If you darlin' single sistas will hang in here with us for one more blatantly family-oriented entry, I promise we won't make a habit of doing so many in a row. You mean so much to me and I make a point of keeping you on my mind when I get to serve the Word. It's just that I've been speaking on marriage and parenting here at the end of my Tuesday night series out of Proverbs. So, that's what's been on my mind. You may be relieved to know that last night was my final session on family with one general session left for the series. (Disclaimer: We'll always have stuff about Jackson on the ministry blog because he's the official little prince of LPM!)
Last night at Bible study I taught on being a mom and my mind has been swimming with memories of my girls when they were little bitty. As God would have it, a few weeks ago I happened on an old prayer journal from 1982 when Amanda was barely three and Melissa was a newborn. Those of you in the throes will not be surprised to hear that it was filled with unsophisticated requests for things like more sleep, for Melissa to adjust better to the church nursery, for financial help as I got to stay home with the girls, for Amanda not to catch Melissa's cold, for Keith and I to get along better, for him to want to go to church, for him to stop cussing (I hope you're smiling because I am), for him to...and for him to...and for him to...and for him to...and for us to get to go to a marriage conference, for me to apply what I was learning in my first Dr. Dobson book, for me to have a better disposition (I must have used the word ten times that I could find), and for me to make minutes for my quiet time because "my day goes so much better when I do." Sound familiar?
(My personal favorite was when I asked God for forgiveness for trying to steal some of His glory for being so prideful about the way I played handbells in the handbell choir. I laughed until I cried. Then again, it has nothing to do with children but you surely would not have wanted to miss that, would you?)
Even before I found the journal, I'd begun reliving so many of those experiences as I watched Amanda with her young family. One of the things I enjoy so much as I relive those priceless and challenging days in my memory is Amanda telling me all about her fellow mom-friends and the babies they share. Second only to seeing pictures of Jackson in his Easter outfit, I died to see pictures of Ella and Ava, his best girl buddies who were born within days of him. The pictures did not disappoint. I hang on every word Amanda says as she tells me about this mom and this baby, that mom and that baby.
I can't overemphasize how rich my fellow moms made my parenting experience. Particularly one: my best friend, Johnnie. She had two boys and I had two girls and we dragged those four kids to every McDonalds in Houston just so we could finish a sentence. We taught Mother's Day Out together because we were both broke. We home-made family Christmas gifts because we didn't have the money to buy them. (We spent what money we had on our babies.) I hate arts and crafts to this day and still have burns from glue guns. That's not all. I'd decide I'd had it with Keith and I'd leave him in the morning sometimes, go to her house with my unsuspecting girls, drink a cup of coffee, get in a better mood, and be back home by the time he got off work. He'd walk in the door, ask about my day, and I'd say under my breath, "I left you today. That's how my day was." Hee hee. Somehow I'd feel some satisfaction with that, repent, then fall in love with him all over again. It was his looks.
My point is, Moms, you've got to have you a support group of other moms. Many who are peers. Others who are just ahead of you. They will be used of God to get you through everything from the mundane to the morose. As I told my class last night, our ancient female ancestors walked to wells and rivers together to get water. Our great grandmothers quilted and canned together. We, instead, are imprisoned in our minivans driving breakneck speed, thinking a few maniacal minutes on a cell phone can replace a regular play-date where believing moms can take some time to laugh and share. I don't think it's a luxury. It's a necessity for mental (and often spiritual!) health! Because, you see,...
*No day full of dirty diapers has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
*No tantrum has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
*No "but, Mom, everybody is going!" has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
*No "You hate me!" has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
*No child's first love has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
*No child's first broken heart has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
*No broken curfew has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
*No goodbye has overtaken you but such as is common to moms.
About five years ago, my buddy Johnnie's oldest son, Jeremy, was just about to vow his life to the woman of his dreams. The music was already playing in the sanctuary and we were only about three minutes from the service starting. We looked around and suddenly realized that it was just the six of us left in the choir room: Johnnie, her two boys, and me and my two girls. The four kids were all beautiful, God-loving young adults. Johnnie and I had lived through it and they'd lived through us. Wow, Lord. The groomsmen had already gone to their posts and it was just about time for Jeremy to take his place through a sanctuary door down a long hall. Had we tried to manipulate a few moments alone between the six of us, we could never have pulled it off. It was a gift from God. The completely unplanned moment was not lost on a single one of us six and even now I could cry about the tenderness of it. Without anyone saying a word, Jeremy held out his arm for one of my daughters. Jordan held out his arm for the other. And Johnnie held out her arm to me. Arm in arm, three familiar pairs of us walked the long hall, laughing, and nearly crying, making our way toward the finish line of young family-hood just like we began: together. Those kinds of relationships don't take place in five minutes. They take years. Crises. Prayers. Divine favor. Your fellow moms are some of the most priceless treasures God has bestowed on you to cheer you on your way to the finish line of young parenting. Grab some arms and do it together.
I love you.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
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170 comments:
Oh Beth,
I cried at Bible study last night- and here I go again. The lessons I learn from you are priceless- as a 25 year old mother of a 2 year old.... everything you say rings SOOO true to me and teaches me so much. It is my prayer that God surround me with Godly women and mothers that I can laugh with, cray with, (shop with) and raise my kid (hopefully kids) with. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for you willingness to be so open and transparent... you will never know on this side of heaven what you have meant to so many of us. I love you dearly and am SOOO sad that after next Tuesday I have to wait until Sept. to hear you again!! You are like a momma to me and I thank GOD for your wisdom and teaching. Love you, Jackie
My blog post from yesterday talks of my grief over a friend exiting my life. This is no ordinary friend...it is one of those "Johnnie" friends and I have been devastated by this loss. It is a crazy situation with MANY dynamics...but sistas, I am seriously broken over this and would love if you prayed for me. I can't believe your post today Beth, I can't believe you wrote about what you did. I love the connection with you sistas on the blog...but I need people in the flesh...I am seriously lacking that right now anyway, you can read some of the story on my blog.
OH! This speaks to me right now! I am crazy about our "mothers of preschoolers" playgroup at church. There is such a special bond that has occured between us moms...we are outrageously blessed by our time together. You really hit the nail on the head with your post! I loved it! This topic is so dear to me right now! There is just nothing better than moms and babies making treasured memories together!!
Much love,
Sarah, TN
Oh, Beth, I am praying this blog was a glimpse into what you will speak on in SC this weekend! My treasured friend and I will be there and she has the 2 girls, I have the 2 boys and we are in the thick of little ones ranging from 2 to 10! What a testimony of friendship you and Johnnie share, may our lives be a true testimony of what Jesus can do through 2 friends sharpening and encourageing!!! Thanks, Beth! See you in 2 days!!!
THANK YOU for sharing with us your pride over the handbells! That is too funny! And, yes, Sista Beth, we MUST have women to encourage us. For YEARS I was too prideful and thought as long as my husband and I are best friends I don't need a silly woman to hold my hand. The Lord has almost quit laughing over that one and my subsequent downfall! Now I have my Coffee Group and we are all ages and my friends are all such precious souls. If you don't have a friend like that, pray for one! No one will laugh like we did about the pride over the handbells! That's precisely how I ended up with some wonderful, godly friends -- it started with a plea to the Lord.
i'm only 21, but you made me stop and thank the Lord for MY mom.
maybe i can speak on behalf of all single sistas in saying that mom posts are still a blessing to us, too.
Off to find my 1998 journal.
I think that was the first year I got in the daily habit of journaling my prayers.
I would like to recall them "mom" prayers i was praying...also the "wife" prayers I was praying.
Beth, you are precious. You just had me laughing and crying in a matter of a few minutes.
I value my mom friends. I have them like fine treasures in my life. We all take care of different needs.
You have just made me treasure each friend even more!
I'm not a mom yet, but I pay attention for future reference!
I thought I would share an insight from Easter. My grandmother died on February 2nd after an illness and then on March 1st my father-in-law died suddenly. We are still trying to grasp what has happened and learn to navigate our new normal. I wasn't really excited about Easter, even though I tried. I watched the old movie "Easter Parade" for fun and thought that an Easter parade might be fun, but probably wouldn't really like the scrutiny of what I was wearing. Then on Easter our pastor concluded a sermon series called the Five Faces of Me, with the Face of Hope. Towards the end of the sermon the praise band sang Rich Mullins' "Hope to Carry On" while about 20 people in a single line filed out holding signs. The first girl's sign said 'Sexual Impurity' on the flip it said 'Made Whole in Christ'. Others said, alcohol addict, set free; bitter and angry, peace and joy; knowing grief, knowing God's hope, etc. This was the best "Easter Parade". The parade showing off the Ressurection power. The living proof reminder was just what I needed.
Amy
oh how I needed this today! I can relate to EVERYTHING you wrote in that prayer journal! I have an 18-month-old and am very sick and very pregnant with our second. I was just thinking today that I NEED to sit down with a mom who has kids older than mine and just talk. Thanks for the encouragement, Beth.
Beth, this is so true! My girlfriend was my lifeline when the kids were little. We did McDonalds, donut shops, garage sales and backyards all the time. I would have pulled my hair out without it!
Now our oldest are 19 years old and they still talk about the fact that Ryan taught Matt how to get out of a playpen and Josh and Travis were buddies in the womb (we were pregnant together!).
Now we're starting over again with a 2 year old from China. Is it possible I've become my own mentor?
;)
Beth:
I'm fighting my two year old's hands away with one hand and wiping tears with the other so I can thank you for your words today. Praise God for you. I am struggling so hard to raise little ones and foster a marriage that sounds so much like the one you describe when the girls were young. Laundry, feeding, cleaning, and spiritual leading a family of 6 is more than I can handle on some days.
But He can...
Thank you for the reminder.
And the hope.
Hi Beth,
Thanks for sharing your journal! It made me laugh (I still am over those handbells) and cry (at the sweetness of our God for giving you all a moment like that).
I've been doing some looking at old stuff today too and found a thick cardstock calligraphy from my fellow Texas A&M Bible study friend, Christa Wade (yes, she did work at LPM). Here is what she wrote to me, "Holly, your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight 1 Peter 3:4" Who me? Gentle and quiet spirit? No way, I thought. But she spoke it over me, just as you have countless times.
Today, almost 16 years later, I find that it is indeed true...my spirit has become more and more like what Christa wrote...I think it's because she wrote it and because it was so untrue at the time, so I prayed for it.
I praise Him for you, Beth, and for sisters in Christ like Christa, who speak truth over others.
Love you much,
Holly
Dear Miss Beth, it never ceases to amaze me how I can laugh and cry so hard in just one "sitting" with you- that's what I like to call them (a blog entry, a chapter, a Life Today episode...). Thank you for reminding me my friends are gifts from God- that he has made for me faith, family, and friends- all for specific purposes and joys. Thank you Father. Thank you Beth. Kim in PA
Beth,
Thanks for these words tonight. On another snowy day in Michigan (yes,It's April, for crying out loud!!)I am reminded once again that I am not alone and that being a mom is indeed the most noble profession in all the world. My little boy (he's 8) took the school bus home for the second time in all his life today. As I watched him come in the house and tell me how much fun it was to ride the bus, I thanked Jesus again for protecting him and keeping him safe in someone elses hands and immediately called a friend to share with her that I took the plunge and let him ride this week. She had taken this risk last year with her firstborn! She knew! We DO need one another to share these little joys! And as my Mother visited for Easter with us for the first time in years, it was beautiful to see her enjoying these babies as you do as well. She told me to cherish these days. Put down the cell phones and play with the children. Yes, ma'am. Thanks for reminding me that it is ok. Love you sister.
This single sister is willin gfor ou to talk and teach all. You have been so veru precious about letting those of us that have been chosen to be single feel just as special as tose chosen for marriag eamd motherhood. YOu were the 1st teacher to let me kow it is ok to be single and that I am not disobeting the Lord. It helps so much.eep up HIs Glorious work!!
Tn/Vicki
thank you...my faith has taken a beating...we are living in a new state - I am at home with three under the age of five and we haven't found a church home...I have been crying out to God and you just gave me the courage to email a local mom's group to see if I can come...I am terrified...I am lonely...and I am thankful for this timely post!
What a sweet and encouraging entry Beth! So far, I have only one child and we're praying to have another. Though I'm just beginning, I could relate to your journal entries. Periodically, I go back over previous months and read. Mine are filled with "give me grace, give me patience, give me mercy, help me..." My son is developmentally delayed because of a neurological disorder which causes him to have seizures. So, I often pray for God to give me the grace to handle his screaming fits, having to remind myself that he has special issues and how can I dare get impatient with him. I so need a group of moms. We are hoping to move soon (live in SF bay area now) back to TX, so I always feel like I am waiting...waiting to put down roots, waiting to meet some godly mom friends that I'll have for a long time. Anyway, Amanda and Beth your blog is a blessing to me. Beth, your heart, life, and the way you use your gifts have all blessed me for several years now and I love you too my sister.
PRECIOUS, Mama Beth...absolutely precious.
I am one of the single sistas, but let me tell you ladies..I can testify, even as a single (soon-to-be college grad!) I couldn't agree more with Mama B's post about finding a group of CLOSE sistas to "do life" with you. I prayed that the Lord would send me some girls that we could be that for each other. OH how it has changed my life.
I now have a dear circle of sistas that I couldn't feel more connected to if we were born of the same mother. We hold each other accountable to the secret areas of our heart that no one else may know about, but God has given us the courage to share with each other. We are just plain REAL with each other. So you don't even have to wait until that sweet day when you have little ones of your own...find them NOW, encourage each other, and get there together!
Ms. B, it is precious to me that your heart would be so sensitive as to keep us in mind as you write... you just keep doing your thing... family related or not ;)...and we will be here on the edge of our seats waiting for everything the Lord has laid on your heart. :)
Oh Beth, what an incredible entry. I was tearing up by the end. It's hard for me to believe that you ever "left" Keith but by you letting us in on that one, I know you're human. And that you told him under your breath. Priceless! How glad I am that you found your way back to him.
My daughter has a wee one and after reading your recount of that time and remembering my own, I will encourage her to get some more time in with her new-mom friends. I had forgotten how important those relationships are.
I love you. Su for CO
I love you too Beth!! Posts like these are some of my favorite things you share with all of us.
As a mom of 3 boys, 8,5,&3. I am so encouraged... Thank you for reminding me to be thankful for the gift that God has given me.. that is my friendships with other mothers.
You and your family (LPM family too) are so precious to me.
Blessings to you all... Kim
Thank you so so so so so so so so much for sharing about your earlier journal entries. Sometimes we forget that someone so well-knowen in ministry has or even ever had a "real life". I love hearing about the same trials of life that you went through with your young girls and your husband. It helps to see that God can and does change us as we go on in this sometimes "VERY MUNDANE" life.
Thankfully I have a fabulous variety of women in my life to help me through this thing called motherhood. I have four VERY close friends I do so many things with. I could not make it through life without them. One of them, our daughters are just three weeks apart in age and are best best best friends. My four friends and I are so like sisters.
I also have many "older" women in my life to help coach me through. These women have been in the throws of life way longer than I have. They've had teenage crisis one after another, some have had children go home to be with The Lord,(none of them carry ANY bitterness toward God. That is AMAZING TO ME and evidence of God's grace in their lives. And they've all lived with the mundaneness of life. Without them to coach me on, I'd NEVER make it.
Oh, I forgot to mention that both groups lift each other up in prayer. (That is the most important thing).
I just want to thank God publicly for all of the godly women He has placed in my life. I am forever grateful to Him for friendships. I'd give up all my earthly possessions if I had to in order to keep my friends that He's given me.
I so love Him and I so love you, Beth. Keep on encouraging. It helps MORE THAN YOU KNOW!
love you,
Kristi in Oregon
Beth, Thank you for your message. I SO needed to hear the encouragement from you. I have 4 little people under the ages of 8 and some days it seems like this stage is never going to end. Thank you for giving me a God - perspective on this precious time of my life.
I am so thankful for your familial antedotes.
I would like to share how a "family-oriented" story you relayed in a book you had written has impacted my life.
About a month ago I was in the process of reading To Live Is Christ. I was at the point in the book where you told a story of Amanda and yourself in your vehicle and her being not being able to fasten her seatbelt and after trying and trying to no avail she got up front with you and in seconds the window where she was sitting imploded.
You knew that was God.
Well, I thought to my sad little self, 'I wish I was good enough, Christian enough, special enough like Beth Moore to truly experience and know It was God in my life watching over me and my little one, but I guess I'm just not special enough.' (pathetic, I know) Anyway, the next day during an exceptionally warm spell for March here in Virginia I had my windows open letting the house "air out" I was busy and my little one, Samantha, was doing her thing and I heard someone call my name. It was loud, plain and clear. As I went to see who in the world it could be my 2 yr old baby girl was going out the front window head first!!! She had already pushed the screen out and I grabbed her right before the fall. My front windows are on the second story of my house as we live in a Split-Foyer the fall would have been at least 40 feet.
I knew it was God.
I realize God loves ALL of us and we are ALL special enough.
Coincidence? No, I KNOW IT WAS GOD!
Thank you, Beth. Although my two are 20 and 24, I still have anxious moments. Your message calmed my anxiety and helped me to look beyond the crisis of the moment for each of them and realize what a beautiful gift from God they are for me.
Bless you,
Debbie
Will your teaching on parenting be available anywhere? Thank you for ALL that you do to encourage me and other women to live for Jesus.
I'm not sure if I want to laugh, cry, jump up and down, or just sigh. Maybe all the above. Thank you, Sweet Sista, for such a tender walk through your yesterdays. I can relate to just about everything. What a treasure to have these memories recorded in thought and written word to allow you to "touch" the experiences again.
Love and appreciate you!
Paulette from East TX
I am a single woman and I love this kind of stuff!! All of my closest friends are moms of young ones and it is a joy to be able to invest in their young lives. Beth's teaching helps me to do this!
My Mom use to call it the "Baby Buggy Brigade"! They sat on the bench in old Yonkers, NY--everyday, while we all played!
Today, I get the chance to "solve all the worlds problems, and create some more!" with my Sista' Moms! And it all started for me in a mom's group at church!
Thanks for sharing the tender moment with us!
Oh, and just an after thought: When I lost my mom, almost 14 years ago, it was her girlfriends who "mommied" me. They still do, and let me share my children's stories just like a good granny would do. Thank God for sisters!
Maryellen
Amen, Amen and AMEN!!
If I had me a handkerchief right about now, I'd be wavin' it in the air and telling you to COME ON, NOW, SISTER - because that is a seriously good word.
And one more thing: THANK YOU.
Oh how I needed to be reminded of that. We moved about 6 months ago, and I miss my "lunch buddies" so much. All our children were within 2 years of each other. This encourages me to keep praying as I continue to make new relationships. Maybe it's time I reach out to new mommies and encourage them. Hmmmmmmmm. Thanks Beth. :)
Pretty Please Beth...tell us.
Did you play the tiny bell or the big bell on the end? Or something pretty in between?
btw...that cracked me up!
My short people are well, still short. I have an 8 and 1/2 year old and a 7 year old. I've almost loved every minute of it! More often than not, the minutes I don't love are because I'm acting like a meany! They do bring joy unmatched, laughter til I cry, and moments of real testing!
I was telling my youngest, Paige, that God gave her her own set of fingerprints. She had been asking about them so I explained she was the only one in the world with those marks. I told her that was something to thank God for. She opened her hands, looked at them, then looked straight up and said with all the passion and graitude she could muster, "Thank You God!"
I wouldn't trade these two girls for anything. It's funny, Beth...my best friend has 2 boys very close in age to my two girls. We've run them all over the city, made them play together for hours so we could talk, talk, talk, and they've got so used to me hugging them that hey just come on over and lean on me as if to get it out of the way!
Out of all my girls friends, they get along with those two boys the best. I have no doubt they'll have stories to tell on us, just as much as we do on them. Motherhood...there is no other thing like it in the world.
Thanks for all you do,
Natalie Witcher
Edmond, OK
Thank you Beth. I am in tears as the memories of my now 18 year old,6 foot 1 inch tall son's play group flood over me. You are so on the mark about how important those other moms are in your life. It may be called a play group, but above all it is a support group. Becky
Beth, last night you suggested we ask our kids if they know that we love them. I think I do a pretty good job of showing it and I say it all the time - but do they feel it?
Growing up, my mother's love was very conditional. She was not affectionate and used words to wound, often and deeply. God has healed the wounds, but I vowed that my kids would hear loving words and I would do anything to make them feel loved.
I couldn't wait to share my kids responses with you. I have two precious "babies" who are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum in every way. My daughter is 6 (going on 16) and sounds much like your Melissa. First thing this morning I asked her, "Do you know mommy loves you?" She replied, "What, are you crazy?" I was a bit confused and asked, "Well, don't I say it all the time?" With exasperation she rolled her eyes and laughed saying, "ya, but it's cuz' you always show it-you are always kissin' on me, snugglin' me, playing Barbies and that kinda stuff." WOW, WHAT A MOMENT!
Then there's my son, he will be 12 next week (on our last night of Bible study). He has always been my sweet, gentle, kind-hearted compliant boy. However, we have recently had several major confrontations regarding his school work. I'm trying to help him with a major writing assignment (my passion-his nemesis). The strife between us has made me feel so inadequate as a parent. Imagine my surprise at his answer: he responded, "because you always help me with my homework." God is Good! I needed to hear that!!
Thanks Beth - I got more than a WORD! Blessings to you and your family-you are a blessing to mine.
It is so great this was your topic....Ours is a ministry family and I feel we sometimes miss out on those lifelong friendships where we can walk those arm-in-arm walks down that aisle you talked about.
I have however, broken a cardinal preacher's wife rule of "never get too close to the congregation". Of course I understand the concept where church 'business' is concerned but in relationships? Just can't comply. Wherever we are, for whatever time we are given, I am an "all in" kind of girl. I want my 4 children to live and love that way too and not be afraid of goodbye. We have said goodbye many times, but we've said hello a lot too and we are SO blessed because of it.
Well, you'll get no more sentimental rambling from me! Thanks for these sweet thoughts!
What great encouragement! My fellow mom-friends are priceless to my sanity. Somehow it always makes you feel better talking with girlfriends and knowing that they have gone through it too.....and even BETH MOORE has gone through it. I love your blog and heard you the first time during the simulcast. Thanks for the encouragement!
Wow - what a good blog. You just made me cry. I pointed my mom friends to this one. Every mother can relate. It's good to know what we moms go through is common to others. :)
Please thank Keith for allowing you to share your life with us. I pray everyday of my 17 year marriage for my non-church going, potty mouth husband. Besides that he treats me like a queen and has raised my 3 children as his own. He has been more of a servant than most I go to church with. This just gives me great hope not to give up on him. You are such a blessing to me...
DeeDee
Thanks for the post, especially the "such as is common to Moms"! Isn't it something to read an old journal and laugh at some of the stuff we did? I just went through some old photo albums (remember 80's hair? and clothes?) It reminded me of how FAR God has brought me and how much He has blessed my life!! I've journaled since I was a kid can you believe I threw most of them out!! I wish I had them now.
love your Sista,
Kathleen
Amen, Beth! Can I just tell you about the gifts God has given me? My husband and I decided to raise our family in a small town. I had one really good friend, and she and her husband moved away. I prayed and asked God to send me one friend that I could raise my kids with, have coffee with and get pedicures with! Do you know what? One day I realized that I had gotten to be the best of friends with THREE girls. The three are uniquely gifted and different. They have blessed me in so many ways. We get together with all our kids and call it "Coffee and Chaos". We have been through miscarriages, births,a death of a parent, and so much more. What excites me most is that we freely talk about Jesus and what he means to us. Let me just say...I believed that God would send me a friend. I just never knew he'd send me three! Praise Him!
Having other moms to "hang" with is soooo important. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a great organization that helps facilitate that!! www.mops.org!
Oh Beth,
Thank you. Thank you for reminding me of the gifts I have in my girlfriends. The delight I take in their involvement in the lives of my children. My three darlings have many "Aunties" who have been alongside encouraging mommy and spoiling them, each one sharing their unique person and imprint with my kiddos. I am blessed. Have a great day!
P.S. My littlest one just walked into the kitchen, belched a mighty burp just barely peaking his little blonde head over the counter, and then came in and asked me for some more " solid egg" ( hardboiled) please. I can barely type I'm laughing so hard. I better go assist....Julie B. Tucson
BETH! Girl! There’s no need for us single ones to ‘hang in here’ for the family-oriented entries per se! It’s an absolute privilege to get to learn from this abundance of ‘spiritual mothers’! Even apart from that, we can make it work
We college students – can be “imprisoned in our studies, walking from one class to another missing out on the opportunity to praise Him on the way, thinking a few ‘maniacal’ text messages ‘on a cell phone can replace a regular play-date where believing sisters can take some time to laugh and share...” You are right. It’s a necessity...And in agreement, to run with your idea...
*No day full of exams has overtaken you but such as is common to us students.
*No professor in disagreement with your faith has overtaken you but such as is common to us students.
*No failing grade (LOL!) has overtaken you but such as is common to us students. (Well - okay…maybe all can’t relate here!)
* No aching heart for His renown on your campus has overtaken you but such as is common to us students.
*No morning discomfort from a 2 a.m. pizza meal while studying has overtaken you but such...
*No inability to get up for your 8 am class has overtaken you but such
*No tears like those shed in leaving the ones you’re in koinania relationship with upon graduation has overtaken you but such...
Yes mam – God has called us to cheer one another on in this generation to the finish line. Thank you again for the wonderful reminder and encouragement. Grabbing some arms...Love you too.
I stumbled upon this blog, to my great delight! I feel like I am sort of snooping in on your private lives here...
I am a single mom of 4, a widow actually. 2 are grown, 2 more in grade school. I am a big fan of the Moore method of living well, having read 4 or 5 books, taking 3 long bible studies, watching every single Wed with Beth on the internet site, and I even pray for you all once in a while. I love you too. You helped me break free, believe God, and learn all about Ptolemy, Selecus, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and how to escape from a man eating lion. Karen Towns Lynchburg VA Thomas Road Baptist Church (you have a lot of fans here- come and see us!)
loved the post!! so tender and true. i am so blessed to have fellow moms as i am in the middle of what you are
describing.
i also love being a part of community bible study (cbs). as leaders we meet once a week and share God, His Word and life. it was there i met so many seasoned moms that have encouraged me along the way --real Titus 2 women--who make great salads and casseroles too:)
beth, you are an amazing writer, loved the bluntness. amanda keep the pics coming. the bed head pic...too cute! are those perfect eyebrows or what???
Thank you for that Beth. I know exactly what you mean.
One part that surprised me was:
"for Keith and I to get along better, for him to want to go to church, for him to stop cussing (I hope you're smiling because I am), for him to...and for him to..."
I guess it is hard to picture
I thank you extra for sharing that, you keep sending ribbons of hope my way
Love ya sista
Lori in Florida
Love the stories, Beth. Being single doesn't diminish my enjoyment of them at all :-)
Thank You Miss Beth! I do not where I would be on my parenting journey had God not brought some fellow Christian moms to walk along with me through this awesome season of my life. I am so very thankful for them.
beth- melt my heart! i am also blessed to have a "johnnie". we laugh about the book we are writing... here's another chapter... we're sure it will make the big screen one day. it's already a doosey!
thank you single sistas who walk along side my teen daughter. and for you who plan slumber parties for ten yr old girls just for fun. you bless my socks off!!
lovin life in Him-lisa
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! I have been married almost 25 years and this year we have become "empty nesters". My husband and I were wild when we married. I became a Christian and "prayed him into God's hands". He became a Christian and by God's grace we raised our children that way, through MANY ups and downs. I don't know what I would have done without my Bible Study girlfriends and my Mother's Day out girlfriends. My hubby walked in awhile back when I was watching Beth online and she was talking about saying something to Keith and bracing herself for his old reaction. He said, "That is so you. You do the same thing. You expect me to react the way I used to. You need to allow me to react differently--the way the new me reacts." So True!! (and the "new man" has been around awhile, so I have no good excuse. LOL) I say that to just look back say, "yahoo, Yah!". God can do exceedingly more than we can ask or think. He changes lives, families, everything. We just need to start by allowing God to change us and then just give Him everyone else in our lives. God gives us Christian girlfriends as a gift and I know without them, I would have lost my sanity a long time ago. I love my man, but my girlfriends know me in a way that only another woman can. It is my greatest joy to now have my oldest daughter as one of my best girlfriends!!
Goodness, Beth, if you didn't hit home with that one. You are so, so right! Having close girlfriends to share this thing called motherhood with is SO very important! It IS a necessity for my health! I am a military wife and so I often must rely on girlfriends since family is far away. I am blessed with so many wonderful gal pals! When I was pregnant and on bedrest (with 3 year old twins and a husband who traveled frequently), they were my earthly angels who cared for me in so many ways! Even though my babies are now 7 and 3, I need my mom friends as much as ever. It seems that problems don't really get easier, they just get different!
My prayer is that all the sistas can have at least a friend or two to share their parenting seasons with...the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I love you, too, Beth!
Kristen
Oh my, thank you Beth. The honesty about those 1982 prayers is so encouraging. What a witness you are. Thanks for always admitting your humanity. This sista needed to hear it. Thank you God
Beth, I truly could not have asked for a better support group of moms than your daughter. The Lord without a doubt gave me abundantly more than I could have imagined with Amanda's love, friendship, sanity, prayers, 3:00 a.m. emails, phone calls and much needed humor! The Lord was so sweet to place Amanda in my life even to the point of Him planning the birth of our children two days apart so we would have the precious memories of being right down the hall from each other in the hospital! Ella and I love you and Amanda so much! And as I am daily thankful for your daughter, I know Ella just must be equally thankful for your blue eyed, cutie pie grandson!
Beth, I'm a young single sista, but I have a dear friend who is 7 months pregnant with her first baby. She was over this afternoon and we were feeling little Kathryn move around inside her. As I read your blog I can't help but think that my friend Ashley is one of the young moms I'm going to get to walk with - she's just helping me out by walking the road first! I am so grateful for the companionship my mom had because it provided me with dear Christian friends! Thanks for your blog. It's a blessing!
Jessica in MO
Such wisdom. I have tended to find my friends by interest rather than life stage, and while this makes for a wonderful camaraderie, I find as my girls (6 and 2) get older, I need more sanity checks from people who are still there or have been recently. Sometimes hearing that they don't have an answer either is reassuring! I have both Christian and non-Christian gal friends now, with kids, but the wisdom I get from the believers with kids my kids' age sometimes seems to come straight from God.
(Yes, I've also noticed that if I manage even a 2-minute prayer on my knees next to the bed before the 2-year-old makes it up the stairs to wake us all up, I'm on a better keel for the rest of the day. Go figure...)
With tears in my eyes I say Amen!! I love my husband and he is my best friend however my "sistas" and fellow mothers know what it is like to have "one of those days" when nothing goes right and the children are driving you crazy! It is through God's mercy, grace, peace and divinely appointed friendships that we get through it. Thank you Beth for your words and honesty. It helps so much to hear of your struggles and to hear of your successes. It gives me such hope. I look forward to seeing you in Columbia this weekend. I have no doubt God is going to show up and BIG things will happen this weekend. I am looking forward to what God is going to reveal to me. GOd is so good!!
I will continue to lift you and the team up in prayer.
Much love
Thank you for sharing these tender moments. I am so thankful for the friends that God has placed along my path. Ministry has moved us around quite a bit. No matter, God has been so good. It will be so much fun when we are all together in heaven.
Beautifully said. It is so true. Even though we adore our sweet husbands, moms and other family members - there is just nothing like having other moms who are going through the trenches alongside you. A true gift from God.
Thank you for reminding us how very important this is.
Love, Stephanie M.
I am single and I am a mom. My husband, the father of my children went HOME four years ago this March. I can't even begin to describe to you how much my mom friends mean to me. We call each other our "peeps". I know that I can count on them through anything. Sometimes I find myself feeling left out (because of the no husband thing) and I want to isolate from them. Your post has again reminded me of how vitally important that support system is my life. Maybe even more so for myself in my circumstances...I feel so blessed to have my "peeps" and my "sistas"
I love you, too.
Well I for one that God that you've got "mommies on the mind". I am one of them with two little boys 15 months apart. Being a mom is truly a ministry in itself. We are striving to win little souls to the Kingdom. There is a group of us that will soon start the "Breaking Free" bible study and we will finish just in time for the Women of Faith Conference in June! Praise God for your ministry to the ministering mommies out there.
God Bless!
You are indeed a blessing..to me. My greatest goal is to love Jesus just as much as I can... I've lived thus far with my two up to age almost 13 and almost 9 each celebrating next month..and oh all things you said are so true. Oh praise our awesome God for showering us with grace!! Praise him for stooping down and lifting us up when we are sure just positive that there is no way he is gonna lift us up ever again. He sometimes just carries us right on through..or just frees us immediately..and sometimes he lets us join him...on his time schedule..and this is too a blessing. I am holding up that ebenezer stone...letting it go to the man above and using my open hands to do work for our precious Lord. I am also hanging on to those dear preicious moms like me, and the fellowship that is gained with them as we parent together. May the Lord continue to bless you and all your family...they are indeed dear to me!!
Love from Mississippi..thats M-i-crooked letter, crooked letter, i crooked letter, crooked letter, i hump back hump back i. Tina :))
Thanks for the word. I have two young boys... both still in diapers, although my just turned 3 year old will hopefully graduate soon. My best friend in the whole world and I are preparing to have a girl's weekend this weekend to attend the conference in Columbia, SC. One of my boys will be there - Sam - he's only 6 months old. Anyway - my best friend Heather has 3 boys. I call her for everything.. advice... prayer... support...and by golly if we haven't shared our share of chocolate and ice cream in the 7 years I've known her. She is one of the most precious gifts God has given me. It's funny... I look forward to continue to watch her boys grow... I can't wait to be invited to their weddings. I loved them before I had my own. The LORD allowed me to have practice on hers before He knew I was ready to handle the ones He would give me. I am so thankful for the women the Father has put in my path. He is so sovereign. Praise Him! See you this weekend Beth. Heather and I and her mom will be there. Sam, too.
Thank you soooo much for sharing this Beth. You have no idea how the Lord used this to speak to my heart today.
PS I look so forward to my 'Beth time' on Wednesday mornings. I watch you every week on Life Today! :)
Journaling is such a great thing for me. For one thing, it helps me sort out my jumbled thoughts that are rolling around in my head all the time. I pray better in writing. I enjoy it the most for this reason: I can look back and trace my growth. See the threads of God weaving the tapestry of my life. My face broke into a huge smile reading about all of the things you found that Keith should DO, and DO, and DO, and NOT do, and NOT do and NOT do. I find that I have spent so much time, wasted time, journaling about how my husband was the cause of all of my perceived misery, when if fact, it was my own immaturity. I came across some soft leather bound journals...nice ones...parchment paper pages. The whole works. Beth, I thought of you and how you have taught us about "legacy" journaling. I was inventorying these journals for a small retail shop, and I envisioned writing my legacy in those pages. Since my words ARE important...family members would read the pages, and might be helped by an insight or two. Who knows,it may even help someone who found the journal 300 years from now in some attic. One of these will be on the top of my next wish list. Until then, my good ole 70 page notebooks will have to suffice.
Beth, your humility continues to stun me. Has you disposition changed? (smile) I bet it has and your humility must have facilitated that change. And maybe just a touch of God's grace and mercy.
Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Love to you always,
Becky from Tennessee
Beth,
Even though I am a single 26yr old, I do appreciate your latest entry.
I don't think people realize how much us single people need help to get to the full life that you all have. Some of us never got to experience what it means to have a real family.
If not for my church, believe me I would hardly have a clue how to go about the Christian walk, when I lived so many years in a non-christian home.
People don't realize when those moments of, " What should I do, what should I say." come about we need to know that the people who have been there , are there!
So I can chew on as much family type bloggin stuff, as long as I know I can learn something from it.
Be Blessed:-)
" Unrealized potential is the most serious sin of all."
- John Ortberg
Oh, this made me cry. There is nothing as precious as my dear friends who are on the motherhood adventure with me.
And yes, we've been to more than our share of McDonalds. Some things never change.
Beth,
Thank you for your love for all of us that you so wonderfully give freely and honestly that only God can allow you to give. You have once again given me a reason to smile and laugh and remember that my beautiful "2yr old" won't be 2 forever and to not miss the beauty of where she is and the gift that God has given to me in her life.
a fellow follower of our God
What a word! I am so thankful for the women that Jesus has put into my life. I have 2 young boys -- both in diapers, although my just turned 3 year old will hopefully be graduating to big boy pants soon. My best friend, Heather, has 3 boys. Her boys are 8,6, and 2 1/2. She allowed me to love on hers and get my practice in so that I would be more prepared for the ones God gave to me (if that was even possible). She has shared advice... support.. prayers.. and an ample supply of chocolate and ice cream - dependent upon the season and the issue. She drove three hours to be here when I had my second son. We've cried, laughed, prayed, and shared some more.
Now we are both preparing to come to the Columbia, SC conference this weekend. We'll be there with her mom and my son, Sam - he's only 6 months. He is privileged enough to be able to ride along on the girl's weekend... only because he's still nursing and hopefully young enough to sit still for 5 minutes.
thanks for the message. We'll be there on Friday and Saturday - praising God with you and opening our mouths to be filled. Just me, Sam, Heather, her mom, and thousands of our other girlfriends. God bless you.
Reading this blog has given me the grace to face the empty nest coming my direction. My walk with God has only just begun and yet I feel such a kinship with this blog. Thank you for being there for those of us who are finding our way back to God. You all give me hope!
Cindy
Oh my word, how you can just make me feel like I've had a chance to sit down with you over some spilled french fries and Happy Meal toys, I'll never know!
Thank you, Beth. You are precious. I was a hand bell ringer in a past so long ago I barely remembered it until you brought it up and gave me a reason to chuckle.
I pray daily for other moms to share with right here in my own town. Until God floods me with those, I will be grateful for these and for you. You touched my heart once again.
Wow...I can sure relate! My oldest daughter got married last June just two weeks after my middle son graduated from high school. He is now off to college, and my youngest baby is now a teenager! Recently I went into my oldest daughters now empty bedroom to put something away... suddenly my mind flashed quick images...first of my little girl playing in this room and it was filled with barbie dolls and doll houses...then images of her art supplies and books...which then transformed into a very messy room with clothes and make up and curling irons covering every surface...slumber parties, tonsillectomy, prom dreses, and then...a beautiful white wedding dress hanging from her canopy...then I blinked and was again standing alone in her empty bedroom as tears pooled in my eyes. Those days pass so quickly and I wouldn't trade them for anything!
Ah, that is so cool...so like God. Thank you for the beautiful story. I had several moms who I endured those years with too. We are all dispersed around the nation now as our mobile society keeps swinging us around! What a blessing you had to have a friend like that for all those years!
Dear Beth,
You are so down to earth and funny. I love your honesty. When you shared some of the entries written in the prayer journal I laughed until I cried.
This has been a time of reflection for me too. A few weeks back you asked us to share things we remember as we watched our children grow up. Presently, I am in your Believing God study. We watched lesson 8 tonight. The homework has been awesome...not easy, but awesome. God is so faithful. Thank you for helping me recognize His hand in my life as I inch my way step-by-step through this study.
The stories about you and Johnnie were funny, honest and so inspiring. I pray many young mothers will read your words from this latest post.
When we hear from you, what always shines through whatever you happen to be sharing is this: "I love you and your Heavenly Father is crazy about you, child!"
What a complete joy your are, dear Beth.
I love you too!
i just have to give an AMEN my blog sista shelly on the "no...but such as" list.
love you! ;)
...and i big DITTO to "it’s an absolute privilege to get to learn from this abundance of ‘spiritual mothers’"
we youngins love ya'll...so much :)
Dear Beth,
My girlfriend and I skipped Tue night - both of us over 40 and no kids. We decided to stay and work, but now after reading the blogs I wished we had came. I know GOD would still have spoken to me in some way. Please forgive me.
Thanks for being GOD's servant.
Love You,Cindy
Thank you, Beth.
This is so true. We need to surround ourselves with believing moms for support and guidance.
I actually wrote this poem for my Pastors wife, someone that i have been blessed to help keep leading me on the walk of faith. Its been tough, but you gotta have one person you can really trust and keep you encouraged.
People like her, are the definition of what it is to really show off the beauty of God.
Maybe you can picture someonelse in your life that you agree would fit in this poem too:-)
A Different Kind
By: Angie
Have you ever stopped to wonder of
the journey our hearts take each moment
of our lives,
Wherever our eyes find the beauty in
this world, our hearts follow.
A sunset, the laughter of a child,
a flower blooming for the first time....
Its all beautiful, but not just because
of how we see it on the outside,
but because we know the story.
It makes me think of people I know,
and some I wish I had known.
There are some that have such a story,
that I could never find enough words to write
to reflect the beauty within who they are.
There is not a perfect enough melody of music
to describe perfectly how the background
of their life should sound.
I see in those people, a light, filled with such
color that sometimes its often hard to look at
them without smiling.
Love changes lives, and it starts with one heart,
and God ignites something so powerful,
and becomes contaigous to the entire earth.
A true beauty.
I feel very strongly that if enough love
filled this earth,
Hunger would not exist,
Anger would not overcome
Hate would not have room to ever start
And the enemy would have to turn
in a resignation.
So wherever you find beauty, know love
is staring right back,
and can take on anything
if we let it.
As a 21 year old single girl, believe me when I say I still learn something and walk away smiling every time you or amanda post's something.
Praise the Lord that at this season in my life, the Lord has placed a "support group" that I love and adore. Not only do I have one at school (and praise the Lord for sweet college friends!) but I have one from back home, too. Neither of these "groups" do I take for granted.
HE has placed such precious friendships in my life, and for that I am so grateful!
This post made me laugh. You make me laugh.
I'm excited, I'll be at bible study next week with my mom. I will be there becuase my best friend is having her bridal portraits the next day, talk about sweet friendships, I can't wait to stand next to her one her big day in less than 3 months!
I must say it again as so many others have....Thank you again Beth for your gentle reminders. I am so thankful for the friends God gave me. There are 5 of us and we met at church years ago when I was the only one married. We've been together through all of their weddings, (none of us had children) and now there are 15 children between us! I must say if it wasn't for the MANY hours we've spent at so many different places (McDonald's, backyards, parks, the zoo, etc.), I think raising my kiddos would have been a totally different experience. I have needed their advice and just an ear so many times and the same goes for them I know. It's been quite a journey! I intend to email all of them today and let them know how thankful to God I am for their friendship through all of these years!
Thank you so much for this post today. I am a 28 year old mother of a 16 month old son, Noah, and a baby on the way. Some days are lovely and wonderful and others are just plain hard and wearing. This may sound silly but it was so great for me to read these stories and know that you really were like me once. I hear you say it often but it is just too hard to believe sometimes. These stories really captured what it is like to be a mom to youngins!! Thank you, for everything. I look forward to making more relationships with Godly mothers - I just pray one day I have a Johnnie all my own.
Love to you and Amanda and the prince of LPM,
Kim
I love your post today. I am a part of a wonderful bible study that has grown to 16 ladies. We have become so close. Most of us are moms, and it is so uplifting to become closer and closer to each other as we attempt to raise our babies to fear the Lord as we do. Between us, we have 24 kids that range in age from 3 weeks to 9 years. Thank you for reminding me (us, actually, I had to send your entry to all of them) that even though sometimes when we get sidetracked and take all our time up in sharing how rough or how wonderful our day has been, God blesses that and there is an importance to it. I love you just like I love all my bible study girls!
Beautiful post - and I couldn't agree with you more. I minister to moms! But - I have been praying to God for just what you suggest. The seasons of life have taken some dear friends out of mine and I'm currently in a "desert" - just waiting for those soul sisters to return to me.
I know in God's timing they will come. I long for it.
Beth, I just read Samantha's mom's response about not feeling like she ever hears God like you do. And then God saving Samantha from that 40 foot fall. Isn't that just like God to tell each of us that yes we are important! I think that we all struggle with that one and I love how God proves us wrong. Thank you again Beth! Love, Su from CO
You may never know on this side of heaven what this post meant to me. I used to be a SAHM, but had to return to work after my son was 20 months old. I long for the times to spend with my girlfriends, but with opposing schedules it's so hard...the last time we tried to get together, one of the other girls' kids got sick!! That's how desperate we are to have time together!! I sent them all an email and pointed them to this post. Thank you for writing it.
Precious! Mine are 18 and 16 and halfway out of the nest and I relate to the love and empathy you have for mothers of young ones! I have been so blessed on my journey though motherhood with wonderful sister-friends who have shared love, heartbreaking loss, joy, insanity, weight ups-and-downs and countless bad hair experiences! Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of sisters!
(And those of us who were in Bossier are still not over the handbell confession. I'm so sorry the blog sisters don't get the benefit of the visual re-enactment! You are a SCREAM!)
This entry is timely for me because I just started a Bible study with a group of fellow homeschooling moms. As a homeschooling mom (who works at night), I don't have much time for socializing, but I have come to realize I am craving it as much as my boys. I already know some of these ladies, but I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. It is important, isnt' it?
BTW, I just have to tell you that I laughed outloud when I read your note on your bell ringer pride. I was at your LP Live event in Bossier City. I have this image of you acting this out-as my mother was sitting next to me just cracking up (btw, she adores you and appreciates your deep and very visible love of our Lord Jesus Christ!-and she told me "I'm so glad you found her!").
God Bless and THANK YOU for all you've opened up for me with your Bible studies.
Whew!!! I sit here with tears streaming. My firstborn, the Number one of two girls, is graduating high school this year. I've been more emotional this week. Graduation invitations came in last week (they are addressed and waiting to be mailed) and then just Tuesday they had their group cap and gown pictures taken. As I read your entry I relived her earlier years (been doing that a lot lately). Erin and I got together with other moms and children at least once a week. There were four of us and our children. I cherished our time then, but I think I cherish it even more now because I look back and see what all it did for me, what all God did for me through that time. We would talk babies, kids, God, husbands (in a good way), goals, God, loosing weight, teachable moments with the kids, and God. It was a time to learn and grow and we surrounded ourselves with each other - women growing, maturing and searching for God's will for ourselves and our families. Precious, precious times. My husband is a pastor so we left that group of dear, dear friends a little over three years ago. It has been challenging, but God is good. We are planning a little graduation party for the four kidos. I'm sure it will be a sweet time for them, and for us moms as well. Thanks, Beth, I needed that!
Angie in Alabama
PS Think I'll go drag out some old journals. :)
Beth-
Boy did I need this message this morning. We had a snow day yesterday - yes it snowed in the midwest. My teenage girls and I got into a big argument. Well, mostly it was the almost 17 year old. At any rate she told me I didn't do anything for her. It hurt me so badly and I must admit I was still mad at her this morning. Barely said goodbye as she left for school.
I was thinking, so ok, I can't work on her or her 13 year old sister anymore I will just focus on the 9 year old prince.
Then I read your blog and the conviction comes through loud and clear.
Thank you for your message-
From a sad old mom.
Hi girls,
This is my first attempt at blogging! First of all, Beth and Amanda your doing a great job by sharing your life stories so that we can be encouraged by your openness and honesty about living life in the real world! And Amanda don't stop the baby pics. He is too precious and you will be posting his graduation pics in the blink of an eye. Time with these precious babies, flies. Somedays you wish it would fly, but most of the time you want to capture the time and bottle it for later gratuities, like when we end up in the nursing home!! I love the story you shared about your friend Johnnie. and to the mom that blogged that she just lost the "Johnnie" in her life...I too lost the Johnnie in my life who had been my best friend from first grade on. Mostly, because I isolated myself for far too many reasons to share. But, the Lord used you Beth, Kay Arthur, Jan Silvious and many more to turn my life around after 22 years of isolation while cargiving my disabled mom and raising my family. The Lord ended up reuniting my best friend and I after being seperated for some 25 years. He brought us back together through our younger children ending up at the same Christian school. It's as though we were never apart. He redeemed the years the locust stole. We now attend bible studies together and just hang out and share life together. My encouragement as a 46 yr. old wife of an exceptionally wonderful husband of almost 29 yrs., and mom of four incredible children, one incredible daughter-in-love, and one grandson on the way, is simply this... God did not intend for us to isolate ourselves from friendships. He is all about relationships. I know that for a fact, and it took me way too many years to find that out. Jesus' relationship with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha is a great example of friendship for us. Now, I just want to spend my life being an encouragement and light to other women. God is soooo good! He takes our junk and turns it into something to be a blessing for someone else. Beth you've taught that to us so well, by sharing your life and letting us know it's ok if we have junk too!! Thanks for pointing us to the truth that sets us free from our junk! You are a blessing to us all! love and blessings to you and all of your family, kim
Beth,
I loved what you had to say about being a mom, we need friends to share this adventure with. Amen! Hallelujah!! I have four 9,7, and 6 year olds twins. That's four in 3 1/2 years. I could not have made it in those early years without MOPS and the moms on my street who had children the same age. I have a dear friend in Houston that I still communicate with about kids, discipline, frustrations, joys and successes. She has five, 3 of them are my kids' ages. What a blessing Amy has been to me. Email has allowed us to not lose our friendship and constant encouragement.
I do wish I could be there are Tuesday nights in Houston, but I'm in Dallas, and will just gleen what I can from these blogs.
Thanks for sharing, Beth, you are loved!
Stephanie
There are seven mothers in our church who will experience the pains of "letting go" of a first born child this May to graduation from high school. I am one of them, and through my tears in Bible study recently, I admonished the "veterans" of such things to help us through this portion of life...this new season of living for all of us who aren't quite sure how it's all going to work out. I heard a few chuckles from them, and then I asked them to move beyond their laughter and to remember that season in their own lives. I asked them to pray for us...teach us...love us...and above all else, be tender toward us on the day we watch our young adults as they pack the car to move out into this great big world.
Oh, how we need our mentors...even those of us who have parented for 18 years! I suppose that is one of the reasons I will pack my car tomorrow morning and head to Columbia, SC, ... to be mentored by one of the best. Teach me, Beth. Love me, Beth. And above all else, be tender toward the leading of the Holy Spirit, as He guides you to mentor on a profound scale. I am in earnest prayer for you, Beth, and I come in holy expectation.
peace for the journey~elaine
This morning my 1 year old keeps ripping off his diaper...
he's thrown his cereal bowl (with cereal and milk) on the carpet
woke me up early
Has me nuts!
Then I read this and am reminded it will all be alright.
Thank you!
Blessings,
Karla
It's often said there is no such thing as a coincidence. My heart has ached for the past couple of years for our "mom" group to get going again. Before my 13-year old was born, I loved the evenings when I got together with the other young ladies in our church. I listened to their stories of the ups and downs of parenthood - eagerly anticipating my time.
When my oldest was born, those ladies were the first to bring food to this new little family of three (something my husband readily admits was his favorite part-besides his new baby, of course).
As the years have gone by and our families have grown, the "busy-ness" of life took over. We still see each other at church and Sunday School. But that faithful meeting each week slowly drifted off.
Beth, this has been on my heart in a big way the last couple of weeks. It's no coincidence that your entry would come at a time when my heart is yearning for this fellowship of mom's to get back together.
They are all so special to me.
My best friend just moved to Ohio. Her daughter was also my daughter's best friend. The void there is huge. We, too, dragged our daughters all over town with us, struggling to get a decent conversation in between all the interruptions. We continue to keep in touch, but I miss having that bond with someone here. You've inspired me to pray for that.
Just loved this post, but it sort of broke my heart... I've been praying, deeply, of late for a new "girl pal" that I can hang with. I had 2, but one moved 4 hours away (and she's single with no kids), and the other got a new job, and just is always too busy for me.
So, I've been praying for God to send me a friend who lives nearby, that's near in age to me (give or take 3 years), and who maybe has kids in the same age-range as my 2 (9 and 6.5 yrs).
Will you please send up some prayers on my behalf, too? I'd really, really appreciate it. I'm getting to the point where I cry every time two women walk by my house on the front walk... I'm just so desperate for a close friend! :-(
(sounding pretty pathetic today... but all things are possible with God, right?)
This is not related to the post, but....does anyone have two extra tickets for Columbia for tommorrow night? If so, email me becky@landmmusic.com.
Oh, how desperate I am for some "mom" friends. Being a working mom it is hard to get involved with most mom stuff since it always takes place during the day. Play dates are hard and how I so long for them. I just have to turn it over to God and wait for Him to send me someone.
I linked this post on my blog. I was going to post about the "mommy wars" that have been so prevalent in so many of my friends lives recently, but what you said was so much better! I am the mom of three young boys (7,4, and almost 1 year) with another baby on the way in November. I never dreamed motherhood would be this hard OR this AMAZING!
Beth, I must say you are the most incredible thing I have ever seen in my 40-years on this earth. I praise God that He has placed you here for us during this time. It is because of you and your Bible studies that I am seeking God in such a greater way and have chose to believe God for my marriage. You will never realize just how many lives you have touched. Today's blog speaks volumns - I'm so glad you shared about the early days with Keith (yes I am laughing with you) because it gives me so much more hope to believe God in a greater way for my marriage and my husband's salvation. He's come a looong way and the greatest distance has been since I tapped into your Bible studies. The clarity that you bring to the table - crystal is not even good enough to describe it. I pray God's continual working through you... Love you much, praise His name, Alisa
Your entry today brought back a whirlwind of memories...my boys are big! but the memories are like yesterday and the mom friends are still there (26, 24 and 21 years later)Too many memories to share but mothers day outs, visits to the parks, all the mcdonalds play yards...just so we could know we weren't the only mom going through this or that, mom's are a special group of people! and sharing stories and crying, laughing over this or that, all so special to me right now. I was asked this last weekend to take pictures at a bridal luncheon and rehearsal dinner....one of the same children we played with, took swimming lessons with, years ago. The friendships are so wonderful and it means the world to be involved now during another special time. Times change, but God has been faithful to leave these 'moms' in my life. Now, when we are together there are so many 'remember when's' that we tend to need kleenexes more these days! New moms....you do need those connections. They are priceless. I have the sweetest photo of a children's choir of 'angels' at christmas years ago and who knew, my son and future daughter in law were in that picture. And her mom is a dear friend to me as well....God is good!
Thank you Beth for sharing such a wonderful post! I wish that I lived in Houston so that I could come and hear you on Tuesday nights! I am only 22 and single, but your post really touched me and made me hopeful for the day that I am a Mom and THANKFUL for my wonderful mother! Thank you for being so open and honest about your life and your family and your struggles...your realness touches me and helps me learn to apply these lessons to my own life. You are a blessing and such a wonderful teacher!
After going through a recent hardship, I have covered myself in the Word and have been so encouraged through your studies and the conference you did in Shreveport! Now, after reading sevearl of your books and doing several of your studies, I was sitting out at my brother's track meet today and my mom and I were praying for him to have strength, and I turned to her and said, "Now, if only our good friend Beth were here!" We knew that you would make us laugh and enjoy lifting him up in prayer with us!
Thank you for all that you do!
God bless you!
Anne Fruge
Atlanta, Texas
To Beth and all you sistas,
I was crying along with the rest of all our sistas and so appreciate your willingness to be so real and authentic with all of us. But even more importantly, my heart was practically bursting with the need to impress upon all who read this, the importance of developing a 'Johnnie' in our lives as women and moms. When I was home full-time with three ages 3 and under, I was relatively new to the area, did not have life-long friendships established, lived on a secluded wooded acre of land and did not have a neighborhood. Being new to the church and the MOPS groups was helpful, but I just didn't click with anyone and before I knew it, I had fallen into an addictive pit of sin that I fought for the next five years. Praise Jesus and all His angels, I could be walking in the Easter parade shared with us in this blog with victory having now been in my life for the last few years, but with this message, I want to assure all of you how absolutely crucial it is to establish solid relationships with other sisters who can hold you up and accountable. One of my biggest thanks living now on this side of victory is being able to be completely honest with my women in my Bible study group, whom I absolutely cherish. Being married for 21 years to a man originally from Turkey and raised Muslem, these women are truly my sanctuary. It is so important to our walk as women of faith. So, if you don't currently have these kinds of sisters in your life, make it a huge priority to pray for them without ceasing. Ladies, God is so full of mercy and grace and often give generously, even when we're flapping in the wind, but He is ALWAYS faithful when we are choosing to live obedient and surrendered lives. Always.
Thanks again so much for sharing, Beth. I so love you too.
Kim (with the last name that sounds like 'ukulele')
Sammamish, WA
This was so encouraging to me…I was feeling pretty down today about my walk with the Lord, always feeling so busy, flying here and flying there and feeling like God must be so displeased with the busyness of my life and the fact that I just never can seem to get it together. I prayed I would remember that He isn’t always angry with me for what I’m doing or not doing and I prayed that He would encourage me today and I could absolutely cry (ok, I am crying) realizing that He did as I asked. How DOES He do it? You, Beth, are a blessing to me. Thank you for your love of Christ and what that has meant in my life.
Beth and Amanda-
This comment is not really intended to be posted for public display, (and I really wished you wouldn't) but just to inform you that I've talked about the LPM blog on my post for today and included a link. You may be familiar with some of those blogger awards that go passed around, and one ended up at my place. I don't expect anything from you. I'm just being a polite gal and letting you know. Thanks for all you pour into my life.
Beth,
I have so enjoyed doing this current Wising Up series with you on Tuesday nights. I must say it threw me a bit to not have homework but has turned out to be a blessing during a busy time. I have gotten so much out of just the sessions. I wanted to make a few comments because I am sure you usually get negative letters when you speak on something controversial but I have wanted to leave you a positive note on what these topics have meant to me. 1. The night about "drinking too much". I was very fortunate to be raised in a home where there was no drinking. Neither set of my grandparents drank either and that has been the most healthy legacy. Because of the example of my family, I never had the desire to drink in my teen days. It is a very unpopular life choice these days. I moved to Houston 4 years ago and was shocked to find how many church people were "social drinkers". I soon found myself having a drink with the neighbors as I was trying so hard to fit in and was so lonely. I soon realized that I was setting a poor example for my 4 children in that I was succomming to peer pressure to socially drink and fit in in a new town. Thankfully I went back to my non-drinking self and feel so much better. Everything you said that night just reaffirmed for me that for me and my house, I want to be and act different than the world. Anyway, this is not meant to be a condemnation to anyone, just an affirmation for myself about a personal choice. I liked the scripture you quoted also from Corinthians where Paul says, "Everything is permissable, but not everything is beneficial." I also am one who when I go out to for Mexican food, (is there any other kind of food) can have such a wonderful time that people think I must be drinking.
My husband was raised by 2 alcoholic parents and knows the pain associated with this life, so he also abstains from alcohol.
2. Intimacy in marriage. You did such a great job on this night. You were hilarious and you need to have no fear, you were not too graphic. I was so thankful that you addressed the issue of Self -Satisfying. This has become so prevalent in our society and is seen as "normal and harmless". It is so like the enemy to distract us with something that will sound like a beneficial thing but actually will definatly defile our marriage beds and wreak havoc on the intimacy we should be sharing with our husbands. I laughed so hard when you said that instead of saying no when we don't feel like it we should just go ahead because it will be over in 15 minutes or less anyway and we will be asleep already instead of fighting about it for 15 minutes. That is so true!!!!
3. Parenting, and the importance of having some girlfriends to share your life with. This is so true. I was so blessed to hear your prayers from early in your motherhood days. It made me feel so good to know that you actually had, forgive the word, immature prayers in your life at one time. It gave me sooo much hope that one day I will reach some sort of maturity in my prayer life if I just keep seeking Him. It definatly gave me a hope for my future. In my early mothering years I had 4 children ages 5 1/2 and younger. I was homeschooling at the time and just would have gone crazy without my mom friends to go to McDonalds and the park with. Now I have some friends here in Houston, but I need to definately pray for some more as I am the oldest mom of the bunch and need some mom friends with kids older than mine so I can gain some much needed wisdom during these high school years. I know this post is way too long and I apologize for that. Amanda, if you feel anything I said is inappropriate and don't want to approve this entry, could you please forward it onto your mom so she will know how very much she has encouraged me these last weeks in Bible study. I have been blessed every Tuesday night, but just wanted to highlight these three. May God Bless your socks off!!!
One of your "homegirls"
Wow! You are so right! I two sets of girlfriends that I am close to and our children are around the same ages. I will be FOREVER grateful to the God who loves us SO much to give us these friendships. We laugh, cry, act silly, watch movies, drink coffee, discipline each other's kiddos and love on each other together. They are the most amazing friendships that I will ever have and I cherish them daily. Thank you for putting down into text what I am never able to do on my own! (I'm not such a good writer) :) Love you Beth!
Thank you, Beth! How I needed to hear every word of your post! I'm a young mom of a 2 and 1 year old. I resonated with so much of what you wrote and the Lord has impressed parts of your message on my heart. (And thank you single sistas for letting Beth minister to us!)
Thank you so much for keeping it real! You have no idea how much hope these stories give me!
ps my husband's looks have kept me hanging on more than once...just kidding!
Oh, Beth! I'm a mentor for a MOPS group that meets at our church. Mommies need so much encouragement and even us 'old' moms need it, don't we? I am grateful to have found your blog and for ability to thank you yet again for your words of wisdom.
Thank you.
Karen
Dear Beth,
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN to the advice for young moms!! I have raised my 3 daughters with the same advice......good, godly girlfriends are a MUST for your heart, your marriage, and your sanity!!
I have recently answered the call to move from my life-long Oregon to Idaho. I MISS MY GIRLFRIENDS, more than I can say. We have laughed together, cried together, prayed together and been so silly together. I have a life time memory of all of us sitting in a hot tub on a November 3:30 a.m. morning, watching a meteor shower straight from our Heavenly Father together. That Christmas we all gave each other star ornaments.....
I can't imagine having friends at this age of 58 that will be so dear again. I have learned that God has many surprises up his robe sleeve, though!! Who knows????
I went home to Oregon to welcome our 9th grandchild this week. Welcome to Joel David!! :)
Thanks for sharing your life with us, Beth. I love you, sista!
Margaret
What can I say I'm all woman - sitting here crying with the rest of you!! Well I'm in a different place as I am 14 yrs married but childless. I have learnt to spread wide my tent and enjoy the joy of parenting through other moms and their children plus I have two dogs!! lol! I will not lie and say it is easy and at times my heart longs to be at that place with those precious moms but I trust my Lord and I know He alone knows my days and what the future holds, He will fulfill the desires in my heart even when at times I can't figure them all out (like I said I'm all woman). Thank you for sharing the hope of freindship and the joys of looking back and remembering. I recently had to leave many of my friends behind as we moved on in ministry (I'm a PW) it's a tough place to be but I rejoice in reading all your posts and seeing how God is faithful to each one of you. It gives me hope He will be Faithful to me also.
Beth I love your honesty - you are so real and I love real. Have a wonderful week.
Redeemed!
Thank you for a wonderful post Beth. And an importnat reminder!
Oh Beth,
Tears come to my eyes as I read your entry!
Our ladies prayer group met today and on the way home I was thinking how greatful I am for the women in my life. The ones who have seen me through it ALL. Especially right now when I am learning to trust my God and my husband in a whole new way. The hands that have held my hand, the cards that are put in my car, the visits to just come and worship with me as the kids are napping. All of these times are what give me strength to cook another dinner, clean up another accident(potty training)and love and respect my man the way he needs to be loved. We are not alone and it is so encouraging for me to hear you open up so honestly wbout how you were right where we are and are continuing to press into Him and your sista's.
The love in my heart for you is causing me to want to hug you right now! I will never forget that part of what you said on the simulcast.
In HIm,
Char
A Mommy of almost-3 year old triplets chiming in to THANK YOU for some much needed encouragement. I truly did not understand the kinship of women until I became a Mama. Your authenticity is such a blessing.
Dear Beth,
Leave it to you to remind us just how precious our little ones are even in tough times. My devotion last night focused on raising teenage sons,how their arms are not long enough to pick up their dirty laundry off their bedroom floors but they can reach all the way to the back of the fridge for tonights dessert and last night leftovers.
I cope with raising a young daughter (9) whos is insanly organized and a son (13.5) who needs to be reminded to eat breakfast and brush his teeth before school. But he is extremely loving and very empathetic to everyone he meets, and I have learned to love them for who they are and not what they can do. I know I will be standing in a room in 10 or more years waiting for my handsome man to walk down the aisle to meet his lifes love and I will have forgotten all the times I had to remind him to walk the dog, brush his teeth, wash his face, and just glow in moment of what a fine young gentleman he has become. It too is hard not to be proudful when teachers tell me that I am raising a very fine young man who excels at school but mostly because he is such a fine young gentleman. Kind and polite to a fault. So he doesn't clean his room without be reminded, his poor dog would starve if I didn't remind him to feed him, and he would look like a homeless child if I didn't remind him to shower and put on deoderant before heading to school. But when he stands over me (he is 5'8" and I am a mere 5') and kisses me on the top of my head and says "I love ya Mom", my heart melts.
Thanks for this opportunity to add to this blog, it is such a blessing to know their are parents out their dealing with all the things I am dealing with too.
Till the whole world knows,
Patti
Awwwww.... now off to find ou tif I restuffed the tissue into the box the last time my little guy took it out one sheet at a time... otherwise I'll be wiping tears on toilet paper. Shoot. Wish I'd have worn my waterproof mascara.
Beth- think you could add a warning in the headers of tear instigating posts;)
thnx- ts
Beth and Amanda,
I have two tickets for South Carolina for tomorrow that are not going to be used by my church as they had something come up. My cell phone number is 1-334-695-2476. If for some reason it is not on ( or dead!) please call my friends phone and that number is 1-334-695-0872. See you tomorrow night!! Very excited about what God will do with my heart this weekend. Thanks so much for your willingness to be used by Him for our well being. I love you. We are and will continue to pray for you as you prepare to speak. Love, Vicki Sandifer
I am a mother of 3 little ones 7-5-2 and I needed to hear all of this today. There are many days when I want to have a "Buy one, Get one Free" on my kids. I am 32 and away from my family. One thing I will never forget my mom telling me is "to have friends you have to be friendly". I have met several friends by looking for someone else who is eating or playing alone with her kids at McD's or the mall and then introducing myself. It's amazing how God works through some commiserating!
Oh, Beth, I loved the blog so much that I had to e-mail it to my daughter, who is the mother of a 4 yr. old and a 5 mo. old! If our young mothers would only listen to us older ones they could learn so much! I would have loved to have had a "Beth Moore" when I was in my twenties or even thirties!Thanks so much for sharing so much of yourself & your family's lives with us. I always love seeing the pics of Jackson - he is a beautiful little angel!
Love you, Lucy
Beth, you don't know me, but Lisa C. and I are good friends, and I had dinner with your daughter and Curt at Lisa's a few years ago. So I can pretend you know me :)
I've done your Bible studies and have been impacted greatly, but this post has touched me more deeply than anything you've ever written or taught before. I am in the trenches--three children 5 and under, a husband in ministry, and a best friend down the street whose friendship has saved my sanity more than once. Thank you for this--I think this was sent straight from God, through you, to me! :)
What a timely entry...orchestrated of course by our loving God. As a relatively new Mom of twin-two- year olds I gave up my sporty Maxima (sedan) this week and traded it for a mini-van. I have to say God had to break my pride for that one...only because I love my kids. I would have been content to drive my sedan forever, but the van is safer has more room, etc... I am very blessed to have this mini-van without a loan (yippee!), but it is an adjustment in so many ways. Anyway, I had to go to Wally-world to find something that would help me find my extremely popular style mini-van in a parking lot, such as an antennae topper. (Seriously, I can look out my front window into my neighborhood and see FIVE of the same van! Fortunately, mine is the only dark blue one in my neighborhood.) It's amazing how God can be in the antennae topper too. I found one with a woman that had a brown pony-tail coming off the top with a hair tie that was tie-dyed. It looks like it's supposed to be a "hip mom". I also purchased a glue gun tonight...I guess I have scars to look forward to...
Your blog is an encouragement to me because when you choose to have children and go through so much to get them (we are fostering-to-adopt), satan tries to give you an extra dose of guilt when you blow it with them and lose your patience. Fortunately, I'm armed and dangerous with God's Word and I won't buy his lies! This doesn't mean I don't get discouraged, which is why this post was such an encouragement to me. I believe you already prayer for the military, thank you. Today it was announced that active duty army will be deployed for a minimum of 15 months to Iraq. My husband left last week, a few days before our 4th anniversary and Easter. I am proud to say he took his "Believing God" study with him (this is his first of your studies and it took me believing God for him to even do it). He even emailed me recently with some of his thoughts from the homework and now we have something to connect to on a Spiritual level via email of course. Thank you for your faithfulness. Please, please, please uplift Army spouses and children; a year is too long and now it's guaranteed to be 15 months apart. Pray that this time of separation would be a time that unbelievers come to know God and for believers to grow in their faith. Thanks Beth and Amanda.
Beth, I loved this post!! Strangely, I fall into both catergories, a mom of 2 and I am single again! Anyway, it was an honor to read a glimpse of your prayer journal. You are so funny and I can relate to your prayer requests BIG time! You are so right about moms needing other moms for support. I feel for single moms, a hard role to play both parents but I can say from experience, He is Faithful and he is a Father to the fatherless. God has placed a great support system around me. My best friend and I are the same age and the difference is my children are older and she has 3 girls to my 2 boys.(men) Her girls call me their other mom! They know they have to answer to me as well as their mom. The sweetest girls you will ever meet. They drew me cards when my dog died. They gave him a gold dog house beyond the pearly gates!! Her youngest girl was with me and her mom when I found out I had cancer, we met with a group of friends to pray and Abigail prayed and held up her fist and said, this is for satan!! I love her girls like they were my own. As a matter of fact, her oldest daughter will be going with us to the Deeper Still event in Nashville. Her first ladies conference. I love how God knits friendships together and I love how he has knitted us sistas together here at your blog!!
Love,
Patty
You mean I'm not the only Christian woman who "leaves her husband in the morning and is back by dinner."? You have NO idea how encouraging you are to me, Beth. You let your human side show, and you refuse to allow us to put you on a pedestal, by being SO authentic and honest. That is more encouraging to me than anything else. To know that if you have done it, and you had (have) warts, then I can do it, warts and all.
You are right, relationship and community are crucial to a healthy walk through life, and with the Lord. God has been good, and I have such community in my church and with friends. It can be hard though, but as one Scripture says, "A three-strand cord is not easily broken" and "When one falls down, the other can lift him up".
We weren't meant to do this alone. We can't do it alone. Our friends and other moms can be like honey on those bitter days.
Could you please come for a walk with me someday? We could have such a gab-fest!! ;)
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed Tuesday night! It was my first trip out (not including dr.'s appt.'s) since I had my girls!! I just HAD to go to the "parenting" study!!
Just a lil' praise:
The last time I was able to go to Bible study was during the Psalms study (I was on bedrest after that)! I remember singing the song "I Want to Say Thank You"! I had finally gotten pregnant and that song said absolutely EXACTLY what I was feeling! Well, THIS Tuesday we sang it again! My sis-in-law said that they hadn't sang it since the last time I was there! Now my girls are here...and healthy!! I sang that song with overflowing thankfulness...He has "been so good to me"!!! PRAISE HIM!!
Like so many other women who have posted comments to this post, I too would love to have such close "Mom" friends. My family moved her to TN about 18 months ago, and while I have made some friends among the ladies at church, I have yet to find that one special Johnnie-friend. Sigh... I'm praying, and in the meantime, I rest in faith knowing God is sufficient!
Blessings and hugs,
Adrienne
Beth,
I love the fact that you take the time to share with us here as busy as you are! We really appreciate it.
I can really relate to one of the other moms who said she wished it was that easy to find that bond with other moms, especially when we are working mothers, and even more so because I am a single mom and work full time. There just aren't groups around here that I fit in with. Lately I have really been praying for God to send me some Christian female friends that I fit in with.
Michelle, TX
My dear Beth,
Your words never cease to amaze me..they seem to always touch my heart and I love you for that..I wish I could hear you for real. I am a mom of twin boys who are nearly 11 and I teach school with children..some days I am at wits end..oh thankful I was to hear you say what you wrote in your journal...I had to chuckle..as I look back over mine I had several times like that...I am without some of my dear friends as we live far apart...but I am praying on this that God will help me to see another mom who needs some chilling like me over a cup of tea. I love you Beth...you are a blesing
Thanks Vicki for the tickets...I am looking forward to meeting you tommorrow in South Carolina. I can sleep better tonight knowing my sister and I will actually HAVE tickets when we arrive! I rarely do things on the spur of the moment, but this is going to be a great trip! I am sooooo looking forward to God's upcoming message, and the opportunity to worship with thousands of women.
Becky from Tennessee
My tickets are gone! Thanks so much. Vicki Sandifer
Thanks for being real, Beth! It helps.
Beth,
I thank the Lord for you and your work. Let me explain why.
I spent more than ten years in an abusive marriage. My ex-husband was threatened by my love for the Lord. I had to keep my Bible hidden in a craft box under my couch, and read it only when he wasn't home. After our marriage broke up, I dove into the Word head-long and heart-long.
I studied without aides other than a Concordance. It was a blessing to do that, because my only teacher for those first five years was the Holy Spirit. I then had the opportunity to participate in a study group at my church in Kentucky where we did "Jesus the One and Only".
A situation arose that I could not have expected. Both facilitators of that study group had to leave our group. The leader's cancer returned, and her assistant was summoned to China to adopt a precious orphan girl. They left me with the assignment to continue the study group through "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things".
I must tell you that I was scared to death. But, that was only the beginning. I had a MOSES experience when I received the call to start writing a series of studies of my own. As a Catholic, I was terrified to face the beurocracy of my Church. I felt limited by my lack of formal education in Biblical History, ancient languages, and Catechetical Doctrine. I heard the Lord speak to my heart that He didn't want me to teach those things. What He was asking me to do was to share my passion for Him and for His Word in the context of the Catholic Church. He called me to spread that passion like a wild-fire.
I've been writing and preparing for the last 2-1/2 years. My first Bible Study class is beginning the last week of this month. As I received responses to a survey from those who are interested in attending my classes, I have had such a response that I have scheduled to hold classs two nights a week.
I am overwhelmed by the response ... and the responsibility. I am thrilled by the opportunity. I am inspired by YOU, Beth. I have no illusions about my limitations. I have no desire to imitate your style, or personality. But, I do hope that I can portray as genuine and as passionate a LOVE for my Bridegroom, Jesus, as you do. I pray that I may stay out of His way, that He may build such a passion in the hearts of those I have the opportunity to share with. I would appreciate your prayers, as well.
I won't presume to ask for specifics with regard to your prayers. Perhaps, you could join me in this brief prayer to start with:
Dear Father in Heaven, Use me as You see fit ... use my voice, my heart, my life ... in order to make a place in the hearts of these dear charges where You might have an ever more intimate relationship with each of them. If I may be privileged to cultivate Your seed in their lives, please let me never forget that You are the gardener in this soil of Eden. How You continually amaze me. That you could make such wonders out of mere dust, such as myself. You are GREAT and GLORIOUS. You have all my PRAISE and PASSION. In the precious name of my Lord, your Son, Jesus Christ ... who was and is and is to come. AMEN.
Angela Bryant
Chattanooga, TN
Your blog is an encouragement to me because when you choose to have children and go through so much to get them (we are fostering-to-adopt twin-two-year olds), satan tries to give you an extra dose of guilt when you blow it with them and lose your patience. Fortunately, I'm armed and dangerous with God's Word and I won't buy his lies! This doesn't mean I don't get discouraged, which is why this post was such an encouragement to me. I believe you already pray for the military, thank you. Today it was announced that active duty army will be deployed for a minimum of 15 months to Iraq. My husband left last week, a few days before our 4th anniversary and Easter. I am proud to say he took his "Believing God" study with him (this is his first of your studies and it took me believing God for him to even do it). He even emailed me recently with some of his thoughts from the homework and now we have something to connect to on a Spiritual level via email of course. Thank you for your faithfulness. Please, please, please uplift Army spouses and children; a year is too long and now it's guaranteed to be 15 months apart. Pray that this time of separation would be a time that unbelievers come to know God and for believers to grow in their faith. Thanks Beth and Amanda.
Thank you Beth for this. I don't believe I would have made it through all these "youngun' years" without my "mama mates". Your post was BEAUTIFUL and so true. I tell my teenage boys all the time, "Thanks to you I'm rich. With children. With girlfriends." Most of the precious friends I have now are moms of their friends.
I also wanted to thank you for the message you sent to Randy's Promiseland West's "Get Out of That Pit" Bible study last night! It was a wonderful blessing. We all LOVED it and laughed our own Texas BIG-hair heads off at your comment about not getting both your hair and the Bible in your lap in the shot! We also couldn't believe that you remembered that meeting we had with you in Dallas! Thank you for going to the trouble of sending us that message. The Bible study - and the book - were both a blessing!
Thank you for taking the time to write such a long post. It was so much fun to read and I do love the insights into your family.
What an honor it is to read this blog! I just am so blessed each time I read! And today was no different, thank you for the sweet reminder that us girl's need each other. I've prayed for a long time for a "Johnnie friend" and just as I was reading your entry, I realized this past year I see God has blessed me with that person....that forever friend! I also smiled at your journals of the girl's when they were young, they sound very much like mine right now! "More sleep! Healthy girl's, good marriage! Provisions!" It's so good to hear insight from your heart! THANK YOU!!!
My "Johnnie", whom I have known since I was a baby in the church nursery and whose children are just slightly older than mine, has a girl and then a boy and so do I. She and her family left to be missionaries in Ethiopia in Dec of '06. I am lost without her! She is my sister since I don't have a biological sister she's it! My daughter (12) and her daughter (15) are closer than Janet and I. The boys 9 and 12 are as close as boys can be!? But, I miss them terribly and I feel very alone. This blog entry made me cry! Calling her is nearly impossible and email is unreliable (believe it or not). We joke about the evil LAN mammals eating our emails! To top it off Satan has picked this time for my husband and I to have marital (too many gory details to go into) troubles.
Sorry to bring a sad note, because good friends bring so much to your life. It is very much what Beth described, they are there and help you through, to cry with you, pray with you, to pray for you. To love you and your children. Life is meant to be shared.
I turned 45 last Thursday and Janet is 47. We've been friends a very long time, God has separated us by miles several times over the years, college, job relocations, but He has been faithful to bring us back together. I am looking forward to her return!
Thanks for the encouragement Beth!
Linda
Beth,
I sit here at work dabbing my eyes because it's as if you wrote that just for me today! I have a 1 1/2 year old and I'm due any day with my second. Times are overwhelming, my husband just lost a big account at work that is going to set us back financially, I'm leaving for maternity leave in a few days and won't get my full pay for 2 months...I feel like I can't breathe over this but I'm always reminded by looking back that God has never failed me so why would He start now? My prayer book sounds a lot like yours too...thanks for letting me see that your prayers weren't in vain for God did answer them eventually, in His own perfect timing. Hopefully, one day I too will look back at my prayer journals and laugh and cry over the things I requested but praise God over the things He answered. I appreciate your transparancy on life, motherhood and being a wife. You have no idea how much it helps some of us who are just starting out in life and can't see past our daily dilemas.
Love ya...
Dear Beth,
I am so excited about what God is going to do in Columbia tonight. Satan does not want me to be there. We reserved our rooms months ago but the motel overbooked so we have had to find other places for our group. But praise God - it has been worked out!!! Satan has also been at me all week and I know he wants me to be distracted tonight. But I will not let him get to me. I have my praise music playing at my desk and I am getting ready!!! Can't wait til tonight! I am praying for you Sista!!! I love you dearly!!!
All I can say is "WOW"!! Thanks!! God is using you in a mighty way ~ ways you can't even begin to concieve! Bless you as you press on!
I just want to thank you for this post. One hand my heart is saddened because I have never had that type of friendship. For many years I was a single mom. Now that I am married, my girls are teens. I do not have that close friend who has shared the parenting journey with me. Nor do I have any friends now with teens the age of mine, but I do have a best friend and she is getting ready to have her first child after a long time of trying and several miscarriages. I am very excited about the gift God has given me to walk beside her and truly be able to say "You are going to make it"! I'm honored to be given this mentoring role and a chance to participate in the baby years again!
How right you are! I'm blessed to be part of not one but THREE play groups where I've met women all over Houston. As hard as it is to make it out of the house somedays, I'm so rewarded when I get there.
Some have been there and done that, some are so new at it that I feel like an old pro, and others have 2 year old boys that make my wild child look tame. It's so refreshing! God has blessed me with these dear women and it amazes all of us how close we've grown in such a short time. It's also offered a whole new world of support for eachother when we go through some of life's other challenges...you know, outside of kids...and yes, those do exist!!
"I love you" seem like such a simple thing to say and yet - how often I lack the courage to say it. I fear rejection and gueard my heart to fiercely so as not to get hurt.
Thank you for being so fearless Beth. I love you, too.
As a mom of three 5 and under, this post blessed me. I am so thankful for the women God has placed around me, those who are in the trenches of preschoolers, as well! This was a great reminder of the short season we are living through and taking the time to reach out to other mommies!
Blessings,
Kelly
Just wanted you to know that I'm praying for the Living Proof event this weekend. It is in my state - SC and I wish I could be there but I didn't get tickets in time. Nevertheless, I know that one day God will make a way for me to attend. Love you so much, Alisa
I am responding to the blog on God and Cavities. There is a baby girl in are church (Allie) who God has healed and so many answered prayers. This is her web site
www.caringbridge.org/visit/alliehinton
If you vist the web sight read from the begining to the last entry
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD
LOVE YOU SISTERS
Beth, I noticed that you are hitting a special milestone this year and wanted to say Congratulations!
Beth as I sit and try to think of what to write to you, I fall speechless. I keep staring at my computer screne as multitudes of words I want to say to you wash over me. I have prayed many times over that we would get to meet face to face and talk on end when we are in our heavenly and eternal bodies. I cannot express my gratitude nor the wealth of knowledge and wisdom I've gained from you as I've studied along side of you. My prayer is that as I see Christ so clearly in you, that each year of my life on earth would reflect another year of coming to look more like Him, and far less like me!
I love our Father so much. He is truly the romance of my life! Thank you for teaching me to know and love Him more and more intimately! I pray God bless you many many many times over for your obedient commitment to teaching His absolute Truth! Being a teacher of God's Word is such a huge responsibility (James 3:1). You bring the Lord so much joy as you teach His Truth so truthfully!
Thank you! Thank you! I love you and God bless you Beth. I love how Jackie (first post) said "You are like a momma to me and I thank GOD for your wisdom and teaching." Amen!
The Girlfriend Pact
I have several best friends who all have made a pact with each other. True friends, in the purest sense of the expression—we have a deal that if one of us dies, the other three run over to their home and get it cleaned/fixed up before the company comes. We made this deal, somewhat in jest. However, knowing our sweet husbands’ standards are not our own, we want to go out with our well-kept reputation, with of course, the exception of those dearest friends who know me for the slob I am! All kidding aside, they’re the ones that make the day to day, mundane things extraordinary. What a sweet gift—friendship!
PS Praying for the South Carolina event--know there will be some joy and blessing in Columbia this weekend. Annie
I have to say that Hearts at Home is an awesome Christian organization dedicated to professionalizing motherhood. They hold conferences 3 times a year. There is nothing like being in a room with 1,500 other moms who believe in mothering and Jesus Christ. I went solo my first year. I so needed a mom to come alongside me. God is faithful. I now a great friend who heads to the conference with me every year.
Oh, Mrs Beth... I am happy to read your heart. It is me, again! I wrote you, when you were in the Seattle area, while you were speaking. I shared of Gods stirring to bring me into ministry in a similar fashion as you. I will never forget how you mentioned that you started speaking when you were pregnant with your youngest. I think that is accurate. If not, I am sorry! My memory is unpredictable and unreliable. :) We are waiting on Jesus to deliver us a second...Just as he is beginning the plans for me in ministry. I am writing a book. I would love to send you a copy when it is finished. It is called Crown of Beauty, from Isaiah 61:3. Anyway..I have been waiting for a blog that spoke to my heart, so I can write to you. You did it! I am a 27 year old momma of a seven month old. Oh, I could relate in SO many ways. This adventure of motherhood is quite humerous. I have talked to God recently why I feel none of my prayers for my sons sleep have seemed to 'work'. Hehe. Motive, my dear daughter, I hear in my heart. We are working on that one together! Hehe. I laughed when you wrote about your jounral entries. Our God is good! He too laughts, I am sure of that! I totally agree with having girlfriends to build you up and support you in this place. God sent me a few sweet friends for just this reason. I am blessed and honored that my Jesus knows the needs of my heart and is so quick to answer! Thank you for your transparent heart, mind and walk with Jesus. Thank you for your generous gifts of your heart and for being a willing vessel for Gods glory! I am blessed, encouraged, guided and pruned by the fruit of your spirit and the almighty gardner.
Love to you, as well!
In Him,
Sara G.
Thank you for your honesty about the struggles you faced raising a family and your marriage. It's nice to know that those in ministries can be honest and real and that Christians don't always have the perfect life or marriage. You gave me so much inspiration today and you were a direct gift and answer to prayer.
Blessings!
To Angela Bryant,
I'm praying for you sister.
Anonymous Prayer Warrior
You just spoke the TRUTH! I kind of actually miss the first few months of our babies lives, when we'd straggle into someone's living room, feed our babies, and talk...hanging on to each other's words for dear life because each sentence was renewing our spirits as new mommies. And when I'd go home to my hubby, he'd almost visibly breathe a sigh of relief, like, "Phew, she's gonna make it!" There's nothing God and a playdate with mommy friends can't fix! I was telling Amanda & Janelle the other day that God must have been giddy in anticipation to know that he would knit us together as mommy friends. I delight in it so much! It's a bond like no other.
Hilariously candid. It's why I'll "hang with you" again and again through your marriage minded entires anytime! Thanks for your ministry!
Beth, i loved the clothes rack on tuesday night...it echoed the thoughts in my own head when you showed us Amanda's handprint....it goes so fast/snap of the finger!That handprint tore me up....i wish i had had a mom who would have experienced what you do when you look at it.....watching you i can imagine what it would have been like if i had....praise God i have a father in heaven who gives a hoot about my handprint!
(((((WandaBeth)))))
Thank you Beth for your encouraging words. I have been praying for dear friends in my life for a while now and I am just waiting to see God's work in that area. I am at home with my son and daughter, and even though I love my job very much, I expect my husband to fill in the gaps and my prayer list (from last year) sounds just like yours did. I am asking God for some good, godly friends to come my way soon. I can't wait!
Thank you.
Hello there Beloved Beth! I hope your endearing term for us feels like a hug to you as well! I can so relate to your message! I have a two year old (Caroline) and a two month old (Jackson, named after my dad). The friendships I have in Christ are fairly young and a Christ-centered friendship is a relatively new concept to me, but already these friendships feel much deeper than others I’ve had for years. The Holy Spirit in us must have static cling! And what an encouragement to know that my prayer list will someday also be more mature – Hopefully, this will happen faster than my children’s maturation! Beth, once you mentioned that in a dry spell you used to pray to “thrill to you husband’s touch.” About how long did you have pray this prayer? Funny, but I’m serious!
“My good friend, Beth” (as I so often refer to you), I have felt for a time now the driving need to just thank you! God has used you immeasurably in my life! I started your Bible studies about four years ago and have done all but A Woman’s Heart, and Daniel and Jesus... more than once. You’ll be happy to know that I’ve studied under other teachers as well and joke about having spiritual ADD with all of the Christian books I’ve started but have not finished (because I’d rather be in Bible study), but you have such a tender place in my heart. Through you God has taught me about who He is, who I am, and exactly what it is I’m believing. My husband has developed a committed relationship with Christ, my mom’s faith has been reignited, my sister has come to her salvation, and I have even become a Sunday school teacher to my peers none the less! =Whoo-hoo!= I’ve even noticed that I, too, use exclamation points all too frequently!!
If you are really (and still) reading this please know that I thank our Father for thinking up you, Beth. And thank you, Beth, for thinking of us. I just hope someday we live on the same golden street where we can brag about Him together – and in His company. Oh, I can hardly wait!!!
Love you, girl!
Kristin
VA
It is so good to hear that someone else's husband doesn't want to go to church. Our children are young. My husband works every saturday and he is going back to school. I know he loves the Lord, but church not so much. I feel relieved to know someone else has battled that. I understand he is exhausted and wants to rest. After all God rested too. But, the kids are small and I want them to be expose to Christ with their peer groups. Good to know you made it through.
Dear Sista Beth,
I had no idea, until tonight, that you had a BLOG! But here you are, blessing the women of the world with the latest (and coolest) media! You are just the best!
As the mother to two sets of twins, (all four age two and under) this post really spoke to me. I am praising God for bringing me here tonight!
If you ever get a chance, I would be honored if you would visit my blog. I'd love to know what you think.
http://wifeofanaddict.typepad.
Thank you for the encouragement!
I have a friend who referred me to your site...I have just read this posting and am sitting here w/ tears...I have a 2 1/2 and 11month old and the comments from your journal could have come straight from my lips! I am blessed to have friends experiencing early-motherhood with me and now I am blessed to know that you have a blog that I can read from time to time when I can grab a moment to myself! Thank YOU for taking the time to share and encourage!
OH my goodness. I sit here crying over this post.
I am a stay at home mom to 3 beautiful little girls (ages 5, 3,2). And I am also a "preacher's wife" -this is my title here in NC where I live.
We moved to a new place about a year ago and all of my "mommy friends" who I did playdates with are no longer around.
I am sure that you know Beth, how difficult it is as the "preacher's wife" to make really close friends. And, we've been planted in a place where there just aren't many stay at hom mom's. I feel very lonely sometimes. Your post leaves me longing for relationships like this! However, I also feel that God is doing a BIG work in me right now - teaching me to FULLY rely, trust and hope in HIM alone.
So - I just want to say thank you for this sweet post.
YOU continue to bless my life over and over again.
Dear Sweet Beth~
I needed this today! Thank you! I am right there at the moment. I have two children 3 and under and I am not quite 20 weeks pregnant with my number 3. All I have wanted to do all day was call my precious friend Carlynn - but her mom was in town! Thank you for your sweet encouragement and direction. I started doing your Bible Studies some 10 years ago in another state. I was blessed to hear you speak at a conference at my church in that state many many years ago. Thank you for the influence you have been in my life! What a precious gift to now be able to receive encouragement and wisdom from you on a weekly basis!
Sweet blessings to you and your family!
In HIM,
Renee
Dear Beth,
Thank you. I am a mother of a 16 month old. This was a huge encouragement to me and I passed it along to all of my fellow Mommy friends.
In Him,
Jen
I needed to read this tonight. Not even sure why I did. But I am having such a challenge with my 3 year old. Every day when I pick her up from preschool, I hear all she did wrong...screaming, etc. It is getting so I dread going there and hearing what she did wrong. But see, she is my youngest, my third....so I should know what to do here. And I am not a young mother. I turn 50, yea, you read right, next week. Had my boys at 41, 43 and adopted my daughter last year...
and...is that not enough..I am a single mother...so alone in sorting this out. After reading this, I don;t care if I am almost 50, I am looking for some other moms of young kids!
It must be fun to be this famous. 166 comments. Wow. :-)
My sister loves your bible-studies. Of course, so do 98.765% of the conservative 20/30-something evangelical women in north america.
So maybe that's why the blog combox is so full.
:-)
Warren
Have you been reading my journal? Beth, thank God for a woman like you. I count it a joy to pray for LPM...Love, Amy
Thank you Beth for being real
God gives hope - marriages to heal
Thank you Beth for being real
this was forwarded to me via my dear friend and sitter, cheryl. it was beautiful and tender and very, very true! thank you for writing it beth, and thank you for passing it on, cheryl. laura keevan
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