I’m Done Keeping Score - Encouragement for Today - August 29, 2019

Peace and perspective from God's timeless truths. [View this email in your browser]( Encouragement for Today --------------------------------------------------------------- August 29, 2019 I’m Done Keeping Score [LYNN COWELL]( [ Listen to this devotion]( “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” [1 John 1:7]( (ESV) I couldn’t tell you exactly when the “scoreboard” was turned on. Because I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t staring it down. Maybe some of us naturally bend toward keeping a record of deeds we’ve done or deeds others have done. This ongoing tabulation of deeds in my mind sounds something like this: She had the kids over last time, so I’ll be sure to invite them to our place this time. He unloaded the dishwasher last night; I need to empty it tonight. Her gift was obviously more expensive than the one I gave her. I need to up my game for her birthday this year. Like me, do you ever catch yourself keeping score? Trying to stay ahead — or at least keeping up with someone else’s performance (or your own from another scenario)? When we’re managing many relationships, it brings the opportunity for many “scoreboards.” The family boards, the friend boards, the serving boards, and the giving boards. Although I struggled with math in school, I’ve been quite successful at keeping up with this type of addition and subtraction. Except when I’m not. Like when a perceived offense retracts points, taking my “score” to zero. For those who don’t truly know my heart, all the investment I have made is trumped with one offense, no matter how slight or unintentional that disappointment might have been. The scorekeeper is offended, and I lose. I lose love. I lose relationships. I lose peace. I lose confidence, and I am undone. I’ve wondered how Jesus looks at me when I slip into this sorry state. This place of people-pleasing tries to push me in and hold me down. Though He may be sad for me, I think He also whispers, Finally. Finally, I am where He wants me; for in this place of being undone, I can finally be done with the scoreboard. He is certainly done with it. [Continue reading...]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Subscription Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( --------------------------------------------------------------- © 2019 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Encouragement for Today. [Link](