Choose It

Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16

From the file entitled "It Ain't Gonna Happen," I...[suggest] a federal law that says everyone has to make God's love his or her home.  Let it herewith be stated and hereby declared:  No person may walk out into the world to begin the day until he or she has stood beneath the cross to receive God's love....

Don't you ache for the change we'd see?  Less honking and locking horns, more hugging and helping kids.  We'd pass fewer judgments and more compliments.  Forgiveness would skyrocket.  Wild idea?  I agree.  God's love can't be legislated, but it can be chosen....  For Christ's sake, and yours, choose it.

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The above is from Max Lucado's daily devotional Grace For the Moment.

It is crazy that we can't force a free gift on those around us.  This free gift being unconditional, unending, life-changing love.  Such an easy thing yet such a hard gift to receive because we have to choose giving up ourselves.  

So what if we don't force this love on others but choose it for ourselves.  We can change the world.  Let God's love work and shine through you.  Choose it and live it.  Amazing love...how big the change!

Triple C's

Driving into work this morning I had the radio on in the car.  A one-minute "How to Parent Your Teen" meditation played with the commentator saying that Change - Conflict - Chaos can be a part of raising a teenager.  The facts in raising a teenager remain that they are changing and oftentimes that brings conflict with themselves and then with those around them.   The commentator encouraged us to work at resolving the conflicts so they didn't lead to chaos.

So many of you, my dear friends, have confided in me your change - conflict - chaos situations.  What I am calling The Triple C's are in my life as well.  None of us is immune.

However, with our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, do we not have hope?  Do we not have peace available?  How about the truth that He will never leave us nor forsake us?  He is a High Tower that we can run to.  He is the living water, the very air we breath.

Friends, don't let the Triple C's become a Fourth C:  consumption.  Don't let your problems consume you.

Keep.Your.Eyes.Focused.On.Him.

Change is going to happen.  In fact everything seems to be changing faster and faster.  As change brings conflict, work hard and diligently to resolve the issues.  Don't let your situation get to chaos.

My solution for the Triple C's is to change up what it stands for.  How about this:

Choose Christ Completely

With Christ, change, conflict and chaos can be controlled (am I overdoing the c-words in this paragraph)!!!

Seriously, may the Triple C's in your life bring hope, comfort, and joy as you Choose Christ Completely.