I Choose Today...

I Choose Today the Sabbath: Part Two

Molinda Hern June 25, 2024

The Word of God is so fascinating. It never ceases to surprise me and makes me want to dig deeper. That is how I would describe this passage regarding the Sabbath, one I’ve never considered before. “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work…Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day.” Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NLT At first, when I read the passage in Deuteronomy, I found it interesting that the author (Moses) was correlating the Sabbath with the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt. How do the two connect? I even read the verse in different versions. Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh if they could go on a three-day journey (stop work and get alone with God) to worship their God. But Pharaoh said he didn’t

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I Choose Today to Reorient Myself with God: Sabbath

Molinda Hern June 22, 2024

(We will return to reviewing God’s requirements (Micah 6:8) next time) I want to highlight here our understanding of the Sabbath. It is indeed a rhythm that we need to find the beat of. On the seventh day, God rested, right? But God doesn’t get tired, so why did He designate a day to rest? I believe (at least in part) it was to establish a rhythm of reorienting ourselves to Him. Part of God’s creation is this day of reflection in order to remember what God did for us during the past six days, what struggles/trials we are currently working through, and how God is faithful in the day-to-day activities of our lives. It reminds me of another work analogy. I work in an agile environment where the cadence of our work happens in a time-box called a sprint. This is when the work gets tackled, but when the sprint is over, no matter if the work is complete or not, we stop work, gather to review the work, and do a retrospective with our Product Owner of what went right, identify some blockers, and what can change. Then we start a new sprint, carrying on the same cadence.

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I Choose Today to Love Mercy

Molinda Hern June 20, 2024

Over the last couple of blogs, we have been exploring our Product Owner’s requirements (found in Micah 6:8) and how we can demonstrate them to those in our sphere of influence. The first one covered was to act justly (living right when no one is watching and defending those who need someone on their side). Let’s start by reviewing Micah 6:8: “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right [do what is fair; to act justly], to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Why do you think one of God’s requirements for us is to love mercy? Just as “acting justly” is a characteristic of who God is, loving mercy is also a characteristic of God. The meaning of mercy is unwarranted or undeserved kindness and compassion. Showing kindness to others, especially to those who do not deserve it, can be very difficult. Surely God knows what that person did to me and doesn’t expect me to be kind to them, right? Let’s look at an example from the Word of God. How about how God dealt with Paul (Saul)? Paul

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I Choose Today to Act Justly

Molinda Hern June 18, 2024

In my last blog, I discussed the requirements for a Product Owner at my job and how I practically apply those requirements with my team. I drew a parallel between the role of a Product Owner and God, with His Word as our ultimate guide. Today, let’s explore what God, our ‘Product Owner,’ requires of us. Micah 6:8 clearly states God’s expectations: “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right [do what is fair; to act justly], to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (NLT) This verse encapsulates the essence of righteous living by highlighting three core requirements: acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. Today, let’s delve into the first requirement: Act Justly. To act justly means to live with a commitment to fairness, integrity, and justice. It involves making decisions and taking actions that are right and fair, both in personal conduct and in dealing with others. How can we apply this principle to our lives? Acting justly begins with personal integrity. It’s about doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. For instance, there

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I Choose Today to Know the Product Owner’s Requirement

Molinda Hern June 15, 2024

In my day job as a business analyst, I work closely with the Product Owner (PO) to understand the requirements for each application and ensure they comply with federal regulations. Once I fully grasp the required functionality, I write acceptance criteria that developers can use to build according to the PO’s specifications. These requirements aim to help the end user—the person using the software—perform their daily tasks as efficiently as possible, minimizing blockers and obstacles. In a nutshell, I translate the PO’s requirements so developers can create a product that benefits the end user while remaining compliant with guidelines. We all have a PO: our Heavenly Father. He is in charge of the whole system, and His Word is our guidebook for living day to day in a way that fulfills our purpose on earth. So, what are God’s requirements? Micah 6:8 tells us: “…The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” I see three requirements in this passage: • Do what is right • Love mercy • Walk humbly with God What does this mean? Over

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