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
Andrea, Pottstown
Philippians 3:13 NLT
No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…
Connor, San Marcos, TX
Luke 12:7 NIV
“Indeed, the hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows.
Laura, League City, 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
Gina, Waynesville, NC
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
Susie from Carmel, IN
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Darcy – Edwardsville, IL
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. -James 3:17
Rebecca, Corpus Christi, TX
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of God.” Galatians 1:10
“Fear of man will prove
to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord
is kept safe.”
Proverbs 29:25 NIV
Linda, Fort Collins, CO
Annette, Stouffville ON Canada
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil. 4:8 NKJV
Theresa
Plainfield, IN
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)
Sherri, Marietta, GA: “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NIV
Becca, Camp Pendleton, CA.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” ~ Galatians 5:13 NIV
Vanessa from Calgary, Canada
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Janene from Sibley, LA
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 56:3. KJV
Brenda Kelley, Taylors, SC
“Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened for you.” Matthew 7:7 NLT
Natalie, Houston
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7 ESV
Jodell, Frankfort, “…we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” 1 John 3:20b NIV
Michele from Cumming GA
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. (Psalm 48:14 NIV)
Kimberly – Carlsbad, CA
“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
Karen, Florence KY
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Ps 119:105 NKJV
Candy from St Louis, MO
Hebrews 10:36 NIV
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
Mary Soisson, Barboursville, VA
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23, NIV
Burlington, VT
The fear of human opinion disables;
trusting in God protects you from that.
Proverbs 29:25 MSB
Deborah from Calgary Canada – Isaiah 30:15
New International Version (NIV)
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
Jeannie – Charlotte, NC
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
What us SSMT celebration ? What have I missed?
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and HE delivers them. Psalm 34:7
Sabrina from Morristown, Tennessee
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” Ephesians 3:20 KJV
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Sam 16:7
Tara from Bolingbrook,IL
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Ephesians 4:2, NLT
Betsy from Westerville, Ohio
Psalm 116: 1-2. NIV
I love The Lord, for He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Ex 31:1-5
Tessa from Nacogdoches TX
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Hannah from Bolingbrook,IL
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
Numbers 6:25, ESV
Jamye L., Greenbrier, AR
169 Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.
171 Let my lips utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
Psalm 119: 169-172 NASB
Nell, Gallatin
Romans 15:13 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ashley from Bean Station, Tn: You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NASB
Cherry B., Conway, AR
Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.
Psalm 25: 20, 21, NIV
Leah, Houston TX
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1 NIV84
Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. NIV
Andrea, Dublin, OH
Debra in Mobile, AL
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61:3-4. NIV84
Kristi from Lee’s Summit, MO
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Teresa, Orange City. For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3 NET
Cheryl Primeaux, Pensacola, FL
James 1:19 NIV
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Philippians 3:20 NIV
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tammy
Ingleside, TX
Sharron, Spring, TX
For He understands how weak we are; He knows we are only dust.
Psalm 103:14 NLT
Dawn, Clinton 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, NET
“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
Psalm 73:26
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 NIV
Rebecca Stewart
Julian, NC
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”
Psalm 95:6-7 NIV
Vicki- Lubbock, TX
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deut.6:6-7