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I choose


This past weekend my husband, Bob, and I enjoyed a terrific time of rest, relaxation, great food and fellowship with friends and new friends at a retreat for pastors and their spouses. We came away refreshed, renewed and challenged to keep on keeping on. The speaker challenged us to consider what it is we are doing with our lives, in our marriage, and in our ministry. What will we leave behind us that will tell people about us. What will our day timers say were our priorities? What will our children remember about us.  God uses all kinds of people to get His work done. God can use anyone with a willing heart and a spirit of obedience. We were challenged to establish a rhythm to our life to keep the body, mind and spirit in balance. A rhythm gives a reference point in the critical areas of work, play and rest, all three of which are equally important. Unfortunately, many people do not take the time to play and to rest. It becomes a choice of priorities and looking to God for wisdom in establishing just what are our priorities. Establishing priorities is all about choices. In thinking about what to write for this article I was reflecting on choices I make every day.  Each morning I choose to start with a specific reading of selected Scriptures and a poem to set the tone for my day. The Scriptures I personalize, inserting my name.  I encourage you to make them your “own” in the same fashion. Following are some of the selections I read/pray each day and I trust you will find them to be empowering for you as well.

I Choose! – “I WILL rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again – I WILL rejoice! I WILL let my gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. I WILL NOT be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I WILL present my requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, I CHOOSE to think about these things. Whatever I have learned, or seen or heard from the Lord, I CHOOSE to put it into practice. And the God of peace  WILL BE with me.”  Philippians 4: 4-7

I choose to put on the Armour of God. “Finally, I AM strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. I AM putting on the full armour of God so that I CAN take my stand against the devil's schemes. For my struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore I AM putting on the full armour of God so that when the day of evil comes I WILL be able to stand my ground and after I have done everything, to stand.  I WILL stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, I take up the shield of faith, with which I WILL extinguish  all the flaming arrows of the evil one. I take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And I pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind I WILL be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. I pray also for myself, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I WILL fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I AM an ambassador (bound) in chains (of love).  I pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should.” Personalized Paraphrase of  Ephesians 6:10-20

I choose my guide and protector: (insert your name when you see an underline ___) “I will lead ___ by ways ___ has not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide ___.  I will turn the darkness into light before ___ and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do, I will not forsake ___.” Isaiah 42:16

I choose to make a daily commitment: I believe, with Christ living in me through the Holy Spirit, recognized, trusted and obeyed, my life today can be happy, restful and strong.

DELIBERATELY I surrender my life to Him and trust Him to do the mighty work within of cleansing and empowering. I believe also that God will manage my affairs today if I hand over the  control to Him. I do that now and refuse to take anything back into my care. In this faith, I go out into the day with quietness and confidence as my strength. – Author Unknown

Maxine McLellan,

co-pastor 

Grace Church of

the Nazarene, Shelburne

 
Post date: 2013-11-07 21:16:20
Post date GMT: 2013-11-08 02:16:20
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