December 5 Give Away Love…

Affirmation: I am not less for making mistakes. I am more because I am learning.

~~~~~~~

Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Spend time today personalizing John 1:5.  Where do you need to see God’s light. Journal and talk to God about that… that relationship, your job, your fears, your finances, that situation… 

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 

~~~~~~~

Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown 

Guidepost 9: Cultivating Meaningful Work, Letting Go of Self-Doubt and Supposed-To

Meaningful work doesn’t necessarily refer to how you earn a living. Brené Brown uses it to refer to the fact that we all have gifts and talents. And when we don’t use them, we feel distressed, because we know we’re capable of something more.

Committing to using these gifts and talents isn’t easy. One of the big barriers is doubting the fact that we have gifts in the first place. Or, defaulting to doing what we’re “supposed to” do to fit in.

I always tell my clients: “I don’t care what you feel like you should do. I only care about what you want to do.”

“Supposed-to” is a way of deferring to external sources. This is an attempt to keep you safe. (“If I do what others want, I’ll be okay…”) But in the process, it disconnects you from yourself.

~~~~~~

Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Responsible Decision 

The Responsible Decision

The Buck Stops Here.

From this moment forward, I will accept responsibility for my past. I understand that the beginning of wisdom is to accept the responsibility for my own problems and that by accepting responsibility for my past, I free myself to move into a bigger, brighter future of my own choosing.

Never again will I blame my parents, my spouse, my boss, or employees for my present situation. Neither my education or lack of one, my genetics, or the circumstantial ebb and flow of everyday life will affect my future in a negative way. If I allow myself to blame these uncontrollable forces for my lack of success, I will be forever caught in a web of the past. I will look forward. I will not let my history control my destiny.

The buck stops here. I accept responsibility for my past. I am responsible for my success. I am where I am today—mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially—because of decisions I have made. My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. Therefore, I am where I am today—mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially—because of how I think. Today I will begin the process of changing where I am—mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially—by changing the way I think.

My thoughts will be constructive, never destructive. My mind will live in the solutions of the future. It will not dwell in the problems of the past. I will seek the association of those who are working and striving to bring about positive changes in the world. I will never seek comfort by associating with those who have decided to be comfortable.

When faced with the opportunity to make a decision, I will make one. I understand that God did not put in me the ability to always make right decisions. He did, however, put in me the ability to make a decision and then make it right. The rise and fall of my emotional tide will not deter me from my course. When I make a decision, I will stand behind it. My energy will go into making the decision. I will waste none on second thoughts. My life will not be an apology. It will be a statement.

The buck stops here. 

~~~~~~~

Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

Getting Annoyed or Losing Patience is Normal. Giving Away Love Regardless is Holy. Be Like Jesus This Holiday Season.

“Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.”1 John 2:10
As the year winds down, and the holidays, wind up, parents everywhere are planning their road trips to see family. Those who have to brave this track know what it is like to hear timeless phrases such as, “are we there yet?“ And “I am not touching you,“ and “I have to go to the bathroom.“ This last one usually happens five minutes after the last stop.
When everyone in the car is hungry and patience run thins, we are all reminded about our limitations on love. Yes, there is a deep, rooted, unshakable love in theory. But when the milk spills on the new upholstery, it is hard to remember.

In the weeks ahead, a lot of us will find ourselves with family. Some you might like a lot. Others you might trade for a set of golf clubs if you could. No matter where we go, a few people will get under our skin. And guess what – we are those people too.

Don’t let minor details make you veer off course. God has an unending, deep, abiding love for you, even when you spill the milk, drop the special plate, knock over the vase, or miss the turn off. Go into this holiday season, ready to show deep love for others that doesn’t get irked by the little stuff. If you want to go big, decide you won’t let the big stuff bug you either. And remember, just like a real human family, when you become part of God’s family, you will be around people who are on a trip. They might be in a moment of anticipation, they might be in a moment of dread, they might be dealing with crippling self-doubt. Jesus came to show them love every moment – and it is often through us.

What commitments will you make to love the people in your family well?