October 1: Hum Along til You Get the Words
Affirmation: I am kind to myself. I allow myself to slow down and enjoy life.
One time I asked one of these friends what it was like to write a hit song that everybody sings along to. When he told me about his process, I was really surprised. He said his songs usually started with a vague melody or a series of chords. while he drove around, got the car washed, took a walk, or made dinner, he would have these notes in his head and start building on them, thinking about them, many long days without a clear sense of how they might become a song. He wasn’t trying to finish the song all at once. He was just living with it.
This reminded me of the time we took hundreds of kazoos to the school we built in Gulu, Uganda, for kids who were first generation after a 25 year Civil War had ended. At the beginning, all the random blowing sounded like the stuff of Beethoven’s nightmares, but then the students started suggesting songs for us all to play along to. There were so many languages and cultures represented in the room, deciding on a song would have only solved half the issue because everyone would be singing different words to it in their traditional languages. But with the kazoos we didn’t have to know the words – we just blew a tune we all knew and the music did the translating for us.
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
Psalms 46:10 NIV
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Ponder, Personalize, Practice: Ponder this this verse and memorize it. Talk to God about how you can be kind to the poor. Who can you help?
Springs of Hope Kenya, the children’s home that we built in Nakuru Kenya is one of our monthly charity destinations. https://sohk.kindful.com/?campaign=251052
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will repay them for what they have done.
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10 Guideposts to Wholehearted Living
From Brené Brown, Gifts of Imperfection
Guidepost 9: Cultivating Meaningful Work, Letting Go of Self-Doubt and Supposed-To
From Jacque
Years ago, I learned what gifts God gave me. I took an assessment designed to help one figure out the spiritual gifts one has. I have done the assessment more than once, my top 3 gifts come out as Faith, Hospitality and Helps. I have found that when I am using my gifts, I feel like my work is meaningful and I really have let go of self-doubt and supposed-to.
Whether I was at school as a teacher or an administrator, or at church as the pastor’s wife or church member, or in the community or in our home…if I was using my gifts of hospitality, helps or faith whatever the task, it was and is meaningful. Use your gifts and talents.
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Mastering the 7 Decisions, by Andy Andrews
6. The Compassionate Decision
6. I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT.
By the act of forgiving, I am no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts. I will forgive those who have criticized me unjustly.
I now understand that forgiveness has value only when it is given away. I forgive their lack of vision, and I forge ahead.
I now know that criticism is part of the price paid for leaping past mediocrity. I will forgive those who do not ask for forgiveness. From this day forward, my history will cease to control my destiny. I have forgiven myself. My life has just begun.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
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Daily Reading
Walk in Grace. Live in Love
By Bob Goff
October 1
Grace Lets Us Hum The Parts Of Our Lives We Don’t Understand While We Figurep Out The Words
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27–28
I have a few friends who are great at playing instruments and writing songs. They perform on stages and compose masterpieces on their pianos and guitars. Whenever Sweet Maria and I go to one of their concerts, their music seems so effortless, like the songs just burst out of them.
One time I asked one of these friends what it was like to write a hit song that everybody sings along to. When he told me about his process, I was really surprised. He said his songs usually started with a vague melody or a series of chords. while he drove around, got the car washed, took a walk, or made dinner, he would have these notes in his head and start building on them, thinking about them, many long days without a clear sense of how they might become a song. He wasn’t trying to finish the song all at once. He was just living with it.
This reminded me of the time we took hundreds of kazoos to the school we built in Gulu, Uganda, for kids who were first generation after a 25 year Civil War had ended. At the beginning, all the random blowing sounded like the stuff of Beethoven’s nightmares, but then the students started suggesting songs for us all to play along to. There were so many languages and cultures represented in the room, deciding on a song would have only solved half the issue because everyone would be singing different words to it in their traditional languages. But with the kazoos we didn’t have to know the words – we just blew a tune we all knew and the music did the translating for us.
Maybe you don’t know the words to the song God is creating with your life. Don’t sweat it just give it some time. Drive around with it. Go to the car wash with it, take a walk, make dinner. Live with it for a while, and ask God to give you the words later.
What words is God speaking to you?
What words is God speaking to you?
Fear not, My child. Trust Me I’m holding you, I’ve gone before you, and I’ve got your back. What you can’t see, I already know. What you can’t control, I already hold. Rest in Me.
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