Since I received this assignment on November 13, I have been posting challenges on a Facebook page. At this time, 85 people have “liked” this page and are reading the challenges and scriptures posted. My hope is that the new year will be a launching of this project and that many more will join us in this quest. My prayer is that every home that claims to be a God-fearing, Christ-centered home will dig deeper into His word and exemplify His character more than ever before. This is my deepest desire, starting with my heart and my home.
Practicing Honor, Day By Day
1.) I am a firm believer that our true character is who we are at home, so let’s begin there. Today, find ways to show your gratitude for those closest to you. Have a conversation at the breakfast table, or at dinner. “Our words have power to build up and to tear down. My desire is to see us encourage one another. I’ll go first and I hope you’ll join me. _______, I see strength in you when you _______________.” Or, “_________, you display good character when you _____________.” Or, “____________, I appreciate when you _________.”
The goal is to focus on WHO THEY ARE, rather than WHAT THEY DO. Instead of saying, “Son, you are a good athlete,” I can say, “Son, you display perseverance and tenacity when you are on the ball court. I appreciate your hard work as you move toward your goal of being a starter on the team.” Being a good athlete may or may not be in my child’s control. Working hard and reaching a desired goal is something he has strived for and that should be acknowledged.
There are many ways to bless our family members, today let’s use words of praise to build them up.
2.) Today would be a great day to begin a discussion with your family. Take a dictionary and look up the word “honor.” Define it and make sure that everyone knows what honor is. Begin an honor journal and brainstorm the ways your family wants to show honor. Do you want to begin an honor blog? Would you rather use a pen and paper to keep an honor journal? Will you sit down once a week to write, read or discuss what you wrote or read? Make a plan!
3.) Today consider honoring your pastor or another person who speaks life and encouragement into your spirit. Pastors, worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, children’s ministers, and many others pour out their lives to bless others. Most are underpaid or not paid at all. They love God and they love people, so they minister out of that passion. A kind word, a thoughtful gift or a handwritten note would go a long way in affirming the calling and impact someone has in your life.
4.) Today find a way to honor a “landscape” person in your life. Consider the people that are part of the backdrop of your life. You see their faces, you may know their name, but you do not know much about them. Some “landscape” people may be your mail carrier, your child’s school bus driver or teacher, your cashier at Walmart or the grocery store, the customer standing in line behind you, a neighbor who walks their dog on your street, or a delivery person. You may be the only person they come into contact with today who will offer them a smile, a kind word or even a random act of kindness. Let someone go in front of you at the checkout line. Leave a candy bar in your mailbox for your carrier. Take a casserole to a neighbor. Pay for a stranger’s coffee or lunch. Find a way to bless someone today!
5.) Today choose to honor someone who has hurt you. This challenge may be more difficult, but you can do it. Choose to forgive the offense that was set against you and then ask God to show you something in that person that is worthy of honor. Make an effort to speak a word of affirmation over him/her, send a text or email of encouragement or put a card in the mail. No one is perfect, we all make mistakes. We have been forgiven much, so we must forgive!
6.) Today look up Bible verses about honor, encouragement and speaking life to others. Choose one for you/your family to memorize.
7.) Today, choose to make people more important than tasks. We all have plenty to get done in a day, but at the end of this day, may it be said that we put our loved ones first. Take a moment to hug your spouse or child, sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate together, play a round of Mario Cart with your kids, spend a few minutes catching up with your spouse…people trump projects any day!
8.) Today, I challenge you to honor yourself. This may be the most difficult challenge of all, but I encourage you to try it. Take time for you. What blesses you? What brings peace and refreshment to your mind, body and soul? Do you enjoy getting out in nature and enjoying the beauty of creation? If so, take a long walk or a hike. Do you get rejuvenated by a hot bubble bath? Take a bath! Do you find pleasure in reading a book or watching a movie? Read! Watch! Perhaps taking a nap is what you dream of every day. Today, make time and take a nap! Care for yourself, so that you will be ready to care for others.
9.) Today, be deliberate about honoring God with your tongue. A favorite, yet convicting, verse is Luke 6:45, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” If your tongue is speaking words that do not honor Him, ask Him to search your heart, cleanse you and show repentance by changing the way you speak.
10.) Today, ask God to show you someone who is in need. If we open our eyes, we will see a world full of people who are going without basics—food, heat, clothing, etc. We have so much excess; we should not sit back and ignore those who are in need. If you do not personally know of someone in such a situation, message me and I will help you to connect with people who are hurting.
11.) Today, honor others by taking time to listen to them when they speak. Don’t be planning your response or something that you think you must say. Don’t interrupt. Truly listen. People are full of passion about the things that matter to them. Today, show people that they matter to you. Listen. Respond by rephrasing what they say, ask questions for greater clarity, and encourage them in the things that they are passionate about. This skill is a forgotten one in so many settings. Practice attentive listening with your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your friends and even with total strangers.
12.) Today, use your words to bless someone close to you. Choose a positive character trait and let them know that you appreciate that quality in them. You may choose to speak these words or write them in a card or note. A sample sentence might be “I appreciate when you show courage by facing the things that you are most afraid of. When you tried out for the musical at school you displayed great courage and you made me feel proud.”
The sky is the limit, practice this on as many people as you can today. Be sure to be genuine and make sure that your actions and the way you treat others line up with your words!
13.) Today, ponder the question, “Who has mentored, nurtured and poured into my life?” For some, the most obvious answer is a parent, grandparent, or other relative. For others, it may be a teacher, coach, pastor or youth leader. For others, it may be harder to determine. Choose one such person, then take time to sit down and write a letter to that individual and express the appreciation you feel toward them. If you have not talked to the person in awhile, consider picking up the phone or arranging a face to face meeting. If that dear one has passed on from this life to the next, share your tribute with another person who knew him/her. Give honor where honor is due, while it is still called “today.”
14.) Today, honor someone you do not know. Find out the name of your postal carrier, your waitress, your cashier or some other person who serves you. Thank him/her for the ways he/she makes things running smoothly for you and others. If God tugs at your heart, consider giving him/her a small (or a large) gift of appreciation.
15.) Today, determine ways you can give to others by not spending a penny! Make up coupons for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts of just “any old day” gifts” for an act of service you are willing to perform for someone you love. Think big! Consider what would minister to the individual, even if it is something you do not enjoy! For a child, spend time playing their favorite sport with them or a round of a video game. For a parent, offer to do an extra chore. For a sibling, take over their chore for the entire day. For a neighbor, rake up the leaves in their yard. Remember to have a cheerful attitude and a happy heart while you are serving!
16.) Today, let’s invite others to join us on this journey of practicing honor. I recently found myself in a social setting with young people who were being very disrespectful. I asked them to settle down and the request was ignored. I asked again. And again. Finally, I inquired, “Do you behave this way at school?” Their response saddened me, “Yes.” I asked around to some others and was informed that in many settings, young people are running the show and there are little or no consequences for poor behavior. I came away from that event with a broken heart. How difficult life is going to be for these young people, if they do not learn to respect authority and honor others. Let’s call others to a higher standard! Adults, let’s live lives that are worthy of honor and respect, model this behavior for the children and young adults around us. Young people, even if you do not have a role model to follow, pick up your Bible and read about Jesus! He is the standard by which we are all called to live!
17.) Today, ask God to help you use your tongue to speak blessings rather than curses. This is something that requires diligence, humility and lots of practice. Consider this: almost anything that you say and follow with “LOL” or “I’m just kidding” or “I was joking” was unkind or inappropriate. If you need to follow with those words, you probably should not have said it in the first place. What may seem funny to you could be very offensive to someone else. Let’s use our words to build up rather than tear down.
18.) Today, spend time with your spouse, child or another loved one. Have a goal of at least thirty minutes and make sure you ask questions and show interest in his/her life. Let him/her do the talking, while you listen, listen, listen!
19.) Today, we are reminded that the future is uncertain. While it is still called “today,” let’s live well and love deeply. Speak words of affirmation over those you love, don’t assume they know how you feel about them. Give “flowers” to the living, words that will bring life and honor. Write down the encouraging words so that your loved ones will cherish them for years to come. Don’t wait for tomorrow, it may never come.
20.) Today, ask God to show you someone who needs to be encouraged. Look around—in your home, your classroom, your office, or a store you’re shopping in. Ask for discernment to see past the smiles people often paste on their faces, look into their eyes. Who is lonely? Who is down trodden? Who needs a friend? Who needs to be told that their life has value and worth? Chances are, everyday, there are many that we pass who need this gift. I am often reminded of a precious young man who battled mental illness most of his life. He was a gem of a soul and I never saw the worst of his disease, but many did. His last night on earth he was taking care of customers and was treated rudely. The next day, he was gone. We’ll never know exactly what happened or what went through his mind that night. If my words are the last words someone hears, I want them to be words of life and kindness. Let’s spread some love today!
21.) Today, continue to hold conversations with your family members or others close to you. Ask for accountability in the area of honor. When you gather over the holidays, focus on speaking that which edifies and builds others up, not things that tear down. Beware of the lazy, slothful tendency to kick back and let things fly once bellies are full and gifts are unwrapped. Our family sets a time limit for how long we’ll be at most functions, as we have learned past a certain point, things go downhill. Set limits to avoid common pitfalls.
22.) Today, many people are sick. If you are, my prayers are with you. If you are taking care of loved ones, I pray for strength for you. If everyone in your house is blessed with good health, consider making a pot of chicken soup and taking it to someone who is ill. Offer to pick up groceries or medicine for someone who is sick. Be His hands and feet today.
23.) Today, and in the days ahead, ask God to set a guard upon your mouth and tongue. Choose to speak words of life, healing and hope. If it isn’t life giving, affirming, lovely, pure and worthy of praise, don’t speak it! Bite your tongue, walk from the room if you need to, and ask God for His help, moment by moment. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing and acceptable to Him!
24.) Today, as you look at the start of a new year, don’t overwhelm yourself with resolutions you cannot keep. Consider this: When you look back at 2013, do you want to be the same person you were at the start of the year? Keep first things first, honor God and honor others. What does that look like? Spend more time investing in relationships and going after that which is eternal. The temporal things will fade away, but relationships with God and others will last forever. Invest in that which brings forth good fruit! Have family dinners, games nights, date nights with your spouse, weekend getaways with those who build you up! Let’s make 2013 the year of getting back to basics…love God. Love others. You really cannot do one without doing the other!
25.) Today, sit down with your family and ponder the year 2012. What were the highs and lows? We refer to them as “Blessings and Bummers,” a phrase we borrowed from dear friends. As you look at 2013, choose one word to focus on for your entire family. Choose a word that you want to explore and grow in, one that you can look up Bible verses for and study. Most importantly, choose a word that will challenge you to become more like Jesus. In 2012, our family picked the word, “Honor.” Here, at the end of the year, we see that we still have much more to learn about honor, so we are carrying it over into 2013. Other words we have focused on are rest, restoration, peace, hope, abide…there are so many great ones! Share your word with us here at the Honor Project!
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