A checklist for everyday

From the Brave Woman Manifesto:

"I will remember that God gives life to the full, the abundant life, but the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.” John 10:10 (Jesus promise that in him we can have an abundant life)

I am a recovering perfectionist, with the ANTS that come with ADD (Automatic Negative Thoughts). I can ALWAYS use reminding about my abundant life if I abide in Christ. Jesus offers us an abundant life. AND we have so many other reasons our life is abundant…

…when we choose joy.

"I get to ___." Rather than "I have to ____."

There seems to be a resounding YES in my community of girlfriends to put aside the compulsion for being perfect.

We instead are learning to be present, mindful that we can trust the Holy Spirit to guide us. 

We will accomplish all that HE has for us today. 

Romans 12:12 is a list we can check off today, and everyday:

Be 
__ joyful in hope,
__ patient in affliction,
__ devoted to prayer

It is meaningful to do nothing but abide in Christ. But I do love work, and promoting the work of the gospel. What a joy to find meaningful "kingdom work" I can contribute to while in this season living in LA. It is meaningful to be a caregiver.  A project this year I've enjoyed diving into is helping The River Church coordinate and organize and mobilize for mission. The River Hopes is the name we gave to it. So thank you River for allowing me to dive in!

You can download the 52 “I will…” statements from “The Brave Woman Manifesto” (Elisa Pullman) @ 

More Mayhem. How do we respond to God?

Psalm 116: 5-9

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.

The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

These senseless tragedies happen regularly on our planet,

far away;

or nearby, affecting us personally.

And when it does, humankind created by our Father in heaven

will always ask:

"Why God? How could you let this happen."

Do you have an answer?

Why?

Because he loves us, we are free to follow righteousness or evil.

To worship him, or…not.

Why?

Because some — no most of us — have chosen evil.

He cannot force us to choose righteousness.

When these things happen, it is a reminder of his grace:

Be amazed that it doesn't happen MORE.

Be amazed that in the midst of such an evil world,

we don't all have to live in mayhem as a way of life.

(Though some in other countries do.)

While we are in the "Land of the living,"

(before the best and eternal part of life)

our earth is temporarily ruled by forces of darkness intent on destroying us.

We are a generation has grown up rehearsing hours a week of such violence with movies and TV and gaming.

How indeed, does this kind of mayhem not happen more?

As we grieve today, dear friends, let's remember Psalm 116.

"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful."

K!Mberly Creasman

charminfullbloom.blogspot.com

BTW, You are Incredible!