A Video Bible Study: Elizabeth George’s “Putting on a Gentle and Quiet Spirit”, Lesson Two

It has been six months.  Six months is a long time.  I started a Bible study with my daughter, and I asked you to join me.  And some of you brought the book, and read, and commented.  And that was Lesson 1, my first video blog post (inspired by another brave blogger who did a video series I loved last summer). Then, I got waylaid by life. I was overwhelmed by new responsibilities, and some old feelings of inadequacy and perfectionism, and the weight of it all was just so heavy.

For the first time since I started blogging in 2011, I just stopped.  I was winded, and my sides ached, and I couldn’t take one more step.  I probably needed to continue THIS study, but instead I took a blogging break and that break has been wonderful.  But the break is over.  And it feels good to be writing again. I have been praying about picking this study up again, and also about picking up another old, unfinished topic.

It strikes me that pursuing Integrity means tying up loose ends and finishing the tasks that God has given us.  Finishing means to complete, but also it means to fine tune, spruce up, add the final touches.  I love paying attention to the details.  And that is what I feel called to do here in this blog. I am painstakingly going back to update old posts to match my new formatting.  This will officially take forever.

As I do this, I am also adding, little by little, links to Bible Gateway for all of the scriptures.  I love this resource and have been invited to become part of their Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG2)  .   I want to show my support for Bible Gateway by making sure that you can always find your way there, to read the Word I am quoting, in any translation you like.  More about that soon. And, of course, I am revisiting old categories to update them, like this one!

As I said, I have prayed about my writing recently.  I have wondered, and pondered, and mulled, and dilly dallied about whether to continue this study or not.  So the neat thing is, my question was answered in a clear and resounding way.  But somehow, the Lord’s reply really took me by surprise!  I got an email on Wednesday from someone leading a group of women through this Bible study.  She wanted to know when I would be posting Lesson 2.  Question about continuing the study, answered. Chills.  So here we go…

If you have the book by Elizabeth George,  “Putting on a Gentle and Quiet Spirit” (amazon link), please dust it off and open it to Lesson 2.  If you haven’t bought the book, there is plenty of time because there are 24, yes I said 24, Lessons.  Or feel free to just watch the video below to hear about this weeks’ lesson.  We are studying this passage:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result inpraise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him.Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9).

Ok, it has been a while since we lingered here, in this study.  Please tell me in the comments:

• If you have the book, will you join me as we travel through it?
• If you join me, do you plan to read ahead and watch the videos (which will recap the lessons), or will you watch the videos and then do the lessons afterward?
• If you don’t have the book, will you get it?

Also, I would love to hear about answered prayers in your life today.  Where are you seeing God at work in your life?  It is exciting to share how He is speaking to us in real and tangible ways!!       P.S. You will note that this video was done in the stunning studio of my bedroom, while I sat on the floor.  Downstairs, my children were watching, rather noisily, Schoolhouse Rock, and I felt that I might be tempted to sing along, which would have interrupted Lesson 2.  You’re welcome.