This could be the shortest blog post of my life because I’m in my pajamas, face washed, on the bed, ready to call it a day, and needing to get up way before dawn in the morning. But a tidal wave of grace hit my heart this evening and I want to try to put it into words right now at the tall foamy crest of it. I’ve gotten so many tweets from women starting Bible studies over these last 3 days. It’s, of course, because September is such a great time for getting back to some of our disciplines as summer has come to an end. As I’ve scrolled through the feed, a number of women are giving shout-outs about starting Children of the Day this week. Another sister told me on Twitter earlier today she’d just started Beloved Disciple. Another Stepping Up. Someone brand new to the whole concept asked me where she should start and I told her, among our own offerings, Jesus the One and Only.
A different woman told me yesterday she was starting A Woman’s Heart. The mention of that one always brings me close to tears because it was my maiden voyage into a life of study that by God’s unfathomable kindness and grace I, to date, have never gotten over. I almost couldn’t get up off the floor over that one. I fell so in love with Jesus and into such awe over His Word in that journey that it was nearly painful. Each study means so much to me because it overlays a stretch of my own personal life – miles of ups and downs and hopes and dreams and disappointments and detours and uncertain destinations – upon the life of Jesus, the Holy Son of God, on the pages of His own Word. I hope you could describe something similar when you spend weeks of a Bible study series with Him. Our imperfect, insecure lives converge with the fullness of the holy Christ right there on the page through the work of the Spirit and the result is transformation.
I want to say something to you girls. It has been and will continue to be, God willing, the honor of my ministry life to serve you in Bible study. One woman I heard from today has done all 15. Another one was starting her first one. I was overwhelmed by the grace of it. In February LifeWay and I will celebrate 20 years of Bible studies together. We never had a single thought that there would be a second one. We begged God early on to grant us diversity of reach in the Body of Christ so that we could see women’s Bible studies invade barriers and make heavy investments of heart into unity. He has done it. You are from all sorts of churches and backgrounds and denominations. Many who are coming into Bible studies in these last few years have no religious background at all. First generation Christians.
We have studied hard together and graced each other where we didn’t necessarily see eye to eye. We’ve given each other the grace to be different. We’ve esteemed each other as equally cherished by God, saved by the cross of Jesus Christ, and invited to the dining table where divine words become the feasts of queens.
I just want you to know I am sitting on the bed tonight deeply moved and with tears in my eyes. God has been so merciful. What grace to have gotten to be part of your lives though Bible study journeys. Thank you. I don’t even know how to say those words with the volume and force that my heart feels them right now.
Thank you.
It has never gotten old to me. I have never taken it for granted. And my past is too bad for me to take any credit. I know what a mess this woman was in and I know the miracle He did in me with His Word. He completely bathed and reworked and rebooted my brain until I was a completely different woman. And He keeps doing it because I keep needing considerable help. That drive – believing with all my heart that if He can do it for me, He can do it for anybody – keeps me in it every single day, even when days get hard.
Someone asked me in the last post if “Breaking Camp” meant I was saying any personal goodbyes. Not one single one, Sister. Not that I know of. Not unless somebody kicks me out. Smile. I don’t agree with everyone. But I will dang well serve anyone. I’m so thankful right now in my life not to feel enclosed and cramped in a camp. Just blessed by gracious communities. To see women discipled in God’s Word is the passion of my life. The air in my lungs. My partnership with LifeWay through curriculum and women’s events has been in an environment of truest community just like my church and LPM. I am blessed out of my mind.
So, anyway. That’s all I wanted to say. That I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude tonight. If God should ever decide to sweep me home suddenly, I’d have wanted there to be a place somewhere in public record where I just said these words:
Sisters: Feverishly following Jesus with you has been the greatest adventure of my life. THANK YOU.
So grateful to serve you and honored beyond words to serve this generation of women with other Bible teachers and communicators like Priscilla Shirer, Kelly Minter, Lisa Harper, Jennie Allen, Tammie Head, Jen Hatmaker, Christine Caine, Sheila Walsh, Angie Smith, Kay Arthur, Joyce Meyer, Lisa Bevere, Anne Graham Lotz, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Ann Voskamp, Lysa TerKeurst, and other stellar women I could name and write about all night. Great things are happening in women’s discipleship all over the globe. GREAT THINGS AMONG OUR YOUNG WOMEN. Great things among the seasoned and all those in between. Most of us don’t care whose Bible study you’re in or if it’s even a formal curriculum. We just want to see women with their faces planted into that Book so their feet will be planted on that Rock.
The gorgeous, glorious, breath of God on the sacred page.
Maybe this is a great post for you to tell us if you happen to be in a Bible study of any kind (by anybody! share the wealth!) or just diving into the Scriptures on your own this September of 2014. It would be so much fun to have you share it and somebody undecided might get an idea for her own pursuit of Scripture this Fall. Let us hear from you if you get the chance.
And thanks for listening. It wasn’t short after all. Why couldn’t it just ONCE BE SHORT????
I love you,
Beth
Beth, I have been with you through those almost 20 years! I was 40 years old with three teenage girls when my journey with you began. I can never thank you enough for your faithfulness to our God and His calling on your life! My family and friends tease me all the time because I talk about you like you are my best friend!! Now my girls are grown with children of their own and they participate and facilitate Bible studies at their churches..’I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth”!!
Our church is beginning “Children of the Day” this week. We offer a morning class and an evening class. I will be facilitating the evening one. So blessed to get into the Word with you teaching again.
You are so very loved and prayed for, along with your precious family!!
Martha in MS
Martha, we love to see the 2nd generation doing the studies!
Johnnie
Living Proof
Beth YOUR STUDIES are what catapulted me into a world of discovery and relationship with Jesus. I’d been snorkeling but through study I became a SCUBA DIVER!!!! Praise the Lord!!! THANK YOU for your tireless work in preparing the way for us. I’ve not done all of your studies, but I have done many. Each one was a blessing and a voyage to a place of communion with our Lord.
I am with a fab group of mamas in Clearwater starting on our sixth or seventh study together! We just re-launched yesterday for our first session of “Staying in Love” by Andy Stanley. Yeah…we even venture into the world of male instructors from time to time. 🙂
Blessings to you!!!
I will be doing my first Anne Graham Lotz study this year, “Expecting To See Jesus.” I’m really looking forward to getting back together with my group after the long summer off 🙂
Was with you this summer doing “Children of the Day” individually and will now do it in a group this fall. Also have “Breathe” by Priscilla Shirer waiting in the wings and finishing “Becoming Myself” by Stasi Eldridge.
<3
I'm a young woman… and I'm so thankful for the Godly women who are going ahead of my generation with such vigor and determination– paving a way for floundering ones like myself who dream of being on the front lines for God in my generation.
God bless.
You are so loved, Heidi! We are glad to have you in this community and we will believe God to raise you strong and mighty in your generation.
Mama Beth, First off, I LOVE you. I am so glad God has used y.o.u.! We are all SO thankful for how He uses you in our lives. Thankful for you being transparent and loving and studying SO hard that you make us smarter ;0)
Sending you {hugs} (wish they could be in person:0)
STILL working through SSBS. Been a rough summer trying to keep up in Thessaloninas, but I am not giving up and I am sure you will see my ‘comments’ popping up on the past posts!
Working through the book of John with a few ladies God has crossed my path with in day to day life. We are hoping, someday, that many other ladies in our neighborhood or from where we work out will join us!
Dear Beth,
Thank you dear sister, for sharing your heart! I am just do grateful to our
precious Jesus for bathing, reworking and rebooting this brain!! What AMAZING freedom, that I never thought was possible.
Thank you so much for the smile today.
A friend of mine and I started a study just a couple of weeks ago on Ephesians. Mostly it is going through it on our own, but with the help of the new “Not Your Average Bible Study”(Logos.com)collection of studies on books of the bible.
Last night was our first night of Women’s Bible study at church where I am facilitating a small group table. The study is Chip Ingram’s “Why I Believe”. Our whole table last night shared that we were in the study because we don’t feel adequate in knowing how to articulate our belief in Jesus with others. We are trying to learn and with God’s help we will become confident in our apologetics.
Thank you so much for all the blood, sweat, and tears that you have put forth in your bible studies because I have grown immensely from doing so many. I also appreciate your drive to encourage us to memorize scripture. Even when I don’t always remember later what I have memorized, I know the concepts have taken up residence in my heart and life forever.
Beth…THANK YOU! I started with your studies in the spring and have completed 2 of them. Might I just say that I will never be the same! Your passionate pursuit for women’s hearts has propelled me to a new, exhilarating place with my Jesus! I recently attended your LPL conference in Memphis and was again beyond changed!Thank you for your enduring devotion to women young and old and for your desire to always give our Savior Jesus all the glory that is well deserved’
My home schooled (very busy) daughter and I are finishing up David and are starting Esther because King Xerxes coincides with her history course. I asked her (she is 13) if she wanted to do someone else s study this time around. “nope, lets do Beth”. You bless lives dear friend!!!
I have had most of the bible studies, may be one or two I haven’t had. I just finished going through Children of the Day twice, bought the online DVD’s and did it by myself. It was such a blessing!!!! I am praying about trying to attend one beginning at my church next week, same study. I know I can learn from it the third time, plus I want the fellowship. However, I am soon to be 82 and my health is not good so unless it’s God’s will, I won’t have the strength to do this. We love you Beth and are more grateful than you can know for your presence in our lives and what God has done through you. Keep on keeping on!!!!
Ernestine, you have no idea how I praise God for you in this community. I LOVE THAT YOU ARE PRESSING INTO GOD’S WORD and still transforming and pursuing fellowship with other believers at almost 82. I want to be like you. I want it so much. Pray this for me.
I do pray it for you, though I cannot imagine your wanting to be like me!!! You are so precious.
I know of your ministry from 1991 and 2001. In those years there was a very popular Bible Study. I cannot remember it and I need help with this. Can someone please provide me with a list of Bible studies that were published in that time frame? God Bless you and your ministry and Thank you in advance if you can help me.
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby? It was life changing!!! I still think about that principle: look where God is working and join Him.
Beth we just talked about this study last night at my home group. Some of the ladies are new to bible study and had never heard of it. They were so excited and interested. We may do it for our next study. It is still in print don’t you think? I hope so.
After telling my little boys over and over that every word in God’s Word is there for a reason, I am spending September in 1 and 2 Chronicles. It has never been an exciting destination in study for me. But every word in God’s Word IS there for a reason, and I’m gonna say it, I’m gonna live it. Already, the truths are breathtaking. 1 Chronicles 21:24 “I will not bring offerings that cost me nothing.” Praise the Lord.
Awww, Beth. The pleasure has been mine. It has been my joy to do almost all of your studies, some more than once. We start up again in October, and will be starting with David (twice for me!) and Children of the Day in January. I have purchased a few sets of bible studies and then share them with other groups of friends who do them in a small group as well. You have led us well Siesta mama and given us a true picture of what it means to love Jesus with your whole heart and be totally changed by His wonderful grace. Jesus has grown me through many trials and difficulties but it is the years I have spent studying with you that fill my heart with such joy. Many of my group will be in San Diego next week and will probably take the Siesta pic with you. I am not able to be there this time, but we all love you so very much. Thank you for all you do. I know, even though it is joyful, it is not always easy and requires sacrifice of family time. You are a blessing that I am so profoundly grateful for. You have no idea how much you have meant tohtis bible study girl!
Dearest Sister,
I am so….the word fails me. Okay, always hesitant to write thinking I want to protect your time and energy. I like it much better in the back ground. But sometimes the greatness of life calls for spoken/written words albeit to one who may receive many, and rightfully so.
I did your first study “A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place”.
To say the least it impacted me, shook me up and began a change in this protected, whole-life church goer, rule-follower and then grew up to be self-righteous sinner.
The study to say the least was so timely. In my early 30’s I was already struggling with life, marriage, anger, insecurity.Why couldn’t life stay simple like when I was growing up under the care of my loving parents. But now, I am so crazy thankful for a loving Savior who was chasing me, pulling out all the stuff that I depended on for my “goodness”. Do you know how hard it is to realize your becoming just like the person who has caused you the most bitterness? Thankful for the mercy shown to me and the mercy planted in my heart for others who don’t know the mercy and love of such a glorious Savior!
I have pondered many times about running into you and wanting to say THANK YOU! Thank you for your perseverance, thank you for suffering long. It has made an eternal difference in me. I understand the meaning of life now. The meaning of suffering. The meaning of giving. The meaning of Love. All for a higher, greater goal. A goal that by faith, believing my God will allow me to be part of, we will see come, and come soon!
I have invited women to join me in my home for the study of God’s Word over the last couple of years. This summer we did Children of the Day with 13 ladies; two were my sweet daughter in laws. Sept. 9th we will be starting Sacred Secrets. Oh that God will continue to give us a longing to be taught by Him and changed to His likeness. May He make us more wise, more believing, more loving, more forgiving, more energetic to keep on keeping on in Truth and Obedience.
I can not get away from His love, and His kindness, and His complete satisfaction. Life is hard, seasons can be difficult, but Truth is still there for me to fix my mind on and it satisfies without disappointment.
I pray for you so often. God continue to do YOUR great work through this YOUR servant. Protect her, lead her, overwhelm her, and Bless her and her family.
Praising Him!!!
Sheryl, Jacksonville, FL
I kind of got behind posting on the blog for the summer study, but our sweet little group here in Bushnell Florida finished your Children of the Day study in August. Now this month we will be doing Priscilla Shirer’s Gideon. I have completed 11 of your studies and several of them I have done twice! Just as wonderful the second time around as the first. I like to make specific goals and am thinking that I should set a goal to complete all of them before I am 50! I am 45 now. My heart so resonated with your sweet blog. I get to co-lead studies in my church and have been doing so for over 10 years. Each study is a brand new opportunity to watch His Word take hold in someone’s life and see the transformation begin. It is so exciting!! I also have sweet and some not so sweet memories of particular studies and seasons of life and changes…But God has been with me every step of the way! Thank you for your faithfulness!
Dearest Beth,
We love you dearly and pray for you daily. May God continue to give you clarity and passion in communicating His Truth! I am facilitating the study of “Children of the Day” with 5 other women. Sadly we are on the last week. This study has dramatically affected each one of us. Thank you for prompting us to get in the word and study to show ourselves approved unto God. Jesus, the only begotten Son of God is the one and only true way to be in relationship with God. That must be our message, so that many, many will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Thank you for your faithfulness to Christ and His Kingdom. It is a privilege to serve with you. I hope to meet you in heaven one day and sit down with a cup of coffee and share how much you have meant to me personally (Yes I fully believe we will have coffee in heaven). We are going to send you a photo of our Bible study group soon. Thank you again for Children of the Day! Can’t wait to see what God will lead you to do next! (Maybe Philippians – hint, hint hint!) Blessings to you and your peeps!
Jeanie Roberson, Temporarily Residing in Nashville, Tennessee
Hi sweet Beth,
Our women’s group is starting Beloved Disciple on Monday, this was the very first Bible study that I delved into almost 11 years ago. I’m so thrilled to be going through this with a very faithful, wise, uplifting group of ladies again and I know that God is going to speak his fresh word upon my life through this study once again. So much has changed in these last 11 years, I’ve grown deeper in my love for Jesus. I was just telling a dear friend yesterday that this has been a year marked with hard things, one right after another, but I’m so grateful for these times in life, because it’s during these times that I HAVE to press in to God, that I find myself at his feet so raw from the struggles of this world, but there is a depth and richness that could never be there without that struggle. God is so good, so faithful and so loving! So looking forward to being back in community and in the grip of Gods word!
Blessings,
Andrea
Beth,
I belong to a small group within our church of Mothers with Children of special needs. We finished up our study in May/June timeline and took the summer off. I decided to sign up for the Children of the Day study. I purchased the study guide and the videos and am now in week 5. I know I should be done by now – but, my life is so unplanned with so many “unexpecteds” that it normally takes me a bit longer to get through your studies. But, as always, your depth of scripture and wisdom in discerning how to translate these words to help us “today” is such a gift. I appreciate that you acknowledge this gift and that you don’t leave it untouched. Thank you for allowing us to take part in this wondrous life God has set for you (both good and challenging). I connect with your past and appreciate the studies you’ve written to help us unveil those things we’ve buried so deeply.
You truly are a blessing – and thank God for you.
Nancy, I am stopping right now to pray for your small group within your church of Mothers with Children of Special Needs. I am so moved. Bless all of you. May God awaken each of you every single morning to the manna of mercy and grace you will need for that specific day. And may He flourish your precious children who are fearfully and wonderfully made and cause them to defy countless odds and obstacles and gloriously exceed medical and/or societal expectations. We care so much.
I am finishing up teaching a series that I wrote on the names of Jesus. We’ve been at it since January and will wrap up by the end of October. I love writing and teaching but I am SO excited to just receive for a season after this. I have about 4 studies I want to jump into but will restrain myself to one, which I will select as soon as my pastor announces the next book he will preach through. If it matches one of the studies I want to do I will pick that one, otherwise I’ll go with Children of the Day which is the top of my list.
Way to go, Rosa!!!! Keep writing and teaching!
I want to thank you. I have grown so much over the past 7/8 years doing your bible studies. I can honestly say I am a much stronger Christian because of your studies. They helped me to fall in love with scriptures like I never have before.
I am doing Children of the Day at the moment. After this post I want to do A Women’s Heart. It is on of the 4 of yours that I haven’t done and some of them twice. God’s Word never gets old and never returns void.
Thank you so much for all you do and go through to bring us Bibile studies. Thank you for your time, your passion, your vulnerability, your sensitivity and the blood, sweat and tears that it takes to study each one out long before it comes to us. I am presently doing Jen Hatmaker’s, “The 7 Experiment” with my daughter and will start “Kingdom Agenda” by Tony Evans in a couple of weeks with my Tuesday Bible study group.
You are precious and highly esteemed and I thank the Lord for his grace in introducing me and so many others to your teaching, and through that, to Him in a personal way. It was Daniel that I first participated in, though I had known of your studies previously. I love talking to my teens about God’s mighty power and frequently allude to your teaching: “…and they didn’t even smell like smoke!”. Love you Siesta Mama! (I first typed manna. Yep, His words through you ARE like manna!)
Thank you for this…i went online during my lunch hour to see if I could find a verse to learn for this week; after a real come to Jesus meeting this morning with the Lord over my sin-wrecked and I mean wrecked life. I can only put one foot in front of the other and all I know are to start at the basics…(word for MOVE FORWARD)
but I came here…and was led to study your first study about Jesus…the one you talked about…I want that what you talked about. I want Jesus to know me by name. I want to know I am forgiven. I want to know your life can be really REALLY changed…by Jesus..not my own efforts. I want that. Now I must chase that.
Your post might not have been meant to help someone today, but it did.
I want it Beth. Pray for me.
I am praying for you right now, Lana. Jesus loves you and is pursuing you and wants to reveal Himself powerfully to you. I so hope you follow through and get that study but, if not that one, something very centered on Jesus Himself. Get to know Him and you WILL be transformed. I feel like He is pressing on my heart to tell you not to put it off. Take a step this very day toward getting into His Word. Don’t let the desire fade for one second. Move forward in this commitment today.
Did children of the day as part of the summer series. My first bible study back after a season of draught ( self imposed). And just starting week 4 of Esther. I hope to never go dry again!
I listened to your Revelation study on DVD this summer.
Learned so much, blessed. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Dear Beth, I have to tell you that you have blessed my life immensely through all of your bible studies. Your transparency and vulnerability to share your life experiences makes your teaching that much more believable. I have experienced so much grace as well but you showed me how to recognize it in my life. God gives grace all the time but for me to see it so I can say “I praise you for it Lord” has been amazing for me. You have taught us to see how God can redeem our lives to be used by him instead of feeling trashed and useless. Thank you, thank you , thank you. Your sister in Christ. Jeanette
Beth, I have been blessed to do and facilitate every one of the Bible studies over the past 15 years. 19 Years ago I attended a women’s conference at a large church in Austin, TX where you were the featured speaker – you’ve come a long way, baby! (In a good way!) God has blessed your journey which in turn has blessed so many others’ including mine. I will never forget doing “Believing God”, going through a tough situation at work, walking down the hallway to a meeting, sticking out my thumb is saying “God is who He says He Is!” I ticked off each finger with each statement of faith. By the time I got to the meeting I was spiritually armed and ready to put the cross of Christ between me and anyone. I’ve been privileged to facilitate your Bible studies since 1999, and now look forward to beginning COD in a few weeks. God bless, encourage & strengthen you in His grace & joy!
Lynn
Feverishly following Jesus IS the greatest adventure, and you have helped guide and teach so many of us along the way.
I cannot believe you are going on 20 years with LifeWay, seems like you just celebrated 15 years, my goodness time flies!
I know you are going to keep going strong in the Lord!
Hi! I started Children of the Day this summer but derailed a bit with getting back into the beginning of school routine. I am anxious to dig back in and am praying for quiet moments in the morning before life ramps up.
Thanks, Beth, for being willing to write and be used by Jesus. You have blessed my life! :)Have you ever thought about writing a Bible study for moms and their teenage daugthers to do together????? 🙂
So Grateful that I was wrong… you have been clear! – not going anywhere! phew!!! 😉
Much love to you! Happy to read your words/teaching!!!
Many blessings upon you Beth, and all you do!
At this time I am going alone in His Word – just Jesus and me! Truly a miracle.
I have done 10 Beth studies plus 1 twice … any study with Beth is a great ride… my hope would be every woman got to taste at least 1 of her studies, to find her contagious joy for the Word!
Thank you Beth Moore!
I am so excited to be starting Children of the Day in a few weeks!!
I am a first generation Christian who has been forever changed by the mercy and grace that has been lavished on me. I just passed a milestone birthday in The Lord!! I am now 14 going on 15!!
At the age of 47 I was completely and utterly transformed and I’ve fallen deeply in love with my Savior Jesus!! If He could save me from the depths of my life anything is possible for anyone anywhere !! Thank you Beth for the huge part your heart and bible studies have had on my discipleship. I am forever grateful.
Went through the homework & discussion for COTD with a small group this summer, so will participate in the full study starting next week so as to see the videos. Also, revisiting Here & Now, There & Then with a friend at her church. Since the homework/reflection for both of those is done, I’ll be participating in a precept study (Hebrews Pt.1) with a group of ladies at my church for my in-depth fall study.
Sincere appreciation for you, Beth, the other authors you mentioned, and others who have helped me on this on-going journey of faith. True women of God, all of you!
smile…. Thank you so much Beth….. 🙂
I am half way through “The Patriarchs”, which I started after finishing the Summer Study of “Children of the Day.
I have also done Esther, A Woman’s Heart, James, Jesus, the One and Only, Daniel, To Live Is Christ, Believing God, Stepping Up, Living Beyond Yourselves,Here and Now..There and Then, So Long Insecurity and Beloved Disciple. I have also done Gideon, Nehemiah.
I have learned so much
God bless you
Marney
Starting Children of the Day next Wednesday, September 10th with my evening group and have over 100 pre-registered, which is huge for us. Just standing in awe of how God is moving to inspire these women to study God’s Word. Can’t wait to get started next week.
I have done all your studies, either solo or with a group. This fall we’re doing Isaiah in one group and Live a Praying Life by Jennifer Kennedy Dean in another. I love traveling through the Bible with you.
I’m doing a study in Ephesians by Dr. Sue Edwards with other seminary wives at Dallas Theological Seminary. I’ve missed your studies in my life these last few years since I’ve been in Dallas on this seminary journey with my husband (and our kids). But I’m thankful to have women to study with no matter the subject or author. I downloaded and printed your Great Forsake and Take pamphlet this morning for some major, gut-wrenching news our family has just received, and it’s been a blessing to my soul. Pouring over those verses like they are the very bread of life to sustain me (because they are). Thank YOU for all you’ve done for women over the years, and for the way you’ve transformed our lives. I count you as one of the greatest mentors and encouragers of my faith, and taking study of the Word of God seriously.
Oh Beth, I just started, A Women’s Heart on Tuesday and I posted it on my FB page and I received tons of replies from friends that study was their favorite. I have been doing your studies since 2005 and not sure why I’m just now doing it, but I have a feeling it will be my new favorite.
Love you much!
Beth, I just want to say how thankful I am for you. Over the years, I have led many of your studies with women in various churches and places. I started with “A Woman’s Heart” just after hearing you speak at a women’s retreat in Calloway Gardens, GA. At the time of the retreat (Balancing the Demands of Life), I had not heard your name before, and I don’t believe “A Woman’s Heart” had been released. I remember that I was praying about which breakout session to attend and felt the Lord impressing me to go to the one on “The Fruit of the Spirit” which was somehow related to fitness. I begged the Lord not to send me to that one (don’t want to hear someone tell me to exercise, etc.), but in hindsight I am so thankful I listened to His voice. I felt your heart for the Lord the minute you hit your knees to pray before speaking. After praying, you broke open the Word with an excitement and freshness that I had not heard before. Then I heard you again giving the closing message on the woman at the well. I still remember vividly what an impact that made on me (and all the ladies who were with me that weekend). All these years later, I am so thankful for the fire the Lord used you to help ignite in my own heart to study His word. I am currently leading a group of ladies through a study of Ephesians. It is so exciting to study on my own and find the truths of His word so fresh and relevant to my life as much now as back then. It encourages my heart to see others who realize the treasure that the living, powerful, life-giving Word of God is. Thanks for your years of faithfulness to His call.
Christi
I just have to say that I’ve done all of the Bible studies as well. My first one was “Jesus, the One and Only.” God has used each study to guide me through different seasons of my life…hard ones and wonderful ones. In that first study, my husband had left me for the third time…God spoke to me what I needed to get me through the agony of that. A long time has passed since that first study and so much has happened since then. Each study I’m currently in is my favorite! I have several of the workbooks but don’t have the videos for the studies. I use them for my daily time with the LORD, and when I’m finishing one I am praying about which book to start next. I was working on “Faithful, Abundant, and True” when a friend started leading “Children of the Day” so I paused on “Faithful…” “Children…” ended and then picked it back up. I have about two days left in that study and will pick up another one next week.
Beth, the LORD and I are close, and I thank God for you. Life has been rough, but God is so faithful. I did file for divorce and it was agonizing to go through that. God has blessed me immensely with two young adult children who are following the LORD, and I am so very thankful. I am grateful for all of the studies. The best part of life is time with the LORD daily. I am a life that has been changed.
Beth, the first time I was asked to lead one of your studies was for Training Union on Sunday nights! Ha! That was awhile ago. It was the study on David and I had about 45 minutes. I didn’t know what to do with the video so we worked in the book. I watched and summarized what I could for them from the video! Oh, how I cheated my little class!!! It had the hairbrush story in that study I think! Over the years, I have put nearly all of the studies in video machines, save a couple—(some are so good we did them twice.) Thankfully, I was able to lead them in the two hours I needed at other times apart from the church hours. So thankful for you and the way God has used you, and me, and so many others through his vision to take your redeemed life and His Word and show women everywhere that (wo) man does not live by bread alone.
I don’t know if it counts as Bible study, but I just started “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer. I’ve come to realized that what I know of God isn’t the half of it, my motives for attempts at knowing Him have been skewed, and I just want to start over and know Him for just Him. I’m hoping this book and study guide will begin that process.
Beth,
After spending the better part of two decades overseas, I landed back in The States, excited to join a Bible Study at home, at long last!
As I stood at the back of a line snaking it’s way up to the Bible Study sign-up table one afternoon, I listened to the women chattering around me and realized I’d missed so much. “Who is Beth Moore?” I wondered. I knew who the Navigators were, but Beth Moore? And for that matter, when did women’s Bible Study become so popular?! I was amazed and thrilled.
I’ve been home now for over a decade and I’m still studying right along with you. Thank you for all of the years you’ve invested in studying God’s Word and for inviting so many along the way. What a blessing.
Our church in Sisters, Oregon is studying Children of The Day!
Children of the Day at my church and studying Ephesians on my own at home 🙂
My dog groomer just became a christian with me, is now going to church & small group with me, and I’m now mentoring her. She wanted to study the bible and I felt led to go thru believing God with her so that’s what we’re doing! I’m needing a fresh reminder my self and I can’t wait as we started this week!! 🙂
It seems that the computer ate my first comment…
Miss Beth, the first in-depth Bible study I ever did was “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things” and that was 9 years ago. You introduced me to the passionate pursuit of truth in the Scriptures and I was ruined for anything lesser! Thank you for that.
The hubby and I are in the last 8 chapters of Ezekiel, with Dr. Warren Wiersbe. (It’s Chris’ first in-depth study!) We plan to move on to Galatians when we finish in the next few weeks, but haven’t picked a workbook or commentary yet.
Starting Children of the Day on Sept 11th with 25 women who love Jesus and love studying His Word!
A Woman’s Heart was my very first Beth Study in January 2008 – the month my husband of 23 years moved out of our home – I was beyond broken and devastated but God captivated my heart during that study and I`ve been studying ever since. I just want to say THANK YOU to Beth – I would NOT have survived these past 6.5 years without your honesty, humor and love for the Word and Jesus! You are my mentor even though we haven`t met yet – will probably not happen until Heaven and I`m ok with that!
I finished the last day of homework in Children of the Day early this morning with tears in my eyes. I’m actually avoiding doing the last video session because I’m afraid I will just BAWL. These studies have meant so much to me. Breaking Free was the first one I did two years ago and since then I’ve walked along with James and the Beloved Disciple, learned from the life of Esther and learned all about secrets in Sacred Secrets. I’ve read through So Long Insecurity a few times and could stand to have some of those truths emblazoned on my forehead. The 5 statements from Believing God are taped to my bathroom mirror as well as a host of other verses from the SSMT. Thank YOU for following the Lord’s call again and again. You will never know the impact that your servant leadership has brought to this 24 year old. I love you dearly and can’t wait to be in Ft. Wayne in two weeks!
When I started to read the Introduction to “Children of the Day,” my heart felt exactly the same as when reading a letter from a dear and longtime friend.