Note to self...

I frequent an online bulletin board and someone posted this there; it's a question to flylady and her response. Unfortunately I will occasionally indulge in this stinkin' thinkin' so I thought I'd copy and paste it here as a reminder to myself . :)

"Dear FlyLady,
How do you stop the martyr feelings when they start to come up? I find this stinking feeling sneaking up on me at times, especially during those busy/stressful times. How can I stop them right away?

Dear Friend,
You said it yourself, "especially during those busy/stressful times. "The secret to stopping those martyr feelings is taking care of yourself. I know you don't believe this. I use an acronym to help me HALT! Don't let yourself get too Hungry, too Angry, too Lonely, or too Tired. When you feel those martyred feelings creeping up on you, I want you to stop and find out which one of these things you have allowed to take over your body.Routines are the key to keeping your brain from going into that martyred stinking thinking! One other thing is the second you realize this is happening to you; BITE YOUR TONGUE! DO NOT ALLOW THOSE MARTYRED WORDS PAST YOUR LIPS. Then go set your timer and take care of yourself. Take deep breaths and focus on what needs to be done. Being a martyr is just another form of whining!- FlyLady"

Ooh, that last line has teeth! It hurt! lol I would add that if I am not in the Word and spending time in prayer then I am much, much more likely to indulge in those "I'm a martyr" thoughts. I've read Unappreciated by Damian Kyle many times because of those thoughts! If you've never read it, do! And then remember exactly who you're serving because when we remember that it's the Lord we serve (not ourselves) we can let go of worrying if anyone has seen all the work we're doing. We don't have to be concerned that we haven't recieved our fair share of attention or applause because we know He sees.

On the WOW Hymns cd Chris Tomlin has a version the hymn Take My Life and Let It Be that I absolutely love. I don't know how to link the song to my blog (And though I'm sure I could figure it out I have to go grocery shopping here in a minute!) So here are the words with Tomlin's refrain. When I sing this song (at the top of my lungs) I sing it as a prayer because if we lived our lives this way, the only martyrdom that would happen is the real kind, where we lay our lives down in service to Him.

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as you choose.

Refrain:
Here am I, all of me
Take my life, it's all for Thee

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Oh Lord, please make my heart right before you and help me to remember exactly who I serve. That it isn't me and it isn't for the praise of men but only to hear "Well done my good and faithful servant" the day I look into your beautiful eyes. Take my life, it's all for Thee.
Amen