December 25 Merry Christmas!

Affirmation: I choose to appreciate who I am, what I have and where I am.

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Guidepost 1: Cultivating Authenticity and Letting Go of What Other People Think

GET DELIBERATE

In The Gifts of Imperfection, I share my own authenticity mantra: "Don't shrink. Don't puff up. Stand your sacred ground." Develop your own authenticity mantra and tell us how you're using it to stay deliberate in your authenticity practice.

GET INSPIRED

Is there a song, quote, meditation or prayer that inspires you to practice authenticity to be who you are rather than what people want you to be?

GET GOING

When people are asking me to do something, my boundaries mantra is "Choose discomfort over resentment," which means choosing one minute of discomfort from saying no rather than six months of resentment from saying yes. If we want to practice authenticity, we can expect discomfort. Setting boundaries and taking care of ourselves are two of the most important opportunities to put what we're learning into practice.

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Persistent Decision 

7. I WILL PERSIST WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

I possess the greatest power ever bestowed upon mankind. I hold fast to my dreams. I stay the course. I do not quit.

I acknowledge that most people quit when exhaustion sets in, but I am not “most people.”

I am stronger than most people. Average people compare themselves with other people, and that is why they remain average.

I compare myself to my potential. I am not average. I see exhaustion as a precursor to victory. By persisting without exception, my outcome—my success—is assured.

It is my wish that you have gained something positive and productive from reading about these seven decisions.

I strongly believe that there is nothing you can’t do if you have the proper mindset and conviction. - Andy Andrews

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love by Bob Goff

Fix Your Eyes On Jesus. It’s Okay To Stare.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through Psalms, hymns and songs from the spirit, singing to God, with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians, 3:16.
Imagine what it must have been like for Mary in those first moments after Jesus was born. Like any mother of a newborn, Jesus would’ve been pulled tight against her chest, wrapped in a blanket for warmth and comfort while mom looked carefully and exhaustively down on the miracle that just happened. (I wouldn’t think less of Jesus, either, if he was squealing, like most newborns do.) Now imagine what the host of angels must’ve been doing as they saw God now as a child. If angels drop their jaws at anything, this would’ve been it.

Last, imagine what God the Father must have been doing. His precious Son, who was with Him before all things, just became the most fragile, tender, totally dependent thing in all creation: a newborn baby. God must have looked on with profound love at the One who would bring His creation back into relationship. He must’ve swelled with affection, knowing the mission He sent His Son to accomplish.

When was the last time you gawked at God? Staring at Jesus is a perfectly natural reaction. All of creation did it when He was born, and we have continued to do it for thousands of years. As you think about this          God-made Son, shake yourself out of the familiariarity that’s layered on top of Him over the years. Let your heart be warmed by the traditions, the garland, the candle-lighting service. But be shocked – be in awe of the baby in a manger.

What commitment will you make the rest of this year, to meditate on Jesus and His love?