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
Bernadette , mtn home, Arkansas But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there the LORD Jesus Christ who by his power that enables him to bring everything under His control will transform our lowly bodies into glorious bodies like His. Phil 3:20-21. NIV
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10-11 NIV
Nancy-Yonges Island, SC
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4 NIV
Kim C from Franklinton, LA
Psalms 90:12 ESV
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Carolyn, St. Peters
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. Psalm 91:13 NIV84
Dawn, Highlands Ranch
. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3, 4 ESV)
Naomi – Colorado Springs, CO
The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:11 NLT
Pam, Brighton, CO
Colossians 3: 10 ESV
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Audrey, Ohio
Ephesians 6:11 TNIV
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Angela, McKinney TX
John 14:13 ESV
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Cindy L, Brooklyn Park MN
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 lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8 NIV)
Beverly Vicksburg, MS
Psalm 18:2 NLV
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior,
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.”
Marti, loganville, ga ” 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
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret-it only causes harm.” Psalm 37:8
John 12:35 NIV
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Shelley, Springfield, MO
Isaiah 58:11 ESV
And The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
Donna Pritchett, Arab, Alabama
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalms 4:8 ESV)
Lorie, Centreville VA
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12 (NLT)
Tammie, Benoit, MS
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:8 NKJV
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13 NIV)
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. Luke 12:12
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
Brooke, Fredericksburg VA
I lift my eyes up to the mountains-where does my help come from? My help comes from The Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
Cody * Houston
“…in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16, ESV
Laura, Greenville, NC: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
Theresa, Taylorsville, KY: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
Heather, Morristown, TN
James 1:13-14 (NASB)
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
Barb, Urbandale, Iowa Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 NAS
From Brandon, MS: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:1 NIV
ROBIN Orange City….Psalm 40:8 ” I desire to do your will, O my God;Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8 NIV
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me Isaiah 46:9 NIV
Mary, Chander,OK
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekial 36:26 NIV
Pam Campbellsburg In.. Sing out the honor of His name, make His praise glorious..
Psalm 66;2 NSFL NKJV
Philippians 4:6-7
Tammy Behrman – Greenville
(NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Debi, Alva, FL
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Cheryl, Austin, TX
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV
Candis, South Bend, IN
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7 KJV
Sarah Sykes, Arkadelphia, AR
Psalms 34:1 (ESV)
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Peggy – Bangor, Maine
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV)
cori maffett, west palm beach, fl
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. phil 4:11-12 NLT
Chyrll, Memphis: Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:9 NASB)
Janet from Pearland
Ephesians 5:11 (NIV)
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,
but rather expose them.
Gwen Burdine, jacksonville beach fl. Sorry late. Computer messed up when trying to post on the 1st then I forgot to go back and do it once it started working again. “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:12 NIV)
Shannon, Missouri city, tx
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Philippians 1:27 NIV
Laura, Prairieville, LA:
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! and that’s what we are. I John 3:1 NIV
Kimberly Orr~Zionsville, Indiana
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 ESV
Theresa, Boaz, Alabama Isaiah 43:18-19. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it! I am making a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland.”
Anna, Grapevine Texas…
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together will all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
Ephesians 3:17-18
Darcy, Clermont, FL
You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Luke10:27 ESV
Jamie, Oakfield, ME
Psalm 2:3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
Shelley from Bolivar, Missouri
Psalm 86:11 ESV
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.