I am so Selfish...

Over the past 24 hours I've been pondering the fact that I am being selfish. Maybe not in the sense of always wanting something, but in always thinking about ME. I've fallen into the trap of comparing MY schedule and MY tiredness and MY to-do lists with everyone else. In reality, who cares? I was talking with my boss about this, and she said the best thing is to not even dwell on the comparison game, because it really doesn't matter and accomplishes nothing.
I think often when people start talking about how busy they are and all they have to do, it is just a cry for attention, and I do it too. Lately, it's mostly been in my head, because I know in a leadership position I can't talk about me all the time. But, I've started thinking all the time about how much more I have to do than you, and am struggling with being all here right now. I found these verses in the Bible that helped:

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it. Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. " -Proverbs 11:25-28

I truly am refreshed when I refresh others, just lately I have not been doing it like I should. I'm sorry for this, and I pray God continues to give me the strength I need to be the encourager that glorifies Him. I'm continuously reminded: it's not about me!

He is everything

So, something I've been learning recently is about how great God truly is. For so long I think I've put God in this box, and I only let certain sides of Him come out when it is convenient for me. I'm seeing how He can be so many things to so many people all at the same time. I'm going through a book called "Knowing God by Name," and each day there's a different name for God and what characteristics that name entails.

Another scripture that has really started meaning more to me is Psalm 23. I think I've always just thought of it as a funeral passage, and never really looked at what it means:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

As I read through this the bolded words really stick out to me. I've seen how all these things God can be for us. Whether we need someone to shepherd us or to just rest in him. He leads us and restores us. He can comfort and anoint us. And we can dwell in him.

This is just a little part of what God is teaching me...as I dwell in Christ so he can anoint me for the tasks I have to do.