November 26 Fresh is Better Than Frozen.

Affirmation: I choose to be resilient. I shift from competition to collaboration.

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Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Continue to ponder and memorize this powerful reminder from the Apostle Paul. 

What are you facing that you can thank God for…even if it’s challenging?

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”                1 Thessalonians 5:18.

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Guidepost 7: Cultivating Play and Rest, Letting Go of Exhaustion as a Status Symbol and Productivity as Self-Worth

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Review Dr. Stuart Brown's seven properties of play and think about what they mean to you. The properties of play are:

i. Apparently purposeless

ii. Voluntary

iii. Inherent attraction

iv. Freedom from time

v. Diminished consciousness of self

vi. Improvisational potential (As Dr. Brown says, "We aren't locked into a rigid way of doing things. We are open to serendipity, to chance.")

vii. Continuation desire (you want to do more of it)

2. Open your journal to two blank, facing pages. On one page, interpret these seven properties of play and write them in your own words. For example, for the third property, inherent attraction, Kelly Rae Roberts wrote, "delights the soul." For the fifth property, diminished consciousness of self, Brene wrote, "I'm free to be me."

3. Decorate this page however you like, with gouache, stickers, markers or cutout shapes.

4. On the facing page, write down five to 10 different activities that fulfill these properties of play for you. This might include walking outdoors, swimming, daydreaming, decorating, listening to music or even watching movie trailers!

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Compassionate Decision 

6. I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT.

By the act of forgiving, I am no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts. I will forgive those who have criticized me unjustly.

I now understand that forgiveness has value only when it is given away. I forgive their lack of vision, and I forge ahead.

I now know that criticism is part of the price paid for leaping past mediocrity. I will forgive those who do not ask for forgiveness. From this day forward, my history will cease to control my destiny. I have forgiven myself. My life has just begun.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love by Bob Goff November 26

Fresh Is Better Than Frozen. Give Away Love Like It Has A Short Shelf Life.

“I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” Exodus 16:4

The Bible tells how the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. I bet you know the narrative already. It is a story about obedience and disobedience, trust and dependence. The part that always stands out to me is the food God sent every morning called manna. Plenty of scholars have argued about what it was, whether it was more like saltines or pancakes, but I’m more interested in the shelf life.

When the manna came, God said to take only as much as was needed for the day. But some would fill their pockets after filling their baskets. A little more won’t hurt, just in case. But God made the manna to be eaten, not stored. Any extra would go bad, but the next day, new manna would come again.

When God expressed his infinite love through Jesus, how many of us take as much as we can? But love isn’t meant to be stored up. It is only real love when it is expressed in the lives of others. We can fill our lives with things like attendance at church, prayer breakfasts, and Bible studies. We can fill our lives with clothes, money, and possessions. God is not keeping count because He knows these things cannot be stored up either. These things either find a way to express themselves in love or they go bad, too.

Don’t slip into a posture of receiving and accumulating. Don’t stuff your pockets with things that will eventually go bad. Instead of scheming to get more and keep it, look at Jesus. Ask Him for enough love and resources to get to the next day. He has plenty more to give. When Jesus gave Himself over to death. That was love too. He invites us to depend on Him one day at a time and give love away like we know more is coming tomorrow.

Take a moment to focus on being filled with God’s love. What changes for you?