eFax of Life from CBMC Heartland
Loving Me
I’d guess you and I are somewhat alike. We try to do ‘right’ but not everybody likes us. In fact, there are some folks out there that can be pretty critical of us.
I’d guess you and I are somewhat alike – in another way, too. While we each may have our own critics – nobody is more disapproving or fault-finding with us – than we are of ourselves.
Used to be I didn’t like to look in a mirror. Always wished I were taller, better built, better looking, smarter, had a better personality, etc.
This morning – when I was alone in the bathroom and smiled at myself in the mirror – I realized there’d been a lot of gradual change taking place. The ‘exterior’ hadn’t changed – but God has been changing my ‘interior’ attitude. I like ‘me’ better. It’s easier for me to live with myself. Because some of this evolution may benefit you – please allow me to share some of that process.
Actually, the initial change came from a kid’s song. At the age of 30, both Liz and I had been ‘born again’ and as we began to raise our children up in the nurture of the Lord – I caught a line from some of their Christian music that simply said, “God doesn’t make junk.”
Wow! I’d been telling God – thru my self-talk – that He’d screwed up on me. He hadn’t done a good job. And now – I had to face reality: He created me perfectly – for what He created me for! Listen to this:
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works. And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” Psalm 139:13-16
Do I always feel ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’? Of course not! There are times I feel lower than a snake’s belly in the bottom of a wagon rut. But maturity means I more and more cease to operate by ’feelings’ and instead function based on the truth of God’s Word.
In the back of my daily planner (which I carry with me everywhere/all the time) is an 8 ½ X 11 piece of paper titled “Who Am I?” on one side, and “What Happened To Me?” on the other. Below each heading are at least 30 INCREDIBLE/RADICAL (yet Biblically based) facts that tell me who I really am and how I can then respond to myself and the people and events around me.
My mental-retention capability is very limited. Over the years I have learned to compensate. I, only half-jokingly, say that people with little brains use big planners. And even Liz is sometimes amazed at the minutia I write in my planner. While the top of my desk is a cluttered mess – everything below is in color-coded files. And I use an extensive filing system.
I’d beat myself up about having a poor memory. Then, I found this sheet that “I have been given the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:16). WOW! I have the wisdom of God!!! (Check out James 1:5-8 if you want to see how this works.)
Over time I began to test God’s promises and found them to be trustworthy. This change in interior attitude began to impact my self-view and the way I relate to others. No wonder I can now relax and smile when I look into the mirror.
If you would like a free copy of these life-changing facts – please give me your name and address and I will put a copy in the mail. Thanks and God’s Blessings.
CBMC Heartland, 05/31/02
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