I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Set Priorities

My husband and I have some longtime friends who opened up about a struggle they were having in their marriage. The root of their tension was simple but significant—they weren’t prioritizing time together. Each had their own agenda of what needed to be done, but more often than not, those plans didn’t include the other person. Eventually, feelings of neglect surfaced, and with them came tension, misunderstanding, and blame. We shared with them what has helped us stay connected through the busyness of life: intentional touchpoints. Every morning, we “meet” in my husband’s office for coffee, conversation, a short devotional, and prayer. We call it our touchpoint. It typically lasts between 15–30 minutes, depending on the day. Then on Fridays after work, we unwind on the back porch—just the two of us. No agenda. Just connection. These two intentional moments have done wonders for our relationship. We’ve learned more about each other, had lively conversations, laughed together, cried together, asked for forgiveness, and extended it freely. But there’s another relationship that deserves this same kind of intentionality—our relationship with our Heavenly Father. When I set aside time to be with God, everything shifts. Our relationship deepens, strengthens, and flourishes. I

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I Choose Today to See the Story of Relationship

Podcast Episode 16 Recently, during my quiet time, the Holy Spirit gave me an ah-ha moment that I couldn’t shake. It was simple but profound: the entire Bible—from beginning to end—is a story of relationship. Not just truth. Not just rules. But a love story. A pursuit. A God who wants to walk with us. If you’ve studied storytelling, you know every good story has an arc. There’s intention, conflict, a turning point, and a resolution. And the Bible follows that arc perfectly: God created us for relationship. Sin broke it. God pursued us through covenant. He sent Jesus to restore what was lost. And one day, we’ll walk with Him again—face to face. God says it so clearly in Exodus 6:7: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.” This has always been His heart. But somewhere along the way, that message gets buried. Instead of intimacy, many hear: “Follow the rules.” “Serve more.” “Believe harder.” “Do better.” And all of that can drown out God’s invitation to simply be with Him. This truth stirred something deep in me. I feel like I’m carrying a message that could shift how we see God,

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I Choose Today to Slow Down and Catch Up with God

After a whirlwind of travel and a full calendar, I’m reminded again of the quiet invitation to slow down—and how that slowing down isn’t falling behind. It’s often the very way we catch up with God. There’s a saying I’ve heard before, one that always nudges something in my spirit: “We need to slow down to catch up with God.” At first, it sounds backward. Isn’t God always ahead of us? Isn’t He leading the charge, the One we’re trying to keep up with? But when I sit with it, I realize it’s not about movement—it’s about presence. It’s about posture. It’s about relationship. God isn’t in a rush. He’s not pacing with anxiety or scrambling with impatience. He moves with purpose. With peace. With perfect timing. And sometimes, in order to truly walk with Him—we have to slow down, breathe deep, and let Him lead. We don’t talk much about the waiting years of Jesus. We celebrate His birth, jump to His miracles, and rest in His resurrection. But tucked in between the manger and the ministry was a long, quiet stretch of obscurity. Thirty years of waiting. Thirty years of being fully God, yet living in a humble

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I Choose Today to Follow—Flaws and All

My husband and I were having one of our morning coffee conversations when he shared something that left him unsettled. He had been reading in Genesis about Abraham and Isaac—how both of them lied to King Abimelech, each claiming their wife was their sister out of fear. And then, after Sarah died, Abraham took more wives and concubines (Genesis 25:1–6). It made us pause. How could someone like that be chosen by God? It’s a question many of us have asked. We read these stories and wonder: why would God use someone so obviously flawed to carry out something so holy? Abraham—the father of our faith—wasn’t flawless. He came from a family of idol makers (Joshua 24:2). He made mistakes. He doubted God’s promises. He lied out of fear. And yet, God chose him. Their failures show that even those chosen by God are flawed. This is not an endorsement of their behavior—it’s a reflection point. A reminder that God works through real, messy people to accomplish His perfect will. If anything, their shortcomings highlight just how incredible God’s grace and patience really are. God called Abraham to go—to leave his home, his comfort, and everything familiar. Not because Abraham

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I Choose Today to Work the Gift

God doesn’t give us finished loaves. He gives us seeds. That thought came to me as I reflected on the story of manna in the wilderness. Each morning, God provided just enough for the day—a daily portion of provision. But it didn’t come in the form of warm bread ready to eat. It came as a seed-like substance the Israelites had to gather, grind, and bake into something useful (Numbers 11:7-9). In other words, He gave them the gift, but invited them to work it. And isn’t that still true of the way God works with us? Whether it’s a talent, an idea, a calling, or a word of encouragement—He often gives us something in seed form. The potential is there. The blessing is real. But the fullness comes in the co-laboring. Sometimes I look at the things He’s placed in my hands and feel the pressure to have them all polished and perfect right away. But God isn’t asking for perfection—He’s inviting me into participation. The manna wasn’t about convenience. It was about connection. It required trust—gathering only enough for today, not storing up for tomorrow. It required obedience—doing it His way, on His timing. And it required effort—working

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