Hopeful

Affirmation: I choose to be authentic. I choose to let go of what other people think.

“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them” (Matthew 15:18)

Do you want to know what’s inside your heart? Listen to what comes out of your lips. 

Wholehearted Guidepost 10: Cultivating Laughter, Song, and Dance. And Letting Go of Cool and Always in Control (Brené Brown)

“Laughter, song, and dance create emotional and spiritual connection; they remind us of the one thing that truly matters when we are searching for comfort, celebration, inspiration, or healing; We are not alone.”

Laughter, in particular, is a core element of resilience. Without the ability to laugh at yourself and your inevitable missteps, you’ll be hard-pressed to continue through adversity.

Song and dance are clear indicators of good moods. When we feel great, we sing and dance more. And since feelings follow behavior, when we authentically express ourselves through song and dance, we feel better.

Mastering the 7 Decisions- Andy Andrews

Be persistent.

The 7th decision, to persist without exception is your determination to not quit. You don’t give up.

Atomic Habits-James Clear

Keep doing the small things that bring 1% improvement each day.

Live in Grace. Walk in Love. -Bob Goff

THERE’S A LOT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. 

THERE’S MORE TO BE HOPEFUL FOR.

I don’t watch a lot of TV. I think the real world is way more interesting. But because I have several friends who work for the US government, and I serve as the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the US, I need to stay up on things.

I’ll be honest, though—watching the news can be a real grind. It can make a person think everything is doom and gloom and that nothing good happens ever. I guess that’s good for ratings. But the sad truth is, throughout the world, every day something devastating is happening. A country overrun by war, a community crushed by a mass shooting, a person targeted for a hate crime. Still, I believe God is at work to put an end to this suffering.

Sure, there’s a lot to be concerned about, but we have even more reasons to be hopeful.

Here’s why: Jesus said His kingdom wasn’t of this world. He said evil would win for a while, but that His kingdom of love would have the last word. And He said those of us who follow Him will be the ones who are laying the groundwork for His return. We’ll be the runners who sprint ahead with the good news of what’s coming.

Don’t believe the people who tell you there’s no hope. It’s everywhere. It’s like the smell in the air right before the rains come. We have hope because we trust in the God who sits above every conflict. We bring hope when we choose to fix our eyes on Jesus rather than on all the distractions around us.

Next time you hear bad news, ask yourself how you can be hope in the midst of it.

What are you feeling hopeless about?

How will you bring that to God?
“Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.””‭‭John‬ ‭18:36‬ ‭NLT‬‬https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.18.36.NLT

Bonus: I just this: A Blessing Machine. It is both encouraging and challenging.
Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 274 • Devotional
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/23472/day/274?segment=0