Day 11 - I Choose...!

Here we are another day along the 365 days journey.  What was I thinking!  I remember when I did the 31 days blog challenge to myself, but that was a different time, and it wasn't an entire year.  Over the past year I haven't been consistently blogging, as there are so many days that all I can do is fall into bed at night after a day "on the street," so to speak. There's a lot of heartbreak out there, but there is also much joy and happiness.  Many times there simply are no words to convey all the feelings I hold inside.  So as I muddle through this year of sharing thoughts and feelings, mainly expressing my gratitude for each new day, please be patient with me.

This morning I shared in church with the congregation that we all should be grateful when we open our eyes up in the morning.  We can see, and if we cannot see, we can hear; if we cannot hear, we can feel, and I could go on and on with different scenarios in which to voice our praise.  I try to make my first words each morning, "This is the day the Lord has made!  I will rejoice and be glad in it!"  Some days there has to be more emphasis on the "will, " but nonetheless it is always my first thought of the day.  Thanking my Father for giving me a new day, with a new chance to make a difference, to "be" that difference.

I want to share with you some words written by Christian author and pastor, Max Lucado from his devotional, "Grace for the Moment."  May it be our prayer for each day and for the year and years to come:

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 tool 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 clinching 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.

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 wife will not 

question my love. And my children will never fear

that their father will 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 be only in prayer.

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

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...

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 this day is done,

I will place my head on my pillow

and rest.

by Max Lucado

When God Whispers Your Name