Well, today I thought it would be appropriate to reveal my connection to Beth Moore. Why is she apart of my life anyway? I still don't really know, Lord willing by the end of this year I can gain some better insight about it.
So here is the deal. I didn't even really know who she was until about three years ago. It was spring semester 2007. It's weird really that I hadn't heard of her before because I've been in church my whole life, I think it was just that I was not "of age" for her messages. However, if I had known about her, I guarantee she would have been a part of my life sooner. Anyway, I had probably heard her name before but who knows? What I do know is that God ordained her entry into my life and memory at the age of 25.
I was working to find a woman's speaker that I could study for my master's thesis project. Originally, I proposed to my committee that I would study five women for my project, but God's plan ended up being that I focus solely on Beth Moore. As I did the prep work on my project (which I'll tell you about another time), my spirit just reacted differently to what I was learning about her. I knew I wanted to learn more. I knew God wanted me to learn more. So, I just jumped in with both feet. For now, you will just have to trust me when I say, my life has been drastically changed as a result of this decision.
I visited a local church to hear one of her messages. A women's group was studying her series Daniel. I asked the local director if I could join their group. They were on like message six and it was crazy intense. From then on out my spirit was hooked. I knew God was setting my feet upon a path that would change me forever. Obviously, she hasn't been my sole focus these last years - God's had a lot of other things to teach me as well - but I won't lie God keeps dropping her in my life at the craziest of times.
This woman from no where just dropped on my soul like the bomb at Hiroshima. God showed me a person who was living body and soul the passion in my heart. I had never met or seen anyone who seemed to project my passion for God. Her passion for God's Word just blew me away and gave me a new level to strive for. I study communication for a living. I like to teach people how to be better communicators and leaders. More than anything, I want God to use me to glorify His name and to teach others how a passionate relationship with Him is the best thing ever! But, there is something underlying in her messages that you just can't teach and I knew I wanted to understand that so I could apply it to my own calling. The more I learn about her, the more I respect her. Until this blog, I've been guarded about my feelings about it. I've kept what God has been teaching me through her all to myself. The main reason is because I did not want anyone to think I am like a psycho stalker involved in hero worship of some kind. My generation easily falls into the trap of hero worship and I did not want to fall into that regarding Beth. But, since I've all ready jumped on the crazy train and I am doing this blog - I thought you should know why she interests me.
I'll never forget the first time I heard her speak live. A few months after starting my project I went home (happened to be CT at the time) to visit my parents. And guess what, it just so happened that my mom and her church group were going to see her live and in person in Rhode Island. The timing of it was clearly God. Attending solidified my decision to study her for my thesis and inspired me to go deeper with God.
Eventually, I narrowed my thesis project down to studying her Breaking Free message. The reason for this is because this is her "life message." (And, what I can tell after three years.. . it pretty much offers her a lot of inspiration in her other works.) I was pretty sure before Christmas break of that year that I had made the right choice. Wanna know how God confirmed it? I was visiting family in Texas (I'm from Lufkin originally) and I was about two hours from Houston. By this time, my research had shown me that she still taught on Tuesday nights. I looked into going. And it so happened that two days before I was to fly out of Houston Hobby - guess who was starting up Bible study? And guess what the topic was? Yep. She was teaching an updated version of Breaking Free. When I saw that online I was in shock. I knew that God was speaking into my life at that moment. I knew He had me in Texas for it so I went. I loaded up my mom and grandma and I went. It was awesome and I could not believe that God blessed me with such an opportunity.
After that pretty much everything went down hill in regards to my thesis. Let me tell you this, studying Breaking Free is no joke. If you just do it normally, you will likely endure some sort of spiritual attack. But me, it came full force. I know for a fact the enemy has done everything in His power to side track me from proving the biblical validity of this message. I can't tell you all the warfare I have had to overcome. I felt stupid. I have wanted to give up many times. I have endured physical and financial hardships. Let's just say Hell has let open the gates on this one. But, I'm still persevering two years later and I will finish this thesis project if it is the last thing God enables me to do on this Earth.
Many cool things have resulted as well from this project. The amount of people I have gotten to meet is ridiculous. One of my favorite times had to be when in I was in Houston with Beth's peeps. I got to meet a lot of her staff and her assistant - they respect her just as much as I do. They were so loving and had so many positive things to say. And, since then, I've met a lot of other people who work to make her messages available to others. She represents an example for me. Her life hasn't been perfect, but it is obvious that she is letting God use her life for the good. And, I just can't help but respect that.
Anyway, I could go on. I've heard her speak several times since. But for now, at least you know how she came into my life. Other stories will emerge as this project continues. For now, I'll stop so I don't get carpel tunnel :O)
This year, I'm taking it too a new level. I'll finish my thesis and I will allow God to work in me and through Beth to teach me more about living for Him. He wants me to be more focused in my learning, so here goes nothing. It's going to be a pivotal year, I can tell.
