Well, tomorrow is the day I’m throwing caution to the wind and making a sample chapter of my revised Bible study book available for free download here on Petals from the Basket. Can I be honest with you? There were many, many, many times this week when I suddenly thought: “I’m a total idiot for doing this!” Seriously. I considered hiding under the bed last night, but I think we all know that’s not gonna happen!

What was my problem? After all, this is not some world-famous, international blog with 147,000 followers (I saw one of those blogs yesterday) who will be dropping everything they’re doing to read approximately twelve pages of thoughts, including lots of “fill-in-able” blanks! Yet, the evil ick can take the simplest things and literally try to paralyze me (you too?) with fear: fear of what is, fear of what is not, the what-ifs, the coulda-shoulda-wouldas, and most importantly, the “you’re not” thoughts!

To give you a real-life glimpse into what I mean, I’m going to share the honest thoughts that I’ve had off and on since about 3:00 Tuesday afternoon:

“You’re not Nancy Leigh DeMoss—besides, you heard her announce last week that she plans to write a book on Titus 2 in the near future; so…why bother?”

“You’re not married. You know it’s gonna come up that women don’t want advice from some single woman on how to love their husbands.”

“You’re not perfect in your walk with Christ, so who are you to share thoughts on the principles from Titus 2—let alone on the names and attributes of God?”

“What if they all think it’s lame—and tell you so?”

“You ‘shoulda’ not posted in advance that you were doing this, and then you wouldn’t be in such a dither!”

Wait! I’m in a dither? That’s the one that stopped me dead in my tracks. This is sooo not about me. At least, it’s not supposed to be. But that’s exactly what the evil ick did: he made it about me. No wonder I was in a dither. On my own, I’ve got nothing to share, and I’ve got no reason to be heard.

But then came two words I have come to love—“But God”—in response to each of my fears, as in:

“But God can work through your book to reach someone that might not read another author’s book (which will undoubtedly be very different from your book) or who might need to study this passage sooner!”

“But God has instructed you to teach from His Word—not from your opinion. You use the same Bible married women use, so what’s the question here? Truth is truth—no matter who’s teaching it.”

“But God sent His only Son—Who is perfect—and He’s the One you’re pointing to in your writing!”

“But God can use even your lame attempts at praise to bring praise!”

“But God is faithful.” Period.

So, tomorrow, I invite you to return to Petals from the Basket and download a free sample chapter of my newly revised book, The ABCs of T2:3.  To God be the glory!

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