Hey, Everybody!
I’m so happy to spend these next few minutes with you. I like to remind you in a writing season like this that I am thinking about you constantly even when it appears from your side of the screen as if we’re less in touch. As I study and write workday in and workday out, you are the first group that comes to my mind. Teacher’s pets if I’ve ever had any. I’m chatting to you constantly right now as I peck away at the keyboard. You just can’t hear me. I’m smiling thinking about how those tables may turn in a little over a year for any of you that end up doing the Bible study. You’ll be talking back to me as we discuss various passages in your homework but I won’t be able to hear you either. What a weird and beautiful dynamic.
I had the biggest blast getting to see a whole bunch of you Siestas at our Eugene, Oregon Living Proof Live. I was shocked when I walked in that room right after the event and David Lowe (our good friend who subs for Rich when he’s out) already had you split into two groups for our picture-taking. It would be hard to over-blow how much I loved being in Oregon for our event. God brought together one of the most wonderful, enthusiastic, Jesus-seeking, gonna-get-a-word-or-else groups ever. One of my top ten favorite groups in all fifteen LPL years. I could have cried when it was over.
(I just happened to remember that I have a few pictures on my iPhone of various shots from this trip so I’ll pitch a few in here for those of you like me who love visuals.)
(In the above picture, we took that State-famous “O” for Oregon and made it into a few divine adjectives for an “Omnipotent,” and “Overflowing,” “Overcoming” and “Out-breaking” God.)
Try to wrap your mind around the fact that God incited 7300 women by His Spirit to attend that event. That was nearly twice what we would have expected in that part of the United States for a gathering of this kind. Travis, the praise team, and I knew within about 2 minutes that Jesus was planning to be there whether we came or not. We felt completely incidental to the whole thing. He has something huge stirring in the Northwest. I can’t quit thinking about it. I got a DM from my good friend, Louie Giglio, last Friday saying that he and Chris Tomlin and their team had just been to that part of the country and were blown away by what God was doing. We left feeling the same astonishment.
I got to spend a little more time in the area than I usually do because I couldn’t get a flight out on Saturday night. That meant several walks in several different parks.
This scene was walking distance from the Holiday Express where we stayed in Eugene. Your blog mama is in there but it’s kind of like “Where’s Waldo?”
Most of our team went to Mount Pisgah Arboretum on Saturday afternoon and, honestly, it was like we were caught in the hobbits’ glen in Lord of the Rings. If Frodo Baggins had stepped out from behind a tree with his short legs and long hairy feet, the whole scene would have been complete. The trees looked just like the ones that talked in the trilogy and they groaned and creaked in the wind like old men trying to get out of a low chair. It was crazy. I didn’t even bother taking pictures with my iPhone because it would have been a travesty but our friend David got some great ones with his grown-up camera. This one doesn’t even give a hint of the gorgeousness that was surrounding us in that park but I think it is especially gorgeous because I love this group of women so much. These are some of the hardest working girls you’ll ever find on earth. They are part of the LifeWay women’s event team that actually puts on Living Proof Live events. (As well as Priscilla Shirer Live and many others.) They don’t often come to the platform but trust me when I tell you that no one would serve on that platform if not for these women doing all the front work, sight inspections, training, praying, and city coordinating. Then, once the weekend arrives, they are busy behind every scene, down every hall, and all over the arena. I am nuts about them. There are at least a dozen others who weren’t assigned to our Oregon event over the weekend. I wish you could see them, too. They are all stellar women.
I could have stayed a solid week in Oregon. Or, if all my people had been there, a month. But Bibby gets cranky for the grandbabies after too many days away. I saw them right before I left for Oregon and the day after I got back. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my beloved Amanda and Curtis, who always make room for the grandparents in their hyper-busy pastoring lives. I happen to be typing this post about five feet away from this picture right here. Now, I ask you, who could stand to be far from those two for very long?? My point exactly.
Oh, one more thing about the trip. On the rare occasions when much of the team gets to stay an extra night after the event, there is considerable foolishness. With God-fearing people, especially of mixed company, off-color humor is out so we have to go with just plain stupid and it works for me every time. This is Travis with his good friends Clay (who played the mandolin for us at this LPL! We loved him!) and Seth (who we always love and get to have on the team most of the time).
I bet Travis wore those glasses for 15 minutes in the drugstore. (Yep, that’s where all this stuff was.) Long enough to where I found myself talking to him normally as if he didn’t look like an idiot. Of course, it might be a tad hypocritical for me to say he looked like such a thing since…
Tragically, that’s not plastic you’re seeing there below the glasses. That’s my real nose. (I made myself laugh.)
Well, I could talk on and on but, the fact is, we have Scriptures to do today, Sisters! I love mine this time around. Remember how we talked about the importance of choosing one to memorize that really means something to us personally? This one’s really speaking to me right now. Lately I’ve been especially aware of the contrasts in the Christian public square between those who build up the Body of Christ and those who tear it down. If we’re going to be builders in a world tearing apart, we’re going to have to be deliberate. We’ll also have to accept the materials we’re working with. We’ll never have a flawless body of believers to edify. Not this side of our completed state. As my friend Carlos Whittaker says, we’re all crazier than we think we are. It’s a mess out there. Oh, for crying out loud, I’m a mess in here. But we do have a flawless Savior and we are indeed God’s chosen people, loved and planned for and accounted for in the Kingdom agenda. We’ve got to decide how we want to treat one another on this thorny journey. This verse says it well.
Beth, Houston. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV
There He says it: don’t just take a stab at it. Strive to excel in it.
Oh, Sisters, I love you so much. I truly do. I’ll talk to you soon!
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Amy Storms
Santa Clarita, CA
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.
Psalm 52:8-9, NIV
Kassie Dulin from Southlake, TX
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19. NKJV
Kathy, Austin, Hebrews 6:15 NIV
And so after waiting patiently, I received what was promised.
Pat, Hot Springs, AR
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 17:17 KJV
Lisa Braun – Warman, SK Canada
Psalm 34:18 NLT
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
God’s been breaking my heart over the sex-trafficking issue and has been bringing very broken people into my life 🙁 AMEN to this verse! ♥
Natalie, Blue Springs, Missouri
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)
Dawn Rowden, Astoria Oregon, When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3(NIV)
Roxanne Hummeltown, Pa
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3 esv
Leslie Jordan
Rochester, MN
“He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear.”
Psalm 112:7-8 NIV
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
Acts 4:13 NIV
Kay Martin
Tupelo, MS
Patty, Granite Bay, CA 3John 1:4 NIV “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rachel, Alabama (I’m not sure that my comment went through)
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3 NIV)
Psalm 46:5 NIV
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Melissa Droegemueller, San Antonio, TX
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 ESV
Johnston, Iowa
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
Luke 14:33 NIV
Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33
But I trust in you O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand.
Psalm 31:14-15a ESV
But I trust in you O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand.
Psalm 31:14-15a ESV
Debbie in Portland, OR
Katie Brown
Greenfield, IN
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Lauren, Jackson, Kentucky
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved.- Ephesians 2:5, KJV
Vicki C., Indianapolis
Psalm 68:11 NIV
The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.
Patty Pierce
searcy AR
2 Timothy 1:7
KJV
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)
Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
I actually like the NLT translation better so I’m switching!
“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)
Susan, MN Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for HEe who promised is faithful and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Tenda, Bellevue WA
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
Michelle, Fort Worth
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
1 Timothy 6:6-7 ESV
Karen
Tallahassee, FL
Ps 73:26 NIV
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Cindy, Belleville IL
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11 NIV)
Wendy, Harrodsburg, Kentucky
And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 NASB
danae | lafayette, in
“for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” — james 1:20 [hcsb]
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord[be empowered through your union with HIM]; draw your strength fromHim [that strength from Him [ that strength which His Boundless might provides]. Epheshians 6:10 AMP
Andi, Lincoln NE
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Gal 6:9 NIV
Lisa, Mauldin, SC
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11
Kate – Houston, TX
I like Beth’s verse:
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12, ESV
Connie, Pleasanton, CA- But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)
Gillian, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
The one who guards his/ her mouth and his/ her tongue keeps his/ her life from trouble.
Proverbs 21:23NET
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? Psalm 24:3 NKJV
Judy Heindl – Cottageville, WV
“and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” Eph. 5:2 KJV
Darlene, Branson. Mo.
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV
Cyndi, Centreville, VA
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV)
Michelle W
Boynton Beach, FL
At daybreak, Lord, You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly. Psalm 5:3 HCSB
Midland, TX
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
Kathleen, Saint joseph, MI
Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.
Romans 12:21
AMP
Nancy, Sanger,TX
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phil. 2:8-9 (ESV)
Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel and recieve instruction
That you may be wise in your latter end.
Leverett, MA
O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.
Psalm 34:9 NASB
Marilyn, Odessa FL
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 ESV
Terri S. – Little Elm, TX
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Deanne Johnson, Laguna Hills, CA
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:4 NIV
Annette, Stouffville ON Canada
“Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
Isaiah 43:7 NKJV