Be A Blessing

To those of you who are famiiar with the Beth Moore study "Living Beyond Yourself" you'll recognize the title of this blog.  Beth Moore describes that in her family they try to put everything in the two catagories of blessing or not a blessing.  So lately I've tried to think of my life in this way.  Am I being a blessing to my husband, child, friend, etc., or not a blessing.  Sometimes I hear myself talking, the tone of my voice, and I stop and think, as Dr. Laura would say, "are you being the person you'd want to come home to?"  

Just being conscience of these things is a big deal.  And it's made me want even more to be "other" focused.  So much of the Christian life is NOT about self-but about being Christ to one another.  As Beth would say, "don't be caught in the tomb of your own mind."  How often do we find ourselves worried about how WE feel verus the person we are interacting with?  I have to admit this has held me back when I think about how I share/don't share about God with others.  I'm not good at it.  But Beth Moore has me fired up, and I want to live a life that is vibrantly Holy Spirit driven and grounded in the Word.

This week in church, the message by Steve used this verse in James 1:22 that really spoke to my heart. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."  Listening AND Obeying.  Not just for dogs and children.  So many times we hear the message, we might even take it to heart...but are we actually putting it into practice?  

There is a person in my life who is the epitome of "A Blessing."  Dear Jo, thank you for your love and tangible example of what it means to live beyond yourself.  I am honored and humbled that Christ brought you into my life.  My prayers are focused on your peace and healing.  May God bring both in excess.