I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Lean on Jesus in My Pain

As a mom, I never want to see my daughter hurting. Over the years, whenever she would be hurting, I would cry out to God. Most of the time I would offer to take her place in her pain. I wanted to take her pain so she didn’t have to experience it. I love her that much. You know, there is someone else who loves her even more than I do. In fact, not only does He love her, but He loves all of us enough to want to stop our hurting. His name is Jesus. Jesus did just what I described above. He took on our hurt, our pain, even our mistakes and rebellion, and He died for us. Isaiah tells us, “But [in fact] [Jesus] has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains… and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.” (Isaiah 53:4a & 5b) Maybe you have cried out to Jesus to take away your hurt, your pain, and yet, you still feel it. Maybe you are experiencing the same problems and circumstances that cause you pain. But even if He doesn’t change your circumstances (yet), He can

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I Choose Today to Wait

There is purpose in the waiting; there is purpose in the pain. There is an expression “it will be worth the wait.” Well, God ALWAYS shows us that His timing is worth the wait. The account of what happened when Lazarus dies (falls asleep) (John 11:1-44) shows us so much about Jesus and the power He has over death. He wanted to illustrate a point; He wanted to show the people (of the time and all those since) that He alone has the power and was sent to conquer death. It showed His divinity. But He also showed His humanity and love by having compassion for His friends’ pain. Which by weeping with them, showing compassion for them, comforting them, He illustrated how He would do the same for us. He was showing us how He responds to our pain. It seems to me that it is easy for us to understand that Jesus conquered death and that He is compassionate and understands our pain. But the waiting? We don’t get it. Am I on target or am I the only one who has a hard time understanding it? Just as Jesus was illustrating a point of His power over

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I Choose Today to Embrace

You ever wonder why you go through hard things? Do you ever ask God what He would allow it? Have you ever asked God why? I know I have. In a recent conversation, I connected with a young woman navigating a challenging phase. She was grappling with the prospect of lifelong medication due to a medical issue. Seeking support, she reached out to me, because she knew I’ve also navigated a similar path in my own life. About eight years ago, I was told I would need to be on a medication for the rest of my life. I went through an emotional rollercoaster that entailed feelings of failure because I wasn’t in control of my health; and grief because I was loosing my independence from medication and treatment. I felt less-than. I cried, was embarrassed, and felt shame. However, these were all lies that had infiltrated my mind, my thoughts, my heart. In reality, the medicine was the miracle! I had no control over my condition, but I could accept the miracle of medicine to live a healthy life. God taught me that and I learned to walk in the freedom of that truth! If I hadn’t walked through

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I Choose Today my Abba Father

The churches in our area have partnered up with the county to host guests who need a warm, safe bed during these cold winter nights. On one such night when it was our churches opportunity to host, my husband and I were able to be hands and feet. During dinner, we had the opportunity to hear some of their stories. One gentleman was regaling us with stories of his youth; how he was a sports phenom of his day. He was making the papers, setting new sports records, had college offers which would set him up for life. During the course of the evening we spent with him, he kept talking about he had life by the tail when he was young. When asked what changed the trajectory of his life, he said drugs. But then, through further conversation, he tearfully explained his reason for his pain; what hurt he was trying to cover through the escape of drugs. He explained, with all of his games he had in high school, all the accolades he received from everyone at school, in the community, with college coaches, there was something missing; someone missing. You see, his dad never came to one

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I Choose Today to Know there is Purpose in Pain and Waiting

There is purpose in the waiting; there is purpose in the pain. There is an expression “it will be worth the wait.” Well, God ALWAYS shows us that His timing is worth the wait. The account of what happened when Lazarus dies (falls asleep) (John 11:1-44) shows us so much about Jesus and the power He has over death. He wanted to illustrate a point; He wanted to show the people (of the time and all those since) that He alone has the power and was sent to conquer death. It showed His divinity. But He also showed His humanity and love by having compassion for His friends’ pain. Which by weeping with them, showing compassion for them, comforting them, He illustrated how He would do the same for us. He was showing us how He responds to our pain. It seems to me that it is easy for us to understand that Jesus conquered death and that He is compassionate and understands our pain. But the waiting? We don’t get it. Am I on target or am I the only one who has a hard time understanding it? Just as Jesus was illustrating a point of His power over

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