Every time I read a new chapter, I think “THIS one is my favorite!” Until I get to the next chapter and suddenly that one is my favorite! What an awesome problem to have {grin}. Have you shared with your friends or family this week about the book, or maybe posted a photo on Instagram? We’d love to hear about it — or see your photo! Be sure to use the hashtag #inbooks and tag @incourage so we can check them out, or leave a comment here or in the Facebook group and let us know how God has been working in your life through the messages in Simply Tuesday.
And now, in case you missed Tuesday’s live chat, here are the replays!
Introduction
Watch
Discuss
- Chapter 7: Where are your safe places to feel insecure? Or perhaps more specifically, who?
- Chapter 8: Which of these is the easiest to embrace for you, and which is the hardest to let go: your agenda, your need for proof, your negative concept of yourself, or the need for a mess-free life?
- Chapter 9: In what ways have you experienced the tension of “wearing the world like a loose garment” and “inviting others into your apartment”?
Journal
Pay attention to the relational interactions you have this week. At the end of your days, write out some of the footnote interactions that have festered into headlines and ask the Lord how you are to be honest about them. Perhaps in some situations you are to move toward the other person and tell them how you are feeling. Or maybe you are to be quiet this time and simply be honest in the presence of God. Practice noticing how the footnotes and headlines impact your soul and, in turn, your relationships.
Continue the Conversation
Join (in)courage today on Twitter at noon EST to chat about what we’re learning as we read through Simply Tuesday! Use the hashtag #inbooks to follow along and be sure to tag @incourage so we can see your comments! Every week a few lucky book club gals will be randomly chosen to win this beautiful Lisa Leonard bench necklace from DaySpring — but you’ll need to be present at the Twitter chat to win!
What’s Next
Next week we’ll be discussing Part 4: Accepting Our Tuesday Soul (chapters 10-12). See you then!
Leave a Comment
Ana Brooks says
Chapter 7: Where are your safe places to feel insecure? Or perhaps more specifically, who?
I don’t know if I have, at least in human relationships, safe places to feel insecure. I am praying for that, and praying I can be that for others.
Chapter 8: Which of these is the easiest to embrace for you, and which is the hardest to let go: your agenda, your need for proof, your negative concept of yourself, or the need for a mess-free life?
For both of the questions, I think it is my negative concept of myself.
Chapter 9: In what ways have you experienced the tension of “wearing the world like a loose garment” and “inviting others into your apartment”?
I have experienced it in my friendships.
Anna R. says
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing your heart in these questions, Ana.
Lyli Dunbar says
Chapter 7: I am blessed to have a best friend who is as much a hot mess as I am. We met at a Beth Moore Bible study years ago, and we’ve seen each other through singleness (me), childbearing (her), marriage in my 40’s (me), and cancer followed by widowhood (her). We don’t try to fix each other, and we freely vent as much as possible. And then we pray.
Chapter 8: I let go of the need for a mess-free life quite a while ago (I had to… because I’d be in a straight jacket by now if I hadn’t learned to let it go…). I am embracing the mess and waving goodbye to agenda, I guess.
What I’ve learned about messes is that everyone has them. Once you join the club, your friends start sharing their secrets….. Messy living has also made me a more compassionate person.
Chapter 9:I loved it when Emily said that a loose garment “allows margin to move without restriction.” I think this gets easier as you get older. Passing 40 and facing personal adversity have helped me to be less “Martha Stewart” about my relationships. If you want to be part of my life, you are going to have to deal with my dust bunnies and accept that my life is not Pinterest perfect. I am a work in progress, and some days I am going to cry because life is hard. If you are willing to pass the tissue when needed, feel free to come over. I have less time these days for people who only want to see me when I have vacuumed, made a casserole, and have only happy stories to share. Going through difficult times helps you to realize who your “Tuesday people” really are, I guess.
Anna R. says
A hot mess bestie – everyone needs one of these!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Lyli.