February 14 LOVING PEOPLE THE WAY JESUS DID MEANS LIVING A LIFE OF CONSTANT INTERRUPTIONS.

Affirmation: Asking for help is a gift to myself and to others.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

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

Start practicing:
Reflect on what your unique gifts are, and start sharing them with the world. As Howard Thurman instructs: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”When you notice that you’re should-ing on yourself, pause and switch directions. Drop “should” and “supposed-to” from your vocabulary and replace it with “want.” (So “I should do X” becomes “I want to do X/Y/Z.”)

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Guided Decision 

I will seek wisdom

Sometimes the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple.

Knowing that wisdom waits to be gathered, I will actively search her out. My past can never be changed, but I can change the future by changing my actions today. I will change my actions today! I will train my eyes and ears to read and listen to books and recordings that bring about positive changes in my personal relationships and a greater understanding of my fellow man. No longer will I bombard my mind with materials that feed my doubts and fears. I will read and lis- ten only to that which increases my belief in myself and my future.

I will seek wisdom. I will choose my friends with care. I am who my friends are. I speak their language, and I wear their clothes. I share their opinions and their habits. From this moment forward, I will choose to associate with people whose lives and lifestyles I admire. If I associate with chickens, I will learn to scratch at the ground and squabble over crumbs. If I associate with eagles, I will learn to soar great heights. I am an eagle. It is my destiny to fly.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will guide your steps. Prov. 3:5,6

““But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

Feb. 14

LOVING PEOPLE THE WAY JESUS DID MEANS LIVING A LIFE OF CONSTANT INTERRUPTIONS. 

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

ISAIAH 6:8 

 

You might know that I put my personal cell phone number in the back of a couple of books I wrote. When I told my publisher what I wanted to do, they said, ''Are you crazy?!" I thought for a minute and said, ''Actually, yes and no." I've noticed that the people who have had the most impact in my life were the most available. Granted, I get a lot of calls. And guess what? I answer every single one unless I'm on a plane or out of cell range. It's terrific. I can't get a thing done.

 

Here's the point. It'll be hard to be like Jesus if you don't want to be available to people. It's what He did. Every day. If you don't want to be with people, you're going to hate heaven.

 

What's more important to God than the people He made? Not much. And if one of those people wants to talk to me, I want to be available. Perhaps this isn't for you. That's fine. Find something else you can do to connect with the people God made in His image. God says people are the purpose. It doesn't matter whether our plans succeed or fail if the people around us don't feel wanted. Loving people the way Jesus did means a life of constant interruptions.

 

Everything changes when we start to see interruptions as opportunities. We heal people when we show them they matter, when their well-being is our main concern. This isn't hard to do. Sometimes all it takes is picking up the phone and saying hello. Be generous with your time and your presence, and people will feel the love of Jesus.

 

What can you do today to become more available for loving others?