I’m guilty.

I admit, I’m guilty.

Right now, in front of everyone… I lay it on the line.

I. AM. GUILTY.

Guilty of what you may be wondering.

Well, there is a list.

When I am at the office late (almost everyday), I feel guilty I am not with my kids or husband.

When I take time with my family, I feel guilty that I am not working (even if it is my day off). Ironic, huh?

With the kids, I feel guilty about husband time. And with the hubby, I feel guilty about kid time.

We haven’t even talked about the dog, the neighbors, the P.T.A., the room mothers, and my friends.

Who has time for friends? Wow, I feel really bad about how I treat them too.

Heaven forbid I spend an hour alone because then I feel guilty about everyone!

When I workout, I feel guilty because I am not with the family or working. When I don’t have time to workout (because I’m with my family or working), I feel guilty that I am not taking care of my body.

When I eat fried foods or sweets, I feel like I am not taking care of myself. When I turndown sweets or fried foods, I feel like others think I am being self-righteous.

How do we win?

Guilt is a tool of the enemy.

Guilt attempts to rob us of our happiness (no matter where we are or what we are doing).

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). –John 10:10 (AMP)

Overflows…

God wants us to experience so much joy that it overflows onto other people. When they see how much fun we are having, they’ll want to know what we have that they don’t… Jesus.

That’s why the first thing the enemy comes to steal is our joy – though little pangs of guilt.

Sneaky, huh?

These little pangs aren’t “major” enough to get our attention. If they were, then we would correct the problem.

But guilt actually feels right… somehow justified.

That’s why we need to remember feelings are crazy, fickle creatures. They are wrong just as often as they are right.

Let’s talk about how to kill guilt.

Kill guilt! Kill guilt! I had to work myself up to this because I am really guilty of it.

If Jesus said that the reason He came was so that I could enjoy life (so much that I overflow with it), then this is the key… I am just going to enjoy it!

• Enjoy my time alone.
• Enjoy my kids when I am with them.
• Enjoy my husband when we have our moments.
• Enjoy work while I am there.
• Enjoy the calories when I indulge and (be proud of myself when I have the courage to turn them down).

Right now I decide to go ahead and encourage others… to show them how to stomp out guilt… to share with them how to enjoy the very place they are right now!

Suck it in.

If you’re at the office on your break, be thrilled you are employed.

If you’re on your phone reading this, let’s just do a dance that you have a smart phone (no matter where you are on it).

If you are unemployed right now, be excited about a break from the rat race.

If you are covered in kid puke right now, be happy it is just a passing flu and nothing serious.

If it is something serious, enjoy that we have this time together.

God gave me life, and by George, I am not going to let the enemy guilt me into not enjoying it!

It’s a Girl Thing this Month

I will be talking about how it is okay to enjoy life and pamper ourselves a little bit at the It’s a Girl Thing women’s meeting on April 20th at our Sunset Hills Campus at 7:30pm.

We will have some great salons in house as well as some fabulous D.I.Y. spa treatments you can do at home.

Come be with us! The event is free and childcare is provided for ages 0-4. Come and don’t fell guilty about it!

What about you?

Are you committed to stomping out guilt today? Have you fought similar battles? Tell us about it. Encourage us!