![zoomed in photo of a sparrow sitting on a tree branch](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/carolina-tsgAvDTSess-unsplash.jpg)
Thursday Thoughts - Positivity
How have your thoughts changed this week? On Monday we challenged ourselves to be kinder to ourselves in the ways we think and talk to ourselves. On Tuesday I shared about the three questions we can use to assess those thoughts: 1. Is it true? 2. Is it helpful? 3. Is it kind?
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Wednesday Story of Impact - Sheldon Pizza Ranch
Here in Northwest Iowa our schools opened their doors this week, so in the days leading up to kids filling the hallways many of our schools held development days for their faculty and staff.
![white canvas with the words "think positive" in calligraphy on it](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/viktor-forgacs-qe5mRoPJjQ0-unsplash.jpg)
Tuesday Truth - Assessing our Thoughts
Yesterday I shared about catching ourselves in negative self-talk and talking to ourselves positively instead. One way to assess if our thoughts are positive or negative is to ask these 3 questions (from Jon Acuff in his book Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking)
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Monday Mission- Sweet as Honey
"Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."
![Black post card with the word Prayer in white centered on top of white post cards with the word praise scattered underneath](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/yanin-diaz-xkdf6oiytHg-unsplash.jpg)
Friday Devotional - Praise!
David has always been one of my favorite Bible characters. That was especially true when I was young. I’ve always found his writing to be so easy to read and to be very relatable. When I look at passages throughout the Bible today, I still will look to see if David had anything to say on the matter. An example of this is the topic of praise.
![Man standing in a hay field at late sunset tossing a branch into the air](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/synticonic-8lZttgeu_7o-unsplash.jpg)
Thursday Thought - What if we Let Go and Let God?
What if, just for today, you decide to let go of something that you've been struggling with and let God take it on and lead you through it? Give it a try and see how God works things out. . .
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Wednesday Story of Impact - Wadena Primed to Expand Their Impact!
Exciting news for our Wadena, MN location as they seek to advance their impact in their community with a new FunZone addition! Check out this article featuring Zack Kelderman!
![Partial photo of a woman with a red, white, and navy plaid flannel shirt standing in front of a creamy brick background holding the cursive word joy](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/preslie-hirsch-rOKbmUbcOVg-unsplash.jpg)
Tuesday Truth - The Joy of the Lord is My Strength!
Though tears may fall My song will rise, my song will rise to You Though my heart may fail My song will rise, my song will rise to You While there's breath in my lungs I will praise You, Lord
![Desert scene with what appears to be a man holding back a gigantic boulder from falling down a rock pile](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/vicky-sim-mj51pZwan9c-unsplash.jpg)
Monday Mission - Find Your Strength
Where do you find your strength? In my life I have had to ponder this question many times and the answer continually comes back around to my walk with God. I find myself so much stronger and able to manage the load of my world when I am close to Him and allow Him to help with the heavy lifting.
![Psalm 8 makes one think](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/Beauty-by-Nathan-Anderson-via-Unspalsh.jpg)
Friday Devotional – Mindful of Us
Psalm 8 makes one think about their place in the world. How one fits into the expanse of the universe. I know that I wonder about this sometimes.
![“The people around us don’t really need to know what WE think of them, as much as what GOD thinks of them.”](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/What-God-Thinks-of-Them.jpg)
Thursday Thought
It can be so easy to notice the flaws in someone, but how often do we take time to vocalize and celebrate their gifts and talents? How often do we celebrate them for being the person God made them to be?
![Sketch of Paul and Barnabas on the deck of a Ship](https://d3exbi59yykwt2.cloudfront.net/general-uploads/_580x375_crop_center-center_none/barnabas.jpg)
Wednesday Story of Impact - Barnabas
One of the disciples of the early church was a man named Joseph. Joseph was a very special man, and for that he earned himself a nickname – Barnabas. Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement”. Barnabas went on a missionary journey with Paul, helped start churches, and helped spread the truth of the Gospel.