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
Brianna from Huntsville,AL
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 (KJV)
Rita Cottonwood, AZ
Psalm 117:1-2
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
Jennifer, Sisters, OR
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 NET
Rebecca Alburn
Salem, OR
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 NIV
Kim from Bloomington, IL
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Matthew 5:11 NLT
Erin in Euless, TX
Lamentations 3:28 (MSG)
“When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself.
Enter the silence.”
Kay
Plainview, Texas
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Cor. 1:20 NIV
Amanda, Van Buren, AR
The Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you will see whether My word will come true for you or not.” Numbers 11:23 NASB
Sally, Columbus, OH
” Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord,”He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:1-2 NIV
Cari, Alexandria, La
Psalm 18: 16, 19
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
Vickie Henderson
Russellville Ar
NIV
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen
Rhonda
Gilmer
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. (Philemon 1:20 NKJV)
Galatians 6:4-5 NLT
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
Eva, Knoxville – (cont.) My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to l
listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 (NIV)
Chris, Seattle, WA
Psalm 91:1 NIV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me. Rev. 3:20 ESV
Vanessa from Victoria, TX
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will we away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17 NIV
Melina
OKC,OK
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
—Psalm 143:8 NKJV
Michele Powell, Nampa, ID
Psalm 103:3 (NIV)
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Mitzi from Midland:
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 (NET)
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:5-6 NIV
“But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”
Psalm 3:3 NIV
Pam in San Diego
Barbara, Birmingham,Al
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of
lords and King of kings-and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.
Revelation 17:14. NIV
Teresa, Chadron, NE. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34 NIV)
Lindsey, Nashville, TN But the Lord is faithful and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)
NKJV Prov. 31:11 “The heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain”.
Julie Berg/Deer Park/But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Titus 1:15-16 NLT
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Such people claim to know God but deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
Loris, SC
Kathleen. Saint Joseph MI
They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you.
Jeremiah 1:19
HCSB
Kim,
New Port Richey, Fl
Proverbs 3:32
…”For the devious person is an abomination to The Lord, but the upright are in His confidence.”
Pamela from Round Rock
This is my command-be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
~ Joshua 1:9, NLT
Paige, Flowood, MS
Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” John 11:40 (NLT)
“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NAB
Collierville TN
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever. Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Dorinda, O’Fallon, MO. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. (James 1:2 NLT)
Romans 12:12 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.
Michelle, Carver, MA
“In a loud voice they sang: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:12 (NIV)
Heather G.
Fredericksburg, VA
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
Beth, Dyersburg,TN
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
It rained here today, so aim taking your scripture…another Arkie named Beth!
Molly, San Antonio
Revelation 4:11 “Worthy art Thou-Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created.” NAS
Sally Reed Bellaire Texas
3 John 1:4 NIV
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Sharon Allen, Redmond,Wa
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.it is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26 ESV
Shelley, Birmingham, AL–For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 ESV)
Leanne from Eden Prairie, MN
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. (Jeremiah 17:7 NLT)
Eph. 4:2 NIV “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”Klein up
Susan, Houston – 1 Cor. 15:57, 58, ESV – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Psalm 56:8 MSG
You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through sleepless nights,
Each tear is entered into your ledger,
Each ache written into your book.
Cheryl,Midlothian Va
and the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:7 NIV
Connie, Pickerington, OH “Therefore, I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Crystal Ogden – Tenaha, TX
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 NIV