To get through February (and the rest of our lives) with JOY

I just finished reading about Helen Roseveare this past week in Faithful Women & Their Extraordinary God and was totally struck by what a Congolese pastor said to her early on in her work as a doctor/ surgeon & missionary. He said: "Helen, the problem with you is that we see too much 'Helen' and not enough Jesus". He drew a letter I in the sand and then drew a line across it. No more I, it's all about the cross= Christ. To live for Him every day and not for myself. Too often we have hurts, wants, dislikes, etc...and we focus on ourselves or we are selfish & unkind to others because we are so focused on our own feelings...but if we truly PRAY that the Lord will guide/lead us in our own lives to be more focused on "the crossed-out I life" that looks more like a cross/ Christ then our life of service to Christ from day to day will be one filled with the JOY of knowing that it is a privilege to be one of His children and seeking to live for Him and in serving others.