I Choose Today...

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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I Choose Today to be an Change Agent

Have you seen the news lately? Driven on a freeway or busy road? Gone to the store? To a sporting event? If the answer is yes, then you have probably witnessed (or participated) in all the angst, anger, evil, and hate that is going on all around us. I know sometimes it can be overwhelming and frustrating to see and feel all the immorality happening. There doesn’t seem to be a way to peace and goodness because people are inherently wicked. David reminds us of this truth when he says, ”…There is no one who does good, no, not even one.“ Psalms‬ ‭53‬:‭3‬a ‭AMP‬‬ Why doesn’t Jesus come back already? This world is so bad; so much tragedy, so much evil; so much pain and suffering. What is He waiting for? He is waiting for you, your neighbor, your child, your family member, your enemy to come to Him for their hope and salvation. Peter says it best when he states, ”The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, Hie is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.“ 2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ God is

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