Voices. They ring in my ears and shout in my mind. I don’t seem to be able to rid myself of their pressure. They want to be my guide, to instruct me in what I ought to do. They cajole, threaten, rationalize, alarm, accuse… Continue Reading “Choosing to Please God First”
Category: Daily ChoicesTags: Afraid, Approval, Biblical truth, Conform, Cultural Pressure, Disapproval, Faith, fear, Fear God, Fear of Man, Fear of the Lord, Final Say, God Fearing, guilt, Honor God, Hope, Jesus Christ, judging, love, Mock, No Compromise, Opinions, Peer Pressure, People Pleaser, Pressure, Pride, Ridicule, Salvation, Scary, shame, Snares, Traps, Trust God, Voices
I first wrote the words “I love you” in a note to a girl when I was in the 5th grade. It felt good. And the feeling was even better when I received a note back with the same words. A core belief took shape… Continue Reading “Choosing to Love So It Hurts”
Category: Daily ChoicesTags: Faith, Faithful, For God so Loved, Give, giving, God, God Image, Hope, I Love You, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 3:16, love, Love Hurts, Love is not a feeling, Love Sick, Love till it Hurts, Redeemed, Redemption, Salvation, Separated from God, Suffer, Suffering, The Cross, To Love is to Give, True Happiness, Truth
I recently traveled to Central Asia where a small group of us visited rural villages in a remote mountain range. Our purpose was simply to pray. Believing in the power of intercession, we asked God to bless these communities that, as far as we… Continue Reading “Choosing Adventure”
Category: Daily ChoicesTags: Adventure, Afraid, Angst, Anxiety, Anxious, Beauty, Control, Don't Worry, dopamine, Endurance, Faith, fear, freedom, Giving up control, God, God is Good, Goodness, Hope, Jesus Christ, love, Mental Health, Neurotransmitters, Release, Risk, Salvation, Stress, Stressful, Taking a risk, Trust, Trust Jesus, Wonder, Worry
I was encouraged as a child to memorize the Ten Commandments. The meaning of the rules seemed clear to me except the last one. “Thou shalt not covet.” Around that same age, I heard the word “covenant” used in a Sunday-morning sermon. Jesus had come to… Continue Reading “Choosing REAL Satisfaction”
Category: Daily ChoicesTags: Boundaries, Can't get satisfaction, Complete, covet, Covetousness, Crave, Craving, Deepest Desires, Delighted, Desire, desires, Dissatisfaction, Dissatisfied, Feeling Empty, Fulfilled, Fulfillment, Grasping, Hungry, I want, I want more, Idolatry, Idols, Incomplete, Limits, Longing, Lusting, More than this, No Satisfaction, Not satisfied, Restless, Restrictions, Rules, Satisfaction, Satisfied, True Happiness, Unhappy, Wanting, Yearn, Yearning
I had a short stint running track when I was in middle school. It was enjoyable until the coach put me in an 800-meter race that I had not prepared for. As a sprinter, I applied what I knew and started out strong. But… Continue Reading “Choosing to Keep the End in Mind”
Category: Daily ChoicesTags: Admit mistakes, Bad ending, Consider the Cost, Faith, Finish Strong, Finishing Well, Goals, God, gratitude, Holy Spirit, Hope, Humility, It's not over, Jesus Christ, Keeping the End in Mind, Life, love, No slacking, Persevere, Plan Ahead, Poor finishes, Pride, Priorities, Right Priorities, Salvation, Thanksgiving, The End
Choose This Day 