I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Believe Healing Runs Deeper

I was reading Acts 3 this morning—the story where Peter and John encounter the man crippled from birth, sitting at the temple gate called Beautiful. He was asking for money. That’s all he knew to ask for. He had likely given up hope for anything beyond daily provision, let alone complete healing. He was surviving, not thriving. His condition defined him. And then… everything changed. Peter looked straight at him and said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And he did. But here’s the part that really struck me: the physical healing wasn’t the end of the story—it was just the beginning. It wasn’t about muscles suddenly working or legs straightening—it was about an invitation into a whole new life. A soul restored. A testimony birthed. So often we stop at the surface. We look for God to fix what’s broken in our lives—to meet the need in front of us—and we miss that He’s offering something much deeper: eternal healing, restoration, and relationship. This man had only ever known life from a crippled position. Just like sin cripples us from birth,

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I Choose Today to be Fully Accepted

God doesn’t want us to hold anything back from Him—not our imperfections, mistakes, weaknesses, uncertainties, fears, anxieties, or doubts. He cares deeply about all those things because He cares so deeply about you. In fact, He knows the exact number of hairs on your head! “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Luke 12:7 NLT I used to struggle with this idea of being fully accepted by God. After experiencing the heartbreaking loss of my son to SIDS, I wrestled with overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, doubt, and guilt. I wondered if God could truly love and accept someone like me, with all the pain and brokenness I carried. It felt impossible to give Him my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength when so much of me was wrapped in grief and uncertainty. But it was in that season of brokenness that I discovered just how deeply God accepts us—flaws, fears, and all. I remember sitting in prayer one day, feeling like I had nothing to offer but tears. And yet, in that moment, I felt His presence so clearly. He didn’t

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I Choose Today: To Be Seen and Loved

“God can’t use me—I’ve done so many bad things! How could a holy God ever love and accept me?” Does that sound familiar? I know it does for me. I’ve had those same thoughts and conversations with others over the years. It’s easy to believe the lie that our past disqualifies us from God’s love and purpose. But the truth is, God sees us differently. There’s a man in the Bible whose story reminds me of this. His name was Zacchaeus. By common standards, Zacchaeus was a sinner—a man who had made choices that earned him wealth at the expense of others. Though he was rich, he was despised, isolated, and deeply empty. Then one day, Jesus came to town. And everything changed. While Zacchaeus climbed a tree to catch a glimpse of Him, Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name. Instead of seeing Zacchaeus for what he had done, Jesus saw him for who he was. With compassion and love, Jesus invited Himself into Zacchaeus’s life. That encounter turned everything around. Zacchaeus went from being a man weighed down by sin to someone transformed by grace. This story reminds us of an incredible truth: Jesus didn’t come

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I Choose Today to Listen with Intention

As you may or may not know, I wasn’t afforded—or prepared for—the opportunity to attend college when I was younger. So, during the Covid pandemic, I seized the moment and took on that challenge. I was determined to complete my classes as quickly and efficiently as possible. When I came across a class titled Effective Listening, I assumed it would be a breeze. After all, I considered myself a pretty good listener. Little did I know how wrong I was! What I thought would be easy turned out to be one of the most challenging—and rewarding—courses I had ever taken. This class taught me much more than how to simply hear what people were saying. It challenged me to become fully present in conversations, to listen beyond the words, and to pay attention to the emotions and intentions that lay beneath. It emphasized the importance of listening for understanding—both verbal and non-verbal cues—and approaching each conversation with empathy and compassion. Intentionality became the cornerstone of my new listening approach. One of the key takeaways was learning how to demonstrate active listening. This meant using body language, eye contact, and brief responses to show that I was engaged in the conversation.

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I Choose Today to Move with Compassion

I saw a sign the other day that said, “If you see something, do something.” To me, this meant if I see something wrong, or someone is in trouble, I need to do something about it. How do we respond when we see something wrong? What do we do when we see someone hurting, in need, or seeking? Are we passive, or are we moved with compassion that leads to action? Jesus was often moved with compassion in how He encountered the people He ministered to. Jesus always responded to His compassion with action. In every instance where He was “moved with compassion,” it led to a tangible response that addressed the needs or suffering of the people around Him. He healed the sick (Matthew 14:14, Mark 1:41), fed the hungry (Matthew 15:32), raised the dead (Luke 7:13-15), and in His compassion, He taught and provided guidance to the lost. What is it to be compassionate? Compassion is the deep awareness of and sympathy for the suffering of others, combined with a strong desire to alleviate that suffering. It goes beyond mere empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, by including a proactive element—taking

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