I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Ride the Storm

Have you ever been in an intense storm? You know, a storm that consist of high winds you cannot stand up against and heavy rains that you can’t see past? Paul and his captors experienced a storm. But in the midst of this dangerous, frightening storm, God was there. ”For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and He said, ‘Don’t be afraid… What’s more, God in His goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as He said.“ ‭‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ God’s presence during Paul’s storm illustrates His faithfulness in the midst of adversity. Similarly, when I faced the tumultuous storm of losing my son, I discovered firsthand the solace and strength that come from relying on God. I find comfort in this account from Paul’s experience. My comfort is in knowing God is with me through my hard stuff, my mess, my storms; He will bring me through it. I once had a friend who, after learning about my loss, said she couldn’t believe I was still standing; still smiling; still had joy in my

Read More »

I Choose Today to be Calm

”What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Mark‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Have you ever met someone who was so anxious that they cause everyone around them to feel it too? On the flip side, have you ever been around someone who is calm? I mean someone whose calm demeanor calms all those around them; dare I say contagiously calm. Reflecting on the impact of anxiety, I’ve come to realize that the root cause often lies in my inability to trust God. Do I really believe He will and can work all life’s situations for my good? Do I really believe that He is in control and sovereign? Do I really believe and trust God to care about my burdens enough to carry them? Do I really believe and trust that He loves me and delights in me? Do I believe and trust that He will never leave me nor forsake me? Do I believe and trust that He sees and hears me? What would my life, your life, look like if I truly believed and trusted all those things? I believe I wouldn’t be anxious or stressed out. I believe I would

Read More »

I Choose Today to Take Action

“So he got up and came to his father…” Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬a ‭AMP‬‬ I find that I am a procrastinator. I even took pride in my ability to excel at tasks when done last minute (because I procrastinated). Then the Lord convicted me to be a servant of action. He made me realize that my procrastination, which is essentially delayed obedience, amounted to disobedience. I heard a saying “delayed obedience is disobedience.” This phrase convicted me. I tried to intentionally teach this “rule” when raising my daughter. I never counted to three because that promotes delaying obedience. I did this bc I wanted her to live a life that was immediately responsive to God’s voice, to God’s prompting, to God’s calling,… to God. God, in His proactive love, demonstrated His mercy to us even while we were still sinners. He took action by sending Christ to die for us, providing a way for our reconciliation with Him after the fall in the garden. I want to be an imitator of God by being a person of action, not of procrastination. This is not different when it comes to my sin. When I have my AHA moment (sudden awakening) and I am

Read More »

I Choose Today to Know I Matter

Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt as if you didn’t matter? I have felt that way. When I was growing up, I felt invisible and that I didn’t matter. I can remember wanting someone to see me; to care enough to take an interest in my well-being. It wasn’t until I was 19 that I truly felt that I mattered. That is when my aunt and uncle took an interest in my well-being to introduce me to the One in which I matter most: Jesus. You see I matter, you matter, to God. Jesus Himself said, ”If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it…“ Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭12‬-13a This verse tells me He values the one: each person, you, me, matter to Him! We matter so much, that He would leave the 99 to find us. God took the hand of the scared, invisible little girl and said, “Mo, I see you.

Read More »

I Choose Today to Have Faith

”Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.“ Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This is a timely verse. I am starting a new adventure of my own to use my gifts to glorify God and serve others. Taking a step of faith is both scary and exciting at the same time. I know many of you have faced or are facing the same dichotomy. Sometimes we need to look back and see times when we did step out in faith. It was during those times where God met, guided, counseled, and protected us as we embrace the calling of God. God, Himself, promises this when He declared, ”The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.“ Psalms‬ ‭32‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The thing about stepping out in faith and following God’s lead is keeping our focus on the Guide: God. One such time for me is when I stepped out in faith to home school my daughter. Here I was uneducated, with little to no tools to ensure she was well educated. I didn’t even know how to read past a

Read More »