Scripture Memory Mini-tutorial

Sorry you guys! We had technical difficulty! Will post it tomorrow! In the mean time, don't build up too much anticipation! It's a rough one-shot cut but it's with a ton of love. We'll get it up here as soon as we can. I love you!

One Reason Why

Happy Lord's Day, You Delightful Siestas! The only reason I'm getting to be on here at this hour on a Sunday morning is because Curtis is preaching at the 6:30 PM "Ascend" service at our church this evening so, needless to say, I'm going then. I've had you on my mind, praying for you and cheering for you so much over the last week. At this point, do you realize we have about 3000 of us memorizing Scripture together? Unbelievable. This morning while I was working out in my garage, I had on one of my Nicole C. Mullen CD's. (You know, she and I are really tight. I'm her personal trainer. Which, of course, is a lie and some of you are too new to the blog to recognize when I'm making something up. Have you seen that woman's arms? That's why I pump iron.) Anyway, I was getting my praise on to her song "Brainwash" and as I listened to the lyrics, I thought how my Scripture-memorizing Siestas would be pumped up in their commitment by it. Here are the words but if you love her kind of music like I do, google it and listen to it. Here, Darling Things, is one great reason why we memorize Scripture. In a few days I'm planning to do a little mini-tutorial but this is perfect until then. Sure love you!

Chorus: I need a brainwash from my head to my soul ~
I need a brainwash, bring it down to my toes ~
I need a brainwash in and out 'cause you know ~
I need a B-R-A-I-N double wash*

Overwhelmed by the stuff on TV ~
Overloaded from the pressure fallin' on me ~
light head! Oxygen! I've gotta breath *
Email, Myspace, backin' up all the time ~
Voicemail, press one if you're on the line ~
Transformer, can you renew my mind?

Smack dab in the front of my mind ~
All that I've done wrong ~ Re-play and rewind ~
How can I erase it forever this time *
Smack dab in the pit of my soul ~
This guilty feeling's diggin' a hole ~
And my thoughts are spinnin' out of control

The world is straight typical to rock the traditional ~
Kinda keep it real life livin' mind simple though ~
My past is in remission ~ Thrivin' on my conditions ~
I need a turn around ~ A fresh way to get down ~
Comin' straight from Jersey roamin' in the land of the dirty south, free ~
Escapin' misery ~ With a Christ mentality ~ The only way to have it ~
Living word habits ~ Feels nice dippin' me twice ~
Yo, ah I need a Brainwash... (Chorus)

Be not conformed to this world ~ But be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Just Taking A Little Walk

OK, so yesterday Melissa and I didn't get to take our traditional daily long-walk when she's home that always includes all manner of theological banter until way late in the afternoon. Big mistake. Border Collie's can't wait to get their daily exercise until 5:00 PM. By that time their obsessive compulsive disorder has overrun their people-pleasing demeanors and they are like walking a forty-pound squirrel on a leash while it's raining acorns. Star does just fine on a walk...unless there is one iota of external stimuli. Like a person walking by. Or a car passing. Or a bird tweeting. At which point, she begins her raw rendition of the canine spastic zigzag. I have never once said, "Heel!" to Star without prefacing it with, "Oh, no."

Just about the time the theological pot thickened and Melissa and I were perhaps taking ourselves a tad too seriously, Star needed to...well...you know. Not number one. "Hold up," I said to Melissa while I waited until Star made a deposit in at least four different spots including the sidewalk. So, I held tight to the leash while pulling the black plastic bag out of my back pocket with one hand. Yes, I am a rule keeper. Keith always has all sorts of ideas what to do with it besides bag it but I refuse to act like I'm listening to whose porch he wants to put it on and only on rarest occasion fail to stifle a grin. He's awful.

"OK, Honey, go ahead." So Melissa picked up the doctrinal treatment where she'd left off and we got back in step. Only it was admittedly a bit more awkward with the heavy black bag dangling in my right hand. And it was an eternity to the next trash bin. Then she saw it. Star, that is. A bald dude with kind of a paunchy stomach (I'm visual. I need you to picture it) who looked to be in his late thirties and like he may not have had a girlfriend since '73, walking some variety of a bull dog. No, not just walking. Training. He'd take about four steps then halt the dog and give it a treat. For crying out loud, man! Get on with it!

Then they got about five feet from us. It was more than Star could take. Off she went. Me behind her. Legs flying. Not hers. Bag now swinging. Jostling. Smacking me on right shoulder. Left shoulder. Upper arm. Lower arm. Trying to hit Star with bag. Miss dog. Spill part of bag.

By the time we recovered, Melissa could no longer remember what she was talking about. All she knew was that "something stinks."

I think it was me.

What Are You Solo Siestas Up To Tonight?

(Please note: this is NOT the Scripture memory post. That will be tomorrow!)

Any of you Siestas just hanging out by yourself tonight like I am? Any good ideas? I got my spiral index cards about an hour ago at the Walgreens and I'm going to write my Scripture in it but that will take about five minutes. (I got me a really good pen, too. I love good pens.) I'm also on Week Four/Day Five of Priscilla's "Discerning the Voice of God" study so I'll probably wrap up that week. Any ideas for the rest of the evening? One thing for danged sure. We are NOT going to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. Every single one of us could have found all sorts of things to do tonight. For most of us, we probably just decided to stay in. We just might wish we were popping corn with somebody, huh? Anyway, God has been so faithful to us, hasn't He? Let's rejoice in that as we close out this important year in each of our lives.

I started 2008 with Deuteronomy 11:11,12. It's written in the front of my prayer journal. Listen to it describe the land of promise: "the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy is one of hills and valleys (sure was that for me), a land that drinks water from the rains (thank You, Lord), a land the Lord your God looks after." The next part is my favorite: "He is constantly attentive to it from the beginning to the end of the year." We're not the Old Testament Israelites with literal territory to occupy. Our earthly equivalent to a Land of Promise is a place we've crossed the river of fear to arrive in obedience to the will and joy of God. A place where lives rather than lands bear healthy fruit and where we bring Him glory to the best of our frail understanding, showing ourselves to be His disciples. I love the thought that God is attentive to us, no matter where we are, from the very first day of the year to the last. Wherever you are right now, no matter how you're feeling (I keep thinking about our siesta that told us recently her husband of 26 years was asking for a divorce), your God is right there with you. He is ATTENTIVE to you. TENDING to you. I pray you sense that tonight. That you might even pop a little corn with Him. He won't hog the bag. And maybe the occasion calls for a little melted butter.

So, what are we going to do to finish out 2008, young ladies? Throw out a few ideas and we'll keep each other company for a little while tonight.

PS. It's now 11:00 PM and I'm closing the post. What a blast tonight, Siestas! Thanks for climbing on! God's richest blessings to you in 2009.

Merry Christmas, You Merry Siestas!

Merry Christmas, Dear Sisters! We hope you've had a marvelously blessed day. What greater cause for celebration could we have? The Word became flesh and pitched His tabernacle among us so that we could behold His glory, the glory of the One and Only full of grace and truth! Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King!

I dearly love Christmas. I'm dog-tired but so happy. The company's all gone (at least for a few hours) and I'm taking a break for a few minutes. I'm sitting on the floor in our computer room because we had to use our desk chairs for all our company to be able to eat at a table and we haven't moved them back upstairs yet. My day started early. I crawled out of bed at 6:00 AM after a late night as Claus. Thankfully everybody slept for another hour and I had some time to myself. A few minutes to get on the floor before the Lord, to read too-fast-a-devotional, and drink a strong cup of coffee with just the right amount of cream. Before long Keith rolled out of bed then Melissa. She is like a 5 year-old at Christmas. She makes it so much fun. She loves seeing all heaps of presents and trying to guess what she's getting and trying to get you to guess what she's giving. It was a treat to see that mighty cute Colin Fitzpatrick coming down the stairs this morning. Our family loves him so much and we've even adjusted to him and Melissa sleeping in the same room. (Always a tad awkward at first.)

We wanted Amanda, Curtis, and our best boy, Jackson, to get to have the time they needed for Santa at home so we put off opening presents till later in the morning after they arrived. Melissa made a fantastic egg casserole that we pulled out of the oven about the time they walked through the door. We ate a quick breakfast and gathered in the den. It was Amanda's time to read the Christmas story. She was so beautiful sitting there with that darling tummy. She doesn't feel very darling but she is. (We're only 7 weeks out, by the way!) I was sure Jackson would turn into a pumpkin (wrong holiday) before we could get through the Scriptures but he did so well. Keith prayed over us then the mania began. We love to see each other open presents so it takes forever because we keep stopping to look what someone got.

Jackson is at the ultimate age for Christmas. A total blast. He got an entire dealership of cars and trucks. That's all in the world he loves. Anything on wheels. If I ever end up in a wheel chair when I'm on up in years, I hope he's still taken with them. His baby sister got so many things for her nursery. It's going to be adorable! We can hardly wait for her to get here.

I really scored on Colin and Curtis's presents. I got them remote control helicopters (really complicated ones with an instructional video by some dude that had the personality of a rocket scientist) and they spent the next two or three hours on them. Keith was so bitter I didn't get him one. Blast. Why didn't I think of that?

After we dug ourselves out from under six feet of wrapping paper, the family began straightening things up and setting tables and I started cooking like a wild woman. I've got to tell you, Siestas, I had the cooking anointing this year. I'm not even kidding. It was everything I could do not to stop every few bites and say, "Is this incredible or what?" (Actually, I first wrote that I wanted to stop every few bites and say, "I totally rock!" but I thought you'd think that sounded a tad boastful. So I didn't write it. But now I have. You've got to give me this one cooking moment. Just one.) My cornbread dressing was killer. My mom would have had a fit. My broccoli and rice casserole was terrific, too, but I made enough for 68 people. It's what we at our house call a "Moore-der." (An "order" Moore-style.) If a little is good, a ton is better. I also could feed a football team the rest of my green bean casserole (they'd better eat it after a game, however) and I have two pies that weren't even touched. (I know what you're thinking. It wasn't because they weren't good. It's because I made a Texas sheet cake and two other pies and cranberry oatmeal cookies. See what I'm saying? A Moore-der.)

I bet Colin and I peeled 14 potatoes to mash (I make really great mashed potatoes and gravy). I kept saying, "We'd better do just one more." His eyes just kept getting bigger and bigger. How in heaven's name are you supposed to gage how much food thirteen people will eat anyway? And two of Keith's nephews are in college. Have you watched a college boy eat lately? It's violent.

Colin and Melissa could only stay for a little while after we sat down to eat so that they could head to his house only a few subdivisions from here. She had a temperature when she left so I bet by the time she gets back late tonight, I have a sick girl on my hands. I got Strep throat the week of Converge and then got a chest cold then Amanda caught the cold and now Melissa's got it. We're usually a healthy bunch. I don't know what's gotten into us. I think it may be because one day it's 35 degrees here in Houston and the next it's 80. I had the heater on yesterday and I have the air conditioner on today. Star can't decide whether to grow more hair or shed it. This climate is preposterous.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that Melissa left her laptop on the side of the stairs last night and while Keith and I were being Mr. and Mrs. Claus and hauling presents downstairs, he stepped on it. (We usually take the chimney but we were afraid Star and Geli would try to leap in behind us and it would take forever to get the soot off their fur.) You should see the laptop. I guess you know what she's getting for a post-Christmas gift.

OK, I realize this post is really random but, among a dozen other things, Star keeps dropping her favorite ball right beside me so I'll play fetch with her and I have to stop typing every couple of minutes and throw it. And boy is it spitty. I keep trying to throw the thing at an angle where it will bounce downstairs so she'll take longer to get it but she's the fastest thing on four legs.

The last random thing I'm going to tell you is that I got Keith one of those massagers you put in a chair and sit against and it does all sorts of fancy things to your neck, back and shoulders. It heats up and everything. I think he's about to sit in it and I want to beat him to it so I'm going to have to go. You know how you tend to get people things you want for yourself?

Uh-oh. I hear Keith downstairs singing "Ebony and Ivory." I bet anything he's in that danged chair. Something's chilled that boy out.

Merry Christmas, Siestas. I pray Jesus all over every single one of you this coming year. I want me a Jesus year. That's what I want for Christmas.

Luke 1:45

"Blessed is she who believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" Luke 1:45

Believe Him.

Maybe Something A Little Refreshing

Hey, Darling Things! I am sitting at the gate at the small airport in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, about to take a long way back to Houston. I've been at a wedding (I first wrote "weeding." I reckon a wedding can be a weeding indeed) all weekend and something kinda cool happened that I thought might encourage a soul that's feeling cynical. The wedding rehearsal took place first thing Saturday morning rather than Friday night perhaps to leave time for several out of town guests involved in the ceremony to arrive. We were told that the breakfast buffet in our hotel was still open after the rehearsal and, typically, I was starving so I headed that direction fully prepared to eat by myself. I don't mind that. Instead, and as only God could have planned it, five of us from the wedding party wandered in there at the same time, pulled up chairs at the same table, and ended up being almost the only ones in the whole restaurant. Not all of us at the table knew one another personally. We'd come to take part in the wedding ceremony of dear mutual friends.

Dr. Tim and Beverly LaHaye, Dr. Jim Dobson (my friend, Shirley, would join us a bit later), Heather Olford (the late Dr. Stephen Olford's wife), and I tarried, laughed and mused over scrambled eggs and lukewarm coffee for a delightfully long time. (Dr. LaHaye was officiating over the ceremony and Dr. Dobson and I were each speaking. Heather is considered among those very dearest to the bride.) Our conversations took us to family, church, and the Savior we all have in common. Dr. Dobson (I cannot bring myself to call him "Jim" although I've known him for a number of years now. I can live with Doc so that's how I refer to him when I'm feeling casual) told us a wonderful story about his dad, a traveling evangelist, who was at the pinnacle of an exploding speaking ministry when his wife told him she could use some help with their son who'd begun to give her a few challenges. (That would be Doc.) He dropped what he was doing, cancelled his calendar indefinitely, and headed home. Although he served a local church faithfully the rest of his life, he never recaptured the momentum of the ministry he'd had. He'd sacrificed it, providentially, for his wife and son.

Dr. Dobson later read a letter to us that his dad had written his bride for their wedding day. In it he expressed that, with eyes wide open, he was binding himself to her in covenant before God for the rest of their lives and that, should their marriage ever call for mental anguish, he would remain her faithful husband throughout. He explained that he considered the success of their marriage to be a husband's responsibility and he would do everything he could to make her happy. And he did. As I listened to Dr. Dobson tell stories about his dad, I thought - No wonder he does what he does.

At that same table, Dr. LaHaye began to talk about end time events and I had to keep my chin from dropping to the floor. I thought, "I'm listening to all this from the prophecy man himself." I mean, this is the guy that wrote how many books in the Left Behind series with Jerry Jenkins? And here's the important part: he sat at that table of five and spoke of the signs of the times and the coming King with a twinkle in his eye and, I don't doubt, a race in his pulse. Not one hint of burn out. Stunning. Girlfriend, you can be Post-trib or No-trib and still appreciate that. I watched Beverly, an author herself who has penned many books on what it means to be a Godly wife and woman, look with such affection on her man and such heightened interest in what he was saying...as if she'd never heard it. He spoke of how he loved her and how he didn't know what he'd do without her. How she was the administrative one of the two. Several times over breakfast I watched them tenderly reach out and touch each other.

I'd never met Heather Olford before but I'd heard about her for years. She totally captivated me as she shared how we must hold fast to our passion for Jesus Christ, come what may. You could still hear a hint of Irish in her accent, having left her home country for her new husband many years ago. After saying goodbye to her beloved man of 56 years and entering her early eighties, anyone would give her permission to just coast her way home. That's decidedly not what she's doing. I found her utterly remarkable. I wondered if maybe she looked and acted 15 years younger than she was because she'd been unwilling to let herself off the seeking and serving hook. She referred to something she'd read in a devotional book and I marveled that this powerful woman of God intended to seek fresh revelation about Christ until the day she saw Him face-to-face. She spoke of Him with such affection that it made me want to run to my hotel room and fall on my face before Jesus and see what new He would show me, too.

All four of those people are fallible just like we are. None of them needs or wants to be placed on a pedestal but I will tell you where they're well worthy of our respect. They have maintained Godly passion and spiritual discipline in a long obedience the same direction that has taken each of them on the road to suffering...and persecution. They are real to the bone and what they loved and felt compelled by Christ to give their lives to decades ago, they still love and give their lives to today.

I spoke to a flight attendant on a plane this trip who struck up a conversation with me over a book she saw me reading. She told me that she goes to church but her good friend won't come with her. Even though her friend professes to love God, she thinks all people in ministry are charlatans. Some of you have undoubtedly been hurt by seeing the weaknesses and failures of people in the Christian world you admired. A scandal can be absolutely devastating and don't think for a moment Satan isn't hoping to take down a thousand with the one. When you lose your faith over flesh and blood, the devil has gotten exactly what he schemed. The warfare is inconceivably fierce against those out front and many leaders are caught off guard by it and seduced before they realize what hit them. God help us all. God forgive us all. God restore us all...as many as will let Him do what it really takes. At the same time, I want you, my dear fellow sojourners, to know that so many out there are the real thing. They love Jesus Christ and pray when nobody's looking and get up in the mornings and open their Bibles for the ten-thousandth time. They weep before Him for lost and hurting souls and rejoice before Him over one touched life. They do a very hard thing for a very long time...and, often, under very harsh criticism.

Oh, Sister, don't let the enemy get you in the trap of cynicism. Yes, there's some inauthentic - and flat-out-false stuff in the church and we must go to great lengths not to contribute to it by insisting upon our own authenticity and humility and sound scholarship before God and man. But there is also so much good. So many good. Not perfect I dare say. But good. So many of you are among those. I read your comments and find myself edified and encouraged in Spirit. I pray that maybe these stories build you up a bit this Lord's Day.

He is so faithful. I love loving Him with you.

Christmas Questionnaire

*UPDATE*

Both Mom and Melissa's answers are below mine!!!!

Hey Siestas! I was just thinking about doing a Christmas questionnaire on the blog when, about a minute ago, I got a request to do this one through a comment from Kim Safina. This will be perfect! Thanks, Kim!

1. Fresh Tree or Fake Tree
Fresh


2. Favorite Ornament
This horse I got in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It has little bells on its feet.


3. Favorite Christmas Song
"Jesus Born on This Day" on Mariah Carey's "Merry Christmas" CD.

4. Favorite Tradition
Picking out a tree. Driving around to look at lights. Seeing my family open the gifts I've bought them. Mom and Dad cooking a big breakfast after we've read the Christmas story and opened presents.

5. Favorite Gift Ever Received
Last year Mom gave me a huge box of all the clothes she had saved from when I was a baby. I had no idea she still had them, so it was a very big surprise. It's so fun to have those now since we're having a baby girl in just two months!

6. Favorite Christmas Meal
Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and chocolate cake.

7. Favorite Christmas Cookie
Paulie's beautifully decorated and equally delicious shortbread cookies!

8. Favorite Place To Be
Wherever Curtis and Jackson are! If we can celebrate Christmas with both of our families in the same year, that is very special.

9. Favorite Memory
When Melissa and I were very little girls, Santa came to visit us on Christmas Eve at our grandparents' house. It was so magical. Then about four years ago, when we were again at my grandparents' house on Christmas Eve, Santa came to visit my two youngest cousins. It was so fun to see their faces. It also SNOWED that night. In Houston! It was truly a Christmas miracle. You cannot imagine how special it was for all of us.

This is a picture of Melissa and me and our cousins that year.
Hannah, Joe, John, Ben, Melissa, and me in front.


10. Favorite Christmas Movie
"Elf." I really enjoy watching this with my sister because she laughs so hard!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Siesta Mama's:

1. Fresh and the fatter the better

2. Felt ornaments with my girls' pictures on them that were made in their classes when they were little; add to that my ornaments with Jackson’s pictures

3. 4Him – A Strange Way to Save the World; Travis - In the First Light

4. Reading the Christmas story as a family first thing that morning and holding hands and each praying; On the superficial side, taking as long as possible to open the presents then Amanda, Melissa and I, all in my bedroom putting on and taking off every single new garment and gushing, “Oh, that is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen on you!” “No, YOU!!!”

5. I’d always driven a heap. I do mean A HEAP. Most of my years it was my parents’ old yellow and black Dodge Dart. I never left the house without jumper cables and a jug of water for when - not IF - the radiator overheated. I didn’t even know to feel cheated. One Christmas at Keith’s parents, I opened my present from him and it was a set of keys. A used but totally spotless Champagne colored Cadillac (a block and a half long) was sitting in his parents’ garage for me. I couldn’t even get in it. I buried my head in Keith’s chest and sobbed my eyes out right in front of everybody.

6. Major Dad always fixed Reuben Sandwiches on Christmas Eve in my house growing up and I miss them so badly. Nobody has ever been able to make Reubens like him. My first Christmas Eve in Heaven I plan to run to his mansion and stand there and squeal while he flips them on the griddle. Then I want to hear him tell the same old jokes and we'll laugh like we've never heard them. On Christmas Day, I love the traditional meal. Especially the dressing because my beloved Mom fixed it so well and loved it like nobody I’ve ever known. I never miss my parents more than on Christmas. They were simple people who never made an extra dime and threw a very modest celebration but somehow, no matter how problems had filled the rest of the year, Christmas time was magical.


7. Pillsbury Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies with colored Betty Crocker Butter Cream icing and sprinkles. I'm not kidding.

8. In my same den of 24 years, up while it’s still dark, presents all in place, and on my knees all alone in front of the fire place.


9. Christmas 1981 at my parents with my huge family of origin in a very tiny den. My little brother read the Christmas story that year with us all gathered around and no sooner than he read, “And it came to pass in those days…”, Amanda, just two and a half, crawled out of the chair and went to her knees, cupped her little hands like she was praying and kept her eyes shut through the whole reading - but changing expressions with every scene. Not a dry eye in the house. Then, to top it off, a little while later we opened presents and I got to surprise Keith with blue baby booties and announce that our second child was on the way. He’d been begging for a second child since the day our first was born. That second baby would never wear those blue booties…and not once would I ever regret that God gave me another girl. I would not trade that little wild ride for anything in this world.

10. Elf, hands down. And for exactly the same reason Amanda said. Melissa laughs so hard that we nearly…we nearly…well, you know what we nearly do.


PS. IT’S SNOWING IN HOUSTON TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU SEEN A STAFF OF SELF-RESPECTING ADULTS ACT LIKE BIGGER FOOLS THAN WE HAVE JUST ACTED OUT ON THE FRONT LAWN OF LPM. THANK YOU, LORD! (But stick with the post theme or AJ might snatch me baldheaded for adding that little addendum. Shoot fire, it's already stopped but, boy, was it exciting while it lasted!)

Melissa's Christmas Favorites

1. Fresh Tree/Fake Tree? Fresh! Who doesn’t love a little pine allergy once a year?

2. Favorite Ornament- My favorite ornament is the angel tree topper (I think it counts as an ornament) that Amanda and I fought over every year. Dad usually chose who it was going to be and lifted us up to place it high up on the tree. Don’t ask me how we found a way to fight over that?!?

3. Favorite Christmas Song- Hands down, O Holy Night, preferably by Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas is seriously musically authoritative. And how cute was she in that little Santa outfit on the cover?

4. Favorite Tradition- My Mom usually procrastinates wrapping all the presents until Christmas Eve. So she bans us to come downstairs after like 8:30 pm. Well, don’t tell her, but my favorite thing to do is to sneak down around midnight and look at all the Christmas presents in the living room. I still do and I’ll do it again this year. I can never sleep on Christmas Eve.

5. Favorite Gift Ever Received- The gift I remember being most excited about was a pair of Nike Air Jordan basketball shoes in fifth or sixth grade. I shook the box for months and months and months. In those days, my Dad refused to spend over $30 for a pair of shoes and he would make a really big deal even spending that. To get a pair of Air Jordan’s was like wearing a Cartier watch in sixth grade. I was all class, tomboy class.

6. Favorite Christmas Meal- The typical meal, nobody better mess with me and try to change it up. Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry (the fake kind from the can NOT real cranberry), Green-Bean casserole/Broccoli-Rice casserole. Then wait a few hours and do it all over again.

7. Favorite Christmas Cookie- Amanda has made these butterscotch haystacks the past few years that I think about all year long. They are so smooth and crunchy all at the same time, and for some reason they remind me of my Nanny. I think it is because she made chocolate & butterscotch Rice Krispy treats with peanut-butter when she was still alive.

8. Favorite Place to be- Houston, no matter how nasty/hot the weather, with Keith, Beth, Amanda, Curtis, Jackson, and Colin Fitzpatrick.

9. Favorite Memory- A couple of years ago on Christmas Eve Colin and I were in the beginning phase of dating. We went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at First Baptist and then we drove around looking at Christmas lights. He kept saying, “Are you for real?” “Are you for real?” “You really like me!?!” Anyway, I knew who the joke was really on and that I was really the lucky one in the relationship, but I’ll never forget him saying that and the look on his face.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie- Well, Mom and Amanda stole my thunder. Elf is absolutely my favorite. In fact, it is on our TV as we speak…or as I type, rather. I will say though that Home Alone comes in a close second, though it is not technically a Christmas Movie. It is hilarious and it has special family significance to me that I keep pondered in my heart. Always.

Over Our Heads

I was just praying out loud for some folks. So aware right now of many chronic - even life and death - needs. Thinking how many people I know who are flat-out over their heads. Been over mine in a personal thing or two lately myself. Keith has a CD in his blue Ford truck that he won't give up but every time I get behind that wheel, I shove it in the player, flip it to song #9, turn it up as loud as I can stand it, and sing it like there's no tomorrow. It talks about the kind of over-my-head I want to be. And I want you to be.

Girlfriends, Jesus is so worthy of our trust no matter what has taken us by surprise. Picture that, when the enemy asks for a little extra access to you, the only reason why God may have given him permission is because He knew you'd prove faithful. Do the thing. In the unseen realm, angels are cheering and demons are jeering. You are in the stadium and the bleachers are full. (Hebrews 12:1) Take one for the team if you have to. Be strong and courageous. Be willing to show people how it's done. Don't look for a leader. You are the leader. People are looking to you. Be deliberate. Make sure they see Jesus. We're not here all that long and then there's BLISS. Forever bliss. Till then, we're over our heads. But we can dang-well decide what kind of over-our-heads we're gonna be.

"Over My Head" by Brian Littrell

I tried to figure it out
Time and time again and time again
I guess there's just some things I'll never understand
'Cause Your ways aren't our ways
But deep down in my soul, down in my soul
There is one thing I know that I know

I'm in over my head
Right where I wanna be
I'm so lost within Your love
The love that always covers me
So high, so deep, so wide
A strong and cleansing tide
My soul has found a place to rest
I'm in over my head

I've been holding on
Now I'm letting go, just letting go
Gonna let Your love carry me away
I don't know where I'm going
But I'm surrounded by the truth
And I can feel the current pulling me
Deeper into You

I'm in over my head
Right where I wanna be
I'm so lost within Your love
The love that always covers me
So high, so deep, so wide
A strong and cleansing tide
My soul has found a place to rest
I'm in over my head

You see me for who I am
You did reach out Your hand
You made me understand
That Your love has always covered me

Survey Time Again!

*Comments now closed*

*Last call for comments! We will close the post at 9:45 a.m. central time so that we can keep the comments at a number we can manage. Thanks so much, ladies!*

You, my darling Siestas, have become an invaluable resource to this teaching ministry and outreach to women. I'd love to hear from you again on something God keeps talking to me about and going way out of His way to show me. It's the issue of insecurity in women. I've mentioned it in several Bible studies and at various events but I've never taken concentrated time (never had it to take!) to pounce on it and really explore it as a topic all by itself. I'm very impressed in my spirit that the time has come. Below you'll find the answers I'm looking for and if you'll simply number your responses accordingly, you won't need to repeat the questions. Two of the most important things to keep in mind:

ALL RESPONSES MUST BE ANONYMOUS.
ALL RESPONSES NEED TO BE BLATANTLY HONEST! Please don't answer like you think a Christian woman ought to answer. It won't help.

OK, here goes: (Women only please)
1. What age-decade are you in? (Teens? Twenties? Thirties? ...Sixties?)

2. Single? Married? Divorced? Or widowed?

3. How big an issue is insecurity to you personally? Respond with one of the following answers: None at all; A little; Enough to bother me; Pretty big; HUGE.

4. What do you see as the 2 leading sources of insecurity in your personal life? (Use brief answers please)

5. Give this one serious thought: How much would you say a man or men play into your insecurities? (Use only a few words.)

6. If you have something to share and particularly if you feel your pulse rising a bit at the subject matter, write one BRIEF paragraph describing specific impact insecurity has had on you. (We will not be able to post lengthy ones. Please keep these a length many people will read. I think women will be interested in this topic and want to see what everybody has to say. Personally, I can't wait.)

After I see your responses, I may come back and ask a few more things if that's OK but this will at least get us off the ground on the subject. Thank you so much, Siestas, for taking the time and going to the trouble to lend your insight! YOU ARE A WEALTH! And you are making such a difference in our lives here at LPM and the lives of those we have the privilege to serve. I love you like crazy. Jesus is life.
Oh, P.S.!! Do us a huge favor! See if you can get some of the young women in your life who are in middle school or high school to hop on the blog and take the survey. They would lend priceless insight. The same is true for college-age so if you have access to young women, we'd so appreciate you asking them to consider helping us out. Thanks!

This One's For the Birds

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

“Bibby?”

“Yes, Baby?”

“Birds love Jesus.”

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

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

Yes. Feathered.

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


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

Converge!

Hey, Siestas! I can’t believe I’ve let the 1st of December hit before inviting you to please come Converge with us! I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to serve with my dear brother, Travis Cottrell, and our LPL praise team at this Christmas celebration in Houston, Texas. AND, if you think you can bear it, God opened the door for us to have as our special guest vocalist (drum roll please), the reigning Queen of my IPOD (cymbals and dance), CeCe Winans! Don’t even tell me you can resist that kind of joy.

Our hope is to see lots of people converge in the Berry Center that night that normally might not worship and get in the Word together. We’re planning to make Jesus some room and get a fresh glimpse of His glory. We’re counting on being on His Christmas speaking schedule this season. The evening just wouldn’t be the same without a heaping helping of Siestaville. (I just got a flashback of a bunch of our Canadian Siestas at a recent event with their Canadian flags. Yes, they gave me one and, yes, I stuck it in my big hair. I wish so much it weren’t so far and you could wave those flags in the Lone Star State, eh! We’d welcome you with open arms!)

If the trip is at all doable, you can throw some great Tex Mex and terrific Christmas shopping into it. There are sales all over Houston, the malls are fabulous and it’s not 105 degrees. Nor are you liable to get snowed in. THIS, Siestas, is the time to come to Houston, Texas! No hurricanes in sight. Just a Lone Star that we hope will shine bright over the city that night.

Come on and join us if you can, and if you can’t, we’ll miss you and take a raincheck. Sure love you darling things.

*Click here for FAQ's*

*Click here to order tickets*

A Grateful Heart

Happy Thanksgiving, My Dear Siestas!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you

You're Such A Part of This Taping!

My dear Siestas, I had to fly on here as fast as I could so that I could tell you that I am using something from your input in EVERY SINGLE SESSION! I'm steadily using excerpts from your testimonies on the surveys I took months ago on bondage and freedom when I was first revising the series AND I'm using the hilarious stories you just gave me. Both kinds of input have been PRICELESS to me and to this revision. The humorous side helps lighten up very heavy subject matter and the group has gotten such a kick out of your stories. I wish I could use tons of them but I'd overdo it and it would lose its effectiveness. I just wanted you to know that all your material is right here with me in my hotel room and I'm looking at your examples every day as I prepare.

I know I've told you this before but one of the things I battle most these days in ministry is a personal feeling of isolation and the fear that I will lose touch with people. Life is temporarily complicated in that respect. If not for my staff at LPM, this sanguine literally could not take it. In the old days, I could hang around after events and talk with people and pray with people. For this season, that's not possible and the loss of one-on-one with the women I serve out and about has been titanic. YOU ARE THE NUMBER ONE WAY THAT GOD HELPS ME KEEP IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. I feel a peculiar closeness to you. A true sense of community. One of our Siestas who also attends my home church hugged me on Sunday and said, "Beth, I love the blog...and what I get the biggest kick out of, is that I think you love it, too. I think you really do."

Oh, Girls. I really do. You have become such a big part of this ministry. I could bawl about it. But I don't have time. Gotta get back to it. May God invest back into your sweet lives 100-fold what you pour into mine and others. He has made you a gift. I hope we're together for a long time.

Oh the Products

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

I'm just saying.

Input on the Light Side

OK, Siestas, we've had an intense couple of days so let's lighten it up a little bit! As a bunch of you know, I'll hop on a plane Monday and head to New Orleans to tape the updated version of Breaking Free. I'd love to have some input from you and, goodness knows, nobody can tell a story like a siesta. I can't wait for you to see how much I used your survey comments in the Esther Bible study. I've already got some great stuff from you for Breaking Free from a post several months ago where I requested testimonies about captivity or freedom. This time I'm asking you if you have some fun stories I might want to use for illustrations. You don't have to worry about how they'll fit. That's mine to worry about. You just spill the beans.

Here's what I'm looking for: CLEAN stories of something funny or amusing that has happened to you or someone you know really well that wouldn't mind you tattling. Here's a perfect example: Travis and Angela Cottrell's youngest son, Levi, recently wrote his kindergarten teacher a thank you card for showing a particular kindness to him after his surgery. You know how every little boy gets a crush on his teacher. Levi's just wild about her so, unbeknownst to his parents, he got into Angela's wallet and pulled out the stash she'd just cashed at the bank and sealed it in the card. It wasn't until the teacher called that they realized the money was gone. It gave a whole new meaning to trying to repay someone for a kindness. That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about but it doesn't have to be sweet or about children. It can also be stupid and embarrassing as long as it's CLEAN!

The real challenge is going to be keeping them short enough to post and for all of us to read. I've noticed something in blog world. Most people are so pressed for time that they pass over really long entries and comments so, unfortunately, some of the comments that took the most time to write get read the least SO, just one paragraph, everybody!! I think we could all use this today!

Thanks, Sisters! I can't wait to read them! I can always count on you guys.

You are loved here at LPM!
Beth

PS. OK, I have laughed at your stories until my stomach is killing me. (Maybe I can blow off my sit-ups tonight.) This is the latest one that nearly killed me:

Don't know how you can tie this in to anything but here goes. Years ago I had a toothache late in November and went to the dentist. He and his assistant were examining my tooth when the asst. said, "Did you see all that food in there?". I, of course, can feel the heat in my face and am thinking, "oh, I forgot to floss!" Then my dentist said, "Yeah, it's a real smorgasbord." At this point, I am just mad but voiceless because of all the equipment in my mouth and the assistant says, "Yes, the receptionist really out did herself this Thanksgiving." :) God knew how long to leave the equipment in - perfect timing.
November 6, 2008 10:56

A United House

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Psalm 118:24

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I remain your servant,
Beth

Just So You'll Know

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

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

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