I Choose Today...

I Choose Today: Wisdom in the Pause

A few days ago, I was listening to a friend retell about a situation she had at work. It was a conversation she was having with a coworker and it had all the makings of a coming conflict. When she made the statement, “I paused before I responded,” it was like the Holy Spirit said to me, “there is wisdom in the pause.” Think about it, today’s society tends to speak hastily, causing conflict and wreaking havoc in the workplace, public, churches, and families. We speak hastily from our own understanding and wisdom, as well as throwing in some of our own hangups and anxieties. King Solomon, the wisest person to ever live outside of Jesus, knew this principle all to well when he warns us, “Do you see a [conceited] man who speaks quickly [hastily] [offering his opinions or answering without thinking]? There is more hope for a [thickheaded] fool than for him.” Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬ (emphasis added) Basically he is saying it is better to be someone who is silly or stupid; a person who lacks judgement and sense, than to be a person who speaks hastily. We have all been guilty of it, haven’t we?  Giving our

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I Choose Today: When Tears Speak Louder Than Words

Loss… Such a small word with such a big impact. None of us are immune to it. Some losses leave a more lasting mark than others. When people lose something, they not only no longer have it or them, but the space that loss once occupied becomes empty, hollow. Grieving that loss makes it hard to articulate its effect. Sadness is the primary emotion, but that word alone doesn’t do it justice. All that seems logical, applicable, and appropriate is to cry. And you know what? We need to make space to cry and be sad. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “a time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.” There is a song I heard the other day that spoke to my heart on this subject. It’s called “Jesus Cries” by Riley Clemmons. The first verse says (link below): “It’s no secret that life Gets a little heavy sometimes Like it’s too much for one heart to take Your smile’s wearing thin Just tryin’ to hold it all in But it feels like the dam’s gonna break You are not alone facing that flood behind your eyes Heaven already knows

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I Choose Today to Come to Jesus

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV) I remember when I first felt God’s calling in my life to start a podcast. The excitement and sense of purpose were overwhelming—I felt I had to do it all! My days were packed, from morning quiet times with God to long hours of work, followed by evenings dedicated to my new “calling.” Weekends, too, were filled with tasks and chores, leaving no time to rest. But despite all my hard work, I found myself growing more frustrated and less productive. It felt like I was stuck in a never-ending sprint, running harder and harder yet getting nowhere. Then, I reached a breaking point. Exhausted and worn out, I cried out to God, desperate for relief. And in His infinite mercy, He answered me. He didn’t just give me a moment of peace; He freed me from the relentless cycle of work and exhaustion. He showed me a better way—a way to live according to

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I Choose Today Positive Self-Talk

Negative self-talk… I think we all have that one down pat. This has been one of the biggest hurdles for me to overcome. As I grew up, there was a lot of hurtful, minimizing, oppressive words spoken to me: you are dumb, stupid, and you will never amount to anything so don’t even try; people like you don’t make a difference; what do you know… nothing, so sit down and be quiet. These are words that the father of lies, the devil, willingly replayed for me over and over again all throughout my life. When I would try something new, he would put this tape on repeat. I would believe it and quit. If I tried something and failed just a little, again the tape would play. (Negative self-talk). It wasn’t until the Lord spoke into my life the truth of who I am in Him – His child, His masterpiece, His creation made on purpose for a purpose – did I start a new tape. (Positive self-talk). I read something recently that resonated with me. Someone wisely said, “What if we agreed with our Creator and called ourselves fearfully and wonderfully made? A masterpiece? A daughter of the King?

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I Choose Today: Embracing Intimacy With My Lord

Over the last five weeks, I have only been home four days. Some of the time I was with my husband, but most of it was spent apart. Sure, we talked everyday, most days multiple times, but it wasn’t the same as being present with one another. A couple times a week, we would sit outside and just talk, laugh, or just enjoy one another’s company. We call this “back porch sitting.”  Being away, even together, isn’t the same as the togetherness we experience during our “back porch sitting” time. The same is true as I spend time with the Lord. This morning when I sat down in my “quiet-time” chair in the corner of my office, I felt like I was coming home. Just me and the Lord, talking, studying, and just spending time together. I felt it all the way to my very soul. It is the intimacy I experience with the Lord that I miss. Even though I spent time with Him while I was gone, it wasn’t the same as when we spend time together while sitting in my chair. It is an ordinary chair, but there is nothing ordinary about the relationship built experienced there.

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