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
Kelei Liggett. Iowa Park. Psalm 37:8 NIV
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath ;do not fret — it leads only to evil.
Kelly Wiggins
Fowler, CA
Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”
And the LORD said, “I will wait until you return.”
Judges 6:18 (NIV)
Jeannie, Nashville, Tn.
“This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: That he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, & righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.” Lam. 9:23-24. NIV
Cathy Reineke
Orofino, ID
The Sovereign LORD is my strength, HE makes my feet like the feet of a deer, HE enables me to go on the heights.
Hab. 3:19 NIV
Kristi, from Rowlett, TX
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
Stacy Carmel, IN And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17 ESV
Meagan, Bedford, TX
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV
Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” HCSB
Joy – Georgetown, TX – I Corinthians 16:14 “Do everything in Love.” NIV
W.Richland
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
3 John 2 NIV
Misti, Brookshire, TX
Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 NIV
Gail Tyler,TX
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I John 2:15 NKJV
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]?
James 2:20 NIV
Belinda from Blacklick, OH
Romans 6:14, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace”. (ESV)
You gave abundant showers O God, You refreshed Your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from Your bounty O God, You provided for the poor.
Psalm 68 V9,10
Denise, Davis, IL., “Give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord”?- Proverbs 30:8-9 (NLT)
Ange & Bitsy Girl, Idaho. God is our help Psalm 46:1 (paraphrased) NLT
Kristin, Archbold, OH
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
Tina, Cincinnati Ohio – Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)
Lynda, Monterey:
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.”
Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)
Brenda, Collinston, La.
“Because you trusted Me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken.” Jeremiah 39:18 NLT
Ann, Lexington, Tn. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
Mindy B, Gloster, LA –
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 17 But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
Genesis 28:16-17 NLT
Alice, Chesapeake Va.
Phil. 4:19 NIV
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches
of his glory in Christ Jesus.
emi, white house: “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2 ESV
Rachel, Frankfort, IL
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Monica, Abbotsford, BC Canada
Psalm 56:3 NIV
When I am afraid, I put my trust in YOU!
Valerie, Clinton, Me
Deuteronomy 6:23 (ESV)
“And He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in and give us the land that He swore to give to our fathers.”
Melissa J – Houston, TX
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Jeri, Draper UT
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Psalm 46:5 NIV
Beth, Fountain Inn, Eph 1:10 ESV
…as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Nashville, TN
She is clothed with strength and dignity,and she laughs without fear of the future.
Proverbs 31:25 NLT
Toni, Greer, SC “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 NIV
Dina Garcia, Anaheim, CA
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8: 28 NIV
Linda, Johnstown, Pa.
Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Cathy, Russellville, AR
The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but the one who searches for evil—it will come to him.
Proverbs 11:27 NET
Marsha from Jefferson, ME
“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 68:9-10 The NET Bible
Brenda C. Lee’s Summit, MO “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV84
Romans 8:6 (NIV) The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Bette Danville,PA
One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.
Psalm 145:4
Cory Anna, Atlanta
“Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.”
-Hebrews 6:11 (NLT)
Pushkala, Louisville, KY – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Titus 2:11 NIV
Lisa Brouwer from Sioux Falls, SD
Everything is possible for one who believes. ~Mark 9:23 (NIV)
Psalm 63:7
Because you are my help, I will sing in the shadow of your wings. NIV
Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.
Psalm 103:5 NIV
Lori Behrens
Granbury, Texas
Isaiah 61:3 (NASB)
To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Susan Bymaster, Ames, OK.
Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Psa. 34:10
HCSB
Cyndi, Lexington KY
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Kristi, Austin
Proverbs 14:30 NIV
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
jeremiah 14:11 niv
the the LORD said to me, “do not pray for the well-being of this people…”
wow! I guess there are times when we should pray for repentance instead of “well-being” (blessings) over certain peoples….Lord, give us the discernment we need.