Hey, you guys!
I can’t even put into words how you’ve flooded my mind as LifeWay and I commemorated the graciousness of our God in 20 years of Bible study partnership. Without you sitting on the other side of that page and that screen, the first study would have become a hideous purple and yellow dust collector at your neighborhood LifeWay Store and the second study wouldn’t exist. For every minute of those 20 years, God has used you to drive me to a blank word-document and type in the words Week One: Day One. Picturing us both – two women (you younger, older, married, single, Black or White, on your 1st study or 15th) trying to live this faith thing out in the harsh world – with an open Bible between us, studying, seeking, praying, page-turning, thinking, discussing, maybe not even always agreeing, laughing, and crying together with one preeminent goal: to love Jesus more when we closed the workbook than when we opened it – this is what God has used to keep me at it.
To share the Scriptures with you. To pursue Christ with you. To run the race with you. To hear Jesus speak through His Word with you. THAT has been ministry to me. I am a girl in the Scriptures who wants to see girls in the Scriptures. That’s it in a nutshell.
I have no vocabulary poetic enough, no font large enough, no volume loud enough to say thank you the way I want to convey it. My heart is nearly sore from all the emotion that I have felt in the last several days as I have glanced back over my shoulder with my beloved man, my two daughters, my son-in-law, and my ridiculously adorable grandchildren. God’s grace has been poured out in scandalous proportions to me because of the cross of Christ. God got us through. And He is getting us through. And He will continue to get us through.
I got on here to show you something else which I’ll get to in just a moment but bringing up my grandchildren makes me think of the picture that Amanda clicked of the kids and me when we were all leaving the hotel for the LifeWay Bible study team celebration dinner Tuesday night.
Come on, now. Jackson was so handsome in his suit that I could hardly stand it and don’t get me started on Annabeth and her purse that her Aunt Melissa gave her for Christmas. Y’all please forgive my hair. I’d already anticipated that the team was going to have terribly embarrassing pictures of 20 years of my huge hair at the celebration dinner and, lo and behold, if it was not as big that night as it had ever been. Poetic justice.
But here’s what I’m trying to tell you about. At the LifeWay chapel service on Wednesday morning, Dr. Thom Rainer (LifeWay president) took a drape off of a breathtakingly beautiful picture (so much prettier than it appears from a distance)…
…then told the audience and me the story behind it. The creative image is comprised of bits and pieces of all the covers of the Bible studies throughout the 20 years plus some cuttings from various pages within the workbooks. I was floored. It will hang in my home for the rest of my days as one of the dearest keepsakes I own. To this former pit-dweller, it is fluid grace stuffed into a frame.
Which brings me to the catalyst for this post. At lunch today I told my staff about the picture and showed them some photographs of it on my cell phone so that they could grasp the idea. They’ll see it in a few days when it arrives but I knew they’d love hearing the backstory Dr. Rainer told the audience. My staff here at LPM also knows that the gift was even more significant and fitting because, throughout the years, I’ve hung a picture in my office to represent each of the studies. For instance, this depiction of Moses hangs on my wall to represent the tabernacle study, A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place.
And this one depicting Peter and John running to the empty tomb represents Beloved Disciple.
This one of Daniel in the lion’s den is one of my very favorites.
You get the idea. So, nothing on earth LifeWay could have given me to represent 20 years of Bible study partnership would have thrilled me more completely than a gorgeous conglomeration of them all.
I got back from lunch and walked into my office and pushed the button on my new coffee maker. While I waited impatiently for it to fill up the cup, I checked Twitter. I could not believe it when I saw that the place of business LifeWay commissioned to create the picture had tweeted me with a link to a blog post about how they did it. I read it, slack-jawed.
Some of you are so creative that I thought you’d get a charge out of seeing how it was done. They took great pictures of the process and you’ll also see the end result. If you like this kind of thing, here is the link.
I could write for hours, telling you how much it meant to me to commemorate these 20 years with my beloved family. They’ve given so much to it. The grace God has shown me through Keith, Amanda, and Melissa for 30 years of ministry and 20 years of publishing is staggering. My heart has been wrecked with love and gratefulness to them in these days of looking back. Rich, our LPL photographer, was there this week at the celebration and, as soon as I get some pictures from him, I’ll do a picture post instead of overloading you with words. I’m trying to accept that most people don’t read long blog posts anymore.
I love you guys. The honor of having served you and presently serving you is a privilege that I can hardly wrap my mind around. I do not take it for granted. You are noticed here and loved here. I’ll be in touch soon. AND, we have our SSMT post coming up in just a few days!
Hold tight to Jesus, Girls. He is everything.
Please know that we never take YOU for granted. Your love for Jesus just overflows. God always has at least ONE major thing He teaches me in every one of your studies that I have done, but overwhelmingly, what always rocks my world, is your genuine, sincere love for Jesus and the amazing relationship you have with Him. I have never wanted to be you or to “worship” you….but to emulate and obtain the kind of relationship you have with Jesus…that is my goal and I thank you for living that in front of us…letting us know that it is real…and obtainable. You have my eternal thanks and gratitude.
Love your blog and your pics! This might seem shallow, but I would love some beauty tips from you.
This gift was amazing and so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Blessing to you today & always 🙂
Wow! Beth, I am truly impressed with the work that has gone into that lovely picture of the vase and flowers made entirely of all your studies over the past 20 years. I imagine you might have been tearing up and I know you were feeling deep gratitude to God because it would have been like He was giving this gift to you as a thank you for being a truly loyal and faithful servant. God Bless you, Beth.
Amazing & so well deserved! What a creative way to remember! Makes me want to get crafty now!
That is such a beautiful gift!!! I’m so glad you included the link to how it was made-I can’t wait to check it out 🙂 And long blog posts between friends are just lingering longer together. I’ve heard you say many times that in a world of instant gratification, we need to stretch ourselves to have longer attention spans and stay the course 😉 Much love to you, sister!
Love,
Audrey
What a beautiful gift! My immediate thought was that we needed a bigger picture, but a blog post with lots of pictures is even better! 🙂 After I grab a cup of tea I will be following the link. Thank you for sharing and Praise God for 20 years! He is so good!
And as others have also piped up, some of us still do have an attention span, so keep the long posts coming. Although I tend to be pretty silent here, I do read and appreciate each and every post and the sweet community here.
Love and hugs.
I didn’t even bother with tea, and clicked right over to see the artwork. My eyes filled with tears when I saw it up close and saw the verse selected to be on the jar. God is so awesome! What beautiful talent and what a sweet and thoughtful gift to commemorate 20 years!
Congratulations, Beth!!!! I look forward to seeing how your beautiful artwork was made! What a treasure! I am so thankful for you! Can I just say, I love your hair! Through all the years and all the studies you have looked gorgeous! I am from CA, (i.e., the land of flat ironed hair), but not once has your hair looked “too big” to me! You go ahead and rock it!
Beth,
Thank you….the truths in your studies over the years are such treasures. You have taught me so much, I will always be grateful. Thank you again for allowing His light to shine through your work.
Beth and Staff at Living Proof Ministies,
I hope you never quit cranking out the studies, because I never want to stop taking them. There are only three I haven’t done and I hope to get to do them soon.
Thanks for writing them, you helped me fall in love with bible study and really learn my way around my bible.
Love,
A VERY grateful student of His word,
Jan
What a lovely blog post.
Thank YOU Beth…..for allowing God to transform you into such an amazing teacher of His Word! And for constantly encouraging us and reminding us to “Hold tight to Jesus.” He truly is EVERYTHING!!!!❤️
What an amazing, unique, creative, beautiful creation. I loved seeing how they made it!
I know you’ve heard this over and over these last few days and these last 20 years, but I’ll add my voice to the clamor – thank you so much for being faithful to your calling. My mother invited me to one of your events when I was in my early 20s I think it was…I had never heard of you and honestly don’t remember much of the event. I was not a Christian (although raised in church my entire life, made multiple “professions”/rededications, etc) and had hardened my heart to God after having many horrible things (including several different forms of abuse) happen to me. BUT, God didn’t leave me to my sin, but rescued me from the deepest, darkest pit of my own choosing. And I am SO grateful! And then, He brought me to a women’s Bible study where lo and behold, they were using your studies! I had never studied the Bible before but as a voracious reader and learner, I was thrilled with your studies. You brought things out of the Scripture and put them together in a way I’d never heard and could never have thought of. And you ALWAYS made it clear that it was all about Jesus and not about YOU! So no worries about misplaced worship from me…I am just SO grateful that through all of the pain and hardship and spiritual warfare that you’ve endured and I’m sure continue to face that you never quit, never threw in the towel. I’ve now been studying the Bible for almost 11 years and my life has changed in so many ways. I’ve done almost every single one of your studies (some twice!) and am currently doing “Breath.” I’ve done other studies by other authors also but I’m always excited for your new work. I know you’ve been hard at work with God on it and I know He’ll use it to teach me something new about Himself. So thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your life and your gift. I’ll probably never meet you here (and even if I did, I would be too shy to even say hello), but let me tell you, once we meet in eternity, I can’t wait to hug your neck! 🙂
That is so beautiful! A touchstone of remembrance for sure! Just awesome.
Thanks so much for the link to our blog post Beth. The comments have been pouring in today on the post and many people have been blessed by seeing the art. Kristi and I are so happy you love the piece, and are so grateful to Jon Rodda for the opportunity to do this for you. It was an honor.
That is just incredible!! Brought tears to my eyes!!
Loved reading how they made the artwork. What a thoughtful and wonderful way for LifeWay to show their appreciation for all that you have done! I think we are all very thankful for your contribution of many wonderful Bible studies that have helped us deepen our walk with the Lord.
Thank you and congratulations!
Beth,
You will never know this side of heaven how YOU and the LORD working through you have blessed me and countless others through these studies. Thank you for being transparent and a willing vessel to share with others.
PS Would lifeway or you consider offering a 4×5 or 5×7 print of the artwork for purchase? just a thought…
love you in Jesus name, can’t wait for the next 20 years!
Michelle! What a great idea! It would totally be up to the creators of artwork but wouldn’t that be fun??? I might look into that.
Oh Beth ….
PLEASE DO….PLEASE DO….I immediately wished that very thing…..it would mean Sooooooooo…..much to those of us who have labored in love thru all these studies…….keep us posted….
I agree with Michelle. Beth, you can’t possibly know this side of Heaven the impact you have had on thousands of our lives. I just hope when you get to Heaven, Jesus will sit you down and show you. Until then Sister, I love you more than words can say.
Beth, From the very first Bible study I did of yours, I was in love with you and your love for God. I have completed several of your Bible studies and have seen you in person twice. You are such an inspiration and encourager. God bless you each and every day and may you continue writing books and Bible studies.
Love,
Your Sister in Christ, Joy
What a BEAUTIFUL gift!! Loved seeing the detail and process of making it!
Precious Beth,
I cannot tell you how you have blessed and grown me through God’s Word in these 20 years. But I can’t help but think back to my newly single again days when I went to Glorieta NM for a retreat. I took a class with this darling bobbed blonde teacher who gave me the introduction to years of precious study. It was A Woman’s Heart. I’ve learned from you ever since and I don’t think I’ve missed a study. Thank you. And thank you for being willing to do what God has gifted you to do!
Read every word; there are still some long blog readers out there so don’t stop doing Beth. Laughed so hard at the quips about your hair, you always find a way to just crack me up! Oh that laughter is sure good medicine for the soul. Thank you my dear sister.
Thanks for sharing your day with us. Loved the picture and the illustration of how it was made.
God bless you good.
Congratulations! What an incredibly gorgeous gift to an incredibly gorgeous woman. Inside and out.
Thank you for all you do.
Oh, and don’t bother shortening the posts. Your blog is one that is totally worth taking the time to read 🙂
love you, Carolyn
What an amazing and beautiful gift. I can only speak for myself but I never tire of your words whether serious or funny. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Beth, I am so glad that Jesus put us in the same time span, the same continent and the same country. I am one blessed woman! Thanks for 20+ years of this hard work that you call a labor of love. XO
Congratulations Momma Beth! Thank you so much for pouring your life and heart out to Jesus and leading us into a real life, loving relationship with our Abba & Savior-Yeshua.
Jesus used you to show me how to interact, hear from, & know our God… I knew there had to be something more! And indeed there was. 🙂 I am eternally grateful.
I’m with the other ladies, btw… no need to shorten the blog posts… yet at the same time I also love your photo stories. 🙂
Many blessings & much love and affection.
Anna
AWESOME……In the words of the late, great Rich Mullins…. “Our God is an AWESOME God”……
#A-mazingly
#W-onderfully
#E-motionally
#S-tunningly
#O-verwhelmingly
#M-ajestically
#E-ternally…….
Grateful that a “Greene”(no pun intended
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. What amazing talents the people at Juicebox have been given! I’m all about using your gifts for God’s glory. Enjoy your beautiful gift. It is amazingly special just like you. Blessings!
Oh, PLEASE don’t cut back on blog posts! I can’t tell you how much your words mean to me, as well as so many others, I’m sure. It’s like a little personal connection with you, rather than just seeing you on a screen, or even reading your books. Your blog posts are so personal and heartfelt and fun and passionate. I truly feel like I know you; and even though you don’t know me personally, like we’re friends.
Keep up the blog posts! They are loved. But you are loved even more. <3
What an absolutely beautifully deserved gift!! I love your studies because they really draw me into God’s word like an irresistible force. Your passion for Jesus is conveyed so beautifully in your studies,that its contagious! Thank u Beth, your work has greatly helped and blessed my journey of growing closer to Christ.
Loved reading this! Thank you for staying the course. Gorgeous artwork- how very creative.
And please don’t shorten the blog posts. I often read them via my email on my phone- and they seem to come through at just the right times.
It’s been our pleasure and privilege to share this journey
What a wonderful way to commemorate 20 years of Bible studies! I’m glad their gift was so meaningful to you, Beth — we appreciate all the hard work you have put into your studies over the years. I know it was a labor of love. Thanks for allowing the Holy Spirit to use you to disciple many women to know and love Jesus more!
Thank you Beth!!! Papa God has used you in a huge way to get to know Him in ways I never could’ve imagined. Even though you are there and me and so many others are other places…you are a dear friend and mentor to me from Texas to Florida! Grace and peace and blessings to you and your dear family!
I agree. Don’t shorten your posts. They are worth reading.
The picture is so beautiful and was done so caringly. The verse on the jar, so appropriate.
This year my group is doing your study, children of the Day, 1&2 Thessalonians.
God is at work in our hearts. Thank you for your faithfulness and hard work to bring us encouragement to serve the Living God.
Congratulations, Beth! Thank you for all the walks through the Word. I have learned so much through your studies and have come closer to God through them. Thank you! I hope you don’t ever stop creating these studies. Please don’t worry about long blog posts. I love them! I feel like I’m sitting down with you over a cup of coffee. Thank you for taking the time to write the blog and not just snippets. Hey — I have big hair too. Love it. Won’t ever change. Here’s to big hair!!
As i have shared in times past, when i encounter any of Beth Moore’s Studies, i take my lifetime with them. Meaning, that most cases i will outlive the length of 6-9 weeks worth in the study and enjoy it at my own life pace, and everytime i invest that hour for that day’s study, often it speaks to me of the current circumstances i’m in .
I just have finished “Stepping Up”. and upon the last page Beth Moore shares of the STory of how Keith observed a fawn discovering mud for the first time and tried to buck and kick it off its hooves.
as i did, i had a vision. this is the excerpt from my blog. i hope it will encourage you as it did me :
onthe last page, Beth Moore shares a story of her husband watching a baby fawn make its first discovery of mud on its hooves and begins to dance and kick around to try to get it off.
as i was reading this story, i saw a vision of caked mud crumbling and breaking off the bottom side of a pair of sandals walking up the steps to the temple of Jerusalem.
A woman among many has made the long journey to the temple. as She breathes inthe arrival and worship to God, she realizes all too soon that her journey is now complete as she now is needing to head back home after worshipping her God .
As her strengthened spirit leads her down the temple steps, she almost trips as she feels a crack and breaking beneath her. Catching herself nearly falling, she steadily sits on the steps to examine what happened. SHe glances down at her feet. wow. she thought, i hadn’t seen her feet for most of the journey – and her feet showed the epic harshness of her journey across desert. She gently brushes her hand against the one sandal to discover the mishap – a broken sandal.
in awe she slips off the sandal and observes the damage, but intrigued that the sandals had endured the entire trip! but then soon, she began to swoon over the scuffs and broken straps, as each mark, each defect, but a moment of her journey here to memory. Moments she almost gave up. Moments that she had to fight. Moments of joy and celebration. Moments of dredging on early mornings to beat the heat.
Her sandals had her own story, of how she made it to her destination. almost lovingly she smiles as she caresses them and begin to shed some tears of how faithful these sandals had been just like her God who carried her here.
in only a brief sigh of relief, the woman is startled by a pair of outstretched hands, and in them, a brand new pair of sandals. in shock the woman looks up to see a man who became aware of her dilemna and smiles in a curteous fashion to extend the new pair to her to wear for the journey home.
A fresh pair , and a new path, this is a blessing the woman thought. She nods in kind gratitude as she slips on the fresh pair while nestled her old pair on her lap. They fit perfectly!
But oddly enough, the gentleman’s hands were still extended to her. Perplexed, she studies his face for a reason. He then points to her old pair, the broken, tattered, mud caked ones that sat quietly on her lap.
Quickly before he had a chance she craddled and clentched the broken sandals to her chest. The man, is now the one confused. he looked astranged at her and asked, “Woman, those shoes have done their job, and these new ones will bring you home on a new path, why keep your old ones still? they serve no purpose!”
the woman began to solemnly weep as she held onto the sandals tighter.
“Kind sir, please understand. It is not that im not grateful for your gift of these new sandals. but there is a treasure of the ones i just have broken. Because they tell a most beautiful story of the journey i have taken to get here, and never thought i would make it. every rip, tear and crack, they speak to me of the journey, and remind me of His faithfulness to me as even these sandals did to bring me here. It’s not that i will need them for use, but they will be a use for me. Because i fear if i lose these shoes, i will lose the journey, and i will forget. i don’t want to ever forget how i came to here and that one day i can make it here again.”
dusted cheeks were now soiled by tears runing down and now soaking her broken worn sandals.
“I fear i will forget the journey, i don’t ever want to forget the journey”
The man finally understood, and with a sympathetic nod, bids her farewell and leaves her on the steps.
Yes – we may be starting a new and fresh journey, but we can’t forget how we got to the pinnacle of our arrival, the dust tears and sweat can tell a story only from God’s perspective that we can overcome to be where we need to be.
Oh my! So incredibly lovely. Is there any chance copies could be made and sold? Even just an 8×10? I have done all your studies except one (I’ll get to it someday, good golly) and they have transformed my life. It would be a sweet reminder of all the Lord’s done through you.
I think Beth is actually looking into the possibility! We’ll of course let you know if the designer can make those available. Blessings!
Patti in Richmond, Tx. writes “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. ESV Psalms 32:7
Beth, I read your posts – short, video, long or otherwise – The journey of Paul was my first Bible study EVER at the age of 30. Having been raised in church, it blew me away that you actually STUDY the Bible. The study was pretty challenging so I took it again a few years later. I felt my journey in Christ had just begun – I was hooked on His Word. Next month I will be going to Greece to walk in Paul’s footsteps! God has used you and your studies to speak life into me and I am eternally grateful! I enjoyed ready the process behind the portrait. What a legacy! We are your treasure laid up in Heaven!
Sue, Granbury, TX “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1, NASBible)
I am one of those people who read the entire blog! Had I not, I would have missed your recognition of Rich! We met at the Baltimore taping of the Patriarchs and he later photographed my wedding/reception almost 10 years ago! Not only have you been a wonderful influence in my life but you have also surrounded yourself with beautiful men and women of God! It’s a testimony of any leader to maintain a staff and relationships with those you work with for so long! Thank you and I look forward to another 20 years of your teachings!
God bless,
Ruth
Stephanie – Arlington, Texas Psalm 18:6 But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
I enjoy your long posts! And I (almost) always read every word of them. (Laughing).Thank you, Beth, for about 10 years of doing your Bible studies. I promise that I know, love, and trust our glorious Lord more with every study — and that I love my sisters and the whole Body more because of them, as well. “Thank you” is not sufficient but will have to do. God continue to bless you and your family!
So much I could say but what is bursting out of my fingers right now is that I love long blog posts, read them and and love them.
The end.
Melissa, Durham NC, Psa 105:1 KJV
O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name:
make known his deeds among the people. Psa105:1KJV
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What a beautiful and fitting tribute for God’s faithful handmaiden!
Thank you for staying the course and touching my heart.
Oh Beth and family,
You have been MY teacher for 12 of those 20 years and I am so thankful! My 2nd oldest daughter turns 13 next week and I remember her just as a baby with her older sister being taken to the nursery at church so I could go to my first study, Breaking Free. After that I was SOLD on Jesus and learning His word. I’ve completed 9 of your studies, not counting No Other Gods and Gideon. During the years when I was teaching Children’s church every Sunday YOU was my “preacher”. When people would ask me where I get filled up, I would ask them if they had ever heard of you. Your studies have taught me to dig deep into the Word. To pray scripture, to know the greek meaning, to know that LORD is GOD and Lord is Jesus. To understand who Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were and what they mean to me. To remember that God is who He says He is, and that He can do what He says He can do. That I am who He says I am and that I can do all things through Christ. I remember your stories that taught me something. Like the one about Melissa in the cooler. I’ve read Feathers from me Nest and learned to cherish every moment, even when the hair brush keeps disappearing. I learned how to Have a Heart like His and that God is the cloud before and and behind me. I learned how to really pray using P.R.A.I.S.E. from my favorite devotional of yours (that I can’t remember the name of right now!) I’ve learned that you have to speak it if you want the devil to hear it, he can’t read your mind. I’ve learned to LOVE, like you did at the airport when you brushed that mans hair. SO much I could go on for hours, maybe all day. THANK YOU Beth for your obedience, it has blessed SO,SO,MANY! Now, to start planning that next bible study!
That was a beautiful story! Along with all these others and many more who aren’t on your blog, we all thank you, Beth, for your faithfulness all these years. We love you. We love your passion that lights our own souls on fire with renewed love for God’s Word. You’ve inspired me to study in such a way that I don’t know what to do with myself if I’m not studying something!
May God richly bless you and reward you for your Kingdom work. May He continue to lead you as you lead us. May He fill your heart and mind in ways you’ve not experienced yet… more than we can ask or imagine.
All my love as my prayers for you continue.
LeaAnn Goodman, Lexington, KY
“I have told you these things, so that in Me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
(Jesus says we WILL have trouble – not that we may have trouble. But He has overcome this world & He is our peace.)