Jackson and Bibby out in Bibby’s backyard throwing the red ball to Star who retrieves it and drops it at our feet no less than thirty times. Jackson keeps glancing at St. Francis statue in flower bed right beside us. Has no idea who the dude in the robe is. Bibby can tell his mental wheels are turning. He keeps throwing ball. Finally stops and stares at St. Francis, brow furrowed, giving the scene some deep thought. Obviously reflects back on the pictures in his Jesus Storybook Bible that Daddy reads him every night. Finally breaks silence:

“Bibby?”

“Yes, Baby?”

“Birds love Jesus.”

Killed me. I’m not letting anybody tell him that’s St. Francis out there. It’s Jesus from now on. After all, who else dresses like that? And, anyway, the birds love Him.

And speaking of birds, one of our most popular LPM staff members who is famous around here first of all for her prayer life but second of all for her hilarious, endearing malapropisms (as in, “I’m just saliva-tating for a work of the Spirit!”) and who will yet remain unnamed, was standing next to me yesterday after I dropped a beautiful glass statuette gift we’d just received on the marble floor in ten thousand pieces. Crestfallen, I said, “I’m such an idiot.” To which she said with all the love and emotion and encouragement in the world and in front of most of the staff, “You are most certainly not! You are blessed and highly feathered!”

Yes. Feathered.

Amanda posted this for me because I’m not good at downloading pictures but it’s from me. Your own Siesta Mama. Although Amanda is blessed and highly feathered, too.

Jackson with the St. Francis/The Birds Loving Jesus statue on Easter

Happy Thanksgiving, My Dear Siestas!

I got up early this morning and recited to our gracious Abba a long list of things I’m thankful for today. Important things like the laughter and love of family. Like lives of purpose even in pain and relief to our insufferable egos that it’s not all about us. Like fellow sojourners who make me want to love Jesus more. Like favorable prognoses for a couple of loved ones recently diagnosed with cancer. For heroic determination to bring glory to God in the lives of several others with less favorable prognoses. For the steel resolve of people I know who are determined to fight the good fight of faith even if it kills them. For four generations of Moores that will celebrate Thanksgiving together today. For our only missing loved ones, Melissa and Colin, and the joy of picturing them gathered around the table with Travis and Angela and Jack and Lily Kate and Levi Cottrell. For two six month-old puppies that bring so much life to this house and for the great relief that they’ve finally quit trying to dig up Beanie and Sunny. For a Texas Chocolate Sheetcake cooling on the counter and the heavenly scent of our very own Natalie Mikles‘ Buttermilk Pie baking in the oven. (Siesta Fiesta Cookbook, p.277!)

Oh, mercy. And for you, Siestas. And for you. I am so thankful for you. You have grown so dear to me this year. Such a blast. Such encouragement. Blessed Community. Day before yesterday I was on a walk with God at our cactus-ranch with my Scripture memory index cards in tow, reciting them to the One who wrote them. This is one of my favorite memory segments of the last year and with deep sincerity and teeming love I speak it over you this special day:

“I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. For you were made rich in every way in Him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge (dig Paul’s inspired concept of real riches! these riches are already yours! claim them and put them to use!) – just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you – so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. GOD IS FAITHFUL, by whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 NET

We are rich in every way.
Nothing makes us richer than the knowledge of Christ and the everyday-speech to share it with a hurting, wandering soul.
We do not lack a single spiritual gift we need to fulfill our destiny.
We will be strengthened by God to the very end then we will flat-out see Jesus.
He will never – not ever – be unfaithful to us.

Yep. That makes for a mighty happy Thanksgiving. Do not under any circumstance let Satan steal your joy and your gratitude today. Get down on the floor of the bathroom at your relative’s house if you have to and grab it back in Jesus’ Name. Give not one inch to your betrayer nor trust his lying tongue. Love the Truth today more than your turkey and dressing and gratitude will flood your heart.

Thank you for being such a sweet part of my life and my pursuit of Jesus. We are a mighty cloud of witnesses. Let’s cheer each other onward, Dear Ones, for the joy set before us!

I lift you to our Father with joy and gratefulness today, Siestas. Thank you for everything.

OK, I don’t have ten seconds to be on here today. I mean it. Not ten seconds. I’ve got to write all my intros and outros for the Breaking Free taping so don’t even think about tempting me to linger. But what I saw on television this morning while watching my usual half hour of Good Morning America and putting on my mascara should not go without comment. Did you know that you can now purchase shoes that automatically work out your gluteus maximus when you walk? And that’s not all! You can now buy Splenda with a gram of fiber in it.

I’m just saying.

To my beloved Sisters who I esteem so highly and consistently find to be part of the solution to our problems in the Church rather than the cause,

Please join me in praying for our President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and his precious daughters, Sasha and Malia. Go with me before the Throne of our sovereign God and ask Him to grant wisdom from above to President-elect Obama and the indwelling presence and power of Jesus Christ. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…”

Please also join me in the active and deliberate pursuit of unity and purity in the Body of Christ at this historical time in our country. I implore you in Jesus’ Name to have zero tolerance for prejudice whether it is regarding party-affiliation, color (whether you are Black, White, or Brown), economics or the like. Disagreement is not sin. Prejudice is. Satan has plotted events and planted attitudes that, should he be successful, will result in havoc. We must not stand for his schemes or cooperate in a single way. We would severely displease God and invite untold chastisement upon Christ’s Church in our nation. Speak clearly to your children and graciously but emphatically draw a line in your work places and social circles regarding your stand against prejudice of any kind.

“Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.'” (Matthew 12:25) A united house stands. A divided house falls. The devil has much to gain. But he also has much to lose.

We are the Body of Jesus Christ and we have an opportunity to show His character. This is our watch. We stand for what is right not from our feet but from our knees.

I humble myself before you and make these pleas under such bold direction of God that I could not resist it nor disobey it. He made it a fire in my bones.

I love and esteem you so much. Shoulder to shoulder, Dear Siestas. Let’s leave not one inch for the enemy to come between us.

“Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” Zephaniah 3:9

A few things I’m so thankful for on this election day, regardless of the outcome:

*We live in a democracy where we have the right to a vote and a voice. We have the God-given responsibility to use both wisely and in the way that best reflects what God conveys through Scripture.

*God “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” and “according to the plan.” Ephesians 1:11

*Not only does God work out everything in conformity with His will, He has promised to work out everything for the GOOD of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

*God sets up kings and deposes them and gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

*We, the beautifully diverse family of God, are never – not at any time – powerless. Nor are we ever victims of a system. Believing prayer takes us through doors we’ll never be invited to enter and into judges chambers we’ll never grace. Take a look back at Genesis 18 once again with astonishment over the dialogue between God and His servant and friend, Abraham. Rejoice that God is ever mindful of a faithful remnant. The Judge of the Earth will always do right.

*Even if persecution should await believers in Christ or harrowing circumstances hound us, God will use hardship to bring unity and purity to a people who need it desperately. The best of circumstances do not always produce the best in the Bride of Christ.

*The living God is firmly established upon His Throne and there at His holy feet we can always find grace and mercy in our time of need.

*No matter what happens today, we are GOD’S elect. He has elected us to show His heart and to walk in His ways in the culture that surrounds us. We are called to walk in the challenging balance of grace and truth.

May we be filled with Christ’s Spirit today and our mouths given to praise and to believing, receiving prayer. God IS faithful and He has us firmly in His hand. We will not fear. We will not doubt. We will not hate.

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12

I remain your servant,
Beth

Hey, Darling Things! We’ve been getting many questions about political issues and all-things-election. Just want you to know that we care VERY MUCH and have been busy praying but the nature of our LPM non-profit status forbids ANYTHING political in nature to come from or out of this ministry. That’s the reason for our silence at such an important time but you can be assured of two things: 1) We are on our knees and wide-eyed to see what God has next for our country, and 2) We are servants to anyone who will allow us the privilege. I love all of you very much.

We have one aim in all things: that Jesus Christ is exalted.

*From Amanda*
If you receive a text message or email that says Beth Moore is calling for prayer for a particular candidate tonight, please know that it is fraudulent and help us out by not passing it on. And since the one about Kay Arthur’s message at Deeper Still is still going around, I’ll take a second and say again that it didn’t originate with Beth either. Thanks so much!