I Choose...

It's quite. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. the day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of the solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to beat to the day's demands. It is not I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love...

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.

Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance,

I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... The toll of the lazy thinker.

I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.

I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace...

I will live forgiven.

I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.

Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.

Rather than complain that the wait is too long,

I will thank God for a moment to pray.

Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid.

And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness...

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises.

My debtors will not regret their trust.

My associates will not question my word.

My spouse will not question my love.

And my children will never fear that one of their parents may not come home.

I choose gentleness...

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.

I am a spiritual being...

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.

I choose self-control, I will be drunk only by joy,

I will be impassioned only by my faith.

I will be influenced only by God.

I will be taught only by Christ.

I choose self-control.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

To these I commit my day.

If I succeed, I will give thanks.

If I fail, I will seek His grace.

And then, when the day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

"...the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..."

May your life be blessed in Jesus.

Bearing the Burden

Sometimes I forget about all that the cross represents. It represents death, resurrection, sin, forgiveness, old life and new life....eternal life. In order for me to have such a precious gift, someone had to bear the weight of my sin and sacrifice for it. It is humbling to just write it. I don't deserve it, none of us do.

I started really thinking about all of this when I was reading in Numbers 11:10-17.

Num 11:10-17 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. ~11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? ~12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? ~13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. ~14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. ~15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. ~16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. ~17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Moses was suffering under the weight of the sin (lusts) of the Nation of Israel and he could not bear it all. The LORD told him to gather 70 elders and they would stand with him to bear the burden. God allowed Moses to share the burden of a million people with 70 other men.

In Mark 14:31 Jesus starts to feel the burden of what the Father has asked him to do and prays 3 times, for this cup to pass by him if it is possible, but God's will be done. His answer was different than that of Moses's. He was left to bear the burdens alone....and not just for a million people, but all of the weight of all of the sins of all of the people who were, are and are to come.

Sometimes I don't think I can bear the weight of just my own sins??? Jesus took on all past, present and future sins while hanging on the cross supported only by nails securing his hands and feet to the wood. No wonder he "gave up the ghost" more quickly than the two thieves on either side of him. He didn't die from the weight of his own body handing on the cross, he died from the suffocation of our sins.

Beautiful Christian Sister

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER by Maya Angelou 'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.' When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin.' 'I'm whispering 'I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven.' When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect, my flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!'