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
Mary Ellen in Laurel, MT.
“Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.”
Ps. 65:8 NIV
Catherine ~ Grants Pass, Oregon
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8 (NIV)
Daniel 2:20-23 NIV
…Blessed be the Name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; He removes and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and you have made known to me what we asked of you, for You have made known to us the king’s matter.
“When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,”
Acts 11:23(ESV)
Monica, Hicksville, NY.
“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Romans 12:19 NAS
Linda, Delray Beach, FL
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being praise His holy name!
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you
with love and compassion….Praise the Lord, O my soul.”
Psalm 103:1-4(NIV)
“When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,”
Acts 11:23(NET)
Monica, Hicksville, NY.
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
“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,”
Cindy, Las Cruces, New Mexico
“I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God . . . from the rising of the sun to the place of it’s setting men know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.”
Isaiah 45:5, 6 NIV
Sharon, Barrington,
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Gal 6:9
Psalm 103:8-10 NIV84
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NIV)
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.
Psalm 33:20-22 ESV
Isaiah 46:4
I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Lisa, NY
Shannon Kissimmee, Fl
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the Lord James 1:27 (NIV)
* Started James, Mercy Triumps. AWESOME!!
Thanks Beth & Melissa!
Amy
Birmingham, AL
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:6 NKJV
Ginger from Phoenix, AZ
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2, KJV
Judy Pauley
Norfolk, Va.
O God, You cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, You sustain them.
Ps. 68:9-10a
Wendy Smith, Plano 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
Rachel – Nashville, TN
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV
Kate from Cheney, WA
She who 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 Him will I trust.
Psalm 91:1-2, NIV
Caroline, Rio, WI
“Oh God, You cause abundant showers to fall on Your chosen people. When they are tired, You sustain them, for You live among them. “. The NET Bible
Sharon
Modesto,ca.
O God, You cause abundant showers to fall on Your chosen people when they are tired, You sustain them, for You love among them
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil.4:19
The LORD SPEAKS; many, many women spread the GOOD NEWS!!Psalm 68:11
NET Bible
Tammy
Cincinnati
“I can do everything through Him who strengthens me.”
Phil. 4:13, NIV
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalms 94:4 NIV
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name. O thou most high. Psalms 9:2 (KJV)
Littlestown, PA
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20 (ESV)
Bethany, Evart, Michigan. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord;for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Psalm 25:15 KJV
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 NIV
Kristin, Florida
Stephanie Solomon, Morgantown, WV.
For one who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6:7 ESV.
Sherry Deer Park, Tx
Psalm 143:5 NIV
I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
Concetta, White Oak, Isaiah 43:28-19, MSG
18“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. 19 Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
Carol, Belleville, ON, Canada
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all [Amen]. 2 Cor 13:14 NIV
Isaiah 40:29-31. NIV 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 wait on The Lord shall renew their strength
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and grow weary; they will walk and not be faint
Janet Long Clinton, MO
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:6 (NLT)
May your constant love be with us, LORD,as we put our hope in you.—–Psalms 33:22 (GNT)
Sarah, Dallas
Mark 10:27 NIV
Jesus looked at them and said,”With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Melissa, CA
“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
“Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.”
Psalm 139:19 KJV
Allison Ashton – Houston, Texas
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:12 NIV
Sarah – Appleton, WI
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.'”
Isaiah 30:21, NIV
Freeland, MI Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
Amanda, White Hall, AR
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
Morag, Bishop, CA
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?
Numbers 23.19 (NIV)
Jen Smith – Clearwater, FL
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
II Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you & I will carry you. I will sustain you & I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV
Teresah Mason, Redmond, Oregon
“My daughter, give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26 HCSB