Friday, July 2, 2010

The Choice


I am posting this excerpt from Max Lucado to simply show how our lives can be changed in an instant. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. By the way, Steve got a job as of yesterday so join me in praising God for answered prayers today!~ Kat

If you love cookbooks, check out my latest giveaway here.

The Choice
by Max Lucado

IT'S QUIET. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

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.

Excerpted fromLove, 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.

16 comments:

Joyce said...

Oh, so happy for you Kat...that's wonderful news!

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Cathy said...

Love this excerpt and congrats on your husband's new job!

NanaNor's said...

Dearest Kat, Praising our Father for His faithfulness to you and your hubby. Congrat's to Steve.
Love this quote. Having a wonderful, joyous weekend dear one.
Hugs, Noreen

Just Be Real said...

Kat, I am sure that is a weight off all your shoulders. Glad for your husband's new job. Blessings dear and enjoy your 4th!

Angel said...

Congrats on the new job!! Have a great weekend!!

Love and Blessings

Mari said...

Hooray and congrats to Steve. I'm happy for you.
Thanks for sharing the Max Lucado excerpt. I love his writing.

Terra said...

Congratulations to Steve on his new job, and this is a poetic quotation from Max Lucado.

Rita said...

I was thrilled to hear that your husband got a job. It is so stressful in this day and age when jobs are so scarce. Thanking the Lord for His goodness!

Beth Herring said...

oh, Kat - that is just fabulous news. God is so good! I know that you are both resting easy in His arms and that He is rewarding your faithfulness.

Love to you - Beth

Stacey said...

Congrats to him on the new job! Thats great!

Wanda said...

Kat, I'm glad to hear of the praise report. Our God remains faithful! I love the excerpt from the book you posted. The ability to choose our reaction is sometimes the only power we have over a situation. Thanks for the reminder.

Steph T. said...

SO excited for Steve to have a job...I will sing a praise for you to God for sure!!!
Fruits of the spirit...I have been working on those very things in my heart & life lately. Love that from Max's new book.
Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Great post- we can all use encouragement like this from day to day.

Denise said...

Congrats, celebrating with you sis. I love you.

Cook Scrap Craft said...

So glad that your husband got a job! Hooray!

Crown of Beauty said...

This is the day I have been praying for, and have thanked God for in advance...

I only got to read this now, so, I've even done some extra praying and thanking God for Steve to land the right God-given and God-chosen job the past days!

Surely you have done very well choosing to grow the fruit of the Spirit in your heart.

Haven't heard how you have been doing since the operation, and I sure would love to know what the latest is, as far as your physical condition is concerned.

Much love
Lidj