Patricia Mitchell - Everyday Kindness

Copyright 2014 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Print ISBN 978-1-62416-879-6

eBook Editions:

Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-63058-005-6

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Written and compiled by Patricia Mitchell in association with Snapdragon Groupsm Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version of the Bible, copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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In our busy world, practical acts of kindness that sweeten life, connect people, and strengthen relationships are rare. Yet there are still peoplepeople like youwho believe that kindness is important. God has blessed you richly, and youre moved to respond by blessing the lives of others. As His Spirit continues to work in your heart, you desire to grow in love, kindness, and compassion for everyone.

Everyday Kindness is designed to bless you for all the times you have shown kindness to others and to help you discover more ways to live a life marked by God-pleasing, Spirit-empowered kindness. Yes, its a busy world, but some peopleincluding youare never too busy to care about whats truly important in life. God bless you for being the kind and caring woman you are!

The Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness.

G ALATIANS 5:22 NCV

Do not neglect the gift that is in you.

1 T IMOTHY 4:14 NKJV

We each have many abilities, and its not all about how well we excelled in school or what level of proficiency we reached in music or sports. If that were the case, many of us would have to declare ourselves not able at all! But God says differently. He has granted everyone the gift of special abilities, and He intends for each of us to develop, share, and enjoy them. The more you use your skills and talents, the more you grow in appreciation for the great kindness God has shown to you, and the more you kindly share with others.

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

P HILIPPIANS 4:13 NLT

Despite your best intention to treat everyone kindly, emotions can get in the way. Stress, fatigue, and frustration can trigger sharp rebukes and angry replies that you later regret. When emotions threaten your ability to respond kindly to others, pause and let Gods unfailing kindness embrace your heart and mind. Treat yourself kindly by receiving Gods forgiveness and forgiving yourself. God restores your peace, enabling you to curb negative feelings and thwart unproductive emotions. The comfort God sends strengthens your confidence and increases your ability to pour out His kindness on others.

Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 J OHN 3:18 NIV

A picture is worth a thousand words is certainly true as it pertains to kindness. All the kind, well-intentioned words and phrases in the world are meaningless unless theyre backed up with objective, observable, and kind actions. But while kind words trip easily off the tongue, kind actions come at the cost of time, effort, and attention to the needs of others. It is Gods action in your life that enables you not simply to speak kindly, but to act kindly. With His Spirit as your counselor and guide, you are the picture of kindness!

Everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do.

J OHN 3:21 CEV

Those who represent a company or a nation are expected to act a certain way. Whatever they say and do as individuals reflects back on the business or country, so they are careful to think before they speak and consider the consequences of their actions. Do you know that God has given you the privilege of representing Him to others? As a beloved daughter of your heavenly Father, your gentle words and kind, compassionate actions not only put you in a good light but put Him in a good light, too.

Remember those who are suffering as if you were suffering with them.

H EBREWS 13:3 NCV

Its lonely at the top, say some high-level executives, diplomats, and policymakers. With no one but themselves accountable for decisions that affect hundreds if not millions of people, they carry a heavy burden. An equally lonely place, however, is at the opposite end of societythose who live in poverty-stricken areas, who have lost their source of income, who are bound by adversity, addiction, or mental illness. Alone and forgotten, they are in need of your compassion and kindness. Its your heart and your hands that God uses to ease the suffering of others.