TPC "lite": Living Buy the Book (Part 2)

1 box of books ready to give away!

In a comment on June 18, Meghan Carver wrote, “I've been following your posts for a month or so and never commented, but this idea has been wiggling around in my mind for a while and you put words to it. 

Do I buy new (and unnecessary) clothes to make me feel better about myself? Do I buy unneeded knick-knacks and (let's be honest) clutter to make me feel better about my home? 

Sometimes the books I buy are truly helpful, but I can look back and see many times when I have bought books because I've been scared of making a decision or because I thought they might contain some magic to improve my life. 

Why is it so hard to find our worth in God?” 

Replacing Baditude

Waiting for a shelf of their own...

This is the bottom line issue for all of the "baditude" hiding behind my "stuff."  

My sense of worth.

Society relentlessly pounds women with messages about where to find worth. And holds up as role models those who accumulate the most and fanciest "stuff"!    

I remember walking into a popular store a few months before Christmas and recoiling at their huge banner proclaiming "The Power to GET!" above the credit card sign-up table. 

The message was crystal clear: What I have is not enough. Who I am is not enough. I need to GET. 

It doesn't matter to the store (or to my adversary!) WHAT I get. Just so long as I GET, GET, GET.

As if I can never get enough.

With God’s Word

On Day 16, I wrote about my urge to replace God by judging others and keeping score.

(Can't view image? Click here to read 1 Corinthians 13:5!)

Love doesn't record-keep!

On Day 17, I wrote about how the stories I tell myself determine my truth.

(Can't view image? Click here to read 1 Corinthians 13:6!)

Love rejoices with the truth.

I need to let go of all the useless emotional records I store with my books.

I need to Let God’s truth–that He wipes my records clean–truly sink in.

I need to let go of the old stories I tell myself as I remember when and why I bought each book.

I need to Let God author a new story; He is the ultimate authority on who I’m meant to be!

And Gratitude

from my journal:

Today I’m praying…

Lookin' spacious!

• …for Your gentle power to simply let go of books that do not need to stay on my shelves.
• …for the willingness to pause and rest as I de-clutter.

Today I’m watching for…

• …other places I go to “find my worth” other than You.
• …one small area in which I can bless my Melancholy husband with more order and less stuff.

Today I’m appreciating…

• …the joy of releasing two big boxes of books!
• …the open spaces on my bookshelves which mirror the opening places in my heart.

Your turn! 

• What "baditude" has come from using your "power TO GET"? 

• Behind what clutter do you store emotional records?  keep old stories? 

• Other thoughts / reflections / insights on today's topic?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Day 2: CHOSEN

Our Give-Away for Today!

Today's give-away is this lovely hand-stamped necklace created by Janelle at Grace Tags.  


After May 10, she'll no longer be taking orders and is offering a 30% discount on all orders 'til then.

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Chosen Last

I was always the last one chosen when we divvied up for teams during recess. 

“I guess we’ll have to have Cheri on our team...” didn’t do much for my self-confidence.

(Not that I blame them. Who wants someone whose athletic skills include catching a soccor ball with her glasses and breaking her thumb while doing the high jump?)

I got used to not being chosen.

I got used to being unwanted.

Un-Chosen

I also got used to being un-chosen by those who had once wanted me.

In junior high, my best friend turned on me overnight. 

When a mutual friend asked her if she felt bad about losing our friendship, she declared, “I’m not losing anything. I’m throwing it away, because that’s what you do with trash.”

Shortly after, my boyfriend traded me in for a newer, more attractive model. 

I was discarded.

Worthless.

Among the Chosen Few

At my first direct sales convention, I got what I’d always wanted: reserved seating.  

A place card with my name on it awaited me at every single meal. 

How I loved not wandering aimlessly, hoping someone would invite me to sit with them. Not sitting at an empty table, wishing someone would join me. 

Finally, I had discovered the secret to belonging: when I worked hard enough, I could sit among the select. 

So for years, I earned the right to belong.

I worked my heart out, making sure that I deserved to be chosen.

But then came the back injury. I qualified for the incentive trip, but just barely. And although Hawaii was beautiful, I received no elite invitations, found no place cards bearing my name, had no seats saved for me. 

Once again, I didn’t deserve to be chosen.

Once again, I didn’t belong.

Chosen Once and For All

(Can't view image? Click here to download John 15:16)

I don't think God could state this more plainly.

And yet, how do we respond?

We work harder, trying to earn the "right" to belong. 

We behave as if commiting our lives to Christ is a qualifying competition, and we must prove worthy of team membership.

In an e-mail this morning, Valarie wrote,“Sometimes I have found myself putting myself down for not doing enough for God.”

Do you see what we’re doing? We’re trying to deserve to be chosen. We’re trying to deserve to become who God says we already are! 

Nothing to Prove

You are wanted. 

You belong.

You are chosen.

Now you choose:

Do you believe Him 

when He says

you are chosen?

If so...

...you can quit trying so hard!

...you can quit being so hard on yourself!

...you can quit being so hard on others!

You have nothing to prove.

Try this today:  When you start feeling like you’re standing on the sidelines, or like you’ve been trashed, or like you need to work your heart out, say out loud:  “It is written, ‘I chose you.’ And I choose to believe what You say!”

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Please leave a comment 

• responding to today’s blog, and/or

• sharing your Day #1-2 experience of replacing “baditude” with God’s word and gratitude, and/or

• about anything else on your heart!

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(Catch up on any "Warm-Up Week" Blog Posts!)