Mar
02
p.s. (pre-script) Don’t forget to enter your favorite missions organization in the Worlds Apart give-away! FIVE people will win a copy of Worlds Apart and $20 for their favorite missions organization. If you haven’t checked out some of the amazing organizations in the comments, do it! You’ll be blessed!
Anybody else reading Beth Moore’s new book So Long, Insecurity? It’s some good stuff, let me tell you. I can always gauge how much I got out of a non-fiction read by how purple it is when I’m done marking it all up with my Pentel RSVP Fine Point (well, except for library books). And this one’s a hot mess of vi-o-let.
Not only is she stepping on my toes, she’s kicking me in the shins. And I’m allowing it, because I know Beth loves Jesus like mad and wants all of us to love Him too.
HOWEVER, the devil is also kicking me in the shins. And I’m not too keen on putting up with it from him. Now, I know there’s much debate within Christian circles about “how much to blame on the devil.” I’m not denying my own sinful nature. I’m not blaming Satan for my sinfulness. He can’t MAKE me do anything.
He can, however, whisper lies in my ear and remind me of bitter/jealous feelings I thought I’d gotten rid of.
He can tell me that I’m ugly and that no one likes me and that by the end of March all of my books will be out of print. (I’m exaggerating here.)
He can mess with my beautiful friends who go to church with me. He can tell one of them that another one is judging her. He can tell one of them that she’s not important enough to be included. He can tell one of them that she’ll never measure up to the others. He can tell one of them that she’s the only one that’s not cute and tiny.
Jerk.
I’m preparing to speak at a women’s retreat in New Jersey this weekend (I’ll be gone Thursday to Sunday–please pray for my darling husband.) on this exact kind of thing. I’ve done these talks before, but God is adding lots of new stuff He wants me to say, and some of it isn’t easy, because it’s awfully personal.
The 3 sessions are: Replacing Comparison with Confidence, Replacing Criticism with Compassion, and Replacing Competition with Contentment. All of them deal with how we relate to other women, and it’s stuff we all struggle with to some degree, regardless of our spiritual maturity level.
I’d love it if you’d pray for me as I speak to these sweet women–and for them as God prepares their hearts for what He has to say through me. Thank you!
Anybody else struggling with insecurity this week?
[...] pleasantly surprised by what I discover. Something I wrote in 1999 that fits perfectly with a talk I’m giving in 2010. Something I recorded in 2002 that I can slip neatly into my current book [...]
Where are you going in NJ for the conference? Funny that you’ll be in New Jersey and I’ll be in Ohio
Yeah…I’m sure I’ll be purchasing it sometime soon. Every time I think I’ve conquered this, another layer of the onion peels away. At least that’s progress.
I am loving your blog my friend. I had to have a “repeat mammogram” this week and I got the good news today that all is well – but it sort of set me back a bit – fear and insecurity tried to raise their ugly heads – but God’s Word and His peace prevailed.
I so wish I could send you a picture of my giraffes that have intertwined necks. I bought it in South Africa this past August while there on a mission trip that rocked my world. The giraffes were my favorite too – we saw them in the WILD and I was ecstatic!
Take care – be blessed. I’m speaking at a ladies event this weekend myself and I will pray for your retreat as you share with the ladies. I am sharing with them on REST and priorities.
GA Jan
Marla, I struggle with the comparison thing constantly. I’m praying for you this weekend. Hope you and God have a fab weekend. Bethany
I struggle with this topic frequently and finding myself a bit outta sorts with my new business… I am doing well, but keep getting that whisper that it isn’t good enough and I am not good enough…I’m too big and who wants to listen to me anyway….? Well, guess what?! I’m not going to claim that! I am claiming that I am doing the work of God as an educator! I will be successful, because this is what God has put on my heart to do…it can only be blessed! Shut up Satan!!!
First of all, I knew you WOULD LOVE my post I did. It’s so funny, the song is OBVIOUSLY not talking about God, but holy cow, it just hit me. I mean, seriously…it describes how I live my life for sure. I hope that it works well this weekend for you! Feel free to share my blog if you want to and if not, no biggie, figured I’d let you know you’re allowed to use my name and stuff…
Great object lesson, Deanna! And awesome posts, Michelle and Denise!
Thanks for the help and encouragement, friends!
Um only daily. I live my life in insecurity…seriously. I hate my body and I am constantly insecure. I think that’s one reason satan is so darn good at making my compare myself to others..All. The. Time.
Grrrr!
Have a safe trip! P.S. Check out my blog I’m about to write, I think you will appreciate it!