December 29 Jesus Lived In The Margins…
Note:
As this new year begins, I am making a few changes to the blog.
1. Please let me know if you want to continue receiving the texts.
2. The Daily Affirmation will continue. There are 31 daily affirmations that respect each month. If you see something good please share it with me.
3. Eugene Peterson is our writer sharing his thoughts each day: Praying The Message of Jesus: A Year of thoughts and Prayers.
4. A note from me once in awhile.
If you have feedback please share it with me. I have enjoyed my daily connection with you.
~~~~~~~~~
Affirmation: My Self Esteem Is Growing Day By Day“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
~~~~
Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown
Cultivate Self-Compassion. Let Go of Perfectionism.
BRENÉ'S INTENTION
When I see my children make mistakes or accidents, I'm quick to jump in and say: "Hey, you're human. It's okay. I love you and we'll figure this out." When I make a mistake, I'm quick to jump in and say: "You idiot! What were you thinking? You really screwed this up."
This Lesson's Intention
"I will talk to myself the same way I talk to the people I love."
Is it hard? Yes. Will you feel weird/silly/like an imposter in your own head? Yes. Is it important? YES! It's how we reclaim our self-worth. Will we forget? Yes. Just jump back in there, apologize to yourself and try again. When self-compassion becomes our first response, we transform ourselves, our families and the people around us.
~~~~~
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!
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.
~~~~
Reading for Today
Walk in Grace. Live in Love. By Bob Goff
Jesus Lived In The Margins, And He Wrote The Book On Love. Copy A Few Pages From Him.
“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:36.
Jesus definitely didn’t do things by the book. When the religious leaders said He needed to play by their rules, He showed them He was listening to His Father’s voice. He spent His whole life engaging the people most of us have spent our whole lives trying to avoid. He made loving the marginalized look easy while we find them the easiest to ignore. He had meals with them, He helped make their daily lives better, and He taught them about hope beyond what they could see. He held them.
What if we decided to make it easy to find room in our lives for loving those without? What would it take? What would you quit? It is easiest for us to find margins for others in our lives when we get something in return. You would’ve never found Jesus going for the photo op; most of the time He spent with the marginalized was in secret. He actually avoided credit multiple times by disappearing in a crowd, or saying,“Don’t tell anyone.” How crazy is that?
When I struggle to decide what I am supposed to do next, I try to remember those folks left outside the lines: the poor, orphans, widows, and those in prison. Those are the ones Jesus set His sights on. After all, I want to be remembered for what I did outside the lines rather than the stuff I filled in between. Let’s go fill up the margins with our love. It will mean more to the world than pages and pages of words.
What can you do these last few days of the year to love those in the margins?
Note from Jacque:You can help care for abused, abandoned, or orphaned children at Springs of Hope Kenya.
Jesus definitely didn’t do things by the book. When the religious leaders said He needed to play by their rules, He showed them He was listening to His Father’s voice. He spent His whole life engaging the people most of us have spent our whole lives trying to avoid. He made loving the marginalized look easy while we find them the easiest to ignore. He had meals with them, He helped make their daily lives better, and He taught them about hope beyond what they could see. He held them.
What if we decided to make it easy to find room in our lives for loving those without? What would it take? What would you quit? It is easiest for us to find margins for others in our lives when we get something in return. You would’ve never found Jesus going for the photo op; most of the time He spent with the marginalized was in secret. He actually avoided credit multiple times by disappearing in a crowd, or saying,“Don’t tell anyone.” How crazy is that?
When I struggle to decide what I am supposed to do next, I try to remember those folks left outside the lines: the poor, orphans, widows, and those in prison. Those are the ones Jesus set His sights on. After all, I want to be remembered for what I did outside the lines rather than the stuff I filled in between. Let’s go fill up the margins with our love. It will mean more to the world than pages and pages of words.
What can you do these last few days of the year to love those in the margins?
Note from Jacque:You can help care for abused, abandoned, or orphaned children at Springs of Hope Kenya.
Here is a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7o4944U0JY
Comments
Post a Comment