March 26: EVERY UNSELFISH ACT OF LOVE WHISPERS GOD'S NAME.

Affirmation: I choose to be resilient. I move from competition to collaboration.

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Ponder, Personalize: As you read through Ephesians 2:8-10 notice the qualities ascribed to God. Ponder His Grace, gifts, handiwork, creation. 

Ephesians 2:8–10 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown 

Cultivate Laughter, Song and Dance. Let Go of Cool and Always in Control.

BRENÉ'S INTENTION

I call this the almost-didn't-make-it guidepost because at the beginning I wasn't sure a guidepost on singing and dancing should be part of this book. But here's the truth: As much as I didn't want to believe it, laughter, song and dance emerged in the data as important and vital to our wholeheartedness.

The hard part for a lot of us when it comes to embracing laughter, song and dance is that straightjacket of cool. When I was young, I had a loud laugh, and that was cute and great until about middle school. Then, all of the sudden, when I was criticized for being uncool, I got smaller. And by smaller, I mean quieter and more self-conscious, with more fear about how boldly I could really express myself. Cool had become my straightjacket, and I had to learn the hard way how to take it off. It was so worth it, because when we laugh, dance and sing together, we form community in a way that nothing else can. Laughter, song and dance are so powerful because they are how we communicate to each other that we're not alone.

This Lesson's Intention

"Cool is an emotional straightjacket. I am going to take it off."

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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

March 26

EVERY UNSELFISH ACT OF LOVE 

WHISPERS GOD'S NAME. 

Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on. 

MARK 12:43-44 

 

Have you ever been to a fancy fundraiser where they put the names of donors on the big screen as the money comes in? If you send a text with your credit­card number, your name and the amount you gave will be announced-and if there's not applause, you can be sure the whole crowd knows. I get why we do this, and I'm sure the live reports generate excitement around giving, but Jesus told His friends a story about a different way. 

He was at the temple when a bunch of rich people paraded to the front to give large gifts. Everyone saw what they had done. Trailing behind them came a poor widow who humbly placed two copper coins in the treasury. No one even noticed-except Jesus. "This widow has given more than all the others," Jesus said. "They gave out of their wealth, but out of her poverty, she's given everything she had to live on." 

 

Jesus knew that in God's economy a small, humble gift given in secret goes further than a big check written with the hope of being seen. The size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the heart behind it, because God doesn't need our stuff-He just wants our hearts. 

God delights in our secret sacrifices. He created us with the hope that we'd join Him in restoring all that's gone wrong with the world, wherever we find ourselves. He uses the big, grand things everyone knows about, but He also uses the barely seen. Don't worry about the size of your gifts or whether people will know you did it for Jesus. Every unselfish act oflove whispers God's name. 

What small, humble gift can you give to someone today?