November 3: We Shouldn’t Say Everyone’s Invited If We are Going To Act Like They Aren’t Welcome

Affirmation: I am gentle with myself and my mistakes. I treat my body with love and respect.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Continue to practice this verse each day: be joyful, be patient be faithful… in hope, addiction and prayer.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Cultivate Gratitude and Joy. Let Go of Scarcity and Fear of the Dark.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Having joyful experiences is not what makes us grateful. Recognize that it's the opposite: Practicing gratitude leads to joyful experiences.

2. During your typical day, STOP. Become aware of the ordinary moments or everyday rituals that bring you joy. Write them down on slips of paper as they happen. This will help you prepare for the journal exercise as described in the next video.

3. By acknowledging the ordinary moments or the "little things," you will gain perspective and resilience to build your joy reserves. Collect these moments with intention.~~~~~~~~~~

Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Certain Decision 

I have a decided heart.

It’s not about what it IS…

It’s about what it can BECOME!

“What you decide in your heart will be done and the light of God will shine on your ways.” 

Job 22:28

The Certain Decision for personal success is what fuels your actions from the active decision. The clarity of vision you maintain in your mind is directly proportional to the effectiveness of your actions. A decided heart is unwavering in the face of continual challenges and setbacks and that ensures victory and a lifetime of greater fulfillment.

HOPE, DREAMS, ANTICIPATION…DECIDE.

Scripture:

“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” John 9:4 (NLT)

 

Reading:

“There are some things which must be done today, things that you and you alone where created to accomplish. Some of us are wasting our time burning daylight when what we need to be doing is seizing the power of every moment.” -From Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus

 

Reflection:

The window of opportunity will close. The sun shining with good intentions will set. Your child will one day leave home. If you wait for the perfect moment on the perfect day…you will wait until you die.  The day to act…is today.

 

Blessing:

May you experience God’s presence in the present and thereby learn His plans for every given moment and follow it into whatever joy and struggles it brings.

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love by Bob Goff

November 3

We Shouldn’t Say Everyone’s Invited If We are Going To Act Like They Aren’t Welcome

“A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who have been invited, “come, for everything is now ready.” Luke 14:6–17.
We have all attended a holiday with friends or family when we knew we weren’t really wanted. The moment you walk in the door, you see, forced smiles, and hear the fake tone of voice that sounds like a news anchor, trying to convince you they care. We know we are a nuisance before we sit down at the table. We all know what it is like to be invited out of a sense of obligation. It can be spotted in an instant.

The same thing happens in our churches, too. People feel like they’re supposed to invite everyone because perhaps they read a story in the Bible about a wedding feast and everyone being invited to it. Here is the problem: they don’t know what to do when people take them up on the offer. We don’t know what to tell the kids about the person who uses salty language because they don’t know the Christian speak, or the one who expresses their love in ways we don’t approve of.

We tell people to “come as they are,“ but only if they’ll change enough to make us comfortable once they arrive. That is not how love works. Love says we need you even more if you are different from the rest of us. Love says everyone has something to teach us, and God will use people from the edges to expand our understanding of His grace, right in the middle of where we live. Love says everyone who is invited is truly wanted.
We are meeting people at the starting line, not the finish line. We shouldn’t say everyone is invited if we’re going to act like they are not welcome when they come.

Who have you been treating like they are not welcome?