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
Carissa, Benton AR “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. Jeremiah 29:13 NLT
Deb, Littleton, CO
“Let the lowly brother glory in his exultation,” James 1:9 NKJV
Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.
Colossians 1:22
New Living Translation
Kathy, Jonesboro, AR
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
Kimberly, Houston, TX
“Give me understanding, so that I may keep Your law and obey it with all of my heart. Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart towards Your statues and not towards selfish gain.”
Psalm 119:34-36
Misty, Midlothian, TX
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Jana from Brenham, TX
Nehemiah 9:17b-18a
“But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love… Even after…”
Building my “altar of remembrance” for a bible study.
Dana, Houston – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measure to you.” Luke 6:38 NIV
Linda Peel Lexington, KY
Anxiety leads to depression but a good word encourages.
Proverbs 12:25 CEB
Pam Mendoza
Cypress, CA
When I am afraid, I will trust you.
Psalm 56:3 NIV
Tisha, San Antonio
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
Lynette – Aurora, CO Lamentations 3:26 (NIV)
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
Trae Kendrick, Crawford, TX: “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24 NLT
Diana from Broken Arrow, OK. John 15:8 NLT “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”
Becky, The Woodlands, TX
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Jessica
Whitby, Ontario
1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Karen, Christy, Cheryl A Cord of Three Strands
Jay, OK
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
Deut. 29:29 NIV
Debbie, Folly Beach SC
Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:1 NIV
Pam from San Marino, CA
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:39 NIV
Heather W, Nederland, TX
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV)
Lisa, Simsboro, LA
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,, ” Psalms 139:9 NIV
Abby Kaufman
Vacaville CA
For I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do.
Epeshians 2:10
Karen, Cheyenne, WY
“Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.” (NIV)
Lynette, Nashville, TN
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust. Psalm 40:4a ESV
Leigh Ann
Gallatin, TN
“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1 HCSB
Dena K., Columbus, OH:
“…Seek Me and live” (Amos 5:4 NKJV) &
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7, 8 NLT)
Emily W., McKinney, TX
Emily W., McKinney, TX
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory, by Jesus Christ, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
I Peter 5:10 (NKJV)
shelli, Karalee, Katelyn; Royse City, TX: The Lord said, “God out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
Paula, OKC, OK: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV
Cathryne, Fayetteville NC
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me
John 10:27 NASB
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27 NIV
Rene, Overland Park, KS “For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.” Job 5:18 (NIV)
Molly from Pierce, NE
“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagle; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
Susan Bymaster, Ames, OK
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Phil 4:6
Katelyn, Fort Worth, TX:
My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. (Psalm 62:7 NLT)
Psalm 62:1 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. (NLT)
I’m working on these verses for a full month. I need “security” verses to cling to and these verses could not be separated.
April from Midland, TX
Verse 8
“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Cor. 3:4-5 (NIV)
Verse 9
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:7-8a (NIV)
Cameron – Maumee, Ohio – So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 1 Cor. 14:12 ESV
Susan
Norfolk Va.
My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt springs produce fresh water.
James 3:12 NIV
Martha, ND. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. Psalm 103:3-4. NLT
Valerie from Taylors, SC Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
I Peter 5:7, NIV
Paula Stemple. Marlinton, WV
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. (Psalms 16:8 NLT)
“And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has lead you….”
Duet. 8:2a (ESV)
Susan from Clinton, MS
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3
Sue
Woodbury, MN
Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night.
Valerie M.
Evart, Mi
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless
Isaiah 40:29 NLT
Ephesians 5:15 (ESV)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise
Molly
St. Paul, MN
Gray, TN
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled, by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God send out into all the earth.” Rev. 5:6 NIV