November 20 No Can Take From Us…

Affirmation: I am compassionate. I care about myself and others. 

“When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.” (Matthew 9:27-31)

Who we come to believe depends importantly on two things:

1. Knowing the person who made the promises or spoke the words;

2. Our actions in response to those promises and words upon hearing them.~~~~~~

Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Focus on personalizing Matthew 6:27. This verse is a question Jesus asked His listeners. Talk to God about your concerns and worries. Put them all in Jesus’s hands. 

What are your other options if you choose not to worry?

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27)

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Cultivate Creativity. Let go of the need for Certainty.

GET GOING

“In your journal, make a list of three to five creative endeavors you would like to try this year. It can be a ceramics class, taking up an instrument, trying a new recipe, or €”anything that fires up your creative side. I would like to learn the ukulele, take a kitchen knife skills class and make paintings.”
From Jacque:1. Learn more about photography. Reading Scott Kelby’s book: The iPhone Photography Book2. Try a new recipe each week 3. Write poems

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Persistent Decision 

7. I WILL PERSIST WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

I possess the greatest power ever bestowed upon mankind. I hold fast to my dreams. I stay the course. I do not quit.

I acknowledge that most people quit when exhaustion sets in, but I am not “most people.”

I am stronger than most people. Average people compare themselves with other people, and that is why they remain average.

I compare myself to my potential. I am not average. I see exhaustion as a precursor to victory. By persisting without exception, my outcome—my success—is assured.

It is my wish that you have gained something positive and productive from reading about these seven decisions.

I strongly believe that there is nothing you can’t do if you have the proper mindset and conviction.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.

Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

November 20

No One Can Take From Us What We Freely Give

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” Luke 6:30

I love books. I love looking at them on my shelves and thinking about the lessons I learned from the authors, I respect. They are not like trophies – they are beautiful reminders. Lots of them have been signed by the authors, which makes them even more special to me.
I refuse to loan people books. I just give them to them instead. When I loaned books, I spent weird amount of time worrying about whether I would get them back. The person would move or accidentally lose it or use the pages in the bottom of a birdcage. The fix was simple. Instead of fretting or asking about a book a few months later, I just tell them it’s all theirs and ask them to give it to someone else when they’re done. It’s been one of the single most freeing things I have done.
Here’s the thing: no one can take from us what we are willing to freely give. This is what Jesus was getting at when He said, “if someone tries to sue you for your shirt, hand over your jacket too.” Instead of fighting back, trying to preserve what is rightfully ours, Jesus urged us to hold our possessions loosely, because people are always more important – even people who wrong us. I don’t think He wanted us to be distracted by keeping track of so many things—who owes us, who wronged us , who ignored us.

Truth be known, it is easy to hold things loosely when it is just books we have read, but it can be harder to give freely of more valuable things people take from us, like our reputation. When someone publicly does wrong by us, it is hard not to tear into their character. Or log the incident away to think about often. But Jesus said if someone slaps us on the cheek, offer the other one as well. It is more important to be like Jesus than to remember all who owe you a book, an apology, or more time.
In these situations, God knows what is going on, and He will be the one to set things straight someday. Maybe we will know it about it; maybe we won’t. But that’s not the point. Our character will speak for itself. And Love will drown out everything else. Our part of the deal is easy to keep: keep letting go of whatever is distracting us from Him.

What distractions are keeping you from Jesus?