Choose you this day...

Have you ever been lost? Physically, so lost you got scared or had a panic attack? Or, inwardly, in your emotions, your thoughts, your fears, your spirituality... so lost inside that you don't know what move to make, who to trust or even talk to, where to turn, what's right or wrong? Physically or otherwise, have you ever reached a point where, after you have exhausted all other possibilities, you were left with only one option, one way out?

That is a scary place to be for anyone. Especially for us type A's who don't like not being given control to make our own choices. It can feel like someone else is pulling the strings, playing with us like a child and its doll. 

In life, in the scope of all things eternal, we will all reach a point where we must choose. Heaven or Hell are the only options. We are going to spend eternity in one or the other. And, we are given the choice. It is forced upon us. There is only one way out. Death will find us all in the end. Where we go afterwards is the only choice we have left to make. Make no mistake though... there will come a day when your choice to not act will cause you to mis out. Jesus is coming back. If you don't choose him before he comes then you won't have the chance to change your mind when he does. 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ~John14:6 ESV

Do Unto Others...

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

~Matt. 7:12 (ESV)

How many times did you hear that one growing up? I know I sure heard it, and often. This is the English Standard Version. The Message version over simplifies it a bit but the gist is still there. The point being, in all of the versions and translations, even the “Old KJV,” before you act or react, before you speak in haste, before you engage with another person, stop and consider your words, your actions, your tone, your body language, your approach. Think about who they are, where they are, and what maybe has gone on in their life to bring them to the place and time they are currently in. Consider all of these things before you write a letter, make a phone call, shoot a text message, air your thoughts on social media, or in the heat of the moment. This even goes into our making of plans. Consider others more highly than ourselves. Put others before ourselves. Think before we speak. Think before we act. This isn't always or ever for that matter, easy to do. In fact, its hard, by Satan's design. It isn't even something that we can do on our own. It takes a retraining of our minds and hearts and that can only come through our total surrender to Jesus power over our lives to transform us from the inside out. Be transformed! 

Dangerous Hope

We use words so interchangeably with one another that we lose the meaning of many of them. One of those words is the word “hope.” We nearly always think of the word hope as being a desired outcome, a best result possible, wishful thinking. But that isnt what hope is. One of my favorite movie scenes is in the Hunger Games when Snow remarks, “Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous.” When we view the word “hope” as the rest of the world, we find ourselves in that place of “little effectiveness.” However, as Christians we have the only real reason for true hope and so, our view of hope should be through a Biblical Lens or a Christian World View. That is, our view of hope should be that Jesus is our hope and because he is we should live expectantly in that place of what I call “dangerous hope.” it is the idea that Satan is put on notice, the place in our heart and life where demons run and flee, that state of being where Jesus is standing guard over our life and we have nothing to fear. Hope in Jesus, truly is stronger than any and all fear. The trick is, we have to go there ourselves. So, GO! RUN! HAVE HOPE!

Romans 15:13

The Certainty in Uncertainty

Uncertainty is certainly unsettling. When things or even people in our lives cause us to be filled with doubts, fears, and instability, it is unnerving to say the least. Some thrive in chaos and frivolity, free spirits without rules, direction, or plans – taking life as it comes and living it to the fullest. The problem - it is impossible to live life to the fullest without living out our purpose. And no, your purpose is NOT to be free-spirited. That is a character trait that God uses, but it's not a purpose. “If you are not planning to succeed, you are planning to fail.” “No plan” is a type of plan, all be it, a really bad one. What about the opposite? Planning everything down to the tiniest of details. Having a plan is good, but sometimes, some of us need to take a few breaths and relax. Getting wound up over best laid plans that go awry is just not worth it. Besides, it goes against God's plans and purpose for your life, just as much as flying free by the seat of your pants does. When uncertainty arrises these extremes will drown us. There has to be a balance, and we must find it. We cannot become spiritually mature as long as we remain emotionally immature. Let's be completely honest here, the world is messed up. It is getting more and more messed up every single day. I find myself begging God to end it all already. God has a plan! Of that, I have no doubt! I am confident in that truth! That truth is my only comfort when I turn on the news or scroll through social media. God IS in control. Trust Him and be certain of that. Don't be those described in Matthew 24:10.