Written by TWFYT
Monday September 8
"By grace you have been saved..it is...not a result of works." Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
A perfectionist seeks to achieve nothing less than perfection. Dorothy Little Greco writes: "I've been a perfectionists for as long as I can remember...I had to get A's, had to win, and had to please everyone. Every mistake or perceived failure unleashed a torrent of self-condemnation...Perfectionism often [comes from] insecurity and a faulty understanding of grace. During the first few years...parents are meant to communicate through their words and actions that we're...lovable, even though we do nothing to earn that love...But not all of us were the beneficiaries of such parenting. Many of our needs were met with frustration or even anger, which we interpreted as, 'There's something wrong with me.' When that's the case, over time, shame creeps in...[and] distorts our understanding of our self-worth. The voice of perfectionism increased when I started following Jesus. I feared being judged and...excluded, [which] motivated me to prove my worth to my fellow Christians. Though I believed, theoretically, that I was saved by grace, I lived as if I had purchased salvation on credit and was accruing an enormous debt. I [lived] as if Jesus would tear up our 'salvation contract' the moment I made a mistake. As I began to understand that pride and fear of mankind were driving my perfectionism, I confessed this as sin...[and] the chokehold started to loosen. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, I needed Jesus to break in and reorient me to his living water." Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be a blessing to others--you just have to be real!
Monday September 8
"By grace you have been saved..it is...not a result of works." Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
A perfectionist seeks to achieve nothing less than perfection. Dorothy Little Greco writes: "I've been a perfectionists for as long as I can remember...I had to get A's, had to win, and had to please everyone. Every mistake or perceived failure unleashed a torrent of self-condemnation...Perfectionism often [comes from] insecurity and a faulty understanding of grace. During the first few years...parents are meant to communicate through their words and actions that we're...lovable, even though we do nothing to earn that love...But not all of us were the beneficiaries of such parenting. Many of our needs were met with frustration or even anger, which we interpreted as, 'There's something wrong with me.' When that's the case, over time, shame creeps in...[and] distorts our understanding of our self-worth. The voice of perfectionism increased when I started following Jesus. I feared being judged and...excluded, [which] motivated me to prove my worth to my fellow Christians. Though I believed, theoretically, that I was saved by grace, I lived as if I had purchased salvation on credit and was accruing an enormous debt. I [lived] as if Jesus would tear up our 'salvation contract' the moment I made a mistake. As I began to understand that pride and fear of mankind were driving my perfectionism, I confessed this as sin...[and] the chokehold started to loosen. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, I needed Jesus to break in and reorient me to his living water." Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be a blessing to others--you just have to be real!
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2025
January
START BY FORGIVINGEMBRACING UNCERTAINTY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?DON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (3)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
February
PRACTICE SAYING NO TO YOURSELFTHE BEST IS YET TO COMETHE GRANDFATHER'S MISTAKE BECAME THE GRANDSON'S MIRACLEHOW TO CONQUER THE FEAR OF FAILINGLET'S RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCESPASS IT ON TO OTHERSKEEP TRUSTING GODFEAR IS THE ENEMY OF GROWTHCHANGE YOUR ROUTINEYOU ARE NOT BEYOND GOD'S REACHDON'T LOOK AT CHRISTIANS, LOOK AT CHRISTUNDERSTANDING THE WORD "IMPUTED"GOVERNED BY CHRIST'S LOVE FOR USTODAY EXCEPT GOD'S FAVORGROWTH IS ABOUT ENLARGEMENTFIND PRAYER PARTNERSKEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVINGREFUSE TO WEAR THE LABELJESUS IS THE ANSWERSHAKE IT OFF, AND MOVE FORWARDWHEN OTHERS "DON'T GET IT"RIGHTEOUSNSS IS A GIFT, NOT A REWARD
March
HOW LONG WILL YOU LIVE?DON'T BREAK, BOUNCE BACK (1)DON'T BREAK, BOUNCE BACK (2)KNOW WHEN TO LET GOPUT AWAY THE MEASURING STICKCONNECT, COMMIT, COMMUNICATEUSE YOUR IMAGINATIONCONSULT GOD ON YOUR DAILY TO-DO LISTBEARING SPIRITUAL FRUITHOW GOD SEES YOUBORN TO BELIEVE (1)BORN TO BELIEVE (2)ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY YOUR SOULPUT GOD BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE FOE"FORGIVE THEM" AND DELETE ITBE TRUE TO THE SCRIPTURESTHE KIDS ARE WATCHING YOU (1)THE KIDS ARE WATCHING YOU (2)IF YOU'RE A LEADER, READ THISPRAYER AND YOUR RASLEARN TO SAY NOYOU CAN LEARN TO LOVEALWAYS AGREE WITH GOD'S WORD
April
BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (1)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (2)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (3)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (4)REJOICE - DAY FORTY-ONE IS COMINGPASTOR, KEEP YOUR SWORD SHARPDON'T BURN OUT (1)DON'T BURN OUT (2)THE WAITING STRATEGYRESOLVE CONFLICT QUICKLY (1)RESOLVE CONFLICT QUICKLY (2)HELP FOR CAREGIVERS
May
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR MOTHERKNOWING THE SEASON YOU'RE INFAITH IS NOT FAITH UNTIL IT IS ACTED UPONHAVE A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVEFREE FROM JEALOUSYDON'T LOVE YOUR PASSION FOR GODGET ALONE WITH GOD (1)GET ALONE WITH GOD (2)GET ALONE WITH GOD (3)WHO ARE YOU DEPENDING ON?THE SECRET TO SUCCESSHOW TO STAY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GODDEALING WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES (1)DEALING WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES (2)COMPASSION BEGINS WITH THE WORD "NOTICE"WHEN GOD ASKS YOU TO GIVEARE YOU IN A STRESS MESS?WHEN YOU FEEL BLAH