Getting Over Myself

I want to write a series of books called If I can Get over Myself, You Can TOO (Someone already did It’s not all about you, I think). Seriously, don’t you just get sick of yourself sometimes? For instance, this year I have been through Weight Loss Surgery and the subsequent weight loss—and still melting—female surgery that I won’t go into, MEGA deadlines and it just feels like all year has been about ME, ME, ME. And yet during all that, God began to deal with me about selfishness and making it NOT about me all the time. It’s been a real challenge to back away from myself, MY accomplishments, MY weight loss, MY hair color change (Oh, yeah…) when there are so many changes happening in my life in such a short amount of time. I’m thinking, couldn’t God have given me ONE year to make it all about me without that prickly conviction? I will say, that being AWARE of others has been a sweet fragrance in my life. Giving of time and attention when my tendency is to back away from people—especially other women—has been a positive. I’m still moving toward that place God is taking me. Every new experience is a chance to move up a level in my walk with God, a chance to take another step toward that ultimate Goal of KNOWING Him. Another chance to minister to his precious daughters… I can think of several opportunities to share His heart that would not have happened without me opening my eyes and letting him make me aware of others.

Today I read Phil. 2:3 (New Living Translation because KJV makes my eyes cross) Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others.(OH OUCH. In this business…???? Are you kidding me, God? Okay, Lord, I only want to impress you. Really. ) Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. (Again….In THIS business???) Don’t only think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

Here’s what I love about my pastors. They live this scripture. They aren’t a bit impressed with me. Know why I love that about them? Because my value hasn’t changed as my tithe went up, my visibility in publishing went up, my confidence went up. To them, I am who I am. I always felt important to them and it never has had ONE thing to do with my career, even with a growing congregation of 400 members (go visit the website and meet my pastor, he’s awesome www.lebanonfamilychurch.org) I know they love me individually and care about my soul prospering. Okay, enough pastor gush. I have to go work. Can I encourage you today to seek out someone who needs to be noticed? Set aside your own desperate needs—and I know they are valid—and let God use you to love someone else.

Peace out