Yesterday hit as a steamroller.  That is not a bad thing, just that every project I’m working with has immediate needs which involve time and effort.  One of them is also very emotionally needy so it is far more about keeping myself on track with the work separating the drama of emotions others carry right on the surface.  I’m also beginning to see that sometimes the God-sized Work He does is the change in a person. In my past when I dealt with a emotionally driven person I would spend much time trying to “convince” them there are other ways of dealing with problems than simply yelling at it, pouting about it, becoming bitter, etc.  All I would usually do is get myself caught in their emotional trap.  God is showing me that He is the One who changes lives and when He does it, it sticks.  The message is something like this:  “Let it go Earnie.”

Last night at Celebrate Recovery was chip night.  This is when folks working on some area of sobriety or changed life, they get a chip for each level of accomplishment from 30 days all the way to 35 years.  Two months ago I took a starting chip for working on being a “new creation”.  I didn’t set solid criteria determining what qualified me living it.  Thus, I haven’t taken a 30 day or 60 day chip.  However, it hit me last night the solid criteria I need to set.  The testimony we had spoke of trying to do this change on our own.  I know better than this but I don’t act like I do much of the time.  God nudged me to take the step of setting the criteria for my living as a new creation.  The action I’d take is to call or text an accountability person at the point when I am tempted to falter.  This is what a new creation does.  This is not new but the action would sure be new for me.  I tend to reach out sometimes and other times I reach out after I’ve fought temptation for a while.  If God is going to fight the battle which He says is His anyway, I’ve got to let it go.  The only way I let it go is to surrender it by telling someone that I’m struggling.  My pride stands in the way thinking I’m weak.  Yet, I know I will be strong when I tell.  So, this is my new commitment for stepping into living the life of a new creation.  Anyone ready to join me?