Beths Blog

“Here I am, send me!”

Those words captured my attention. A female detective is driving a rape victim to the hospital for testing after being victimized. The young college student sees those words taped to the dashboard of the SUV and asks what they mean. The detective tells her it comes from Isaiah. God asks who is willing to go and do what He wants done. Isaiah responds loudly, “Here I am, send me!” He didn’t even know what the job was, but he was willing to do whatever God wanted.

This dialogue created a powerful moment between these two women. Unknowingly, the detective had been vulnerable with this young girl who desperately needed someone to be vulnerable with her. She had just been violated in unspeakable ways. She was far from home, no family near. She was scared, isolated, alone. A long forgotten verse, scribbled on a post-it note, taped to a dash, created a moment of vulnerability the young girl needed.

Unbelievable is a limited six episode series on Netflix based on true events. A young at risk girl is raped and no one believes her. Fifteen years later, the rapist hasn’t stopped, he’s just moved around the country. The series tells the story. I’m on episode four, will probably finish it today.

Men will never know what it is like to be female, no matter how hard they try. Women have a vulnerability that men don’t have. We aren’t as strong as them physically. We can’t protect ourselves like they can. I’m not saying women are less than, they are not. I’m just saying, physically, men are stronger than women. I know there are exceptions to every rule. But if a man and woman are in a physical battle, the man is going to win that fight most of the time.

Unbelievable illustrates that point very well. The show is not easy to watch. This rapist had no “type,” one of his victims was a 72 year old woman. But it happened, to people whose lives were changed because of it. We can’t hide from the ugliness of this world if we’re going to love the people in it.

If you’re not in the mood for a heavy, thought provoking series, don’t watch this.

Each morning Beth Morrison starts her day with a cup of coffee and her Bible.  She thought the Bible was hard to read, but she found doing a little bit each day made it easy. Each morning, with her coffee, she draws deeper into her relationship with God and His word.  Morrison shares her love of God, the Bible and coffee in her daily devotion, Honest Reflections: A Quiet Moment with God. This daily devotional will help you draw closer to God.  You will learn to apply His word to your life, all while enjoying a morning cup of coffee.

Honest Reflections was started in 2017 as a way for fledgling writer Morrison to share her love of God.  As her boldness in sharing her faith increased, she began to write a daily devotion.  “Talking about God with someone while having a cup of coffee is my favorite thing to do.”, she says.  Honest Reflections is her way of sharing that love of rich conversation and coffee with others.

 In 2019 the devotions focused on different topics.  Each month explored a theme in the daily writings, helping followers learn more about themselves and God.  In 2020, Morrison is taking her devotions in a new direction, as she pursues God’s leading into a new adventure.  Following God’s prompting in her life, she’s incorporating more scripture-based content in her writing.

Each day will start with a Scripture that comes from the “Further Reading” section found at the bottom of the devotional.  Daily readings will include an Old Testament reading, New Testament reading, Psalms and Proverbs.  From those readings, the author will explore how to apply scripture to your life.  A “Question of the Day,” will allow readers to focus their thoughts on one aspect of God’s love for them.  Group discussions can be facilitated through the comments, either via the Facebook page or blog post.  The devotions are designed as a simple way to connect with God, and others.

Morrison is committed to her life verses: “ ‘And you must love the Lord, your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV.  She condenses the verses into a four-word mantra for her life, “Love God, love others.”  “My prayer is that through my writings, I will help others come to know and love God as I have, completely and wholly.”, she says.

Make 2020 your year to grow closer to God.  Don’t be intimidated by Scripture any longer.  Begin each day with your favorite cup of coffee, God’s word and fresh inspiration from Honest Reflections.  Whether you read it once a week, a couple of times a week or every day, you are sure to find something to help grow you closer to God.  You can have the devotional delivered to your email, find it on Facebook or read the blog.  Let Honest Reflections daily devotionals help you grow deeper in your faith than ever.  Don’t wait, sign up today. 

To sit down and have coffee with Shanda Piggott is like a breath of fresh air.  Her genuine love of God and people are evident in everything she does.  Her smile makes you want to know what she is thinking.  I found out what is behind the smile, it’s her love of God.  Raised in Williamsburg, VA she didn’t have a typical church upbringing, in fact she only went to church when her grandmother took her.  A grandmother she now cares for on her days off from Camp Peary, where she is a police officer.  Those Sunday’s were the only seeds God needed to plant to grow the warrior for Him she has become.

 Shanda was 11 when she accepted Jesus into her life and was baptized.  In her words, she “knew what that meant but didn’t understand it.”  Her true knowledge of the Lord started later in life.  Her belief in God was solid, but she didn’t follow His leading until after college.  Her journey led her to working at a juvenile detention center where she found a Bible.

 King David is her favorite hero. He was the one that would draw her back to the stories of him found within the pages of the historic text.  Those stories led to a simple prayer, “God love me like you loved King David.”  God answered.  First, she noticed her friendships changing, growing more distant.  She felt God telling her He would develop “new friendships” for her.  The relationship she was in fell apart. Approximately six months after praying that prayer, she was introduced to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF).  Her journey was just beginning.

            Shanda’s spiritual mentor, the pastor’s wife of her church is who invited her to BSF, an international women’s comprehensive Bible study.  They were studying Genesis that first study 8 years ago, God confirmed, this was her new beginning.  Another 6 months goes by, she is asked to lead in the children’s ministry.  She accepts God’s call and serves faithfully for the next five years, the picture above is from this time period.  Just at the point when she is thinking of taking a break from ministry, this single mom of 2 incredible boys, gets another call.  This time she is asked to consider being a Substitute Teaching Leader to the 400 women who attend the Wednesday morning Sunday.  She once again accepts God’s call on her life, and steps into her new role.  A role she continues to hold after 2 years.  The role in which I met her.  My first day at BSF she was the speaker, her talk was on Acts.  Her passion was evident as she taught us the lessons learned in the early church. 

                       Her leadership impacts others as well, part of her role as STL is helping grow other leaders.  Her passion for what she does was evidenced when I asked my group leader about Shanda.  Marybeth Antcliff told me she is “amazed at how effortless she makes it look.  She’s a natural, but also very prepared and very professional.  She is a great listener and is good at making the people around her feel important.”  When I asked Bebe Dove, Teaching Leader of BSF for one word to describe Shanda, without hesitation she said, “Authentic.”  Caroline Mellen, a BSF member, enjoys Shanda’s speaking.  In her words, Shanda is “Confident.  She speaks not through her notes, she speaks with her heart.”

            Our time together was short, but our conversation was rich.  Her love of the Lord, her passion for following Him are contagious.  One can’t help but feel His presence when you sit with Shanda for a few minutes.  She sees Him in all of life’s events.  She watches closely for signs of His works in her life.  She understands, He’s in the small things as well as the big things.  She devotes her two days off a week to BSF and her role as leader.  When I asked her for an interview, she willingly agreed, even though she had no idea who I was.  She has a heart for the Lord that is rare to find.  The Lord is continuing to love her like He loved King David, the evidence is in her life.

I was privileged to be born in the small village of Tidal, PA in the last year of the 60’s decade. My life began shortly after man first walked on the moon. I ran the hills of that small village, dreaming of one day being Laura Ingalls Wilder, the writer. But life took me on a different path when my father moved the family to Dubois, PA to give my brothers and I more opportunity in life. We were able to be involved in school activities and experience things we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do. Up until this point in life, I had a child like faith, believing God was a superhero; when my father passed away shortly before my 17th birthday, that faith wavered.

I spent the next ten years of my life battling with a God who had let me down. I struggled in life as I grieved the loss of not only my earthly father, but my heavenly Father as well. My God had let me down, I no longer believed in Him.

After seven long years, I finally received my undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Shortly thereafter I became a Flight Attendant for US Airways, where God showed me, even though I had turned my back on Him, He had never left me. As I began my new found journey with God, I wanted a more settled life which led to a career shift into retail. I spent the next 23 years enjoying my career choice, spending most of that time working for Nautica International as a Merchandise Coordinator. For 16 years I traveled the roads of Virginia and North Carolina, as well as the East Coast, selling their product.

On Oct. 21, 2010, God yet again changed my path when he brought my husband into my life. I had resigned myself to a life of singleness. I was content in my relationship with God, He was all I needed. God knew better, He gave me icing on the cake for this life. My husband and I were married less than two years later. I’ve since left Nautica, and run two small businesses while working on my Masters in Strategic Communications. We recently celebrated my 50th birthday with a three week RV trip to Colorado. I don’t know where I will go next, I’m just enjoying the journey. For now I am here until God intervenes and takes me elsewhere.