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
Worcester, England, UK
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
[7] “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. [8] They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
krystal ward
Teague, tx
“but I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
psalm 59:16 NIV
Lori S from Elgin, TX (now College Station, TX)
Psalm 95:2 (NIV)
“Let us come before him with thanksgiving
And extol him with music and song.”
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
Psalm 63:7 nkjv
Monica Pribe Blacklick, OH ” The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” 1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
What is impossible with man is possible with God
Luke 18:27 NIV
Savannah, Arkadelphia AR
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:10, NIV
Joni, Port Neches. “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:18, NIV84
Kim, Littlestown PA. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8 (NKJ)
May 1 – 1 Peter 2: 12 NIV
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Georgine East
Austin, TX
Sarah Cox from Jay, OK
” 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.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Shannon Houston, TX
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, and every sort of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ God forgave you.
Eph 4:31-33 NIV
Dutchess of Winterville: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 KJV
Summer, McCurtain, OK
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Natasha, Pearland, TX
You will seek me and find me when you seek with me all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
Selina, Aberdeen. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 KJV
Stacy, Greenfield, Indiana “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches but give me only my daily bread” Proverbs 30:8 NIV
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11
Mechanicsville, VA
‘When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.’ Exodus 22:27b
Emilie Eaton, IN
Romans 2:7 NIV
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life.
My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.
Psalms 121:2 KJ
Roxy
Riverton, Utah
Micah 6:8
He showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
NIV
Johnine from Murfreeesboro, TN
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:2
Holly from Alpharetta, GA
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
Psalm 103:8 NLT
Andrea Ontario Canada ” Trust in him at all times o people; pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge” Ps 62:8 NIV
Isaiah 40:31 NKJ
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Whitney from Russellville, TN
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. James 4:8. TNIV
Tiffany
Muskogee, OK
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NLT)
Kaiva, form Chicago
Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
Only fools insist on quarreling.
Proverbs 20:3 NLT
BECKY PEURIFOY – LONGVIEW TX – PROVERBS 1:7 NIV “FEAR OF YAHWEH IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE; WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION FOOLS DESPISE.”
Joanna K, Salinas, CA
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
8 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.
So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
stephanie, houston
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
Psalm 139:9 NIV
Angie Greenville Ohio
“Remember the former things off long ago; I am God, and there is no other I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9 NIV
Stephanie Knight
Waynesboro, MS
“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB
Lisa Auten: Rogers, AR: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Phil 4:4 NIV
Julie Huffman: Springdale, AR; “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Phil 4:4 NIV
Stephanie Knight
Waynesboro, MS
“Now without faith it is impossible to please God for the one who draws near to Him must believe He exists and rewards those who seek Him” Hebrews 11:6 HCSB
Be anxious for nothing but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7 NIV
Melissa Eaton
Anna, TX
ESV Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you future and hope.”
Jer 29:11-13: “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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as The Lord forgave you.”
Colossians 3:12-13