Hey!

 

How are you guys doing? I was thinking the other night on our LONG
drive from Wyoming, Michigan, to Columbus, Ohio, that I haven't blogged
in a while. It's crazy to think about the last two months flying by
like they have. My part of the record is done, mixing has begun, the
photo shoot was last week, and now I'm out on the Turn Down the Music
tour w/ my husband and the other Shane, Matt Maher, and David Nasser. I
felt like hopping on their tour was light years away, and now it's HERE!
I have eight more sweet days with my husband, and then flying out for a
couple shows and meeting back up with the crew on the west coast.

 

Today... we are staying at some friends of ours house in Naperville,
just outside of Chicago. I flew in yesterday morning after getting
approximately 2 1/2 hours of sleep, and we were kind of on the go all
day. So today happening with no agenda is very, very nice. Except Shane
feels like he's getting nodes (sp?) back on his vocal chords, so he
isn't talking today. Which, I might add, has been really, really funny.
His favorite way of getting my attention so far has been "pssst!" which
I'm pretty sure is a sound... but oh well. :) I think we're going to go
downstairs and watch a movie in a minute, play some ping pong (I'm
getting better!), eat lunch, go ahead and register us online for our
World Vision trip this summer to Zambia (I couldn't even BEGIN to tell
you how ecstatic I am about that! There's a little boy from Zambia that
Shane has sponsored through WV for about 10 years now, and we get to go
meet him in August! It's going to be so surreal and wonderful.) ...
waiting on some laundry to get done now.

 

I've been learning a lot about community. I feel like the Lord keeps
pushing me into situations that FORCE community... sharing space and
time... pouring out all I've got... loving like I love myself. It
sounds simple, but fleshing it out has been very difficult! Because,
before you know it, it pours over into sharing the Gospel with someone.
Yeah. Talk about being inconvenienced AND uncomfortable! But how
worthwhile it is! I can see some circumstances recently that have been
Sovereignly ordered to push me forward in that area... to love people
more than wanting them to like ME. To say the name of Jesus even when
it's offensive, or sounds narrow minded, or even excluding. To press
through that and share His deep, passionate love for them displayed on
the cross, and ESPECIALLY in the empty tomb. A lady named Michelle that
I sat next to on a plane a few months ago put it well, "I've learned to
pray every morning for a natural way to share Jesus with someone in
that day." I want to grow in that area of my life -- I'm sure I'll be
learning in it til I'm 75, but I'd like to get a headstart. ;)

 

Alright, well I think I'm gonna hop off and go do some Pilates or
something. The possibilities in today are endless! Shane just whistled
for me across the living room, so I'm gonna go hang with my silent
husband for a little bit. Y'all have a great day! See you soon. :)

 

Beth

**I'm listening to the mixes of my new record, releasing September 8th :)

It is one of those rare overcast days here in Los Angeles, and I am FEELING it! Maybe I am also feeling the last month of non-stop going, and maybe coming down from my caffeine high is contributing, but I'm going to blame it on the rain. (<-anyone know that song? Shane sings it all the time. :)) Anyway, today is last day of vocals for the record! I can't believe it. All we're doing tomorrow is recording an acoustic version of the first single, "Everyone To Know" for a little bonus on the CD, and that's it. I fly home Saturday afternoon and have Easter with my sweet husband and church family, a couple days at home to let my suitcase explode and launder things, and then back out for photo shoot, some shows (what's up Bellefontaine show coming up! All my hometown peeps say what!), and then I'm hopping on tour with the Shanes, Matt Maher, and David Nasser for most of the month of May. I think I may be helping out with the World Vision table (being a "rep" as they call them), so I'm looking forward to that!:)

Alright, well lunch just arrived, I gotta re-charge and then plug through the last song! Thank you all so much for your prayers during this process... I have felt them, and the Lord has done such amazing things. I can't wait to tell you about them!

Have a blessed weekend, my friends.

Beth

Make sure you...

a) follow me on twitter twitter.com/bethanydillon
b) tell all of your friends to become fans, because that would be AWESOME!
c) check out where I'm doing shows so you can say hi to me in person
d) last but not least... pray for me as I finish up this record!

Good morning!

It has been such a good one for me. We got home last night from visiting Shane's fam in Lubbock, and I had had one of those emotional days. And, let's face it, five and a half hours in a car, staring at the desert, and having time to think... it always makes me emotional. In a good way, I think. If you haven't caught on by now, I'm someone who likes to be DOING... even on a day off at home, I love having a to-do list, getting things accomplished, having goals set. I don't think that's a bad thing, but when it comes to "being still" and "waiting on the Lord", like I am COMMANDED to do-- now that's a bit of a toughie. The Lord is SO good in it, though! So good to dig up all the things that are causing anxiety in the secret, hidden places in me. So good to give opportunity to let it out, take a deep breath.... ENJOY. Deeply enjoy. Even when there's a hundred things going on in my head at the same time, an hour of feasting and waiting and adoring brings such enjoyment to my soul. He is the best thing there is!

So, there you go with that! :) Anyway, it has been a great morning. I read, prayed, had my coffee, and now I'm walking around the house getting cleaning done- which I really, really like to do. I think it's the instant gratification thing. Get your hands dirty, be on the go, organize, sanitize... magnetize... okay, that last one made no sense. Any peeps out there that enjoy the smell of Pine Sol, Comet, and Windex with me?

Just thought I would stop by and say hello! I need to finish a few things and then I think we're going to eat some lunch. I went to the grocery late last night and bought some stuff to make Rachael Ray meals this week. I'm super pumped! Today is... Black-Bean and Cheese Chicken strips (with a salad, of course!) and for dinner, Brown-Sugar-Mustard-Glazed Salmon with fresh green beans and rice! Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm! I think my mouth just watered talking about it!

Have a wonderful day, y'all, and breathe in the spring air! It's almost here!!

Beth

We just finished the last morning of the Designed Women’s Conference here, and let me tell you, it was a sweeeeeeet time. There’s nothing like a room with about a hundred tired (but ecstatic to have time away to rest) moms and young women, drinking coffee, talking, ready to soak up whatever the Lord has for them. This morning was so moving! Nicole (the sweet heart of a lady putting it all together) spoke on Matthew 25:31—serving in small things, bringing our inability to Him. Anyway. It was awesome. I love you, ladies! No offense to the male demographic here at all- my husband is living proof that men CAN have (and, in my opinion, SHOULD have) soft hearts to Jesus. But there is a difference in a group of women, their estrogen levels encouraging each others’, and the gift of God within them to cry at the drop of a hat. It’s really powerful! It’s really honest and raw and real. And disarming. I love, love, love it! I love Him in it.

The other cool thing about this conference was… note to all of you visionaries who like to put these things on!... that there wasn’t a million things to do. There were sessions this morning, spa-treatments last night, stuff like that… but they also had time to really, really rest. Which you can tell by looking in their eyes that that is a gift beyond any other gift!

So, now Aaron and I are sitting in my hotel room watching Fox News, waiting for the conference peeps to get done and go eat lunch with them. We are flying out this afternoon- Aaron to Nashville, me to Dallas… but we are seeing this storm system go through Tennessee… I hope we can make it home! That’s always such a bummer. Travel stuff. Speaking of which, I had a bonkers day in the D.C. airport yesterday! Got up at 4AM, drove to DFW airport, flew out at 7 to D.C., had a four hour layover before flying to Syracuse. BUT, we got on our plane to leave, and the pilot came on and said the hydraulic pump was broken… niiiiice. As if I didn’t have mini anxiety attacks whilst being on a plane apart from my husband, being on a plane that was broken and about to take off definitely doesn’t help! But it was all good, I got here in time, had a great night. It just was scary to be waiting at the gate with about a hundred ticked off New Yorkers. Scary doesn’t even scratch the surface. I just stood there and smiled.

I’ve felt such a call to encourage lately. I’ve been reading Acts and it hit me how Paul spent a lot of his time traveling to places JUST to encourage the believers. He definitely gave a lot of time sharing with the Pharisees, Sadducees, Greeks, Romans… but his burning passion was to GET somewhere so he could build up the church. Can’t you recall how many letters he started with, “I have earnestly desired to come to you”? I don’t know, it’s really convicted me. I think I forget how necessary it is for us to hold each other up, speak truth to each other, verbalize what we love in someone or what we see God has placed within them. All of that to say, the passage we focused on this morning was an even deeper call to that for me:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” –Matthew 25:31-40

Praying for the grace to do that today… even at the Syracuse airport, Philadelphia airport, Dallas airport. At home this week. Lord, help me, help me, help me!

Love you guys, see you again soon.

P.S. Recording is coming up soon – March 16 -- please pray for any last minute songs, songs to be finished, God-breathed inspiration, rest leading up to it, all that! It’s going to be a pretty slammed month. I know He will provide, but just join me in praying!

Beth

Hello, you! I am sitting in the kitchen at home, staring at the sunset's warm light on our trees, the birthday cards and Dove soap I just bought at Target, and my cutie husband sitting outside, "updating his blog"... But really, he's just staring at the yard. He's the epitome of a green thumb... Constantly dreaming of what to do next with our yard. What trees to plant there, flowers, where to clear those bushes, on and on... AND, like almost everything else, he's really good at it. :)
But anyway, this moment is making me think of some of my favorite things (insert Julie Andrews' voice here) and I thought I would share them with you on this gorgeous February day. :)

1) Papyrus cards. There is a big section of them at Target... I can't resist buying them! I come from a family that buys the forty cent ones at Wal Mart (they get tossed in the trash anyway) but... But... One glance of those beautiful, colorful, felt daisies on parchment paper with yellow ribbon, and I'm a goner!
2) Vitamin Shoppe. Raw honey, yummy bars, vitamins, all good stuff. But the reason I really swing by? Ear candles. I'm addicted.
3) My sister (katemcdonald.wordpress.com) and sister-in-law's (thefamilytoots.blogspot.com) blogs. Can't get enough of the cute nephew stories and seeing how they're doing!:)
4) Cooking! It's quickly becoming a deep passion of mine....a recent favorite of the hubby is the wild rice creamy mushroom soup!
5) American Idol. So sad. So, so sad. I could lament for hours over my new fanship, but instead, I am just going to say one thing... It is ridiculously and absurdly entertaining!!!
P.s. I'm a fan of Simon's now, too. He is almost always right! Rude, but right.
6) Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis. And yes, I can go from American Idol to this. :) it has rocked my world! If you haven't read it, or even struggle with getting into the Old Testament, you need to pick it up. It's super short- an easy read. But it will leave you thinking about it for weeks after!
7) Southwest Airlines. For someone who travels a bunch, a cheap airfare and no fees is a God send! And they made it possible for my mom to come visit me this past weekend for next to nothing! I luv you, SW.
8) Having short hair. :) I don't know if you all have seen it yet, since I've been home a bunch, but it is short! Not super chopped off, but a lot less of a mane than what this German girl is used to. Picture coming soon!
9) My wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, Godly, wonderful, sweet, servant-hearted, wonderful husband. He is a blessing more than I could ever articulate! (you need to check out his new song, "Everything is Different", on their blog. A- mazing.)
10) Yellow daffodils! My FAVORITE flower of all time! They are the sweetest looking thing I've ever seen... They've started popping up all over our yard. Blooming in the cold; that'll preach! :)

All right. Well now that I have given myself carpel tunnel from typing all that on my Blackberry, I think I'm gonna go for a run and then heat up some lasagna for our night of hanging out with our good friend Jeremy and watching the next group of American Idol hopefuls! :) blessings to you today.

Beth

I am about to head out and drive to Ed's for a short writing session part 2 this morning, and then Aaron, Becky, and I are road trippin' it to Ohio! Yes, I will have to trade in my flip flops for a winter coat tomorrow, but it's definitely worth it. :)

Just wanted to drop by and say hello and thank you for your prayers! Yesterday went SO well... an idea for song that I hadn't finished turned into a beautiful song of surrender. So fun. Who knows what may come out of today, but I am just resting in HIS ability today... and resting in His truth... for someone who struggles with anxiety, having a Martha heart (not Martha Stewart, but Martha..uh... from the Bible), and wants to be in control, making a record is a very big... struggle. :) But He's softening my heart more every day... it's an awesome journey, that's for sure.

Alright, well I gotta go! I'm all jazzed on two cups of coffee and excited to see what will come out of today :) Love you guys, have a great weekend!

Beth

I am home in Ohio with my hubby this weekend -- the Shanes are singing at Cincinnati Christian University this weekend for a conference, so we came up a couple days early to see the fam. We left Wednesday morning during a MAJOR ice storm in north Texas... the doors on my Honda were frozen shut with about an inch of ice... and then we landed in Columbus after a snow storm happened here. Dad courageously drove us the hour home to Bellefontaine through slush and drifts. It's been a fun couple of days cozying up by the fire, making coffee and soup, and enjoying everyone's company while we're snowed in! :)

Anyway, I am just sitting on the couch right now finishing my second cup of joe and listening to my wonderful husband sing some stuff he's been working on. It's been pretty unique writing for new records at the same time- he and I are both spending a lot of time humming, singing nonsense words, and growing callouses on our callouses playing guitar throughout the day. I know I am a bit biased, but I cannot WAIT for their new project! There are some songs that Shane has had for months and months now that still make me want to weep... such powerful anthems to Jesus. It's such a blessing, too, to have each other for sounding boards in the writing process. Me? ...I've been writing. I have kind of been in a dry season spiritually, which is a good time to write songs (at least it is for me)... well, I don't know if it's necessarily "dry" ... I think the Lord is just teaching me how to a) stop and rest and b) cling to Him in weakness. Tough lessons for me to learn, let me tell ya.

I've had time off for writing, which has been AMAZING! Getting to go to church consistently and keep the house clean consistently and not eat at restaurants every day or be in an airport every other day has been refreshing beyond what I could even express! Ask anyone who knows me, and they'll tell you that I am a major home-body. But, wouldn't you know it, I have been really STRUGGLING with not having a whole lot to do other than... write... be with Jesus... be with my husband... rest... write some more... :) It's a killer for someone with a very Martha-ish heart! I cried to Shane last night about how I feel lazy. Maybe that sounds silly to some of you- or ALL of you :) I wish I could sit with you and fully explain. Right now, I am typing on a couch in Mom and Dad's living room, watching my little brothers get ready to go out and make snow men. But for now, just know that it's been a very healthy season of being deprived of busyness and distraction and having to face the quiet, free time to seek Him, and the weakness that is so deeply rooted in me meeting His mighty grace.

So there's that. :) There are a lot of songs coming out about His healing, and His ability in my inability. I'm excited for you guys to hear them! We begin the record officially on March 16 (for those of y'all who want to pray towards that day, go for it!!!). And though I know it's not that far off, but it feels surreal still that we will be diving in head first on this project here very soon. (Big sigh)... but I am living in expectation of what He will do! I have sensed that He is doing a lot of things behind the scenes that are going to blow me away when they are revealed!

How are you doing? How's your New Year coming along? Are you snowed in today too? I hope these rambling words find you in a place of peace today, and trusting Him with a thankful heart. I heard our friend Pastor Scott preach the other day about Jesus feeding the five thousand, and he highlighted the verse where Jesus asks the disciples how they should feed the massive crowd gathered (about five thousand men plus women and children)... not because He wanted a SOLUTION from them, for He "had in mind what He was going to do", but He said it to "TEST them"! (John 6:6) What a good word for needy believers like me! Even now, when in my natural mind I'm wondering HOW He is going to provide and how everything's going to turn out, He already KNOWS what He's going to do -- He is just testing my faith!

Alright, well I think I'm going to hop off and spend some more QT with the fam! You all stay warm and have a great weekend! See you soon :) Beth

And... just FYI, I'm listening to demos for my new record right now... trying to pick out the BEST songs I've written and make them even better for you all!! Look for the record in August probably ;)

So.... I posted this blog a few days ago... but it never showed up :) Weird...


Hello there, friends!

I admit that I have been a major slacker the last month... but really, do I need to make a bunch of excuses? Y'all have probably had a crazy one too. We flew home from Thanksgiving in Ohio with my family, hopped on the Christmas tour with Phil Wickham (so fun), came home, had Christmas, shows, writing for records, and now... (deep breath)... I am blogging to you. And not just at any time in my day, but whilst waiting for the 8th season premiere for American Idol. 

Question: do you think Simon REALLY hates all the auditions? He was just on a clip on the news saying that it's his least favorite part... I rolled my eyes and said no way, I only watch the show FOR the bad auditions. But, Shane thinks he probably does hate it... oh, the deep questions of life! :) 

Well, my heart feels so rested! I have been home for about three weeks now... just writing for the new record (things are coming along great! Thanks for your prayers!), finishing projects, cooking new things, making new friends. It's been a blast! Shane's been home off and on-- they have a pretty busy year ahead of them, but I am still so thankful to have a husband whose job lets him be home with really no responsibilities but just to rest up until the next run of shows. My dear friend Kari came down and visited me for a week at the beginning of the year... she just got an internship at IJM (International Justice Mission) in D.C. and came down to have our last "hoorah" before she moved 30 hours away. It was so fun... we watched movies, I took her to staple Dallas restaurants (Pappasito's being the first on the list, of course)... and just caught up. It was awesome. 

And it's been so GOOD to be at church every week! One thing that I feel like really suffers when we're full on traveling is having community within the church... and our pastor is such an awesome man of God! He preached last Sunday on the story in Luke about Jairus's daughter and the woman with the issue of bleeding. And, man... I was WEEPING! It was so, so good... anyway. :) 

That's enough of my gushing about being home! I am just sitting next to the most wonderful man in the world right now, watching the 5 o'clock news, about to make dinner and have a fun night of hanging out. His goodness is so tangible to me right now! And I'm so undeserving. 

So, tomorrow is Shane's birthday :) which is the good news, but the bad news is that we are both flying out after lunch... I'm going up to Ohio to hang with the fam and then go to my cousin Emily's wedding. Shane is flying to... hmm.. I don't know where. :) But somewhere. And then we'll meet up next Monday in L.A., they're singing at Saddleback, and then we are staying a couple of days to go to Disney Land and celebrate the Everetts' daughter, Olive's 2nd birthday! We are so pumped... she is ALLLL about the princesses, Tinkerbell, all of that. So Shane and Kellie are getting her primed to see the REAL Belle. The REAL Cinderella. And the REAL Tinkerbell. It's going to be awesome. :) 

Well, I'd love to hear from y'all and see how you're doing! Send me a message on my myspace page... and while you're at it, stop by Shane's and wish him a happy birthday! :) Love you guys! See you soon!

-Beth

P.S. I've been loving this quote from this book I've been reading, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence: "As we nourish our souls by seeing God in His exaltation, we will derive a great joy at being HIS."