Appreciate Your Assets of Abundance<\/strong><\/p>\nLife can seem scarce rather than abundant when we hurry or forget to\u00a0savor all that we\u2019ve been given\u2026<\/p>\n
What if we measured wealth in purposeful work, simple pleasures\u00a0and meaningful relationships? Many of the things we enjoy most in\u00a0life are hard to put a monetary value on. Rate the following assets from 1-5 (1 being lowest value, 5 being highest value) of\u00a0abundance in terms of the pleasure and value they bring to you.<\/p>\n
The beauty of the natural world<\/p>\n
The pleasure of food<\/p>\n
Physical health and safety<\/p>\n
A sense of security and peace<\/p>\n
Physical activity<\/p>\n
Friends and family<\/p>\n
Spiritual awareness<\/p>\n
Romance and sexual intimacy<\/p>\n
Emotional health and support<\/p>\n
Access to information and learning<\/p>\n
Noble and purposeful work<\/p>\n
Realized talents and skills<\/p>\n
Opportunities to love and serve<\/p>\n
Creative expression<\/p>\n
Free time and sabbath rest<\/p>\n
The joy of music<\/p>\n
Access to the arts and culture<\/p>\n
Watching or playing sports<\/p>\n
Character and wisdom<\/p>\n
Patience and joy<\/p>\n
Freedom and liberty<\/p>\n
Strength to endure suffering and loss<\/p>\n
Other __________________<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nWhich nonmonetary\/nonmaterial assets do you enjoy and appreciate\u00a0<\/em>the most?<\/em><\/p>\nWhy do you think we tend to overvalue material possessions and\u00a0<\/em>undervalue other assets of abundance?<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Experiment: Keep a Daily Gratitude Log<\/strong><\/p>\nThe practice of gratitude helps us recognize how we have been lavished\u00a0and loved. \u201cGive thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love\u00a0endures forever\u201d (Psalm 106:1). Living gratefully is an important\u00a0spiritual discipline because it affirms what is evidentially true\u2014that\u00a0we are cared for by an abundant Provider who delights to give us\u00a0many good things. This week keep a daily gratitude log. At the beginning\u00a0or end of each day write down five things you are thankful\u00a0for. Try not to repeat. If you write each item in sentence form, your\u00a0list will begin to take the shape of a poem. For example:<\/p>\n
I am grateful for . . .<\/p>\n
the taste of coffee in the morning<\/em><\/p>\nhow sunlight fills a room with warmth<\/em><\/p>\nthe gentleness of a kiss on the cheek<\/em><\/p>\nthe power I feel in my legs when I run<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nYour list could be a random collection of things that move you, or\u00a0you might pick a theme for each day: food, people, nature. Or you\u00a0might want to spend some extra time outside looking and listening\u00a0for signs of God\u2019s abundance. At the end of the week read your poetic\u00a0list to a friend or small group.<\/p>\n
For more conversation on the new book Free<\/em>, visit the Patheos Book Club here<\/a>. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This month at the Patheos Book Club, we\u2019re featuring a new book on faith and money called Free: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most, by Mark Scandrette. The following is an\u00a0exercise excerpted from the book.\u00a0 Appreciate Your Assets of Abundance Life can seem scarce rather than abundant when we hurry or forget […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3363,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[152,115,150,151,108],"class_list":["post-3358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-christian-community","tag-christianity","tag-faith-and-money","tag-simplicity","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/54\/2013\/08\/BC_Free_1-1.jpg\" "\\"BC_Free_1-1\\"")
<\/a>This month at the Patheos Book Club, we\u2019re featuring a new book on faith and money called Free: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Mos<\/a>t, by Mark Scandrette. The following is an\u00a0<\/em>exercise excerpted from the book.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n