Borrowed Post...Living for Others

Joshua says it so well, much better than I could after a week of brain-frying fun.

May his post be a reminder today that it is not all about US.

That thought, which I was first flattened by in the form of "It's not about you" (Rick Warren - Chpt 1 The Purpose Driven Life) a number of years ago, led to all sorts of decisions and adventures...including living in Africa for a whole year.

So please, read Joshua's post here: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/ today and be encouraged to walk in the footsteps of the One who came and showed us firsthand that a life lived for others is a challenging, painful, happy, blessed life.


It's the best life.

Friday Away

Ok...so it's only Thursday. But......we'll be out of town tomorrow and I wanted to leave you with a few thoughts for the weekend. Not my original thoughts, but some good ones nevertheless.

I think this article by blogger Joshua Becker, about the voices we hear, speaks volumes...ha ha - so punny K! This week I have been reminded of how much we hear and not all of it good, from so many sources.

A friend received an email that shook her.....I could feel my blood pressure rising as I watched the news 2 nights ago.....Jake listened to and followed really bad advice from his brother on 'Rafters' this week....someone criticised my sister in a public forum.....Facebook reveals things about people that I just don't want to know....the teens I teach read and watch all sorts of scary books and TV shows.....VOICES!

We need to be wise and discerning when it comes to what and who we listen to and Joshua's checklist is something we as adults should keep in mind for ourselves. But it's also an essential that we teach our children and/or students. (I'm planning on using the article to start a discussion lead into a lesson on what God says about us with one of classes at school....should provide an interesting contrast to what the world says.)

So much of who we think we are and what we think of ourselves comes from others' voices. Wouldn't we do well to think about who we are listening too and then consider if they are worth hearing from?

See the checklist HERE.

Forty Friday Foughts

I subscribe to becoming minimalist....a blog about some of the important things in life by Joshua Becker. His list this week encouraged me to keep doing the little things. We can add so much meaning to our lives and the lives of those around us if we do.

Perhaps you might choose a couple of things from the list and add them to your 'to do' list today...not to be a burden, or make yourself busier, but to intentionally make the time to 'give life'.

Joshua says:

“In every encounter we either give life or we drain it; there is no neutral exchange.“ - Brennan Manning

Of all the gifts that we could ever give to another person, none holds more potential than giving life itself. And I love the idea that every interaction I have with another human being offers me that grand opportunity.
It doesn’t matter if my next encounter is a short conversation, an email, a meal, or a 4-hour business meeting, it always offers me the same opportunity… to brighten another’s existence by breathing life into theirs.
Once correctly understood and applied, this simple, profound thought calls us to be more intentional, more thoughtful, and more persistent. It calls us to…

1. Smile more.
2. Hug more.
3. Give more compliments.
4. Write more love notes.
5. Offer more forgiveness.
6. Ask more follow-up questions.
7. Show more interest.
8. Have more compassion.
9. Talk to more children.
10. Remember more names.
11. Leave bigger tips.
12. Use kinder words.
13. Laugh at more jokes.
14. Make more eye contact.
15. Treat others to more coffee.
16. Listen more intently.
17. Give more time.
18. Stop to catch-up longer.
19. Promote others more often.
20. Be more optimistic.
21. Be more sympathetic.
22. Be more patient.
23. Celebrate more successes.
24. Ask to pray more often.
25. Dream bigger dreams for others.
26. Cook more meals.
27. Ask elders for more advice.
28. Spend more time reminiscing with old friends.
29. Donate more to charity.
30. Remember more details.
31. Sing more songs.
32. Display more affection.
33. Give more apologies.
34. Focus less on differences.
35. Invite more to come along.
36. Read more books to your child.
37. Offer to help more often.
38. Trust more.
39. Give more responsibility.
40. Say more thank-you’s.

Give more life. Because there, you’ll find more for yourself as well.