Hey Ladies,
I was just missing you and thinking of you all and thought I would do a quick catch-up on my life since it has been so long.
Life for Colin and me over the past few months has been a bittersweet transition, a combination of missing our first home together in Atlanta and fully embracing this new season God has for us with both hands.
Here are just a couple of reasons I miss my life in Atlanta:
Friends.
Friends
Friends
And, friends. Especially friends who can cook like this one:
Here are just a couple of reasons I love my life in Houston:
Getting to know my Aunt Gay again after many years. The purest redemption I have ever witnessed.
Sunshine with Mom.
Jackson.
Watching Amanda transform into an impromptu barista at Bible Study:
Fighting with Mom over our favorite coffee cup at work.
Wearing my favorite slippers at Living Proof. They’re really feminine, right?
Tex Mex.
Tex Mex.
And, oh my goodness gracious, Tex Mex.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Thank you, Roxanne Worsham.
Watching Jackson bond with his lizard who he first named “Lizard” and then, later, “Longtail.”
Annabeth Jones. She is too busy and wiggly to take pictures but here are a few.
She is the cutest thing on two legs.
Also, she has taken to domestic life. Who knew?
Generations before and generations after.
My Pawpaw and Memaw. My Pawpaw is in his hard hat with his house plans watching his new house get framed exactly like he wants it. The two of them were sitting in folding chairs watching 6 men work. A classic moment.
And here is one very good reason I love my life no matter where I am:
In addition to the big move from Atlanta to Houston, the biggest change in my life is that I am back at the Living Proof offices writing some small segments for the James study with Mom. I was joking on Twitter the other day that I am able to write about one sentence per every fifty pages Mom writes. It is a slight exaggeration, but not much. I am a very slow writer and Mom is a machine. She has to repeatedly tell me, “Remember you don’t have to say everything to say something.” This is probably the best piece of advice I have gotten since I started the project. I think about it multiple times per hour.
Over the past several years I have grown quite comfortable with working at the research level. It is nice and convenient. I can remain detached from the conclusions and implications of the data with which I am working and can’t be held responsible since Mom is the author and I am not. I am smiling right now because I know Mom would be smiling at that comment. But, seriously, writing is a different beast. It is vulnerable. I feel stripped and exposed. I am finding that it takes a whole lot of courage. The ugly truth is I am inordinately afraid of making a mistake. And this is not humility, folks, but a very sneaky and dark form of pride.
In Madeleine L’ Engle’s reflections on writing, she quotes a few lines from Anton Chekhov’s letters that have been restorative to me in this new process: “You must once and for all give up being worried about successes and failures. Don’t let that concern you. It’s your duty to go on working steadily day by day, quite quietly, to be prepared for mistakes, which are inevitable, and for failures” (Anton Chekhov quoted in Madeleine L’ Engle, Herself, 72). Just reading that is liberating.
While I obviously think writers and teachers should think carefully through content and style, perfectionism really is incapacitating. And it can become an idol. All that to say, I am practicing the art of being patient with myself.
So, that is me and probably a lot more than you wanted to know.
How are you?
Hey girl! So glad to hear from you…I always enjoy your posts and you know I LOVE any pics from you! You’ve got quite a gift with the camera I must say. If the writing thing doesn’t work you, you’ve always got photography to fall back on. What am I sayin’?! Of course writing will work out…God has totally given you that gift and a talent for sharing things with people in a way they can understand and related to. Yes, I must admit, I may have to read it twice, but that’s just because I know that what you’re sharing with us is something that you feel very passionate about and I want to make sure I get it. I don’t want to miss an awesome point or a new revelation about something because I’m speed reading it like it’s something I HAVE to do. You may not post often on here, Melissa, but when you do, I always know that it’s going to be good. Be it a break down on a few verses into the orginal language, a thought you had after reading a book or article or just a run down on all that’s going on in your world, whatever you write is wonderful.
I’m at a point in the road where I see a change just up ahead, one I’m excited about and dread at the same time. Being someone who doesn’t really DO change, the idea of willingly instigating a huge change in my life makes me wonder if I’ve crossed over into Lala Land. The change coming is a positive one albeit potientially filled with stress. I’m constantly asking God to affirm the change before I fully am in it. If/when the change happens, a move will more than likely be involved and although it’s not happened, I feel your pain of leaving all of your friends in the ATL. I don’t look forward to that and am having to keep my mind on the other parts of a move. Meeting new people, a chance to try new things (like a fake accent 😉 ) and an opportunity to step back and see what God can/will do in my life.
I will be praying for you and Colin as you continue to adjust to being back in TX. I must say from your pics, you’ve certainly got a lovely bunch of reasons for loving your life in Houston! 🙂 I look forward to hearing/seeing more!
Love ya girl!
Nikki
If you’re ever in Nashville maybe we could meet up for some coffee, Sweet CeCe’s Yogurt or PinkBerry(my favorite) or some country music and line dancing! ha!
Melissa
You couldn’t be more right about your assessment of writing: It requires vulnerability, and perfection is often a result of pride. I write for a couple of organizations, and Satan has–more than once–used fear to try and cripple my progress. He’s even tried it in my teaching! I wish you the best as you open up and allow your imperfections to be revealed. One thing I have learned: Grace exists for me. And even though I do my best to keep my theology in check and my facts straight, when (WHEN!) I occasionally say the wrong thing, Grace still exists. Thank the fantastic Lord!
I can totally relate to the perfectionism thing. For me, I think it’s self-protection. I feel like the Lord wants me to let go and get messy…problem is, I’m not sure how.
Thanks for sharing all the darling pictures…and your heart. You are so beautiful, inside and out.
Blessings to you!!
Melissa, thank you for sharing! I love this blog for soooo many reasons. One of them is the joy and hope it gives me reading two generations of thought as time marches on. Both you and Amanda wear your hearts with much grace here and I thank you for it.
Seista hugs~
Melissa, It is good to hear from you. I know how diffictult the transition it is moving from one place to another even if the place you are moving to is familiar. I moved from one apartment to another with grocery bags for small household items once. What a pain.
I spent a good portion of my childhood and young adulthood moving from place to place. It was hard for me to make friends because it was always hard to say good bye to them. We’d keep in touch for a while, then we’d gradually lose touch. Got to a point where I withdrew and didn’t even try. You wouldn’t know that now, though. My hubby and I have lived in the same house in the same city now for 11 years now. I like the way stability feels.
Vulneralbility and exposure? How uncomfortable and very scary. I have taught Bible Studies before and while I was researching and doing the initial studying, it seemed like everything in my life came under the microscope. It was as if I was gonna know exactly what I was talking about when I got to the front of the class room. Sometimes that happened in advance sometimes the week before. So, in your being vulnerable I pray that the Lord is glorified and you made acutely aware of His presence and power. And by the way, you really do have a cute neice and nephew
Oh, Melissa….you are a breath of fresh air. I can relate to you on so many levels.
I am a fellow perfectionist and have been held tight in its grip many times. To the point of near suffocation. I crave to be spontaneous but I have that need for order so I really can get myself spun up flitting back and forth between the two.
I enjoy your posts so much. The pictures were a treat. I hope you go forward in your research and writing with much confidence.
Blessings!
Oh Melissa,
Thank you for sharing! I love that you pointed out that fear of failing is a dark form of pride. I so agree and I struggle with that same issue. I’m at a point in my life that I have to take a step that really scares me, because I don’t want to fail. I’ve got to stop letting my pride rule my actions.
Thank you again, I really needed to “hear” your words!
Love reading your news 🙂
Life is changing here. I finish my job in three weeks because my husband has a work exchange with his company to the USA – we live in Belgium now. So I have two months in Fort Myers Florida and one month in San Diego to look forward to! I don’t know anyone there, and am not sure what I’m going to do with my time, but I am excited about it, and excited to see what God has for us now.
Dear Melissa,
Thank you so much for sharing your life, your pictures, and vulnerability. It was so fun to catch up.
Actually you have been on my mind alot lately. I have been wishing I had some of that research behind me – as I have been reading a friend’s post/tweet on righteousness and that which the believer will be reward for (@Theophilo7). I read his post and think, I wish I knew Melissa better, I bet she would understand this whole controversy. What a blessing to know Greek and Hebrew.
Life here is in transition as well, as my oldest is getting ready to go back to Africa for a medical mission, Lord willing, and my middle is getting ready to come down to your neck of the woods and serve with Intersect at HFBC this summer.
So glad you share. Thanks for including us!
love
mk
Also struggling with a big writing project, pride, and perfectionism – so thanks for posting! 🙂
Hi Melissa, I don’t comment here often (except SSMT) but just wanted to say hi! I loved your pictures and I know how happy you must be to be back near your family. I miss my family but Tex-Mex maybe almost as much 🙂
Blessings,
Charity
I get the difficulty of transitions. My husband and I spent the first 18 months of our marriage in Boardman, Ohio. The next 26 months were in Columbus, Ohio. The next 24 months were spent in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. And then finally, for the last almost 5 years now, we’ve been in Allison Park, Pennsylvania. This was the “easy” move though, as it brought me back home to Pittsburgh…..and where I saw your mom at the Peterson a couple years ago. I can tell you this, each of our moves God brought me closer to Him by the people He placed in my life for that particular season. It’s hard to embrace sometimes, for many reasons, but it is ALWAYS for our good and His glory 🙂
HAVE to get one of those bird cups for my daughter. Could you tell me who manufacturer is, please?
Melissa, it is so good to hear from you!!! It’s been way too long Missy! :o) I’ve begun doing a bit of writing myself and so appreciate your honesty in sharing how it’s a bit scary to just lay your thoughts out there. And I love, love the quote! I’m going to to print it out and post it over my computer just to remind me that perfection is not my goal. Rather my desire is to make Christ known through what He lays on my heart to share. Thanks so much for your insights into the writing process. And the pictures are great!
I can relate to the transitions and the vulnerability you feel on a new venture. We moved cross country twice this past year. Now, after being out of the workforce to be with my kids, I am working at school full-time and taking a class to renew my teacher certification. (and trying to keep up with my husband and my 3rd, 4th and 8th grader). Just last week, I felt prompted to dig a Bible study out and give it to some 4th grade girls at our school. I know their mother’s and they are sweet believers, but I do feel vulnerability and concern. Your words from Madeline L’Engle were encouraging. God’s will be done. Let us be His faithful servants.
God is so good! I was just thinking and praying for you all yesterday and was missing all the photos of your lives and WHAALAAAA today I find your post. Thank you for bringing us up to date, you and your family are beautiful as always. Thank you for sharing your weaknesses and fears. I have missed you! Looking forward very much to James!
Melissa,
Thank you for sharing your heart and the the L’Engle quote. I believe that relationships are what builds and drives the body of Christ and your sharing is so beneficial. My oldest son suffered a brain injury in January and we have seen God’s faithfulness through the entire journey. God has taught me through my son, to take time to see all the small blessings and give thanks for them. Your post again reminded me of how important people are and to delight in everything. I am always thankful for the sacrifice your family makes in living as open books so that others may learn.
Hi Melissa,
May I just say how much I appreciate reading whenever you blog. You have a gift and may I affirm with a previous blogger that indeed “everyone can hear and see your heart in everything you write.” Let His light shine through you as you write. Isn’t it amazing that God uses broken tools like us! Praise you, Lord.
I also struggle with perfectionism in writing and also speaking. As a pastor’s wife of many years, a Bible teacher and a sometimes writer, it is hard to struggle with insecurity and perfectionism and, at the same time, want, with all my heart, to tell God’s story and help others turn to him. I will pray for you as well as for myself that we will constantly keep turning our eyes to Christ in whom is no darkness at all.
Dear Beth
My name is Khangi, I live in Johannesburg,South Africa.I’m the chairpreson of Bethesda Methodist Women’s organisation.Our theme is “AnAuthentic women who is roooted in God”
I see that you are already booked for the year, but it is said ,”ask it shall be given.” Iwould love for you to visit our church and adrees/worshop us on one of your exciting and transformational topics.I noticed that you are not booked for the 19th -20th August,2011.( we celebrate National Women’s month in August).
It will be so awesime if you can visit us.
Thank you and God bless
khangi Seabe
Melissa, it was more than fun to read your post. It was so sweet and touching. I don’t normally comment here but had to tell you that something you said really caught me. You talked about your fear as a form of pride and I would’ve never thought about it that way! God has a huge project on my plate right now….I have never been so terrified. I’m really trying to turn it to excitement and your comment was like a light bulb going on. Thank you so much. Lord knows I don’t ever want pride to be my issue. It’s such an ugly word! I like to think of myself as a recovering perfectionist and this is one more tool to add to the box. Thank you so much and welcome back to Houston!
First of all, I love all your pictures- they are so fun!
Secondly, thank you– I just said yesterday that I am afraid of failure when it comes to my writing. Your post was exactly what I needed to read today!
Melissa,
I just wanted to take the chance to tell you how blessed I have been by your blog a while back on biographies. I have enjoyed working through a list of really amazing books. Thank you for doing that!
I know exactly how you feel, Melissa! Except, I’m trying to get use to my life in Atlanta…. ha! I’ve been in school land moving all over the past six years. Now I’m finally settled with my job in Atlanta… but it’s hard to feel settled. I love that you’re back with your family… I think at one point or another we all go back home… if only for a season. It’s still “home.”
Let’s just say that March 2011 will not soon be forgotten! My sister-in-law (55 yrs young) developed pneumonia and 2 days later was induced into a coma due to ARDS. Exactly one week later, went into heart failure and walked into the loving arms of our Savior. We were on Kauai this very morning and traveled Maui-Kansas in less than 24 hrs. 5 days later, back to Maui to arrive the very evening of the Japan earthquake and tsunami’s both on Maui and Hawaii as well as Japan. As well as my Dad had a horse riding accident and has major damage/broken bones (yes plural) to his back and pelvic area. All that to say…thankful that God has my back and that He is in control.
I am back home in Kansas and eagerly anticipating putting my hands in the soil to begin our vegetable garden. For VBS to begin, and oh yes, just started a Small Groups study as well using “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.
Working on my Scripture Memory to hug your neck once again. Melissa, you inspire me, to keep digging, to not give up. As your sweet Mom tells us, “Let’s do this thang!”
Lovingly-
Yolanda
Love seeing you post again, Melissa! Awesome photos, too! You are an amazing writer, it always touches me deeply. Being married to an Air Force guy, I felt your bittersweet transition in every photo that said “friends”. Since 1997, my heart tears apart every 3 years when we say good-bye to cherished friends we have bonded with through Bible studies and deployments. My husband tried to comfort me by gently saying that if it weren’t for moving, we’d never meet these amazing people in the first place. I didn’t want to hear it at the time, but now I treasure it as I reminisce. May you treasure these lovely Atlanta friends for a lifetime!
Good morning!
Thanks for asking. I am fine. I just joined Siestas this year when I read about the Scripture Memory Team, so it is a lot of fun to catch up with everyone else. The pictures were truly inspired by the Lord, because this past Saturday I just finished listening to Eat, Pray, Love Part 2 and heard your mom give glory to God for His working in your aunt. What a miracle!! I so enjoyed then getting to see the 2 of them together!! Thanks so much for sharing the quote by Madeliene L’Engle, too. God’s timing is perfect as He uses each one of us to share His heart of love!
Have a wonderful day with Jesus!
His love to you,
Fenton
After seeing your tweet last night, I wanted to come and leave an encouraging comment for you. 🙂 Love your pictures. And I know the bittersweetness that comes with moving geographically and into another season of life. My heart empathizes with you. Thank you for opening up to us Siestas!
Melissa, so great to hear from you, and what beautiful pictures!! Truly a blessed life, with friends and family, and family that are friends 🙂 And thank you for that quote – I will be mulling over that one for a few.
thanks again, have a blessed day
rebecca
Melissa,
Thank you so much for sharing with us and helping us feel a part of everything going on at Living Proof. I had the privilege of being one of the event coordinators for a host church for the Prisilla Shierer Simulcast last weekend. (We also get to be a host church for your Mom’s event in September and we are super excited) It was such a blessing and your post reminded me of one of the many lessons learned. There are things changes that happen in our lives and we can handle them two different ways; we can wallow in misery or embrace what God has for us. It is obvious that while you miss some parts of your life in Atlanta you are excited about God’s plans for you and Curtis in this new phase. God Bless you Sister! God will not take you somewhere and leave you alone, He will be with you every single step of the way.
Love,
Tanya
Melissa,
Love the post, always love the pictures, however, LOVE what you shared concerning perfectionism and pride. That hit me right between the eyes this morning. God has blessed me to serve Him in area that has been so fulfilling. I mean a real Chariots of Fire, “feel His pleasure” type of service. Lately though I’ve been ruining it by trying so hard not to make any mistakes. That sneaky form of pride you mentioned. The funny thing is that the Lord has been pointing this out to me for a couple of weeks but I didn’t get it until He gave me a full smack of truth this morning. I’m so grateful that He keeps after us in love!
Have a great day. It’s so nice to hear from you!
I am gearing up for a road trip to Little Rock. My bestie from Missouri and I are hooking up for some major fun and some serious meeting with God time along with the other siestas in Little Rock.
Something I always told my daughter Jessica:
“Beginnings are scary and endings are sad but it’s what happens in the middle, that counts!”
Moving back amongst family would be such a blessing! Fortunately with Skype and the other wonderful technologies that are out there, I’m better able to stay connected with those I love back home in Missouri!
Connie Hopkins
Denton, Texas
Loved every last drop of your post, Melissa. Know that the vast majority of us feel privileged to share slices of life with you, your mom, and your sister. Community is what it’s all about! Love you and your beautiful heart.
Melissa thank you for sharing your life and photos! I am so thankful God has blessed you in so many ways. In my prayers I ask God to bless all of Beth’s family and Beth because all of you have blessed so many of us. It’s so nice to have photos to be able to say thank You Lord for….I also pray for good health, lots of friends, and that God satisfy all your needs so you have more time to spend in His presence and writing studies for all of us. It looks like He is doing a fine job taking care of His little family with the good friends, lots of love, children, and yummy Tex-mex. Now I’m hungry!!! Have a day filled with joy!
Bettie, Wendell
Deuteronomy 8:7 (NIV)
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land – a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills.
Glad to catch up with you Melissa! I am doing well. I just had my 40th birthday yesterday! Boy did my husband treat me royally this weekend. You thought I was part of those blue bloods across the ocean! Queen Elizabeth would have been green with envy! Can I tell you Michigan is still thinking it is Winter. I loved your flowers on Twitter the other day. I was the one who sent you the picture of the tree bare naked less one leaf on it! Hoping we are going to turn the corner soon. I am thankful that I am not in the New England states though. Some of them got a foot of snow the other day!
I must go now my aunt is going to make me breakfast this morning!
Stacie
PS…Loved the quote from Anton Chekhov’s letters!
Amen to that! I completely hear you about the vulnerability of writing. I love to write, I want to do it more, but quite honestly my fear of man gets in the way.
Loved hearing about life from your side of the picture! 🙂 Have a good week.
So glad you are back for this season to enjoy your family here in Texas again. Now that I go to the early service at church, I miss seeing your family on Sundays.
I love to read Madeleine L’Engle. A few years ago, I saw her at a weekday service at St. John’s in NYC, sitting on a pew by herself a couple of rows ahead of me–seemed exactly where a writer should be, sitting at the Feet of the Teacher.
I know you’re glad to be home for however long it is! And by the way, I just got back my favorite coffee cup from my daughter when we helped them move this weekend. I spotted it in her cabinet. Wonder how long she’s had it! Hugs, A
Always love hearing from you Melissa and learning what is going on in your life. Since I am old enough to be your grandmother 🙂 my life is pretty simple each day. I do have the same problem as you…perfectionism….if I don’t think I can do something perfect, I won’t even try (most of the time & am getting better) Your quotes were thought-provoking and will keep them for future use. Thanks for letting us hear from you…stay in touch.
Hi Melissa!
I loved your post, and all your beautiful pictures! Ironically, I am about to leave my Charlotte, NC home of 15 plus years, and be relocated to Atlanta GA, where my husband’s job is moving him. Though he is excited about his job and has already started it, I am a mom of four daughters, three of them teens, and I am less excited about the move. We were looking at homes in Atlanta this past weekend, and it is very hard to get my mind around the fact that I’m moving! I have to say that I am so comforted by the fact that you miss Atlanta and made many friends there! Though I am not in your age decade, I am hoping the same for me and my girls- I have been praying the word PLACE- that the Lord would put us all in the place He has for us in Atlanta! So, welcome home to Texas, and soon, I hope to call Atlanta home!
Becky, Charlotte
Melissa
I LOVE hearing about your adventures on moving and all the things you miss – the pictures of the food are making me hungry for Mexican already at 9:21am!
Your family is such an inspiration and I cannot wait to see your mother in Sept! I hope you enjoy your new home and are settling in well. As Maurene wrote “it is great to get to know you” – it sadden to me read the post where someone was critical of it, when women get together, even in church we share – we fellowship and to me it was a great post to read and I felt as if you were fellowshipping (if that that makes sense to you) with us.
Thank you again for sharing all the wonderful pictures.
Blessings to you and your family!
Dawn from Maryland
Melissa — thank you the update and pictures! I love how God uses testimony from others to encourage us. I needed to hear the bit about perfectionism. I just took a full-time staff position at my kids’ school which I was feeling very ill-equipped for, but God has shown me he just wants me to serve and He will worry about the rest. I feel so blessed to serve a perfect God!
Hi, Melissa! Thanks for sharing your life with us. I’ve been through that same bittersweet moving process, you’ve described those feelings so eloquently.
I often get anxiety about writing as well. I think I could actually be a really great writer if I wasn’t SO concerned with my reader….
Thanks for sharing your life!
Thanks so much for the pictures! Makes me hungry for Mexican food! I will be moving to a new city soon after living in the same one my entire life so I’m sure the move will be a bittersweet transition for me too and I hope I can do as you said and fully embrace my new life! Thanks again for the update. 🙂
Thanks for sharing a sneak peak into your life. I loved it! The pictures and randomness spoke to my happy heart! 🙂
I am with you on the whole writing thing. I, too, am a perfectionist and it can be an UGLY beast to tame. However, given that you are dealing with that WHILE you are writing a study on James, I’m thinking that you are going to come out victorious on the other side. Whatcha think? 🙂
Love that you can so beautifully write about random stuff and then come at us with a powerful and encouraging post that commands us to get deeper in the Word to see what we think about a particular passage. Keep it coming, girl! Lion slippers and all! hahaha
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
Good to hear from you! May God bless your writing process! Keep up the good work! I’m looking forward to the study!
Thank you Melissa for “keepin’ it real” with us! The struggles you’ve shared with us about writing really struck a chord with me about a particular thing I’m going through right now, in relation to a very typical sort of “girl thing” (can we say the struggle to be the “perfect” girlfriend? Talk about exhausting).
With love,
Chrissy from MN
Sweet Melissa,
You may take all the time you need to write when your words flow with the beauty and wisom that they do.
Thank you for sharing your life and your heart with us. You are beautiful, inside and out. And, you sweet girl, are loved.
And, the picture of Beth & Gay – oh, my heart. The prayers lifted for that sweet woman, even before we knew who they were lifted for … and now to see the fruit of that love. OH, mercy, He is good.
Love you all!!!
PS – I write this on Tuesday morning as I pray over my sweet parents. My mommy has had what they believe is a mini stroke and she will go in today for testing to see if they can find the source. My daddy waits while his cardioligist and surgeon try to decide which to fix first – the blockage in his heart or the blockage in his carotid artery (the one leading to the brain). Please join me in prayer for them. Thank you Siesta family! You are CHERISHED!!
Praying! My dad had to have his neck artery cleaned out before they would do the bypass. Praying God’s wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col 1:9-14) over you guys!
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
Melissa,
I enjoyed all of your pictures and understand what you mean about moving. Even though the move might be great, there are still things that tug at my heartstrings afterwards.
I, too, am a writer, not published. But I do love it! As a survivor of domestic violence, I wrote a 50,000 word novel for National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org) last November. It was so freeing finally getting this out after 20+ years.
I, too, love the book of James. In fact, it’s my favorite, and I think the answers to all of life’s questions reside in that particular book.
I am new to LPM, but I am participating in the memory verse study. So glad to have this opportunity to connect with other women.
Blessings,
Christy
Wow. I’ve struggled with perfectionism my entire life. It was basically been etched at the core of my being because as a child I was often made to feel like my best wasn’t good enough. For example, even if I scored 98% on an exam, I was asked why I didn’t get 100%. At an early age, my deductive reasoning was that perfect performance equals acceptance. And so in everything that I do, I am relentless in making what I produce perfect – or at least as close as possible. This has lead to an overwhelming level of stress and discouragement as perfection is an unattainable goal, especially when I operate in my own strength. Fear of failure has been a stronghold in my life, but as you said this is the product of pride. Hence, I’ve had to take a long hard look in the mirror and confront this beast. I’m having to learn how to walk in the grace of God and to rely on His strength in both my weakness and strength. I have to accept that my best is good enough, and even when faced with failure, God’s grace is sufficient.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It was definitely a short, sweet, convicting message just for me. 🙂