"After all I am the Basic Person!"

When I was a little girl , my brother and sister went to my dad to tattle on me because I wouldn't let them win at our pretend game. My dad called me to come and talk with him. He asked, "Tara, why do you think you should always be the winner?" I apparently put my hands on my hips and said quite confidently, "After all, I am the basic person!" This story brings out a laugh every time it is told in family gatherings. Greg and I joke about it when I get self-centered. Sometimes, that little me still erupts and I want to be the one served and for everyone to die to me. Ugh! Just when I think I have respectfully put away this childish behavior she shows up when I least expect it. Serving others only comes from an intentional practice of choosing them over me. Truly, selfishness is a basic person attitude! We all suffer from it. Just some of us are more readily to admit it.

The basic person mentality is universal and a long standing attitude that has historically risen its ugly head even in the most devout. I must be a great descendant of the early disciples. Thursday of Easter week is known as the Day of Preparation. Jesus had modeled over and over the importance of dying to self as He discipled His followers, yet as Jesus sat at the table eating what He knew would be His last meal with them the disciples argued over who would be the greatest. Jesus graciously reminds them once again that a true follower of Jesus is called to serve not be served.  I tell myself, "Let that sink in the next time the basic me attitude wants to rear her little head."

Listen to the story in this link:

Easter week Thursday: The Day of Preparation

Jesus knew the Last Supper was where He needed to give His final words of encouragement and preparation for what was coming. And the importance of being a servant was a part of His discourse. I hate that I can forget this in the moment. I grieve that we disrespect it as a culture. I watched a teen disrespect an eighty year old man yesterday and not offer him the proper service because she thought her rule was greater than the value of the man. My heart grieved at her basic person attitude. It made me realize how ugly it can make one appear. Oh God forgive us! Do you find yourself in shock at the disciples for wanting to be the greatest? I know I am, but when I examine my own heart I find the basic person in me trying to fight for her best instead others. So, I pray and moment by moment ask God to help me serve well. I mess up. I get up and start over. So, I am asking myself this Easter, how can I serve others and not make it all about me. Father, please help me to learn this lesson! Shalom y'all!  

I struggle with insecurity and pride

Do you battle with insecurity or pride?

"Insecure leaders inevitably destroy people; secure leaders develop people... God reduces prideful leaders but resources humble leaders" (John C. Maxwell leadership Bible). 

On any given day I can be caught in the spin of insecurity and the pit of pride. It truly is the crazy cycle. No wonder God calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. How do we guard ourselves from living in this crazy cycle? Look at the words develop and resource. If I take the time to ask in my insecurity how I can help the people or process develop this will give me a focus that is not about me, but about building others up which in turn gives me confidence because it casts off fear.

If in my pride I ask, how can I resource someone else? This gets me off my high horse and puts me where they are at which makes things less about me and more about them. Essentially, in both of these it is about dying to self and thinking of the other first. Hard to do when I am thinking about me. It gets easier the more I think about others. If I honor you, I find honor comes back to me. It is quite beautiful.

Today, what if we stop and ask ourselves, How can I develop you or give you resources? Remember, a resource can be as simple as a smile, a handshake, or a hug. Or if we asked, How can I help you move closer to your goals?  How can I help you move closer to God? May our good LORD find cause to resource and develop us today!