I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Be Filled Before I Feed

There’s a sacred call we have—to encourage, to serve, to lead, to disciple, to feed His sheep.But as I was praying today, God gently reminded me: I can’t feed unless I’m being fed. I can’t pour out what I haven’t first received. Just like a mother who breastfeeds must nourish her own body in order to nourish her child, we too must be nourished—by the Word, by time in God’s presence, and most importantly, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We often rush into our vocations, our callings, our ordinary, even our ministries with empty cups, offering stale crumbs instead of living bread. But even Jesus didn’t start His ministry without the filling of the Spirit. He waited until the Spirit descended like a dove at His baptism. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He was filled with the Spirit when He stood up in the temple and declared Isaiah 61 over Himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me…” If Jesus needed to be filled with the Spirit before He began to feed others—how much more do we? It’s true—if you are a believer, the Holy Spirit already dwells

Read More »

I Choose Today to Stay Close to the Father

I read a story recently about a father who spent a lot of time making things for his daughter. Thoughtful things. Beautiful things. His hands were busy, his heart full of love. But as I sat with the story, something stirred—something deeper. The Holy Spirit nudged me with a gentle question: What if she needed more of him, not more from him? He had limited time—like we all do. And instead of using it to make memories with her, he spent it making gifts for her. Sweet? Yes. But something essential was missed: presence. She would’ve learned more, grown more, and likely cherished more, simply being with her father than receiving all the things he crafted. And just like that, I felt the Lord turn that mirror on me. How often do I long for what God can do for me instead of simply sitting with Him? How often do I run ahead chasing something good and miss out on the One who is better? It reminds me of the choice Abraham and Lot had to make* (credit to Paul Waters). When their herds grew too large to share land, Abraham offered Lot first pick. Lot lifted his eyes and

Read More »

I Choose Today to Trust the Process: Podcast Episode 7

We’ve all been there—stuck in a season of waiting, wondering if God hears us. The tension of the unknown can feel heavy. Waiting tests our faith. It stirs doubts. It can make us question God’s timing. But what if waiting isn’t wasted? What if it’s the very space where God does His deepest work? Today, I want to talk about what it really looks like to trust the process—not just conceptually, but in the middle of real life. Whether you’re waiting for healing, direction, provision, or peace, there are four postures that have helped me stay grounded in the wait.   1. Position Yourself with Expectancy   Habakkuk said, “I will climb to my watchtower and wait to see what the Lord says” (Habakkuk 2:1). He intentionally pulled away from the noise and made space to listen. That’s what positioning ourselves looks like—it’s setting our hearts in expectancy, even when everything feels silent. Just like Zacchaeus climbing a tree to see Jesus, sometimes faith means doing the small, intentional thing to prepare for a big encounter. “Just as a seed takes time to break through the soil before it bears fruit, God’s work in our lives is often unseen before

Read More »

I Choose Today to Drop the Labels Episode 6 – The I Choose Today Series

Have you ever carried a label that someone else gave you? One that stuck to your heart and became part of how you saw yourself? Maybe it was a word spoken in anger, or a judgment passed down that made its way into your identity. Sometimes, the labels aren’t even names people call us—they’re words we use to summarize our own pain. “Lazy.” “Too emotional.” “Not enough.” I’ve carried some of those labels, too. And for a long time, one of the most painful was the word “stupid.” That label was spoken over me when I was young, and it shaped how I walked into school, how I viewed challenges, and how I saw myself in the world. I was placed in a “remedial” group because I didn’t learn the way others did, and the system didn’t know what to do with that. Instead of getting the help I needed, I was just passed along—and the label followed me from grade to grade. By the time I reached high school, I wasn’t reading above a fifth-grade level. I didn’t understand grammar or composition. And even though something deep inside me whispered, “That’s not who you are,” I still wondered if

Read More »

I Choose Today to Encourage

Social media is at the forefront of life. It’s where we shop, gather news, communicate, network, promote… the list goes on. Like everything else, it can be used for good or evil. Since launching the podcast, I’ve found myself more active on social platforms. When I post, I usually choose a quote from either the blog or the podcast—something encouraging for whoever might stumble upon it. I only get a second (maybe less) to make an impact. So I choose my quotes wisely. And then I started thinking… If someone were scrolling through the words I speak in a day, what would the quote of the day be? Would it lift someone up or tear them down? Would it stop them in their tracks with hope or heap more heaviness onto their hearts? The Bible tells us what our “quotes” should sound like. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” This was the very first verse I clung to when I started this I Choose Today journey—because that is my heart: to encourage. If you’ve listened to Episode 2 of the podcast, I Choose Today to

Read More »