood to lift up some high volume praise to the God who is worthy. We knew we were going to love them within 15 seconds flat. And they were my favorite kind of group in Bible study, too, because they got involved the way a small class would. Super interactive. God so graced us in Ohio and we will remember the time we had with those believers for a long time. I knew God was up to something good when I looked at the stat sheet that K-Mac prepared for me and noticed that the six biggest groups attending the events were six different denominations. There are no words to express to you what that means to us. To God’s credit alone, that’s becoming more the rule than the exception in this season.
I’ve had a very interesting flying day. If you’re on Twitter, I tweeted that the people watching had been extraordinary. You know, I struggle a tad with eavesdropping as it is but when everyone is sharing very big feelings at a very high volume, what is a woman to do? But stare? And so, I nearly cried while a young 40 something Dad with shoulder length hair hugged his varsity baseball-type looking son goodbye as he took off for college for the first time. Both of them had tears streaming down their cheeks. It was a most moving scene and one that I had to restrain myself from joining. Of course, I don’t know if the young man was going away to college or not. I made that part up because it was the best possible scenario to fit the high EQ. The part about the long-haired dad and the varsity baseball-type son was true, however. And they were both crying. If I wouldn’t have to stop and explain when I’m making something up, my posts would go smoother. But somehow I feel an obligation toward confession.
What is indeed an absolute fact is that there was a little girl about six years old that nearly made people punch the windows out of the plane and parachute to Beulah Land while her mother chatted with a friend. Mind you, a six year-old little girl would have to work hard to push me over the edge. I love that age in the largest way. But I was nearly overwrought with the teeming desire to give that darling child a spank offering. But, of course, I wouldn’t have. Goodness knows, I have a deep commitment to all things politically correct.
Well, guess what day it is? August 15th and you know what that means! Spit out your next Scriptures, young ladies, and do it with some fervor. His words are Spirit and life to us. Let’s give them some respect and expect them to do the kinds of things He promised they would. Here’s mine:
Beth, Houston. “Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 The NET Bible
A loved one and I are memorizing this together as he seeks to take the next step in a victorious life that demands sobriety. For some of us, it’s all or nothing. Jesus is the only reason some of us are not passed out in an alley with a newspaper over us. If you have struggled to stay sober and the enemy is doing everything he can to suck the life out of you and steal everybody you love, one by one, don’t stay in the shadows. Get out in the light. Own up and let some people cheer you onto sobriety and victory. YOUR GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER YOU. Do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do. You have a calling to fulfill.
I never want to get where we’re playing church around here. The salvation of Jesus Christ is real and it has huge practical ramifications in everyday life here on this fallen planet. Let’s not just talk it. Let’s do it.
Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober.
Kim Virginia
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. NIV
Katie, Roswell, GA: “The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.” Psalm 28:7 NIV.
Linda
Burnsville, MN
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:11-12 (ESV)
Heather F, Beaumont, TX
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isa 40:29 (NIV)
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (NIV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Catherine, Montgomery,AL
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Psalm 32:8 NLT
Dee, Muncie,IN
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
“Everything that is in the world-the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see, and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions-is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16 CEB
Marty ~ Mobile, AL
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
Kristi
Albuquerque, NM (just moved from Arlington, TX)
Galatians 6:9
“Don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.”
Carla F., Houston, Tx.
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Isa. 26:8 (NIV)
Barb – ChiangMai, Thailand
Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 16:24ESV
Karen, Christy, Cheryl, “A Cord of Three Strands”
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Beverly
Midlothian VA
I will commit myself to you forever; I will commit myself to you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and tender compassion.
Hosea 2:19 NET
Melany, Garrison, MO: Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassodor in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20 NIV
Linda Lexington, KY
Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.
Joshua 3:5
Day 2 week 9 BREAKING FREE
NIV
Diane – Spring, TX
“The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'” (Psalm 32:8) NLT
“be wise in the way you act toward those who are not beleivers, making the most of every opportunity!” colossians 4:5 GNT
Marilyn, Peterborough ON Canada
James 1: 2-4 NIV
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
Stephanie, Atlanta,GA
“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17 NIV
Penney
Caribou, ME
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I Peter 1:13 NASB
Port Huron, MI
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
The Message
Bunnie, Hume, CA
“Surely goodness and lovingkindness (mercy) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”! Psalm 23:6 NASB
Jill H. – Aurora, IL – Romans 8:39 – neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV
Ann, San Antonio, But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6(ESV)
Wendy Raleigh NC
*mine is a continuation of last month’s verse Psalm 91:11*
“they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” Psalm 91:12 NIV
Sheilah, Melbourne, FL
Job 36:15-16 (NIV)
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;
he speaks to them in their affliction.
“He is wooing you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place free from restriction,
to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.”
Allison Mitchell
Hanover, WV
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given you a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline…Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us,” 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 14 (NIV).
Debbie, Fort Thomas, KY
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NIV
Nancy, Springdale AR
Everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12, NIV
A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Proverbs 12:16 NIV
Leverett, MA
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Roamans 6:16 NIV
Dixie, Trophy Club, Texas says:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalms 51:10
New American Standard
Marceil, Cedar Rapids, IA “And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross, through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Col. 1:20 NASV
Kathryn, Austin, TX
I honestly can’t remember if I posted last time, so sorry if this is a re-post. For the first half of the month:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17, NIV
My current verse:
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” Hebrews 13:5a, NIV
Dana, Blue Ridge, TX
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, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Eph 3:20-21
NIV
Tanis
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. HCSB Ps 139:7-8
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert. Isaiah 43: 18-19 NIV
Marcia, Vancouver,WA
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
A gentle answer turns away wrath; but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Ephesians 1:17 NIV
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, May give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.
Marsha, Knoxville, TN
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
Abbie Walker
Omaha, NE
“Has not my hands made all of these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “This is the one I esteem. He who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2 NIV
Dawn, Beavercreek, OH:
I Peter 4:10 (NIV) “That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”
Colleen, Conroe
Isaiah 40:11 (NIV 1984)
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
he gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Kalonni Porter, Van Meter, Iowa: “For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘May you have peace.’ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.” Psalm 122:8-9 (NLT)
Karen, Houston, Texas:
O Lord, you searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely O Lord. You hem me in-behind and before;you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Psalm 139 1-8
Amy, Snellville, GA
“How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22 (NIV)
Janet,Longmont,CO
“Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ” This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:20,21 NIV
Do all tings without grumbling or questioning.
Phillipians 2:14
Debbie, Portland, OR