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.Â
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
I was out of town yesterday with my elderly mother who suffers from dementia- no church service- Thank you for sharing your word as it gave me encouragement during a season of great despair and dealing with a dark dark spot in my heart
I love that Rev. Curtis reminded us that our acute need can be a great opportunity for God to provide the miraculous as there is nothing in the natural that can solve my overwhelming situation- Blessings and thanks again for such an encouraging post- My “hope” factor is almost empty
Oh, darn. I’m on my phone again and it takes me forever to peck out a word; so may I just say, “Amen” to this post!
Through a series of events & trials over my entire life, I had the question “WHY?” Recently, God has begun to answer, @ 36yr old. I never knew my birth mom & there were rumors there were other sibling. 2 1/2 yrs ago I found out there was truth to that rumor. I am one of 8 children & we all have different lifestyles & perceptions of our birth mom-some good, some not so good. The Lord spoke to me about my mission field-my family. God wanted me to start a blog & I wanted it to be about giving Glory & Honor to my Lord & how he has restored my brokenness. I posted my blog about my sibling on 6-2-12 praying there will be healing & the love of Christ will be shared & accepted. On Sunday (6-3-12) I was singing “Not Guilty” w/ the choir & about lost it during the first verse reflecting over my younger brother who has been in prison since he was 15, 20yrs now. Then our Pastor, Jim Perdue @ Second Baptist in Ga is starting a series on Philemon:Power of Forgiveness & Redemption! I was trying to keep it together the whole service! God was confirming that I was doing what He wanted me to do. This post has reached more than just my new sibling, but many others as well as they sharing it w/ friends!I’m running outta room…so you can visit my blog masuess.blogspot.com. Jesus hears you & He will heal you! All in HIS PERFECT TIMING!!
Mama Beth
Thank-you for sharing… God has bought you to my mind a lot lately. God is so awesome I wasn’t able to go to church Sunday. But God has been working so hard in my life. I was so down and out last weekend. I just though it was a three day weekend. I was planning on ( I’m going to be completely honest here) getting high and forgetting about everything. I don’t even know why I picked this book up a friend had gave it to me called crazy love by Francis Chan… I spent all night Friday reading the whole book. It was telling me showing me how big our God is but yet he still calls me, helps me ,talks to me…. This season in my life has been the hardest one yet. And if u knew me u know how big of a statement it is… After that weekend I had plan on being high and forgetting life ( I have been drug free for 11 years now ) but instead spent the weekend wrap-up in Gods word in his love. I know our God is a awsome God. And even when I am unable to pray for what I need. The holy spirit in me is praying. Last weekend is an example of that. I decided this past weekend to pick up breaking free ( had the book for Atleast 8 years never finished it ) I get to a point in it and I shut it in tears and I’m never able to get past it. But I know God is wanting to use it to help me to talk to me to help me heal and gropw. So I know I will pick it up …I pray I will …this is the season of healing for me… I trying to live one day at a time . Not forces on Gods will for my life but for Gods will for my day… Love u and thank you for all you do for Gods children. I am lifting you and your family up to our Father. Hang in and learn sister this is what I am doing one day at a time.
1st Peter chp 1…. manifold temptations and trials are for a “season” there will be an end, here or “there”
gave this sister HOPE….
lifting you and your family up in prayer, much love to Mama and her kin….
Wow! Some similarities to what Pastor Jon preached yesterday. He focus on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. The highlighted verses were 9-12. It was about being patient and waiting on the Lord, being in His word and He will reveal to you His plan for you.
Today, all day, I was watching people at work running around. We are in our quarterly review of how the current quarter and future quarter and end of the year will be. It provides my livelyhood and for the most part, I am content with my position and grateful I can come home and be with my man and kids and spend time in the Word and with you all. I look at my boss, et.a. and fear they are missing out on something very important. My mind goes to the Point of Grace song, How You Live. Is all that running around going to make a difference when they go Home? I can’t judge, but I pray for them and their families and try to blessing to someone each day.
I need to remember to talk and be in the Word every day and hug my kids and hubby and say “I love you.”
Blessings all,
Mary Ann
P.S. I can hardly wait for Nehemiah to start. God is so AWESOME. Memorial Day weekend (Saturday) I went to Lifeway and got 16 books and the leader kit. Today, No. 16 signed up! I might get more if it is His will. Just following His lead… He told me to get 16 books that day.
i NEED to pray like that for church. thank you for this word, beth and curtis.
while i weeded in the garden this morning, i thought about seeing the beauty and health that results from weeding. calling on HIM to weed me is essential. painful? yes. necessary? absolutley. and psalm 139:23-24 comes to mind.
This is truth – no need for me to play up to you, Sister. I’ve been listening repeatedly to the James CD on being patient, waiting on God’s timing, knowing He is faithful. Praising Him while searching the sky for fist-sized clouds and coming rain. Clinging to this word, Sister, CLINGING. I’m on the road quite a bit and had been out of Sunday school for a few weeks just to discover yesterday we’ve begun the book of James and were discussing being patient in trials. Oh God is good! We discussed patient is sometimes translated long-suffering or steadfast. As I drove home on the interstate, I passed a truck. God frequently uses trucks to minister to my soul. This truck had a small sign on the back, and I caught up to it to read John 3:16. But..oh…the name spread across both the trailer and cab of the truck – “STEADFAST”. May you, sweet Sister Beth, share this word and be comforted in the knowledge YOU, my Sister, have been used to plant my feet firmly in the Word. May you soon see deliverance. with love
Wow! This hit me square between the eyes!
I’ve been in a long season of wandering, looking, desiring…God is working and moving but sometimes it seems so very slowly!! I was driving through town, listening to my favorite band sing truth to me; it was early and the part of town I was in was not yet bustling. Out of nowhere I saw a man riding a bicycle down the sidewalk. His face was lined with the toughness of life. Someone who wore the harshness of this world on him visibly. While I looked at him though it was as if God was shining a bright light on him, allowing me to see him as God sees him. Loved, cared for, desired, needy…but mostly loved! I believe God loves me, but at that moment He was impressing on me the fact that He loves each of us the same way. His Son died for each of us to provide that way to Him. His desire is for me to seek after Him, to keep on this dry winding road I seem to be on, because He loves me and is walking me through it. It was just the encouragement I needed!!
I have needed to see the miraculous, powerful, working of God in a situation in my brother’s family. We have all been begging for a word! We got it last Sunday from my sister’s pastor and she sent texts to us all to get on the computer and watch the podcast. He said, God will fight this battle so you just stand back and see Him get the glory! We saw one tiny change this week, but it was as big to us as David’s slinging the stone. Then I got a sermon series called, “A Season of Suddenlies” and I thought, oh boy, we are ready for God to show up suddenly and change everything and shock our socks off!
Oh Beth,
Your post encouraged me today. We had a WONDERFUL service yesterday. Our pastors are preaching through Daniel and yesterday it was Daniel 5 and “The writing on the wall”…I’ve taken your Daniel study 2 times and yesterday God had a Word for me. I have been going through a season like I have never seen…our family is hurting and in need of healing; I have been under attack and having insecurity issues that I’ve never had before. I am learning a whole new level of trust. The points from the sermon were:
1. God reveals truth
2. God exposes our pride (something He and I are working on as I write this)
3. God reveals His Greatness
What I realized is that He continues to reveal His greatness even in this hard season…I have a need…I need Him more than I have ever have. So, I too am praying for Him to show me what He has to teach me, what He has to leave with me, so I will never forget this season and how big He is in the midst of it.
I am looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks in CO Springs…I KNOW He will bring a Word for all of us!
Ruined for Him, Joni
Loved this point made at church yesterday,God loves to feed His people. He wants to be our Source. Psalm 81:10, “I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” The more we seek to satisfy ourselves, the hungrier we become.
That He is all sufficient is so valuable to me now. My elderly Mom had a serious stroke after a lengthy surgery on May 18th. Even though we don’t know the final outcome yet, we are dealing with moving her from independence to some degree of permanent assistance, and all hours away from where my sister and I live. He has already more than provided in many ways. From how rapidly the hospital staff responded reducing the severity of the stroke, to all the provisions available to me and my sister, we have seen His hand over and over.
The sermon yesterday was about the difference between philios love and agape love – friendly love or sacrificial love. The pastor spoke about how he wants our church to not just be comfortable with friendly love, but want to be willing to love sacrificially.
We have been worshiping in a gymnasium for 7 years and thought we had a chance to buy a building. While my husband was praying (he just happens to be the pastor) he felt God directing him to give the money away sacrificially to another church plant. My husband decided if we didn’t raise enough by Easter, we would give to our denomination’s African churches. Well, we didn’t and gave $114, 000 for church planting in Africa.
The last few weeks I’ve been a bit down, because I’ve been hoping that we would immediately see great results from our sacrificial giving. But same building and no money for a future prospect of one.
We were doing Beth’s Esther study and the reminder of Isaiah 40:31 spoke to me. I’m not waiting on stuff or events, I’m waiting on THE LORD!
Now we have some people in the church who feel a real call to do something sacrificially about the human trafficking problem. We have an abandoned hospital that might be going up for sheriff’s sale. Even if one could get it really cheap, it would cost millions to renovate. My husband shared with the congregation that when he was praying about possibly buying a house to turn into a safe house, he felt the Lord said, “No, it is the old abandoned hospital.”
My first thought was, “Oh great! You shared your vision about a church building and now we don’t have one. Now this?” Then came the God nudge, “Do you want your husband to stop dreaming big dreams?
No I don’t! I’m praying too and believing God in this.
I really appreciated this post. Thanks for your transparency. I feel like I am in a desert right now and just deperately need HIM.
Our pastor opened by telling us the sermon was on Arrogance. Just makes you want to snuggle up close, doesn’t it? Me neither. But those are usually the kind I need the most.
He shared how arrogance can show up at the most unexpected times, such as at the Last Supper where the disciples were arguing about which of Them was the greatest. And how Jesus “handled” it, not by scolding, but by kneeling to the most menial task at hand, and washing their feet. I imagine Him still there, beckoning me to follow His lead and join Him on the dingy linoleum. Suddenly it looks very inviting, don’t you think?
Yes I got a Word. I need to hold on. I need to keep my eyes on Jesus. I need to love more. I need to trust Him more. His love is extravagant!
I did not go to church yesterday. I’d had a very hard time the night before and was too tired from crying my heart out in brokenness and loneliness. I know exactly what you mean about being so much in need and in a desperate place, Beth.
I went to lunch with a friend and afterwards we spent a couple hours in her car having “church”. We talked, read scripture to each other and prayed. In our conversation I asked my friend if it was possible to come to a place where “Jesus is enough”. Could I truly be satisfied with Him alone? I’m not saying I want to get to the place where I don’t need anybody or that I can make it without Christian fellowship. I can’t. And I don’t want to. But for some reason God has chosen to withold close, satisfying friendships in my life during this season. Deep in my heart I don’t think I’ve ever believe the verse, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) So when I’m not around friends for stretches of time, I become extremely lonely because I don’t know how to enjoy God – alone. But my friend did say yes, it was possible to come to a place where Jesus is enough. Then she said, “If you can grasp that, you will have received a precious stone.” That was my Word from the Lord yesterday.
– Michelle
Between the rains, we are between the rains. I go to the Word. I hold on to the Word… Thank you for sharing.
Love our Pastor, Roger Spradlin. He said a church is evaluated by it’s converts~an inconsistent life is a hindrance to the gospel~a half truth is really a lie. We can’t tap into God’s strength until we recognize our own weakness. The demand of the law is an impossible task, everyone fails. Grace should not make us careless in how we live, but it should make us confident. Are you authentic? We need to be cognizant of the many, many eyes that are watching us. Some people are desperately needing Christ. Will they see Christ in you? Has apathy taken the place of passion in your life?
My message came in the form of a missionary who walked into my office last week who was lost and looking for a street. God is calling me to seminary and I’m excited and scared all at the same time. This man who didn’t know me or the fact that I’m in the middle of this application process said to me, speaking about His own story of how he got into mission work, if God calls you to bible school, YOU go to bible school! I literally laughed outloud. And once he got his directions and left my office, cried my eyes out at the sheer love and grace of God, who isn’t going to give up on me even though I lack faith and am insecure about feeling like God is calling the absolute least of these to seminary and full time ministry. I’ve even ponder if it was an angel sent to me at the exact right time. HE is sooo good and He knows, how much I need from Him and He just never ceases not to give when we humbly ask and shoot His holy spirit shows us the need and prompts us to ask in the first place! Amazing.
Isaiah 55, particularly 8-9. My husband has been in and out of the hospital 4 times since March 28th. After hearing ‘Our ways are not God’s ways’ I earnestly was starving for that entire scripture. Instead of focusing on ‘Lord, why can’t they get rid of this infection’ I decided we needed to focus on ‘Lord, who are we here to bless this time’. It have me such a better perspective on what to be thankful for vs. what to be asking for!
Hi Beth and all the Sistas!
Our Pastor started a new church with the first service yesterday, and he spoke on what church is – who we are and the foundation of the The Lord’s new church. He spoke our hearts…To help the widows and orphans. To renew our minds and go out preach, share and live the gospel! To pray. To heal. To prophesy. To worship. To dance. To edify the body.
We are very excited to be a part – whatever part the Lord wants us to be. It is humbling to be His instrument.
The Lord gave him Micah 4:1 & 2.
And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of mountains. It will be raised above the hills and the peoples will stream to it.
Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
During service the Lord touched me to heal my back, and since them it has been stronger and stronger with less pain! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME! Glory! Lord show us Your Glory!
Beth you are in my prayers daily. I am so blessed by all of your Bible Studies. I think I am completing the last of all of your Bible Studies. I will miss you and look forward to your next one. I truly love, care and pray for you. God bless you for all you do for His Kingdom and just being you. I love your zealousness for the Word. I love your personality. I love your teaching and especially your heart. You are such a special person. Know you are loved, Sista!
Thank you for sharing, Beth! I too had a strong word from the Lord yesterday during church. Our pastor was speaking on Colossians 1:15 – 20 and the sovereignty of our Holy, Almighty God! What a comfort that He is the God over creation, His children, and the world! What a mighty God we serve! Everything I have gone through, that any of us go through, there is a God reason for it.
Praying for you still, Miss Beth!
Love you.
Yesterday at our church was a day like no other. Not because of the words of our pastor but because the Lord had plans that we could not have imagined when each of us woke yesterday….our keyboard player collasped at the end of our 1st worship song and passed away while in the ambulance just outside our church. It was a tragic and life changing event that we will not forget. But is was a beautiful thing to see the body of Christ come together to minister to the precious wife and each other. I have felt the same as you, Beth…that some how God allows events like this to help us really deal with this thought that life is soooo much nore than life as usual and that GOD longs to the focal point not a side item.
I help lead a prayer time b/f worship but this week my husband sent me to pick up a friend (who happens to be the closest to the dear wife of the keyboard player…God planned for me to go do this it was so out of hte ordinary)….my husband led the prayer time and he said all Bill (the keyboard player) said that morning in prayer was that “we would truly be still and know that HE is GOD.” Please pray for us as we mourn and figure out how to manuever thru this part of the journey.
~ Angela
Angela, I cannot even imagine. I am so, so sorry. Praying for your church and that sweet family. May Christ be so near!
Oh Beth, I moved my 19 year old into an apartment this weekend…..one who wants to stay in that college town…anyway, while crying and praying my way home the Lord reminded me to be in Church on Sunday….I needed to be surrounded by His praises. The Father knew what we would be singing and He knew my heart needed to be a part of it. It is hard to let go and trust that God won’t let go of my baby girl when she trying so to live without Him. My two always seem to do things the hard way….but God sees and loves and holds on tightly….it is not about today…it is about eternity!
Beth: Thank you for sharing your struggle. I was feeling very down yesterday on the way to church, wrapped up once again in my mind over a disappointment. Our pastor was speaking on spiritual disciplines (based on Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline) and mentioned the prayer method of palms down (letting go and putting your troubles in God’s hands) and palms up (listening for His voice and receiving his grace, forgiveness and guidance). Then I was unexpectedly asked to help out with Communion, which I have never done before. It was so powerful to hold the cup and say “Blood of Christ, shed for you” over and over to each person who came forward. The Lord really took me out of my own problems as I looked at each person and wondered what they might be struggling with. At least I held it together and did not cry while serving Communion!
Sunday before last we had a missionary from the Philippines who grew up in our church speak. He has served in the Philippines for 19 years. He said the biggest opposition young people face when trying to decide to spend time overseas with him is from their parents. He said most parents pray that their children will just be happy. He said, “We don’t need to pray that our children will be happy. We need to pray our children will be obedient.” That is powerful. I need to be praying that for myself as well
I read bits and pieces of this post all day. I’d have a moment here and there between kids crying, errands run, work worked. And the Lord was so good and faithful to not let me finish it until tonight! My life is currently an ongoing need. Not desperately for provision like it was a year and a half ago (though we never realize that we are always desperate for it)… but for ministry fruitbaring. We just had our 2nd church service for our church plant this Sunday (truthfellowshiplive.com), and as of now I am the worship leader. This is NOT my greatest strength (I do not have a soloist voice) nor what I preceive God calling me to in the long-run. BUT God has called me to it for now anyways, and so I am doing it. HE SHOWED UP in my need! WOW! Before service I told Him I was struggling with distraction, self, self-consiousness, and so on, and that I just wanted to worship Him freely and subsequently invite others into worship as well. And then His Spirit took over! He answered me! Also, TODAY I am writing a devotional for my blog as I do each week, and this week is especially FULL as I’m working ahead in order to take a trip next week… anyways, last week I sensed God telling me to write on freedom in Him. I still have much research, writing, and illustrating to do, but as my research is underway now, and as I asked HIm to do it for me (due to overwhelmed heart this week), He has brought up treasures I only hope I can express! I LOVE being in this kind of need. It’s so vulnerable, but THEN do we get to experience the miraculous, as Curtis said. THANK YOU for your timely post (thank You Lord!!). What a word indeed!
I am a singer/songwriter/speaker who has come under attack for the last year now. I have been extremely weary and worn from anxiety and issues Christ already freed me from. Early Sunday morning I was on YouTube listening to Christian artist I love and clicked on a preacher who shares this word…i have served the Lord for 40 years…I have been under attack most of those 40 years. Do yourself a favor and dive into Gods word and wait for His presence to minister to you in the trial instead of praying it away.
Later that morning at my church, Vineyard Columbus, a verse in Hebrews brought me to tears. Hebrews 4:15-16
I really connected with the suffering that Jesus went through and the darkness He knew for us when the father turned away from Him. When i read let us then draw near with CONFIDENCE to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find Grace that we need in OUR TIME OF HELP! Whew that one hit me like a ton of bricks. I heard Him say to me, you need help and it’s ok to ask.
Praying for you Beth. I know the Lord speaks to you. Your tender, soft heart is full of His mercies and promises. We are not ignorant and know Satan is attacking you and we stand in faith with you and pray the blood of Jesus over this trial. Just another way to show Christ approves you. ( James)
Good night, sleep peacefully tonight.
Everytime you have written about the pain you are going through, I can totally relate. I have never hurt so bad as I have in this season. My limbs have been so heavy and my heart so sorrowful like I’ve never experienced before. My hand over my mouth wondering what in the world. My husband preached on greed yesterday and I wondered at all the things and ways we can be greedy. Can we be greedy with our children? I want my children to be right with God so badly, I’ve prayed for years for them while they were babies. I wonder if I have become so focused on that especially in my prayer life that other things have become obscure. I don’t want to consume this for my own lust, for my glory, but for Gods glory. I know He wants them to be right with Him too. But He has top do it
Sorry, I didn’t finish. His a wrong button.
Anyway, God is going to do it His way and we are now at a place where we can do nothing but pray and fast. He has shown me so much and He is so faithful. I know He loves it when we seek His face and He has our undivided attention. thanks for writing to us today!
Sorry, I left this comment somehow in the Mom’s day blog. I hate getting old sometimes, but love it too, asi I have an excuse! Here’s the correct spot for my post.
I did, I did receive a Word! Maybe not as profound as yours, and I’m going to take yours for me too, but I needed the Word I received. We are going through Romans, such a profound book. Well, we’re on our 3rd week of Romans 6 and it wasn’t even our senior pastor. He was talking about sanctification/ the process. Everything he said was profound, and most of it was scripture, which I’m going to pray for myself every day. Okay, back to the point, the one thing he said that pierced my heart was, “Do we pull into our garage and thank God for filling us with His Spirit, but then excuse Him, and go into our house and take over in the flesh.” Wham, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I have been praying diligently to be filled with His Spirit, totally, completely, not fulfilling the desires of the flesh, but somehow when it’s just family I let my guard down, let the flesh take over. I can be mean, rude, disrespectful with the people I love the most. No, no, no, Holy Spirit, please rule and reign most of all when I’m home.
My pastor and his wife spoke on Family Matters. They discussed order in the family and how they order their family (I know personally that they have a wonderful marriage and two godly, humble and excellent sons). Pastor spoke about how familiarity breeds contempt instead of honor. ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country.’ I was startled to realize that I had been doing that very thing to my husband…. Just not giving him his due respect and honor because I saw his flaws so clearly….. Then my pastor pointed out that God’s Word notes that Jesus could not perform miracles in his old neighborhood the way He had done for others. They just refused to see Him as He truly was therefore they did not receive…… I saw that I was not receiving as I should do, the blessing that my husband could provide, because He was without honor in his own home. That teaching jerked a knot in me and I totally got the point! Praise Him for His faithfulness to correct His children!
Hey Sweet Beth and Siestas! Didn’t get a word from my pastor/husband yesterday because it was “Choir Sunday” and “Graduation Sunday.” He got a Sunday off from preaching! DID get to sit back (and stand up) and totally enjoy the praise and worship through music, which I love. We also were blessed to honor our high school graduates, some college graduates….as well as commissioning our Senior High Youth Group that leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) for an urban mission experience in Philadelphia. That group includes my husband and my two children and would cherish prayers for the whole group. However, my favorite part of the service was when everyone in the congregation sang “Jesus Loves Me.” Sometimes, we just need to be reminded.
Blessings and hugs to you all!
Well yesterday was a “Believing God” kind of sermon! It was entitled “Faith that God is Able” from Luke 9:37-45 about the father with the Demond possessed boy. This is what I got from the sermon: Only God can move mountains! No matter how much faith we have, If God does not want the Mountain to move, it’s not going anywhere!” it’s GOD that moves the Mountain and if it doesn’t move He has a GLORY in store for us BECAUSE of that Mountain! I actually got out my 5 statement pledge of faith card and showed my friend and my husband the 2nd statement! GOD CAN DO WHAT GE SAYS HE CAN DO! After church I told my husband “Beth Moore would have been shouting AMEN from the rooftop of the church during that WHOLE sermon!”. Be blessed, Beth! YOU are loved by many and by GOD! And remember this from James “CONSIDER it pure joy when you face trials of MANY kinds…” remember what you taught us? It says ” CONSIDER it pure joy!” It does NOT say “FEEL pure joy!” I love you like CRAZY! <3 <3 <3
Kristi in Portland, OR
Thank you for sharing this. I understand that deep need for Jesus you wrote about. Our pastor told us that we need to share the grace in us. And, that hit me pretty hard.
n a mission trip at Fort worth.The pastor asked what did God tell me to do when i get home.God said go seek ministries with the homeless in my town.Tonite 1st video at church Bible Study on James I wrote my prayer request:. Gods divine appointments where to serve the homeless.#0 minutes later God sent a homeless woman needing a place to stay.God affirmed in all of my ladies ask God for big things and He may answer in 30 minutes WOW!God is soooo Awesome.Thanks Beth for your transparency!
I want to share a bit from a Sermon that our Pastor Mark Smith preached out of Romans 2.
“In the beginning of Romans Paul is not so much just writing to the Romans but writing to the whole world to say, in the beginning of this book let me just set right the human condition, the place that people are. He talks about the slippery slope and the depravity of humanity and now he’s gonna say, in case there is this group out there, and some are whispering, (and I know there are)who look horizontally to find justice in life or to find justification for their own life. And they’re gonna say,”Wow, I’m not so bad because look at them. Or, I’m actually doing pretty good because look at her or look at him. But Paul says, you have no excuse in that because what you’re judging another person in, you’re condemning yourself because you practice the same things. Do not try to justify yourself by looking at or pointing out the failure of others. But why not, you might ask. Why not? I’m actually doing better than that man up there named Pastor Mark. I know that to be sure. He still has mud on his car from Mexico. Wasn’t that a couple of weeks ago? Wasn’t that car a gift? Shouldn’t he have washed it by now? And I’ve seen his kids. I’m pretty sure that any day now they’re going hook their foot on one of those electrical cords and pull the whole church down.
Isn’t it interesting though that when we look horizontally, we tend to look slightly horizontally down. Right? We never look at, “Wow,” that woman named Mother Teresa gave her life away to live in abject poverty and minister to people.”
Mammoth Christian Fellowship, Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Thank you for this post. It’s funny because this Sunday I covered my old home church that is seeing a hard time in prayer. I had an overwhelming desire that the Holy Spirit rush through that body on that day. Then, at my own church’s service in my new home I was blessed tremendously by the sermon and given guidance for some areas I have been frustrated in. It is just now that I realize perhaps my sacrifice of prayer blessed me in return. God is so good.
Every week when we go to Church I pray hard that my husband will have a revelation, that he will get a relationship with God so that he can be the Spiritual leader in our household. Well our Pastor spoke on 1 Corinthians 11:1-16… It has a lot to do with woman was created for man, woman is the glory of man..etc. Of course our Pastor was very sweet in his translation (and careful) but I just thought.. God does have a sense of humor, and for all I know that is one of God’s ways to speak to my husband, to let him know that by giving it all to Him does not mean that he is weak or that he is giving up his authority to God.. if that makes any sense. Thank you for this blog I love reading every word of it! I think every Monday you should have people share their stories of “Getting the message”.
My “word” was: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Leave your loved ones in His care and move on with your God in your heart, soul, spirit, and in your mind. Somewhere along the way I’d forgotten to ask God to help me love Him like that, to keep me focused like that. I’ve just come out of a season of mourning over my daddy’s passing, and then I was ill and had to have tests run, and then discovered something about a loved one that I just could not believe. I began to wonder if I would ever feel balanced again–physically, mentally, spiritually. Sunday I remembered how Jesus had helped me out of the pit of depression and panic disorder several years ago and was overwhelmed again at His grace and mercy. The times He proved He was with me. How He went out of His way to convince me I was loved by Him. Who was I that He would do that for me? If He did that for me then, then I could trust Him to put His joy and more of His Spirit in me as I prayed earnestly; and not me only but that He will do that for those I care most deeply about. He is the LORD! Nothing is too hard for Him! After church Sunday I had the most wonderful day–I felt at peace, at rest on every side. It was the most awesome experience. How I thanked Him for it! The Lord is good, His love endures forever! He is worthy to be praised! You are so worthy, Lord!
I have a close friend who recently finished chemotherapy/radiation treatments for cancer, only to discover after her followup PET scan that it was not gone, and had spread. She has just begun chemotherapy treatments for a second time. A friend she met and got close to while taking chemo together passed away last week, after being declared cancer free only a couple of months ago. Naturally, a fear and a reality set in that death is a possibility for my friend. She is a young mom and wife, and you can imagine what her family might be feeling.
At church yesterday my pastor mentioned John 16 in passing, where Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come after His death. What struck me was this: Jesus, the perfect friend, perfect teacher, perfect everything told them it was to their ADVANTAGE that He go away, so the Helper could come. If the Holy Spirit is a sufficient…more than sufficient…replacement for Jesus, and it was advantageous that He come, then He is more than sufficient to meet every need in the lives of friends, children, husbands, wives, who have lost loved ones. As believers we don’t grieve the way the world grieves…we have the hope of heaven for the future and the presence of the Comforter for today. How cool is that? Not really a new “word,” but it was a new application of it for me, and I was very encouraged by it.
I am whispering here, well in an imaginative way to add emphasis to what Gods presence succumbs me to. I have recieved a Huge LOVE revelation so much that I am quietned…shhhhh OH my LORD He is real, HE is Alimighty BIG OH this is scary in a good way but HE LOVES ME. Beyond my fathoming. Looking at a poster of the galaxy, and either saturn or jupiter with its 52 moons, drew me to their maker and it was enough for me to know. Really what else is there possibly I need to know when the GOD, maker of heaven and earth speaks Psalm 139 into my heart. There are no words, a few salty pools and whispers of bounty in my breathing. I don’t need to worry..thats right I may have read it before but now I am living it. Woohoo the words are still few but the JOY is flooding. HE LOVES ME. Before me behind me He has hedged me in. I kiss the air HE is so close. Let him LOVE you today.He has a place for all of us.
Just wanted to add on. The awesome sense of LOVE came from God, in absolute belief, trust of HIM to do all He says He can/would/will, faith without doubt. (The faith that He gave me in the first place) it has not failed. Regardless of external circumstances (each one of us has struggles)I suppose I am saying that the struggles don’t need to have gone away for you to experience the same…It’s available right now to anyone that we believe! Gods LOVE is freedom and Joy ever after, I have never experienced such in any other man made item or human word. Set your sights above, God knows you have needs, he will meet them. Just meet with him, HE will fill you so much that you can see all the outwardly and be at peace to press on in LOVE (Beth I hope you feel encouraged today, you are dearly loved)
Beth, thank you for sharing your heart! It has blessed me today! At church yesterday we began a series in the Psalms and my pastor started with Psalm 51…nothing like getting in the thick of it, right? What spoke to me is the end of the chapter where David said in verses 16 and 17, “for you do not delight in sacrifices otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God you do not despise.” my pastor said that David gave enough burnt offerings for this particular sin; God said I love you anyway and He just wanted David’s broken and humbled heart. I am so humbled by a great and gracious God I serve and love with Him everything I am!
Yesterday morning at Sunnybrook Christian Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Jim Johnson shared the word with us. My son, Blake and wife Kristy and Hattie, their 8 week old daughter sat by me with my husband Max. A blessing in itself. Blake is a recent graduate of Gordon Conwell Seminary and they have moved to Clearwater, Florida where they are church planters. Our preacher, Jim Johnson said he just felt we should stay in the same text as last week. That he just did not think it was time to move on. We were in Luke 8 when Jarius came and fell at Jesus feet to ask him to come home with him and heal his only daughter. Meanwhile a messenger arrives from Jarius’ home and tells “There’s no use troubling the Teacher now” Jim talked about the voice of discouragement and then again the voice of the crowd when they laughed at him bringing Jesus because they all knew the daughter had died. Jesus healed her. Our pastor Jim shared that God can heal but will he always? Not always healing like we desire, although we should leave that up to God and always pray for healing. He can do much more than meet our immediate needs, those physical needs that seem so very urgent when the need God may see better than we ourselves is urgent. We have no idea how deep and wide He is. In our home group we are studying The Attributes of God by A.W. Tozer. He talks about how God is eternal and how no other tenets of Christianity are true without that one. “indeed I know of no tenet of the Christian creed that could retain its significance if the idea of eternity were extracted from it. “ and “Because God lives in an everlasting now, He has no past and no future. When time-words occur in the Scriptures they refer to our time, not to His. When the four living creatures before the throne cry day and night, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come,” ….but since God is uncreated, He is not himself affected by that succession of consecutive changes we call time.” God knows everything …..now and the future. He’s fully aware of what we’re going through.
And then this morning, I had church with a friend.. (what is church anyway) 2 or more perhaps…She shared how the Word had come alive for her as she had been reading from the Message.. She read, Matthew 6 as we drank lemon-mint water(because it is so good for you) “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who make you won’t be applauding. “
God is faithful. Thanks for asking a question that caused me to review my notes and reflect on the teaching I heard this weekend. I am a teacher. Jesus is the model for teachers. He knows exactly what we need and when. Thanks, God for your infinite wisdom.
As always, thank you Beth for your transparency in being real. It so encourages me whenever I get the chance to be here.
This Sunday, I was in and out of the sanctuary, as my youngest (2 year old son) would not stay in there or in the nursery. The worship pastor spoke on Psalm 13, and the seeming craziness of David’s emotional flux from lament/sorrow to joy/trust. I remember thinking of David as a kind of a schizophrenic person when I was in my 20s, then coming to a place of learning to pour out my anguish into the Psalms later as life “happened” in my 30s. What I got from the little I heard was that God is big enough for us to be real with him in our conflicting emotions.
That night, I wrestled again with my conflicting emotions of trusting God’s presence and a sense of sorrow in seeing off my husband again the next morning. (He just became a trucker and is out 4 days of the week.) God’s been speaking to me to trust Him through this time, and I go between peace and panic like a pendulum. Last night was one of the latter. In the morning, a Psalm 63 came to mind, because we’ve been listening to a Seeds of Faith CD which puts Scripture into song for family worship whenever we’re in the car. The particular song is Psalm 63:1-4. I had the urge to look up the Scripture as I woke up dreading my husbands departure. When I turned to it, the rest of the verses caught me –
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
I spoke it out loud and my heart was calmed. It echoed His promise to me in Isaiah 41:10 years ago, and I remembered His faithfulness when He was there for me. He hadn’t changed and doesn’t at all. Hallelujah! So I will keep throwing my cares to Him, and He’ll catch it.
Hi from the U.K…….The word in our church this past Sunday was ‘Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord’….
This 4day national holiday weekend is an awesome celebration of the 60 year reign of our queen, Elizabeth…in our national anthem are the words, ‘long live our gracious queen’. She has experienced God’s grace to govern millions of people for 6 decades. But this is nothing compared to the grace Noah experienced from our King who reigns forever! Just so that he could, by faith, build a ‘facility’ to preserve his family from a sinful world. I think Noah understood that God’s supernatural provision sometimes requires our participation to facilitate a place of rescue and protection and His grace IS sufficient. And…we get the rainbow of His covenant promise, because He knows how to deliver the Godly from temptation!
From a colorful U.K.
Judith
Sunday was amazing! Reading these posts make me feel that there is a mighty wind blowing across the entire country–getting us ready. Which is the ONLY reason I’m responding to your post, Beth. Our lesson was from I Peter 3:13-22. Set
Apart
Christ
in your heart.
Be prepared
to give an answer
for the HOPE!!!
Those words literally were piercing my soul…So many people are fighting battles…for reasons they already know…or don’t. I had never had these verses speak to me in such stark relief. We (those who love our LORD) are to get ready NOW. We have to plan ahead. We have to prepare! In Peter’s day, he wrote to the 5 churches who were suffering persecution, criticism, ridicule, and death. He speak through the centuries to encourage US to withstand whatever faces us today. OH! I want to be ready…to be counted worthy to share that HOPE that is Jesus Christ!
Thank you for the post, Beth – and for giving all uf US a forum for these messages that have been planted by the Holy Spirit. He is SO GOOD!!!!
I got a word at the Beautiful Life conference with Angela Thomas, Mandisa, and Charles Billingsley this past weekend in Greensboro NC! Angela taught on Psalm 84 and being stuck in the valley of Baca. The people needed to keep on moving through Baca to get to God and instead they set up camp, wallered, and tarried there. Some for years. Many words from God. I left the place changed. I’ve carried around the shame of divorce, felt condemned over it for the past 3 years (even though I was being abused for 20+ years). I left all of that baggage at the foot of the cross. I settled it with Him. I finally feel forgiven. I feel peace!
We are in the Book of James, and oh how convicting it is! When it comes right down to it, no matter what the trial, it all comes to the fact of Two Words : JESUS and OTHERS.
Our time, money, love, giving, serving, caring, building each other up, Letting God have His Perfect way, giving Him our hurts and frustrations, giving of ourselves for Others. TRUSTING HIM and letting Him work it out. Still hard, hurts still there, but resting in His peace through it all. Thanks so much for this article. I am with you there, and needed this so much. God bless you for caring enough to share, for it did help! Thank you!