PCH Disciples
Prayer, Compassion, Humility
“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” - Mother Teresa
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” - Mother Teresa
Let's start small. Write a note, email, text, Facebook message (whatever is easiest for you) to someone you know with a word of encouragement. That's it. Dude. Be Nice.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Dude Be Nice: 30 Day Challenge
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou
Looking for a positive change in your family? Dude, be nice. Want to see your work place become a place of mutual support? Dude, be nice. Want to help bring God's peace into your neighborhood? Dude, be nice.
Change starts with you and you are the perfect person to start a compassion revolution in your "world."
Every day read the inspirational quote and decide to act
compassionately for at least one person. You can follow the
prompt given for the day or choose to do something else.
The key to developing a character of compassion is to act.
Not simply to pray. Not simply to think. But to do.
How about keeping a journal during this challenge?
That way at the end of 30 days you can look back and remember
the journey you've taken. In the morning, write down what you
hope for the day in response to the daily prompt. And then at night, write down what happened.
Hope you enjoy. Remember, Dude be nice.
"Like the woman who anointed Christ's feet with oil, sometimes the things we think are small are the very things God uses to accomplish the mighty." - Halee Gray Scott
A simple act of kindness today can be the key to opening up someone's world. You have power to bring a positive influence in someone's life today. Ask someone in your home or office, "how are you doing?" and listen intently as they talk. No interruptions. Dude. Be Nice.
“Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.” ― J.K. Rowling
As you pursue your one act of "nice" today, consider helping someone who is often neglected by others. The one no one seems to notice. Who knows, their life could be changed because you gave them hope with a simple smile, greeting or act of "nice." You have that influence. Dude. Be Nice.
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
― Mark Twain
Someone's world can be impacted in a dramatic way with one act of kindness. What might seem like an obviously nice thing to do to you, can be some major event in the life of another. As you interact with an employee, store clerk, waitress, tell them one things that you appreciate about them and how they do their job. You'll make their day!
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today is all you have. No guarantees you'll have tomorrow to do that nice thing you've been thinking about. Call someone today you've not talked to in a long time to check in and see how they are doing. And if appropriate for them. pray wth them. Dude, be nice.
“We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Bring a simple gift to a friend today - leave it at their door, on their car, in thier office. Write a note with the gift that expresses your gratitude for their friendship.
“I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness.” ― Mother Teresa, A Gift for God: Prayers and Meditations
We are not going to "be nice" perfectly. We'll make mistakes. Be nice anyway. Your community will benefit. You will benefit. Help a stranger today - money, a conversation, whatever will help them in a small way.
“Let us make one point, that we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family.” ― Mother Teresa
“It only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime.” ― Steve Maraboli
Keeping it simple today. Smile. How you approach your spouse, your child, the worker at the grocery store, the stranger on the street, the......a simple smile communicates love.
“I don't want my life to be defined by what is etched on a tombstone. I want it to be defined by what is etched in the lives and hearts of those I've touched.” ― Steve Maraboli,
Today you have the opportunity to bring definition to your life. Will you be defined by kindness by your family, friends co-workers? Your actions/words can have a positive impact leaving a legacy worth remembering. Bring coffee/treat to someone with the simple message, "I hope your day is going well."
““I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore there be any kindness I can show...let me do it now.” ― William Penn
Now. Today. Why not? Enjoy the opportunity you have today to make someone's day better, even great. An act of "nice" will create a better life for them and for you. So many opportunities, so little time. Surprise a neighbor today with an act of kindness - whatever you think they's appreciate.
“You have a unique gift to offer this world. Be true to yourself, be kind to yourself, read and learn about everything that interests you and keep away from people who bring you down. When you treat yourself kindly and respect the uniqueness of those around you, you will be giving this world an amazing gift... YOU!” ― Steve Maraboli,
In the midst of being nice, so important not to forget to be nice to yourself. Giving yourself time to reflect, to pray, to enjoy all that God has given you allows you to smile and bring joy to others. Because we are loved, we are able to love. Enjoy today, it's a gift.
“You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes." - Source unknown.
Until you've walked in someone's shoes, you really can't understand their experience. Being nice begins with listening/knowing the person in front of you. Ready for a good day of "nice" - take time to get to know someone's life. Simply listening to them and not solving a problem could be the best thing we do today.
Day 15
“Kind deeds will never be forgotten. They may seem small to you, but they’ll be remembered for a lifetime. Take time to be good to people.~ Joel Osteen
Take a moment to remember one nice thing that someone did for you. Do you remember that feeling? You can create that feeling for someone else. Pay it forward today. The nice thing you remember, do that for someone today.
““Your life is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be opened.” ― Wayne Muller
You've been given many gifts. Today, share those gifts with others. Perhaps, you have a favorite book you'd like to give to a friend. Or you have the gift of listening, that you can share with a stranger. Or the gift of cooking, to share with a neighbor. Or the gift....what's your gift? Give that away to someone today.
“The utmost form of respect is to give sincerely of your presence.”
― Mollie Martiour
Want to be nice? Just pay attention, complete attention to the person who is speaking in your presence. Let their words and emotions fill your head/heart as you listen. That's a rare gift that makes a world of difference in someone's life.
Day 16
“It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.” ― Mahatma Gandhiollie Martiour
Dude, Be Nice to your enemy. The love of enemy is the deeper act of love that brings deeper change in culture and society. Who do you dislike? Who has gotten on your nerves recently? Today, at the very least pray for them. At the most, do something kind for them.
Day 17
“"Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others—never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself you will not want to harm or cheat him, or kill him or steal from him. And you won’t sin with his wife or want what is his, or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong. All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself." First Century Christain pastor
Let's make a special effort today to meet a neighbor on our street, in our apartment complex, in cubicle/office at work and be nice to them. One act of nice to one neighbor.
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ― Maya Angelou
The double stoke - giving with stoke and receiving with stoke. With only 12 days left in this challenge, let today be a day when you are nice with complete cheerfulness. And if someone is nice to you, recieve it with pleasure and gratitude.
Day 19
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” ― John Bunyan
No expectations of something in return. Kindness in itself is payment enough. Let's totally bless at least one person today with something totally unexpected. Pray that God gives you an opportunity to bless someone.
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 18
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." - Paul
Our joy grows as we show kindness into the lives of others. As you continue to sow into people's lives you'll discover that your life grows - you will reap huge benefits because love often begets love. Kindness begets kindness. It's not a one-for-one comparison (because we are nice others are nice) but our lives are more full. Be generous today with someone.
"“Do you know what people really want? Everyone, I mean. Everybody in the world is thinking: I wish there was just one other person I could really talk to, who could really understand me, who'd be kind to me. That's what people really want, if they're telling the truth.” ― Doris Lessing, The Golden Notebook
Ready to be nice? Great day to really listen to someone and give them what they really want...someone who cares. You can be that person. You can change a life, today.
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness
How do friendships survive? A big dose of nice (love, compassion). How do marriages thrive? A huge helping of nice (love, compassion). How does society flourish? A plate full of nice (love and compassion). Let's make our neighborhoods, workplaces, school, homes, communities survive, thrive and flourish. Today, consider how you'll give back to your local community. Find a place to volunteer and consider making a longer commitment.
“Love is my decision to make your problem my problem.” ― Robert A. Schuller
Do you know someone who is facing a huge problem? Pray that God gives you wisdom as to how to help them. fter prayer, take one action to let the person know that you are concerned about them and you are willing to help.
"It's very important that people know that I really enjoy everything that has happened to me. And I tell my kids... you're not going to be the tallest, fastest, prettiest, the best track runner, but you can be the nicest human being that someone has ever met in their life. And I just want to leave that legacy that being nice is a true treasure." - George Foreman
With one week left in your 30 day adventure, are you beginning to experience the joy of creating a legacy of compassion? Your actions make a difference. And you can make a difference everyday in someone's life. Today, ask a friend or family member what's the one thing you could do to for them that would make their day/week a little easier - then do it.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ― Desmond Tutu
Are you growing tired of being nice or are you feeling the joy of giving and blessing others? Those little bits of good matter. They matter to the person you love and they matter in a culture in which being nice is surprising. You are a gift to others. Thanks for taking this adventure. Conisder doing a "little bit of good' for a neighbor today.
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
Creating space for others - that's nice. Invite a friend, coworker or stranger to share a meal with you today.
“If a person seems wicked, do not cast him away. Awaken him with your words, elevate him with your deeds, repay his injury with your kindness. Do not cast him away; cast away his wickedness.”― Lao Tzuo
We don't cast away people, but we do cast away their wickedness. Kindness and love are the key. Ready to be nice today. In a world of harmful things, be the one who brings hope.
“Try looking at your mind as a wayward puppy that you are trying to paper train. You don't drop-kick a puppy into the neighbor's yard every time it piddles on the floor. You just keep bringing it back to the newspaper.”― Anne Lamott
Sometimes being nice is easy, sometimes we totally blow it and get totally self-focused. If you fail, be nice to yourself and get back up and start being nice. As time goes on, you'll find life is so fulfilling and actually fun - the ability to bless others is part of the deal. Think about a place where you could have shown compassion but did not. If possible, do something today that will help in that situation.
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." from a 1st century Christian sermon
The early Christians believed God was involved in the world. Showing hospitality and care for strangers is at the very heart of God. As you come to the end of this adventure in compassion, take time to pray and ask God to give you an opportunity today to provide help to a stranger.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." from the Gospel of Matthew
When we care for those in need we are doing God's will. Take time to pray and ask God how you can live this adventure for a lifetime - make a commitment to apply the principle of compassion daily in your attitude and actions.
