I need to post a re-cap of this past weekend’s “So Long Insecurity” simulcast.
Not because people need to hear the message, they do. But Beth is so much better at it than I am, my pitiful recap is not really going to impact anyone….except me.
This is for me. So I don’t have to worry about losing my notes from this message.
Beth likes Acronyms, so her message was built around Ephesians 4:1 – 5:2 and what a SECURE woman “looks” like.
A SECURE woman is….
Saved from herself
removed from the need to be so self-conscious, self-aware and afraid of what others think. She is focused on God and on HIS opinion of her and mission for her.
Entitled to truth
The truth about herself – that she is a precious daughter of the king and nothing and no one can ever take that from her. This is not to urge her towards pride, but instead to make sure she knows the value we all hold in God’s eyes. And by the way ALL humans have dignity and value
in God’s eyes.
Clothed intentionally
She very deliberately wreathes her mind and heart in scriptures, God’s word of unending love and forgiveness. Scripture is our best (only) defense against the destructive thoughts and emotions that rage through our heads. Be deliberate. Have scripture memory plan. Surround yourself, study God’s word. Whether you know whole chapters already or don’t know a single verse yet, start today. Memorize. I used to think Scripture memory was not necessary. I had the Bible after all. I wasn’t living in some far off land where I’m not allowed to carry a Bible, so why should I have to memorize scripture? Because God said to, first of all, but mostly because I don’t have time to look things up when my head is spinning. I need to be able to pull up words from God that have “been engraved on my heart” Be Intentional about it.
Upended by grace
forgiven. utterly. unshakably, she KNOWS she is forgiven and it turns everything in her life upside down. She is so certain of her own forgiven state that forgiving others is not only the right thing to do, it feels right. I didn’t say easy…just right.
Rebounded by love
slips happen, mistakes occur, but a secure woman knows that God is there and catches her. she is both bound by God’s love and rebounded by it – which I like to think of as a basketball analogy – caught and sent right back up towards the basket.
Exceptional in life
She is the exception to every rule. “no woman in the world could deal with THAT…well, except…HER” is what we want all our acquaintances to say about us.
Beth was amazing on Saturday. Her passion was deeper and more raw than anything I have ever seen from her, and in a way that made it more intimate. Even with 300,000 people all listening in. I loved that she said that this whole insecurity thing is not just a theme for the year or something. She is utterly on fire. I know I was seeing her with 300,000 other people, but I felt like she was speaking to me. That she came there because God was telling her to talk to ME about this sin in my life. The sin of unbelief.
Because that is what insecurity is, essentially, unbelief.
God says I am forgiven, how dare I try to prove to him that I’m not?
God gave his son for my life! how dare I try to show him how worthless I am and what a horrible bargain he made?
God pours himself out for me in his word, how dare I scorn such an offering by not reading it?
God says that I am lovey, how dare I even think of myself as anything less?
on a side note – I had a wonderful time with some great friends (one of whom I only see about once a year) and I didn’t take a single photo! Hey Trish, do you have the camera phone picture we had the lady in line take of us?
***update*** and here it is. A lovely photo of three very SECURE and happy ladies!
Deirdre, Michelle & Trish
by the way, both Trish and Michelle are farm girls, so they spent the entire time we were in line discussing their favorite TRACTORS and other farming implements. I was WAY out of my depth!!!!
stream of continuousness 