This week-end, my assigned ladies day topic was “Craving the Protein: Learning to Love the Meat of the Word.” I loved it so much. A lady came to me at the end and said that her goal, as she went home, was to get in the Word in measures and ways that she’s never practiced before now. That’s a big win, in my book, because HIS book has the answers to all of life’s challenges. Therapists, physicians, exercise, diet, counselors, friends and family are all good resources, but the basis of your answers—the starting place— is the Word. I hope every lady who said she’s resolved to study more deeply really keeps her word. If she does, her life will be better.
Proteins arrange themselves in chains of amino acids and those chains just keep on building themselves. Proteins quite literally build people. So eat your turkey breast, guava, black beans, cottage cheese, eggs, and fish (and so many more foods that are rich in protein) because these are the foods that strengthen and energize.
But ultimately important is the spiritual meat of the Word of God. It’s what gives you strength for the hard days and energy for the tasks that have eternal consequences. Be a spiritual body-builder! 
Hebrews 4:12ff is your body-building passage for today:
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Digging Deep has gone “big guns” this year. It’s larger than ever and we just did not anticipate this much growth in the study. We ordered what we thought was an overage of the deluxe study guides, but we are completely out. If you have ordered in the last three days, your books are now back-ordered and the time at which you will receive them will likely be about four weeks from order time. I regret this so very much! If you would like to make copies of the first two chapters of the deluxe study guide, as some have asked, please feel free as you wait for your hard copies. Alternately, of course, download the free copy from the website. If you ordered and wish to cancel your order because of the delay, let us know that, too. Please don’t copy past chapter two, though. (We may be losing our shirts with this back-order. But if we do, we will grab a terra cotta colored t shirt!)
CST. I hope you will join us here.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Digging Deep ready-set-go time. Time to invite. Time to decide on a study-buddy or group. Time to pick a book or a download. 
Time to get a highlighter and a good study spot (or a bag of some kind, because it’s never the same spot.) Time to rejoice when someone says “Yes, I’df like to study that!” Time to be SOOO happy when your teen says “I’ll do it with you , Mom!” Time to give a book to a neighbor or friend, with a loaf of homemade bread and say. “I think you’d like this study.”
And it’s the very best gift you can give a friend…to get her in the Word of God. It’s the only lasting gift. She can take it with her when she leaves this old world.
Kick-off for Digging Deep 2024-25 is just six weeks away. Topic reveal from PTP-Sevierville is just a month out. I hope you are inviting your friends. The WORD will change their lives, especially those who may be outside of Christ. Last week, I was at PTP-Branson and was immersed in encouragement because of the power of the WORD in lives:
A group of diggers which has become a respite for a mother who is grieving mightily the death of her daughter.