Hello and Happy Monday from Charlotte, NC, USA! Thanks for joining me in the Unglued Online Bible Study! We are just getting started and I’m so happy you are joining me.
If you missed yesterday’s post containing our Week 1 Assignments, you can see them all here.
This is your assignment for today.
Read Chapter 1, An Invitation to Imperfect Progress. Use a highlighter to highlight parts you want to remember or come back and read later. Make notes in your notebook of key Scripture (like the Memory Verse) and important things to remember from Chapter 1.
Look up our first Memory Verse in your Bible. Highlight it. Write it in your notebook or on some notecards. Practice it and ask God how you can apply it personally to your life. (If you can’t see the picture, visit my blog by clicking here.)
“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1b
Twitter Users, Tweet this today:
“God gave me emotions so I could experience life, not destroy it.”~ @LysaTerKeurst @MTBibleStudies Week 1 #UngluedBook http://bit.ly/2tOhFl
In @MTBibleStudies, we are making imperfect progress together! Week 1 #UngluedBook http://bit.ly/2tOhFl
Facebook Users, Post this today:
“God gave me emotions so I could experience life, not destroy it.”~LysaTerKeurst, Melissa Taylor’s Online Bible Studies,Week 1 Unglued http://bit.ly/2tOhFl
In Melissa Taylor’s Online Bible Studies, we are making imperfect progress together! Week 1 Unglued Online Bible Study http://bit.ly/2tOhFl
An Amazing Woman and a Give-Away (3 give-aways!)
Here’s a chance for you to win 1 of 3 Conference Call Series Give-Aways and I also want you to meet our special guest of the week, Deborah Smith Pegues, author of 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue and 30 Days to Taming Your Emotions.
Bestselling author and international speaker, Deborah Smith Pegues, delivers sage advice on relational, financial, and emotional freedom for secular and religious audiences around the world. She is a high-energy, inspiring motivator, effectively incorporating humor and hard-hitting directness into her presentations to her never-bored listeners. Deborah has the unique ability to address readers across all social, racial, and economic strata.
A prolific writer, her most popular book, 30 Days to Taming the Tongue, challenges readers to embark upon 30 days of verbal abstinence from 30 negative uses of the tongue including complaining, gossiping, lying, retaliating, etc. (I have personally read this book and can honestly say it helped my life and especially my marriage tremendously. I really thought about the words that came out of my mouth! Love it! This book is a Proverbs 31 Ministries Best Seller.)
Her newest book, 30 Days to Taming Your Emotions, challenges readers as well to take a good look at how they react emotionally. This book is a consolidation of 30 Days to Taming Your Stress, 30 Days to a Great Attitude, and Supreme Confidence (condensed version). Thus, it contains 90 practical tips that will help you discover the calm, confident, caring you—all in one volume.
If you order from Deborah’s website, she will personally autograph your book!!!! Wow! Check out all of her books and order information here: http://www.confrontingissues.com/products.php.
Deborah is my first guest in our Unglued Conference Call Series this week. This is an optional part of our study, but it truly is worth your time if you are looking to connect in a different way and get some valuable insight and perspective on the Unglued principles. These calls will challenge you and give you application you can implement immediately. To order the conference calls, click here. I am super honored to have Deborah join us on our first call! Our first call is Wednesday, September 26th at 8 pm EST.
For a chance to win 1 of 3 Conference Call Give-Aways, leave a comment here today by participating in the Discussion & Community part of today’s blog post. (right below)
Discussion & Community
Right here, on my blog, www.MelissaTaylor.org join in the discussion of Chapter 1. What really jumped into your heart as you read Chapter 1? What was a key quote or point that you can take away from this chapter.
All who share today will be entered to win 1 of 3 Conference Call Series prizes. Winners will be announced in Tuesday’s blog post so comment soon!
If you are receiving this via email, click here to go directly to my blog and leave a comment. I can’t wait to hear your comments about Chapter 1! Let me know what you think about “imperfect progress.”
Thanks again for joining me! I love you and I’m so thankful for each of you!
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I really can relate to one minute being so in love with God and feeling that great warmth of His love, then being mean to my husband and children. I have felt shame at my responses to them as if they are the reason for my unhappiness – when I know it is myself and my sinful desires that cause my unhappiness. I am ready to make imperfect progress.
Hi Melissa! I looooove the idea of imperfect progress. It stongly resonates with me since I have been working on my issues for a while, expecting a quick fix. Thank you so much!
Just letting you know I downloaded Deborah’s 30 days to taming your fears//fear fighting scriptures.
God gave ME emotions so I could experience life, not destroy it. Love this.
The first three pages of Chapter 1 had me laughing out loud, this is so ME! The first sentence I highlighted that is also very convicting, “God gave me emotions so I could experience life, not destroy it.” I need to never forget that.
I rarely come Unglued “outwardly”. My thought life is another story.
I look forward to redirecting my inner nastiness!
I am so excited to be reading this book and joining in this online bible study. I’m a single mom of an ADHD child. I like how this books says baby steps. I feel like I take 2 steps FW and one back. I get so frustratied with myself because I loose it outwardly or inwardly. I’m tired of feeling regret, or guilt or just plain old failure. I’m excited to see what God does during this time. Excited to take baby steps and believing God still loves me reguardless. I want this picture perfect family and when things are out of control I loose it. the 1st chapter is me to a T. Thanks for this oppportunity to be involved!
Angela B ~ Praying for you today. You CAN do this! God gave you just the Perfect RIGHT son for you. He also gave your son just the Perfect RIGHT Mom for him! Our son is 20, in the military and married now. It really is possible! It took a lot of patience and we learned so many great coping skills. I hope you can find them, too. Have you tried Love & Logic?
Angela B ~ Praying for you today, Sister. My son is now 20, in the military and married. We had to learn a lot of coping skills to raise him well. They are out there; the coping skills, and it IS POSSIBLE. You CAN DO this! God gave your son the best Mom for him … and gave YOU just the RIGHT son for YOU.
Oh, when I first received the email about the on-line bible student using the book “Unglued”, I immediate knew it was for me. I order the book and all the material to go with it. I can definitely identify with Chapter 1. It seems that I try so hard not to come “ungluded” with my children – who are now teenagers graduated from high school, that I just repent each day for my actions when they don’t line up with scripture or who I am suppose to be in Christ. The first thing I highlighted is “Imperfect changes are slow steps of progress wrapped in GRACE…imperfect progress. Knowing that because of God’s amazing grace, I can over come all my emotions, which I found out aren’t bad but allow me to feel as I experience life, not destroy it.
I love the study already. “Just make PROGRESS”. Amen.
I’m so with you Cynthia. Loved that thought too though I think I have many unglued moments every day with my kids (9,6,4) and husband that I know I can’t take back…. Looking forward to moving forward with you!!!
Today was definitely an unglued day and normally I would be beating myself up for not responding perfectly. But I am no longer seeking perfection just progress.
I like this! Great point of view.
Imperfect changes – “slow steps of progress wrapped in grace” – like many of you I constantly need. I’ve always been very closed emotionally and it is difficult for me to identify and own my feelings, more difficult to share, open up to others. Wonderful to finally know that my emotions are given to me by God to experience life and not destroy it. Looking forward to this study!
I have to say when I started reading the first few pages of this book I was at a hair salon and I couldn’t stop laughing cause it reminded me of how I react to things .I was so into it i couldn’t put the book down .So my hair stylist asked what was so funny and I showed her the book “Unglued ” and read her a few lines and now she’s into it as well and said she’s going to look into joining OBS group.I believe God gave us life with a purpose and everyone is different but not perfect , Yet everyone wants to be perfect, have the perfect family,perfect kids etc. God needs to be the Leader in our lives and we need to let him in so that he can be in control and than we can slowly change by his Grace alone.The way we live ,act and respond only God is in control.
My answer to today’s question#2: 2. Do you have setbacks in your life that are keeping you from moving forward? Do you believe that you are worthy of a do-over…again?
I do feel that I have setbacks that I can’t fix or re-do better and I live with it daily. I think the problem is that I don’t feel worthy of a do-over. I feel trapped and unhappy. I want to feel happy with what my life is and not wish for something more yet I also think things could improve. It’s a confusing place to be in. I also don’t want the slow fix but I know that when things happen fast or get fixed fast then we don’t always appreciate the difference in the broken vs. fixed and can take it for granted.
I want to get my head out of the sand and appreciate my life for what it is.
What really jumped into my heart reading Chapter 1 was when Lisa wrote about a comment that was made on her blog by Kathy “being unglued comes from a combination of anger and fear – a learned behavior”. When I looked back at the way I was raised and reflect, I know I’m a lot like my father who does that exact same thing. React. Don’t take a minute, process, but yell, get angry. I want to change this behavior because I am not happy when I’m yelling and I know that no one around me is either.
Michelle – I just had to comment because your thoughts really made me think. I was raised by the same kind of father and feel guilt and upset that I might pass that on to my children. I’m hopeful that we can make progress to change our perspective! I’m learning to believe in being worthy of a do-over…
I cried when Lysa was describing the “towel scene” and how she felt Art’s comment was a judgement against her. That is exactly how I feel! I feel like most of what comes out of my husband’s mouth is a judgement towards me. It doesn’t help that my husband has a judgemental attitude (at least it appears that way to me). He’s always asking me why I take it personally. I feel like he means it personally. Maybe this truly is an issue of “He Said, She Heard.” It adds to my “unglued” state:(
Hi Brandy
When I read your post my heart sunk because I so identify with your expressed feelings. I’ve been there (in that place) and it’s definitely not a good place to find one’s self, especially in the context of marriage. I’m responding because I want you to know that you don’t have to be there, or stay there, for that matter. I found freedom and my ‘way out’ of feeling this way when my husband hurls hurtful words that seems to pierce my very soul by concentrating on the Word of God, and reflecting on my status and relationship with Him. Everytime he hurls an insult I counter that in my mind with scripture that confirms who I am in God and what God says about me. I’ve learned to trust God in all things; find a ‘hiding place’ in Him and His love!
I know EXACTLY how Brandy feels….my first husband was always very judgmental with all that he said and I find that even though I divorced him…he has died…and I am remarried, I still FEEL that everything that is said to me is a judgement!!!!! Oh how I pray that this study helps me to put that to rest…baby steps!!!!!
I learner it is ok to have emotions. I have hidden them for so long that they are buried now. However there is hope through Gods grace. No ot won’t be easy nor perfect yet imperfect progress!
However God gave them to us to experience life, not destroy it!
Look this truth — If we determine that, no matter what, we’re on God’s side, it settles the trust issue in our hearts. And if we ground ourselves in the reality that we trust God, we can face circumstances that are out of our control without acting out of control. We can’t always fix our circumstance, but we can fix our minds on God.
Praying that I keep my mind fixed on God this week regardless what’s happening around me.
Amen to this Sister! Thank you for sharing!
I love that quote, “We can’t always fix our circumstances, but we can fix our minds on God.” It applies to me and to my kids. I will remember that one. Thanks for your insight.
…meant to say…Love (not Look) this truth.
A day late on my post but so inspired by what the study thus far I felt compelled to post a comment. The thing that stuck out for me was this: “I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of unglued behavior and experiences.” A moment of reflection led me to places where I swore never to go again!
I am very impatient. I often will not even start something if I don’t have time to complete it. I also am such a perfectionist that if I start a new thing, and don’t stick to it perfectly, I just throw the whole thing out. So, the idea of imperfect progress goes against everything I do…going to really work on practicing it though, imperfect is still better than none at all.
Wow….this book has already spoken to me and I haven’t even finished the first chapter….when Lysa says “I know what it’s like to praise God one minute and then yell at my kids/husband the next.” that has reality biting me! The towel situation on the first several pages was almost like it was written for me… I am pretty certain we have had several mornings around here just like that!
I really relate to p. 14: “What kept me from making changes was the feeling that I wouldn’t do it perfectly. I knew I’d still mess up and the changes wouldn’t come instantly.” Also, “Feeling unglued is really all I’ve ever known. And I’m starting to wonder if maybe it’s all I’ll ever be.” I have often stopped trying because I failed so many times I feel like failure and disappointment is inevitable. I also have a long history of relying on my emotions and letting them rule me, so it’s difficult to believe it can get better when I feel I’ve genuinely tried time and time again to “get it together”. Chapter 1 gives me hope, though, as it helps me refocus on God’s Truth, and gives the perspective of “imperfect progress”. I can deal with small changes and small steps of progress. I can stop trying to be an all or nothing person and be okay with baby steps.
It is so very hard to change the way we talk to people in certain situations. Even when you are trying to not be judgemental, it somehow sounds it. During an argument today, my husband told me I had a negative attitude. And I told him that I didn’t say anything that was negative and the argument followed. I came
“unglued”. I’m trying….slow steady “steps wrapped in grace”.
I love “Imperfect Progress”! I keep telling myself “Progress. Just make progress”. And: “Take baby steps, but at least take steps that keep you from being stuck. Then change wil come. And it will be good.” Amen!!!!
I am so glad I have started this study. I have had so many unglued moments and the hope that I can make progress, imperfect progress, brings hope to my life. I just had to highlight the part at the bottom of page 14 on progress. I’ve been working on small steps and this just reinforced that it’s okay to make small steps, but just keep going forward.
“I’m sad because of the way I acted today.” Amen. I swear Lysa is in my head.
So glad to join everyone. I will be praying for us all!
I am Loving Unglued bible study. I have to say that today was one of “those” days. My ‘unglued” attitude was tested. First let me start by saying I am a home school mom, to two 5th graders! Today we are having a math test. I explained what I expected from them ect… My husband comes home from work (he works nights) So, guess what that means… yep Math test gets put off.. No big deal right? He goes to bed so I thought great now we can start the test… Well wouldn’t you know some people come over as soon as I start to hand out the test. The people were here to pick some thing out of my basement, lol. So needless to say I let my boys have a break. I did NOT become unglued like I normally would have. I laughed and Thanked my Heavenly father for giving me a time to REALLY think things thru!!! Again I will say I LOVE this bible study and am ready to make progress one day at a time!
when i look at what i have/want/need(?) to do – spiritual and material, i want things to be done now and completely. not just spring clean one room, but to have the entire house done.
imperfect progress – keep making progress – and LISTEN to what God wants.
HI everyone! I am a little late joining the study, but man, am I glad I did. I had tears in my eyes reading the first chapter of Unglued. Some things that stand out to me from chapter 1, is the part about the headstone reading on the days she wasn’t nice, rest assured, hell hath no fury like the woman who lies beneath the ground right here. I sort of chuckled and wept as I thought about this…seems this has popped into my head a few times in the past as well. Also the part about praising God one minute and the next minute yelling and screaming at the kids…all I can say is WOW!!! I don’t want to destroy life, I want to encourage life!! Thought I was the only crazy yelling woman out there, and that I was one of few who had issues…so glad to hear others can relate. Excited about this study and that God brought me into this study group.
I don’t want to be locked in my hard places forever. Thank God for chiseling me and the Imperfect Progress I am making!
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