Hey, my beloved sisters!
Though I won’t publish this post until Tuesday, the first day of October, I am writing to you on Sunday. I have the house all to myself today – not even a dog in sight – and I am sitting on my back porch as a generous rain soaks the ground, polishing the wide leaves of sweet gums on its way down. Our trees this far south are still plump and green and, right this minute, I don’t mind because the leaves have such a sheen on them in the rain that they look like vinyl. The temperatures will drop one slow degree at a time over the next month but we usually don’t have what people call “Autumn” here until as late as November. And it’s almost unrecognizable even then. Suddenly you just look up and the trees don’t have leaves and it hits you that you probably missed Fall on your way to work that morning when you ran into Starbucks for a dry cappuccino.
An Arkansas girl by heritage, I am on the hunt for Red October by mid September but I can’t think of a time since I’ve lived on the Gulf Coast that I’ve ever found it. Well, except when I close my eyes and look. And it is beautiful there. I do love Houston though, despite how season-challenged it is. Good people. Many, many who earnestly love Jesus and crave the sense of His presence and serve Him with both life and heart. Its diversity kicks up a rich climate for faith and a prime place to meet people very different from you who seek Jesus feverishly. It’s not as easy to keep your stereotypes tidy here.
In the early years of speaking, God purposed that I’d accrue copious hours of experience serving at various churches, women’s breakfasts and luncheons right here in our city limits and still get home to greet my children after their school day. I often pulled out of the driveway when they hopped on the school bus and squealed my tires back on the concrete just minutes before they pulled up at 3:15. My kids loved riding the school bus and, as it turns out (I write this with a smile), it was a grace to me. On paper, our lives shouldn’t have worked but somehow it worked (apply the term loosely) in practice. That’s the beautiful oddity of the will of God. What should easily work doesn’t work when He’s not in it and what should never work does work when He is. It’s crazy to think about in retrospect. He has been so faithful, just as He will be to you as you try to balance it all and seek His mercy through the insanity.
I wish I could somehow add the soundtrack of what I’m presently hearing to this post. I wish you could listen to the comfort of the rainfall, especially if you are feeling chaotic or anxious right now or frantic about how something’s going to work out. The water is falling steadily, not a soft shower or a downpour. Constant and consoling, almost like one of those sleep-settings on your iPad. And I wish you could hear 4 male hummingbirds competing over the feeder that is hanging about 8 feet from where I’m sitting. It mesmerizes me to watch them and I think you might like it, too, once you adjusted to the pace out here in these woods.
Sometimes we really do just need everything and everybody else to shut up for a minute and let us listen to the sound of God being God around us. These moments are brief for all of us. Just five days ago I was fit to be tied over something. I do mean fit to be tied and, over the weekend, greatly concerned about a situation even while I served. But I am going to sit here for the next few minutes and pour myself a cup of coffee while God pours these woods a cup of rain.
Well, I guess you can tell that I’m in a musing mood so perhaps I should wrap this post up before I work my way over to subjects like world peace and dark nights of the soul and existential crises and the beauty of aging and the delights of youth. Honestly, I can feel a poem trying to write itself in my head. This post must end with perfect timing before, indeed, my words start rhyming. Run for your life. It’s almost too late.
Here’s my Scripture for this October 1st!
Beth Moore, O God, You cause abundant showers to fall on Your chosen people. When they are tired, You sustain them, for You live among them. Psalm 68:9-10a The NET Bible
Amen, You do, gracious, merciful God.
I love you, Sisters. You are a joy to me. The next post will be registration for our SSMT celebration so we can get an idea how many to prepare for. Wooohoooo! It’s almost time to kick up our heels!
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Betsy, Lincoln Park
“they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:12 NIV
Okie Murray – Edisto Island, SC
Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
Jody from Traverse City, MI
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
~Psalm 91:14 (NIV)
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Paulette P. Mays
Elmer, La
Jessica from Clare, MI
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
~Psalm 91:14 (NIV)
Judy from Gladwin, MI
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
~Psalm 91:14 (NIV)
Emily McAnear, Corona California
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.
Psalm 17:7, New Living Translation
Marsha Fort Smith
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:17 NAB
Rachel, Surprise, AZ
My mom was doing this with me this year, but she entered heaven on Sunday. So this verse is for those of us left behind:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more—or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.” ~Rev 21:4 (NET)
Sweet Sister – Yes, He does wipe every tear and holds you close to His heart. Our love and prayers to you.
Jill E., Export, PA
“The Lord will fight for you; You need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Psalm 115:1 (HCSB)
Not to us, Yahweh, not to us,
but to Your name give glory
because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth.
Margie
Hilton Head Island, SC
Amy 7634, SF Bay Area
“Do not say, ‘I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.'”
Proverbs 24:29 (NIV)
Holbrook, New York
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there in no other; I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9
Heather—Corpus Christi, TX. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a (NKJV)
Anne from Glen Allen, VA
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33 NIV
So as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 NAS
Diana—San Patricio, TX. “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21 (NIV)
Janell~ Frisco, TX He is before all things, and in him all things hold together!! Col 1:17 NIV Amen
Erin Sheldon
Savannah, GA
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NLT)
Romona, Rosewood Heghts, IL
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come Romans 8:38 NKJV
Linda, Longview:
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Joshua 1:7 NIV
Sarah, Montrose, CO:
For I am now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
Kat, Albany, NY
“Praise to the Lord, to our God, our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”
Psalm 68:19 NIV
Judy, Beaumont, California
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11
Diana, North Attleboro, MA
Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be achieved. Proverbs 16:3 HCSB
Tammy/Siloam NC—-Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (NIV)
Julie S. from Menomonee Falls, WI
God ’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. Psalm 34:7 MSG
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be save.
NIV—-Romans:-10:13
Deborah, Hartsville, SC; “Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul!” -Psalms 103:22 NASB
psalms 27:14 The one thing I ask of The Lord the thing I seek most -is to live in the house of The Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfection sand meditating in his Temple.
Conyers, GA
John 14:27 (KJV)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Carla, LaFayette, Al
Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Philippians 2:3 NLT
Freida, Chatham, La “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 103:19
Wendy, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Matthew 11:28 NLV
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Mary, Frisco “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ” James 1:27 (NLT)
Darcy, Pittsburgh
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. – Psalm 46:1 NIV
Chrissy Hilliard, Aurora, IL
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Colossians 4:2
Psalm 45:7 (MSG)
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
La Chiel from Portland, TN
If you remain in me and my words remain in you ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 NET
Kaye from Hamburg, AR
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”. Isaiah 40:31. NIV
Christy from Holland, MI
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:2, NIV
from Stanley, WI
Great is the Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Ps. 147:5 NIV
Linda – Spring, Texas
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O GOD.
Psalm 42:1 ESV
Sarah Whitt, Fort Worth, tx
“God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!”
Exodus 14:14 MSG
Oh Lord, Please help me to put on your full armor so that I may defeat the Devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11
Courtney, Dallas, TX
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
Psalm 63:1-3 ESV
Heather from Mckinney, TX “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (Ephesians 3:17 NLT)
Ali Key – Clearwater, Florida
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:25,26
Tammy,
Lusby, MD
Isaiah 26:4 (NKJV)
Trust in the LORD forever, for in Yah, the LORD, is everlasting strength.