You guys have been so patient with me while I’ve been under a tremendous work load! There comes a time when you just have to put some things on hold – even things that involve people you love – to get as focused as possible to wrap up a project. Since New Year’s Day, I’ve been finishing Children of the Day, teaching a new series on Tuesday nights in Houston, serving at Passion, and at a Women of Faith event called Unwrap the Bible and simultaneously being a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a coworker at LPM. Even recounting it nearly gives me an anxiety attack. I have absolutely no doubt that most of your lives have been just that full. God has been so gracious to us, hasn’t He? He carries us even when we’ve loaded ourselves down in ways He wouldn’t have ordained.
I had originally planned to be finished with COTD before the Christmas holidays. I never would have scheduled all that craziness at the same time. God knew what the 18 months surrounding that project would entail and He sustained my family and faithfully carried us through a very rough season. I did the last editorials for COTD on a conference call with LifeWay a week ago Friday, got on a plane with Amanda and Melissa to Sydney on Monday, then got an email two days later from my editor saying that COTD was on its way to the printing press. Thank you, God. Many of you prayed me through and I am so grateful. A writing project going to press brings a very vulnerable feeling. Some of you know what I’m talking about. You’ve been so close to it for so long that you often have no idea if it’s decent writing or makes a whit of sense. All you can know is that you gave it everything you had.
And the beautiful side of writing Bible study curriculum is that you have the promise of God that His Word will not return void. At the end of the project, I only allowed myself one question: will the readers be able to say at the turn of the last page that they’d diligently studied 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, whether or not they’d always agreed or embraced each lesson? Because of God’s great faithfulness to bless His Word, I pray so. That is my peace. May God bring a 100-fold harvest to those who end up investing their time and energy in the series.
SO, ladies, I am writing you this morning from a hotel room overlooking the gorgeous Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is Sunday evening to you but Monday mid-morning for me and the sun is shimmering on the face of those waters so brilliantly that it’s nearly blinding. I had the privilege to serve at the Hillsong Colour Conference for women that lasted from Thursday evening to Saturday evening then at their main campus last night. I will serve again this coming Thursday through Saturday.
Their women’s conference is so well attended each year that they do it over 2 weekends to accommodate the numbers. The weekends are identical in schedule and content but Colour 1 takes place in a large arena then Colour 2 (the very next weekend and a whole new group of women) takes place at their largest church campus here in Sydney. It only takes the first hour of the conference to figure out why 17,000 women flood the venues. The Spirit of God falls so powerfully during worship that you can hardly sing for wanting to cry.
You would just love Colour. Women of every age and all sorts. Scads of really young women whose faces are just beginning to come alive with the radiance of Christ. The older women are gorgeously fervent in the Spirit. To say that the atmosphere of worship is lively and spirited is understating it. The name of Jesus is outrageously declared and praised. We sing, we get into the Scriptures, we laugh our heads off, and we get mobilized to meet needs and to fight injustice. It’s a full package and that’s one of the beautiful things about it being 3 days long rather than how we normally schedule events in the States.
In between conferences, we get 3 whole play days! Starting today! YAHOO!!!!! I have not had a couple of days off in a row in many months. I’m about to take them and run like there’s no tomorrow. We will start off today being shamelessly predictable: petting kangaroos and koalas. I know, I know. But we just can’t resist it. All we’ll need to top the day off is an Olivia Newton John sighting.
I’m still in my pajamas and we’re leaving the hotel in an hour so I better get with it. It feels so good to have touched base with you, Sisters! I have missed you so much! Thank you for your patience with me. We’ve got some busy months ahead on the blog so I hope, to some reasonable degree, we will make up for lost time.
I love you!
Is the blog having issues? It says 107 comments total, but only 50 comments showing? Computers do have a mind of their own sometimes I think! (Grin) Just wondered….bless you!
I think there are about 50 comments to each page. At comments above there are 123..pages…right above your entry. I thought that once then I discovered the pages thing. Hope that helps. Grin.
Hi, I was one of the ‘Elizabeth’s’ (more mature woman) at the Hillsong Conference in Sydney. There was a lovely prayer that Beth got us to stand and read to each other towards the end of her 2nd teaching…is there any way I could please get a link to where I may find this prayer? Thank you in advance and enjoy your free days off in Sydney patting Kangaroos and Koalas 🙂
Beth,
Praying the REST of God over your soul. Laugh hard with your girls and Christine. Still so blessed from time in Houston Unwrap. Your teaching is only superseded by your humility. Thank you for being such a model of that.
Hugs from NM,
Kathleen
Hi Beth
I’m going to be in Houston area the first part of April. I want to visit your church. I’m hoping to be able to meet you, Pastor Curtis and Amanda.
Beth, this blog touched me so. I sat and read your words and cried. It is true how good it is too look back at the craziness and wonder how did I make it through. then it hits you, God is so good to me. He carried me and I didn’t even feel his gentle caress. I pray you have fun play days with your precious daughters by your side. God bless, safe travels, and prayers for a peaceful rest in the Lord. Ceffie in WV
Thanks for checking in Beth! We love you and are praying for you all the time. 🙂 Have an amazing time “down under!”
Beth, thank you so much for all you are doing to further God’s kingdom. My women’s bible study is memorizing a scripture each week and this week’s scripture is perfect to share with you. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdenen, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. May the Lord give you rest and joy as you spend some needed time off with your girls. (I understand the importance of this as I am a pastor’s wife, we need to be filled up so we can then pour out into others.)
SO wonderful to hear from you Beth!! I am right smack dab in the middle of facilitating a group of ladies at church going through James, Mercy Triumphs… he is stepping all over our toes!! Can’t wait for COTD!! I thank God for you and the amazing gift He has given you to study His word and teach!! He has blessed my life through your studies over and over!! Praying for you and your sweet girls as you minister there, for y’all to have a great time together and a safe trip home!!
Love you so!!
I enjoyed that same view from my hotel room in January. It was incredible! Do you plan on doing the bridge climb? I planned nothing of the sort when I was there!
Glad you have both your daughters with you. I remember your last trip Down Under and Melissa’s sweet face was attached to a popsicle stick. In person must be so much better.
Enjoy the next 3 days!
It is good to hear from you Beth and all the good things going on in Australia. Always look forward to your new Bible studies. I am also grateful for Lindsee and her posts which always are spot on and come at the right time.
Have missed you muchly, Siesta Mama. But so happy for you to share this time with your girls and ministering in this way! Looking forward to what’s ahead on the blog. Praying for you. Thank you so, so much for what you pour into lives. God has truly used you to speak many a timely word into my season(s)! Much love.
After not hearing from you for a while over here I had to jump back on twitter just to catch up–I knew a few characters would be easier to fill up than a blog post! And sure enough, you and your girls were alive and well over there 🙂 Lindsee does a great job keeping us up-to-date and sharing life and words of wisdom, but you are definitely not forgotten! Nor are Amanda and Melissa. The Lord has blessed me and so many others by you and your relationship with your girls (and the way you love Keith, and Jesus…I could go on and on). Anyway, just wanted you to know I’m praying for you all and sending love your way. May we continue to step out in faith!
love,
Audrey
SO good to hear your voice…well, sort of. As one of your prayer warriors, it is so helpful to get these updates from you. Hope you’ll put Colorado on your radar soon.
Have a well deserved and most Blessed couple of days off! We love you and pray for you. May God’s favor shine all over you and your girls while you are there.
Lichelle
How funny Olivia is in the USA!!!
Oh How I love Xanadu!!!
Come on home Beth and see Olivia in Los Vegas 🙂
Atleast you can get Koala Bear-hugs 😀
Love to you!
God bless you and you rest we can wait sometime it good to get rest and enjoy your famliy!
Praying for restoration and recovery for you and your family and staff. You all have been a blessing being available to God for this journey. Praying for a bit of a break for you to bring revitalization through laughter!
Thanks for walking faithfully and authentically….heaven knows we news each other and a “women’s break now and again… Do I hear an Amen!
Blessings
Sue
Love you. 🙂 Hope you thoroughly enjoyed your days off!
I have learned to love you, Beth, in recent weeks as I have watched James Robinson’s TV programs. I want to stay in touch – through your BlogSpot.
God’s word is so precious to all of us these days and He has obviously prepared you to deliver it in these times.
I plan to talk about you on my blog – tomorrow, at..
reflectionsonalifewellspent.blogspot.com
Her back home, we want a Beth sighting.
We live in the foothills in Colorado. We are half a mile from the national forest with hiking trails so we love to walk in the woods too. We’ve had a snow this winter that was really appreciated because it’s been so dry but we are really looking forward to some spring weather and being outside more for those walks in the woods.