April 15: QUIT AIMING FOR WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO. PICK A COUPLE OF THINGS ONLY GOD COULD DO.

Affirmation: It's OK not to be OK. I will allow myself to feel what I feel.

This affirmation is important for each of us. Lean into what you are feeling and let yourself be OK. I have started journaling each day and that has helped to process those feelings that come when I am not expecting them. 

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Ponder: This week I am focusing on memorizing Psalm 23. Focus on verse one today. As you recite that one sentence over and over through the day ponder the message that David is conveying. Think about the words: Shepherd, Lack Nothing.

How does that impact you? 

1“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

 2.He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  

‭‭Psalm‭ 23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

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Wholehearted Guidepost from Brené Brown

Cultivate Meaningful Work. Let Go of Self-doubt and “Supposed-to.”

What is your career/meaningful work?

My passion is to help people be who God created them to be. So my careers as an educator and pastor’s wife, both gave me opportunities for meaningful work. 

“Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

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Mastering the 7 Decisions from Andy Andrews 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.

“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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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

April 15

QUIT AIMING FOR WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO. PICK A COUPLE OF THINGS ONLY GOD COULD DO. 

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. 

MATTHEW 17:20 

When our organization, Love Does, decided to help people all over the world, we knew there was no way we could do it. We didn't know what people in Uganda needed; we just fell in love with some Ugandan friends and wanted to help make life better for them. We didn't know what we could do in India or Nepal either. Somalia didn't have a government and Afghanistan's leaders were under attack. 

We prayed for God to show us how we could be helpful, and then we asked friends in each of the countries what they needed most. Our friends in each of the countries said they needed better schools and safe houses, so we did what it took to get started. And guess what? It worked. Not at first, but eventually. One schoolhouse became two, then three, then five. Eventually the one-room schoolhouses became a boarding school for more than one thousand students. 

 

In the early days of Love Does, we decided not to aim for things we could do, because the truth was, we couldn't do much. We had bigger plans in mind than we could afford, so we asked God to do what only God could do. He connected us with local leaders who had way better ideas than we did. He continued to bring money to fund the work, money we never could've come up with on our own. At every point, God showed up and surprised us with the way He's taken our small hopes and turned them into futures for kids He adores. 

What is it you've been dreaming of? What seems impossible? Quit aiming for what you're able to do. Pick a couple of things only God could do. You won't see miracles if you only set out to do things you already know you can accomplish. 

What's a dream you have that would be impossible to consider unless God does something miraculous? 
My answer: 43 years at Cypress Meadows, Springs of Hope Kenya, Shiloh Church and School in Haiti. Still only possible with God.