Tuesday Tunes: Christmas

In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, let’s talk Christmas Carols. My iPod is chocked full of Christmas tunes.

6 different versions of The First Noel, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Away in a Manger.

5 Frosty the Snowman’s and 4 versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Over 10 hours of Christmas music in all.

I have everything from Shirley Temple’s, “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas” to Nat King Cole’s, “The Christmas Song.” My favorites right now are The Statler Brother’s version of “Old Toy Trains,” Sara Evans’ “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Hard Candy Christmas” by Dolly Parton.

“Old Toy Trains” reminds of my sister and her annual high school show choir Christmas Concert. We would go each year long after her high school days were over, and they were still putting on the same show. I literally cried when they retired the routines that they had used for far too many years.

“O Come All Ye Faithful” reminds me of the road trips I would take with my best friend Shannon. Sara Evans’ version was on the Country Christmas 1999 CD, and we fell in love with it. We would listen to it all year long, singing at the top of our lungs, convinced we were blending right in with the award-winning singer. We were such nerds. Andy Griffith’s gospel CD and the soundtrack to the Wizard of Oz were also staples in our cross-country sing a longs. A few years ago I lost my ’99 CD. I was devastated, but finally found it on ebay. Apparently it was a lot of people’s favorite, because it ended up going for around $40. Listen to her sing that song and you’ll know it was well worth it. For the record, you can get a used one right now on Amazon $0.93.

“Hard Candy Christmas” is just good stuff, and Dolly Parton singing anything makes me happy.

What’s your favorite Christmas song? Whose version is the best? Why? Click on comments and let me know. I am always up for adding one more version of a classic carol.

Mom's Monday Musings: Season of Generosity

The Christmas season has officially begun, and with it the season of giving. Giving truly is better than receiving when the motivation behind the gift is from an overflow of love. There is tremendous joy in witnessing the expression of excitement on the face of a grateful recipient, one who understands, appreciates, and accepts the love that is offered in a well thought out gift. As the “To Buy For” list grows, my heart swells, because I am reminded of the relationships that are represented there.

Regrettably, however, the shrinking wallet usually follows the swelling heart, because our culture tells us that our love must be represented by dollar signs and excess. As a result, I often find myself skimping on the meaningfulness of a gift, and splurging on the extravagance of it instead. The same line of faulty thinking affects the way I give gifts to my children, especially during the Christmas season.  

I struggle to find balance between fulfilling all of their Christmas wishes and restraining the spending and exuberant gift giving that I know only perpetuates a spirit of discontent, and self-centeredness. I realize that this battle is one of my own flesh – doing what makes me feel good versus doing what is best for my children.

Throughout the year, I watch them fall prey to the trappings of wanting more, more, more, and I feel the sting of responsibility knowing that I contribute to that attitude by giving in to their whims and wishes for my own benefit. How can I expect them to be content with the overflowing bounty that they have been afforded, when my actions teach them that they are somehow entitled to more?

As the mom, I realize that I set the tone for the Christmas holidays in my family. How I choose to center my heart and organize my priorities during this time influences the season for my entire family. This year I am making an intentional effort to focus my heart more on the joy of giving and less on the excitement of receiving, more on meaning and less on money. The reason we give is because we were first given to. A baby. A Saviour. A ransom on a cross. A free gift of salvation. That’s the gift I will focus my heart on. That’s the gift I will focus on giving away.

How will I shift my focus?

Melfin, our Elf on the Shelf, will primarily bring gifts that are to be given away…I’ll have a little talk with him.

I will look for ways my family and myself can share the love of Jesus with our neighbors, the figurative and literal ones; delivering cookies, adding $5 in gas to those who pump next to us, visiting the lonely in a nursing home.

We will give gifts that have significance and simplicity.

I will strive to avoid over indulging my children because it makes me feel good.

I will make time in the hustle and bustle to spend time with Giver Of Good Gifts and the very reason that we celebrate.

I look forward to sharing our family’s efforts with you throughout the month of December during Mom’s Monday Musings. I anticipate much temptation, knowing how susceptible I am to all things red, green, and glittery. I ask for your prayers and I encourage you to join me in the fight against over indulgence, to seek opportunities to express the truth of God’s gift, Jesus, in tangible ways to those around you, and to simplify your Christmas.

Mom's Monday Musings

Axl spent much of this weekend with his Nana, my mother with whom he is in love. The hours before Nana arrives pass like those spent watching grass grow. Painful. Forever. Christmas morning doesn't evoke an equal welcome. Time with Nana is a coveted treasure.

Friday we were joined by Aunt Faye, my mom's sister and story-teller extraordinaire. Her stories are big and lively, made all the more entertaining by the laugh she can't contain from the onset.

"Again, again. Start from the beginning and tell it again." Axl pleaded over and over.

I love that he was old enough to understand, to grasp the humor, to appreciate the art of a well told story.

The time together made me remember long summer days, far from home, where I would sit on a front porch shelling peas I had picked through complaints and cries for mercy. Surrounded by cousins, and aunts, and Grandma. We would sing loud and out of tune; I can still hear her voice. Not at all melodious or soft. It was old and raspy and wonderfully Southern. I know now, but couldn't understand then that it was soulful, drawn up from an inner well that never did run dry. A lover of Jesus, a saint if I ever met one, a woman with stories to tell. But I never asked to hear them, and I feel sad.

So many stories buried with the ones I love, missed opportunities, and history forgotten. How many stories are still waiting to be told? Who will they tell them to, if we don't long to hear and absorb them? Who will tell our stories, if we don't.

This week as we gather with family, let us take time to reflect on the history that surrounds the table. Imagine the world's events that are represented in the faces you see. The holidays can be trying. Consider what tension might be eased, by engaging crazy Uncle Joe in a conversation about where he was when Elvis passed away? You may find yourself pleading, "Again. Again."

Find interesting questions to engage relatives with here. 

Fan of Friday...I'm a fan of Thanksgiving

I’m a fan of Thanksgiving, of falling leaves, bare-naked trees, oranges and browns, turkey and dressing, family and friends, thanks and giving.

I’m a fan of Pilgrims and Indians, and the heritage they gave us, of the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, and Miles Standish, who was short in stature and quick in temper.

I’m a fan of breathing it all in, absorbing the air, the smells, and the anticipation of the holidays beginning.

I’m a fan of refusing to participate in Christmas until every Thanksgiving moment has been all gobbled up - pun very much intended.

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

What are you a fan of this Thanksgiving season?

Eliminating the List

I’ve been guilty of keeping a list. You’d never find it on paper. It’s not meant to be seen – that would be cruel. You see this is a list of women that I don’t didn't like. Wait. Hear me out. I had good reason not to like them. They didn’t like me first.

None of them ever said they didn’t like me; I just knew. I could tell when they didn’t light up when I came around, smile when we passed in public, approach me for meaningful conversation or even idle chitchat. If they didn’t stand by me at parties, compliment my shoes, or make me feel valued in any way, then they must not have liked me. And if they didn’t like me, well, I certainly wasn’t about to like them back. They were the mean girls.

Over time, the list grew, and maintaining it became cumbersome. I wanted to be free from the string of names that I considered enemies. I was keeping a list of wrongs, perceived ones at that, and there was no love in my heart. I knew it was a sin.

I started to wonder if these women were really my enemies at all. I mean, I’m likable, at least to a degree, so was it logical that so many women chose not to like me because they were just plain mean spirited? I doubted it.

Tired of carrying the weight of the list, I decided to approach my so-called enemies in a new way. I decided to love on them, to smile at them, stand by them, engage them in conversations, compliment their shoes, make them feel valued in any way possible. I began to treat them like I had wanted them to treat me so many times before.

Turns out everyone on the list smiled back, talked back, complimented back, enjoyed being valued, and freely reciprocated the feeling. Before long new relationships emerged, and every name was erased. Turns out I never had any enemies.

In the end, I was kind of the mean girl. My insecurity, my need to be validated by everyone around me caused me to see everyone’s actions in light of how they affected me. I never considered how the insecurities, situations, or lives of the women on my list prevented them from making me feel special, or that it was not their job to do so. It didn't occur to me that I might be on their list, or that they might be in need of someone reaching out to them.

Do you have a list?

Do you have insecurities that cause you to overlook opportunities to reach out to other women in genuine friendship and love? Consider the words of Jesus.

Matthew 5:43-48 reads, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

I encourage you to take the first step in forging a new friendship with a woman on your list. Send her an encouraging e-mail, offer a sincere compliment, smile in her direction, pray for her – right now.

Wide aWake Wednesday

It's Wednesday, so you're probably expecting Share the Love Wednesday, which is now forever changed to Share the Web Wednesday - no alliteration, no can do. But, your "scheduled quite regularly these days" programming is being interrupted so that I can bring you "Wide aWake Wednesday" in honor of the fact that is is 1:30 AM and I am indeed wide awake. I feel like I just woke up from a four hour power nap. From my bedside table an empty Mountain Dew can looks at me sheepishly.

The middle of the night is a very vulnerable time, so I don't enjoy experiencing it. I always try to pray myself back to sleep, which I used to feel really guilty about, fearing God might think I thought He was too boring to stay awake for, but then an amazing Bible study teacher explained that there was no safer, more peaceful place to fall asleep than in the arms of Jesus. What a freeing thought. But I'm usually either just sleepy enough that my prayers turn into half coherent hallucinations or I'm too wired and can't concentrate on one thing at a time. This is where I find myself now, jumping from one tragic event to the next, because my middle of the night daydreaming doesn't take my wandering mind to creative places or warm fuzzy memories. No, just the opposite.

The middle of the night is when I'm most afraid. Big terrifying thoughts like death, leaving children without a will, and the urgency of needing to get that done years ago. Small irrational fears like Axl's 1st grade teacher thinking I'm a failure, when I have to ask the Thanksgiving plan again, because I lost my notes from the beginning of the year meeting. The one that was supposed to save her the hassle of dealing with it the week before any big event. Self deprecating thoughts like other, more of everything women would just get up and use this energy to clean something or bake or both instead of wishing the energy would just go away so that they could sleep.

Tonight, this morning, tomato, tomoto, I'm taking every thought captive, refusing to spend another minute in fear and shame - two places that God has called me out of.
2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to God."

Obedient to God and His reassuring truth that death is not a thing to be feared by a child of God, and more importantly, He is in control of my children, loving them, providing for them, with or without me here to oversee His work. Thoughts obedient to God say my worth is not bound to poor organizational skills, or a need/desire for sleep. Though just to be clear, obedience to God does not include disorder and laziness. When I intentionally filter every thought through the truth of God's Word, I'm not at the mercy of my sinful, wandering mind. Instead, I can rest easy in the never ending mercies of the Father.

Do you have thoughts that hold you captive or cripple you with fear? I encourage you to seek out Biblical truth that speak to those areas. Be intentional about memorizing the Scriptures so they're always at your disposal. Identify the thoughts immediately for what they are, and take them captive with God's Word.

Tuesday Tunes: "Sun & Moon"

The Psalms are full of Scriptures testifying to God's great creation and the praise that that creation continually brings forth.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Psalm 96:11-13 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 148:3-10 3-4 Praise Him sun and moon; praise Him all you shining stars. Praise Him you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

All of nature is a testament to His power and stands in awe of His majesty. We, all of mankind, are God's greatest creation. God saw Adam and said it was very good. But from the beginning man has chosen to go his own way. Choosing to worship the creation instead of the Creator.

For me that looks like refusing to die to self daily, and instead feeling as if I'm owed quiet time, open lanes for speeding, and the ceasing of all others cell phone conversations in my presence. Ironic that other people's selfishness is so annoying. Oh the list is long and ugly, and I realize more and more every day that I am the center of my universe. I must decrease, so that He may increase. I must give more away. Love. Grace. Mercy. Tolerance. I must reflect Jesus who gave it all away. The struggle continues.

I love the idea of nature offering praises to God. The imagery all around offers reminders that my life is to be about praise, about the creator, and not the creation made in His image. Some of my favorite worship songs center on that theme.

Response, the latest effort released by Phil Wickham, offers a collection of 11 powerful songs that will move your heart toward God. My favorite, by far, is "Sun & Moon."

If You are the sun
Then I wanna be the moon
I want to reflect the light
That shines from You
And if this is war
Then I'm gonna draw my sword
This time I know what I'm fighting for

God I wanna let You know
I want everything You are
I'm waiting for the morning light
To show a fire in the dark

Shine Your light
I want to feel You now
God I need a miracle
Take my heart, make it glow
Shine Your light
From the inside out
I wanna be more like You
If You are the sun
Then I wanna be the moon
I wanna be the moon

If love is a choice
Then I need You to hear my voice
I'm the one knocking on Your door
Making all this noise
Whatever it takes
I'd give it all away
I want to show my love in a thousand ways

The moon sits in darkness; It offers no light on its own. The sun is the source of its radiance. Jesus you are the Son, so I want to be the moon.

Mom's Monday Musings: Maintaining Confidence

Axl: We got our school picture proofs back today.

Mom: Oh yeah, how does it look?

Axl: Ehhh. My hair looks like it is sticking out this far. Think big. I think the camera was broken, because I know my hair was perfect.

Oh to have such confidence.

A few days later that confidence was challenged. Axl wanted desperately to finally win a recess race. Cheat, that was his plan, and it almost led him to victory. Fall. That was his reality. In front of all the friends who'd gathered to watch the race, Axl's plan ended with him face down on the finish line.

"Loser. Loser. Loser." Those were the words that greeted him.

He cried soulful tears as he retold the story; and we wept together at the shame of sin and the damage done by words.

"Axl you are not a loser, and your friends don't really think that you are a loser."

"Why would they say that then?"

I know first hand how the cruel words of peers, when internalized, shape our identities. Please God give me wisdom.

We just held, loved, remembered that God came as a baby (helpless and weak); He announced His birth to shepherds (lowly losers of their time); He befriended fishermen and thieves (the poor, the dirty, the outcasts). We counted all the ways God made Axl special and uniquely gifted that had nothing to do with handball, obstacle courses, or races. God doesn't make losers.

We remembered how one of Jesus' best friends treated him cruelly, and how Jesus forgave Him and loved him anyway.

We remembered the force of the enemies temptation, but we focused on the power of the One who is greater than he who is in the world. We remembered that crossing the finish line as a cheater doesn't make you a winner. We prayed forgiveness all around.

I remembered that being transparent about our hurts, fears, and dark places brings them out into the light. I encouraged Axl to always remember the same. In all that remembering, Axl forgot and finally smiled.

It was a hard day, but one packed with lessons and blessings you can't get on an easy day.

Fan of Friday...I'm a fan of "Just Do Something," by Kevin De Young

This summer, after returning from Uganda with a fire for action ablaze in my belly, I met with our worship pastor and mission’s leader (one person, two jobs. we’ll call him Brian, because that’s his name) to discuss my future role in the place I had come to love. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something, but then I got busy. The fire wasn’t extinguished but it became more like a smoldering ember than a four-alarm call to action. 

During that meeting, Brian pointedly asked, “Tonya, what do you want to do?” I used quotes, but in all fairness it could have been, “Tonya what is that you want to do.” Either way, he used my name, which seemed so authoritative and he asked in a way that almost demanded an answer; and I began to cry.  

I sputtered on with answers that were more inquiries than assertions. Really I just wanted him to tell me what to do, and even said as much. Through my tears I left Uganda and went big pictures, and though it was not his intention, I felt like I was being called out for all talk and no action.  

“women’s ministry?”

“speak?”

“I’m scared. I quit things. What if it’s all about me? What if it’s not His will? What if I quit this too?”

Brian, who always wants to “unpack” statements and know “what that looks like,” listened to my rambles and took in my reasons for complacency. To him, all my seemingly spiritual reasons for not moving forward were all about me. That I could put in quotes with confidence, because that’s what he said. It sounded profound, so I nodded in agreement – you know I could never appear to misunderstand the profound. Truth – I had no idea what he was talking about. How could it be all about me when I all I wanted to do was please my Jesus? The thing is, I knew he was right, but I couldn’t figure out how or why. 

Then I read about this book called, Just do Something. The title appealed to me immediately. The content is changing me. I finally understand what Brian was trying to tell me.

It’s a quick read, only 158 pages. Packed with Scripture, it will challenge you and cause you to think differently about the will of God. If you’ve ever wondered what God’s will is for your life, then read this book? If you’ve ever felt compelled to just do something, but feared that that something might be your idea and not God’s, then read this book. If you’ve ever felt like all your reasons for stagnation had more to do with you than with God, then read this book. Want to just do something with your faith? Do it. But also read this book.

I Might As Well Put on My Mom Jeans

Once upon a time I had a style so well-defined that I could walk into any cute little shop and with ease say, "This is a T shirt." I bought what I loved and I wore it. But somewhere between stay at home mom and mid thirties I lost all sense of style, especially my own. Who knows what a "T" shirt might look like these days, because the only thing you'll find me in is a tee-shirt or a plaid button down. Although sometimes I do mix it up and go with a layered look, putting my tee-shirt under an unbuttoned plaid, but that's only when I get dressed up. Sad. True.

The thing is, my carefree, comfy couture would work, if it actually made me feel comfortable or even carefree, but it doesn't. Instead it makes me feel a little like I've given up, given up a part of myself, my creativity, my voice.

I've come up with a few reasons why I believe my style is MIA:

1. As a stay at home mom and a known homebody, I don't interact with the masses. I don't have a reason to get all dolled up.

2. My husband loves me just as I am. Thank you Jesus, he loves me just as I am, and even a little bit more when I'm in sweats, sans make-up, and here's an interesting fact, with chipped nail polish. Go figure.

3. I've never dressed this person that I am now before, and I don't know what she likes. Sorry for the third person reference, but she, who is really me, actually feels a little like a stranger in the fashion department.

                     So, I might as well go ahead and put on my mom jeans, right?

Maybe not quite yet. Terrified at the thought, I dug deep and discovered rebuttals to my own faulty reasonings, determined to uncover the fashionista that I know still lives inside.

1. The truth is, I struggle with seeking the approval of others in many areas, but fashion and my personal sense of style has never been one of those areas. I never dressed up so that others would see and affirm me. I did it, because it made me feel good. The reason to get all dolled up back then was me. The reason to get all dolled up today is still me. P.S. If you know me at all, you know dolled up is a little bit of an exaggerated term. 

2. My husband does love me just as I am, but I think the reason my gunk free face and jacked up nails appealed to him in the first place was that it was something I shared only with him, a way he could see me and no one else could. He would never admit it, but I have to wonder if the look is a little less appealing now that it has gone public. 

3. Discovering new clothes that I might possibly learn to love could somehow be construed as a fun thing, if one were, say, transparent enough to admit that they were actually concerned about such trivial pursuits.

Minutes later...

I'm calling my own transparency into question as I struggle to push "Publish Post." Should I make you all aware that this Jesus girl with the Jesus blog is actually concerned with pursuits as shallow as new clothes? I could give myself the sermon right now on all things "worldly." In reality it's playing in my heart and in my head as I type.

More minutes later...

In the end, I'm gonna push the button, because that's the point of the whole thing. Transparency. Good, bad, and ugly, but all true.

Share the Love Wednesday: Fields of Gold

One can waste much time behind the screen that grants endless access to knowledge without wisdom and headlines without facts. How many times have I sat down to send a quick e-mail and found myself entangled in the lives of the Kardashians? When there is a worthy task to be avoided, the internet provides unlimited distractions and I fall prey to them all.

But women with a real voice, ones who use that voice to glorify Jesus, are a distraction that I can feel good about. The blogs of Christian women are like reality TV without the "guilty pleasure" tagline. I've stumbled upon some that I love and want to share with you.

Check out Samantha Reed's Blog, Fields of Gold. The first time I read her words, I had to fight hard the temptation to be overcome with feelings of jealousy and inferiority. Her words are poetic and poignant, but relatable and oh so readable.

Here's a post from August called, "I Am Loved"  Spend some time there when you have a free moment, they won't be moments wasted.

Tuesday Tunes

Tuesday Tunes: I’m Forgiven

I love music, and like most people I can’t be pinned down to one genre. I’ll even take rap or heavy metal, if the content is bearable. Music makes us feel. It stirs us from the inside and so often the rhythm does actually get you, just like Gloria Estefan warned.

I’m a lyrics gal – all about the words, and when I hear a lyric it becomes hard wired into my brain. I can’t forget it no matter how hard I try. Achy Breaky Heart – really – please make it go away. For that reason, I have to be careful about the content of the music that I enjoy. Oh be careful little ears what you hear, right?

Today, my inner iPod hit repeat on one line of a song called “Forgiven” by Sanctus Real. It’s not a new song, released in 2010, but neither is its message.

Sanctus Real: "Forgiven" 

I’m reminded of the wrong

That I have said and done

And that devil just won’t let me forget

In this life

I know what I’ve been

But here in your arms

I know what I am

I’m forgiven

I can’t contemplate this truth without gratitude greater than words welling up in the depths of my soul. Without the atoning work of Christ on the cross, the wrong that I have said and done would have created an unbridgeable chasm between me and a Holy God, but through Him, I am forgiven (period).  That is who I am, a title that defines my existence.

Now that I am forgiven, having repented and turned away from ugly like you could never begin to imagine just by looking at me, I am no longer bound to the memory of the past offenses, except, of course, when the devil just won’t let me forget. In those moments I remember that my Forgiver chooses not to remember my transgressions (Jeremiah 31:41 NIV). He has removed them from as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12 NIV).

How about you? Does the enemy taunt you with sins of the past, tricking you into believing that you are too tarnished or too damaged to be used by a Perfect King? Or worse, that you are too much of anything bad to even be a child of God?

Hebrews 10:17-18 says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."

Sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Oh My Goodness that’s some good news, and I pray that you hear it, internalize it, and live it out.

The depth of my sin is a reminder of the depth of His forgiveness. I embrace the chance to offer Him praise at that thought, but I refuse to allow the enemy to negate that opportunity with thoughts of shame and guilt.

Here are some other great songs about God’s amazing choice to not remember all that He has forgiven.

                                           Casting Crowns: "East to West"

And one of the best lyrics ever, "I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way He loves us." Kim Walker with Jesus Culture: "How He Loves Us"

Mom's Monday Musings

Play dates are a beautiful thing. Axl enjoys the company of a playmate for a long afternoon of endless imagination and mess making, and I enjoy a long afternoon of not being the playmate - fun is had by all. My favorite thing about play dates though is listening in on the very serious conversational exchanges between two little boys. Friday’s gathering was no let down, as the conversation veered to a very important subject indeed.

Guest: “The only way to kill a rattlesnake is with a sword or a knife. You have to stab it in the heart, ‘cause if you stab it in the body you just dissect it.”

Axl: “You can shoot it with a shotgun too. In the head.”

So there you have it, Rattlesnake Annihilation 101.

And then there was this:

Guest: flush…leave bathroom

Axl: from down the hall “You didn’t wash your hands!”

Mom: somewhat relieved that at least he knows one SHOULD wash their hands before leaving the bathroom…somewhat frustrated that the information hasn’t influenced his own bathroom etiquette

The exchange reminded me how easily we spot the speck in someone else’s eye. You would think that the plank in our own would hinder our vision.  

Matthew 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"