February 25: When You’re Learning Something New, Let Love Lead

Affirmation: God loves me. I have value.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4 ESV

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Ponder: Continue to memorize Deut. 7:9. Copy it down to carry it with you. Jot it on a post it note to place on your mirror or fridge. Read it aloud 5 times. What stands out to you in this verse? (For me, I am focusing on God’s perseverance. He never gives up: “keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations…”)


Deuteronomy 7:9

 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. 


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Catching Whimsy: 365 Days of Possibility by Bob Goff
February 25

When You’re Learning Something New, Let Love Lead



Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, and conduct, and love, and faith and impurity. 1Timothy 4:12.
I remember taking my first deposition as a young lawyer. A deposition is where lawyers ask someone questions under oath while stenoographer types everything they say. At the beginning of the deposition, there are admonitions given to the witness about how the deposition process will enfold. Sage lawyers have these admonitions memorized, but I was new to it. I had practiced for hours the night before, but I just couldn’t memorize all the words, so I decided I would write everything down, give the page I had written to the witness, and have them sign it. It would be simple enough, right?

I walked into the room filled with 20 grizzled lawyers. I put my carefully worded document on the table, slid it across to the witness, and said, in my most confident voice, “I usually have people sign these admonitions in advance of the deposition instead of having me say all of them for the record.” Another lawyer picked up my paper, gave it a quick glance, and threw it back my way. “We came here to answer questions, not sign papers,” he growled. “What’s your next question?” Yikes. I didn’t have a next question, or a first one. I didn’t know whether to scratch my ear or wind my watch, and honestly, I could’ve used a large pair of Depends. 

Something akin to this happens to all of us regularly; only difference is the context. We take on a big challenge or risk trying something new, and it takes a horribly wrong turn. Your rookie moment might happen in a boardroom, or you might have a house full of bored kids. When you feel outmatched, ill-prepared, and like you are going to flop, think about Paul’s encouragement to his young friend Timothy. Be an example of kindness, love, faith, and purity.


Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are new or young or inexperienced at something. Do your best and remember to be kind to the people you encounter, especially if they are also trying something new.

Today is your day to roll out 
your extra extraordinary 
brand of kindness into the world.
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Praying the Message of Jesus: A Year of Thoughts and Prayers
by Eugene Peterson

                      Feb 25

When You Pray

"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you

won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply

and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to

God, and you will begin to sense his grace."

MATTHEW 6:6

A quiet, secluded place diminishes our tendencies to pose and strut; it also eliminates distractions. Prayer is a conversation with God in which authenticity of spirit and attentiveness of mind are essential.

 

How do you get privacy in prayer?

 

"Father, in Thy mysterious presence kneeling, fain would our souls feel all Thy kindling love; for we are weak, and need some deep revealing of trust and strength and calmness from above.” Amen

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