Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Emotional Webs

Well there is nothing quite like waking up at 4 in the morning feeling like your head is going to explode and even your back teeth are aching. Made for a very exhausting day. But it's amazing what a couple, or half dozen Ibuprofen and a good night's sleep will do. Getting up today with no headache was a gift. Thank you, Lord. I still feel wiped but at least I feel like tackling the day and not just going back to bed. Yipee! Thank you all for your kind words and prayers.

So I seem to be stuck in the reading department. I've only made it into a few chapters on the book that's been next on my reading list for over a week now. And it's not because it's not good. In fact, it's second in a series, and I very, very much enjoyed the first one and could hardly wait to get into this one. But the last two books I read, even though fiction, have sort of really stuck with me, and I just haven't been able to let go of them yet internally. Does this happen to anyone else? Or is this just a personal weirdness only I own?

And speaking of books, our ladies study decided to do this book for our new study. I think some of the ladies wanted to do it because they felt it might be a little fluffier because of Patsy Clairmont's humor and because of the topic. But oh my word. It has taken us two nights just to get through the introduction. Each chapter has study questions in back and some are very thought provoking and have generated much talk and discussion. And our leader is very good at taking it even deeper and really delving into the Word of God. There has been much revealing of hearts and attitudes amongst the women. I think the topic, our emotions, especially negative ones, is a topic most women struggle with. I mean, who hasn't had fear, insecurity, anger, depression and a myriad of other emotions keep them bound and not living the joyful life that God has for them at some point in their lives. And I'm thinking this study is going to be wonderful, at least for me, in getting me to a point where I can start laying my overwhelming emotional "stuff" at the feet of Christ and leaving it there rather taking it back and allowing emotions to control my life. Huge for me as I'm a pretty emotional person and really "feel" things. Chapter 1 is all about being still and knowing God rather than blustering about with activity or being a people pleaser. Yup, I can definitely see God putting his finger on things in my life already. I have a feeling I'll be hanging on for dear life at some points of this study. But I'm also so looking forward to what God is going to do.

So, I'd like to know if you're involved in a group study, what are you studying and what things do you hope God will accomplish through the study in your life.

13 comments:

Jamie said...

That sounds like a great book for a group study! I joined Bible Study Fellowship this year and we are studying the life of Moses. It has been so good for me!

Faith said...

I am coleading a group called Moms in Touch International...we aren't really studying a book as the focus is praying specifically for our children and their public school. However, 2 times per month when we meet as a group, we study a different attribute of God and then pray that over our children and the school staff, teachers, etc. Hard to explain here but I may do a post on it soon. When I am officially "back to bloggin'!!

Faith said...

OH! But I AM doing a Bible Study on my own by Women of Faith about being our selves as women in God. The actual title is on my side bar.

Donnetta said...

So glad you are feeling better!

I am in a ladies Bible study finishing up in the next couple of weeks Beth Moore's "Breaking Free".

What a wealth of processing and insight I am gaining through the study! It hasn't been the "easiest" one I've ever done... but well worth it!

Anonymous said...

I am glad you are feeling better!

We're not doing any kind of study right now. The most recent one was Quieting a Noisy Soul by Jim Berg (www.quietinganoisysoul.com), a video series. We've also done several from Regular Baptist Press and several from Cynthia Heald (Becoming a Woman of Excellence, Becoming a Woman of Faith, etc.). We did another video series by Beneth Jones called Patterns for the Christian Woman (http://www.bjupress.com/services/ibe/courses/practical_studies/christian_women.html). All were very good.

Islandsparrow said...

Glad you're feeling better Suzanne! I'm doing a study called Moving From Fear To Freedom - by Grace Fox (a Canadian which is rather nice for a change)

That Patsy Clairemont book looks great - I'll keep it in mind for when we are finished with this study.

Tracie said...

I am in a study group. We have workbooks from our church and this series is Growth. In the past, we've read(along with our workbook), Calm my anxious heart (loved it) and Field of Gold (book on giving...I liked most of it but the ending was too "text-booky" for me.

My group tends to spend most time just sharing life.

Sandra said...

Sounds like a wonderful book Susanne :)

Lori said...

You can not go wrong with Patsy. What a great book. I am sorry you were not feeling well. I totally sympathize with mouth pain.

Laura said...

Oh how I've missed you! Fear is a killer isn't it. I'm talking about overcoming my fear today too and having the courage to succeed.

Your study book sounds very interesting, I may have to purchase that one.

So what have I missed around these parts?

Tammy said...

I could so use that Bible study, Susanne...

And about reading a book that just "stays" with you for awhile- I so know what you mean by that. Several have affected me like this, too.

So glad your awful headache is better!
Hugs!

gail@more than a song said...

I do the same thing with books sometimes, some just stick with you more and it's hard to move on to the next one...I thought I might be the only one to do that!
I'm not in a study right now; our group at church is in between things at the moment but I do better when I'm involved in one.

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Sorry you've been feelin' poorly, as they say. Somewhere. I'm kind of surprised at the depth of that one; I may mention it to my Girls' Group that meets on Wednesdays.