I Choose

Yesterday as I was driving to church, I was feeling a little down for no reason at all. As I thought about it, I was tempted to dwell on it. Then I remember that I was going to worship God and satan doesn't like that. So in my mind, I prayed that God would help me to refocus on Him i.e. to put up my shield of faith. In worship that morning, I felt my prayers answered as we sang praises to God and I was able to see God instead of feeling sorry for myself. It was a matter of choosing and letting God do the rest. In Deut. 30: 19, 20, God urges us to choose life. Life comes when I choose joy over depression, forgiveness instead of bitterness, patience instead of anger, courage instead of fear, and hope instead of defeat.

God, Each day may I choose the life you have for me. If you had the power to raise Jesus from the dead, you have more then enough power for anything I may face. Thank you for answered prayer. Amen

Character?

Have you ever read a verse in the Bible many times over with a general understanding but then all of a sudden you receive a powerful new insight? For some reason I was reading in Proverbs 31 (You know the virtuous woman passage or the passage about the super christian woman. ) For the first time verse 10 stood out. It reads "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." I had been so busy worrying about all those other things this woman could do that I missed the thing that made her unique... Character. It all begins with Character. Character is the starting point. I can skip this part and go on to all the things that she does but then I would be missing who she is. She is a wife of noble character.

Somebody's listening

One of my New Year's resolutions a year ago was the verse James 1:19. In the New Century version it says " My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily." I must say I am still working on it and some days are better then others. This verse came to mind the other day as I was watching the news. They were talking about what the President said and were analyzing every word. I thought about how it must be hard to have everything you said written down and analyzed. I would probably always be in trouble. And sometimes I am in trouble, as I realize once again I have my own sort of press corp (my kids) who soak in every word I say. I am daily reminded of the need to think before I speak or as the Bible says to be slow to speak. As a mom, my day will go much better if I am willing to listen and do not become angry easily. I also won't have to regret as much at the end of the day.

Dear God, Be with my words today. May I listen to those around me and speak the words you would have me say. May I not be quick to get angry but see the whole situation before responding. Make me an example to my children. Give me words to heal and encourage them. Amen