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
Linda, Little Rock, AR. You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God. Ps 68:9-10 NASB
Angie Call. Belleville, IL.
Romans 8:39 MSG “high or low, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”
Ronda, Murfreesboro, TN
” Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Kerry, St. Louis, MO
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 37:23
NIV
Kathleen D.
Bernardsville NJ
Proverbs 11:25 NLT
“The generous prosper and are satisfied;
Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed”.
Tiffany “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” Matthew 5:7 NIV
Linda Ney from Gahanna, Ohio
From Psalm 139
If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me
you bloodthirsty men!
verse 19 NIV
Melanie, Pensacola, FL
Teach me to do your will for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead
Me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10 (NIV)
Doing Gideon study now and the comment here about what should never work does work with God in it is so relative to the study about in our weakness God makes us strong! When God is giving you the same message through different ways. He is really wanting you to “Get It”
Lezli. Oklahoma City, OK
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
Jan, Marion IA
1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” NASB
Kiersten Griffith: 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)
I’m stealing your verse Beth as it fits quite appropriately to my situation. Thanks for your faithfulness to God. You are an inspiration to me!
Continuing with Daniel 2:20-23 (Guess what study I’m doing right now 😉
20 Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
Kathy, Shattuck, OK
Psalm 139:18 (NIV) Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand, When I awake, I am still with you.
Elizabeth, Frisco, TX. Micah 6:8 NIV
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Jean, Platte City, MO
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Dawn, Colleyville, 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
Marie Franse, Albuquerque, NM: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Letha. Mountain Home, Arkansas. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 NLT
Let the words of Christ live in your hearts and make you wise.
Colossians 3:16 NLT
Suzy, Wheelersburg, OH -He gives strength to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29 KJ
Carrie – Cary, NC
“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” Psalm 138:8 HCSB
Maureen, St. Clair Shores, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)
Alyse Woodstock, GA
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12 NIV
Nancy, St. Petersburg Fl
God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s he makes me tread on my high places.
Habakkuk 3;19 ESV
Kari from Amery, WI
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.
John 14:27 NIV
Tracy from Kentucky
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
Terry in Louisa, VA
Psalm 103:19 NIV
“The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”
Jenni from Birmimgham, AL
“The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.” Psalm 67:6 (NIV)
Christy, Jonesboro, AR
Isaiah 6:8 NIV
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
Amber Comeaux
Katy tx
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6 NLT)
“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
Kim from Mansfield Psalm 23:1-3 NLT The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Andrea, Louisville, Ky
“I love you, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1
Kathy, Austin, Ps. 68:9-10a NET
O God, YOU cause abundant shower to fall on my loved ones and me. When we are tired, YOU sustain us for YOU live among us. Amen
Judy says: “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.” James 4:11 NLT
“Our God is in heaven;He does whatever pleases Him.”
Psalm 115:3 (NIV)
Andrea from Brush Creek, TN: Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” John 6:27, NASB
Nikki from McGregor, Texas. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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 40:28-31, NIV.
Kim, Colonial Heights, VA
“Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:6, NLT
I tell you what! These posts get me through some rough times! I have been struggling lately with my personal relationship with God and the ability to give it all to Him and NOT to pick it back up. This past Sunday at service I prayed for healing of the mind, soul, heart, spiritual heart and body. I have hit my rock bottom I feel, and I cried out to God for his help and it’s posts like these that remind me He is ALWAYS there! Even when I don’t realize it, Thank you so much!
Amen, Lindsey. Keep focusing vertically in the midst of the horizontal challenges! We are all on the path homeward. Keep fighting the good and beautiful fight with His strength and power!!
Jane, Bakersfield, CA
To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.
Proverbs 18:13 NIV
Suzanne, Birmingiham: “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)
Pam
Kountze
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4 NKJV
Carol, Mason City, IA (recently moved back!)
Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. NIV
Laura, Clay Center, KS
Proverbs 31:26 (ESV)
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Mia from Burlington VT
“He sent His word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destructions.”
Psalm 107:20 NKJV
Micki, Prairie Village,KS
Give thanks to The Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1. NIV
Melody, Jefferson, Ga.
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
Kelly, Glenwood, MD– “THerefore, I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what the will of God is , that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2. NASV