I think it’s silly to have two people fuss over a parking space. There are more important things in life to get stressed over.
What would happen if several cars were winding through a parking lot and you allowed the car behind you to take the better and closer spot? The other driver might see you inside the store and be a little more friendly to you than he would have.
A friendliness seed is sown when you do small but important things for others. Most people will allow that small kindness to affect them, and then everyone around them. The seed bears fruit when they respond to your friendliness with a smile or other small gesture of their own.
Today’s goal is: Let someone else have the parking space close to the store’s door while you park farther away.
Most Americans could stand to get a little more exercise anyway. Why not let others have that coveted parking space near the door? We’re actually doing ourselves a favor by walking a bit more.
Drive-Thru Gifts
I had an opportunity to pay for someone else’s groceries years ago when two guys behind me in the grocery line were buying supplies for a fund-raiser being held that afternoon to raise funds to help out a family with a sick child. They asked if I wanted to help them out. I honestly thought they were kidding around, so I turned them down. After it was too late to go back and correct my missed opportunity, I felt terrible. I wanted God to forgive me for turning away from the chance to bless someone else.
How many times do we pass up opportunities to give to someone who needs our help, and then sadly realize that we could’ve shared the love of God in a tangible way?
We can pray for God to open our eyes to the moment at hand. We can pray for God to show us the person who needs the gift. We can pray that we won’t miss the chance to give.
Today’s goal is: The next time you buy food in a drive-thru line at a restaurant, pay for the meal of the person behind you.
Can you imagine the surprised smile of a frazzled mom who didn’t want to cook dinner and just got her meals free? She’ll be waving her thanks as you drive off.
I'm wondering how many people will follow the example in that line. Giving to someone else could be like dominoes falling. We all affect someone else.
How many times do we pass up opportunities to give to someone who needs our help, and then sadly realize that we could’ve shared the love of God in a tangible way?
We can pray for God to open our eyes to the moment at hand. We can pray for God to show us the person who needs the gift. We can pray that we won’t miss the chance to give.
Today’s goal is: The next time you buy food in a drive-thru line at a restaurant, pay for the meal of the person behind you.
Can you imagine the surprised smile of a frazzled mom who didn’t want to cook dinner and just got her meals free? She’ll be waving her thanks as you drive off.
I'm wondering how many people will follow the example in that line. Giving to someone else could be like dominoes falling. We all affect someone else.
Daily Goals
I love daily goals. They help me keep my stress low. I know I can accomplish a huge challenge by taking it one small step at a time. If I’ll break off a piece of a large project, I can do a small thing rather than be overwhelmed by staring into the face of the impossible.
Joshua 1:8 states, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Today’s goal is: Read eight pages in the Bible each day.
I can’t read the whole Bible in one month or even three because I like to think about what I’m reading. It takes time to meditate on the scriptures.
But I can read eight pages of the Bible in a day. That gives me enough pages to consider the context, but it isn’t too much. I have time to think and try to wrap my mind around the lessons I could learn from those pages. For me, a larger goal might pressure me to read too fast and miss some important truths.
If you want to read more than eight pages, please do. I set low goals for myself so I can accomplish them. I’m a mom whose schedule gets interrupted often, and then I get distracted . Set your page goal where you are challenged, yet able to accomplish it.
Joshua 1:8 states, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Today’s goal is: Read eight pages in the Bible each day.
I can’t read the whole Bible in one month or even three because I like to think about what I’m reading. It takes time to meditate on the scriptures.
But I can read eight pages of the Bible in a day. That gives me enough pages to consider the context, but it isn’t too much. I have time to think and try to wrap my mind around the lessons I could learn from those pages. For me, a larger goal might pressure me to read too fast and miss some important truths.
If you want to read more than eight pages, please do. I set low goals for myself so I can accomplish them. I’m a mom whose schedule gets interrupted often, and then I get distracted . Set your page goal where you are challenged, yet able to accomplish it.
Kind Warnings
We all want trustworthy friendships. We want to know our friends will be there for us when we really need them. But are we there for them?
After you’ve established a good relationship with others, you can begin to deepen your relationships with a word of truth to those who need to hear it. This doesn’t work if the trust isn’t well established already.
I read an article by a woman who had changed her friend’s life by helping her update her wardrobe. The foundation of trust had already been laid in that friendship, and the woman’s offer of help was accepted.
Through the ages, God has used prophets to warn people to change their ways. Those who believed the prophets were able to make a new start. Those who ignored them dealt with the consequences.
In the Bible, Numbers 22:21-33 tells the story of Balaam’s donkey. It was supposed to go in a certain direction, but it saw danger that his owner couldn’t see. It veered from the expected path to protect Balaam. Then God opened the mouth of the donkey to speak words of warning so Balaam could understand.
If God can use a donkey, He can use me.
I accept the challenge to speak a loving word of warning, but I will only give it to those who will hear it.
My mother was overweight, so I gave her information that would help her. She listened to me and, months later, began giving away clothes to a woman’s shelter. Her loss was their gain.
Kind warnings from trusted friends and family can make you feel more secure in that relationship. I love it when someone cares enough about me to dare to give me the truth I need to hear. That makes me feel protected by someone who can see more than I can.
Today’s goal is: Dare to speak kind words of truth to someone with whom you’ve developed a relationship of trust. If you aren’t sure that anyone would listen to you, dare to strengthen those relationships.
Only from a heart of love can one speak warning so that it will be received and acted upon. Your job isn’t to make sure the gentle warning is received because you can’t control someone else’s response. You can only control what you do and say.
After you’ve established a good relationship with others, you can begin to deepen your relationships with a word of truth to those who need to hear it. This doesn’t work if the trust isn’t well established already.
I read an article by a woman who had changed her friend’s life by helping her update her wardrobe. The foundation of trust had already been laid in that friendship, and the woman’s offer of help was accepted.
Through the ages, God has used prophets to warn people to change their ways. Those who believed the prophets were able to make a new start. Those who ignored them dealt with the consequences.
In the Bible, Numbers 22:21-33 tells the story of Balaam’s donkey. It was supposed to go in a certain direction, but it saw danger that his owner couldn’t see. It veered from the expected path to protect Balaam. Then God opened the mouth of the donkey to speak words of warning so Balaam could understand.
If God can use a donkey, He can use me.
I accept the challenge to speak a loving word of warning, but I will only give it to those who will hear it.
My mother was overweight, so I gave her information that would help her. She listened to me and, months later, began giving away clothes to a woman’s shelter. Her loss was their gain.
Kind warnings from trusted friends and family can make you feel more secure in that relationship. I love it when someone cares enough about me to dare to give me the truth I need to hear. That makes me feel protected by someone who can see more than I can.
Today’s goal is: Dare to speak kind words of truth to someone with whom you’ve developed a relationship of trust. If you aren’t sure that anyone would listen to you, dare to strengthen those relationships.
Only from a heart of love can one speak warning so that it will be received and acted upon. Your job isn’t to make sure the gentle warning is received because you can’t control someone else’s response. You can only control what you do and say.
Dream Big
I’ve been to a writer’s conference and missed my usual Monday posting deadline. But I learned a lot while I was gone. In fact, I stuck my toe in some deep waters. I leaned out of the boat, wanting to jump in. However, something in me was hesitant. Something wanted to wait until I was a little more ready before I jumped in.
At the conference, I took several classes to improve my writing skills and several to improve my public speaking skills. But I was too shy to share my stories, either written or spoken, with those in the classes.
In order to accomplish much, I have to dream big. I must act on what I can do right now and build on that. Nobody walks very far if they’re staring at their toes. Look at the horizon with me and see where it takes us.
I was dreaming big at the writer’s conference, but I needed a little encouragement to share. A woman asked me to be her critique partner and help her see her novel from a fresh set of eyes and a different perspective. I jumped at the chance to exchange our chapters for critique.
This was an opportunity I’d wanted for too long. Finally, I could relax in my new relationship with this woman and give and receive encouragement on a regular basis.
Today’s goal is: Start a care group. Gather a group of friends or family members who will meet regularly to help others.
Your group might be three or four friends who take turns helping out one family from your church or neighborhood. After some time, that family might feel the urge to join the group and help someone else.
Your group might be a writers’ group, a mothers’ group, a men’s prayer group, or anything else you see a need for.
You never know how your group will grow. It may grow in popularity so that it blossoms into several groups. But whatever happens, you’ll feel the thrill of seeing someone else’s face light up when they see you coming.
It will change them. But it will also change you.
At the conference, I took several classes to improve my writing skills and several to improve my public speaking skills. But I was too shy to share my stories, either written or spoken, with those in the classes.
In order to accomplish much, I have to dream big. I must act on what I can do right now and build on that. Nobody walks very far if they’re staring at their toes. Look at the horizon with me and see where it takes us.
I was dreaming big at the writer’s conference, but I needed a little encouragement to share. A woman asked me to be her critique partner and help her see her novel from a fresh set of eyes and a different perspective. I jumped at the chance to exchange our chapters for critique.
This was an opportunity I’d wanted for too long. Finally, I could relax in my new relationship with this woman and give and receive encouragement on a regular basis.
Today’s goal is: Start a care group. Gather a group of friends or family members who will meet regularly to help others.
Your group might be three or four friends who take turns helping out one family from your church or neighborhood. After some time, that family might feel the urge to join the group and help someone else.
Your group might be a writers’ group, a mothers’ group, a men’s prayer group, or anything else you see a need for.
You never know how your group will grow. It may grow in popularity so that it blossoms into several groups. But whatever happens, you’ll feel the thrill of seeing someone else’s face light up when they see you coming.
It will change them. But it will also change you.
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