TALKING TO MYSELF

Thursday, June 27, 2024 12:29:14 PM

I am learning.

Once upon a time I thought I was practicing self improvement, I wasn’t; I was doing what culture deemed appropriate. As a Licensed Practical Nurse I was dedicated to giving excellent health care, I felt nursing because I discovered there is now care in modern day health care; that was in 2008. I gravitated to Tax Preparation and became an office manager of one of the larger tax preparation chains, it didn’t take me long to discover: corporations are about profit, customers are to be served and service is based on making sure they come back. I moved from one tax company to another and served as Office Manager, more money same hypocrisy. I started my own tax business and also spent a year serving in the IRS subsidized program Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (V.I.T.A.); I didn’t make much of a profit and V.I.T.A. is a non-profit thus I served people. I also worked on my looks.
Why do we think, hairstyles, makeup and clothes will make us feel better? Skinny people are just as sad as fat people. Black people, brown people, yellow, white and bi-racial people all struggle and have similar issues. I know millionaires and I know people who are on government assistance neither has the ability to cure a terminal disease.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 (KJV)
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

I am learning about the vanity that is within men. By definition of the word, I would not call myself vain, prideful. Yet, I have been living a life, lately, that acknowledges me.

I criticize politicians for being so selfish; it is clear to me that are making decisions that benefit them more than the American people. Though I may be correct, their behavior will not get me into heaven or keep me out of hell.

Ecclesiastes 2:19 (KJV)
19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

My self improvement should not be about looking good on the outside or even doing good things based on color, culture, denomination or even gender. What is needed today?

Luke 10:41-42 (KJV)
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Is this why the word says: Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)? There were things that needed to be done in the kitchen yet Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet.

What I need to do, what most of the women I meet need to do is stop doing what is correct based on: culture, color, gender, or religious doctrine and do what the Holy Spirit is leading me, most women, to do. Instead of chatting on the phone, or having a girls night out talk to yourself.
I need to give myself a piece of my mind! I know what I need to do. I need to exercise, eat right, read more, finish my sewing projects, finish my crochet projects, knit some more washcloths, make soap, fix the issues with this blog…the list is long. Did I mention stop spending and pay off this debt? I don’t need a friend or family member to tell me what I need to do. I don’t need to vent, I need to do. I can talk all day. I need to do, put into action what I believe both in how I live here on earth and how I want to live in eternity.
I am learning, everything I really need to know is in the Bible.

Written by Marsha L Floyd
All rights reserved

James 2:17-26 (KJV)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.