July 2008 Archives
Sophie - July 30, 2008 - Comments (6)
I loved reading all of your suggestions and recommendations for Bible studies, and I thought I'd throw a suggestion in the ring because, well, I like to share.
(Total sidenote: earlier today I told my little boy that I wanted him to repeat something to his daddy that he'd said to me, and he looked at me for a second, sighed, and said, "OH, MAMA - ARE WE ALL GONNA TALK ABOUT IT OR SOMETHING? I GET TIRED OF ALL THE TALKING."
And what I wanted to say - but didn't - was "Son, you are an official resident of an over-communication zone, where no topic is off-limits and no conversation is EVER short."
The child comes from a long line of over-sharers. Bless his sweet little heart.)
ANYWAY, there's a new Bible study called Anointed, Transformed and Redeemed: A Study of David. It was filmed at Deeper Still in Nashville last September, and y'all, when I tell you that it was the most impactful weekend of teaching I have ever experienced in my life, I mean it.
The structure is clear and effective: Priscilla focuses on David's early life; Beth focuses on David's middle-aged years; and Kay focuses on the last part of his life. I think anyone would be blessed by the teaching from that particular weekend, especially if you're in a season where you know the Lord is calling you in a new direction (which is right where I was livin' last September).
There's not a doubt in my mind that you will be encouraged and convicted by what you learn. I cannot say that enough.
Have a great Thursday, everybody!
Pam Case - July 29, 2008 - Comments (6)
This, at the time of this writing, is actually a "live post" while I am listening to a nationwide conference call with Beth Moore, Travis Cottrell and participating simulcast churches across this nation.
This weekend, LifeWay Women is hosting one of the most amazing women's events of the year. It's called Living Proof Live with Beth Moore: The Simulcast. It will be broadcast LIVE from Louisville, KY into over 700 churches across our land, including four additional countries.
Right now, this very moment, we are gathered together by phone to update churches on last minute "nuts and bolts" about hosting the broadcast this weekend. BUT, most of all, we are gathered today to pray!! This is so amazing.
I truly am having a hard time describing how awesome this really is ... listening to simulcast church coordinators lifting up prayer needs related to the broadcast this weekend.
It's so awesome to hear Travis Cottrell say that while "we feel so inadequate" (I know I feel that way every day), God has called us for this very time to serve Him in this ministry through technology and this live broadcast coming up Friday and Saturday.
Travis just announced that he and the praise team will be leaving Nashville early Friday morning to drive to the simulcast church in Louisville. And, WOW! He is telling us as they drive north, they will call out loud the name of EVERY HOST CHURCH, lifting up in prayer those churches who have opened their doors in their communities for this event.
I have tears in my eyes at my desk here at LifeWay as I listen to close to 400 simulcast coordinators across this country attempting to all say "hello Beth" at one time as she joined our conference call today. I'm telling you, the Holy Spirit is already moving as we anticipate what God has in store for women on August 1 and 2.
Beth just shared she is still listening to the Lord about what He would have her to share this weekend. I love that! She told us today that we are part of something that we cannot do ... not without God. Only He could come up with this event and it is through Him that all of this will be accomplished.
These women have brought us so many concerns going on in their lives today. Yet God has given us technology like a satellite broadcast where He can "do His thing" in many places through a single event. Beth just talked with us about obedience and that we need to simply lift Him up ... then allow God to do what he does, drawing women unto Himself.
It won't be by what we do in our own strength, but we are asking God to just place us where He needs us to be to reach out to make the name of Jesus famous.
Ladies, there are SO many involved in this one event - literally hundreds and hundreds of people serving to pour into women who will come from the four corners of this country and beyond.
Beth prayed and shared, then bowing down before our Lord saying "this broadcast is Yours ... It's Your Kingdom. And we will not be concerned or worried about all the technicalities of this broadcast. We just won't get distracted by the technicalities. We are now focused on Jesus doing His thing."
LifeWay Women's Events Director Paige Greene said it all today when she said "This is a God-sized event".
Today, we the LifeWay team, truly realized we can no longer manage this event. Beth was so right when she asked God to take over and anoint August 1 & 2 and all the churches participating.
And guess what? It is not too late for YOU to participate. You may locate a church here, and simply register at the door at a church near you!
Grab up a friend or relative or two and celebrate what God has for you in this life!
Again, we'll all do what needs to be done to get ready for Living Proof Live: The Simulcast. But it is not about us, is it? It is ALL about our Lord Jesus.
Let us know if you decided today to join us! We'd love to hear from you!
And if you cannot attend, we would ask that you'd commmit to praying for God's mighty movement this weekend! I cannot wait to hear the testimonies come Monday ... can you?!!
Okay, I am in need of some assistance. Actually my beloved Bible study group is in need of assistance and I just know y'all will be able to help us out.
I mentioned before that we first started meeting last summer. We did Beth Moore's "Jesus, The One and Only" study and we all agreed that it was awesome. I loved meeting every week and hearing what everyone had learned as they completed their homework.
Then, last fall, we did "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place" by Beth Moore. (Is it just me or do you sense a theme?) We loved it and it was really cool to be immersed in the Old Testament after spending the summer learning about Jesus. It allowed us to get a grasp on God's plan from the very beginning.
In the spring, we went through "Believing God", also by Beth. This has been my personal favorite so far because it completely ministered to me where I am at this point in my life. I watched my faith and trust in God grow immeasurably during that time and, even now when I feel the fear and doubt start to rise, I begin to say "God is who He says He is, He can do what He says He can do, I am who God says I am, I can do all things through Christ, God's word is alive and active in me." And I feel his peace envelop me.
Guess what we're doing this summer? Another Beth Moore study. SHOCKING.
It's "A Heart Like His" and is about the life of David. It's pure awesome.
We know we want to meet in the fall, but we're trying to decide on a study. Our summer study is actually going to run through mid-September because of vacation schedules, etc., so we're looking for something that may be a little shorter.
It would be ideal if we could find something that we could finish by early December so that we can break for the holidays.
So what Bible studies have you loved? Any suggestions? Any of you doing Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods" on LPM? Do you love it? We need some input.
Our Bible study future is in your hands.
Seriously, no pressure.
We're counting on you.
Sophie - July 28, 2008 - Comments (4)
Thanks, y'all, for such a great response to the giveaway! Here are the ten winners of Vicki Courtney's award-winning book Teen Virtue Confidential.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
92 - Bobbie Jo
113 - strawberry rose (11:40 comment)
45 - LeAnn (3:15 comment)
79 - Nicole @ On The Run
25 - Kari Decker (3:08 comment)
61 - Deborah McCartt (6:56 comment)
62 - Tracy (6:57 comment)
19 - Darlene
130 - Tracy Harvey
117 - Annette (7:11 comment)
If you won, you don't have to do a thing right now (except for jump up and down, of course). Someone will be emailing you to get your mailing info since it is oftentimes handy to have a person's full name and address when sending her some sort of prize.
We're hoping to do even more giveaways in the weeks and months to come, so if there's a Lifeway product you'd love to try to win, let us know in the comments. We'd love to see if we can make it happen.
Have a great week, everybody!
So Vicki Courtney, she is quite the writer. In fact, her book Teen Virtue Confidential recently won a Christian Book Award, which, if you ask me, is oh-so-sassy.
Because I don't know if y'all have been in a bookstore recently or not, but there are sort of a lot of books in there.Twelves of them, even.
But Vicki's book is so excellent that it stands to reason it was recognized. Teen Virtue Confidential offers "God-focused answers to real questions sent in from teenage girls," with emphasis on "The Future, Guys, Body Development and Sex, and Faith." And in addition to the great content, the design of the book will appeal to moms and daughters alike - it's modern, fresh, funky and fun.
So in celebration of Vicki's award and her phenomenal book, we're giving away ten (10!) copies of Teen Virtue Confidential. All you have to do to be eligible to win is to leave a comment. Just say hi. Or tell us a joke. Or share your new favorite color of lip gloss. We love variety.
This giveaway will be open until Monday, July 28 at 9 AM central, at which point we'll close comments and use random.org to select the winners.
Enjoy, y'all!
This giveaway is now closed.
Five and a half years ago, P and I sat in a room while an ultrasound technician looked at the screen and told us we were having a baby girl.
I had long suspected it was a girl, but actually hearing the words made me start to cry. I was going to have a daughter!
As much as I thought I knew about having a girl, since, you know, I am one, there have been so many things that have surprised me.
Things like how 5 1/2 pounds of baby sweetness wrapped in a fluffy pink blanket caused my life to change forever or how obsessed I'd become with finding hairbows to match every outfit.
But of all the moments that have caught me unaware, the biggest one happened a few months ago.
Late one night, I heard Caroline calling for me from her room. I went in to see what she needed and she started to cry. Not just a little cry for sympathy, but a real heart-wrenching sobbing kind of cry.
She told me she had some "thoughts in her brain" that she couldn't get out of her head. And as I pressed her to tell me what was going on, she began to tell me about how one of her little girlfriends had been mean to her that day at school.
She'd told Caroline that unless Caroline played the game she wanted to play then she wasn't going to play with her anymore and would tell the other girls not to play with her either.
Before that time I had never wished harm on a four-year-old child, but I had also never experienced someone being mean to my baby. I had a strong desire to call that other little girl and threaten her Polly Pocket collection.
But, of course, that would have been inappropriate. And also psychotic.
The thing that struck me was the fact that "mean girl" politics had arrived in preschool. I thought it would be sometime around junior high and orthodontia before Caroline came home in tears because of something another girl said or did.
I was shocked we reached that occasion before elementary school.
Vicki Courtney is in the middle of working on a great new Bible study/DVD called "Five Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter" and she could use your input.
For those of you raising daughters, what have you had to deal with that has caught you completely off-guard?
Also, what are some situations you have encountered where you have not allowed her to participate in/do/own something and then been discouraged when her friends' parents give in with their own daughters. In other words, fill in the blank: "But Mom, eveeeeeeeryone but me gets to/has a ___________________ !"
And lastly, (oh I am demanding today) how old was your daughter when you experienced these moments?
I'd love to sympathize with those of y'all in the same stage and begin to pray hard as I realize what lies ahead.
Several months ago I discovered that a bunch of women who read Beth Moore's blog were planning attend Living Proof Live in San Antonio on August 22-23 so that our little online community could enjoy some real-live fellowship together.
And since I tend to err on the side of obsessively relational, I thought that meeting bloggy friends in person sounded like more fun than a bucket of fried chicken. I talked to my husband, decided to make the trip, and then I hopped on the computer (OH, NOT LITERALLY, SILLY) and bought me a Living Proof ticket, oh yes I did.
Even though I live in Alabama. And the event is, you know, in Texas.
At the time I had no idea how I was going to get to San Antonio or where I was going to stay, but I knew that I wanted to be there. And in the months since I bought that ticket, God has provided some mighty unexpected solutions to all those pesky travel details. Now I have a plane ticket, a hotel room, and a tour guide extraordinaire in the form of my sweet friend Melanie. I cannot WAIT.
Because, you see, I picture San Antonio as a magical place where complimentary tortilla chips are available on every street corner and a never-ending stream of queso dip flows from the city's fountains.
I also imagine that the salsa there is so good that it will make me weep - and not just because of some potent habanero peppers, mind you.
All that to say: I really want to encourage you to join us in San Antonio if you can. Tickets are still available, and I can promise you that after God moves through Travis' praise and worship and Beth's teaching, your heart will be nineteen kinds of full when the event is over Saturday afternoon.
Odds are that your belly will be full, too - but for entirely different reasons (see: aforementioned tortilla chips and fountains-o-queso).
So if you're planning to be in San Antonio for LPL, will you let us know in the comments? Melanie and I would love to meet you and hug your neck in person.
That is all.
Except that I'm totally craving some Mexican food now.
Adios.
So, the winner of the Louisville tickets is Marla Taviano.
She had the 9th eligible comment on the previous post and, according to Random.org, she was the winner.
Here are your random numbers:
9
Timestamp: 2008-07-21 04:16:37 UTC
Congratulations, Marla.
If we hear of any more available tickets, we will let y'all know.
Remember that time I went to Deeper Still in Atlanta?
I know! It's like I've hardly mentioned it!
Anyway, at the end of her talk on Friday night, Priscilla Shirer quoted (By memory, thankyouverymuch. I barely remember my telephone number these days.) the lyrics to "He Is" by Aaron Jeoffrey.
"In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our high priest
In Numbers, the fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Israel's Guide
Joshua, He's salvation's choice
Judges, He's Israel's Guard
In Ruth, the kinsmen's redeemer
1st and 2nd Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles He is Sovereign
In Ezra, He's the true and faithful scribe
In Nehemiah, the re-builder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms He is our morning song
In Proverbs, He is our wisdom
Ecclesiastes, He's the time and season
In Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream
In Isaiah He is Prince of Peace
In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, the call from sin
Daniel, the stranger in the fire
Hosea, the forever faithful
Joel, the spirit's power
Amos, the strong-arms that carry
Obadiah, the Lord our Savior
Jonah, the great missionary
Micah, the promise of peace
Nahum, our strength and shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's brings revival
In Haggai He restores that which was lost
IN Zachariah, He's our fountain
And in Malachi, He's the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
AND THAT'S JUST THE OLD TESTAMENT
In Matthew Mark Luke and John, He is God and Messiah
In the spirit filled book of Acts, He is the reigning fire from Heaven
In Romans, He is the grace of God
Corinthians, the power of love
Galatians, freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servant's heart
Colossians, He's God and the trinity
Thessalonians, our calling King
In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He's our mediator and our faithful pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting courage
In James, the one who heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd Peter, our faithful shepherd
In John and Jude, He's the lover coming for His bride
AND in the Revelation, in the very end, when it's all over, said and done, when time is NO MORE. He is and will always be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, son of Man, Lamb of God, The Great I am, Alpha and Omega, God and Savior He is Jesus Christ the Lord HE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED!"
Oh, is that all?
Seriously, how awesome is that?
Anyway, the other day Sister Lynn emailed me about a cool little thing called Wordle. You can type in your url or just put in a bunch of words and watch what happens.
So I put in the words to "He Is" and this is what it looks like. Click on the image to see it in a size that doesn't require super-sonic vision.
So when we were in Atlanta for Deeper Still, Melanie and I got to meet a really sweet woman named Emmy. Emmy is a friend of our friend JMom, and if you're starting to feel like you're entangled in some sort of Southern web-o-friendship, well, guess what, you are.
In fact, I realized long ago that there's no such thing as six degrees of separation in the South. It's more like three degrees. Two if the people are from your homestate.
And if you're from Mississippi like I am, you can pretty much assume that anyone who's also from Mississippi is, at the very least, a cousin.
But I digress. Imagine that.
Anyway, Emmy emailed to say that she has two tickets for Beth Moore's Living Proof Live in Louisville, KY on August 1-2 that she'd like to give away. LPL Louisville is sold out, and it's an extra special event because it's being simulcast all across the nation.
So if you know for sure that you can be in Louisville the first weekend in August - and you know for sure that you can use both of these tickets - please leave a comment and let us know. If there's more than one person who wants the tickets, we'll close comments at 10PM central tomorrow (Saturday) night and select the recipient randomly.
Thanks so much, everybody!
Comments on this entry are now closed.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that my Bible study group was doing Beth Moore's A Heart Like His this summer. Yesterday, I finished Week 5 entitled "The Long-Awaited Throne".
After all that David had been through, after all the times he had to wonder what God was doing and if he would really ever be king, he was finally anointed King of Israel. He'd spent fifteen years fighting battles to finally see God's promise revealed.
I tend to get impatient when God hasn't answered me in a day or two, much less waiting for fifteen years. How many times did David wonder if he had imagined the whole thing?
Anyway, the last lesson of Week 5 focused on when David brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel. 2 Samuel 6: 14 tells us that David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might.
His wife Michal, who was also Saul's daughter, watched him dance and the Bible says that she despised him in her heart. Later on, when David returns home, Michal mocks him and says that he has disgraced himself by disrobing in front of the slave girls.
In 2 Samuel 6:21-22, David replies, "I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes."
Lately, I've been struggling with the realization that sometimes I am too concerned about the approval of man. I worry what other people think of me, I worry if I'm doing the right thing or acting the right way, I worry that people are judging my mothering abilities, or how I look, or what I'm wearing. I get caught up in the vicious cycle of wanting human approval.
David's words reminded me that all I have to be is who God made me to be. I need to seek Him with all my heart. I need to celebrate before the Lord and not be so concerned about what people think of me. I need to become "even more undignified than this" before my God.
Because no one is ever going to love me more than He does. No one will ever do for me what He has already done for me.
It's you, Lord, that I seek.
One of my favorite parts of Deeper Still in Atlanta was when Beth, Kay and Priscilla answered questions that people have posted on the Deeper Still blog.
I could tell you that it's just because I am, by nature, a curious person.
But the fact of the matter is that I tend to err on the side of nosy.
Anyway, in one of the questions someone asked Kay and Beth what they do to take such great care of themselves now that they're grandmothers and all. Kay said that she thinks good nutrition is oh-so-critical, and Beth mentioned that she's never stopped exercising.
Beth went on to say that her number one beauty tip is to take care of your skin, and she said that she's really tried to encourage her daughters to do this as well.
Beth's advice made me smile, because my own mama has always encouraged me to stay out of the sun. And in those situations where I have to be in the sun for whatever reason, Mama has always told me to wear a big ole hat and plenty of sunscreen.
Just FYI: the "big ole hat" advice doesn't necessarily go over very well when you're 17. Mainly because the thought of wearing a big ole hat in public makes you NEVER WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE EVER AGAIN.
Anyway, there were a few dicey skincare days in my 20s when I tried to convince myself that I could tan if I just sat in the sun for long enough - never you mind that my skin is the color of paper - but for the most part I've heeded Mama's advice. Now that I'm closer to 40 than I am to 30, let's just say that I'm grateful.
So what about you? What's the best beauty advice you've ever received? And if you had to give one piece of beauty advice to someone younger than you are, what would it be?
I started blogging about two years ago and one of the best surprises of the whole thing is that I've become a part of a community. A community that prays for one another, encourages one another, and celebrates victories for momentous occasions like when you finally potty-train your child.
About the time I started my blog, there were several women online doing Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself study. I loved reading their posts on what they were learning and what God was teaching them. It encouraged me in my own faith and, even more importantly, inspired me to get involved in a weekly Bible study.
This summer there is something really cool happening on the internet. Over at the Living Proof Ministries blog they are doing an online Bible study using a great book by Kelly Minter called "No Other Gods".
It's just every other week so it takes into account the lazy days of summer where it's hard to keep a schedule or to, you know, get dressed before 10 a.m.
The Kelly Minter study is incredible and I know you'll be blessed even if you're a little late to the party.
Yesterday I was in the car for a pretty long time by myself, and do you know what I did, y'all? Do you know?
I listened to a whole sermon. I did!
Right there! In my car! Alone!
It was a message that I missed a few weeks ago when I was out of town, and as I listened to our pastor teach from I Corinthians to Matthew to Genesis and back to I Corinthians again, I amen'd and uh-huh'd all the way down I-65.
I'm telling you: it was a balm for my weary soul.
Because as much as I'd like to sit here and tell you that I spend a chunk of every single morning digging into the Word and pondering the great mysteries of the faith before praying with great fervor, the reality is that the only thing I've been digging into lately - especially for the last couple of weeks - is a big ole pile of excuses about why I'm not spending more time with God.
So I guess I'll just go ahead and put this out there because there's really no need to sugar-coat it: one area where I am really struggling right now is with having a daily quiet time.
STRUGGLE. ING. Oh mercy. Am I ever.
And I could pull one excuse after another from that pile I mentioned (crazy schedules, lots of summertime travel, five year-old who wants to sit beside me and make car noises while I read my Bible, so much laundry that I can only hope to catch up by the spring of 2009, blah blah blahtedy you've heard it all before blahtedy blah blah), but in the end it's still just a bunch of excuses.
No valid reasons, mind you. Not a single solitary one.
So tell me, oh internets: how do you avoid the quiet time slump? Do you think it's unrealistic to have twenty or twenty-five minutes of uninterrupted alone time when there are young kids in the house? And how do you make sure you are spending enough time with God - and in the Word - on a daily basis? Any helpful hints you can offer?
I'm guessing that I'm not alone in this one, so I can't wait to read your comments.
And be gentle, internets. Be gentle. I have a feeling that the other Strugglers and I are feeling a little fragile.
Just a hunch, of course.
A long, long time ago before Deeper Still Atlanta, Sophie wrote a post on modesty that generated a lot of discussion in the comments.
And then we got all busy with official LifeWay stuff and didn't get to continue the conversation, so Sophie and I thought that we'd talk a little more about modesty.
Specifically, where to find modest clothes without showing up at the pool in what Ma Ingalls would have called her bathing dress and petticoat.
Since I have a four year old daughter, who already has strong opinions about what she wears, I thought I'd share what we do at our house and where we like to shop.
I have some basic rules. No Bratz anything, no strapless or tiny tops, no snarky sayings written in glittered calligraphy across a t-shirt, and always wear shorts or bloomers with dresses and skirts.
Oh, and nothing with Strawberry Shortcake. Not because she's immodest but because it gets on my nerves how she uses the word "berry" instead of "very".
It's a tricky fashion world out there for little girls. I mean, even Dora shows her tummy while she's out exploring with Boots.
As Caroline has more and more opinions about what she wears, I try to surrender my desire to dress her in perfectly matched ensembles complete with coordinating hairbows. She likes to pick out her own clothes and, within reason, I let her.
Well, with the exception of special occasions and church on Sundays. I prefer that we not look like we're raising a hobo.
My thought is that as she gets older there will be bigger battles to fight over modesty issues and for now I want to give her some freedom. As much as I cringe as I walk through Target with someone wearing jeans that are too short with a purple leotard, cowboy boots, and a ski cap, I let it go because she is immensely proud of her sartorial efforts.
I know that many of y'all have older kids and are fighting the modesty battle in full force, while I am still figuring it out. At one point this spring I bought Caroline what looked like a darling one-piece bathing suit from Gap, but once she tried it on I realized it looked too sophisticated for a little girl, so I returned it.
It wasn't that it revealed too much, it just seemed too grown up. So I'm realizing that modesty isn't always just about coverage, but about the overall look.
So, enough of my rambling thoughts. Here are some places where I've had great luck finding cute, appropriate clothing for girls.
I love CWD Kids because their stuff is stylish, yet perfect for kids.
Lands End is another great place to find age appropriate clothes, plus you can now find a lot of their stuff at Sears.
Hanna Andersson is a little pricey, but their stuff lasts forever.
Kelly's Kids always has the best stuff and it's 50/50 blend so it doesn't shrink no matter how many times you dry it.
Most of the stuff at Orient Expressed is for younger kids, but I just love all their sweet things.
I am a huge fan of Gap clothing. It holds up really well and I can always count on finding sale items.
And, honestly, one of my favorite places in the world to shop for Caroline is on Ebay. I have found some great deals on retail and handmade clothes over the years. It's always the first place I look when I'm shopping for new clothes.
Speaking of, I am going to be doing a lot of shopping for new clothes this fall. After going through her closet, I've discovered that she has officially outgrown everything. We will be starting over from scratch.
Oh the joy of spending money on a new wardrobe that's not for me.
What about y'all? Where do you like to shop for your kids? What do you look for in clothes for them? What are your rules?
Okay, so clearly we enjoyed Deeper Still immensely. I believe that is evident from almost two weeks worth of writing on every aspect of it.
Anyway, I thought today I'd share the other LifeWay Events that are going on around the country through September. If there is one near you (or even a road trip or an airline flight away) I'd encourage you to go.
You will not be disappointed.
Well, unless you get there and thought you had purchased tickets for the Journey Reunion Tour. Beth Moore is awesome but as far as I know she can't sing "Don't Stop Believin'" like Journey can.
Although she might. Maybe she'll try it at one of the upcoming events.
But probably not.
Okay, so here's what's coming soon.
July 18-19 Living Proof Live in Minneapolis, Minnesota
They were going to send Sophie and me to this event, but were afraid they'd have to send us with interpreters so that the Minnesota natives could understand our Southern accents. It just wasn't cost effective.
Plus, do y'all know how hard it is to find a translator that speaks good Southern? Harder than tryin' to find a rabbit in a pear patch.
August 1-2 Living Proof Live Simulcast
This is your chance to hear Beth Moore no matter where you live. It involves satellites and technology.
It's very fancy and requires no travel.
August 21-22 Women Reaching Women...Fully Loaded Event in San Antonio
This is a really cool training event for women who are either involved in women's ministry at their church or who would just like to be.
It's going to be at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio before the Living Proof Live event and Travis Cottrell and Kelly Minter are going to be leading worship while Margaret Kennedy is the special guest speaker.
August 22-23 Living Proof Live in San Antonio, TX
I am personally so excited about this event because it's in my hometown.
Beth Moore, The Alamo, great Mexican food. It's like the holy Texas trinity.
August 22-23 Going Beyond with Priscilla Shirer in Hendersonville, TN
If you can't be in San Antonio, but are anywhere near Tennessee then I can't encourage you enough to go hear Priscilla. She's awesome.
September 5-6 Deeper Still in Las Vegas
I believe I've mentioned that I enjoyed Deeper Still in Atlanta. Can't wait for Vegas.
September 19-20 Living Proof Live in Billings, Montana
September 26-27 Going Beyond with Priscilla Shirer in Bossier City, LA
September 27 You and Your Girl with Vicki Courtney in Spartanburg, SC
If you have a daughter then you don't want to miss this event. Vicki has so much wisdom to share when it comes to protecting our girls from all the things that are out to steal who God intended them to be.
And that's the schedule between now and the end of September.
Are you planning on going to any of these events? Holla back in the comments if you are, I'd love to know.
Because I am very nosy.
Last night I went to dinner with about ten other bloggers. We all live in the same town, and we decided a couple of months ago - after reading each other's blogs for awhile - that it might be fun to get together and hang out in person. Face-to-face. Without computer monitors in between us.
And do you know what? We had the best time. I so enjoyed getting to meet everybody live and in person, and I feel like I have a new little community-o-bloggy-buddies right here where I live. I hope so much that we'll get together again. I have a feeling that we will.
Now for the record, I would just like to state that if you had told me in the early- to mid-nineties that I would be making friends on the computer, I would have told you to put down the science fiction novels and get out in the real world with those of us who were engaging in deeply meaningful activities like watching "The Arsenio Hall Show" and talking on our bag phones.
But the fact of the matter is that over the last two and a half years I've met some amazing women through blogging. Melanie and I laugh all the time that we met ON THE INTERNET, and yet she is now such a huge part of my life that it feels like we've known each other forever. I don't know what I'd do without her.
And that reminds me.
When Mel and I were at Deeper Still a couple of weeks ago I noticed a group of women sitting to our left. They wore matching brown t-shirts, and I just assumed that they were from the same church group or Bible study. But a few days ago someone sent me a link to this post, and I read the story of the girls in the brown t-shirts. Then I cried like a baby.
(Go ahead and click on that link. Really. It's a must-read. I'll wait right here for you. No rush.)
There's no question that the internet has its issues. OH MERCY does it have its issues. But one of the most amazing benefits it offers - at least in my opinion - is the opportunity to fellowship with other women, to engage in community with people who are walking the same road - whether that road is lined with demanding careers, tight budgets, three children under the age of five or hurts so deeply profound that you're not even sure if you can get out of the bed most mornings.
I think what touches me the most about the story of the women in the brown shirts is just the simple fact that they found each other. It would have been practically impossible for those women to connect even ten years ago, but thanks to the internet, they found each other.
And as a result of finding each other, they've prayed with each other. Ministered to each other. Worshipped with each other.
The interweb is a marvel, y'all.
So what about you? Have you met any "blogging buddies" in real life? Have you found any unexpected friendships along the way?
Can't wait to read your stories.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Thanks to Beth Moore and an afternoon at Deeper Still, this verse is forever committed to my memory. It was the basis for her entire talk and, by the time it was all over, she had the entire arena reciting the verse complete with hand motions.
And can I just say for the record that I actually did the hand motions? I even got so enthusiastic that I knocked over my water bottle and spilled it all over my purse.
This is very uncharacteristic of me.
In fact, in my former life as a pharmaceutical sales rep, I would attend these large meetings where the CEO would try to fire us all up to go out and sell some allergy medicine. They would invariably close the meeting by having us all stand up to do some sort of cheer or something.
And there I would sit, pushing back my cuticles. While yawning and wishing for a hole to open up beneath my chair and swallow me whole.
So, the fact that I was standing up, yelling "THE WORD" is a real testament to the awesomeness of Deeper Still, Beth Moore, and especially God.
Beth divided up John 1:14 into seven phrases, so I'll break it down.
Not literally "break it down" because, there again, that would be completely out of character for me.
Phrase 1 - The WORD
Christ is the Word.
Beth shared Amos 8:11 which talks about a famine across the land of hearing the words of the Lord. (By the way, I have never heard the book of Amos quoted as much as it was that weekend. Note to self: do not underestimate book of Amos.)
She talked about the importance of getting a fresh word from God. We need to know what Jesus is doing today. Between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Pharisees quit looking for a Messiah and comforted themselves with legalism.
We don't want to get legalistic and miss out on the love of Christ, but we have to want to be delivered from our legalism. Like the Pharisees, we sometimes find comfort in it.
Psalm 40:8 says, "I delight to do the will of God." Only God can change our desires because, no matter how hard we try to change, we can't sustain it without him.
This really challenged me to ask God to show me the desires of my heart that don't line up with his plan and will. I don't want to get so consumed by what I think I want that I miss what he has for me.
2. Phrase 2 - became flesh
This is the basis of our entire belief as Christians. Beth cited I John 4: 1-3, "Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God."
3. Phrase 3 - and made his dwelling among us
Jesus Christ descended from heaven to dwell among us. Beth taught us that the other word for dwelling is "skenoo" which means tabernacle. Revelations 21: 22 says, "I did not see a temple in the city because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."
I'm sorry, but it doesn't get more awesome than that.
4. Phrase 4 - we have seen his glory
The Israelites saw his glory in the wilderness.
This totally goes back to Priscilla's message about God using the wilderness to show his glory. It's in the midst of the wilderness that he shows us the heart of who he is.
Beth said something that I just love, although this isn't a direct quote because I can only write so fast. She said that when we're in the wilderness, we often don't realize he's been carrying us until we're on the other side. Moses didn't see the face of God, he saw his back. We don't see God coming, we see him walk away after he's carried us through.
Love that.
One of the verses she used was Isaiah 60: 1-2 where it talks about God's glory appearing on us. We are the tabernacle of his presence. If the glory is going to rise on this generation, we are it.
Phrase 5 - the glory of the One and Only
Jesus is the one and only. We are called to love him with all our heart, soul and mind. He is the only thing that won't let us down.
Amen, sister.
Phrase 6 - who came from the Father
John 1: 18 says, "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known."
The Greek word for "has made him known" is exegesis. Jesus is the exegesis of the Father.
If you want to know God, get to know Jesus, the One and Only.
Phrase 7 - full of grace and truth
Jesus is the embodiment of grace and truth. Beth encouraged us by saying that every time God confronts us with a hard truth, he is going to give us the grace to know what to do with it.
He will never run out of grace.
I, for one, am eternally grateful for that fact because I have used more than my fair share of grace.
And am more than certain that I will continue to need a heaping portion of grace as I find my way through this life.
Beth talked about what it means to be full and Jesus' first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Our lives are like the jars of water that Jesus turned to wine.
We are either empty.
Or filled with water.
Or filled with wine.
Our jars are empty when we feel like we have nothing left. Our eyes are not on him and so we have nothing to fill us up.
Our jars are filled with water when we are just full. Full of the responsibilities and things of life that come our way.
Our jars are truly filled with wine when we are under the influencing power of the Holy Spirit to be different than we otherwise would be. Full of grace and truth.
And here's a great quote from Beth, "Every single time God gives you a hard truth, He gives you the grace to know what to do with it."
It made me really think about what is filling me up. Am I letting God fill those places in my heart or am I trying to do things by myself?
Honestly, it's a day-to-day struggle, but I long to be filled with his grace and truth. My prayer lately has been John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less."
How about you?
In the week since Deeper Still I've read over my notes four or five times, and there are two sentences from Priscilla Shirer's message that keep jumping off the page at me:
"The wilderness is about something. It's about something."
And every time I read her words, I "amen" just a little bit. Because I know that they're true.
Like so many of us, I am no stranger to the wilderness. My early 20s and my early 30s both provided some significant treks through unchartered emotional and spiritual territory. And while the circumstances surrounding both of those "wilderness adventures" were completely different, the uncertainty was more or less the same. I couldn't for the life of me imagine why God would lead me on a path that was filled with so much sadness, so much grief, so much sifting, for crying out loud.
And in both instances, I just wanted that season of my life to be done. I wanted it to be over, already. I wanted, with everything in me, to push through the pain, figure out the lesson and move on.
During her message last Friday night, Priscilla pointed out that in Exodus 19:2, as they made their way through their own wilderness, the Israelites camped in front of the mountain. She said that camping was always a temporary protective measure, but if you look deeper into the meaning of the word "camp," you find out that it also means to bend down.
As Priscilla spoke I thought about all the times I've tried to fight the wilderness - when I've tried to run through it or from it in my own strength. Instead of bending down, I bowed up. And Priscilla reminded us that it's a good thing to camp in the wilderness. It's a good thing to dwell in it; rest in it; trust in Him; humble yourself.
Don't miss the wilderness, she said.
God calls you to a new level of surrender in the wilderness. He calls you to a new level of knowing HIm. A new level of trusting Him.
"The wilderness is about something. It's about something."
And I don't know about you, but I want to remember that. I need to remember that.
Every single day.
Melanie - July 3, 2008 - Comments (4)
Okay, so at some point next week one of us is going to sum up Beth's message from Deeper Still, but today I feel it is imperative to share ten things I learned at Deeper Still that may or may not have any kind of spiritual correlation.
1. The hem on Beth Moore's pants Friday night was pure perfection. Perfect length, perfect stitch. It fell just right. Sophie and I marveled over it.
I will aspire to such hem greatness next time I take some jeans into the tailor.
Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the hem. Mainly because I was afraid if I started snapping pictures of Beth Moore's hem I might find myself escorted out of the arena.
2. I was so glad to learn that I am not the only one who sometimes tells stories that make my husband cringe. When Priscilla confessed to digging pancakes out of the trash because she was a hungry pregnant woman, I just admired her that much more.
3. Travis Cottrell enjoys wearing a vest even when he has to admit he was dressed like the Philips Arena staff.
4. He also has a gorgeous wife who is one of the sweetest people I've ever met, not to mention her fabulous taste in jeans.
5. Beth and Priscilla can rap. Who knew?
6. If you throw yourself on the mercy of really nice people, they will bring you delicious chicken salad sandwiches for lunch along with a dessert that I'm still thinking about five days later.
7. Watching Kay Arthur break it down to "Shackles" can create some issues if you haven't used the bathroom in six hours.
8. Beth Moore knows how to use some hair product. I will be forever grateful for her demonstration of the proper way to use root-lift, not to mention the fact that she knows all about the "critical hair moment".
Also, I felt like it was God's favor that Beth and I both wore our hair up in a twist configuration on Saturday. Granted, hers looked much better than mine, but still I felt that we were one in the spirit of good hair.
9. The sound of 19,000 women worshipping is an awesome sound. A small glimpse of heaven here on earth.
10. The women there not only heard from God, but had an incredible time with their girlfriends. There was a lot of laughing. A lot of crying. A lot of dancing. A LOT OF FUN.
Can't wait for the next one.
If you love this last picture as much as I do, then you may be glad to know you can go here , enter the code Deeperstill (all one word) and order a copy for yourself. It (along with every good photo that's on this post) was taken by Rich, the awesome LifeWay photographer.
I'm going to be totally up-front with y'all: summarizing one of Kay Arthur's messages is DAUNTING. I don't know if you've ever heard her teach before, but wisdom just pours out of her, and it's a little intimidating to write a recap of a lesson given by a Bible scholar of her caliber.
So hang with me, bloggy peoples. I'm gonna do the very best I can.
Ahem.
There's no question that Kay had a difficult word for the women at Deeper Still. It was evident from the moment she stepped on the platform that her heart was burdened by the weight of her message. And while it's rare to sit with over 19,000 people in an environment so hushed that you could hear a pin drop, that's exactly the tone Kay set from the get-go.
So we listened.
Kay started her session with a very pointed question: Do you know Truth? She went on to say that she is so concerned about the state of our nation and the state of our churches that it makes her ill. And she used several passages from the book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36, Jeremiah 6:27 and Jeremiah 9:1-6) to illustrate that while it's not God's desire to bring judgment or calamity to His people, it's the necessity of his character to bring these things when we do not obey.
Citing Isaiah 59:14-15, Kay made the assertion that we live in a culture where Truth is lacking: "So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey."
Kay said that God wants us to go forth and speak the Word of God to one degree or another, but many people can't do that because they don't know God's Word. She said that the people of God have gone far away from the Word of God, and as a result of that church has become an infirmary, a place people stop by when they're not feeling so well, instead of a boot camp, a place that equips people to go into the world and make disciples of all nations for the glory of God.
Kay also remarked that it grieves her that many churches don't teach the Old Testament, and therefore people just don't understand the full character of God. Some churches seem to be more concerned about people's comfort instead of their holiness, and the consequence of that is that people are going into captivity - just like Isaiah 5:13 - because they don't have knowledge.
In Ezekiel 22 God tells the Israelites that they have been defiled by their idols. In Jeremiah 6:10 God says, "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." And Kay made the point that our current culture is much the same as what we see in these two passages; people have turned from Truth in order to preserve their comfort, and they are trusting in deceptive words to no avail (see Jeremiah 7:1-11).
So with the necessity of knowing Truth established, Kay posed her next question: what are you going to do?
She gave seven answers:
1) Break up the fallow ground (Jeremiah 4:3). Ask God to break our hearts with the things that break His heart.
2) Mourn (Jeremiah 9:17-18). We should be brokenhearted over the state of our churches and the state of our nation.
3) Pray (1 Timothy 2). We need to intercede for our leaders in our churches and our government.
4) Love God's Word. Know the whole consult of God.
5) Love others as Jesus loved them (John 13). The body of Christ should be a refuge for hurting people; it's not our place to judge other people's struggles.
6) Introduce people to Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31, Jeremiah 33: 1-9, 15, 17). If a nation is repentant, God will bring it to health and healing.
7) Rest. Rest in faith. Rest in knowing that He is with us.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on what Kay said. And I know it's tempting to climb on our soapboxes when we're talking about a topic like this one, but I also think it would be great if we let #5 in the list above guide our conversation. Kay set a very high standard in that regard when she was teaching at Deeper Still, and I think we'd do well to imitate her.
Holla back in the comments, y'all.
Many of y'all have asked if any of the Deeper Still material is available on CD and, honestly, I don't know the answer to that but I will not rest until I find out.
Actually, that's not really true because I'm writing this at 9:30 p.m. and I'm pretty sure I will sleep before I get an answer.
The other thing I wanted to let y'all know is that if you'd love to hear Beth Moore, your church can host a Living Proof Live Simulcast on August 1-2. It will be broadcast live from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky and would be an awesome opportunity to hear Beth speak if you can't make it to an event in person this year. You can find out more details by clicking here.
Sophie and I are going to spend the next few days doing kind of a recap of some of the things Priscilla, Kay and Beth talked about this past weekend. Please realize this will in no way be the same as being there, but you might find some piece of wisdom or encouragement.
Also, please remember that I do not write at the speed of light so it is conceivable that I missed something. Or a lot of things.
Priscilla spoke on Friday night about seeing God in the midst of the wilderness using Exodus 19:9. She said that when God wants to lead you into a divine invitation, He'll often lead us into the wilderness. It is in the wilderness where intimacy is ignited.
She talked about how it was God's choice to lead the children of Israel through the wilderness. There was an easier way, but He took them a different path to allow them to see His provision. Mount Sinai was the furthest possible place away from external blessing, but it was at this place that they received the biggest internal blessing. Sometimes it takes hard times and difficult circumstances to make us really see who God is and His power.
Priscilla used an example that has stuck with me over the last few days. She compared having God's spirit poured out on you to being caught in a rainstorm. It can be uncomfortable, inconvenient, and make us want to run back to where we came from. Sometimes the hand of God doesn't look the way we expect it to.
I have spent much of the last two years feeling like I'm in the wilderness, often wandering aimlessly and wondering if God has a plan or a purpose. It has been hard and at times I have felt like I can't take anymore, but God has been faithful to sustain me. And, honestly, I have grown more in my faith than at any other period of my life. It's made me seek Him more because I've realized I'm not in control and I don't have the answers.
As Priscilla said, it's being able to say God I trust you. I'm not going to fight this season of life, but settle in and trust you.
There are three things we need to do to prepare to see God.
1. He calls us to remember what He has already done for us. Where you were and what He has delivered you from. We will be thankful when we remember where we've been.
Honestly, my list is too long. She also made a reference to digging through the garbage and, have mercy, I was a professional garbage digger for many a year.
2. Recognize your spiritual identity. God is the only one who can label us. He gives us our identity. Knowing who you are is dependent on really knowing who He is.
3. New levels of surrender. Holiness is important to God. Find an area you don't want to surrender and SURRENDER IT.
Have I ever mentioned I'm a bit of a control freak? The surrender is hard because of my need to control. The irony is that I can't control anything anyway and all I do is exhaust myself with all the trying.
As Priscilla said, the Holy Spirit empowers you to submit to surrender.
Girl, I need some empowering.
When the children of Israel reached this point, God descended on Mount Sinai in the form of a mighty cloud filled with thunder and lightning. Ultimately, they let their fear hold them back and they kept their distance from the mountain. They were afraid to get the word of God for themselves.
So, Priscilla's question was "What is holding you back?"
It challenged me to take a hard look at the things I let hold me back. Things like fear and uncertainty. But I'm working on the surrender because I don't want to miss out on what God has by holding on to what I think I need or want.
I want Him to pour out His spirit on me. Even if it's uncomfortable at times. Even if there are days I can't see through the storm.
I want Him.
Is anything holding you back?
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Pam
Pam
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris