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
Norfolk, VA
Psalm 119:133 NIV
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Jacie from Amarillo, Texas
“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 NKJV
Colleen, Glen Ellyn, IL
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.
Matthew 7:11 ESV
Stephanie from St. Catharines, ON
The Lord your God is with you.
He is mighty enough to save you.
He will take great delight in you.
The quietness of his love will calm you down.
He will sing with joy because of you.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NIRV
Lori Behrens
Granbury, Texas
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 NASB
Debbie, Corpus Christi:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NAB
Cathy, Dallas
John 14:27(NIV)
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.
Judy, Hoover, AL – So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. i Corinthians 14:12 (ESV)
Natalie Chicago
Romans 6:6 NIV
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Katie Swaney (McDonough, GA)
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.
I John 2:9 (NIV)
Jeannie from Atlanta, IN,
Matthew 5:33-37, ESV –
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”
Amanda Teske, Chandler, AZ
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10, ESV
Lindsey, Jenks, OK
“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” ~Eph. 5:8-9
Kim S., Nashville, TN
The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. Psalm 119-130 (ESV)
Kim Safina
Coast Of California
Every Knee Shall Bow To Me; And Every Tongue Shall Confess To God. Romans 14:11 (KJV)
Ganise, Ottawa, Canada
2 Corinthians 10:5
King James Version
‘Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;’
Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
‘Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.’
Jennifer M. Moore, OK. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1 (ESV)
Melody, Jefferson, Georgia
Ephesians 6:15 & 16 (NIV)
And with your feet fitted with the readiness that come from the gospel of Peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
( emphasis added by me)
Jen, Houston
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” -Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Tyler, TX
1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (ESV)
Sarah, Montrose, CO:
[I am] to be reverent in behavior, not a slanderer or slave to much wine. [I am] to teach what is good, and so train [my daughters] to [someday] love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive [someday] to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Titus 2:3-5 (ESV, personalized)
T.Nutt, Mansfield, TX.
“For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]…” Romans 1:17 Amplified Version
Beth,Troy
“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37(NLT)
Faith–Houma, LA
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3
Stacey, Omaha, NE
Psalm 37:5 (NIV)
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this
Emily (age 13)
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT)
For we live by believing and not by seeing.
Ally (age 11)
Psalm 105:4 (NIV)
Look to the Lord for his strength seek his face always.
Kim Rushville, OH
The righteous cry out and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18 NIV
N. Ft. Myers, FL
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
II CORINTHIANS 5:21 NKJV
Amy; Milton, WA
“Fear not, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Is. 41:10, ESV
Marsha. Fort Smith
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
John 15:7 NAB
Gina Rosamond, Ca
Galatians 5:22 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness 23 gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.
Melissa, Katy, Texas, Psalm 139:5 NIV You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Psalm 25:20, New King James Version:
“Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my
trust in You.”
Debbi ~ Littleton, CO
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT)
Nicole, Bloomington, IL:
“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.” Psalm 25:8 ESV
Ashley, Petersburg
We have this hope, as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19 NIV
Kristin, Searcy. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Amanda, Trinidad Colorado
Nahum 1:7
God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help.
Nahum 1:7 (msg)
Karlys, La Place, LA
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Proverbs 3:13 to 15 ESV
Margaret. Coeur d’ Alene, ID
If I take the wings of the morning , and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
Ps. 139: 9-10 NKJV
Stephanie Corley
Quitman, Texas
“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 (NIV84)
Rachel G in Katy, TX
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Nancy, St. Petersburg Fl
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Whitney Caves
Clinton, MS
For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV
Ann Gainesville, FL
I Corinthians 15:57 (NASB)
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I decided to do a verse of thanksgiving since I am turning in my doctoral dissertation today!
Shelly, Portland, OR
“Don’t quit in hard times, pray all the harder.”
Romans 12:11 (The MESSAGE Bible)
Tomi, Des Moines. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God–truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT
Andrea from Norman, OK
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Proverbs 31:8, NIV
Lacie | Seattle
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. -1 Cor 16:13-14
Sue~Hartland, MI
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken let us
show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with
reverence and awe.
Hebrews 12:28 (NASB)
Maria Cristina Bruschi
Orlando, Florida
He who forms the mountains,
who creates the wind,
and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the Lord God Almighty is his name.
Amos 4:13, NIV