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
Danielle from Cedar Park, TX
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
Mary from Columbia PA
Psalm 27:10 (NKJV)
When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.
Karlys, La Place, LA
Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
Proverbs 3: 25 ESV
Amanda, Chandler, AZ
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
Isaiah 66:2b ESV
Adrienne, Valdosta, GA
“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 40:31 NIV
Becky, Lynchburg, VA
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:1, 2 NIV)
Nancy from Knoxville, TN
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Cheryl, Coffeyville, KS
“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Proverbs 34:5 NIV84
Oops! I just realized I wrote the wrong scripture reference. It should be Psalm 34:5 NIV84.
Michele ~ Kenosha, WI
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
(had to “borrow” it, Mama Beth. Needed it. Thank you! :0)
Jeanni, Westland
Beloved let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loeth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7 KJV
Peggyann ~ Crestview, Florida
GOD said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5
Marsha R. Lexington Park, MD
12.But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13.who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13 ESV
~~~putting James on hold to take part in our church-wide Fighter Verses.
Gail, Phoenix, AZ
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 NKJV
Lisa, Greensburg, PA
“Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you.”
1Peter 5:7(RSV)
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken. Psalms 62:1-2
Shantha, Lincoln, RI
Jennifer, Kailua, HI:
Psalm 77:15-With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Cindy Gandy
Hazlehurst, MS
Ephesians 1:3 NIV
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Siasy-Waycroaa
Isaiah 12:2
New International Version (NIV)
2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.”
Traci from Evansdale, IA
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 NIV2011
Psalm 51:6 ESV
“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret part.”
Angie G
Albertville, AL
“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” John 15:21 NASB
Marilyn, Mission Viejo, CA 1John 5:11 ESV
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
here is my verse.. Phil. 4:4
REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE…. AMEN.
dear beth, my group from royse city, tex, has decided not to come to houston this year, due to some money issues… so i was wondering if you could email us what you were going to talk about… at the siesta con… you will remember us, we were the ones with the hot pink shirts on with angel wings… we love you and we do a bible study from you all the time, we are going over Esther for the 2nd time, waiting for your new studies.. love and blessings ouida baley
Anne, Minneapolis
Psalm 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. NIV
Melissa, Fort Worth, TX- “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 (NASB)
Mary Beth, St. Louis, MO
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Heb. 10:24-25 NIV
Colossians 3:23 NCV
“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.”
Lindsey, Scenery Hill, PA
Psalm 74:12 (esv)
Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
Lacie | Seattle 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
Crystal, Livonia, Michigan
“Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them”
Psalm 119:165 KJV
Joanne, Callahan FL
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)
Stacey in Mount Pleasant
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17 NLT
Anita; Purcellville, VA
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress,
and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of
my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:1-2 NIV84
Diane from Cypress, TX
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Laurie Chester
“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
What an awesome verse! I may just have my next one now, too 🙂 God bless you MIGHTILY and BOLDLY as you store this treasure in your heart, lovely Laurie.
Marilyn: Amarillo, TX: “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope bad confidence” Jeremiah 17:7 NLT
Dayla, Springfield, MO
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4: 7-8 NIV
Shannon, Columbia, SC
“To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.”
Hebrews 11:1 (Good News Translation)
“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.”
Col. 3:23 NCV
Megan JOY Burdzy – Calgary (CowTown) Alberta, Canada – Let us not grow weary of doing what is good, for at just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9 (NIV/NLT)
Fort Worth, TX:
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4 NLT
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 KJV
Melanie Toups
Bridge City, TX
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming; even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. — 1 John 2:18-19 NASB
Heather, Tallahassee Hebrews 5:7-8 In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. ESV
Holli from Corona, Ca. ” In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NIV 84
Holly Burlington, IA How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:3 NIV)
Susan Pittsburgh, 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)
Hear my prayer o Lord and let my cry come unto thee. Psalm 102:1 KJV
Tisha, Pilot Mtn, NC
“But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance!” Psalm 13:5 NET
Jen, Houston
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” – 1 John 4:16 (NIV)
YES! One of the verses I memorized as well.