My beloved sisters,
I am so blessed to ring in a new year with you and to anticipate God’s goodness and faithfulness in the coming 12 months. Let’s allow 2014 to be more than the next number on a calendar. Let’s deliberately enter into a fresh season and invite Jesus to do something brand new in us and thank Him in advance for what He has planned. His ways are always right. Always fitting. Without having a clue what is ahead in 2014, you can have unshakable confidence that your God will be good to you. He holds you securely in the palm of His hand.
I am deeply thankful for you this day and all you mean to His Kingdom. You are staunch servants. Mighty, mighty women of God. I am amazed by all you do in His Name and for the beauty and creativity of His holy calling displayed and parceled among you. You sharpen me and keep me running my race at full speed toward the one and only goal worth setting: the finish line where Jesus stands, urging us forward and waiting to welcome us home.
I have a simple truth on my heart this new year but it is washing over my soul like a waterfall.
I want to obey God.
In mid-November of 2012, God dropped a word so convicting on my heart through another teacher’s lesson that my face instantly burned. You’ve had those times, too, when you look around the room sheepishly to see if everyone is glaring at you, hoping you got it so that the congregation can all move on to the next point. This was the word:
Stop sowing over and over in the exact same field.
I wasn’t looking for it. I didn’t ask for it. I was happy where I was. Like many of you, I like things to stay the same. I loved my circle of relationships and the familiar places I got to serve. I’ve never lost a passion for those places and have often wept with thanksgiving to God for the privilege of walking through some of the same doors again and again. I have a history of long relationships and staying put and that’s how I like things. But I knew God was talking to me. It burned like a branding iron.
Every single day for nearly 14 months, that same word has reverberated in my soul and troubled my feet.
I have made some strides and taken some steps. The Living Proof Live event team and I felt the urging of the Holy Spirit almost simultaneously to continue to do what we’ve been doing – calling people to worship and the Word – but to become very proactive about reaching the lost and the less-discipled. You will hear us become vocal about this initiative in the coming months leading up to our new LPL calendar year that launches in April. We are passionate to still serve women who know Christ well but we’re also hoping they will join us shoulder-to-shoulder in the accelerated outreach effort that God is blazing in our souls. We are praying earnestly that women will come bringing the lost and the searching and the broken and the untaught. A dying world surrounds us. One that Jesus loves. One that He died and rose again to redeem.
The process of change is not simple. It takes forethought and prayerful preparation. We are, for instance, deliberating on ways to make tickets available because we know that lost people aren’t prone to buy tickets to Christian events. We’re trusting God to show us what to do and how to do it. The free ebooks that we’re putting out for the first 10 days of January are part of this initiative. We’re very aware that, when it comes to reaching the unreached, free is key.
So strides have been made but they are only first steps.
I shared with you the date in 2012 that this word came to me so that, if you needed it, you’d have some assurance that I’m not knee jerking or reacting impulsively. I have had all these months to pray and study and listen to Jesus and ponder His leadership.
Fast forward 12 months exactly to the most recent November. A year after hearing from God so clearly about sowing further than the field that I’d loved and served in for so long, I had a very disturbing dream. I can count the significant dreams I’ve had through the decades on one hand so I’m not prone to look for messages in my sleep to keep from having to actually pray and read the Bible. That God can speak through dreams is clear in our own Bibles, of course, but for many of us it is unusual. I don’t feel the release right now to describe the dream though I may someday. What I do feel is a strong compelling to share with you what I knew beyond a doubt it meant. I believe that I can either be obedient to God in the faith walk He is setting before me or He will take my voice. I do not feel that it was a rebuke. I felt that it was a warning.
I was saved in childhood but I was 18 years old the first time I ever had a vivid encounter with God and it accompanied my calling. Christ has been so merciful to remain with me through harrowing ups and downs, fears and failings, and flaws and frailties. Good grief, what grace He has poured on my life. What forgiveness flows from His wounds on the cross. I’ve been so foolish at times and learned many things the hard way but I am not new to the believing walk. I don’t look to the air for my words from God. I look to the Scriptures. It is my daily bread. I want revelation any way Jesus wants to give it but I’ve been around long enough to know that, if it is unrecognizable in His Word, it is not of Him.
38 years have come and gone since that day I received my calling.
And I have rarely – if ever – received clearer orders from God.
I share this with you because I love and esteem you so much and want you to know that I haven’t lost my footing or had a dramatic change in my theology as I tread into a wider perimeter than I’ve served before. I say this to you before I have a single invitation on the docket that is out of the ordinary. I’m not manipulating you in advance of announcing some big plan to you. No such plan exists. No such invitations have yet come that I know of. But when they do, I will take them prayerfully before God and if He says go, Sister, I’m going to go. I must.
For lack of a better way to say it, I am not picking up and moving across the fence. I think this is more about dismantling a fence anyway. I’m not leaving Living Proof Ministries. I’m not departing from our mission statement of many years: to encourage people toward knowing and loving the Lord Jesus Christ through the study of His Word. I’m by no means leaving my beloved church, Bayou City Fellowship. I’m not saying goodbye to the blog or this community. On the contrary, we have an active year before us and summer Bible study right around the corner. I hope to enjoy many more years of fruitful friendship and partnership with LifeWay through in-depth Bible studies and Living Proof Live events. They have been so gracious and willing to exceed denominational boundaries. I praise God for them.
We must all be willing to exceed denominational boundaries. Revival is at stake. Nearsightedness will trip us and disunity will slay us in the perilous days to come. We can prioritize our denominations over the Scriptures if we want to but we will shrivel up and die on the vine if we do.
We who are called to teach must teach the Scriptures even if – and especially when – they differ from our long-held stance. That we will answer for.
These are days for bravery.
To avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit and a fresh work of Christ in our midst, our healthy fear of God must far exceed our fear of man. I say this with tremendous love. Those who refuse to rock the boat when Jesus is tossing the waves in their faces will never know the thrill of the water beneath their feet.
For without faith it is impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6
Change is on the horizon and certainly not only where I live and serve. The winds of the Holy Spirit are picking up. We can dig our feet in the ground and demand to stay right where we are. We can toil to maintain things just as they have been for years. And we can be left out of a coming awakening that could one day be recorded in the annals of Christian history.
We can throw our boundaries up at God, keep stacking our divisive bricks, and insist that He obey us.
Or we can obey Him.
God help me, that’s what I want to do. I am too old anymore to let the bullies boss me. And I am too young to quit.
Out of the stunning grace of God, I have had the joy of serving among some of the most well-discipled women in the Bible belt. Many of them take notes each week as their pastors preach. They listen to podcasts in their cars on the way to work. They serve their local congregations, feed the poor, and minister to the sick. Many of them have done every Bible study on the market by every teacher available. They keep their faces in the Scriptures. They memorize and evangelize and sacrifice. They are warriors. I’m not worthy of them but I so dearly love them. I have no words to convey how honored I am to have served among them and I deeply hope to serve among them still. But to serve them only – or even primarily – lacks stewardship. God is telling me to get my ear pressed to the ground for opportunities to serve in environments where women are less commonly studying the Bible in-depth. Some of those places may look very different from those I’ve visited before. I make this promise. I will hold tight to the Word and seek with everything in me to teach it soundly. I will hold onto Jesus as the love of my life. I will pray hard and you’ll never waste a prayer on me.
The days are short. The times, urgent. For all of us.
Need is a part of what steers a call.
I have no idea what the future holds. I have no idea where God will send me or if those places will seem different to many of you. But this I do know: if I do not tell Him wholeheartedly that I am willing to go anywhere He leads and serve anyone He says, He is going to do His good pleasure anyway. And without me.
I have to go with Jesus on this or my soul will collect an inch of dust on the lifeless, wooden altar of safety and sameness.
Thank you for your patience. You have been so gracious to bear with me through this lengthy letter. When all is said and done, I pray with my whole heart that this post will turn out to have been more than just about me. That’s so nauseating. I could have done that at home by myself and saved you the time. But maybe God wants to say something similar to someone else. Maybe it’s time for your next step, too, even if you have no idea where your foot is going to land.
Maybe you’ve been raised to keep your faith to yourself…and it’s time to start sharing it.
Maybe you’ve studied and studied for years…and it’s time for you to get up and teach.
Maybe you’ve been mentored so well that you know it all by heart…and it’s time for you to mentor others.
Maybe you’ve been the focal point of much compassionate ministry and you thank God for it…but it’s time now to pay it forward and minister to others.
Maybe you’ve been breaking free for 10 years…and it’s time for you to live free and show somebody how it’s done.
Maybe all our risk-free living is not really living.
And maybe I’ve missed it. But I am about to take that chance.
Thank you for this very thought provoking message! God seems to be taking me out of my comfort zone almost on a daily basis and with each new encounter He is showing me how to trust Him more and not worry about the circumstances! He seems to be putting me in situations where in the past I would have been judgmental. He says you are no better than anyone else and gives me His Grace and Mercy to show me how I am supposed to be to others! Lately life has made me shake my head in disbelief, but also has brought me closer to my Jesus and to just trust and believe in His promises!! He has a plan and I just need to have the Holy Spirit guide me through no matter how difficult things get! I, too, am seeing a totally different view of sooooo many lost and hurting individuals and my heart longs for them to feel and know God’s Love. I know everything I am going through will only help me to be more compassionate and I will be able to encourage many people when they go through a similar situation. God has it all figured out! We just need to trust Him! I love you Beth and love seeking God with all my Siestas!! Happy New Year! I am expecting 2014 to be a much better year!! 🙂
We love YOU and LPM for pointing us to Jesus and keeping us listening, learning and living from the powerful WORD OF GOD. How better to live that out than obedience and REACH out of obedience? Praying for you, Beth. Praying I will obey. Praying for every precious soul He pursues and gives us the eyes to see and the means to reach for His great glory. Forgive me if this sounds disrespectful – it’s so not meant to be… God bless your childlike faith and obedience to serve lost children all over the world.
May we all listen and obey Him this year as He stretches us and takes us to new fields.
Dear Beth,
Thank you for your honesty and courage to step out of the box in new and fresh ways. This morning as I ushered in 2014 with our precious Lord, He kept prompting me to visit our siesta blog. I’m so glad I did. Thank you for sharing your next steps with us. My word from last year was change, and during a span of five months, I lost both Gram and Gramps. They celebrated this Christmas in heaven, what rejoicing that was for them!! Anyway, I digress, thank you Beth for how you have mentored me the past nine years. It has been an awesome journey of struggle and hope. We lift you up in prayer during this time of transition in your calling. May the power of the Holy Spirit within you direct your path in ‘believing’ wisdom and may you listen with trusting obedience as He calls you and directs your steps in these chaotic times. The winds of the Holy Spirit are moving to and fro in this world and through our personal hearts! We bow our knees before You Lord in the presence of our enemies, YOU ARE VICTOR!!! Let us be warrior princesses for The Lord and His kingdom!!
Beth, The timing is perfect. My church is embarking on a new citywide ministry to the homeless. This is totally outside my comfort zone but totally ordained by the Lord. We have seen miracle after miracle in this project. I am excited to go where the Lord is leading and truth be told, terrified too. I am excited for you and LPM and where Jesus will be taking you all. I love that Jesus sends fellow travelers with us as we forge ahead with Him. Love you, Lynda
Thank you so much for this post. You wrote exactly what God has been doing in my heart this past year. I live in the Northeast and shortly after Super storm Sandy, I have been shaken to a new calling of reaching those who are without hope. I run a Women’s Bible study at my church and that call means for me to give up what I love more then anything to follow Him more fully. It is a difficult transition but one I am assured of. I saw you in Providence this year and God spoke such a specific confirming word over my life that there is no ignoring it. I must go! It is hard and it takes courage but I know it is right. I read your post in tears because I feel what you feel. My heart breaks for the lost but I am weak in wanting to leave my comfortable church walls. I am scared out of my mind but I can’t not go even though I don’t know where I am going. How I hope that makes sense. Thank you for sharing, it gives me courage and strength to know that someone I respect feels the same. At least, I am not alone. Love you Beth. Thank you for following Him radically.
I stand here, tears in my eyes, and say AMEN! sister AMEN!! To God be all the GLORY!! GREAT things He HATH DONE! I’m thanking Him for what He WILL DO through all of us in 2014!
My heart resonates with yours!
Dear Beth,
God never ceases to amaze me with His confirmation! I, too, have recently begun heading in a totally different direction -out shaking the bushes with God’s hope, so to speak. I do so now by leading a bible study with women at our local jail, completely out of my zone but totally where I know I am supposed to be. God began by using the phrase “be the change” over a year ago. And it continues to be such an amazing journey! One I never ever saw coming, but I am oh so honored that He has seen fit to take this vessel out of its usual use and place in it a more needed area. Ministering to these women every week reminds me of what foot washing is all about, and I am so privileged to get the opportunity to share in their journey with His hope and grace. Goodness that God allows us to participate in kingdom work still causes me to pinch myself! Let us all push out into those unchartered waters!
Thank you for sharing from your heart….God is truly stirring the waters!
Hmmm… Very thought provoking. Time to roll up my sleeves and step out of my comfort zone for Jesus. For those who don’t know Him. How can I not, after reading this? For just as you have been convicted, Beth, so am I after reading this.
I am praying for you, praying for my Siestas (myself included), and praying for those to whom we could show our precious Lord.
whenever, whatever, and to whomever He leads…no other way to live!
Praying for you beth! Follow the Lord’s leading that’s where the blessing is! We who love you and appreciate your ministry will be faithfully praying for you.
Looking forward to an exciting year!
Dear Beth,
I am so thankful for you! In the past year Our King has loved/warned me through 1 Sam 3:1 and 3:19. His WORD is precious; when I count His Word valuable, above all things, He gives me a platform and a voice. If I operate in my own agenda, the surrounding noise drowns me out. I have nothing to offer but what He gives! AND no allegiance to tradition that contradicts His Word His His Holy Spirit. Let God be true and every man a liar!
I have also been so grateful to be a woman with my own Bible and the privilege to study it, to be descipled and by you and pastored as well, and to experience the surge of flight in my own wings for being FREE. And what is it for??
I pray that you let the King’s red carpet roll out before you in whatever He chooses, and as you obey, let there be a gleam in your eye! Surf the wave!
All my love, support, and charge!
Carmela
WOW! What a powerful message and challenge to all of us. I need to re-read this and take notes.
I want to pump my fists in the air and say AMEN AMEN AMEN! Only God knows what is in store. Thank you for your example of obedience in ALL things.
Your are loved and prayed for
Beth: I will pray for Gods leading.
Your words were encouraging to me. I agree it’s time to step out in our faith. Sometimes we don’t know and understand. The unknown is fearful sometimes. Sometimes Gods plan is greater and patience is hard to wait for the unknown .
Pray for me too as God speaks to me.
Together women of God can pray for strength and quidance in unknown territories.
Have Faith!
A resounding yes and amen. My heart just expanded with hope and expectancy, and yes, with some trepidation, but also “Yes, Lord – for Your Name, for Your fame on the earth, all for Your glory.” For this strong message from your heart to ours is but a confirmation of all we have ALL been called to. Revival IS at stake, these ARE the days for bravery and we agree with you and bless you in your call and we receive the heart-palpitating, exilerating challenge to lay aside fear of man and anything eslse holding us back. New year, new time, new season. Giddy at the thought! Thank-you so much for sharing this! Wow, thank-you!
Dearest Beth and Siestas,
It’s been a while.
This has been a strange year, one in which I lost a lot of motivation for online communication in any form. I have read blog posts but simply lacked anything to say. It’s been a year of soul searching, questioning myself, reflecting, and even beating myself up at times. I haven’t done a single Bible study (but I’ve studied my Bible!) I haven’t listened to podcasts (but I have listened to the Word) and I haven’t participated in any organized church activities (but I have been busy serving the Lord)
This year my husband and I left our denomination to follow the leading of God to a new place to worship. Our new church family is grounded in Biblical truth, teaches sound doctrine and is a Bible-believing, worshipping-in-Spirit-and-Truth group of people who seek to know, love, serve and share Christ with the lost and hurting world around us. We know without a doubt this is where God wants us right now.
However, our family members and members of our previous denomination don’t quite see it that way. We have been told we are no longer saved, we have wandered from the truth and are lost lost lost……since we no longer attend “___________” we are not going to heaven.
Ouch.
After months of hearing the criticism and judgment of my family members, I opened up your blog and read your letter and felt…..fellowship. This road that Jesus calls us to walk with Him sometimes feels like walking a gauntlet, with other (well meaning, no doubt)Christians doing the beating, but doggone it, Jesus is walking it with us. I know He is, I just know it. He loves me. He is leading me. My husband is covering us and following His Sovereignty. Let the chips fall where they may, Jesus is worth this.
Follow His voice, Beth. GO WHERE HE WANTS YOU TO GO. We are praying for you in this. My husband and I both are excited to see where this goes.
And thanks for the example.
Thank you for sharing this; you have encouraged me to keep walking in faith even when others in my familiar circle of comfort don’t understand. I have been going through similar circumstances this past year and while we have not been led to a new church family yet, the tension in relationships has increased as we step into new waters. On Monday of this week The Lord spoke this verse clearly to me in the night – Hosea 9:7, “The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac.” These words are not comforting to me. I am relying on God to give me courage to obey and speak His truth boldly as he writes it on my heart. Thank you for your example of walking by faith.
Thank you Beth, for you brought me to Jesus 2 years ago in Charleston, have nurtured me along in bible studies, and now helped me realize what I have been feeling for the last few months is not crazy. I have so much to learn and at 63 time goes very fast. But one thing I know for sure is that my love for God is so Big, so powerful within me I cry almost every day in prayer, and I KNIW I am preparing for something, Praise God in all His Glory!!
God spoke specifically to me in November regarding a ministry. Through your words God has spoken. Thank you.
Wow Beth! I am in no way a bible scholar or a teacher such as yourself but these words have also been spoken to me in a different way. I too have cried out to The Lord about wanting to be obedient even when it doesn’t make any sense to me or to others for that matter. I don’t care! I want to hear him clearly and walk in the direction he is going no matter what. I tell you he has been faithful to me during this time of obedience. I have seen things and have experienced things of the Holy Spirit that I have never experienced before. I don’t want him to do it without me! I am in! I am falling in love with our Lord Jesus! 2014 is going to be a year that will go down in the history books! So I will be praying for you that our Lord will give you eyes to see and ears to hear his marvelous voice and the courage and strength to be obedient. I am just so giddy inside on what God is up to. Thank you for being real and blessing my life. Love you my sister!
Thank you, Beth. I cannot thank the Lord more for His timing in this. I had been praying all week for a ministry where I can share the Gospel with others. He brought a ministry to mind day before yesterday and I told Him I would pursue it until He gave me the “go” or the “stop”. I so appreciated your sharing to not keep sowing over and over in the same field. I have been sowing over and over and unlike you, I have sown only dirt. I’m excited to follow Him this time with the right motives: to please the Lord and not men (women!).
This is not just for you, I hear it too. Have been in the process of discerning my next move, thinking I’m too old for some things and yet knowing that continuing on the same path is not right either. I’m too uncomfortable in my comfortableness – God is up to something.
To him that overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:7
Been feeling the same thing this past year. I’ve been a sponge far too long. If God’s stirring a lot of us in the same way, I’m pretty sure whatever He’s got planned is gonna be awesome! Bring. It. On. (That sounds all big and brave, but yeah ok…I’m a little nervous about what He could be calling me to!)
You continue to inspire me to draw closer to God and be the woman He wants me to be! Love u for ur heart for us and for the lost!! Praying formu!!
I love you Beth!! I hear you loud and clear! Thanks for sharing with us and encouraging us to go beyond ourselves to Jesus and all He has for us and for us to do! Blessings on you and yours!!
Amen and Amen!!!! Heavenly Father – Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done – on earth as it is in heaven! Amen!
Go Beth- GO!!!
Happy 2014! Praying this year brings much joy to your family. I’m praying for myself that 2014 bear much fruit of the hard, hard past 3 years. I’m a mom who feels like her wheels are spinning and praying that God helps us realize his Jer 29:11..not ours.
Ms. Beth. Thank you SO much for you example of obedience. I am committed to standing with you in fervent prayer this year. I will do my part, Ms. Beth, to support your calling. The Lord has brought such precious healing to my life through your sweet self, especially through “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things”……. I am desperate for you to keep helping others. I’m desperate for them to hear the Word that I did. Thank you so much. I love you great big, Ms Beth.
Love,
Breahn Royal
Longview, Tx.
So be it! I receive that word, as it’s an anointed word for this year – 2014! Thank you Beth for your example and obedience. Love and Peace to you – Happy New Year!
HOPE
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. Romans 15:13
whatever it means and wherever it takes you, I’m excited!
REVIVAL!
Patty pierce
Searcy ar 72143
Beth you have spoke directly to me today. I feel I have been in a rut for the last 2 years. Oh I Love Jesus with my whole heart but I have allowed myself to be lulled into a false complacency. Yesterday I met with one of my prayer sisters we discussed the very fact thatvGod has called us to more. I am not really sure what more means bit I sense I big shake up coming. I pray God will open exactly the doors He desires for you to go through, That He will make it abundantly clear to you how this next step will look. For you.
Is it weird to say that I am proud of you for writing this?
Seriously, my heart is so happy that the Lord has worked on your heart so much that you are speaking grace to somethings that you were unable to before.
I will pray for you in that now as you know what God is asking of you to pray forgiveness over the tongue spoken over you by others, Oh Beth it made such a difference for me in doing so. It’s the true measure of grace…things I am sure you are well aware of, but things that did not become real to me until 6 months ago.
Here is a verse God brought to my heart tonight, that He gave more of a detail to then I had seen before…
” Those who survive the sword will find favor in the desert.”
– Jeremiah 31:2
I think I am going to let the Lord show you what He means by that, because I know He will…that’s one thing I’ve learned more than anything, He is our intercessor, He is the mediator, He is who breaks the dawn from the night, and He loves us more than we could ever know.
Praying for your heart as you continue this journey 🙂
xo
angie
Happy New Year, Beth!! Thank you so much for the post today. I will take this as confirmation to step out and live like I am FREE!!! Been praying over some new opportunities to serve in different ministries at my church and both deal with the lost. You are extremely right, time is short, we have to act now. I pray that we are all very tender to what God is speaking to us. May we be willing vessels to do His work & further His Kingdom. God WILL make up for what we lack in grace. God has done so much for me this past year; believe me there were more downs than ups, but the were still so precious to me. I just want to be obedient to my God and for those that don’t know Him, maybe I can help. Letting my light shine to bring other women to Christ. Living and walking the walk.
Love you to pieces! Bring on the New Year:)
Wow, talk about an arrow straight to the heart! I, too, have been sensing a call to get on with some things and obey. Have been feeling out of sorts because there are some new things brewing that take me out of what is familiar (and know it is of God because of all the spiritual opposition I’ve getting). But God…
Father, we come to You thanking You ahead of time for what you’ve got for us in 2014. Thank You that Your ways are always right and good. I lift up each of my sisters and ask You to infuse us with courage as we seek to do some new things at Your leading. Will You make clear where You would like us to go and exactly what You would like us to do? We want to glorify Your Name – the Name above all names. Empower Your children like never before – energize us with godly passion to share the truth of who You are to a lost, broken, and dying world. Ignite in us a fire of holiness to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, and pleasing You in all respects. Help us to see clearly when we are being lied to by our enemy and to lift up our shield of faith and pronounce You Lord of lords and King of kings.
I ask You, Father, to continue to bless Beth and give her great peace as she looks to do some new things. We ask that You protect her, Lord, and her family from the evil one. May You continue to be the love of her life.
Thank you, Father. We are so grateful to You for Your mercy, Your grace, and Your salvation. I pray all these things in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Yes, Gretchen!!! I agree with you wholeheartedly! Thank you!
AMEN!
Dear Beth, Thank you for this post. You have taught and trained a large army of women, who now may be needing a leader to move them into an organized offensive position against the gates of hell. As you have pounded into our heads so many times on the pages of workbooks, blog posts, books and in your spoken messages nothing can prevail against His word.
Let all those seeds you have planted in us and yourself–bear a full harvest!!
Thank you for your service to us!!
p.s. I remember thinking during the ‘Daniel’ study with toddlers running in circles in my living room that you were not discounting the use of young moms (of course, women of all ages), to tackle such a big topic and there had to be an important purpose as to why the Lord had our generation tackling such weighty studies en masse.
Whoa and Wow…What a beautiful, heart-felt post! Seriously, I think sweet Beth has obediently organized words to what we feel in our bones. Something deep and new is stirring in us as believers. We are given opportunities to step up or step aside. With or without our influence, God is reaching the unreached. Let’s pray together for a double portions of His holy zeal, we are living in double portion times. My prayer is that we will ALL go to where ever God leads us….including and especially you, Beth. Your obedience is worthy and your walk with Him calls each of us to walk according to His word, His ways. I pray 2014 exceeds your wildest dreams, we will be with you in spirit and in much prayer.
Much love in Christ!
Beth, I adore you and have since I started to work with you through the Bible study that God has laid on your heart! You have brought His word to life for me! I am with you in prayer and in His new quest for you! May God always bless you and feed you with His strength, love, and mercy to move forward!
How incredibly exciting. Thank you for sharing.
Amen, Beth! I have had a similar sense the Lord is leading me in a new direction, and I am to be bold. We must take his Word wherever He leads us. People need Jesus, and we must be ready to serve Him by going to them.
Thank you, Beth, for the blessing you have been in my life! For letting God use you in this way. For encouraging me and countless other women time and time again! It’s exciting to hear that He is up to something big once again. Blessings to you as you seek and follow His leading, wherever that may be.
Dear Beth,
This is it for me:
“The days are short. The times, urgent. For all of us.”
Only the Lord know what 2014 holds for us. I think the word ‘Obedience’ accompanied by the word ‘Trust’ is where I want my focus to be. Thank you for sharing such a personal message, and my prayers will join the others for you and LPM. The times might be short and urgent, but exciting, too!
It’s strange. I’ve been missing your blog posts, not seeing you on facebook and now suddenly here you are again…and speaking exactly what is going on in my world. Thank you for further confirmation.
I am stepping out this year in a very difficult and uncomfortable way. And it’s time. And I’m ready. He keeps telling me, “you’re ready.”
So, I say “let’s do this thang!” and then look back at Him and say, “right?” very meekly. Scary but exciting times!
Thank you for speaking your heart so eloquently and having the courage to share it. and THANK YOU LORD for leading me back to your blog at the RIGHT time for me to receive yet another encouraging Word that says, “YES! you are on the right track! Keep going, I AM is with you!”
AMEN! For His Glory!
Godspeed Beth – whenever and wherever. You are a bright light for Jesus everywhere. I got excited reading your post. I sense God stirring His church too – it’s way different and so much is changing – in my local church too- and it’s also more about being “biblical than denominational.” And I don’t want to miss a beat – and I want Him stirring in me too. We’ve got grandyounguns who desperately need to see and know and hear!
Love you – GJ
I heartily agree and affirm what you’re saying, Beth.. He is saying the same to me in the scope of my life. Praying for you! Thank you for continuing to be brave, and for listening to Jesus! You have contributed to my life more than any other teacher. Yes! Go to those who who haven’t had opportunity to know, and lead others to do the same! Time is short and God would give them His finest… See you in Spokane this year, Lord willing!
Amen siesta!
“For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”
Romans 12:3 NAS
Amen! That resounds so loud! Praying for you and Living Proof…To go for His Name’s Sake where no one else will go…led to take cookies this past Christmas to a trailer park that no one would go to…but God made the way and a mom and her young daughter came to church because someone came…they don’t know Jesus yet but I am believing God that in time they will…He keeps saying to my heart over and over the last several months “Follow Me” not “Christian status quo” and Philippians 4:6 Don’t know what that looks like but want to learn in 2014 and beyond…
Its not just you. Its the warning that only the holy spirit can give. Its not a threat…you know it’s not…you just know and you grieve even to think of what could fail to be if you fail to obey.
God’s on fast forward in my life. GROW UP!!! And He has provided ways to see it happen.
As to the reaching people–a holy amen to that. I’m staying right where I am in my life but have a great urge to share the Jesus who reached and is reaching my broken heart with the broken hearted people in my neighborhood.
Thanks and FIRST OF ALL PRAY.
Please Pray People!