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
Beth, God speaks to me through His Word so many times, especially through your Bible studies and this blog. Thanks for being a blessing!
I will share several things that I knew God was working in an unusual way.
When I went to my home church we had a young girl who started coming to our church and she did not have much in the way of food or clothing. She also had a family with children. My heart went out to her and felt the Lord wanted me to help her out, so I did. Sunday night at church, my Sunday School teacher said she had tried to call me several times. Several of the S.S. members decided to help this same girl out, so we had a good laugh because God had already spoken to me and the others as well.
Also, another thing that happen not too long ago. I was at a Ladies Retreat. I had bought a book written for young girls (by Robin Marsh and Lauren Nelson, was Miss American a while back), so I wanted their autograph, but I was working also at retreat area. This lady whom I didn’t really know agree to get their autograph for me and give the book to me at my cabin, which she did. The next day, our guess speaker was Kelly Minter and she had some of the ladies to come down for prayer. The Lord pressed on my heart to go help someone else. So, I slowly walked down looking around. There was only one girl that did not have a prayer partner, and she was wearing a hoodie, so I could not really see her face. I walked up to her, touched her on the shoulder and ask if she needed someone to pray with her…to my surprise, it was the same lady who helped me out earlier! that was God and I was in tears trying to pray with her.
Yes, God does such awesome things! Love it when He speaks to our hearts!
In the sermon titled “Why You Can’t Quit”, Pastor Marty asked, “Why didn’t Paul Quit?” He certainly had reason to. 2Cor 5:14 gives one reason: “For Christ’s love compels us…” Am I compelled? How am I doing with the investment God made for/in me? LOTS to ponder.
Sandy,
I read that and I have to ask: would that happen to be Pastor Marty from the Oaks?
Yes! It’s been on my heart that there is more to life than overcoming. There is joy in the obedience, especially when the nudge seems to push in an impossible direction. It may be true, it IS impossible. God will fill in the gaps and reveal that he is indeed alive. Those are intimidating, yet lead to wonderful times…if I’m obedient.
Beth…when you struggle, you always find God in it and it’s so motivating to me.
Praying for you, but thankful at the same time…sorry! 🙂
I too am feeling an overwhelming weakness and sadness. So very much is weighing me down.
Our pastor’s sermon on Sunday was the first in a series on Roman’s 12….will I be conformed to the world OR transformed by the Word?!
Relying on His promises in this difficult season.
Melana
Beth,
Thank you so much for sharing and opening your heart to all of us…for being a real person.
What stands out to me in this post…is how you attend church as a sheep – not as a mother-in-law. You genuinely seek God to speak to you through your pastor. And you pray for him, not just because he’s your son-in-law, but because he’s your pastor. I have great respect for you anyway…but this just made the respect grow more. Thank you for showing us how you are continuing to learn and seek God.
Our Pastor Phillip preached on the Jesus’ parable of the rich man being like the camel trying to go through the eye of a needle. He challenged us to look not only at our personal use of money, but our corporate use of money as a church and to look at our church budget with different eyes. He used an example of how our church spends more each month on air conditioning than it would cost to hire a nanny at the malnutrician center in Guatemala that our church helps to support. Hiring another nanny is something I have desired and strugged with my lack asking God what I could do, but it seemed beyond me and I was discouraged. Yesterday, our pastor emailed me to let me know that one family was moved to meet that need and pay for the year’s salary. I was humbled that God did what I desired in a way that I never expected and without my help at all! I am so excited at how He is working in our church under the leadership of our pastor.
Starting a 4 week ladies Bible study at church tonight and as I was studying for the first lesson out of Jonah Chapters 1 and 2, I received a personal word and I had a fleeting thought, “maybe I should post this for Beth and it would lift her spirits as well.” True story…and then I open the blog site and here you are asking for a word…what an amazing God we have!!
Read Jonah Chapter 2. What a beautiful prayer Jonah raised up to God, written much like a psalm–—in all his brokenness and desperate NEED, God answered his prayer for deliverance! Commentary from lesson guide for Jonah 2:2—Even when a person walks away from the Lord, God greatly desires that person’s spiritual restoration. Sometimes Christians attempt to rescue a person too soon or make excuses for the sin. While it is true that God’s people should do all they can to restore a sinning believer to spiritual health (cf. Gal. 6:1), it is important to remember that God is working in his life to bring him back to Himself.
Hope those thoughts bless you as much as they spoke to me.
Johnnie
Wake Forest, NC
Dear Beth ,
For you to share your heart with those who love you, as our sister in Christ, is an amazing opportunity to pray for you and uphold you! I wish I was there just to give you a hug and tell you that our Savior is with you each moment of each day. He is hurting with you, Please know you are loved and thank you for being open and honest with your sistesa! Beth, I know pain also and I am walking through a deep valley. But notice I said I am walking through it! There are times my faith is so small, that I am so ashamed! I have lost my job, and I need a job. So many people are in this situation right now. But, I know God has a plan for my life and a purpose, just as he has for you!
Just look at how God has used you in the lives of so many people. May we stand together on the verse, ” For I know the plans I have for you, Plans to prosper you, not to harm you.”
Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength ..God just placed those on my heart. In these past days, I have dropped to my knee before God to ask for help. But, I believe he wants me to learn to trust him and have faith in him to provide for my needs. God shall supply all our needs in Christ. God is with you Beth, he will give you the strength to endure!
For the past month I have had a feeling of desperation for God, for His nearness, His filling, His Words. One night while writing in my journal, I asked God “What is this sadness inside me?” I didn’t know what it was but along with the sadness was a desperate yearning for God. When I finished writing, I opened my bible and came to Luke 11:2-13 where Jesus is talking about prayer and about asking, seeking, and knocking. I felt that God was telling me to keep asking for Him and that this yearning, this ache, was the Holy Spirit working in me. The sermons on Sunday and our Wednesday night bible study the last few weeks have all dealt with the subject of God wanting all and the cost of following Jesus. I was saved at age 12 and have walked with Christ every since (I am now 31) so these are things that I already know but this time… it’s different. Impressed on my heart is that God is getting ready to do a new thing and I need to really think about the cost. Am I willing to pay the cost. Is Jesus worth it all? This morning while reading my bible I came across the scripture where Jesus says we are the salt of the earth. When I cross referenced the salt scripture from Mathew 5:13 to Luke 14:34 I noticed that Jesus is talking about the cost to follow Him. As I really meditate and think on the cost I find myself even more crying out for God to fill me up and wanting to shout out “Yes! Yes! You are worth the cost, You are worth it all! Fill me up!” I do not know yet what this “new” thing is that God is getting ready to do. I know that it will require more of myself than what I am used to giving but in His grace and mercy and kindness, He is preparing me and allowing me to make a choice. Oh how I love the way God speaks to us through His Word. Sometimes it is in a whisper, sometimes in shouting, and sometimes like in my recent experience, it is a knocking over the head and a pounding on the heart.
Thanks for your story. What you said about the ache being the Holy Spirit working in you is encouraging to me. To remember that when I am longing for a touch from God and for Him to move that it is what He is longing for too – whether or not it is something He knows should/will be met immediately or not. THANK YOU! 🙂 I know that wasn’t your main point but God spoke to me through it. Yay!
I’ve been so sad and discouraged this past week, but as I was getting out of the car to go to the dentist today, Dr. Charles Stanley was finishing his sermon on the radio – God makes a promise, faith believes it, hope anticipates it, and patience waits for it. I have been believing God for something I believe He has promised. I’ve needed encouragement – He gave it. Thank you LORD.
Mine is not from Church but from Sat. I was in the back seat of the pick up with our new kitten and my dog. I was listening to KLOVE and heard someone talk about getting to know Christ. I don’t remember all that was said but what I do remember was: he was talking about the ice cream place where you can pick your ice cream as well as your toppings. Then they mix it all up and place it in a cup. He said that there are three sizes. Like it, Love it, or can’t get enough of it. He said that this is like the Christian life. We either like Jesus, love Jesus or we just can’t get enough of Jesus. I love this because it changed how I look at my life with Jesus. I have always wanted to love Jesus more and more. Now I am looking at I just can’t get enough of Jesus. Just thought this was so profound.
Thank you for what you have written today. I too am in a really dark place. My baby daughter passed away at the age of 13 in Jan. This has been the hardest thing I have ever gone thru. THis week is her 14 birthday as well as her graduation from 8th grade. I too need so much more of Jesus who is the only one who can really help me thru this whole process. At some point I am looking forward to seeing something wonderful coming out of this whole thing. When the time is right I know that I will be shown.
One of our pastors, Rick H., tied together I Samue 21, especialy 10 -15 with Psalm 34 and Psaml 56. David knows that King Saul wants to kill him. He is desperate and not thinking too clearly. He flees to the land of Gath, the former home of Goliath, whom he had killed. He brings Goliath’s sword that he has received from a priest from Nob by lying to him. The king of Gath’s servants recognize David. So David makes marks on the doors of the gate and lets saliva run down his beard. Does he chew on the gates? He is so convincing in acting like a madman that the king does not think he is a threat and allows him to escape. The two psalms are written in the same time period. Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”
We live and learn and fail and start over. 1. We learn to admit our fears. 2. Acknowledge God, and choose to praise God as David did when he flees to a cave. 3.In our fears, trust God and turn control over to God. We can cling confidently to God and grow in faith.
Is that good or what?! It is a good word, because God is good.
I like this Beth….”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 (EVEN FROM THE NIV IT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD!) (Since I am a KJV only)
for me…Not much for me as a word, but I glean from your reading the golden light, that, river, that shiny brook bubbling up for you, refreshment, new glasses and it touches me but I feel so remiss in my life, how dry toast I am. And I imagine that I need the rush of the Spirit like anointment to smoother my brain and all the hardness there. The brain and heart go hand and hand. Like the days of old of freshness… Love you, Beth.
I pray your dear sister is holding up ok.. these days and staying on the sober road.
Well, I’m a little late on this one! Sunday’s message was great, but I have to honestly say there wasn’t one thing that I felt really resonated with me. Busy weekend, I was possibly very distracted! :)Just reading through some of these posts, however, and the realization just hit me with a whoosh! God is speaking to His daughters – everywhere, all the time. Amazing.
I’m in a bit of sore need of a few words from God myself in a few matters close to home.
But there is a small bit I wanted to share since it comes from a Bible teacher I respect and look up to a bit, after having spent some time re-learning who God gave His blessing, authority & right to teach me with & through(correctly!)His Word:
AND she said, “The day I acquire the perfect family I won’t be of much use to you. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need a pastor or a Bible study teacher who has it all together. That person will cease having anything to say to me.” Beth, you said that!! It’s near the bottom of pg.154(member book) of your Stepping Up (Psalms of Ascent) study. I’m so glad perfect, pristine, families aren’t a God-sanctioned pre-requisite!
Thank you for being a mouth piece of God to us here in “Siestaville”, keep loving God & keep letting Him love on you as you always have! We all, here, know He is enough no matter what happens & no matter what His answers turn out to be. Or if He even answers this side of heaven in some requests or not.
*Prayer request: I don’t know how else to say it so I’ll just lay it out. Please, please(!!) continue to pray for the PCUSA denomination. Many of us still struggle with our General Assembly’s erroneous decisions to allow congregations who want to vote in/ordain those who are in active/open same-gendered couple-ings –into pulpit ministry, as well as into the offices of elder/deacon, and even as Sunday school teachers. The husband-wife marriage or chastity in singleness clause was removed altogether.
To stay & wait in our respective local church for while longer & see how the Fellowship of Presbyterians-ECO movement(more fundamental) within the denomination grows/moves, or to leave the denomination altogether, are a couple of the choices many believe God has given to those of us who side with Scripture against such allowance. This issue is a heavy burden for those of us who feel betrayed by our denomination’s General Assembly headship.
Been through some very rough months – well years really. Have left me on a mission to find out what God wants me to do with my life. Sunday morning my Pastor told me – along with the other thousands that were in attendance… “God has one will for your life and only one. To grow in relationship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ.” Hit me like a mack truck – the simplicity of the Gospel. Why oh why do I try to make it hard? Beth Moore I will get to see you in Knoxville, TN in August for the second time. I will be the one enjoying the way God made you to be and learning from you. You will see me – I just know you will! Love you sister more than words can say. I look forward to your posts like a word from an old friend. For to me, that is what you are! Blessings to you and all that concerns you.
Dear Sweet Beth, We had a missionary come and share with us on Sunday from Italy. The couple was such a blessing to us. They shared from their lives and their testimony of what God was doing. They showed a video and one of the statements on the video jumped off the screen at me.
It simply said “Jesus did not come to explain suffering, but to simply fill it with His presence”. I am praying for you dear sister that the Lord Jesus will fill you with Himself as you go thru this time. He loves you so very much. We are on week 5 of the Daniel study with the ladies of our Church and what a blessing you are to so many ladies across this land! God is using you in a very mighty way! Eph. 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His Mighty Power!
May the Lord’s blessing be on you, in you and round you!
I love you sister and will lift you in prayer,
Diane
Good Evening Dearest Beth (Miss Beth),
If words could do the trick I’d write ’em with a pencil stick from the hope they’d heal the heart of sick. Yet, I know all too well that before a word is penned, “Jehovah El Roi” will send a word to the heart of sick to mend. With that said, I pray the words I type are from the heart of “God who sees all things.” I have been blessed to have some time to follow the blog comments, and to even send a prayerful encouragement to a “Siesta.” This is Heidi, from University of NH, that you prayed with, along with my praying friend, Jessica. She was the tall beautiful one with long thick red hair, and usually the quiet one, I was the shorter one, with the blond hair made up big, then flat ironed, Mhmm., and usually the verbose one, but in that moment I froze as stiff as a sloth. Have you eva’ seen a sloth move? I haven’t the patience, therefore, on this side of heaven I may neva’ see one move! If rocks will cry out, I wonder if sloths will leap?! Hmmm. Can you just see it? Anyway, where was I? Lord, are you here? Where were you leading us? You see Beth, any one out there reading this word, I too am in this familiar place of heaviness. I could not tell you when the music stopped. . .for I had found myself sprawled out on the dance floor in the absence of any stage light. For quite some time I’ve been weighted down the black dusty dance floor, not hearing, only seeing. From the absence of any noise, such as a word, that I desperately prayed for like that of a thirsty dance student after hours of practice, out came this testimony from this heavy stance:
Shattered Dreams Danced Into His Desire (H.Tobin, 2012)
Like that of the drummer boy, what shall I play for you? I played my best for Him…
Much of my life I have danced to my own rythymn, beginning with each rushed step out of significant childhood trauma into a beat of success, from third grade of winning the Young Authors award to honor roll, to national scholar in undergraduate school, and finally leaping through graduate studies in counseling to serve the community with the dream I held since childhood. As I stepped into the next round of the dance it all seemed I had it all goin’ on until the beat came to a skip leading my knees to the floor…a lay off, then another lay off, then a virus that wiped my writings from my laptop, the off beat sent my body into a lifeless stance in the absence of all music. Until I searched the Word and kept each promise tucked into my heart believing who God is and what God wants I layed on the stage and cried out my song of many unmet dreams and waited in the longest measure before I rised up in the ashes of brokenness and thanksgiving of learning more of the Dance Partner who had in that moment became my Dance Leader. He continues to lead me in dancing into His desires, leaving behind what once was unmet dreams. For what is loss is now gain…a life beyond survival to a life of seeking Him.
Beth, I usually have a Scripture, all I have is a glimpse to share with you of the outcome of my glacier stance. I wish I had a word. . .but all I have is the sound of my Heavenly Father’s heartbeat leading me in the “manna moments.” These “manna moments” I have found to be “wonder-filled” each time I still my being long enough to acknowledge His presence. This is what is leading a life beyond survival to a life of seeking Him.
With deep deep love and A10tive prayer,
Heidi
“Though you have made me see troubles,many and bitter, you will restore my life again….My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you” Ps. 71: 20, 23
I know I am a little late to the party but I had to comment on the word that was planted in my heart last night. We begun James last night (about 35 ladies) and to be honest I thought about quitting. This got a hold of my heart and to be honest scared me: Natural family + Disciples, Disciples-Family,>Spiritual Family>RESURRECTED family. Mrs.Beth if that word was for no one else it was for me. I had given up on a very important relationship, and knew it. I thought I had that emotional need covered with my spiritual family. The last 12-14 hours I have just mulled this over and over. I am not sure what is ahead, but I am trusting God.
divine provision,indeed…this past sunday i was distracted in church,excitedly,but i kept whispering to my husband,to neighbors in my pew…i realized what i was doing,immediately bowed my head,asking papa god to elp me with my distractions,and out of our beloved pastor’s mouth came these words…”are you distracted?”oh,papa god heard me….truely divine!
As I was reading the devotion Girlfriends in God I received a Word that confirmed a whisper I heard on Sunday. PERSPECTIVE…change your PERSPECTIVE…how I see things is the problem. I have been struggling with my faith. Feeling desperate, destitute & let down by God. I am choosing to see things through my circumstances. God is telling me to see through His word, character & promises.
“Looking back now, I wish I had chosen to believe and looked expectantly for His faithfulness instead of torturing myself with worry and fear.
Though unseen, God is divinely intervening. If you are walking in what feels like a desperate and destitute place, might I encourage you? Look to the Lord instead of your circumstances today. He’s working on your behalf.” Girlfriends In God 6/06/12
I received a word this weekend,it was in 11 Cor 12:9 and he said my grace is suffient for you, my strength is made perfect in your weakness. I to have felt exactly like you described heaviness. You didn’t say that you felt this second part ,but I am thinking God did I miss you? just moments ago I asked the Lord to show me what he is teaching me, he had me read Job yesterday, and he asked me this morning do you just serve me for what I can do for you ,or are you like shadrach,meshach,& Abed-Nego who said even if he doesn’t deliver us we will not bow down and serve other gods. I am going into my fifth year of Pastoring, seems like we cant get off the ground, but God has brought people all the from Las Vegas to our church, and delivered women out of domestic violence circumstances one of thems son just graduated from High School and is going to Burea College,prior to coming here they lived in his mothers crack house.I was a drug addict for 19 yrs and God delivered me overnight,so my heart is for the addict,the people no one wants to minister to. The testimony about your sister left me weeping, because I know what it means to be set free from euphoric hell!I have quit my job 3 times to minister full time and everytime I go back because of financial pressure. I am living Proof no pun intended of what he can do with a surrendered heart, I am living the supernatural in my body , but I want to learn to trust him totally with everything else to say even if he doesn’t deliver me from this I will still serve him. Your a blessing to me and we have shared your teachings with the women here at our church. “Beautiful Mind” Thanks for being obedient and following God in your call. You are making a difference in the lives of so many. We have joined you in your efforts to bless the causes of James and Betty our church has been sowers into this ministry as well and we are now listening to Living Free with James and Robert Morris. Just wanted to share. Pastor Felicia
Dear Beth,
I and so many friends of mine are looking forward to you coming to Calgary. I visited my friend in Dubai and with her small group of Ladies we started the study Esther. I have done beautiful mind and I Believe.
I desire and trust by the grace of God that I get to personally meet you and hug you this weekend. I am a hugger and, like you I have a history and claiming God’s complete restoration, healing and renewal. I claim the God kind of Love and God kind of forgiveness. I am open to God’s healing touch and open to him using me to draw men unto him. I am also doing the YouLead tomorrow and Friday. When I heard you were coming to Calgary I sent the email telling the world. You have been lifted up in prayer as well as being truly expectant.
This is going to be your best ever annointing experience, teaching, love experience ever. We love, respect and admire you. Wishing you God’s richest abundant blessings. I especially look forward to you teaching this weekend.
“Abba Father thank you for bringing Beth to Calgary, thank you for using her to change the lives of hurting people, adding value and making a difference today and always. Thank you for the powerful, rich annointing and that many lives at the Saddledome Beth Moore conference will be touched and changed never to return and naturally submitting to you Lord and receiving you Jesus as their Lord and personal Saviour, Amen, Amen, Amen. To God be the Glory. Dear Precious chosen one Beth, I Love you and thank you for everything.
Upward & Onward
Respectfully,
Jenny.
Our Sunday School lesson was about the feeding of the 5,000. It is the only miracle in all 4 gospels. One thing mentioned in,I think, John was after the food was blessed then the people had to be sitting in a group before they were fed.It was not by their efforts that they were fed.
I am so amazed that God gave you this message today, At church Sunday, God allowed us to go thru a test of forgivness. It was so awesome, for the last month, the sermons were on forgivness, starting with a study on Philemon and Sunday’s message on the protical son. We did not know we were being prepared to face a Staff problem regarding money. Acknowledgement, apology and true repentance was presented to the congregation after the service. Our hearts were prepared, praise God, our church family (in whole) showed such loving forgivness. What Satan had intended to bring us down, God used to build us up just like HE promises. It was a blessing to my soul!
Dearest Beth,
Will you please let me know if Gayle is okay? Ever since your post on how life is not tidy, I have been praying for her. I know all the Siesta’s are praying. Your sister captured my heart through her story as I too am a recovering alcoholic. You wrote that she had suffered a blow. I hope and pray she is continuing her journey in recovery no matter what may come her way as the Lord allows. I do not write these words lightly, I know only too well the battle alcoholics returns to upon awakening. Only God can do what we cannot do for ourselves. Please let me know if at all possible if she is fine and not homeless again and all that comes with this horrible disease. I will keep praying.
I had a specific need yesterday that was so huge I woke up crying, wondering where God was? Why wasn’t he answering my need. As I went through my day praying I felt as if the Lord wanted me to keep this between the two of us. That He was my portion. Sometimes we are too eager to have others around us provide for us instead of first going to the provider. I was so blessed because without stating my need two friends provided exactly what I needed because the Lord spoke to them. I was blessed and they were blessed and used by God. I was amazed! It isn’t what I thought would happen, it’s better. Our God is so good!
Several years ago the Lord led me as He did the widow….to go INSIDE……and SHUT THE DOOR…..and from that day onward He has not only filled me with His oil but has revealed Himself WITHIN me as my never-ending supply, my very Fountain and eternal Spring.
All praise to His most glorious name!
I cannot take credit for anything for it was His grace given me to even have the ability and desire to shut the door. The Lord continues to call out to all those who desire MORE….’come away my beloved and shut the door’. Shut the door to all other voices except His! Shut the door to all the noise, distractions, and pollution of this world and its SYSTEMS! May grace be given to all those who read these lines to say yes to His call to ‘ come INSIDE and shut the door’….for the Kingdom is WITHIN you!
‘Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ (matt.5:3).
‘This is what the Lord says to the House of Israel: Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel….Bethel will be reduced to nothing’. (amos5:4-5).
Yes, seek Him and LIVE!
God bless you for the Word, a beautiful timely Word. Stay in faith for what you are prayig for. God will in His time bring what He has promised to come about.
Take care, praying for you Beth, love in Christ, Sharon
Good Evening Dearest Beth (Miss Beth),
If words could do the trick I’d write ’em with a pencil stick from the hope they’d heal the heart of sick. Yet, I know all too well that before a word is penned, “Jehovah El Roi” will send a word to the heart of sick to mend. With that said, I pray the words I type are from the heart of “God who sees all things.” I have been blessed to have some time to follow the blog comments, and to even send a prayerful encouragement to a “Siesta.” This is Heidi, from University of NH, that you prayed with, along with my praying friend, Jessica. She was the tall beautiful one with long thick red hair, and usually the quiet one, I was the shorter one, with the blond hair made up big, then flat ironed, Mhmm., and usually the verbose one, but in that moment I froze as stiff as a sloth. Have you eva’ seen a sloth move? I haven’t the patience, therefore, on this side of heaven I may neva’ see one move! If rocks will cry out, I wonder if sloths will leap?! Hmmm. Can you just see it? Anyway, where was I? Lord, are you here? Where were you leading us? You see Beth, any one out there reading this word, I too am in this familiar place of heaviness. I could not tell you when the music stopped. . .for I had found myself sprawled out on the dance floor in the absence of any stage light. For quite some time I’ve been weighted down the black dusty dance floor, not hearing, only seeing. From the absence of any noise, such as a word, that I desperately prayed for like that of a thirsty dance student after hours of practice, out came this testimony from this heavy stance:
Shattered Dreams Danced Into His Desire (H.Tobin, 2012)
Like that of the drummer boy, what shall I play for you? I played my best for Him…
Much of my life I have danced to my own rythymn, beginning with each rushed step out of significant childhood trauma into a beat of success, from third grade of winning the Young Authors award to honor roll, to national scholar in undergraduate school, and finally leaping through graduate studies in counseling to serve the community with the dream I held since childhood. As I stepped into the next round of the dance it all seemed I had it all goin’ on until the beat came to a skip leading my knees to the floor…a lay off, then another lay off, then a virus that wiped my writings from my laptop, the off beat sent my body into a lifeless stance in the absence of all music. Until I searched the Word and kept each promise tucked into my heart believing who God is and what God wants I layed on the stage and cried out my song of many unmet dreams and waited in the longest measure before I rised up in the ashes of brokenness and thanksgiving of learning more of the Dance Partner who had in that moment became my Dance Leader. He continues to lead me in dancing into His desires, leaving behind what once was unmet dreams. For what is loss is now gain…a life beyond survival to a life of seeking Him.
Beth, I usually have a Scripture, all I have is a glimpse to share with you of the outcome of my glacier stance. I wish I had a word. . .but all I have is the sound of my Heavenly Father’s heartbeat leading me in the “manna moments.” These “manna moments” I have found to be “wonder-filled” each time I still my being long enough to acknowledge His presence. This is what is leading a life beyond survival to a life of seeking Him.
With deep deep love and attentive prayer,
Heidi
I honor your realness – thank you. I can so much identify. I am IN something. and I feel so humbled by my lack of words to describe just how deep is the wounds of memories. I’ve been digging through years of journals, cleaning out rooms in my momma’s house, trying to make the transitioning between when I wrote it and where now am, and are not at same time. feel like I living many lifetimes all at once. in some ways cant believe I wrote it 6 years ago, and same stuff still happening today. but I’m different, in some ways. not just writing it, but talking of it, sharing it, letting go of my ironfist grip on it, and Even then, my hands feel so weak, like I couldnt hold onto it even if I wanted to, like god reaching in for me to give it to him, to just place it in his loving hands to hold for me. I dont know why you feeling what you feeling, but I know that It touched me today that you feeling you IN something too, and it made a place on which I could Identify with you today. thank you beth for sharing your realness, I so honor that in you. love, pat.
This weary math teacher is officially off for the summer! Spent 15 minutes reading Father’s Day cards…..what a fun walk down memory (laugh) lane…..card in the mail….renewed my fishing license….hubby loves to fish…….sitting down doing nothing…….sweet.
Oops, this post was for the June 6th post on something fun.
Lightbulb! When we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. That’s how it is, and I knew that. What ‘got’ me, was that God is HOLY, perfect and set apart from sin, yet He lives in me! For Him to dwell in me I must be a perfect and holy dwelling place. Otherwise He couldn’t reside in me (or you), which is an amazing thought. Jesus justified us, made us blemish free, without sin, we have His record of perfection. AMAZING. I’ve been in the faith for 15 years, and still I get amazed at this new insights of old news, old but oh so good news.
Oh Beth, this post resonates deep within me. I love your illustration of The ‘GOD NOD’. I have had a tough week with a sisterly family matter that I feel persecuted for no reason. I literally have had to pray my way clear of this to keep my head above water. It is now 3a.m. While reading your post. Grinning @ you girlfriend. Praying over you and my cherished girlfriends in CHRIST ALONE.
LOVE,
PAM, CHATTANOOGA, TN
Gods redemption and power are available for anyone. Nomatter his past. And in truth, the presence of God, the works of God, and the power of God are the only things a human soul can truly enjoy. We just weren’t meant to run on the created things around us, no we are made to run on Christ. Love you!
Dear Beth, you’ve been my teacher for years now and I feel as though you’re one of my dearest friends. Thank you for your transparency. Thank you for your love for the Lord. Thank you for your sorrow and your wounds. My heart is hurting and heavy now, as well, and I’m praying. I feel lonely and sad and guilty because I feel this comes from self centeredness and a lack of faith toward our sweet God who has been so amazingly good to me. If I were to count my blessings I wouldn’t be able to stop, but my spirit still sags. I wish we could just cry together for a spell and then go to Starbucks and feel better.
I desperately needed to read this. I have spend the last 8 months dealing with such increased anxiety over some family issues that I haven’t even felt normal. In fact, there were times I thought I must be going crazy. I’m learning to pray scripture over my thoughts and just a couple of days ago I read this passage in Psalms and I have since read it in just about every translation possible. I like the way it’s put in The Message best: psalm 94:16-19, “If God hadn’t been there for me,
I never would have made it.
The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,”
your love, God, took hold and held me fast.
When I was upset and beside myself,
you calmed me down and cheered me up.”
As of late, the Lord has been teaching me about Lament. It is not something that is popularly taught on, and many shy away from it, but it is an important aspect to our spiritual lives. It is no less Biblical or even Christlike than praise and adoration. God is big and his shoulders are wide. Part of casting it on Him is letting it out, how you really feel, even if you are doing so from the bottom of a pit that you were thrown into.
Also, a friend just left me with this thought from CS Lewis that was rather timely in my own life. “Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement”
I definitely was praying for a Word today at church. No, we don’t have services on Friday’s (grin) but my Dad is on the ministry staff at our church and I hang out with him a lot during the week. I steal away to the sanctuary often for quiet time with God and quality time with the grand piano. Today I was just BEGGING for a Word. This is what the Lord spoke to my heart (and why I love memorizing Scripture, because He can breathe His Word to us so quickly that way)…He said, “There is no fear in love, because perfect love drives out fear. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Of course, all of these are taken from different references, but He gave them all to me today. A powerful Word that I’m praying for the strength to let go and ACCEPT!
I understand about the weight of sadness. I am in the deepest valley of my whole life and I can’t seem to find my way out no matter how hard I pray or how much I study. I mostly spend my nights crying and just try to get through the days. I will be praying that God helps you in this season of sadness.
WOW NEED I NEED THIS ! Thank you Sweet Precious Jesus always there giving me what I need !
Ok, I realize no one will probably even look at this (and if you do, it might make no sense anyway), but I got a word. A good, good word for my spirit. I have been struggling with this gnawing in my spirit for a while now. I couldn’t put my finger on the discomfort, and I was perplexed since life is going well- my man’s leading and loving well, I’m cancer free, kids are healthy, job is good, etc etc. For the first time in years, things are so calm on a day to day basis. And yet the pain in my spirit continued. And then, the WORD. While watching a video in Sunday school yesterday, the woman being interviewed made a comment that struck a chord: There’s a difference between inviting Christ to have complete Lordship over my life, and calling on Him in a time of crisis to fix everything. Oh My Word. That’s what I’ve been doing for so long. I’ve lived through such chaos that I know He’s got things covered and taken care of when everything falls apart. But what about on my regular, get up, drink coffee, go to work, raise my kids, clean my house, support my man kind of days? My Jesus doesn’t just want to spend time with me when things are on high alert. He wants to be the lover of my soul on the most normal of normal days. What a sweet word for my spirit.
Beth, your reference to the Widow’s Oil bathed my heart like warm bathwater tonight.
It was such an humbling experience when God granted me admission to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary’s MA Religion program late last year. My pre-requisite classes are nearly finished. but as fall grows closer, there is a real possibility that I won’t be able to attend. Due to Cerebral Palsy, my health insurance – the only coverage I can get – deems that I can’t hold gainful employment, and without gainful employment I can’t pay tuition. I was accepted into GC’s Partnership/Scholarship Program, but time is running out and my sponsors have been unable to act…with our economy extra cash is scarce these days.
Please, please understand that this comment is NOT A PLEA FOR FINANCIAL HELP. If it is God’s will that I go through GCTS, He can and will provide. This email IS a request – if at all possible – that you please pray with me in Jesus’ Name for His will to be carried out in this situation through the Holy Spirit. I will accept that will – whatever it is – as long as it’s His.
Your standing with me in prayer means more than you will ever know.
To His Glory and His Alone!
Someone asked me recently why I would ever consider undertaking the MA program if I can’t obtain a formal job, so I suppose I should clarify that my goal,Christ willing, is to provide Christian education services to churches who lack funding for formal staff other than their pastors.
Hey Beth, I’m so glad you got a word, and He is working so much right now! Even now. I did get a word from Him the past two Sundays. In my sunday school class that I went to for the first time in a long time after finishing teaching my six grade girls, the teacher talked about life in the Spirit, and “carnal Christianity” vs. Spirit-filled life and true discipleship. He even referenced James where it talks about works being a natural result of a true disciple. Works not saving us, but if we are His, we should have good works…and then, this past Sunday, my Pastor preached the 2nd message in a short series on how to love one another in the Body of Christ, and specifically, in the local Body of believers. He talked about how by our love, others in the world will know we are His disciples. I agree, I NEED HIM every hour of everyday. I want to not miss anything He wants to teach me. It’s for my ultimate good. He wants me to learn those things He’s bringing to my attention. I don’t want to miss it!…For this God, His way is perfect. He is a shield for all those who take refuge in HIM. ((HUGS)) always to you Beth:)
Beth, I don’t know the issues that you have been writing about in your last few posts, but I know that I could have written them word for word because of some issues in my life. I am at the point (finally) that I know only God can do a healing work in them. I am heartbroken and have been doing your updated version of Breaking Free and am on week 5…coincidence? I don’t think so. You said that your Siesta community was praying for you and you could feel it. May I ask for prayer from the Siestas, also? I have a couple of dear friends that know most of the situation and are praying but it doesn’t hurt to have others praying, even if they don’t know the situation. Thank you, Beth, for being so open and real with your Siestas. I pray for you and hope God has worked it all out for your good and the good of those around you. Love you, sweet lady.
The Word I received most lately that I keep finding encouraging is God has begun a good work you, he will complete it.
Wow. Thank you for articulating and confirming what the Lord has been whispering in my spirit. I’m well decorated in my field and on the fast track to success but I’ve become less hungry for the miraculous and self reliant. This has left me devasted as I was one who was radically saved at 15 and has been in ministry since yet I wonder how did I break away from the vine? Not in immoral acts but in self reliance. He’s screaming…”move out of the way and let me do something” . May I heed His voice lest it be too late and I miss seeing, experiencing, and sharing the wondrous works of God.