TPC "lite": Living Buy the Book (Part 2)
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
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…
- …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?
I just had to read this again! And again, amazing!
For me the “power to get” is a form of self-sufficieny rather than of God’s-sufficiency. I need to remember that if I really need something He will make it happen in His time.
Awesome!
In a way, we do need “to get.” We need to get God’s Word and His will so firmly embedded in our hearts and lives that nothing else matters. Thanks, Cheri!
very good thoughts today thanks