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
Nancy, Junction City, Ar.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father but by me.” John 14:6 NKJ
Cyndi Munson, Oklahoma City, OK
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9, NIV
Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Debbie — Keller, TX
When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 11:3
Sorry! Forgot the translation!(HCSB)
Desiree Calgary, Alberta,
“Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.
Isaiah 26:4 NASB
Trish Price
Paintsville KY
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband
also, and he praiseth her.
Proverbs 31:28 KJV
Madeleine Corrales: I pray that He may grant you according to the riches of his Glory to be strenghtened with power in the inner man through his Spirit. Ephesians 3-16 HCSB
Juleann, Wayne pa, Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from The Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”
Heather – Shokan, NY
Joshua said unto the people, sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among us.
Joshua 3:5 NKJV
Melisse, Slippery Rock, PA
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. (Romans 8:18 NLT)
Woodstock, Ga.
Carry each others burdens, in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NIV 1984)
Karen, Florence, KY
I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep
know me.
John 10:14 NIV
Wendy, Mechanicsville VA
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 (NCV)
Joan, Portage, MI
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy & dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, & patience. Bear with each other & forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:12-15 NIV
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” John 15:9 NIV
Nicole, Portland OR
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thess 5:24 NIV)
I like to say that last portion with some attitude (he WILL DO IT!)
And PS – I can’t get over how joyful I am from LPL in Eugene. It was such a blessed weekend. Thank you Mama Siesta for pointing us to Jesus and helping us eagerly approach His Throne to be filled up! I have a full heart!
Michelle, Livermore, CA.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Proverbs 13:20 ESV
“Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God” James 4:4 (NLT)
Barbie from Powell, Ohio
“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you got, be resolute and love without stopping.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-15 (The Message)
Stephanie, Westerville, Ohio
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding: think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB)
Tracy, Sidney, OH
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 NLT
Beth, Gig Harbor
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep waters; but a man
of understanding will draw it out. Prov. 20:5 (NASB)
Let him bury his face in the dust- there may yet be hope.Lamentations 3:29 (NIV)
Kendra, Spokane, WA
“Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” ~Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Carol
Albuquerque NM
Proverbs 29:25 NIV
25- Fear of man will prove to be a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Pamela Williams, Olive Branch, MS
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 NIV
Rebecca Stewart
Julian, NC
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
Mindy Seekford Gloster, La
Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will exalted among the earth. Psalms 46:10
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah: Behold your God!
Isaiah 40:9 KJV
Corinne in Chehalis, Washington
Amberley – Pasco, WA
“I am the Lord, the God of all people. Nothing is too difficult for me.”
~ Jeremiah 32:27 Good News Translation
Dionne from Cary: Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)
Anna, Little Elm, TX
“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving.”
Psalm 62:11-12a (NIV84)
Karen, Knoxville, TN – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on You.” Isaiah 26:3 NLT
Rebecca, Las Vegas Nevada. “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
Kristen, Marble, NC
Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Kim, Bloomington, IL
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 NASB
Overland Park, KS
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5 NIV
Courtney De La Rosa
Dallas, TX
“As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?'”
Romans 10:15 NIV
Hudson NC
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
Melanie in Amherst, MA
“He keeps the feet of His godly ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness;
For not by might shall a man prevail.”
1 Samuel 2: 9 NASB
Ashley from Knoxville, TN
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
1 Corinthians 9:8 NASB
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Phil 1:27 NIV
Christy from Holland, MI
“The Lord is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God and I will exalt Him.” Exodus 15:2, NIV
Life and death are in the tongue. Those who live by it will eat it. Psalm 18:21
Maureen, Logan, UT:
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Karen, Dover, NH “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:4
Valerie, Louisville KY
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91 NASB
Traci in Pipestone, MN
Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.
Emily, Topeka, Kansas
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6 (NIV)