I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to be Christ’s Hands and Feet: Go

As we continue to see the example Jesus left for us regarding how He used His hands and feet, I want to turn to where He went. In Jesus’ three-year ministry, He went to the people. He went from town to town teaching people – Matthew 9:35 – “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom.” He met their physical and spiritual needs – ”… And He healed every kind of disease and illness.” Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭35‬b ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus went to people’s houses and built relationships with them (even sinners!) – Mark 2:15 – “Later, Levi invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)” He sought out the unclean and those who recognize their need for a savior. Mary Magdalene, Matthew (Levi), Zacchaeus. He was even chastised for eating and communing with such sinners. But that didn’t deter Jesus from going to the people; the ones who broken and needed healing. He intentionally  “…came to seek and to save the lost.” He went to

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I Choose Today to Tell My Story

The “great commission” is something with which most believers are familiar: ”And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.“ ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This can be daunting. Some say this means we are to leave our jobs, homes, friends, and families to go to countries around the world to proclaim and preach the gospel. While this is true for some, most of us are not called to do that. But the “great commission” is for everyone: you and myself included. ”Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.“ Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬. Another version says it this way, ”Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…“ (NIV). Everyone has a story to tell: experiences God has brought them through, deliverance from something or someone, provision for a need, healing from sickness or trauma, redeeming relationships. In the rest of Psalms 107, David gives examples of people who cried out to God, and He answered them. People who were wandering in the desert alone, hopeless, and hungry cried out to God and “He put them on a wonderful road that took [them] straight to

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I Choose Today to Go!

”Gideon replied, “With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, ‘Didn’t God deliver us from Egypt?’ The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—He has turned us over to Midian.” But God faced Him directly: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?”“ Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬ This scripture is perfect for me right now because God has called me to “Go,” just like He did Gideon. It may not be to save a nation, but it is to encourage, comfort, empower others. In obeying God, there is no telling what He is up to! I have been through a lot in my life. Many opportunities to ask God “Where are You?” Many times I had to walk through and experience pain, despair, fear, trauma. Why would a loving God allow these things to happen; allow me to experience all those horrific times? How can He possibly use them for good? I don’t know the extent to those questions, but I can trust God and know He will do

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I Choose Today to be a good gift giver

I love Christmas. I love the twinkly lights, the gathering together with family, friends, and co-workers to celebrate the birth of Christ. One of my favorite things is to buy gifts for the people in my family. I have a rule, “buy what they want, not what they need.” This gives me so much joy to give them something they want to open up on Christmas morning. It is so much fun for me to give gifts! I remember one year I wanted to buy my daughter a diamond ring for her middle finger. I wanted it to be classic, to stand the test of time, so she would want to wear it for years to come. I searched for the right one and finally found one that I thought she would like. She absolutely loved it! That was 13 years ago and she still wears it whenever she can. It brought me so much joy to give it to her. God loves to give good and perfect gifts to His children (James 1:17). I am sure it delights Him when we use the gifts He gives with joy! Gifts given by God are to be used to leave a

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