Hi Girls! It’s a rainy Monday here in Houston and I can’t decide if the wicked headache I’m trying to cure is from the rain, tiredness or just the fact that it’s Monday, but either way, I’m really loving it. We need the rain! Also around these parts is the first day of school! I realize some of you have been in school for a couple weeks now, but our school calendar is set to start a bit later these days. I can’t believe summer vacation is officially over. (Not that I had one, but I like to live vicariously through those that do since I planned on being a school teacher growing up, and actually was an education major in college. True story.)
Anyway, David Lowe, our photographer for the Bossier City LPL (he and Rich swap out turns when necessary) sent the recap our way today just in time for me to share it with you! It was so fun meeting some of you face to face. What a powerful, anointed weekend. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around so much. My journal will most likely be my best friend this week.
To shake things up a bit for our recap post, I thought it would be neat to testify. If you were at the event this weekend, this exercise will be really familiar to you, but if not, we welcome you to participate!
The last session, Beth had each of us write at the top of a blank page, “If the Lord had not been on my side…”
One of our greatest tools in being a witness is telling others what the Lord has done for us. What He brought us out of. What pit He pulled us from. To share what only He could have redeemed and made beautiful. We got to hear a few participants share at the conference, but if you feel led, by all means, make the comments a place to share yours! I’m so glad I was at the conference to witness this personally. God showed up, didn’t he?
I’ll start by sharing mine, because we need to know that we’re not alone. Amen?
“If the Lord had not been on my side, I’d be a prideful, judgmental “elder brother” that seeks only the approval of men, pretends perfection and would be wasting away in secret sin. But oh, how He loves and redeems. Praise God.”
Y’all don’t leave me hanging now! Deal? Only joking. But I have no doubt today is a good day to testify to God’s goodness and redemption.
“If the Lord had not been on my side…”
We love y’all so much.
Living Proof Live | Bossier City from LifeWay Women on Vimeo.
Oh sister, to not leave you hanging… If the Lord had not been on my side: I know I would have ended my life and marriage through many phases of self-destructive behavior. He is my Rescuer. My security and my dignity!
He is amazing isn’t He???
What an incredible weekend in Bossier and what a powerful Word in worship with Travis and in Beth’s messages! I left there with way more than just one Word. And I needed it so desperately!
If The Lord had not been on my side I would be lost and undone and could not be continuing to walk alongside my precious sister in her journey with an uncurable cancer. He has been my refuge and my strength these past 13 months. When I think I can’t make it another day He ministers to my spirit and I take that next step with Him walking beside me. He has become my everything.
What a weekend! On Saturday morning our whole group was wishing that we could get away for an intense time in the word every weekend. But by the time we left, we knew our emotions could not bear it. I too have a lot to process.
If the Lord had not been on my side…I would never have turned away from the pit of my youth. I never could have dreamed of the family & marriage that I now have. I would have succumbed to the labels whispered in my ears by the enemy. I would still be in the pit of my victimization and immorality. But for the grace of God who gave me a new name and cleansed me of my sin.
If the Lord had not been on my side: I would still be in a earthly hell of an eating disorder—Anorexia and Bulimia (12 years). I called out for Him to help me, expecting Him to show up—and He did. I am “Living Proof” of His instantaneous supernatural touch. I don’t even smell like smoke, either” (from the Daniel study!). The more I seek Him, the more I KNOW Him—and the more I KNOW Him, the more I LOVE Him. The closer I get to Him, the more He keeps changing me! Jesus changes everything! PRAISE YAH!
P.S. Last thoughts from the Bossier City weekend——–We were created to FLY! Shalom
If the Lord had not been on my side…
… I would have married the wrong man.
… I would have never survived the process of taking children into my home and then having them leave my home, time after time.
… I would be chained to a whole lot of sins.
… I would be alone, literally and figuratively.
… I would be without hope about current seas I’m trying to wade through.
Hi Lindsee! Great idea! Sounds like this conference was a special one!
If the Lord had not been on my side:
I would have walked out on a loveless marriage.
I would have been raped…CHRIST literally stopped it when I cried out to HIM.
I would have never been able to push past the fear that resulted from above.
I never would have taught Kindergarten and found out how much fun it was.
I never would have learned how to forgive and keep trying.
I would never know what true love really looks like!
Was brought to tears at the end hearing of those that were saved-hearing the women clap and cheer and Beths voice. Thank you for that part-made me feel like I was right there with real goosebumps and all sitting here at my comput. Looking so fwd to Sept 14- “…I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation…”Ps 5:3- one my of my memory verses I am praying for Sept 14 so I have to go to see what He will do.
p.s. If the Lord had not been on my side, I might not have stayed in my marriage.
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would not have been able to get through the passing or following years of my dear godly parents both to cancer and now in heaven in glorified bodies glorifying our dear Saviour.
If the Lord had not been on my side i would be miserable and living without hope each day. There were days and weeks that I literally could not have gotten up out of bed without the strength that God provided. He has never left my side and every single time I’ve (literally) cried out to Him – He’s been there. I am so very blessed that even through all of the trials – He is with me and guiding me.
Had The Lord not been on my side I would still be racked with anxiety and wallowing in all kinds of sin. He surely has rescued me. The more I get to know Him the more I love Him and can’t get enough of Him.
Had The Lord not been by my side I would have surcumed to my destructive, self gratifying behavior. I would live in constant fear. God is so good to me and has brought be out of the pit and put a new song in my mouth! I love him so much, I want to know him more and more!
If the Lord had not been on my side I would still be sitting a sinful pit desperately seeking approval from men and taking my value from that, & my marriage would have ended right after it started. Praise God he rescued me from the pit of darkness and depression I was dwelling in. Had it not been for his grace and mercy I would not be able to serve in ministry alongside my hubby today:)
I will never forget the day I read and meditated on that Psalm, thinking about how hard my life had been at the end of 2006, but if the Lord had not been on my side, it would have been worse. I thought about the verses that spoke of being in a flood, but surviving. The very next day, I was caught in a flash flood in my minivan! It was very scary, but I prayed out loud and God rescued me. The next morning I looked back at that Psalm and realized how very much worse it could have been. This year my husband left me after 27 years, but I knew the Lord was on my side, and He has helped me through so much. And I know He will do so many things in the future because He is my Helper! We can all praise Him for the ways He has rescued us from far worse situations than we can imagine!
I am still speechless when I try to say what this weekend meant to me. I needed it so much.
If the Lord had not been on my side….
-I would have destroyed my life
-I would have destroyed my family
-I would have given up
-I would have missed out on hundreds of kids in my life
-Many lives would have been different
So thankful for Beth Moore and Living Proof. (Travis Cottrell….you are amazing!!)
What an incredible God we have. If the Lord had not been on my side, I would have allowed myself to be live a life of self-destruction. With that He taught me how to love myself. The simplest but most powerful words, He saved me. Can’t wait to meet y’all in Tulsa and excited to see the great blessings that will tag along. God is so good, all the time!
Unless the LORD had been on my side I would be dead. Plain and simple. He spared me more than once!!!!!!! (Seriously no exaggeration.) I did not die but lived to tell, and to keep telling, what He has done…HE SAVED ME, REDEEMED ME, is restoring me, gave and gives me HOPE IN HIS MERCY DAILY, Delivered me…. spared my marriage, sustained our family, brought me true LIFE IN CHRIST…is using the ugliest parts of my life for HIS GLORY…turning my scared secrets into SACRED SECRETS that tell HIS STORY OF GLORY!!! The Grace of the CROSS and HIS REDEMPTION B/C of the NEW COVENANT of CHRIST JESUS! During some of my worst moments, near death, I listened to this song (part of lyrics, below) over and over and over…..by earphones and clung to the belief that THE LORD would bring me through to testify of HIS GOODNESS AND MERCY AND GRACE!!!! So I start…
Hillsong – Angel Of The Lord Lyrics
The Lord’s my Shepherd, I have everything I need
Mercy and love follow me
Though I walk through the dark valley of death, I will
Not be afraid for He’s here (WHY He would want to be with me still staggers my mind, but He does and is!)
The Lord’s my refuge, no evil can come near me
Dwelling in His secret place
I put my trust in Him, He is my shield, I will
Let His peace rule in my heart
Surely, the Angel of the Lord is around me
I have no cause to fear, my God will not forsake me
I am His child, now no enemy can touch me
I will not die but live to tell what He has done
He has ransomed me, He gave me all authority
Power, love and a sound mind
Strong in the Lord and the power of His might, I will
Put on His amour and stand…..
PRAISE YOU LORD!!!! THANK YOU JESUS! I LOVE AND ADORE HIM!
Was so sad that I had to hurry home to get the kids and didn’t get to meet in Section 124 with the Siestas! Had such a wonderful time.
If the Lord had not been on my side:
I like, Lindsee and the guy from the band, would be steeped in self-righteousness, not the prodigal but the elder brother/sister.
I would have given up and given in on His greatest gift to me.
I would have never realized the depths of His love for me, the true & never ending love that knows no bounds and covers all my shame.
I would continue to be dominated by others opinions of me instead of being free in Christ Jesus to live only for Him and Him alone.
And I could go on and on for He is everything and the reason for all I am.
LPL must come to Bossier City every year! 🙂
If The Lord had not been on my side…I never would have survived my depression. I was so far down and hating myself and my life, but He sought me. He lifted me back up and showed me the light. Praise God!
Thanks, Lindsee! I was SO MOVED by the testimonies of the women who spoke, but I actually related the most to the “elder brother” guitar player who shared (I missed his name!)
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would be a “good girl” – an overachiever addicted to the praise of people and impossibly full of myself. Ugh.
But, God…
But, grace…
He becomes greater and greater; I become less and less. (John 3:30)
Thank you for turning my heart upward and outward. Please Lord, finish your work in me.
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would have died in my bitterness and hatred, broken and alone, believing all of the lies I had been told.
If The Lord had not been on my side I would have been an alcoholic. I would not have received an education, would not be a Sunday School teacher, a Bible study leader, I would not have a hope or a future. If He hadnot been on my side, i would never have the awesome friends that I have. Praise His name!
If The Lord had not been on my side…
I would be hopeless and fearful
I would have married someone who didn’t love me as Christ loves the church
I would be a mean-spirited, critical, judgmental, bitter woman
I would never know True Love (His Love)
Thank You LORD!
What a mighty weekend it was. Emotionally spent from such a hard Word. The Lord knew what I needed to hear. He’s still dealing with me. One day I will have the courage to rewrite this testimony. The Lord should be weary from carrying me. But
Had the Lord not been on my side I would not have survived 11 years ago from breast cancer. I watched a lump grow while caring for sick and dying parents. He saved me from my own neglect. He used many to minister to me. He allowed me to live and even grow our family. He had plans for me and I am go grateful.
I so love all the recaps!
If the Lord had not been by my side…
I’d still be that angry, bitter, hateful, defensive, lonely, terrified child only grown living a selfish, destructive and shameful life.
His timing was perfect… I’m so thankful for His saving grace… His healing grace
If The Lord had not been on my side my marriage would have died, my husband would have been lost to sexual addiction, I would have never trusted again.
If the Lord had not been on my side, I’d be:
* divorced
* remarried
* sick from refusing to forgive
* very alone
If The Lord had not been on my side I would not have been delivered from 2 years of drug addiction 11 years ago. My marriage would have ended.
If The Lord had not been on my side when my precious husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age if 47 I would have been hopeless and unable to have received the blessings that we received through the three year battle. And I KNOW I could not have felt the overwhelming love and peace that passes all understanding when my husband, Ken received his ultimate healing nine months ago. The Lord has held me up and is carrying me through the valley of death. It is the only by the healing blood of Christ that I have hope for tomorrow and assurance that I will see my husband again!!!
This weekend was amazing and I am so very blessed to have been there❤
lindsee, i loved meeting you saturday! such a sweet time w/ 3 young moms (one of whom showed up at 3:26 on the video ~ s/o to nancy!) God really spoke to us ~ maybe b/c we knew we were there by His hand & were listening. 🙂 it took ALL my self-discipline to pace myself going back over my notes this morning so i could really GET what God had said to me. so grateful that He’s patient enough to stick it out with me. so your prompt…
~If the Lord had not been on my side, I’d be the biggest mess. I’d be full of myself & would be reaping the consequences of my own stupid choices. I would be lost in every. sense. of. the. word.
BUT GOD.
we’re really excited to host the simulcast at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia AR in a few weeks!
If the Lord had not been on my side: I would never have known unconditional love, I would still be in the bondage that was passed down to me by my parents. I would be following their footsteps. Trapped in a life of Unforgiveness, bitterness, shame & guilt. I would be a slave to drugs & alcohol. I would never have known the love of a Faithful man & loving children. I would not be a witness to a changed life, He redeemed me and satisfied my thirst! I was thirsty Jesus gave me living water!
If The Lord had not been by my side…. I would have never survived the suicide of my 17 year old son, Lee Michael. I would have never met a friend named Esther who introduced Beth Moore bible studies to me just months before my storm hit…thru which I was equipped with the tools I needed to survive my storm…obedience unlocks the power of God…every time!! The study “Believing God” got me thru…taught me to see beyond my circumstance…to Believe God is who He says He is…when it is so hard to do so! I would not be where I am today…nor would I have been able to guide my family thru the hurricane…we have survived…and He has turned our mourning into joy as only He can do!! Blessed be the Name of The Lord! I have a Hope that endures…the hardest days of my life…but He lifted Me and set my feet on solid ground! I am forever grateful…
From the first word Beth spoke, I knew why we, the members of the LPL Bossier leadership team had experienced intense spiritual warfare as we prayed and prepared. Beth taught how to make the great escape from the Accuser. Satan does not know women how to escape! What a blessing it was to see an arena full of women leaving free as a bird!
I’ve been to dozens of LPLs and never experienced anything like this one! God worked in BIG ways! Tonight, 21 women gathered to debrief what we all learned, we laughed, shed tears, and were amazed at how God had worked!
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would still be living life as a victim, frightened of a world I did not understand, and afraid to speak to anyone.
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would not have had the courage to step out in faith and follow God’s will for my life. I would not be a minister, a seminary graduate, and a servant of the Most High God. I would not have had the humble privilege and responsibility to lead the LPL Bossier.
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would have crumbled under the stresses of life including infertility issues, the death of my Mother, and the challenges of a dysfunctional family.
If the Lord had not been on my side, I’d never known the joys of being a wife, a mother, and grandmother.
I am blessed!
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would have been caught up in the bad influences of other people and would have ruined my life with bad decisions. But God…
Wonderful weekend Praising God in song with Travis Cottrell and listening to Beth’s teaching. Let’s remember to pray for those 23 who received Jesus on Sat!!!!!
If the Lord was not on my side I will still be Muslim, an alcoholic & wallowing in sin. I thank Him for amazing grace!
If The Lord had not been on my side, we would not have our precious 23 year old son that is so successful and our pride and joy. We were going to abort him being so young and unmarried. We celebrated our 23rd anniversary December 16, 2012, and he celebrated his 23rd birthday June 25, 2013. PRAISING THE LORD EVERYDAY FOR HIM!!!
What a great time we had in Bossier! The power of that Holy Spirit fell on us. Thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ. If Jesus had not been on my side I would be trapped in a pit of sin. I would not have the marriage that I have; the Christian friends; or the promise of heaven. Christ is my savior and friend.
If the Lord had not been on my side: I would be lost in addiction, resentment, entitlement, and selfishness. I would be dwelling in self-pity, loathing myself, believing lies. I would not be standing on the firm foundation of His Word. I would not be present for my teenage daughter, to hold her hand as she walks the path God has laid out for her. I would not be redeemed…that is my definition of hell, a complete absence of God in my every moment. Oh how I praise You LORD, Your blessings and patience with me humbles me!!
If God hadn’t been on my side… I would be living in a lifestyle that would have been to my destruction and lost to my family. God has been so good to me, I couldn’t imagine where I would be today without Him!
If The Lord had not been on my side-
I would have grown up an alcoholic like my father…
I would have run to drugs that were all around me…
I would have ended my life in my pit of deep depression instead of attending a Beth Moore event in April 1998 (Clearwater, FL) where The Lord totally healed my depression…
I would have missed an incredible lifetime of joy and believed all the lies the enemy was telling me about life having no hope and no future…
I would have missed the power of God in action to pull down strongholds in my life that I thought were fully concreted in me…
The exhaustive list would be too long to record!!
Blessings, Susan
Oh what a weekend! I’ve had a headache too. I decided it was a “hangover!” LOL You know she said we would “sober up.” (No, not alcohol–a different kind of sobering up.) But I think I started crying Sat. morning during the testimonies and didn’t stop crying until some time that afternoon! 🙂 Lots and lots to process. What a Word!!! I would love love love to have a copy of the commissioning from Saturday because about half way through it, God hit me with a ton of bricks–the realization of the wells I’ve abandoned–and the tears flowed and I can’t remember any of the rest of it.
I know my pits–depression, anxiety, and a critical spirit. If the Lord had not been on my side, I would be mired in those pits! He has chosen me, adopted me, forgiven me, redeemed me, CALLED me! Because of Him, I can lift my head, cast out anxiety and fear, and move on in the ministry to which I’m called.
I have wells full of dirt at the moment, but I’m reaching for my shovel and I’m going to stomp on it 🙂
“If The Lord had not been on my side…I would wallow in self pity everyday, making excuse for why life is just too hard to keep moving forward…” Praise God He came to me, and set me free through His forgiveness and redemption!
Lindsee, it was so sweet to cya real quick at LPL this past weekend!
If it had not been the Lord who was on my side (42 years today) I dont know where, who, what would be today with me.
bc i accepted Jesus Christ as a skinny 18 year old, goody two shoes, in my bedroom, I got down on my knees and said i give you all of me to you Jeesus bc i just had heard the clear, passionate gospel of the Word of God,(Beth did that in Bossier City, La last weekend) which is
quick, powerful, sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing assunder and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart(my miserable dirty heart) (KJV)Hebrews 4:12
Shreveport, La changed me 40 years ago when my Uncle Burton Hardey died. He was a self made millionaire in oil trade who gave me $1.00 for every A i got from kindg to fifth grade so I made a lot of A’s to get that reward.
Shreveport, La was where Elvis was first discovered as a singer before TV.
Shreveport was named after Captain Shreve, who built that cool town from a little port to what it is today.
thanks for the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Love the opportunity to testify!! I was not there. Wish I could have been. Looking forward to taking time to read the testimonies later. Please do this again after Springfield in October!!!!
“If the Lord had not been on my side, I would be so full of myself, prideful, and lost. So thankful he saved me from myself.”
On another note, my 17 year old daughter Savannah attended with me this weekend. She has a huge crush on Travis and cannot believe he could be “almost your age Momma” . In a teen culture that idolizes the Miley Cyrus’ and Lindsey Lohan’s of the world, she has told me several times, “that she wants to be like Beth Moore when she grows up.” If the Lord had not been on my side I would not have the pleasure of parenting someone with more sense at 17 than her Momma had at 25! Redemption. He is better to us than we deserve.
Powerful weekend. Thank you for serving us LPL!
If the Lord had not been on my side…I wouldn’t have met my awesome Christian husband! I would still be headed down a path of sin filled with boys and booze. I wouldn’t have been saved and baptized within a year of meeting my husband and I wouldn’t be a part of an awesome praise team and prayer warrior’s of our church. If the Lord had not been on my side I would not be the women I am today!!! Can’t wait for the Simulcast on the 14th!!
This weekend was amazing, and just what we needed. I got my Word!
If the Lord had not been on my side I would forever be stuck in bitterness over hurts and heartbreaks from my past. I would be hopeless and in despair. Praise God He is so much better than He has to be!
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would of never overcome the people-pleasing symptom that had me trapped in its grip. It was squeezing the life out of me, but the Lord came and rescued me! Hallelujah!
If The Lord had not been on my side…..I would still be in a rut. I would not have survived breast cancer last year and I would not have known His healing power. I would not of known God’s great plan for me. I was called into the ministry through my journey with cancer. Without God I would not have gone where he was leading me to go! I thank him for changing my life! To God be the glorify!
Had the Lord not been by my side…I fear I would have self distructed in the sinful lifestyle I was living. God delivered me from a life of drugs, drinking and sexual immorality.
…I would not have fell in love with and married the man God created for me. I prayed for my soul mate and the Lord blessed me with him.
…I would have fell back into my sinful nature time and time again if the Lord wasn’t there to “reel me” back into his Love and Grace. Thank you Jesus!
If the Lord had not been on my side, I would have been another statistic who was doomed to failure because of circumstances, but THANK GOD I am redeemed!