When you speak as much as I do, you end up saying some stupid things, particularly if you’re tongue-prone to shoot off from your notes like a bike into a briar patch. Nothing can run amok like a mouth. Sometimes you catch errant words as fast as you say them and you snatch them back before they land. No harm, no foul.
Other times, if you’re like me, on more than a rare occasion you start the second day of a conference apologizing for something you said on the first day. I am happy to report that in 3 decades of speaking and teaching, I’ve found groups to be refreshingly forgiving and gracious and lighthearted when you own up to something misspoken, particularly if it happened to have been funny. You get a fair amount of leash with funny, I’ve found, as long as you don’t cross a line. Of course, sometimes you don’t know you’ve crossed a line until you do it. Thankfully, most people give you the benefit of the doubt and, frankly, feel sorry for you for frying your own self up like a chicken.
In the words of Solomon, when there are many words, sin is unavoidable. (Proverbs 10:19 HCSB) Translation: talk less, sin less.
A few years ago I said something to a group that haunts me. I’m writing this article because I want to take it back. I’d like to blame the group because they were vocal and hilarious and egged me on. But I won’t. It was my own big mouth. As usual, it wasn’t in my notes. I’d do better with my messages if I wouldn’t look up from the podium but that’s no fun. I love faces; round ones, square ones, white ones, brown ones. I love faces. Anyway, spontaneity can be a lovely thing and sometimes the Spirit of God speaks most clearly through a word that comes to the speaker completely unscripted. This wasn’t one of those times.
I was talking about how territorial women can be. The group was all riled up in the subject matter with me, amening and nodding so I just kept prodding. “Not all territorialism is inappropriate, mind you,” I said, the bike now wobbling to the left. “For instance, if a woman lays a flirtatious hand on my husband, I’m liable to take her arm off at the neck.”
That’s a near-enough truth or I might die trying.
And that’s when my mind suddenly leapt from the sacred page of Scripture to the 1966 lyrics of that legendary queen of country music, Loretta Lynn. So, I just went with it and said…
Cause you ain’t woman enough to take my man.
Since some of your parents were still in diapers when this feisty ballad blew up the AM radio dial, I’ll bless you with the rest of the song. Come on, now. Pat your foot. A country song doesn’t get better than this.
You’ve come to tell me something you say I ought to know
That he don’t love me anymore and I’ll have to let him go
You say you’re gonna take him oh but I don’t think you can
Cause you ain’t woman enough to take my man
Women like you they’re a dime a dozen you can buy ’em anywhere
For you to get to him I’d have to move over and I’m gonna stand right here
It’ll be over my dead body so get out while you can
Cause you ain’t woman enough to take my man
Sometimes a man start lookin’ at things that he don’t need
He took a second look at you but he’s in love with me
Well I don’t know where they leave you oh but I know where I’ll stand
And you ain’t woman enough to take my man
Women like you they’re a dime…
No you ain’t woman enough to take my man
The first time I sang that chorus word-for-word, I wasn’t even woman enough to shave my legs. But, here I am full-grown and I can still spit those words out with sparks coming off my tongue.
Which is precisely what got me into this mess.
And that’s when I pedaled that bike in a blur of feet straight through the bushes:
And if she IS woman enough to take your man, you better woman-up!
The crowd went wild. We hooted and hollered and howled. We came dang near to throwing our shoes. We nearly drowned in our own estrogen.
Say to somebody beside you, “You better woman-up!”
And they did. Nice and loud.
We were women copping an attitude. Shaking our index fingers and wagging our heads. Women back-talking other women who’d had the gall to swish their petticoats into our territory. Girlfriend better step back because she doesn’t know who she’s messing with. It was hilarious.
And stupid.
Listen. You’re woman enough even if some other girl did take your man.
You’re woman enough even if you’ve been ditched by a man for nobody but himself.
You’re woman enough even if you’ve been thrown out and rejected.
Overlooked.
Unloved.
Unnoticed.
You’re woman enough even if you’ve never had a man.
You’re woman enough even if you’ve never put on a stitch of make-up or darkened the door of a nail salon.
You’re woman enough even if you couldn’t care less about what purse you pick up.
If you’ve lost both breasts to cancer and don’t have a hair on your head, you’re still 100% woman enough.
None of those things make you a woman. Your Creator makes you a woman.
It’s not just men who can make us feel like we don’t measure up. It’s other women. We’ve got enough voices in this world telling us that we’re not enough. God forbid that we who are called to serve women echo the charge. Let’s watch our mouths out there. I’m talking to myself first.
Hopscotch through the Scriptures and you’ll watch God get a hold of one woman after another who didn’t seem to be woman-enough in her world.
As it turned out…
Hagar was woman enough. (Genesis 16)
Sarai was woman enough. (Genesis 17:15-19)
Rahab was woman enough. (Joshua 2)
Ruth was woman enough. (Ruth 1-4)
Naomi was woman enough. (Ruth 1-4)
Hannah was woman enough. (1 Samuel 1)
Elizabeth was woman enough. (Luke 1:5-25)
Anna was woman enough. (Luke 2:36-38)
The Samaritan woman was woman enough. (John 4)
For crying out loud, Jesus even saw to it that the sinful woman in Luke 7 was woman enough. We’d assume Mary was woman enough from the start because she was handpicked by God but I’m asking you whether or not you think you’re woman enough. God handpicked you, too.
This is what makes a woman enough. And a man enough.
So God created man in His own image,
in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27 ESV)
We are worthy of mutual honor and esteem because God granted such graces to humankind when He fashioned us in the palm of His hands.
When I look up at the heavens, which Your fingers made,
and see the moon and the stars, which You set in place,
Of what importance is the human race, that You should notice them?
Of what importance is mankind, that You should pay attention to them,
and make them a little less than the heavenly beings?
You grant mankind honor and majesty. (Psalm 8:3-5 The NET Bible)
Several months ago a very dear brother in Christ asked me if I might know a young woman he could set up on a date with a Christian young man he loved and esteemed. Nothing wrong with that but I have lived long enough to break out in hives at the prospect of matchmaking.
Me: Well, what kind of taste does he have? What’s he looking for?
Him: A Christian.
Me: Yep, I get that. Of course.
My friend told me a few other things like high hopes for good looks then slipped this one in as an endnote: And he’d like her to be a virgin.
Dead silence.
Don’t get me wrong. I teach abstinence outside of marriage. I beg girls to wait. I wouldn’t have a woman deal with all the issues of my past for anything. Barreling off the plan of God can bruise a person up. I have a tremendously high regard for both men and women who hang onto their virginity until marriage. Still, something hit me sideways even though I wouldn’t argue for a second about the young man’s right to choose. Each person must know what he or she is capable of handling in the past relationships of a prospective mate.
Is he a virgin? I inquired. Women my age can ask that kind of thing in a context like this and get away with it. I tapped my fingers and waited for an answer.
Him: Well, I think so but, if not, he’s a reconstituted one.
…
And I went off like a bottle rocket.
What he meant was this: if the young man wasn’t a virgin, he’d repented since then and been forgiven and restored by God.
Amen to that.
Me: But the girl couldn’t be reconstituted??
Him: “Yes. Of course. That’s not what I meant.”
And, to be fair, it wasn’t. He’s a great guy. But the persisting double standard that still lurks out there like smog in the smug nearly threw me into a coughing fit. Needless to say, it’s not just male-imposed. We women do it to ourselves. Somewhere way down deep in our souls, we honestly believe that a sinful woman is worse than a sinful man. We so wanted to live up to the woman we planned.
Jesus lived up to the plan. That’s what we need to know.
The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:27-28
My grandmother might have said it like this: what’s grace for the goose is grace for the gander.
Jesus has done more than reconstitute us regardless of our gender anyway. He’s forgiven us, completely purified us, and made us new creations. Men and women alike stood at the foot of the Cross that dark afternoon. Men and women alike stand at the foot of it today.
Incidentally, I still believe in womaning-up when we need to, as long as it’s the kind we find in the folds of Mark 1:29-33.
And immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told Him about her. And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door.
No matter what has you down, your back to the ground, reach out your hand and put it in the palm of Jesus.
Woman, up.
PS. Because you’ve gotta love her and you might need to grin.
Ya’ll!
Boy, this was so good. Thanks so much for this.
Love you Mrs Beth:)
Beth, I understand what you are saying…I love you, Sister.
Thank you Beth! I just love you!! I am “picking myself up, dusting myself off and starting all over again!”
And Jesus is there to help me! 🙂
Colette,
I’m praying for you as you put your hand in His and stand right up! Hold your sweet head high and look into His loving eyes. You are so loved.
Wonderful post Beth! I often don’t feel enough because of the many ways that my life has not followed the “typical” pattern. Husband and children and circle of close friends. It’s a daily fight for me. One that I just cannot seem to get victory over. One that brings me to the point of neediness that I am totally uncomfortable with. I’m learning to go to Jesus with that neediness. I suppose that is the purpose in the battle 🙂
I love that you used the reference to Loretta Lynn! I was 10 years old when I discovered her music. I was a strange little 10 year old but I was hooked! My 11 year old cousin and I watched Coal Miners Daughter every day after school. It was one of those movies I could recite word for word!
Grinning at the video! I love your heart Beth that is ever before the Father to be corrected, taught, and loved. Thank you for being so transparent and real with us. I am so glad we are His creation and woman enough.
Easter blessings for you and your staff and families. He Is Risen!
Vickie
Dear Beth, this was wonderful! You really spoke to my heart today – thank you!
Beth, I praise God for you. I am so thankful to a good friend of mine who suggested I go to a Bible Study here in Kalamazoo. She said “Rhonda, you will love this gal”. That gal was you Beth! I was going through job loss after 22 years and God used you so mightily to minister to me at a time when I desperately needed him. That was 7 years ago! I love you Beth! I have had the privilege of attending several LPL events! Now I am leaning on God after my Mom passing last month. She will have a real Easter this year praising Jesus! She loved you too, Beth! Thank you for all that you do for us, it is so appreciated!
Such beautiful lessons – and truth – I had to learn the hard way. Many years ago, my husband – and father to our two children – decided he wanted to become a woman because “God had made a mistake.” After months and months of counseling, to no avail, we went through a divorce. During that time, I heard on more than one occasion – even from my mother-in-law who I loved dearly – that if I’d been “woman enough” for him, he wouldn’t have made that decision.
It took many years to learn the lessons you’ve taught here.
I’m grateful to say he never went through with the final surgery, although he did take other actions. But 20+ years later, he finally understood God wasn’t mistaken. He saw his children as grown men, and decided he could finally be one too. He’s now living and working as a man, and has a relationship with the kids. To God be the glory!
Oh my gosh, Tracy, 20+ years!! What a painful journey this must have been for you and your children. And yet because you reached out your hand and put it in the palm of Jesus, He gave you the strength and dignity to carry on. Thank you for sharing how trusting Him brought you through the fire and brought glory God.
Thank you, Siesta Mama. This I needed to hear. God bless you and the work you do. I certainly know He already has.
So nice to have you back on the blog! You have been missed! Keep doing all the great things you do…you are inspiring each and every day!
I like it.
Thanks for clearing the air.
You are one phenomenal woman of God! Your openness and vulnerability, coupled with your wisdom and your anointing, make you the very best Bible teacher…and for those blessed enough to be in your circle, probably the BEST kind of friend…..Thank you, Beth Moore….you are loved…. even by folks who have never even met you….HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!!!
Beth I can’t tell you how much your message about “womaning up” meant to me this morning. I had been married 35 years when my husband confessed to 4 affairs and was thinking of leaving me for the last one who had already been married 4 times. I was beside myself. We had both grown up in multiple divorced homes. I so much wanted to keep my marriage and not end up that way but I told God through many tears that I just couldn’t do it. While on my knees he told me “no, you can’t do it, but I can. Let me”. I put my trust in Him and he worked a miracle with me. My husband came to the Lord and we have a great marriage. We just celebrated 47 years. It’s not always perfect and at times I still struggle when I think of what he did but God does heal and I just give it back to Him. As for the “lady” he was leaving me for…she’s been through 2 more husbands and bankrupted them. God is good.
Dear Sheila,
What an amazing testimony! 47 years is something to celebrate! Thank you for sharing of His healing power in your sweet life.
Hi Beth, I have been in the same boat many a time, maybe not in front of millions of people, but where I definitely could have used a shoe horn for sure. But belss you, that is what makes us human. I know you are not beating yourself up about it now and you have come to terms with it, but it is very nice of you to “Woman Up” to it today. I look forward to hearing you speak in May, I am coming to Hershey with my 13 year old daughter all the way from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. I know you prefer it if we say we love the way Jesus talks through you, and I really do, but you yourself get credit also, you have a way of simply speaking to everyone, that you don’t even need to have read the Bible to appreciate His word. Thank you for being a wonderful role model and I thank God that, while channel surfing, I found you on TV, you, along with Jesus Christ, have changed my life. Happy days, Happy Easter, and God Bless.
Thank you…my life has very little joy-again, no need to go into detail, we live in a hurting world…and someone has hurt me that I trusted…thanks for letting me forgive and just go on to the next day…we all fall short
Sue
To someone who has never felt like “one of the girls” or “good enough”, Thank you for this post today! See you in Hershey!
Amen!! This is what we women need to hear always and every day! This truth and substance of this needs to be tattooed across the backs of our eyelids so we never forget it. (Sorry…got carried away there!! It’s easy to get carried away.) No really, we need this to be branded on our hearts – our worth, because of Him!
Thank you, Beth, for being a humble, willing, listening servant. You know, God can take even our mistakes in the past and make them become a “word fitly spoken” on a blog on the day that lots of women need to hear it.
Praise God!
This is soooo powerful and so refreshing…Love it! Like a breath of fresh air! I needed to so read this today. Keep writing!!
Stay blessed
WHEW! And let the church say…AMEN!!! Thanks for this uplifting message
Beth,
You are so precious! Love this post!
I love this… Thank you.
Much to you and your family! Happy Easter!
Thank you! I, too, struggle with a past that I wish were different. I try so hard to live in the truth of Christ’s promise that I am a new creation but so many people from that awful past simply don’t let me. This Holy Holiday weekend I feel pressured to return to my hometown and sit among folks I dearly love, but who cannot seem to accept this new life. It’s like I am forever “that old me” and it is spiritually devastating. I know that doesn’t make sense, and in the interest of not over-sharing, I will leave it at that.
I have chosen to not go home this weekend. I will stand with my husband and children at the foot of the Cross Sunday and believe that Resurrection means I AM NEW. I am forgiven. I am woman enough, despite what others say.
I love you, Beth. You are such a blessing.
Dear Beth,
What a high-wire you must tread because of your calling. Your quick-witted tongue impacts in a way that few of us women could ever relate to. I pray for you…for your continued confidence in The Lord and the work that He’s created you to do…for an ever humble and grateful heart…for the strength to get back up and keep keepin’ on when your natural enthusiasm has inadvertently tripped you up…for His continued blessings upon your ministry.
And I send frequent prayers of thanks for you truly embodying Jesus’ words in John 14:12 – you also do the works that He did…and in the work of emparting dignity to us women, I feel you have done even greater works. If only because you touch the lives and hearts of so many more women through our modern world’s technology. I am the Samaritan woman at the well and our Lord has given me dignity through His words to her…and through His precious and cleansing blood that He sacrificed for me. Me! And you…and all of us imperfect, head strong, timid, crazy, plain, bossy, sweet, rough, loving, in need of love (etc., etc., etc.) women! You are continuing His work in this regard. You love me, you love us, and you only want to help us be stronger and more confident in our faith, walk and belief in our Lord. By showing us the dignity that Jesus offers, you are helping remove one of the biggest stumbling blocks that we have.
Thank you, Beth. I love you. We love you.
Leah
I have always loved that the woman in the Mark passage above, got up and served them right after Jesus healed her. What an example of how to Woman Up!
I also wanted to give a shout out to Loretta Lynn… Happy Birthday!!! She and I share the same day, April 14. Loved the video of her. It was adorable. My how technology has changed!
Amen & Amem! Thanks for your honesty. Glad you shared this one. I could relate on so many levels.
I wasn’t sure where you were going with this but once you arrived at your destination I climbed aboard the train. Yes I know many a-woman including myself that have felt “not woman enough.” Thanks be to the Lord through Jesus Christ I accept my position as a daughter of the King! Mothers of daughters please instill this in your daughters. We are chosen, set apart through the royal lineage of Jesus Christ true princesses.
By the way – Love Loretta Lynn I’ve seen Coal Miner’s Daughter no less than 20 times!
Great Post Beth
Robrenna
I love you Beth! Though there are many reasons, at the moment I am loving you for revealing the heart of our Savior to a world (and church) that has not always been so kind to women.
WOW! What a word:) Thank you for every word you share!
Dear Beth,
Your words are as refreshing as a spring rain, and no words are truer said. Thanks for being real, staying real, and making us all laugh when we’ve wanted to stick our foot in our mouth instead! I had a sign that said “Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth” I should have it mounted in every room, in my car, quite possibly on my forehead. May you be continue to be blessed!
Yes! Thank you for this amazing post, Beth! And thank you for posting the video- made me smile ear to ear! Jesus is our “enough!” And I’m so grateful that I’m “woman enough” in His eyes! This post encouraged me so much. Spoke right to my heart. Love ya Beth- thank you.
Thank you so much, Beth, for these words. There have been so many times as a woman, wife, mother and divorcee that I have felt less than a respectable woman or “woman enough.” Part of it is society’s judgement and part was my own inner shame. While we are taught not to be of the world, it can be hard when we are surrounded by it everyday. It means so much to know that I am not alone when I question myself and this post is an awesome reminder that God loves me. He made me and He’s forgiven me and I am not alone. Thank you!
And this is why we love you.
So true. So good. So glad God loves the “Dime A Dozen” Girls as much as He loves Mary of Nazareth, Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany. What a perfect Maundy Thursday post ~
Thank you, Beth! I so needed to hear those words today, after struggling for the past 2 years with losing my breasts to breast cancer and dealing with all the lack of hormone isses that come with that choice. I very rarely feel like a woman these days, but as you reminded me, God placed me in this situation and He will see me through – thick and thin.
Much love!
As usual you have hit the nail on the head. I am going to be sharing this post with the ladies in my Sunday bible study class. We all need to remember who we are in Christ. Forgiven and loved!
Amen!
Beth,
Thank you for this post! I get the going off the rails when speaking thing…. yep, I surely do. BUT that last part about who we are in CHRIST! So true sister! I, too, have a past that is littered with sin. Some of those sins I stumbled into and others I dove straight in to. BUT in CHRIST I am a new creation and in CHRIST I am enough.
Thanks girl!
Thank you! No words to improve on what has been said and done. Jesus makes us “woman enough”, thank you Miss Beth good word and mostly thankyou Lord for allowing this woman to “woman up”!
This was such a blessing to me today. God gave you a word that so many of us needed to hear today. Thank you.
Well said, Beth! Sometimes we beat ourselves up when we make mistakes or say something wrong. It’s irritating, right!!! Thank God, he is so loving & forgiving to us 🙂 What you said on your blog and at your conference last weekend about being “women enough” was beautiful!
Your Living Proof Minnesota conference was truly amazing! My sister & I received tickets for the conference as Christmas gifts from our parents. Best GIFT ever! 🙂 Your incredible message, uplighting music & gorgeous graphics at the conference IMPACTED (meaning: tightly or immovably wedged in) my life! I have been broken & bruised. Witnessing my mom fighting stage 4 cancer when I was a child & teenager, an unfaithful husband, my baby niece dying only hours after she was born, my husband losing both his parents at a young age have been hard.
Everyone has a story and without “God” we are lost!
I saw a glimpse of what heaven may look like last weekend, while we all were worshipping and singing his praises 🙂 I want the heaven ticket! More then ever, I feel the urgency to be compassionate-like & share Jesus in our battered and bruised world so others can have the heaven ticket, too!
Beth, Travis & all your gang, thank you so much for your love and devotion of growing his kingdom! Matt 25:23 “His master said to him “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
Happiest Easter blessings to you!
Love from Minne”snow”ta!
p.s. please come back soon 🙂
Beth, I’m not sure how God does this. The last sentence in your post was “exactly” what I needed to hear. It confirmed what a dear prayer partner prayed over me. The righteous right hand of God!!! Yes my back is to the ground but I am capable of reaching my right hand up to his righteous right hand- knowing he has our names written on that palm and he sees our crumbling walls.
God Bless- and frankly the only man I know I can trust is our Lord and so glad no one can take him from us!!! xo
Thank you. I pop on here evey so often. Occassionally I do leave a message. Today is a day that hit me very hard. This is exactly how I feel, but do not know how to articulate. Amen to all that was said.
Beth and Living Proof,
You are all such a blessing. There are not enough words to express. I am truly greatful for how the Lord uses your ministry to speak into my life.
Thank you Siesta, Mama!
I needed this fresh word today.. Our precious Lord has me in a season of finding my FULL ASSURANCE IN HIM ALONE.. I am woman enough in “HIM”.
I will not find my assurance in anything this world has to offer.
2 years ago I didn’t have a hair on my head. 1 year ago I lost both breasts. Thank you Beth for writing those words. My eyes are stinging with the tears over how many sisters are walking through this same journey right now. Yes dear sisters, you are woman enough!
Glad you are with us!!!! Thank you for sharing! I appreciate your testimony!
Thanks for including Loretta:) I do remember her:)
Oh my goodness…thank you for writing this, and thank you for defending us girls and drawing attention to the double standard and reminding us, yet again, of who God says we are in Christ Jesus. I’m thankful that I’m not who I used to be, but I’m ok and I’m on my way to where I need to be! Love you much!
You cannot have any idea how much I needed to read this with stuff going on right now, Beth. Thank you.
I love you :)Thank you for serving us.
You make me grin, Miss Beth! AND I thank the Lord for the day I first attended a Bible Study of yours. YOU have richly impacted my life and my walk with our Precious Savior!!! Thank you for being you!
A Blessed Easter to you and yours,
much love and always a prayer,
Maryjo
Wow! that was filled with amazing fun, great scripture & truth~Thank you for being so down to earth~