A few weeks ago, I swerved my car into the parking lot adjacent to the Chick Fil A restaurant six miles from my country house and glanced at my watch, so glad that I was on time. I knew we’d only have a few minutes. Most of the parking lot at the restaurant had already been roped off and overtaken with a stage, large speakers and lights. Fold out chairs were set in rows facing the platform but I know a little about the spiritual side of Houston and that most of those listeners would only sit in those chairs until the first note. Then they’d be up on their feet. This is a hot, sweaty, some-might-even-say-homely town in a lot of ways but it is a fair and lovely place to those who love Jesus. Maybe one of the reasons is that our area is home to a really fabulous, award-winning Christian contemporary radio station – KSBJ, 89.3 FM – that serves as a central station for unity, that turns up the volume on worship and still fights harder to win souls than awards. They host something called “Brown Bag Concerts” throughout the year where they bring in various CCM artists to do concerts at different Chick Fil A restaurants around the city. (I feel so sorry for you – truly I do – if you do not live where there is a Chick Fil A or, worse yet, if you have no idea what one is. Move.)
That day the artist going up on stage was Christy Nockels. My pastor of 25 years, John Bisagno, used to say, “All people bring gifts to the church. Some people are gifts to the church.” Christy would be one of those. A year or so ago (not sure how long it’s been), we invited her to one of our LPM Tuesday night community Bible studies. As I sat to the side and watched the women packed in that sanctuary and the aisles, lifting their faces throne-ward, many of them with their eyes closed and their hands raised, and listened to their voices in almost perfect pitch with hers, I had a revelation of sorts. I realized that in so many ways, Christy is to this generation what Amy Grant was to mine. She helps place words on the tongues of true worshipers who want so much to express themselves to God but don’t always know how to say what they feel. That makes a person a gift.
As I got out of my car and headed across to Chick Fil A, I spied my two friends, Christy and Nathan, and they were grinning at me just like I was grinning at them. We hugged then headed into the small RV so we could chat a little while. Mike McCloskey, who was managing the evening for them, asked me if I wanted anything from the restaurant while we were visiting and, of course, I did. “Nuggets and an Ice Dream? Oh, and Polynesian Sauce?” And in minutes, I had them. While I spooned Ice Dream into my mouth (always spoon down, for some reason), we conversed quickly like a couple of people on borrowed time. We talked mostly about their kids, my kids, and my grandkids, and did a bit of musing about Passion 2012 and had some wild thoughts about Passion 2013. We got out pictures on our iPhones and even watched a video their son Noah had created. (Actually, it was astonishingly impressive. But I guess his gene pool is nothing to whine about, now is it?)
Mike reminded them about the time and Christy glanced over at me and said, “Hey, Beth, do you care if we rehearse one song really quickly?”
“Absolutely not. Please, do!”
And so I sat right there on the couch in that RV, six inches from Christy to my right and Nathan across from us, leaning in with his guitar. We were all three crouched in about 4 square feet. And I listened to a song I’d never heard from a voice truly as beautiful as any I’ve ever heard. The album is out now so you may well have already heard it but I really need you to join me in the intimacy – no, the strange sanctity, really – of that small RV and hear it again. With nobody else listening. Just you. Just the voice singing. Just that guitar. And Jesus.
“I’m so concerned with what I look like from the outside.
Will I blossom into what You hope I’ll be.
Yet You’re so patient just to help me see.
The blooms come from a deeper seed that You planted in me.
Sometimes it’s hard to grow when everybody’s watching.
To have your heart pruned by the one who knows best.
And though I’m bare and cold, I know my season’s coming.
And I’ll spring up in Your endless faithfulness.
With my roots deep in You, I’ll grow the branch that bears the fruit.
And though I’m small, I’ll still be standing in the storm.
‘Cause I am planted by the river by Your streams of living water.
And I’ll grow up strong and beautiful, all for Your splendor, Lord.
So with my arms stretched out, I’m swaying to Your heartbeat.
I’m growing with the sound of Your voice calling.
You’re bringing out the beauty that You have put in me.
For Your joy and for Your glory falling.”
Written by Christy Nockels and Nathan Nockels, Copyright 2012 sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Sweater Weather Music (ASCAP) (Admin. at EMICMGPublishing.com)
As that melody floated in the air, I pictured Annabeth running down the path from my house to Big Pops and Memmaw’s, sunlight dancing in her dark honey hair. I pictured Amanda and Melissa, each of them growing up before my eyes in Christ. So, so different from the other, just the way they’ve always been, but equally breathtaking. My mind cased across the faces of so many women I’ve seen, faces reflecting the light bouncing from an open page of Scripture. Oh, now, you know I love our brothers. But I’m not called so much to our brothers. I’m called mostly to sisters. And somehow the lyrics touched me in a deep place for all of us. Deep enough that I’ve thought of it every day since then and played it many times in the same car I pulled into that parking lot. Now I know it almost by heart. But that day I knew it more by faith. More by growing experience.
I want to say to you today that I watch many of you fight this good fight, trying to keep your equilibrium in this crazy culture where – for the most part – a woman is as desirable as she is sensual. Or, on the other side of the spectrum, she’s as valuable as she is marketable. I want to cheer you on and say to you, Good Job! And Don’t Give Up! And don’t forget, no matter what this world tells you, that the most gorgeous blooms come from a deeper seed. The lyrics ring so true. “It’s hard to grow up when everybody’s watching.” And sometimes God lets others behold the pruning process in us when we’d just as soon have done it in private. But He always knows what He’s doing. And He is only doing you good. Never evil. Never harm. He cannot be unbiased toward you. The blood of His Son flows through your veins. Even through the silence He is talking. Even in the stillness, He is moving. He is hemming you in. He is closing in on you to open you up to Him.
All that you are going through, all that you are learning, is bringing out the beauty that He has put in you. And some of those same folks who watched the pruning will see the blooming.
I just want you to know that I already see it happening. And others already see it, too. And if you’d look really close, not into your rear view mirror, but into His Word, I think you could even catch a glimpse of it.
You get more beautiful by the day, Darling Child. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t decide it can’t matter all that much. “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.” (Hebrews 6:10) He will see to you until you are stunning for His splendor.
I know your season’s coming.
PS. I totally forgot until this morning (Tuesday) that we snapped this picture that day in the RV on my iPhone. If you’re like me, you love pictures in blog posts. If you’re not like those of us who do, stop reading now. Laughing. Man, I so love you guys.
Loved your words, Beth. Thank.You.
Oh. Also, I have heard of Chick-Fil-A (am I even spelling it right?) But alas. We don’t have one. The best we’re doing is the new (and only in our WHOLE STATE) Olive Garden. You would think that it was located smack dab in the middle of Florence what for the constant line out the door and around the block.
And I don’t think a move anytime soon is in the works for me (“Warm in Houston” sounds a wee bit redundant).
I can only dream of what chicken nuggets with Polynesian sauce must taste like.
This week a friend of mine and I started running at 5am again due to heat and night time baseball schedules. Well this morning my friend surprised me…she brought memory verse cards! We are taking the level 5 challenge to memorize the entire book of James in 5 months starting today! I had planned to get my cards together tonight…but let me tell you that it really passed the running time this morning! It was a little harder to breath while practicing out loud. And granted…I have a neighbor (or two) that now has confirmed my sanity level…
It was hilarious. In fact I giggled so much it slowed us down a tad…ha!
Thanks for pushing us to the next level Siesta Momma! We love you for it.
Kristy
Princeton NC
Thirteen years ago I felt a tug from God to take a stand on a very important issue in my church family. I stepped timidly on the bottom step and spoke in almost a whisper and then stepped down. Over these past years I’ve done that over and over. Sometimes I would even go up to step two or three. But, each time I’ve shared what I felt needed to be said, I’ve been cautioned to “be careful”.
This past week I shared with my husband that over the summer I was going to get prepared to speak in a clear voice and finally stop putting off what I haven’t done. I told him that if I don’t speak now, I know I will regret it the rest of my life. It’s because God has continued to water that seed he planted so long ago. I want to sprout into that tree planted firm by the stream.
Thank you for this post. It truly spoke to my heart.
Thank you so much for this encouragement. My soul really needed to hear this. I have been struggling with my outward appearance lately a LOT and your words spoke hope to my soul. Bless you, Siesta Mama! 🙂
Beth…I have so much respect.for you. Our lives have been turned upside down recently…on top of a mountain of grief. I am deeply shaken and my faith is hanging by a thread. I am not sure where to go from here or where I am to go. My beautiful husband and children keep.me.sane. But my heart is broken and I am so disillusioned right now. Thank you for your post. It is encouraging for those of us grasping at straws at this very moment.
Shannon
Shannon,
I too am going through a season where my world was blown apart and am clinging to my faith. My husband and children,siblings and friends are holding me up. I know the Lord has something great planned. There is no way He would allow this much pain without a great victory. Just know He has something great planned for you and your family. He will turn your thread of faith into a mighty rope to bring you back to joy.
Linda
God knew I needed this word this morning: “All that you are going through, all that you are learning, is bringing out the beauty that He has put in you. And some of those same folks who watched the pruning will see the blooming.”
Though I’m 40 years of age, my season’s coming!
Beth, sincere thanks for being the vessel of His word!
Christy and Nathan are both darling. Got to serve along side of them in the green room just prior to Passion this year. Both so unpretentious and real. But of course, you can listen to their lyrics and hear that.
As for your personal comments, Beth, they were just that: personal. To me anyway. I’ve been in such a desert for the last 2 years, but at least the last 6 months have of it has been a “green” desert. Now I’m just enclosed in a rock. 🙂 Your words spoke life to me … and hope.
Thank you, sweet one.
Miss Beth,
I so needed to hear this today. Tonight I am starting to lead Priscilla Shirer’s Bible study and not a single person has signed up to take the journey with me, sad face 🙁 However, I will not give up, God is in charge, not me. If no one shows, I will have 2 hours of time with Him and learning how to discern his voice with Miss Shirer. It is going to be a good day and it’s Spring, I need a little pruning so I can bear much fruit. By the way, I lived out West, living the nomadic Air Force life with my husband and kids, first assignment was in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I didn’t know anyone, but I went to the mall one day and they had a Chick Fil A and all was right with the world. I grew up in PA, so Chick Fil A’s were all around me. Alas, every other assignment, but one, was without my favorite chicken sandwich. After my husband retired in 2010, we moved back to PA, the land of the Chick Fil A. To Quote the Scarecrow from the Wizard of OZ, “Oh, joy and rapture.” 🙂
I feel your pain about the lack of a Chick Fil A! They took ours away many years ago and it’s abscense is still felt.
I pray that your evening was successful – with or without a group – but I hope some folks DID show up to take the journey with you!
April
Thank You!!!! No one showed, but at least I was there having some great quiet time with the Lord, so it was successful indeed 🙂
Andrea
Just wanted you to know Beth, that for the past few months your words of encouragement to stay in the Word and little notes on the blog have helped me in this season I’m going through right now. You are the absolute BEST! Putting the Word right in my face. That is real life we are dealing with and it hurts sometimes but with God as the Lord of our lives we can make it through with a beautiful smile.:)))
Love you bunches,
Dawn, Mt. Olive, NC
Dawn…I had just finished posting a response on the blog myself when I scrolled down and spotted the words Mount Olive. I am just up the road in Fayetteville. I am originally from Kinston and always go through Mount Olive to visit my elderly mother, which is quite often. I know what painful seasons are like. The next time I pass through M.O. I will send up a prayer that your life gives you endless smiles. Blessings to you!
Dear Beth
Speaking of people who are gifts of God, you are at the top of my list!
Hebrews 6:10-20 will be my battle cry against an Enemy who would have me to believe that God has forgotten me.
Today I have backed away from Him, telling Him the pain of the much-too-visible pruning is greater than what He is promising me. That it’d be so much easier to seek out my own season than to wait for the one He’s promised is coming. I’ve believed that the “unfairness” somehow makes Him unjust. Unloving.
God has run up behind me and tackled me with His love with your post, Mrs. Beth! I should know better than to read your blog when I’m sulking, nursing my wounded pride. 😉
It takes more faith than I have in me to believe that He would ever want to bless me after who I’ve been — but my Savior tells me differently. He tells me (again — over and over again when I choose to forget) that just as He promised Abraham the impossible, He’s promised me extravagant blessing. (vs. 14) That my hope is anchored in a God who cannot lie. (vs. 18-19) And that He most SURELY has not forgotten me in my pruning. (vs. 10) My season is coming, and till then I will embrace my Gardener’s all-wise, compassionate pruning. And I might as well embrace the magnificent GRACE He gives me to go along with it. 🙂
Pondering what to say on this most profound post! I have a lot of years on my “Christian self” but have struggled with “what,how & why” I went wrong over the years raising my kids. “What did I do wrong”, “How could I fix it”, and “Why were things not working the way I wanted”. Finally in my more mature years, I looked and saw what God has done and marvel. All I have to do is look in the eyes of my grandchildren and know that along the way I bent the knee and let God do His work and get me out of the way. Thank you, sweet Beth, for saying it so well.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. That song has rocked my world since her new cd came out (along with several others on it). It pretty much sums up my heart prayers for my 2 girls (ages 12 and 14)…that they would grow up “strong and beautiful all for HIS splendor”!!! I pray with all that is within me that they will know…really know…that true beauty and worth comes ONLY from who they are in Christ.
You know, there are a lot of good Christian songs out there…there are a lot of really good Christian artists out there…then there are those artists, that when they share their music with us, lead you right to the throne of God and make you want to just get on your face…Christy Nockels is one of those artists. Thank you Lord for giving her this precious gift to share with us!!!!
Btw…my 14 year old daughter heard you speaking on one of Travis Cottrell’s cd’s(where you talk about Paul and Silas) and FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU!!! She wants to download some of your messages onto her ipod. She said “Mom, no wonder you like her so much…she is awesome!” So, this mama thanks you for allowing God to work through you so my girl could recieve a WORD!!!
So timely, as your posts always are. And a real encouragement to my tired heart. Thank you!!
This is right on time for me and brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. Thank you for this and may God richly bless your day.
Thanks for this post. I really needed to hear it today.
Thank you. You are so encouraging. Oh Lord bless Beth today and continue to give her strength. Thank you, thank you, thank you. God is good, all the time and yes, He knows my name…He knows my every heartache. Praising Him for you today Beth and many others like you.
Thank you so much for this encouragement! You are a gift!
Thank you Momma Beth!
I needed the encouragement today! Sometimes I wonder if I’m ever going to be the beautiful flower of a woman that I long to be in Him. I thank our Father for you!!!
Love!
Aw God is SO good! This beautiful song goes perfectly with my object lesson for this weekend. Teaching a group of 8th graders, including my own, they have to own their faith, choose to be entwined with Jesus. They cannot cling to Jesus from their parents’ “branch”, they have to be their own branch that clings to Jesus and bears fruit! And as they enter high school they will definitely need their faith to carry them through!
Blessed Tuesday! 🙂
Just received the email with your blog today. God has perfect timing. I know he heard me crying to my husband last night about how I feel so incapable to finish the discipleship class we had signed up for. I have not been alble to give enough time to it. I get angry and think am I truly committed I thought I was maybe I am not. My family and even I feel like what is wrong because I seem to be meaner and more impatient lately. Then, I start thinking …Is the timing right? Am I answering the questions right? What if I misunderstood the teaching and so on and so on. I know I need to surrender but find I just can’t seem to let go. Terrified to mess up but willing and wanting to let go of perfection. The song sings right at me. No, I have never heard it but I sure was able to place myself in that RV with the 3 of you and hear it for the first time the way the Lord wanted me too. Love you and God Bless you.
“And He is only doing you(ME)good.”
Help me Father to remember this.
Oh what a glory He sheds on our way! Loved this word from you and the lyric’s of a song that captured my heart today. It’s me and my man’s 41st wedding anniversary! Today! We’ve walked it hand and hand with the Master and have made it through many troubled waters…still, the warrior is a child! Our gift to us is a 6 week RV trip, leaving the middle of May. We will tour and visit family and friends in the glorious Northwest, and all the way to White Sulphur Springs, MT and our “Home RV Resort” that is owned by Christians. When we turn South, we will go through your beloved Jackson Hole, Wyoming! Oh, Jesus meant it when He said He came to bring us life and that more abundantly…
Thank you for this post. Since I lost my husband unexpectedly five months ago, I have struggled with the thought that no one sees me as beautiful anymore. I am NOT what the world would call attractive, especially after three babies and gravity. Thanks for the reminder that I am beautiful to the Father.
I know that God wants to use me in this season of my life. He has also worked with me in many ways. My husband took care of the finances, bill-paying, and other business during our 25 years of marriage. When he was killed, I knew NOTHING and I was terrified. But the Lord has helped me become more confident in those areas as I rely on Him. I say the 5 Statement Pledge of Faith many times a day!
Thanks again for the encouraging post.
M.J. in Lovington, NM
Beth, I took your precious words of encouragement and turned them into a letter from God to me. You obeyed Him and His perfect timing…and I thank you.
My precious child Sandy ~
Don’t forget, no matter what this world tells you, the most gorgeous blooms come from a deeper seed. The lyrics ring so true. “It’s hard to grow up when everybody’s watching.” And sometimes I, your Father allow others to behold the pruning process in you when you’d just as soon have done it in private. But I always know what I’m doing. And I am only doing you good. Never evil. Never harm. I cannot be unbiased toward you. The blood of My Son flows through your veins. Even through the silence I am talking. Even in the stillness, I am moving. I am hemming you in. I am closing in on you to open you up to Me.
All that you are going through, all that you are learning, is bringing out the beauty that I put in you. And some of those same folks who watched the pruning will see the blooming.
I just want you to know that I already see it happening. And others already see it, too. And if you’d look really close, not into your rear view mirror, but into My Word, I think you could even catch a glimpse of it.
You get more beautiful by the day, Darling Child. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t decide it can’t matter all that much.
“For I am not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for My name in serving the saints, as you still do.” (Hebrews 6:10) I will see to you until you are stunning for My splendor.
I know your season IS coming.
I really, really love you,
Your heavenly Father
This really touched me today. Thank you.
Beth I can’t tell you how blessed we are that God gives you such inspiration to write beautiful words that uplifts and brings moments of peace in our lifes at “just” the right moment!! I was working when my phone alerted me you had posted and I stepped into the medication room to read it, work and life have been hard lately. When you have so much stress in your personal life working on a Hospice inpatient unit is not easy but God gives me the ability to leave my problems outside when I’m helping one of his take their trip home! I have been blessed reading your books you truly have a special gift from God and you share it with us. I pray for you daily and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU for allowing us to feel the love of God through your words.
I’m being pruned publicly. This encouragement is right on time.
Lord… let Your Holy Spirit move in the places we cannot see… in the places we do not know about… in the broken places, the questions, the heartaches, the sicknesses, and especially in the “hard” places in our hearts and minds…
You do the work Lord. We give ourselves to You, we come as we are – desprate for Your touch, Your voice… Your unfathomable grace. Desperate to give up what we hold on to… desperate to be held in Your arms…
We know only you satsify. Only You. Move on us Lord. Move on us…
MS. Beth,
Thank you so much for sharing this post. I needed this so much today. I’m a faithful reader of the blog, I just usually don’t reply, but this post brought about some realization. I’m a homeschool mom of 2 boys, and also a Pastor’s wife, there are so many days I feel so defeated and that all I have done is chased my tail. The past few weeks I haven’t even wanted to get out of bed and face the day, because I’m so overwhelmed. The Lord used your post this morning to remind me why I do the things I do. And to once again remind that it is ALL ABOUT HIM, working in me, making me what HE wants me to be.
Thank you so much, your life is such an encouragement to me!
Bonnie, Crossville,TN where the only CHICK FIL A is 45 minutes away.:(
Oh, Mamma Beth! How did you know? How did you know I needed these words? Our sweet Jesus is so good to use you to speak confirmation to me. I’m in ministry, my life is lived in the spotlight, and I am being PRUNED! I long to hide behind closed doors until He is finished with the cutting and the tears. But I can’t. And (if I’m really honest) I don’t really want to. I want to bring glory to Him. Even if that means here, now, in the midst of the pruning.
Last night during a sweet, sweet time with my Jesus I cried out to Him because I felt as if my heart had been blown wide open and all my life blood was being poured out of me. And He whispered to my heart that He was transfusing me with His own blood! Imagine that! And today I read your words… “The blood of His Son flows through your veins.” And it does. He rushes in, to all the broken gushing places, and fills them with His love, His healing, His beauty. And I am amazed and overwhelmed.
Praise God for seeds planted deeply! And beautiful new life bursting forth in Christ!!
Love you!!
Keri
Oh, how timely are these words…my 16 yr old daughter was diagnosed with Alopecia about 6 months ago and has lost all of her hair…it appears that her eyebrows and eyelashes and all her body hair are next. It has been so painful…as if a 16 yr old young woman doesn’t already have enough challenges. But, she is clinging to the Lord with everything in her. She is making Him her shelter…yet, there are many days when the enemy screams at her from the mirror, “you are hideous”. Thank you for the encouragement for me to stay buried in His Word that speaks truth to our battered souls and to pass this on to her. Thank you siestas for your prayers in advance! She has been recording her journey on her blog: learningtolovelikecrazy.blogspot.com
This community is amazing!
xoxo,
Julia
Julia,
I read your daughter’s blog, and all I can say is what an amazing young woman. She has tremendous wisdom and courage, and her writing is top notch. Get ready Mama, her testimony is going to change some lives.
Beth, Thank you for this word of encouragement. I really, really needed one today. I am going to listen to the song right now and ask the Lord to encourage my heart and remember that He is faithful and will finish His work of splendor in me.
I am questioning what season I am entering. I was on my way to work this morning driving on a back road through the beautiful NC pine trees. My mind was fixated on two pending medical tests results. Most of us know what that is like and how scary it can be. One is really blowing my mind because I have tested positive twice for some extremely rare non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis (PBC), and now await ultrasound results. Gee! I honestly thought I was healthy as a horse! But, I know how life can change on a dime. Anyway…I was actually driving along listening to Christy Nockels new CD as I thought about all this uncertainty. She sang lyrics in one song… something to the effect of “faith can move mountains.” At that very moment around the curve came this HUGE shiny white truck…kind of like a MAC truck. As it barreled towards me, I saw that this truck had in the center of it’s front grill red lights made in the shape of a big cross. I honestly had never seen a truck like it. I got the biggest smile on my face seeing it come straight towards me…it was as if God was personally speaking to me. Bless that truck driver for that cross! I wonder how many drivers on the road it has spoken to. In that moment it said to me that the Lord was with me no matter what I might be facing around the next corner. Funny, that within the next hour I was reading Beth’s blog message. It, too, touched my heart and spoke to me at just the right time. I printed it out to keep in my bible and reread as needed. I am still worried and anxious, but I take these syncronistic events this morning as confirmation of His being very much with me.
I can’t even say how much this post touched me. I hardly even read the words… the feeling of the post just blasted through me and convicted me once again of Jesus’ enduring love and mercy. I have body image issues along with starting a women’s ministry at our church. The minsistry “seems” to be faltering, but I know now that it’s in a season and all is right with God. I know that He has set me on this course and this is HIS ministry, not mine.
Thank you, mama beth, for the encouraging and timely words… you are a divine blessing for all of us.
Love, pam
Beth,
At a time of upheaval in my church some years back, there was a soft voice from one of the
Elders. He told me:
Every bush becomes dormant, and needs to be cut back. When it is trimmed, it is not very pretty. All brown , with no growth, many think it is dead. Then the seasons change, and that old brown shrub brings beautiful new growth……vibrant with life. So it is in this situation.
And he was right! Our church has not only overcome that trauma, it has flourished.
You are a gift from God to so many women Mama Beth, I am one of them!
Speaking of seasoning or seasons rather…
God, the Abba father, in His infinite wisdom and glory decided to drag me kicking and screaming into the next chapter of my life….
Seemingly inconsequentially, a few months ago I drove to Vidalia, Ga to visit family and to market the new business God had recently allowed. (I still feel this new business is not only a miracle for my family, but also the countless people it helps and the cancer research it assists) So anyway, knowing my affinity for yard sales, God steered me toward a side-of-the-road stand drawing my attention to a very nice jewelery box that in the back of my mind looked like gold dipped in chocolate since I had NEVER had such nice bobble holder. In retrospect, I see now that He used said eye candy to draw me to this little stand with a single book sitting right next to my newly acquired jewelery box. I loved reading Beth Moore and even had the Breaking Free audio in my Jeep at home. However, never had I seen this one title before. “So Long Insecurity” screamed at me from the front cover just beneath the familiar multi-blonde of the month club (to which i am a member) chick gracing the cover. Now, when I say screamed, I don’t mean I walked by and God whispered my name from ethereal mists of heavenly echoes. What I do mean is that God launched that title from that table and smacked me upside the heart with it. Needless to say, I got the message very loud and clear. My Father was saying, “Daughter, you have been through things and heartaches that you have been burying in your emotional back yard right next to the cemetery of your dreams for years. You have denied me healing you, you have been prideful, and hardhearted and have denied these feelings and my power for so long. You’ve fought me in this for so long, you only leave me one choice. I’m about to turn you inside out so your heart and soul can feel the Son.” Who me? I’m not insecure! I barely wear make-up to church,I brush my hair on the way to work. I treat everyone like I want to be treated! I am not insecure. To whit, the Father chose words only the heart could hear in images coupled with attached feelings from he past. Without realizing it God showed me my own bondage of self. I gladly paid the $3 for this signed copy of Beth Moore’s hardcover book and lay it in my trunk for the next couple weeks. When D-day came, the ultimate sock in the stomach, the day my 3 boys and I came home and my husband’s clothes and belongings were gone, shortly followed by a text message. “Oh, by the way, I moved out.” I knew it was time to pick up this book. I am not an outwardly emotional person, which is probably why God is gentle with me, because although I grew up without a father, and I didn’t even shed a tear when my husband chose to leave, when God, my true unconditional Father speaks directly to my heart, He knows how to make those tears flow and that message stick. Because believe you me, no lesson is remembered better than the one attached to an emotional response. Picking up this book felt like I was dragged kicking and screaming through a door to the unknown. I’ve met parts of myself I despise and hate that were previously covered by a curtain of pride. He is still working on me and the “Repair Prayer” Is spoken often. So much that when I recommended the book to another hurting girlfriend I didn’t dare give her mine and selfishly ordered her the book online and had it shipped to her. I can say that God has shattered a shackle on my ankle recently and I do not need another human being to define me and my security. My security and beauty as an over-weight multi-blonde of the month card carrying member is all covered in the blood of Jesus. I am clothed with strength and dignity stained with red all to the glory of my Abba Father God. I’ve now learned to be more patient and wait on Him to fulfill all my needs inward and outward and look forward to the next painful change because I know something beautiful is coming and let me tell you I CAN’T WAIT!
Thank you Alice! You’ve kicked me into gear. Or I should say our Jesus kicked me into gear through you!
This album was a gift from my husband on Easter…I cannot get enough. I will be teaching at our little inner city church’s women’s retreat and “Be Loved” is my inspiration. Thank you for this lovely post.
Beth, thanks so much for this. Your words are timely. I am going to have to print out the song and put it in my journal. Believe who God says you are right? Amen! Come quickly Lord Jesus!
*Tears* Thank you for being obedient in this post….
Timely, Beth. (Well, actually, perfect timing.) Thank you.
What is the name of the song? I’d love to listen to it =) the words do resonate for sure!
The name of the song is “For Your Splendor”. The title of this post! 🙂
Thank you. I needed to “hear” this today. May the Lord bring you also someone to speak what you need to hear today.
I agree Beth. I love Chick-Fil-A too 🙂
And let me just say, I usually do not make these types of comments to anyone (God forbid anyone would take it the wrong way), but you are beautiful inside and out.
Have a blessed day everyone!
Going to Chick fil A. Then Barnes and Noble to get he James study.
I have no idea what Level 5 is, but I like climbing mountains.
Bring on a season! Thanks, Beth!
I think you just told my sister and her family to move back home 🙂 if you’re not going to leave South Dakota for the Texas weather, do it for chick-fil-a!
Beth,
Thank you so much for your words. Love to see God working through you to reach so many! Praying for you today and always!
Love you!
Thanks for this word, Beth! I soooo needed this, as I am getting ready to speak at my very first women’s conference on Saturday! Please, please pray for me as I prepare… Thanks!
Hi Beth and Siestas,
1. Chick-Fil-A ROCKS!! Chicken Nuggets, side salad and LARGE Diet Dr. Pepper is a must (and some of your husband’s waffle fries)! They are in the works of building one right here in Lee’s Summit!! FINALLY!!! 🙂
2. LOVE CHRISTY NOCKLES!!!!
3. Tomorrow I start a position where I will be shadowing a gal in a dental office! I am very excited about it!! I am 42 and trying something new….scary! (maybe it’s a midlife crisis!! 🙂 ) I am going through a door the Lord is holding open!! It all came about when my daughter and I attended the Beth Moore Conference in KC…I met the gal sitting right next to us and found out she was a dental assistant…..I told her I was interested in becoming one. We exchanged numbers and conversations and TOMMOROW she is going to start training me!!!! IS THAT A GOD THING OR WHAT??!!!!!!!!! You have to understand I have been praying for two years for doors to open……..God IS listening and directing us. I know it is so hard to wait…it is so hard. I pray this is the path He wants me to go down. I know He is with me…… Even as I write this I know that this might not even be the path the Lord has ordained for me……but I am believing it is. 🙂
love you guys!!!!!!!!!
Jill