bad credit.

My mom gives me a hard time sometimes-- and rightfully so-- for always needing credit. If anyone repeats a story I told them, I can't help but jump in and claim credit for the laughs.

Yes, it seems that I'm always in the market for a pat on the back... even if I have to ask for it specifically.

My Bible study leader said something this week that was particularly profound to me. We had just wrapped up Session 4 of Beth Moore's Inheritance study, and we were talking about the lots the Lord had given us. Everyone was throwing out thoughts and comments about the lesson when Becky said, "Ya know, I'm always asking the Lord to use me in some big way... but then I might take credit for it. I should just ask that He use me at all."

Now, the slippery slope here is laziness. I could refuse to go outside my comfort zone or just sit contentedly in my morning Bible studies and say that I'm just proud that the Lord's using me... no need for anything crazy. But that's not what I'm getting at.

I listen to Beth Moore's lessons sometimes and I can't help but wonder if I could ever be as knowledgeable and perceptive of the Word as she is... I wonder if I could ever write the kind of books that change lives the way she does... but the truth is, if I had that kind of talent, I'm not sure that I could stop myself from taking credit for it. Sure, I'd talk a big talk about what the Lord was doing in my life and yada yada yada, but at the end of the day, I can just see me patting myself on the back for the clever illustration I came up with to make that Scripture come to life. Way to go, Linds, you paraphrased!

So I'm thinking a lot about humility this week... and that's not really something I can take credit for.