changing who you are. (BethP)

We hear frequently, "just be you", "don't let other people's opinions or words change you", "be amazing", etc.  And many of those sentiments are good.

What I am thinking about, is positive change.  God inspired change. The changes we love as He works deep in our souls.  The changes that make us more of Him and less of us. LESS of me! I think as much as I hate labels I still tend to cling to my favorites.

"I'm an introvert."

"I don't like speaking up!"

I often cling to things I think are part of my personality when He is trying to USE me for His plan. And sometimes that requires changing who I am. What parts of your personality to you cling to?

Sometimes it requires stepping out. Letting go of your own labels.

Sometimes it requires sacrificing who I want to be seen as, to be who He wants to be seen as in me.

He wants to transform me.

He is more interested in who I am becoming than in what I am doing.

While I am thinking about my circumstances, He is thinking about my transformation.

(Maybe my circumstances are there for the very purpose of my need for transformation and change.)

Yes, he made me unique and special and He wants me to "just be me", but may I never use that as an excuse not to change who I am, for Him.

What does He say to be?

Changing the Toilet Paper Roll (Beth B)

I have some pet peeves; finding the empty milk carton in the fridge or sitting down to the toilet paper roll with only the last single sheet still attached. If any of you live with others, you know what I'm talking about! Normally when these things happen, I say some unkind things under my breath and then deal with the inconvenience. In a strange way, I can feel validated as "the only one who does anything around here". I can even relate these tales to my female friends and then we can all commiserate about our awesomeness. Without us, "nothing would ever get done!"
The problem (I've discovered) with this mindset is that it is a complete and dangerous falsehood. No one wants to admit it, but our loved ones would survive without us. I'm not saying that they wouldn't miss us nor that their lives would be different if we weren't there. They would, however, be able to survive.  Instead our griping has a different effect; we are degrading our families while boosting our egos. If we are honest, there are probably a list of things that "wouldn't get done" if our spouses didn't do them. In my family, that would be reconciling the checkbook. If I stop and think about it, missing receipts are as annoying to Ken as the empty toilet paper roll is to me.
So I am choosing to look at inconveniences, like the empty milk carton, with a joy, knowing that someone still needs me.