I’ve come to a big realization this weekend. Bear with me as I explain. I am an introverted person. I don’t use that as a negative or positive label. It’s just a fact. I love people. I truly do, but I get my energy in being away from people. In this season of life where I have little ones tugging at me for the majority of the day, my energy is used mostly on them. There is little time for me to re-energize. Even things such as social media drain me, I find. Don’t get me wrong. I love going on facebook and seeing what everyone is up to, the photos they post, the concerns and victories they share. But, it is like going to a party – people all around, some saying uplifting things, others tearing people down and at the end of the party I am exhausted! And silly me, I enter this party several times a day. I need to re-evaluate this. No, I will not close down my facebook page or take a facebook break. I just want to be more intentional in the time I spend on social media. I want to reclaim some of the energy I lose when I choose to go on social media.
 
One other thing that drains me is the drama that can come up in life. It is unavoidable for the most part. Unfortunately there has been a lot of drama going on at Good Morning Girls or the new Love God Greatly. We won’t ever know what really happened, and truthfully it is none of our business, but I find that when I go to the new website http://www.lovegodgreatly.com, the drama continues in the comments section even though the ladies behind the scenes have wisely taken their issues back to their private lives. The Good Morning Girls and the Women Living Well ministries are truly amazing. So many women have come to the Lord. So many women have gotten back into the Word or have gotten into the Word more deeply than they ever did before. I am one of those and I am grateful for both ministries and pray for healing for the women behind the scenes. I pray that God will continue to work mightily in and through both of these ministries.

I had originally been very excited to lead a group in the Esther study that is starting in September, but as my energy has been depleting and I am constantly on the verge of being sick, I came to a realization that perhaps this isn’t the time to lead a study. In leading I would be opening another door in the world of social media and would be committing at least 10 hours a week to this study. Leading studies is something I truly love and enjoy, but I was reminded this past week that I am an introverted person, who gets her energy from time alone. The time I get alone is so minimal already, that I am walking a thin line and it is affecting my energy and my health. This isn’t fair to my husband, my children or myself. To give up this alone time for another social media outlet, as wonderful as it is, doesn’t seem like a wise decision right now.

If you are following the Ruth study we have been doing here on the blog and were hoping to join the Esther study with me leading it in September, I apologize. For reasons mentioned above, I will not be leading a group. I do encourage you to go to the Love God Greatly website found at  this link and sign up in a group or complete the study on your own. The materials are now available. It is such a wonderful experience.

Courtney Joseph, the wonderful woman who originally started Good Morning Girls is also starting a long-term series called Blogging Through the Bible, where she will be reading through the Bible with others on her blog. Check that out here. It’s going to be awesome!

I will personally be printing off the Reading Guide for the Esther Study and S.O.A.Ping my way through it. I love the S.O.A.P. method and would like to continue this form of study, but am going to keep it simple and just keep it to the S.O.A.Ps instead of adding all of the other portions offered in the study. I would also like to focus some of my energy on joining an IRL (in real life) women’s group at the Church we started attending in our new community. I may be introverted, but I do need the guidance and wisdom of other women in my life. It is invaluable.

So, those who may have been waiting for me to mention how to sign up for my group, here is my long-winded answer. I am looking forward to getting back to blogging about the everyday things in life as well. Writing in my time alone is so energizing for me.

What do you think you will be doing this fall in the area of spiritual growth? I’d love to know.