Monday, August 16, 2010

Eat, Pray, Love: God-Style

Eat. Pray. Love.  I did all three of those this weekend -- along with about 11,000 other women (and a few brave men) in Lexington, Kentucky at a Beth Moore Living Proof Live conference.  I took along my best friend and some terrific gals from my church.


(I insisted on sitting on my pregnant best friend's lap for this photo --
as if she doesn't have enough to carry around right now.
 I was testing her love for me.  Thankfully, she has a lot of it.)


We really liked the horse by our hotel. 

{Okay, I really liked it. 
So much so that I kissed it about three times just for this one stunning shot (grr --camera problems).
Anything for love, baby.}


It was a fun and inspiring weekend, but it was also convicting.  I went into this conference knowing I was messed up.  It only confirmed it.  I've been struggling with myself for quite a bit -- with discontent and battles of the heart.  I've been unfaithful to the truth, lying to myself.  The battles have been fairly private and within.  I'm a private person by nature, anyway, and don't talk to many people when I'm hurting.  But God knows my heart and its messiness.  And He cares enough to want all of it, even if I'm not good at sharing. 

However, I am good at pretense . . . even pretending with myself.  But some words from God (spoken through the fabulous Beth), fell on my lips, and I'm EATting them.  No more pretending:

     1.  "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?"  (Jeremiah 17:9).  My heart been torturing me off and on for quite awhile now, whispering things I know aren't true.  It's led me on a crooked path, and I'm ready to get it straightened out . . . which leads to the next thought.

     2.  "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (Jeremiah 2:13).  I've been searching for something I already have.  I've been going through the motions of seeking God because I knew I needed to, but my heart wasn't really in it.  As Beth put it my "need-to" is fine, but my "want-to" has been broken. So while I was only half-heartedly seeking Him, I was also looking to be filled in other ways.  It's not been working -- my well is dry.  The One who can fill me has been here all along, and it's time I really start to PRAY to Him and quit pretending with myself.

    3.  "Don't let a word out of your mouth until it's in your heart" (Beth).  This particularly hit home.  For this reason, it may be more silent around here.  I'll be sharing something with you Wednesday that I wrote recently, but after that . . . .well, I just don't know.  I need to separate my desire to write with my desire to be filled by others' affirmation.  I used to write just for me, for my own walk with God.  Now, I'm not so sure about my motives.  I need to make sure before I share something here that I really own what I'm writing.  I need to know and rely on the LOVE God has for me (1 John 4:16) before I even turn my face to talk to anyone else.  So, you may hear from me less often -- at least for a little while.

So, while in my search for everything across my corner of the world, while in my search for what is already available to me, I'll continue to give thanks to Him whose love endures forever.
 






holy experience


Counting, and meaning, gifts 186-205 (and passing 200!  Woohoo!)

accountability in giving thanks

a girls' weekend

a funky restaurant that opened early just for us

a terrific hotel concierge

funny conversations over plates of interesting food

paintings that inspire inside jokes

colorful horses

a beautiful hotel

a gracious city

staying up late chatting with my best friend

a cup of coffee fixed by her the next morning to wake me back up

adventurous walks

air-conditioning to escape 99 degree heat

encouraging words from Beth Moore

conviction

fantastic worship

seeking and finding

renewal

God cures the incurable

Eating, Praying, Loving: God-Style


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18 comments:

alison said...

oh how i love me some beth moore! she always seems to know just what i need to hear to set my heart back on the right path. God is using that woman in an incredible way! i missed out on the last conference that a bunch of my church gals went to because it landed on the very weekend tha ava was born.....i didn't think that it was a good idea to be 4 hours away from home and my doc that close to her due date and it turns out that was a good decision ;)

Courtney (Women Living Well) said...

Sounds like a wonderful weekend! I LOVE Beth Moore too!!!
Glad you had a good time!!!
Courtney

Claudia said...

sounds like a great weekend and a fresh touch from God! enjoyed reading your post and enjoyed the bible verse as well - ah - and the pic you're kissing the horse...smiles

Anonymous said...

Beth Moore is wonderful! What a treat to go to one of her conferences. Her bible studies are great. Glad you came away with some more insight and fresh perspective. God bless!

Carrie said...

So glad you had a good time and God was able to speak to your heart.

P.S. You are so cute!!

Cranberry Morning said...

Excellent post! Nothing to add, except I'm glad God spoke to you through His Word spoken at the conference. (Really like the horse, by the way!) :-)

rachelw said...

Beth Moore is so great! I'm glad you had a good time!

Tessa said...

Good for you! Isn't it amazing what we do for approval or recognition? Your blog has inspired me to be more aware of God's desire for what I post. I have had this blog for a week now, and love it. I don't want to get so involved I forget what's really important. However, I also believe your blogs are an encouragement to people as well. So God uses us, even in our mess:) God bless!
PS I found this blog through your post on Beth Moore

Jodi said...

"eat, pray,love God style" I like that! great list

Sarah said...

worship and renewal, what more can we ask. As always a joy to splash around in thankfulness. Your blog, simply delightful.

Splashin' in His goodness,
Sara

Rachel Clark said...

what a blessing! such a great weekend, I am sure. GREAT post!!! Thank you for sharing~!~

Missie said...

what an awesome experience!

Rachel @ Finding Joy said...

I love Beth Moore. When my husband was going through cancer treatments I was in a Bible study for Believing God...hmmm...you think God was smiling as I surrendered to His word?

I just helped lead a women's retreat with Beth Moore's Measureless Love. yeah, love her. Love how she points me back to Christ.

Great pictures as well....

Rachel

Misty said...

oh this is good! I often check my motives. It's easy to look for the comments of others - human nature really. But I love the way Beth Moore describes not letting it come from your mouth (or perhaps your keyboard) before it is in your heart first. Sounds like a wonderful conference and a fun time with friends.

Thanks for stopping by my place. It's fun meeting like minds.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your honest reflection. Good for you. Peace!

Maureen said...

I love this post and the pictures are beautiful. Really your take on Eat, Pray, Love: God-Style is the way to go! :D

SuzRocks said...

I read one of Beth's books a long time ago- maybe I should revisit it. I like your version of Eat, Pray, Love WAY better than elizabeth gilberts...

I just came across you from SITS- it was your blog design that caught my eye. I absolutely LOVE it- I'm attracted to the bright colors like a bumble bee. Or a little kid.

My Artful Heart said...

Hi there...I am visiting from Ann's page a bit indirectly...I was doing a search for the Eat, Pray, Love Beth Moore class, and your blog came up! I actually was able to download a free file of it online...very neat class from what I have heard so far. I am actually very new to Beth Moore...don't know why I did not check into her stuff sooner - God's word REALLY comes alive.

Have a great week :)

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