March 29: THE WORLD WILL KNOW WHAT WE REALLY BELIEVE BY SEEING WHO WE AUTHENTICALLY LOVE.

Affirmation: My self-compassion is growing day by day.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

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Ponder, Personalize: Focus your meditation on what good works God created you to do. You are God’s handiwork.

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. ~~~~~~~

Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Live Wholeheartedly 

I have jotted 8 Permissions to remind me who I want to be. I wrote them on the back of a business card so I can carry it with me each day.

I give myself permission to:

Be Creative 

Be resilient. I am enough.

Do things I’m not good at.

Make time for play, rest, calm, stillness.

Ask for what I need.

Honor myself, appreciate who God made me to be.

Make mistakes & learn from them.

Be courageous, compassionate, connected, creative.

What do you give yourself permission to do or be?

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 

The Active Decision 

3. I AM A PERSON OF ACTION. I am Resilient 

I will create a new future by creating a new me. I inspire others with my activity. I am a leader. I will create a habit of lively behavior.

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

March 29

THE WORLD WILL KNOW WHAT WE REALLY BELIEVE BY SEEING WHO WE AUTHENTICALLY LOVE. 

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." At once they left their nets and followed him. 

MARK 1:16-18 

 

Did you know there are churches in cities across the country that meet outside, in parks and under bridges? It's true. These people know church walls can sometimes keep people out, so they take Jesus' message to the streets. If you show up on a Sunday morning, you'll see homeless people leading worship and kids eating hotdogs during the sermon. Some are sitting and others are stand­ing. There's no separate room for the babies who cry or the deeply wounded souls who forgot how to. No one tells the people who come to be quiet because it's more like a celebration than a study hall. 

Jesus said following Him meant going where He went, and He went to people who couldn't make it to Him. People with criminal records were wel­comed with compassion. Desperate men and loose women were accepted. Those with disabilities weren't shunned because they were different. Groups of people who were typically excluded from community found a safe place to be themselves in Jesus. 

If we look around our lives and only find a crowd of people like us, it's time to make some changes. Sure, we could love people by creating a special group for them that meets on Tuesday nights when the church is otherwise empty, but why not grab your knees, do a cannonball, and join them?. Imagine what would happen if we changed the comfortable rhythms of our lives to include some new friends, peers, and people we've merely been polite to while staying distant from. 

The world will know what we really believe when they see who we authenti­cally love. If it's our buildings that keep people out, let's get rid of the buildings. If it's membership that is creating a divide, lose it and let everyone in. God always seems to show us the most from the most unlikely of teachers. Who can teach you more about something you're sure you already understand? Which new friend would show others what you believe? Go find those people. 

What would be different in your life if you truly loved people who others assumed were far off from God?