Good Monday morning, Sweet Things! I hope you are well and prospering in your souls. I am, thank You, Lord Jesus. But it’s no contradiction that I’m also still navigating through a season of concurrent weakness – like my limbs all weigh a hundred pounds – and sadness – like my soul weighs a thousand pounds. I’m trying to get insight into it and gain whatever wealth God wants to give me through it. I wouldn’t be here if I had nothing to gain from it. Scripture assures us of that as children of God. I’m one of those weird people who – as a loose general rule – often wakes up in a buoyant and talkative mood so these days are madly rushing by at a maddeningly glacial pace. I decided last week that, if I wasn’t going to be ushered out of it as quickly as I’d hoped, I’d at least ask God as sincerely as I knew how to use it. To teach me through it. To grant me revelation through it. Growth through it. Dependency. Humility. Living words. I’ve also asked Him to shed light on an area of blackness in my heart that I really, really do not like. We’re working on that.
So, yesterday morning before church I felt Him prompt me to pray with added expectancy toward our church service. That’s not hard for me to do. I love my church so much. I’ve never found church life more fulfilling than in this young fellowship of believers. I pray consistently for God’s powerful, life-breathing Spirit to fall on our senior pastor (my son-in-law Curtis) and on our children’s pastor and our worship teams. That’s my joy. Countless others pray the same things and we often get to behold with great gladness God’s merciful responses to the pleas of our congregation. There is ripe fruit, red and plump, already hanging on the limbs of this toddler tree.
But this time, I felt like God also impressed upon my heart to pray with elevated expectancy for words specifically pertaining to my own condition. My own wondering and pondering. I prayed for everyone in our service but I made a special effort to ask God before I ever arrived in the parking lot that my own ears would be open and that I’d receive the Word wholeheartedly. I prayed that last week, too. And probably the week before. But this time I felt a more! from God. Go to the Scriptures like a starving man clawing for bread.
It’s a weird thing about pain. The deeper it goes, the wider it opens your mouth to the Spirit. Psalm 81:10 “I am the Lord, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!” I need Jesus right now. Like you, I always do but I feel its serrated edge against the grain of my selfishness right now. I need His strength. His joy. His hope. And that means that, if I want to, I can sing every word in our worship time as if my life depends on it. I can hear the phrases I’m singing echo somewhere down in my soul, looking for a place to land. I can mean them in a way I don’t have to mean them when life is less mean…if you know what I mean.
Isn’t that the way it goes? It is only in a season like this that I get what I constantly beg God for: an intense relationship with Him where I can sense His Presence and where His Word is life and breath to me. Where the Cross is so much dearer. Where His Spirit seems much nearer. Where I love Him more than anything I can see or touch. That glorious place of the thinning veil.
I couldn’t write fast enough during the sermon yesterday. Our pastor preached from 2 Kings 4 about Elisha and the Widow’s Oil. The widow was in need. Curtis told us that, in our humanness, we despise being in need yet without need, there is no room for the miraculous. He said miraculous provision is our birthright – that we were born again out of profound, unparalleled miraculous provision and that we are meant to experience it often and until our last breath.
He asked us the question, “Do you want to live in the midst of supernatural provision?” and I do! So I wrote down on a stick note, “I WANT TO LIVE IN THE MIDST OF SUPERNATURAL PROVISION.” Yes, Lord, I surely do. Curtis said so much of the time we live the Christian version of ordinary because we either have so much or are satisfied with so little that we can simply take care of ourselves. By all means let’s put to use what God has given us. That’s good stewardship. But let’s not get ourselves in such a self-sufficient rut that we end up missing the supernatural. Wonders can happen when we’re in a place desperate enough to look for them and have the patience enough to wait for them and the prayer life enough to ask for them.
Curtis also said that “If we look around our lives and we have everything we need, then we may need to live a bigger life and set better goals.” The God-nodding kind. The Word-believing kind. The Gospel-living kind. Nothing about Curtis’s quote is in opposition to Biblical contentment. We’re to be content in whatever circumstances we’re in. We’re talking here about fighting the urge in our excess to be content in our self-sufficiency. To see little of God because we need little from God.
And, Girl, it hit. I HAVE A NEED. And I left church yesterday strangely appreciating it. I don’t know how I’ll feel about it by Wednesday but for right now, I’m thinking that an acute need is a good thing. A hard thing. But a good thing. I have never wanted to live a self-sufficient life with purely natural, utterly explainable provisions. I want to live in such a way that I know – I absolutely know – after a long, hungry spell that, when the sun comes up warm and gold and the ground shimmers with manna, only God could have done that.
That’s glory.
Total, unabashed, unspared, unshared credit.
YOU DID IT, LORD. YOU DID WHAT I COULDN’T DO. YOU DID WHAT NO ONE COULD DO. YOU GAVE ME WHAT I DIDN’T HAVE. MADE ME WHO I COULDN’T BE. TOOK ME WHERE I COULDN’T GO.
If I have presence of mind, I’d want to be able to whisper on my deathbed something like, “I’ve seen His wonders. Now, scoot over, everyone, and let me see His face.” Move and let me praise Him.
So, that’s my word from yesterday. I bless the Name of our merciful, patient God for His kindness to give it. Did you walk away from your church with one, too? Then, take a brief paragraph and tell us what it was. Get specific about one point and keep it succinct and direct. Wouldn’t that be a great way to build one another up around here this week? As we encourage one another in our pursuit of Christ, we want to encourage one another in local church life as an essential part of it. (Not the only part, by any stretch of the imagination but an important part.) Body life. It’s Christ’s way. If you didn’t get a particular word over the weekend – if perhaps you had to be out of church or you helped in the nursery or you were there but you just felt off and detached, you’re welcome to share one of ours today. They’re free for all. That’s God’s way. His Word is still alive on Monday.
No matter what yesterday was like, maybe today, after a long hungry spell, you might see the ground shimmering with manna and decide to bend down on those knees, scoop up a handful and eat.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5 NIV
(Please delete my first comment, I had the wrong Scripture, this is the correct comment. Thanks!)
I am from Colorado Springs and you will be here at the end of this month. I hope to meet you for the first time. Your message was timely.
The pastor talked about Matthew 12 when Jesus pointed out to the pharisees that what goes into the heart makes its way out through the mouth. Our pastor encouraged us to be careful with what we let in our hearts through our eyes.
It’s been a season of uncertainties. When I look around I start seeing His goodness toward others and I start telling myself lies. As I was reading Jennifer’s Rothschild book “Self Talk” this same week and also hearing Proverbs 18:21 in a message from you, I was able to see a consistent message for me. There is power of life and death in the things I say to myself. The theme was the same on Sunday’s service, our words, which are coming out of our hearts. What we are telling ourselves is what is being stored in our hearts and they will come out and affect us and those around us. I realized that I am storing negative things in my heart. All these negatives thoughts have been controlling what I think about my situations and God. They have left an open door for hopelessness to settled in my heart. Dissatisfaction is knocking at the door.
The pastor concluded with an old hymn: “Take my life and let it be.” We sang it, but these lines got stucked in my mind: “Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.”
The verse from Psalm 19:14 was a resounding message from God to me in the book I was reading and in the message on Sunday: “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. This is my prayer.
One of the points that was made yesterday in Luke 9:41a (I. Don’t know if I can express it exactly) Jesus was saying to the disciples who were walking with him in ministry and couldn’t cast out the demon…..”you unbelieving…..” the point that was made was we can believe in Jesus and walk with him daily by still walk in unbelief such as ie: is healing really for me? Is the Holy Spirit really moving in mylife ? Or is this just my imagination that God really wants me to teach, mission trp, . Or even what if God doenst come through when I pray for healing, finances, etc. I hope I expressed the concept
Last night our Pastor spoke about baptism and how it was an act of obedience and symbolic of of our relationship with Christ. He asked if there was anyone in the audience who knew Christ, but had never been baptized. He challenged us to be obedient, and four adults came forward immediately! There was cheering and tears as all four were baptized 10 minutes later! Praise God!
God’s word to me? Let the world know you are HIS!
Dearest Beth,
Thank you so much for sharing what Curtis perched on yesterday. I really needed to hear that. I am praying for you and believing God in this time of needing him. I am going to write down what you shared and really pray over it for I, too, am finding myself in a valley. I can barely write this through the tears. All I can say is that I esteem you highly and am so grateful we don’t have to pretend on this blog that life is rosey when it’s not.
May you and I both get to the other side of our journey with fresh eyes and a tender heart.
Humbly,
Shelly
Shelly, I echo you sentiments. Beth`s words pierced my heart this morning and washed me again in tears from the Holy Spirit
Beth, my word wasn’t exactly the same but very close. And your post could have been otherwise written by me and about me, if I was as skilled with words as you are. To me it is simply comforting to hear others have these same times of heaviness as I do and am right now. Otherwise I would become too overwhelmed by it. Thank you for being so transparent! Once again I feel refreshed just reading the blog!
How cool is our Lord! We had a last minute speaker change due to illness and the guest speaker spoke on 2 Kings 4 and the widow’s oil!!! Way up here near Toronto ON, we had the same passage yesterday. A few of the highlights:
-the widow recognized her need. She said she had nothing left.
-she did have a pot of oil. God never leaves us with nothing.
-our victory does not depend on our circumstances or how we fight. It all depends on God! Trust Him and let Him use what is in our hands.
-Most of the time, oil in the Scriptures speaks of the Holy Spirit, and He and His supply are inexhaustible. The oil kept coming until she ran out of vessels.
-You will never be able to discover that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have!
Praise our Lord Jesus Christ, our All-Sufficient One!
That in Acts 19 Paul told the Ephesians his work there was done. That in Ephesians his new season in jail and in chains was to say to others grace and peace to you. We can share grace and peace no matter what our situation or circumstance.
So,so,so needed to read this words this morning. Thank you, Beth and thank you, Lord!
Just that He is working all through the night on my behalf. He is holy, holy, holy and I am needy, needy, needy. I don’t even know my specific needs but I want to wait patiently for His provision…heart, mind, and spirit opened wide waiting expectantly with gratitude and thank fullness. Easier to write these words than the actual process of it all. Grateful for this verse I found this morning…
As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay. (Psalm 40:17 NLT)
Dear Beth,
My Bible I keep near my computer fell open ot the book of Nahum this AM and chapter 1:3b it reads “The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Vs 7 reads “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble and He knows those who trust in Him.”
He knows us dear Beth! He knows our deepest desires and needs and through these storms which seem to go on forever, He still has His way in them. They will accomplish what He wants in our lives. When we put these storms in the right perspective in light of eternity they will be like the clouds are to His feet!!! They will be mere dust just a small measure of time.
I have been praying for you daily and for others of us who seem to be having our share of trials this year. We never appreciate a shower of rain more than when we have been in a drought of sorts for some time.
May He bless nd keep you close to His heart this week and forever! Love Betty M
Just last week the Lord awakened me to the cold, sorry state of my soul & spirit, my spiritual slumber. I felt Him whisper to me to fast and pray. And I went “Is it just my imagination, my mind playing tricks on me or is it really the Lord?” It is indeed the Lord! I am grateful for His confirmation through my pastor’s sermon yesterday about…yes, fasting & praying! Praise the Lord, thank you Jesus! He is gracious, His mercies are new every morning…
I will have to write a separate post about our sermon from yesterday, but I just have to share the things I was reminded of as I read what you wrote about Curtis’ message.
First of all, I thought of a sermon I heard several years ago from that same passage, called “When the Barrel is Empty.” One of the minister’s main points was that serving from an empty barrel can do so much to fill your barrel. It resonated with me so as I had gone through a difficult season and thought surely if I had not been singing in the choir and re-focusing with worship, the depression and discouragement could have buried me.
Curtis’ sermon also made me think of last month’s simulcast from Priscilla Shirer when she spoke on the feeding of the 5,000 with the 5 loaves and 2 fish. She said, “Without a multitude in need, you would never see the value of what you have been given.” And, like you shared, that when we are lacking, our eyes are opened to see the miraculous.
And then, just this morning, I read a blog post from someone currently on a mission trip to Myanmar. She wrote, “Yesterday I got to go to the Widow’s home that Elijah helped to build. The team has built a water purification system at the home.” Isn’t that awesome how God is continuing to provide there?
I’m continuing to pray for you, too, Beth!
Beth, you’re way of putting words to the unexpressable heart yearnings is so good! I have a need and I’ve been spinning my wheels trying for the past 5 months to get a handle on how I could fix it. Today, near the beginning of June, I wrote that I needed to pray about my need (finally). It was the, “Well, I’m not doing so well on this, I guess I’ll pray.” I hate that default attitude; it should be the first thought not the default. I come to my computer and read your post and realize that my need can only be met by Him. I can’t do it, but He can! It’s just the way you said it that really spoke to my heart. I, too, want to live leaning hard on His everything, not my own. Just need to practice more. Thank you!
Wow! Thanks for sharing a powerful message. This weekend I saw a familiar passage (Romans 12:1-2)with new eyes and was convicted. Not convicted in a shameful way, but one of hope, encouragement and freedom. Seeking God’s will and direction for my life starts with a heart that’s right with Him. The possibilities excite me.
This was such a good word this morning and the timing was perfect. I have really been going through a time of need as of late myself. I got up Sunday morning and went to the walking trail and walked and talked to God. I really asked that He would bring a fresh word to me that morning through my pastor. That God would take his word and make it so new and so fresh that it would speak to me so richly. I then started praying for my pastor.
I got to church and was God ever faithful. Ross spoke out of Mark 5:21-43. He spoke about being patient in our need. That Jairus was waiting for Jesus and he stopped and healed someone else (the woman bleeding) and by the time he got to Jairus his daughter was “dead” and so they said why even trouble the teacher any futher (vs.35). Then he proceed to say “Trouble the teacher!!!! trouble him every minute” It gave me such hope. I woke up this Monday morning to a fresh attack from satan. One, I was so encourged by the word it sustained me through this morning. Two, I went to your blog this morning as part of my devotion and read this and it was so me in those words that it confirmed to me that God is able, He is for me and there is much to glean from this season and I don’t want to miss one single grain!!
Thank you for letting us know you have been experiencing a tremendous sadness and a weakness- perhaps physical? I, too, have been going through it, and I haven’t known why. I haven’t been to the gym for six weeks, and the sadness is overwhelming some days. I have been teaching a Sunday school class on Randy Alcorn’s “Heaven,” and a young woman in my class, a new Christian, emails me regularly with questions, and I’ve been seeking to answer the age-old one, what about Buddhists, and other religions. Will they see God in heaven? Sunday morning, as I was praying about how the Lord would have me teach, He gave me an answer that really thrilled me. Here’s how He explained it: “When you asked Me into your heart, the Holy Spirit enters into your soul. I am God in three persons. So remember that the Holy Spirit is also a person, and when you die, you don’t die alone. I am with you. I will take you by the hand and lead you to heaven. If you have not asked Me into your heart, your soul is alone in its quest for an afterlife. Ask your students, “Do you want to take that chance of dying alone, without Christ?” Wow! And it was Trinity Sunday at our church. God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
God is in control. In the midst of moving to “our country home” … in a hotel for 2 weeks now … been feeding a momma duck and her 12 babies on a Texas river. The girls named her “Texas Monthly” and the babies “Jan thru Dec.” We are up higher than they are when feeding them (over a bridge) … they receive it like manna from heaven (I have said that often) … and they are so appreciative, shaking their sweet tail feathers. They come now when they hear the girls’ voices. Well, after a storm, there were only 9 babies, then 8 babies (only Jan thru August now)… next night, no momma duck or babies. We saw a dearly departed duck under the waters, and we wondered if that was “Texas Monthly.” The girls were so sad just wondering what had happened to her (okay, we were all sad). But glory … next day, there they were, all 8 babies and their momma. They were so hungry … ate so well, shook their little tail feathers, and cleaned their sweet beaks in the water so sweetly like their mother. We got so tickled to see how fast those babies ran for their “manna from heaven” and seeing their sweet presence was “manna from heaven” for us. Looking back … it was amazing how quickly we felt sad, loss, and defeated over what we thought was evidence of loss (duck feathers way down under) … But God showed us that He was in control.
Ironically, yesterday I went back to my notes from the Esther study I did when it first came out. There was a specific lesson that was on my mind (session four). It was the part that discussed how Esther had to face fear and how we have to respond with “Well, if THIS happens, then God.”
I’m dealing with a situation right now where the one person I want emotional support from while I plan to become a new bride is unable to give it to me. Never in a million years did I think I would buy my wedding dress alone, meet with caterers alone, etc (my fiance is still overseas, but he’ll help me as soon as he gets here). In the meantime, though, it has been a really lonely road towards my wedding and, at several points along the way, I’ve had to say “THEN GOD.” I had thought the experience of planning for a wedding would be a time of bonding for me and this person but seeing old patterns repeated is just heartbreaking. I’ve put off wedding tasks as long as I can hoping things would get better, but they don’t seem to be and with the wedding getting so close, I have to get these tasks done even if it means doing them alone. So, I’ve just started doing things alone and trusting that God can send other women in my life to help fill gaps and holes.
Speaking of all things wedding, my dress is scheduled to come in right before the LPL in Knoxville (which I’m coming to!!). If I run into you in the hallway like I did at an event two years ago, this time I’m going to yell “Hey, want to see my wedding dress?!?!” instead of the “Beth Moore, I LOVE YOUR HAIR!” that came out of my mouth two years ago. 😉
Jacob (our pastor) is currently preaching a series out of Proverbs called “In Between Sundays”. Yesterday was “consider the ant” – in other words – don’t be sluggard. Though I wasn’t immune to the word concerning slothfulness, God spoke more to me right before the worship time. Our staff has decided to change up our worship time so that even the order of worship mirrors the gospel. This was such a blessing to me. We started with an honest of assessment of our hearts… moved toward a time of meditation on the Jesus and His cross… and THEN heard the message, letting the truth wash over us and through us to repentance and trust in Him… and THEN to giving and communion… and then worship and praise. This is going to be the practice in our worship each week. God’s word to me was this: “Daughter, let your life mirror my gospel… let it be one of repentance and faith… let each day follow the pattern of the gospel. The gospel isn’t just the message that brings us into the kingdom – it’s the power for our continued salvation every day… humble yourself, let Me assess your heart, hear and believe the truth of my word, repent, trust, and walk. In this way, I am glorified.” Oh, and stop being sluggard. 🙂
I would love to see your dress, Amy Beth! So fun! So sorry that your loved one is not savoring every moment of this wedding season with you, Child. May Christ be twice as evident.
I have two thoughts. The first is from my Sunday School class. The title of the lesson sounded so…simple: “God knows best.” Our teacher said he could read those 3 words and class could be dismissed. But He wanted it to get down deep. We read Prov 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.” My thoughts: Why does it say ‘with ALL your heart’ (as opposed to half your heart, or your mind)? Jer 17:9 popped in my head. Because “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick!” It is crooked. If I lean on my own understanding-making decisions based on emotion (instability!)-my path will be crooked. God offers a straight path. It’s not guaranteed to be easy, but trusting Him will be “healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (v 8). Couldn’t we all use some healing and refreshment from our Father?? So how do we walk that out? Verse 1: “Do not forget my teaching, but let your hear keep my commandments.” Where do we find that stability and healing we so desperately need? Verse 3: “Let not STEADFAST love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” I can trust God when I receive His steadfast, outrageous love for me.
Goodness, so much for being succinct.
Quickly, my second thought, which I was reminded of while reading your post, Beth. It’s from week 3 in A Woman’s Heart. Moses asked God, “Show me your glory”. God said, “I will make all my *goodness* pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD'” I wrote down from the video: “Sometimes glory is painful, sometimes it is not…but it is always good. Sometimes we don’t see God coming, but in the aftermath, we see His back. Maybe the darkness, when we can’t see, is because it is covering us with His hand in the cleft.” Amen.
Beth,
I got word from one of your daily devotionals.
Your book Breaking Free, Day by Day has been in my life for 2 years now. Last year May 30, actually, the verse was Isaiah 26:12, and your commentary was noted. I drug my self up a hill top with your book, sat, cried and prayed. I had been brought out of so much, and peace was upon me. Like I had finally made it out of the forest or something (I hate camping). Well, I marked it with a twig I found on the hilltop-and guess what I came across this year again? May 30, Isaiah 26:12 from your daily devotional book and the twig from the hill. Again, I’m overcome with so much gratitude for His promise and His word. It was like celebrating an anniversary and the truth all over again!
Share life and Christ’s love to the broken…struggling families, single parents, those in prison, the elderly, the shy, the poor, the children…of which I am many, for Jesus is all that matters!
My pastor has been preaching a series called “Facing your Giants,” centered on the fight between David and Goliath. We have talked about the Giants of disappointment, despair, isolation, etc…I have a sadness that has permeated my whole life that I have been trying to unload. So this series has really been speaking to me. Sometimes I have felt like such a mess inside I wonder how God could achieve any glory at all. I have had my own ideas about what His glory in my life would look like and how it should be accomplished. That has been a great tension in my life. Yesterday after the message we sang “Freedom reigns in this place; showers of mercy and praise falling on every face. There is freedom…” And God was showing me how because we carry Him with us, there is beauty in the dark corners, victory on top of a trash heap…a way for His faithfulness to rise as the plot of our story. Even more amazing, I went to your LPL in Columbus, OH last year. God had given you the word PREPARE. When I returned home and continued to ask Him how to unload my burden, He gave me a dream in which He told me to “PREPARE my heart for worship.” Yesterday’s worship experience was so powerful, this word came back to me. Worship has begun to bring life back to dead bones and veins, and healing has started. His faithfulness screams loudest from the dark.
I attended church yesterday. It was about the narrow way. I even taught a bible study fellowship. I taught on the mercy of God.
Right now, I am in need. Such a deep need. Words barely come to me as I even attempt to describe it.
Please just pray for a sister – a family – in need.
Praying.
I’m praying, too.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Rom8
Praying the God of All Comfort meets you right where you are.
I’m praying for you sister! I feel the LORD putting you and your need on my heart. don’t be afraid, be strong, be brave. Joshua 1:9
Well, I found it difficult to praise yesterday and I realize it’s cause I’m a little mad at God for some of the things He’s allowed in my life that I can’t seem to get over no matter how hard I try. And can’t convince people that it’s not just about forgiveness, but that’s important, too. I know that, but that isn’t all of it. I react without even thinking about it consciously out of that pain and anxiety and I usually don’t even realize until much later! So irritating 🙁
However, I was thinking that sobriety sucks and wanted to throw in the towel and just drink when I got there and I left feeling a little less selfish and not wanting to drink (though that returned later as well.). We talked about relationships and how we all get hurt in relationships and how we are all called to risk trusting again. Yeah, I think I would know a little about that!!! I’m sure you do, too. I’m still going to AA meetings every day and probably will for the rest of my life. I know some don’t understand that, but to me it’s finally having relationships that are real. Relationships where people actually want me around and are glad to see me. I’ve never had that before. People always ran when they saw me coming. Even my own family. Whether I was sober or not. Even counselors I had you could tell just dreaded seeing me. It didn’t really make me feel okay with me. Not that I do now, but it sure helps when other people love you just the way you are. I even find it a lot easier to believe that God loves me the way that I am. I’m not really relying on those people. Sometimes it’s different people there, but God always shows up in those rooms and He speaks to me through others and daily relationships are normal, despite what we think in these self-sufficient United States of America. It’s wrong to even think that all you need is Jesus. God never called us to isolation, even with Him. It drives me nuts that a lot of Christians lead people to believe they shouldn’t seek outside help or spend time with others on a daily basis. Read the scriptures. They met together “daily.” They needed each other and we do, too, whether we realize it or not. Okay, off my soapbox.
Yesterday’s sermon was from 1 Corinthians 4:1-6, 20. It focused on choosing to do what God has called you to do, no matter what anyone else thinks. Our minister also talked about not judging others based on opinions that go beyond what is in the Word of God. It was excellent in motivating me to want to act and make decisions according to God’s leading.
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Beth!
Yes! I did get a word! My Pastor covered John 11 with a passion! Jesus went up against “Death” the undefeted heavy weight champion of the world and Jesus kicked it’s be-hind!
Good stuff!
Our message was on John 15. The focus was on remaining in Christ. John 15:5 specifically spoke to me. Christ is calling us to remain in Him. Every day we are to seek Him – again and again and again. Louie pointed out that we should be encouraged by the fact that apart from Christ we can do nothing. This verse shows us that Christ knows we can do nothing on our own. We need Him, and He wants us to know we need Him. We don’t have to try to bear fruit, we can’t do it in our own strength. We need Him. Our relationship with Christ is to remain in Him and obey His command to love each other. As we do that, He works through us to reach others (bearing fruit). I lose sight of the fact that I can do nothing on my own. This is especially true when it comes to my family. I try so hard to make everything a lesson. I am trying to be the Holy Spirit at work in them, and I am not. I cannot. I am called to remain in Christ and obey Him. It is up to Him what He does with my obedience.
Loved this message from yesterday’s sermon:
I Kings 17
Elijah is learning that God is in control of all things. God planned for the raven to bring him food, for the widow (with no faith) to bake him bread. God wanted to demonstrate faith to the widow woman through Elijah.
What happens when something in your life goes away (dries up)? God meets our physical needs and brings people into our lives at just the right time…. at the perfect time that we need that person, and that person needs us. Throughout this chapter, Elijah trusted God, and the widow found faith and trust in God. Bottom line,
trust God for the people he brings into your life at just the right time.
Message: Trust / Listen / Obey
I was not able to be with my church home yesterday since I am on vacation with friends. But this quote stuck out to me “We’re to be content in whatever circumstances we’re in. We’re talking here about fighting the urge in our excess to be content in our self-sufficiency.” I am struggling with where God has me as a single young woman( I am 31 years old) and I believe is trying to teach me to be content with where ever HE has me. I desperately want to be so secure and rely on the fact that GOD is my husband, my provider my everything I need. I sing and read in faith when I struggle with believing. I don’t want to rely on myself anymore! I want to look to and believe everything HE says and everything HE is!
Sarah, I get that sister! I just prayed for you as I moderated this comment. May the Lord bring this desire of your heart to fruition THIS year. You are loved!
I get this too. Just prayed.
Thank you so very much Lindsee! God has blessed me with some close friends that have taken me in as family but I lack single friends that I feel can understand certain things. So hearing you say “you get it” encourages my heart! Thanks again!
At our graduation service for 14 high school grads, our Senior Pastor pledged to them to always hold true to Proverbs 3. After reading that Proverb again this morning, I am still in awe of it and how simple is sounds.
A wonderful guide to live by at 18 or 60!
Hello Beth,
I was prompted by one of our congregation’s ladies to read this blog entry of yours. Annette told a group of us that you heard EXACTLY the same passage of Scripture we did preached on at Markham Bible Chapel yesterday….
What I find extremely like God, is that we hear exactly what the Holy Spirit prepares for us to hear – what was quite interesting, is that my husband, an elder in our church had prepared a message on 3 John to present at our Family Bible Hour. He was awake far into the wee hours of Sunday morning – partly because we had been saddened by the news of a “tragedy” occurring at Chitokoloki Mission Hospital in Zambia, where a young pilot and his wife were killed on a return air flight to the mission by hitting a power line – leaving two daughters 1 and 3 at the mission station with our friends, the administrators – Eric had visited this very mission station twice in the past 3 years. It came as a real emotional blow to him, and partly because he is a “lay” preacher who owns two businesses, and does not have a week to prepare a message.
He awoke Sunday morning being very nauseated, dizzy and a headache. He told me to go ahead and he would come in time to preach for the second service. Upon arrival, he was pasty white and clammy, and another elder strongly suggested that he defer to a visiting preacher from San Antonio, Texas – brother Hart – who was an internationally known speaker who JUST HAPPENED to be at our church for the morning!
Brother Hart, originally from Jamaica, preached on 2 Kings, chapter 4 – very willingly and his message touched all who were there.
The Lord knew my husband’s physical, and perhaps emotional need, and provided someone who has only visited our church once before…. who preached about the widow’s oil.
I believe it was a message that two churches needed to hear, don’t you?
In Him,
Elaine Kalmbach
We also attend a young church and have experienced the excitement there. Yesterday was amazing. My husband and I have gone through a very long season of uncertainty – job loss, financial disaster etc. and have struggled with the why of it all and also with how to be faithful to God by tithing when our income barely meets the other obligations. We were talking with our pastor and he said that the blessing may not be a financial one when we are faithful and it may not be immediate but it will come and it will be amazing. After we left we talked about what he said and realized he was right. Yes we ended up practically homeless and had to give up almost all of our material possessions but we did have blessings in other areas that we would not have seen if we had not gone through that. Our marriage is stronger than most, we have a great relationship with our kids, and our faith and reliance on God has never been stronger. Do I wish at times things had been easy and simple – YES!!! but I realize now that I wouldn’t have experienced God in the same ways and for that I will praise Him.
If you are in a season of weeping, a SHOUT of joy is coming. At least that’s what Psalm 30:5 promises us. Also, our faith pleases God. He is attracted to it! Amen.
What a GOOD Word from our Pastor Curtis that I haven’t really been able to put into words. But you did a wonderful job, as always. Thank you! I love my church so much. So deeply grateful.
My nugget from Sunday a.m. The answer to fear, any fear rational or irrational is to realize & believe God is our Father. i.e. If we fear sickness or really are sick then know He is Jehovah Rapha -our Healer, if we are in need or fear being in need then know He is Jehovah Rapha-our Provider.
My word yesterday was Submission and I can’t stop thinking about it or looking it up in every scripture verse and book I have on Christian disciplines. It’s all about my freedom. My freedom. The ability to lay down the terrible burden of needing to get my own way. To be free to value other people. To give up my right for the good of others. Every day. Day in and day out. Practice makes perfect.
Beth,
I can so relate to what you are saying. “I have a need”. And the LORD shouts from heaven, “AMEN!” I have fretted about the fact that at times, ( and today is certainly one of those times) I just feel weak. I don’t feel strong. The fact is, the LORD does allow us to feel that way. Because he wants us to NEED him. It is a blessing. I spend time with him allowing him to clean my heart and deal with my issues. But for whatever reasons, I just don’t feel confident in myself… Praise HIM.
The WORD God has given me that literally knocked me over was through reading psalm 27:4
ONE THING I will ASK of the LORD.
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
I seek his face, but here is what you need to know… The LORD wants us to seek his face so that he can LOOK at us. Right down to the bottom of our souls. All the way down to the darkest parts. “Let me look at you!”
Can’t you just imagine him taking your face in his hands and pering into your eyes with his fathomless loving eyes… Looking, just looking.
we DO nothing. just stand there and let him look.
That’d my word. And I’m passing it on to you.
Heidi
Thank you for your sweet post this morning, Beth. I didn’t come away from church yesterday with a particular word, but with a nourished soul. My pastor’s message was good and inline with other things the Lord has been speaking to my heart recently. But my blessing came from the worship. Sensing God’s Presence among us, surrounding us. And my little granddaughters standing with us, fidgeting..skinny arms around my waist, smiling eyes looking up at me. Breathless whispers in my ears about “important” things they had to say. I came away smiling and nourished, knowing I had been in His Grace. Some days you don’t come away with things from church that you can pinpoint, but they line up, line-upon-line. We need the body of Christ. We are the body of Christ!
Literally words are standing out right now, brokeness, hope, trust, wait, and fresh. Excited to find out how that all works together. Going through some hard things and seeing hope. “)
I was one of the ones in the nursery…but I still got a word in the middle of teaching my Sunday School lesson!
The lesson was on the disciple’s calling for help from a sleeping Jesus in the middle of a raging storm. The thought came to me in the middle of the lesson, that some of the disciples were fishermen before they were called. This definitely wasn’t their first time in a boat. This likely wasn’t the first storm that they had experienced while out on a boat. They had likely seen the wind and the waves before, yet this storm must have been unlike any other. They were afraid – to death. Their response was out of fear, but their response landed on the Savior’s ear. He heard. He answered. He calmed the storm.
And if they got afraid in with the Savior on board with them, I’m somehow comforted when I get afraid. If they caught the Savior’s ear with their cry for help, so can I.
Our pastor is currently going through the book of Revelation and yesterday’s sermon was from 3:17-22 regarding the church of Laodicea. It absolutely fits in with all you are telling us here, Beth. They had become completely self-sufficient and lukewarm about their faith. Very wealthy with unending resources made them stop seeking God and complacent. These seasons of desperate need can be exhausting, frustrating and oh so painful, but oh how they keep us on our knees (eventually). That is one of the many reasons I am so thankful for my husband. 🙂 Married him way before I had even a clue of how invested Jesus cared to be in my silly life. After a long time of infertility, now have three beautiful teenaged daughters, and spend every day clinging to the hem of His robe in seeking to keep some sanity with this man in charge. My husband absolutely adores my girls and me but gives words like antagonist, encourageable and difficult a whole new level. 🙂 The blessings, however, that come through choosing obedience, seeking His face instead of what is in my own ugly soul, continue to be poured down on me – over and over. No doubt many come from you, Miss Beth – so willing to be so transparent through your struggles and to all of those whom blog. Be encouraged, never feel alone and by no means, may the Lord never let any of us become lukewarm!
Huge virtual hugs to all of you. Especially you, sweet Beth. May the Lord’s presence be completely obvious and His words be just what you need each day. Praying you’ll find His strength to be completely surrendered where you cannot imagine would be His will. 🙂
Kim
The Word I received yesterday was ‘hope’.
That even though things may be tough right now (and may likely get tougher) that the One who died for me and forgives me, has not forgotten about me. That in this world I “will have trouble”, but that He has overcome the world.
And then to really bring it home, He gave Himself to me in a piece of bread and sip of wine, so that I might have a tangible, concrete Word…a sort of reenactmemnt of the cross…that I won’t have to look inward for any of this. But that external Word can always be trusted, no matter what is going on inside my sometimes faithless head or heart.
Thanks, so much. And God bless.
Hi Beth and LPM community-
Yesterday the pastor spoke about the Parable of the Shrewd Manager. I was listening intently and the line that spoke to my heart was *whoever can be trusted with little, can also be trusted with much*…
My thoughts went to my family – I am the mom of 4. They are young adults now ranging from 25-19. One of my daughters is 23 and at the moment she is in Kuwait with her boyfriend. He is an Egyptian muslim and they are getting married. My daughter is a beautiful,tender hearted girl(I know- sounds just like what a mom would say). We have skyped often and she appears happy and well. His family appears to be very hospitable and kind to her. At times I am terrified for her and at times I dare to believe that her footsteps have been ordered by God.
The verse – whoever can be trusted with little- seemed to say to me – that I was trusted with a little family. I took them to church, I homeschooled them, took them to Sunday School, we read bible stories, they listened to Adventures in Odyssey (they still do), we prayed nightly, they accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour- I think I was a good steward with what I was entrusted with-(though like any mom, I could easily focus on all the things I could have done better).
The next part of the verse- *can also be trusted with much* – is a big stretch for me. Daring to believe that I could be trusted with a Muslim son-in-law and possibly future Muslim grandchildren. Trusted to show Christ’s love, mercy and grace to them. To pray for them. To care for them.
I have been bombarded lately with emails sent by a Christian co worker- Fear filled emails about how Muslims will soon out number Christians in the US. I don’t know how to deal with those cause they fill me with fear. But
when I talk with my daughter and her boyfriend- I don’t sense fear, I feel love.
I don’t think my head is in the sand- I know the realities of being unevenly yolked, but I also realize that even if my daughter doesn’t get married on July 6 as they are planning, my *tent* has been expanded to include another family far away who need Jesus.
I am so thankful for the topic you chose for today. I never thought about how this verse spoke to me until I started writing it down here. I appreciate you Beth.
Patricia
My husband preached on our VBS verse yesterday, Psalm 147:5, “Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite.” The main thing God taught me out of it is that He is great enough to handle my life and the circumstances of my life. That was a word I needed right now! I’m so grateful that I will be reminded of that all week long as I work in VBS! Praying for you, Miss Beth!
I am in a small community in Africa for two weeks – Outapi, Namibia. There are 2 pastors working together named Erastus and Noah. My husband taught yesterday morning, in the small tin building where about 30 believers gathered and sang God’s praises in a language I could not understand. It was amazing. He taught that once you give your life to Christ, you will still sin, but that God still loves you and you are still his child. Here, they have a very hard time with that, and want to “give their lives to Christ” again and again. The idea of forgiveness for all sins is foreign. After my husband spoke, both of the other pastors spoke too, as their service usually lasts a couple of hours 🙂 It is a beautiful culture, and to experience worship here has been a tremendous blessing!
Oh, Hayley, thank you for sharing. I loved picturing your church. I am smiling ear to ear.
Dearest Beth, O, how timely are your words, your pastor’s words and of course God’s sweet Word! Our pastor spoke on continuing to allow God to do the work that He wants to do even though many troubles surround us. John 14:1 was where he spoke from. “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He then went on to say how we can get into a self protective state where we are hiding from the work God wants to do in our midst. That’s where I am – in a self protected state. I don’t know what it is but there is a spirit of meanness and contempt coming at me from so many sides. I really do want to curl into a ball and hide. Yes, I too have a need. Not sure how to word it or what it is, but praise God – Jesus knows! Will be laying my wounded spirit before my Healer.
Thank you once again for speaking in the midst of the storm – the perfect storm as you once called it, when it’s not just coming from one direction, but yes, coming from every side. You are so loved. Thank you for loving us.
Will be praying for you. Will also be seeing you in Calgary this coming weekend! It will be a double blessing – our oldest daughter will be coming into Calgary this weekend too! She has been with YWAM for 5 months in Costa Rica. This momma needs this release!! My sweet daughter and Beth all in one weekend – meep!!
I too pray that I would receive a word on Sunday mornings at my church. This Sunday our pastor spoke on husbands and wives, and respect and love. The whole message was good, but he said something to wives that really stuck with me and I really have spent some time thinking and praying about it. Now, mind you, the pastor spoke to the men/husbands in the group plenty, but I was trying to focus the Word God had for me and not the ones I was hoping He was giving to my man Ü. He said to the wives, if you are struggling to show your husband respect, the reasons can usually be traced back to three root causes: pride, past, or pain. I have had to spend some time in prayer and repentance knowing that I am on occasion disrespectful to my cute husband. And why? Usually because of pride, but on occasion because of some past hurts. I have asked for the Holy Spirit to quicken my heart when I am being disrespectful and also to help me see why so I can either repent or get healing from those wounds. Good stuff!!
Thank you for sharing your bread with us, Mrs. Beth.
All week last week I was thinking about the way “LORD of hosts” keeps recurring in Psalm 84, which I’m just starting to learn. Then yesterday we sang “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and it stunned me that Luther calls Jesus “Lord Sabaoth” in the second verse. “Sabaoth” is the Hebrew word translated “of hosts,” as in “of armies.” I am so often and deeply conscious of my weakness, especially in two difficult, prolonged battles right now, that it is profoundly encouraging to me to meditate on God as Commander-in-chief of vast angelic armies. He has my back in a big way. Whatever comes this week, I can’t handle it on my own, but I’m not on my own, thanks be to God. Lord Sabaoth will win the battle.
We started a new series called Chick Flix. The first week was on Rachel & Leah. It was interesting because I’ve always thought of this story from the woman’s point of view. Our pastor taught it more from Jacob’s view point with notes that applied to male or female. The final take-away I had was not to look to our spouse as our “one” to cure everything…but to look to God as our “ONE” and our spouse as our “two.” It was so good to hear this familiar story I love from a different side with new applications!
Sweet Siesta Mama, Life is complicated and hard. I just thank God for you. I pray for you and your family often. We will probably not meet until Heaven, but we will have eternity to hear all of our stories and gaze at The One who saved us from it all.
Do you remember Chris, a pastor who was at one of your Living Proof Live events with his wife? He is my pastor. His church is a plant from the church where I work. He comes in frequently and borrows dvd’s from your Bible studies as part of his sermon preparation. He showed me a picture of you talking to him at that event. He and his wife are co-teaching a series of lessons on “Home Wreckers” about marriage and family. His lesson yesterday was on communication and on how vital it is especially in marriage. He and his wife are ‘real’ – explaining that they don’t pretend like they’ve arrived but they strive to communicate and work on their marriage like everybody else. He gave stats about how little time couples actually spend talking when it was so different when couples dated. They also discussed how to communicate with suggestions on looking your spouse in their eyes and really listen to them…don’t fold laundry or watch tv and nod your head…don’t pick up your cell phone…just look at them and really listen. I could go on with other points but it would make this too lengthy. I think that communication tip can apply to any relationship as well… with our children, with our friends, and brothers/sisters in Christ.
I am praying fervently for you.
Love you sweet sister,