**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.
Galatians 5:15 NIV
If you bit and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Amy, Sweeny, Tx. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of heavenly light, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Jovin, Houston TX
Ezekiel 37:4-6 (NIV)
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
Annie, Alaska.
Psalm 136:18 NIV
And killed mighty kings, His love endures forever.
Tammy, Dallas
No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
Isaiah 58:6
Amy, Sweeny, TX
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.
Phil. 2:3
For you Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalms 9:10
Stacey, Magnolia, 1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is reealed.
Rhonda from Anderson
NIV Psalm 91:1 & 2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
NASB
sheila, ok
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. Rev. 22:12
Leigh gray, Illinois
I cannot remember if I ever posted this or not. I am sorry! This is the one I learned…
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
Kristi
Charlotte, NC
kimberly mason, tuscaloosa, al:
malachi 3:6a niv
“i the Lord do not change.”
Macy
Russellville, AR
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (Colossians 1:9 ESV)
Zimmerman, MN
Zimmerman, MN
Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shephard I have everything I need.
NLT
Janelle C – Malakoff TX
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22
Karen, Naples
How long, LORD, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to you about violence and You do not save?
Habakkuk 1:2
HCSB
Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored.
Rend your hearts and not your garments and return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness and He revokes His sentence of evil when His conditions are met.
Joel 2:12-13 AMP
Connie, Greene IA
Elizabeth, Reston, VA
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
2 Chronicles 16:9a, NIV
1 corinthians 13:9
For we know in part and we prophesy in part
1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
Sheri – Atlanta, TX
Psalm 145:9 NKJV
The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.
Montgomery, AL
The first chapter of James. (NIV)
Liz Lyons; Cypress, Texas; “WHATEVER you do, do it for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Liz Lyons, Cypress, Texas; “For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17 (NIV)
Kristi, Charleston, WV “and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”
Eph 6:15 (NKJV)
Christine, Augusta, Ga
“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.” Psalm 73:23 NKJV
Rebecca, College Station, TX
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
James 1:2-3 (NIV)
Consequently faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Romans 10:17 NIV
Annalee in Houston
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this age,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you many discern what is the GOOD, PLEASING, and PERFECT will of God.
Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matt 9:13 (ESV)
Ps. 119:4
3who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways.
Kasey Ewing, Bossier CIty LA
SHERRY, TULSA; “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and fields produce no food; though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet i will rejoice in the Lord, i will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:17-18, NIV
Ola Mae, Cedar Park TX Titus 2:5 NIV ..to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.
1 THessalonians 4:13
Stephanie, Houston.
Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:16 NLT
Mary Alice
Dallas, TX
He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.’
Mark 9:29 NIV
Carole, Austin: 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
James 1:9
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
Linda, Austin, TX
Matthew 11:29 NIV
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Lisa, Brazoria, TX
“in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your pathes straight.”
Proverbs 3:6
Stephanie, Queen City, Tx: 8)”For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9)”For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My
ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
Nikki, Franklin, TN
I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
rosebud atlanta, texas
I, the Lord, do not change.
Malachi 3:6 niv
Anita
Austin, TX
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Eph 4:2 NIV
Karen, Houston — He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Ps 91:1 NASB