Resurecting the Past ... Stepping Into Future

Hello again.  I can not believe it has been a year and a half since I made a blog post.  I'm sure most of my readers have forgotten about me, if I had any to begin with.  This really isn't about anyone else, though, is it?  The trend I had set out for with this blog was a lot more personal.  I am going back to that premise.  I am going to use this to record my personal Bible study (sometimes journal entry insights) and hopefully others will read it, be encouraged, and be led to comment so myself and others can also be encouraged.

This specific post is more about a reintroduction.  I am not in the midst of a specific book of the Bible.  I am using a list generated by the Logos Bible software.  The list I chose was a list focusing on hope.  I have been feeling without much hope lately.  I am trying to focus on reading my Bible more consistently.  I have been given all the advice I can tolerate about it.  I know I need to do it every day.  I know I should do it first thing in the morning before distractions and busyness can get into the way.  But if I hear that stupid Nike slogan applied to my struggle to follow through and accomplish something, I think I just may SCREAM!  Telling someone who battles with depression to "Just Do It" shows your lack of knowledge about depression, it shows your lack of attention to the personality of your so-called friend.  I am realizing that I have just such an acquaintance in my prayer circle.  I call her "acquaintance" rather than "friend" because of her insistence that if she can do it -- with 'it' being anything from praying and Bible reading daily to making it to work out at the gym regularly -- I certainly should be able to, also, since I am so much younger than she is.  But I am digressing.

I want this to be about encouraging myself and others who struggle with Major Clinical Depression, suicidal tendencies, or Bi Polar I and the roller coaster ride that is life with these disorders.  I will be using Christian / Bible references because that is where I have found the greatest support.  Beyond the obvious support of fellow believers, I find that knowing there is encouragement and support written in the Bible show me that this is not something new, I am not alone, and Jesus is there with me no matter how far down I drop.

If you would like to, read my initial post introducing the blog to see the layout I use for writing out my Bible study entries.  You can find it quickly by clicking the label "Introduction" below.  The post is titled "31 Days in Proverbs."