February 13 THE BEST WAY TO SHOW PEOPLE GOD IS EVERYTHING WE SAY HE IS, IS FOR US TO BE EVERYTHING HE SAYS WE ARE

Affirmation: I nourish my body, mind and soul. 

(Take time to repeat the affirmation 3-5 times. Copy it to your text message as a reminder throughout the day.)

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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. Brene’ 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.

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews

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. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions.

In the future, when I am tempted to ask the question “Why me?”, I will immediately counter with the answer: “Why not me?” Challenges are a gift, an opportunity to learn. Problems are the com- mon thread running through the lives of great men and women. In times of adversity, I will not have a problem to deal with, I will have a choice to make. My thoughts will be clear. I will make the right choice. Adversity is preparation for greatness. I will accept the preparation. Why me? Why not me? I will be prepared for something great!

I accept responsibility for my past. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. I am respon- sible for my success.

The buck stops here.

© 2006 Andy Andrews 1 

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

Feb. 13

THE BEST WAY TO SHOW PEOPLE GOD IS EVERYTHING WE SAY HE IS, IS FOR US TO BE EVERYTHING HE SAYS WE ARE

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

JOHN 13:35 

 

If you've ever run a business or led a team of people, you know what it's like to send someone in your place. You know they're going to interact with a person who might not know you, and that person will base their opinion about you on the someone you sent. Parents feel this too. We often feel like our kids are little representations of us. If they're kind and respectful, people say we raised them well. If they toilet paper the neighbor's house, we worry others will judge us for our kids' behavior.

 

God works in much the same way. When people interact with difficult, judgmental people who say they follow Jesus, it's hard to imagine how the God they say they're speaking for is gracious and kind. We can say all the right words, but if we don't model love the way Jesus did, people won't just think we're mean-they'll think God is. I get that.

 

The best way to give people a glimpse of God is for us to be exactly who He says we are: love. He says people will know we follow Him when they see how we love one another. He put His confidence in us to represent Him because He knows what we're capable of if we'll put down our pride. He wouldn't have put us on the job if He didn't think we were ready.

 

Remember that you are God's kid, but you're also a tangible expression of Jesus to the world. Don't tell people what Jesus meant; love them the way He did.

 

How can you more simply express the love of Jesus to others today?