New Beginnings

I went to a new Bible study at my church this week.

Actually, when I got there...AFTER I had checked-in, paid for the books, got my name-tag, sat down at a table and filled out the "about me" sheet the leader gave us...she told us, "this is not a Bible study...it's a BOOK study. If you want a true BIBLE STUDY, that is fine, but maybe you should go next door to that class."

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?

I don't know about you, but I'm new here and even if I had wanted to leave, I wouldn't have...not at this point. Because AWK. And, I mean, THE CLASS HAS ALREADY STARTED. I already wrote a check. I bought two books. I filled out a form. I know one person in this room and I'm sitting by her. No way I'm getting up now....even tho I wasn't drawn to this particular study at all.

And then, the leader said, "if you like Beth Moore, Kelly Minter, Priscilla Shirer, Kay Arthur and those types of studies...this is not like that."

RUH-ROH, RAGGY.

I LOVE all of those types of studies.

Now, she wasn't speaking against any of those women. Not at all. She was just saying that if we are expecting the "polished production" of the pretty stage and the lighting and the big colosseum-type event and the back-ground music...this study was going to be very different.

Truth be told, I came for two reasons: 1) the leader. I don't know her, but I 'heard' she is very good. She's pretty enthusiastic and after meeting me one time about a month ago, she still remembers my name. And, 2) my friend, Peggy.

Peggy is the one and only person I knew in the class. She is also in my SS class so I see her most Sundays. She is the one who invited me to the last Bible Study (which did, indeed, study the actual BIBLE!) (shocker!). Not only did she invite me, but she gave me her cell phone number and said if I wanted to come...she would meet me in the parking lot and walk up with me. And I may be *&#* years old, but I still don't enjoy walking "cold" into an unfamiliar situation. I will do it...but I don't really enjoy it, so how sweet was she to meet me and walk in with me?

The last question on our little "about me" form was about why we chose to come to this class. I wrote exactly what I just said about not really being drawn to this class, but that I always, always need to study the Bible (oops!), and that I was new and wanted to meet some other women and get involved in things at our church.

After the video, she instructed us to answer a few questions in our group...and our "group" was our table.

At this point, I know I heard God laugh....because my group? It could not have been more different if the leader had intentionally tried to put us together. We have a young soon-to-be-married girl, a married lady with a blended family, a lady in her mid 40s who married a widower, and me...the oldest, oldest married, most kids. I felt as old as Methuselah.

And then I came home, wrapped up in my blanket, sat down in my rocking chair and knitted a scarf.

But seriously...I wait and hope for God to work in our group...and in me.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6