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
Kandi from Tallahassee, Florida
“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” Isaiah 42:8 NIV
Erika from McKinney, “Give thanks to The Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. ” Psalm 136:1 NIV
Tiffany, Chester:
But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded… Romans 5:20, AMP
Courtney, Chicora, Pa. 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.
Michelle Virnelson Parma, Ohio
James 4:1 Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you? NET Bible
Ashley, Kingwood, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Galatians 5:16 NIV
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Prov 31:25
Kira, Ray, MI
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
Meredith, Blacksburg, VA
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
Isaiah 43:10 ESV
Laura, Englewood CO. If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Psalm 139:19-20
The man who visits her is doomed.
He will never reach the paths of life. Proverbs 2:19 NLT
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:4 NIV
Jane, Houston, Texas
“Each of you should give what you have decided to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
Sue, Houston, 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy to hear
that my children are walking in truth. NKJ
Megan, from Salisbury, MD
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:10 NLT
Nancy from West Grove, Pa.
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:14 NIV
Jill P., Ames, IA
Deut. 33:26 (NLT)
“There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.”
Kim from Dimmitt, Texas
Psalm 46:1 NIV
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
Ashley, Fort Worth, tx
Create in me a pure heart o God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
Judy Heindl – Cottageville, WV
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psm 37:5 KJV
Linda G. from Richmond, Va
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Pam in Texas
Trust the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:4. (ESV)
Sara, Sioux City
If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O LORD who could stand?
Psalm 130:3 NKVV
Lisa, Garland,TX. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” Psalm 91:14 NIV
Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth. 1 John 3:18
Rebecca, Springfield, Ohio
“When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple,”~Jonah 2:7 NKJV
Kelley Mansfield, Sharpsburg, GA
Psalm 27:14 NIV
Wait for the Lord,
Be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Allison from Chicago il
Jude 1:20-23 The Message
But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
Molly, Gainesville, GA
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”
Ephesians 1:7 NASB
Psalm 16:8 NIV I have set the Lord ever before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
It was so awesome to meet Beth in Tulsa! God is at my right hand…with my tambourine! (In a manner of speaking)
Living Proof Live was such a blessing.
Connie Capps
Pine Level, NC
Oh God You cause abundant showers to fall on Your chosen
people. When they are tired, You sustain them, for You live among them. Psalms 68:9-10 NET
Ashley Sullens
Kings Mountain, NC
Isaiah 30:18 (NASB)
Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How Blessed are all those who long for Him.
Lisa Walden from Grand Prairie Tx
Psalm 63:3 NIV
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Sorry I’m late!
Kristin, Panama City, FL
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
(1John 5:3-5 NIV)
Shannon, Houston, TX
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
Cindy, Biloxi, MS
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us.
Ephesians 3:20
Melissa, St. Mary’s County, MD, “Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.” Psalms 68:9 KJV
Connie, Chariton, James 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, NKJV
Vicki, Smithwick/Marble Falls, TX
So the Lord replied “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry tree, be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea, and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6 (NET)
Ruth Cherry, Royse City, Texas
“Delight in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalms 37:4 NIV
Shelly Wilson, Fort Worth, TX
Colossians 1:17 (NIV) – He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12
Midland, TX
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19 (NIV)
“As for God, His way is perfect,
the word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him!”
Psm 18:30 NKJ
Sandy, NM
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Ps 19:1 NIV
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
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Traci
Knoxville, TN
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJ
Roni Long – Demopolis, AL -“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Sarah, Bracknell, UK
“For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.”
Psalm 107:9 NAS