I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Show Up Anyway

Something Exciting Is Coming! I’m so excited to finally share that the I Choose Today podcast launches on April 2nd! This has been a journey of prayer, preparation, and a whole lot of trusting God in the process. If you’ve ever connected with these blog posts, I think you’re going to love the podcast. It’s real, it’s honest, and it’s all about choosing to follow God—even through the hard stuff. Mark your calendar—I can’t wait to walk this new chapter with you! And now, here’s a message that’s been on my heart lately… ⸻ I Choose Today to Show Up Anyway There are days when I feel like I have nothing to offer—when I feel emotionally drained, mentally scattered, or spiritually quiet. The temptation is to hide, to wait until I feel stronger, clearer, more “together.” But I’m learning that healing doesn’t only happen in the hidden places—it often happens when we choose to show up anyway. Show up to the quiet moment with God, even when words are few. Show up to the people He’s placed in your life, even when your heart is tender. Show up to the calling, even when it feels costly. I used to think

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I Choose Today to Let God Uproot the Weeds

Peeling back an onion is often used as an analogy for uncovering deeper truths, layer by layer. But I believe a better picture of this process is found in the artichoke. You see, an artichoke isn’t actually a vegetable—it’s the flower bud of a thistle, or in other words, a weed. Yes, a weed! And yet, inside this weed is something valuable. The artichoke consists of three protective layers, all designed to shield its heart. The thorns are the first line of defense. Sharp and uninviting, they keep anything from getting too close. They serve one purpose: to protect. Then come the bracts, the thick, impenetrable leaves that offer additional protection. But here’s the thing—when you peel back a bract, a small piece of the heart comes with it. The deeper you go, the more of the heart is exposed. And finally, there’s the choke. A tangled mass of hair-like fibers, the choke is the messiest and most time-consuming barrier to remove. But once it’s gone, all that remains is the heart—tender, valuable, and no longer hidden beneath layers of self-protection. We do the same thing in our own lives. We develop layers of self-protection, even thorns, to keep others

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I Choose Today to Practice

The other day I was watching the show Amazing Race. The participants were challenged to learn a dance from another culture and then perform it in front of judges who would determine whether or not they got all the steps and nuances correct. They would pick an instructor to teach them what they needed to know. But it wasn’t until they went out to preform the dance, did they understand where they needed to practice some more. Watching their instructors was not enough, they needed to practice and refine their skills to succeed. This reminds me of what Paul says in Philippians 4:9, where he encourages us to put into practice what we’ve learned in our faith. “Keep putting into practice all you have learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Just like the contestants on The Amazing Race, we can’t just watch others live out their faith—we have to step out and do it ourselves. We can read the Bible, listen to sermons, and learn from great teachers, but at some point, we have to apply what we’ve learned. And just like those contestants,

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