I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Guard What Enters My Mind

Some thoughts build us up. Some thoughts tear us down. And some thoughts never deserved access to our minds in the first place. Lately, our small group has been going through Louie Giglio’s Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, and one thing he said has been echoing in me: “When a thought enters your mind, identify it and restrict access if necessary.” It sounds simple—until you realize how many thoughts slip in unnoticed. Just like in the Garden of Eden, the enemy still whispers subtle distortions: twisting God’s heart, challenging His Word, feeding our fears of missing out, or convincing us that we are not enough. And if we entertain those thoughts, they settle in and start shaping our identity, our confidence, and our peace. I know this well. After speaking at a recent event, I walked off the platform feeling relieved—until the thoughts began to circle. You messed up. It wasn’t good enough. You shouldn’t do this again. You probably embarrassed yourself. None of those thoughts were from God. Not one. Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation in Christ, so any thought that condemns, shames, or belittles is not His voice. Condemnation is the

Read More »

I Choose Today to Rest in the Renewal

There are seasons when the most spiritual thing we can do… is simply rest. Not quit. Not disengage. Not abandon what God has asked of us. Just rest. Because renewal doesn’t happen when we push harder — it happens when we pause long enough to hear God whisper again. Lately, my mind has felt full in all the ways yours probably has too — commitments, people depending on me, ministry deadlines, speaking events, and all the good things that come with serving… but can still quietly drain us if we aren’t careful. And in the middle of all of it, God has been reminding me: “Rest is not a reward. It’s a response.” A response to His presence. A response to His invitation. A response to His gentle leading that says, “You don’t have to carry this alone.” My husband is so good at pulling me away from my endless to-do list. Every time I get buried in writing, editing, recording, mentoring, or preparing for an event, he gently steps in and says: “Come on. Let’s get out for a bit.” And I’ll be honest… I resist almost every time. But then we take a slow walk around the pond…

Read More »

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

Read More »

I Choose Today to Be Part of the Restoration

Last time, I shared how the Bible isn’t just a book of rules or doctrine—it’s a story of relationship. But that relationship isn’t static. It’s redemptive. It’s active. And it’s still unfolding today. So today, I choose to be part of the restoration. Let’s go back to Acts 10. Peter. Cornelius. A rooftop. A vision. A meal. A house full of Gentiles. And a moment that changed everything. Jesus had already spoken the commission in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” The gospel had reached Jerusalem, Judea, even Samaria. But it hadn’t crossed the line from Jew to Gentile. Not yet. Peter’s vision wasn’t just about food. It was about people. It was about us. When he stepped into Cornelius’s house, Peter stepped into something uncomfortable, unfamiliar—and holy. And when he spoke about Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on that house just like at Pentecost. Peter didn’t know how eternally impactful going over to one person’s house would be. One simple request. One simple yes. One simple house. But it became

Read More »

I Choose Today to Be a Mirror

My hope and prayer is that my actions reflect God’s goodness to those who see me. I desire to represent God to those in my sphere of influence—even to those I interact with at the store, at the coffee shop, or those I pass along the street. I want them to see my face reflecting God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—through my countenance, in my smile, and through my eyes. How do I do this? How can I know and reflect Jesus? John 1:1 tells us how: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is the Word. Knowing Jesus is knowing the Word of God! How awesome is that? Like any relationship, it grows with time and intentionality. When I first met my husband, we spent all our free time together, getting to know each other—our likes, dislikes, tendencies, mannerisms, and personalities. As the years have passed, we’ve continued to make intentional time for one another, investing in what matters to each other, and growing together. Lasting relationships, like marriage, take time, intentionality, commitment, and love. And as the Church, we are the bride of Christ. That means we

Read More »