I've been telling my friends that I'm getting ready to do an "unplugged" Bible study at work. And it is...normally I have lots of help in the form of an expert, someone who gets paid to write and/or video enlightening studies that I then buy at my neighborhood LifeWay store. It's a system. It works. It works for lots and lots of people.
This time, I just wanted to go to the Bible. So we're going to study Galatians. Unplugged. Everyone will read the same chapter and we'll talk. Since I'm no scholar, I've been scrambling ever since I decided to try this. I have 2 commentaries and a study Bible in addition to a small workbook. And I read and I compare and I think and I decide and I write.
And I believe I am more plugged in than ever. For the first time in a long time, learning is exciting and I anticipate God's work with excitement. I added another Bible study this week, a Beth Moore study that I hope turns out to be as fabulous as she promised. And I'm still reading Self Talk Soul Talk about Psalms to replace the negative things I say to myself.
All in all, I'm experiencing God right now. And the more I have, the more I want. Until this morning...when I face the day with dread...dread because something bad might happen in my brand new study like I'll say something stupid or people will fight or because work is still work and the pressure never seems to let up and I just want a little rest or because I'm me and Satan knows my weakness, the places to hit me to rob me of the joy that comes from finding some of my purpose.
So...from one study I say:
I lift my eyes up to the mountains, where does my help come from?
It comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
From the next I say:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the world.
And from the book I have learned to say:
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
You would really think that would be enough, right? Maybe. I'll get there.
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