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
Anna – Conroe, TX
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.”
Isaiah 42:16 NIV
DeeDee. Houston,Tx
Then Jesus said to her “your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7:48
NIV
Kristi Riverside,Ca.
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:3-4 NIV
Diane – Roswell, GA
Diane – Roswell, GA
“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
Allison Ross, Cypress TX
“Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
Dayna Vaczi, Overland Park, KS
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)
Beth, Robinson, TX
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and in searchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Tori, Robinson, TX
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Mindy-Andalusia, AL
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. (John 14:21, NIV)
Beth, Wynnewood, OK
My heart says of you, “Seek his Face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Psalm 27:8 NIV
Ephesians 5:8 NKJV
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light.
Paulette P. Mays
Elmer, La
Charmaine McLeod
Calgary, Alberta
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” ~~Philippians 4:8 ESV~~
Acts 11:23
When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to God with all thir heart
Kimberly in Madison, ME “When worries threaten to overwhelm me, your soothing touch makes me happy.” Psalm 94:19, NET
Susan, Kansas City
In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength.
Isaiah 30:15
Marilyn from Missouri:
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 NKJV
Burlington, VT
My soul quietly waits for the True God alone because I hope only in Him.
Psalm 62:5
The Voice
Mary Ellen in Laurel, MT
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.” James 5:7 NIV
Lisa Diaz, Houston. “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12 NIV
Lisa Stimpson. Munford,Tn.
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace,
As in all the churches of the saints.
1Cor. 14: 33 NKJV
Lynn brandon, msI can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NIV)
Donna
Franklin, TN
You know…I had one picked out…but I liked Beth’s better…so I’m borrowing it!
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
Maria – Katy, TX
“Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3:7-8
Tesa
Perry, GA
As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
2 Samuel 22:31
Lynn in Leonardtown, MD
“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)
Sally from Baton Rouge
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.(KJV)PROVERBS 20:27
Hannah, Albuquerque
For The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV
“No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.” ~ 1 Samuel 2:2 (NKJV)
Kim, Louisville KY
Colossians 3:14ESV
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
“You, dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4. NIV
Toni, Argyle, TX
Romans 8:27 NASB
And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Commit to the lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Kathy, Missouri City, TX
Teresa, Orange City. So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 (NASB)
Tonya from Eucha, OK “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 HCS
Cindy L., Madison, AL
You are the light of the world,…
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14 and 16
NKJV
Nancy, North Little Rock, AR
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
~Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Dawn, Clever, MO
Psalm 121:5-6
English Standard Version (ESV)
“5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.”
Barb from Richardson, TX
For the Word of God is Living and Powerful NKJV
Karen from Schererville, IN
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NIV
Laura, League City, TX:
I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
Psalm 145:1 NLT
Jen
Fredericksburg, VA
“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
Psalm 27:1-3 NIV
Amy Birmingham , Alabama
But thou O Lord, are a shield for me; my glory and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:3
The thief does not come except to steal,
and to kill and to destroy. I have come that
they may have life and that they may have
it more abundantly.
John 10:10 NKJV
Natalie; Leesburg, GA; “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18 NIV)
Becky from Vicksburg, MS
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6 NIV
Kathy, Festus MO But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “G od is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NASB)
I waited for the Lord to help me,and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire,
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walk along.
Psalm 40: 1-2 NLT
Proverbs 12 :22 NIV
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.
Yolanda Hawkins
Queen City, Texas