Hey, Sweet Things!
I couldn’t wait to see my LPM coworkers today but whew! It was hard to get back in the swing of things this morning! Was anybody else a little hungover from so much turkey and dressing and visiting and coming and going and cleaning and butter and sugar and coffee? Lord, have mercy! We put these bodies of ours through a lot over a holiday, don’t we? I feel like I could use about a week of saltine crackers and water. But then I’d have to have coffee, too, and that would be a gross combination. I’d end up needing a little something sweet to go with the coffee and then some dip for the crackers and it would just go on from there. Before you knew it, I’d be driving back through Chick Fil A.
I had such a great week (we get the whole week off at LPM). After a very busy Monday morning through Thursday night, I spent most of Friday by my very own self in the country. Keith was at our cactus ranch and the girls were also doing their own things. It felt so good to have a few hours of reflection and quiet after such heightened activity and great company. That’s one of the gifts of being older and your family being grown. Just getting to hear yourself think on occasion. I feel bad about even mentioning it to you moms who haven’t been alone for one minute since, say, 1999. Then, if you do get a while by yourself and you’re like me, you can’t wait to get back with your peeps. After my Friday alone, I spent three or four hours with Amanda and Melissa over Saturday lunch and we laughed our heads off and talked a hundred miles an hour. They remain my very best friends.
I so hope all of your Thanksgivings were wonderful and, maybe more than that, meaningful. It’s just flat healthy to take a season of time to tell God how grateful we are. It relieves us of some of the imploding stress of our self-absorption. God has been so good to us. So unspeakably faithful. You as a community were among the things I felt so thankful for. I had a blast swapping recipes with you guys. I made two completely new dishes because of you and adapted several of my own recipes. It was great fun. Thank you for joining in! It made me feel like I spent part of my Thanksgiving with you.
I have to keep it short today because I’m in the happy trenches of preparation for our last Living Proof Live of 2011. Travis and the LPL team and I will be in Pensacola, Florida this very weekend. We won’t have another LPL until, hmmmm, late March I think. As we looked for practical ways to alleviate some of the stress on my schedule several years ago, my very wise office administrator suggested that we not pile speaking engagements right on top of Houston Tuesday night Bible study. (It kicks off in mid-January each year.) We’ve done this for a year now and, although I always miss the activity that I’m not doing, I’ve savored every second of it. The new schedule has enabled me to give more attention to one thing at a time. Contrary to my prior standard-operating-procedure, I can say with no fibbing that we’ve made some strides in lessening the work and stress load around here and I’m so grateful to God. I hope you are doing something similar. There comes a time when a person has to say, “I CANNOT KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS” and then, here’s the hard part – do what is necessary – and Godly (lest someone think I’m talking about her leaving her husband) – to change it. I’m just still going to say to you that it’s tough being a woman.
OK, I better get back to work. Thanks for a quick coffee break! Will I see any of you girls in Pensacola this weekend? I’ll look so forward to our clandestine meet-up. Shhhhhhh. That one’s got to stay a secret. Watch for the slide.
I love you guys.
Looking forward to being with you this weekend! Praying God’s blessing on you and Travis. Can’t wait to hear what the Lord has planned for us this weekend!
I’m bring a group of 18! Can not wait! I have started giving faucet awards to women that act like a faucet and let God’s words flow through them but they KNOW the source. It is our saying that you deserve a faucet. (I get the pretty gold kind at Home Depot that has the red valve to control the flow. There is a whole lesson why it is red – warning don’t cut off the flow.) If I give one of your peeps a gold faucet to pass on to you, you will know why. You my Beloved Beth, deserve a Faucet Award. Let it flow this weekend! We are ready!!!!
I love your faucet award!! Perfect timing since Christmas is coming up and I can think of a couple women I can give this to. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you!
(you’re so funny).
And I would need to be about the first person to join you for the saltines and water; but you’re right – what’s a saltine without a 20 oz five shot latte?
So glad you had your Fab Friday in the country. Isn’t it nice just to not have to be anybody once in a while?
I, too, am thankful for the recipe fellowship you facilitated – the oven bag gave me an ocean of gravy and making the mashed potatoes the day before was the best thing ever.
Tonight it’s turkey tetrazzini and then I’m surrendering.
Yes!!!! I, along with about 15 other women from my town will be there. And since I live in a 3 red lights, 1 fast food rest & 1 grocery store town, that’s about the whole town coming to see you!!!! So excited and ready for God to show up and show out!!!!! See you in about 85 hours!!!!!! 🙂
I don’t live in Texas anymore (sigh), but your newsletters are like a shot of Texas. I feel so much better hearing from you God-loving fun Texas woman. I miss my God-loving God-focused friends.
We had an amazing Thanksgiving…just me & my wonderful husband!! I know, sounds so selfish…we more than make up for it on Christmas Eve at our house!! Love it!! We sat in His presence from the time we woke til we laid our heads on our pillows at night!! Our precious friends let us borrow their cabin in the woods on a private lake (I know, hard to take)!! It has become our tradition to cook the entire meal on Tuesday, leave for the North country (nothing like it in Michigan) and sit among the beauty of God’s glorious creation…cut down our Christmas tree…shopin Clare (sweet little town)…hunt deer(through the car windows)…eat…pray…love(Hmmmmmm…could be the title of a movie), build fires while we playing monopoly (hubby slaughtered me 3 out of 4 games…last one was a draw…he was being kind). It was a perfect time to treasure memories and our time with Jesus!! Thankful indeed!! I am so thankful for you Beth…and your family and the many ways you share them w/your SS’s!! Love you!!
Wow! I really slaughtered some of my words…must be the residual affect from Turkey & Dressing overload:o)
Wish I was anywhere close to Pensacola…I pray the Lord fills you in the trenches as you prepare to bless. Praying for Generous Love, Glory, Lord, Glory.
My Titus II question today is, what about Advent? What do other women do to dedicate their homes to the season of Advent?
“Christmas” is a struggle for me and I know the Lord is working on healing. But I can embrace Advent and if others have Advent traditions I would love to know about them.
Lord willing, I will be in Pensacola, FL with my firstborn and a couple of spiritual daughters. Thankful for this coming weekend.
Beth, I just love you. I just wanted to let you know what a difference you are making. Reading your comments about the crackers and water…then coffee and something sweet, made me smile. That sounds just like me. May God bless you and your family.
Oh how I wish I could be there this weekend. I am 2 hours from P’cola & so much want to attend. I have never been to LPL before but intend to try to do so in the near future. I will actually be singing at our annual Women’s Christmas tea this weekend. I can’t wait to hear all about the weekend tho! My prayers are with you.
Beth, How I love to read your posts! We had a wonderful holiday also. I fed my husband”s side of the family. I squeezed them all into my house and loved every minute of it.
Have a blessed week!
I actually cooked my turkey in the Reynolds bag that you recommended and even made a new recipe (sweet potato souffle)that I saw on the blog. Both were yummy. It was just my husband and myself-kids are grown and live about 3 hrs away-but will be here for Christmas! Yipee. Love this blog-I learn so much from the other women. Thank you!
Hey Beth! My momma and I will be traveling to Pensacola this weekend to hear you speak! Can’t wait, so excited, and making it a much needed girl’s weekend!
Beth, we love you girlfriend! Love the new style of the James study!
As an aside, I accidently cooked my turkey upside down. IT was funny after reading someones post last week about that being the best turkey they ever cooked. I was in such a hurry, I didnt realize it and literally panicked when I took it out, uncovered it. I thought I had gotten a deformed turkey! Not funny but soon I figured it out. My 4-year old Emma was tramatized when she saw it on the counter. She said Nonnie, what is that? It is nasty, I am not eating it. She had only seen turkey carved and on a plate, not the whole bird. It has bones, Nonnie, it has bones!! haha Gotta love those grandbabies!!
I am SOOO excited for this weekend! I am getting on a plane from Michigan to come and see my very best friend, who lives in Pensacola and this weekend – we are coming to LPL together!!! We are so excited!!! And our eyes will be peeled looking for the slide 🙂 We are so excited to be able to come to this event together. It’s been over a year since we’ve been in the same room together!!! Can’t wait to see what the Lord will do! He is SO good!!!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I WILL be in Pensacola!!!! It is TOTALLY a WONDERFUL, GOD story, too! I will be volunteering in the bookstore and I am SO excited!!! Hope I get to see and meet many other Siestas there, too 🙂
you make me smile Kathryn:)
With out sounding like I
I share your love of being with those kiddos (aka: young adults). I only get to see mine once…at the most twice a year. Cherish every moment. Staying up late talking…playing a new game…all sitting in the same room reading our favorite books. One of my favorite days was craft project day. All of us were “up to our elbows” in paint, knitting, etc. Love it! I secretly told myself “I can get rest later when my place is quiet again”.
Life…it is such an adventure.
With out sounding like I am trying to be the teachers pet, can I just say that one of the things I am thankful to God for is you. After about a year break I have been asked to lead a childrens sunday school class again. When I started doing your bible studies, I was so taken in by God’s Word. I grew closer to Him and began to long for time in His Word. The one question I had was, “why didn’t anyone show me this when I was yonger” I went to a church growing up but the Bible was not on the priority list. I am greatful for you and all that you have taught me. Above all, I hope to teach these children the joy of His Word and His presence.
So are u saying its almost time for Tuesday night Bible study?!?!
Love and appreciate the example you shared of trimming some excess–even of Godly service– from our lives. Many years ago I heard a message from the pastor of Willow Creek (his name eludes me, but you know who I mean). He talked about racing sailboats and how an experienced crew had to resist the temptation to sprint out ahead of the pack. That doing so often put the boat in danger of running out of steam toward the end of the race and being disqualified with a “DNF” or “Did-Not-Finish”. He tied this experience so effectively to our spiritual lives that I’ve never forgotten the analogy. He shared that often we find ourselves sprinting in a frenzy of “spiritual” activity, serving a little here, a little there, and a whole lot somewhere else. By doing so, we may endanger ourselves of burning out before the race is complete. And being a “DNF”. Ouch!
Oh, how I want to finish strong. I know you girls feel the same way. With all of Paul’s admonitions of running the race well, not being disqualified and finishing the race set out before us, may we be wise stewards of the time and energy God allots to each individual day.
Now, to practice what I preach, should I finish trimming that tree before I fold clothes and pay bills or after working out and running errands? Sound familiar? Please, Lord help us run well!
I’ll be there with a carload of siestas. Looking forward to it, followed by SSMT II Celebration in January. Woohoo!
Thankful for my Siesta Mama and LPM.
elaine in new orleans
Just asking for prayer this morning. Feel like I have been in a very long battle, going on 5 years and I am weary, tired and want to just give up. A person very close to me, treats me well most of the time, in front of others, but behind the scenes, can be very rough and sharp-tongued toward me, feels like I walk on egg shells 95% of the time…. desperately needing a breakthrough in this, and the strength to not give up and call it quits.
Oh sweet sister. My heart hurts for you! I just want you to know that your God ADORES you!!!! He sees your pain and wants to bind it up! Sit at His feet and pour your heart out! Your worth is in your God! Receive his love today!! Isaiah 61- Jesus came to bind up the broken hearted, release from darkness the prisoners, comfort those who mourn. Give you beauty from ashes. He has not brought you this far to let you go now!! He will shine his light on you and you will be refreshed!!
DJ,
I went through something similiar. When the person very close to me went on anxiety medicine it really helped but it took a lot of years before the person finally decided their “outbursts” wasn’t simple anger. I will be in prayer for you.
Thank you Melissa and Linda. This person happens to be my spouse. I feel so beat down that I actually now need inner healing from the Lord. Just seems this person does need to see that maybe there are deep inner healings that he needs and so forth and the ability to “see” himself. I am tired, weary, and fighting depression. I soooo appreciate both of you responding to me and your prayers!
DJ,
My husband and I went through the same thing, and still go through it when we decide to rely on our flesh. It took some loving boundaries, and me not responding to the anger, taking responsibility for what I was contributing. But, mostly, it took God. His amazing love consuming us. Look to the one who gives you life! This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad!!! God promises trials, but he also already won the victory!!!!!! You are not fighting for victory, you are fighting FROM victory, it has already been won for you through him coming down and dying on the cross for YOU! Speak memory verses out loud, post them on the walls, and (this was a hard one for me) but, humility is an amazing tool. Be strong in Gods love for you. Find your identity in him alone. Start battling in prayer FOR your spouse. They are very obviously hurting. As you look to God, you will start to be refreshed by his amazing love. Your relief is on the way. He is going to do something new for you. 🙂 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all of your anxiety on the Lord, for HE CARES FOR YOU!
Isaiah 43:18
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Sweet Beth –
Our bible study from Destin United Methodist Church will be in Pensacola to see you this weekend!! I think we have done every one of your studies at least once except for James which we will do in January! We are very excited that you would come to the Emerald Coast and EXPECT our God to do mighty work this weekend!
Blessings to you this very day!!!
Cant wait to see what you will be teaching us in the Spring 🙂 Our small group is planning on attending together Tuesday nights.
Oh, how I love my alone time! I so love my 3 grown girls and my 7 grandchildren, but I also like my own time to just sit in my study all day and commune with Him! I have had that time today and now I am getting ready for 4 of the 7 to come and play with Nana for awhile!
Yesterday I went back to Kickboxing after a week off and I think the Pecan! Pie! went to my arms. I was having the hardest time floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee. But I would go back and do it all over again.
I love hearing your motherly perspective on time together with your girls. It makes my eyes tear up every time, because my time with my mom and two sisters is just my FAVORITE! Now, we have my two sweet daughters in the mix and my sweet 17 month old nephew and I just can’t stand it when we all have to go home. But I store it all in my heart and my heart is so full.
Speaking of a Full heart, could our God be any more amazing? I was studying Galations 3 this morning. Our King blows my mind and I love it. We have not been bound by law, but we have been given a PROMISE, by the most High God, who, no doubt can keep a promise! What a promise we recieved through our King! We have been equipped in every way for a victorious day through our FAITH, not the law, since he PROMISED us, (not bound us by law) victory and blessings. I just needed a fresh reminder that there is nothing I have to “do” to receive victory, my belief is enough. He did the rest out of His amazing GRACE!! Joy to the World! The Lord HAS COME! Let Earth receive her KING!
“If you give Beth Moore some saltines and water, she will want some coffee to go with it….”
A great children’s book idea! Moose-muffin, mouse-cookie, BethMoore – Chik-fila!
heehee
We love you too!
LOL…if you give a Moose a Muffin is my theme song. I always get somewhere and forget why I am there! Call me Dory from finding mnemo!
Yes, I’d have to say this was a most memorable Thanksgiving. I had the absolute joy of spending the holiday in Nigeria. Talk about experiencing a relief in self-absorption…the beautiful brothers and sisters of Nigeria immersed me in a life lesson of gratitude. Even their very first greetings are “You are Welcome Here”, and ”
We appreciate your visit”. The Spirit enabled me to speak to the women of a church community on The Significant Woman, in which I recalled some of Beth’s teachings and illustrations such as… “I am who God says I am”…. and understanding that “You Are…so that we can speak, ‘He Is’ to those around us” and my favorite image was of this precious little girl who laid her head on my lap to understand how God molds and shapes and refocuses and renews our mind”…(Just like you did with Amanda) What a thrill to share these things with a group of women, who don’t know Beth Moore, but were blessed by her studies and teaching. So I am Thankful for the many times God has blessed & spoken to me through HIS WORD and Beth’s willingness to share what she has learned. And I am Thankful for the example of my sisters 1/2 way around the world who are forever and always grateful to God for every detail of their lives; may I never lose this Big World-Big God feeling that this Thanksgiving has given me.
I will be there with 15 others from my church and my sweet baby boy. 🙂 I already said this on Facebook but I thought I’d try to sneak it in again! Could you kindly beg Travis to sing O Holy Night? I love y’all soooo much and cannot wait! And we are sooo excited that you are coming to Pensacola. We usually have to chase you Birmingham or Atlanta. 🙂
Wish I could be in FL! It turned cold in Arknasas. Florida would be a good place to continue my recovery from sugery, but I guess work will have to do.
Glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Lol the beginning of this post reminds me of the book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.
I wish I was going this weekend. My oldest daughter turns 21 next week, she is at PCC and I wish I could take her to LPL. Being as I live to far away(in Az to be exact)and I am not sure PCC would let her go without risk of her being kicked out,(I know ridiculous isn’t it. What can I say, she is getting a good education for practically nothing as far as college goes.) we will not be there. But should you drive by the college just give a little wave and birthday wish. 🙂
I pray that you all are incredible blessed, encouraged and challenged this weekend.
Can your Tuesday night bible study in Houston be recorded for us to view?
Beth, thanks for your encouragement to lessen our stress load where possible. It’s a timely reminder as we enter the busy Christmas season.
Thanks also for the encouragement at the end of your post. I was starting to feel guilty about the size of the Casper-5. None of us saw the slide (the bookstore was too enticing and the coffee line was too long – LOL).
Praying for a great end to your LPL year in Pensacola. What a shimmering new dimension Travis’ new songs have added to the worship! Praying for a fruitful and God-glorifying time for all of you!
The end of this post made me smile as I thought of a recent interaction with A siesta on Facebook. She asked how do those pictures of us on Flicker happen. Not wanting to let the cat out of the bag, I emailed her. I hope she didn’t think I was completely crazy for responding like that, but I would be so sad if we had to stop doing meeting like that. My picture from the Spokane event remains my desktop wallpaper. Praying for the event this weekend.
YES!! I am so Grateful to attend this weekend. Young adult Girls and Sweet Sister’s in Christ young at Heart ladies are coming!! We are Excited!! Expectant!! for Gods Outpouring of His Love,His Word, and Presence this weekend in Pensacola!! Thank You for coming to our city.
May God Pour out His Love and Grace upon you and the team.
Terrie
I can’t wait. My husband gave me and my girlfriend tickets for Christmas last year. To say the least…it was my favorite present. Counting the days…see you soon. Debbie
BraydenandBodiesMama
Daphne, AL
I get to come this weekend to Pensacola!!!
How do I know when the “clandestine” meet up is? I can’t wait to see my Siesta Mama!!!!!!
As they play the slides in the power point before and after the event, be looking for a slide with all the siesta meet up details!
Looking forward to seeing you in 2012 at Long Beach, Calif. 🙂 Take care dear Sister. love to you. Grandmamitz
I’m coming w/my dear mom and two other friends. Looking forward to what God has in store for all of us (including yourself and the praise team) and of course GIRL time!! Praying God’s word and spirit will fall fresh…as we get ready to celebrate His birth.
Wishful thinking on Florida trip but sure will pray for every woman to uplift you and Travis to edify and Gorify Christ.
One major breakthrough to report that is an answered prayer. My husband and I held hands together and prayed together over the meal. Who cares what it tasted like! We are so different and yoked differently too, but Love overcomes all obstacles.
I have been struggling with his reluctance to attend the church I go to. However, gently mentioning our purposes over a four day weekend together he shared with me a dream he had a sword and shield fighting the devil. I had a dream of the 3 earth ages and I couldn’t help we are conforming to something to talk about and having something in common even if it is in our sleep. I had felt my marriage was under attack from the beginning. Several things to be grateful for that we are still together and need each other everyday.
I love this blog and ao often read and pray for others. I pray several will say a prayer for my family and my step children who I want so badly to know Christ’s love. Good to be back to normal after our food coma.
In Christ Alone
Hugs to you! I don’t know how you do what you do.
This was one of the best Thanksgivings ever without my family. We live far apart and don’t often get to spend the holiday together. I had plans with some friends that fell through at the last minute. I was planning to spend the day with the cats, coffee and flannel pants. Honestly I was looking forward to the quiet rest.
Well my dear friends who live in an assisted living home have been worried to death about their grandson who was homeless. A few days before Thanksgiving I was able to make contact with him and talked him into surprising his grandparents. He agreed and we go there early. It was so amazing to see them drink in and savor every moment together. They did not want the day to end and over and over they all expressed thankfulness just to be together. We invited the grandson to church with us and he went. I got to watch all that and have pie too!
God is about to do something, and I am just about to bust a gut to see it. Really who is like our God and can redeem and restore hope to the hopeless?
Ok I just read that up on the screen and it looked like I was saying I was thankful to not be with my family. I adore my family and so wish we could have been together. It just wasn’t possible to be face to face. We did play phone tag as my Mom and I do most everyday.
hi beth…thank you for living out loud for Jesus. i am thinking that the day we meet face to face God will give you eyes to see the impact of His work in you on my life and we will both drop to our knees PRAISING JESUS! i am thankful for your obedience. it has been a blessing to see the fruit of such an amazing inheritance now in my daughters. what a mighty God we serve!
Blessings!
In His Amazing Love-Lisa
it’s cold and cloudy at the beach:)
Oh how I’d love to be able to go to LPL in Pensacola this weekend! We’re putting new floors in downstairs and I’m beside myself just wanting my kitchen back. I will most certainly hug my stove when it’s hooked back up!
Will be praying for you all to have safe travels and not only be a blessing, but BE BLESSED yourselves. I think you and Travis should replicate your jumping picture from NYC on the white sands of Pensacola Beach! How fun would that be?
When I used to live in Tallahassee, we drove over there one weekend to a revival that had been going on for a couple years. People were coming from all over the world to Pensacola, Florida… drawn by the name of Jesus. It was incredible.
Have a great weekend!
Think I’ll go filter back through those recipes from last week and pick out some fun new things to add to Christmas this year 🙂
much love to all of you!
Lavonda
LAVONDA!!!!!
I was watching for your face on here because we made your amazing dip again this year! IT IS AWESOME! I’m so glad I could sneak delicious ‘scoop chip’-fuls whenever I needed a taste of heaven. Blessings to you as you anticipate hugging your appliances in your new kitchen!
So wonderful to read about your wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. My husband and I had the priviledge of spending Thanksgiving with my Son at his Assisted Living for the Mentally Ill.
We never cease to be humbled by these precious residents and their love for “their” Jesus. They continually await HIS return and are so precious in their outspoken love for our Lord.
It blesses us beyond words to be in their midst..and we are so very thankful that such a safe place like this exists for our Son and for the other 64 residents of this wonderful Home..
I await the time that there will be a Banquet set in heaven and these beautiful souls will be seated at the King’s Table.
Thank you Beth for your wonderful Bible Studies that have allowed this Mother to “know” what awaits my Son.
I did have a very good Thanksgiving, but what I’ve found is that my propensity for all things sweet has returned with a vengeance. I had a battle with myself tonight because I was determined not to eat sweets today, and the chocolate cake was calling my name from the fridge, so I ended up having to chuck it in the trash. Remove the temptation. Only the Lord can help me. I am way excited for you, the last LPL of the year, I will pray for you. I hope (expect) that you will get to see some siestas there-I am happy for you because I think that more than likely they will be a blessing to you!
Have a blessed finale to the 2011 LPL sessions- I can only imagine the number of divine touches that our Lord sent through your God filled ministry to all those who attended- thank you Dear Sister in Christ
Love you, too, Beth! 🙂 Wish I could come to Pensacola… when are you coming back to Phoenix? 🙂 Please… 🙂