I Choose Today...

I Choose Today the Call to Action

Since I began writing this blog, I have learned a lot about how to write a blog (which I had no idea how to do when I felt the Lord’s prompting). One of the ways blogs are enhanced is to add a “call to action” at the end of the post. A call to action refers to a speech, written content, or action prompting or motivating individuals to take specific action. It is when I encourage the reader, you, into some sort of action to reinforce the topic written about in the blog. However, modern day bloggers and marketers are not the originators of calls to action. The oldest and best selling book, the Bible, is full of calls to action. Abraham was called to action to leave his home to go where God was leading him to go Abraham went about readying his son for sacrifice Moses’ parents hid their son so he wouldn’t be killed by Pharaoh Noah built an ark when it had never rained before Ester went before the King to save her people David went to battle with a giant in defense of his God and God’s people Jesus called us to action when He

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I Choose Today to be Brutally Honest

Brutal honesty… Brutal honesty entails articulating truth with clarity and precision, devoid of any attempt to mask its discomforting nature. The writer of Hebrews explained brutal honesty perfectly when he said, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬. When we are brutally honest with ourselves we are stripped bare: naked and exposed. It is uncomfortable, embarrassing, traumatizing, shameful. But isn’t that what God had in mind when He created mankind? Before the fall, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed as they stood before God. But when they chose to disobey God, the first thing they experienced was shame, “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:7. When God came looking for them, they didn’t stand before God, they hid from God. They were trying to hide their sin and shame by sowing fig leaves together, which was woefully insufficient. They couldn’t do anything in their own power to cover their sin, so they tried to hide (it). But God…

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I Choose Today to Thank the Lord

Have you ever woken up singing a song; a song you keep singing throughout the day? This morning was such a time for me. I woke up singing the chorus of the song This is How I Thank the Lord by Mosaic MSC (link to song added to bottom of this post). I decided to listen to the song as part of my quiet time worship. The lyrics convicted me. “So this is how I thank the Lord for saving me When I was weak, so I will sing This is how I thank the Lord for everything This is how I thank the Lord” The vocalist was showing her thanks to the Lord by using her gift and talent God gave her to glorify the Lord. So this begs the question, am I thanking the Lord by using the gifts and talents He has given me to glorify Him? One of the things God has gifted me to do is to encourage others. I wrote about God’s motivational gifts, in a prior blog, saying, “”If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging” (Romans 12). This gift is so important as it is someone who has a positive outlook

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I Choose Today to Tell My Story

The “great commission” is something with which most believers are familiar: ”And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.“ ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This can be daunting. Some say this means we are to leave our jobs, homes, friends, and families to go to countries around the world to proclaim and preach the gospel. While this is true for some, most of us are not called to do that. But the “great commission” is for everyone: you and myself included. ”Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.“ Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬. Another version says it this way, ”Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…“ (NIV). Everyone has a story to tell: experiences God has brought them through, deliverance from something or someone, provision for a need, healing from sickness or trauma, redeeming relationships. In the rest of Psalms 107, David gives examples of people who cried out to God, and He answered them. People who were wandering in the desert alone, hopeless, and hungry cried out to God and “He put them on a wonderful road that took [them] straight to

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I Choose Today to Remember

Have you ever had a time in your life when you wanted something so badly, you prayed and prayed until you ran out of words? As a result, you didn’t get what you asked for? Reflecting on such moments can lead us to unexpected realizations. Recently, my husband and I found ourselves sitting on the back porch, indulging in our weekly ‘back porch sittin,’ and it sparked a conversation that brought forth a flood of memories and gratitude. During our reminiscing, my husband commented that where we are now is not anywhere he could have thought or imagined. He was hoping for a specific job and career path, but that never materialized. In our younger days, we made it a common practice to write down our goals for the next 5, 10, 20 years. But even in our wildest goals and dreams, we wouldn’t come close to where God has brought us! I can remember praying so hard for some things to happen. Prayers that didn’t get answered, and I found myself really disappointed; dare I say a little upset with God for not answering my prayers and giving me my desires of my heart. Looking back, reminiscing with my

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