I Choose Today...

I Choose Today Change My Tools…

In my mind’s eye, everyone has a life tool chest. Before I became a Christian, it was filled with survival tools of which I used to survive. But when I became a believer, God started replacing those survival tools with tools equipping me to thrive. These tools were derived from studying and reading the Word of God and prayer, and through trials, perseverance, experience. That is why James says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬. With each trial is an opportunity to build life’s tool chest; tools we can use to be successful in all we do and go through. I think of Joseph who went through trial after trial, but God used the tools he accumulated during those trials to make Joseph the leader God designed him to be. I believe God is doing that in my life. I believe He has replaced those survival tools I once

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I Choose Today to Bloom…

Recently I discussed about being stuck; about the feeling of not being who you want to be, doing what you feel you should be doing, or where you should be serving/working. We can feel like nomads in our occupation, our location, our relationships. So what do we do about it? God’s Word has an answer for that. Hebrews 11:13 states, “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.” The author of Hebrews talks about the people of faith understanding they had a role in God’s greater plan, and their true home is in heaven, not on earth. God has given me the ability to live this perspective being the nomad lifestyle I have lived as a military spouse. There was one block of six (6) years where we moved seven (7) times. The phrase God gave me during this time of constant moving was “bloom where I have planted you.” I learned that my time in these places was limited, so I needed to get to doing. I

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I Choose Today to Get into Position

Habakkuk 2:1 demonstrates waiting expectantly for God to answer him when he states, “I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how He will answer my complaint.”  ‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I love what Habakkuk did here. He stated his complaint, his doubts, his fears to God. Habakkuk was honest with God in how he felt about what was happening around him. But he didn’t just tell Him what was on his heart and walk away, nor did he think that God wasn’t listening, didn’t care, or wouldn’t respond/act on his complaint. No, Habakkuk did something remarkable; he set himself in a position to hear from God. He climb up to his watchtower. He set himself above the fray, above the noise and chaos, above any distractions. There he stood watching, waiting expectantly for God to answer. Even though Habakkuk was complaining to God about his circumstances, he was waiting expectantly for God’s response. Habakkuk’s example is a reminder for me to live and wait expectantly. Expect God to listen. Expect God to care. Expect God to answer. To position myself – above the fray,

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I Choose Today to Show Up

Last week, we talked about how Satan tormented Jesus when He was in a weakened state, (see “I Choose Today to Fix My Mind”). Last year I was in a weakened state and Satan took his opportunity to torment me. I had the perception of being stuck, unmotivated by almost everything, including my work, relationships, and even my walk with the Lord. It seemed I was going through the motions without feeling. I lived like I was lost, and I didn’t know what to do about it. Satan was telling me I held no value, I didn’t measure up. He reminded me of all the negative talk spoken to me from my early years. He was tormenting me in my weakened state. I can remember taking a walk and crying out to the Lord! Literally crying out! You know what happened? He met me where I was. All I had the energy to do was show up. That is what I heard God speak to my heart. So, I would show up to quiet time and He was there. He was there to listen. He was there to start the healing of my heart. He was there to show me

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I Choose Today to be an Influencer

I have been reading a book by John Maxwell called Developing the Leader Within You. John spoke about influence and how it makes an impression on our everyday lives. He quotes, “No one can understand that mysterious thing we call influence… yet… everyone of us continually exerts influence, either to heal, to bless, to leave marks of beauty; or to wound, to hurt, to poison, to stain other lives.” Maxwell’s concept of influence extends beyond our awareness, shaping our choices and interactions every day. Recently, a simple trip to the grocery store underscored this truth for me The other day my husband and I went to a specialty grocery store to get a particular bread for an event. We bought 10 packages of this bread. The gentleman that was having his stuff checked stepped away for the register to add six packages of the same bread to his purchase. He told us that when he saw how many packages we were buying, he knew that bread must be really good! So, even though he didn’t know us at all, he was influenced by us enough to blindly buy the bread. At that moment, we were influencers and he imitated us

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