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
Cindy
Madrid, Spain
“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”
Psalm 33:4 NIV
Anita Livingston, Odem, Texas
Galatians 5:22,23 TEV
But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such as these.
Sara
Currently in Tanzania
Jeremiah 26:14 [NIV] “As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right.”
Amanda Cross Van Buren, AR
Though an army encamp against me,my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,yet I will be confident. Psalm 27:3 ESV
Pam from The Netherlanda:
Ephesians 1:17 (NIV). I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Myra, London, England
“He who called you is faithful, who will also do it!”
I Thess. 5:24 NIV
Bonnie
Port Orchard, WA
“If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31 MSG
Amy in Waipahu, Hawaii
“My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
Cindy, Lakeland, FL.
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. I John 3:10 NIV
Philipp 4:13 I can do all things through christ who strengthens me.San Bernardino Ca.
O how I love your law. I meditate on it all day long.
Psalm119:97 NIV
Gwen, Kennesaw, GA
Psalm 78:35, “They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.” (NIV)
April, Greensboro, NC “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will how you a way out so that you can endure.”
I Corin. 10:13 NLT
Lexington , Kentucky
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. (James 5:4-6 NIV)
Erika, Hampden, MA
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 NAS
Laurie,Marietta. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NASB
Verse 8
Laurie,Marietta. 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
Verse 9
Fear of man will prove to be a snare,but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25 NIV
Jane, Kokomo, IN
“The LORD is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
and with my song I shall thank Him.”
Psalm 28:7 (NAS)
Pam, New Bern NC
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16. NIV
Michelle, Chester, NJ
If we confess our sins, He is fathf and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
Susan, Statesville – 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
Melissa, St. Mary’s County, MD “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5 NIV)
Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
~Proverbs 9:6 ESV
Kathi Johnson Spartanburg SC
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
Psalm 91:2 NLT
Cheryl, Brisbane, Australia says:
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8 NIV)
RaeLeen in Greenwood;
For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Psalm 107:9 (NIV)
Becky, Roswell, GA
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14, NLT
Fear not for I am with you.
Be not dismayed for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
I will help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
I Peter 5:7 NIV
Jeannie, Charlotte.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26 ESV
Wendy G from Anderson , IN
James 1:3-4 NLT
“For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character ready for anything.”
Jill, DeLand, FL
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NRSV)
Be still and know that I AM god; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
Liz Taylor, Washington DC
The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
ESV
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
“May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.” 1 Kings 8:58 NLT
Liz from Hilliard, OH
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:33, 34 ESV
Nadine Fry, Morton, UK
Commit your future to the Lord!
Trust in him,
and he will act on your behalf.
Psalm 37:5 NET
D’Anne, Loganville, GA Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NIV)
My son, preserve sound judgement and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Proverbs 3:21 NIV
Amanda, Durham, NC
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV
Alice, Chesapeake Va.
Isaiah 55:8 NIV
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
Christine, Laurel MD:
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 NIV
Sara, Greenville, SC – “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Colossians 3:16 NLT
Carrie Guion, Wentzville, Mo.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:21 NLT
Krist, Piedmont,Al
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 ESV)
And I lookedd and arose and siad to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people “Do not be afraid of them. Remember The Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
ESV
Suzanne, Centreville, VA
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (HCSB)
Jean, Palm Bay, Fl
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8 NIV)
Becky, Groesbeck, Tx.
But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:25 (NLT)