GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 767 March 27, 2003 - Choices  We're created in the image of God. Part of being created in His image means we have the ability and freedom to make choices. Our lives are full of choices. There are seemingly minor choices, like " Should I hit the snooze alarm one more time? (I confess I hit it three times this morning) or "What should I make for dinner?". There are huge "Who should I marry?" or "What do I want to do with my life?". There are many choices which are somewhere in between. God didn't create His people to be mindless robots. He created us with the ability to choose. We can choose to accept Him or reject Him. We can choose to love or to hate. We can choose to forgive or remain bitter. Choices of course carry consequences. If there isn't really any consequence (positive or negative) to the choice it isn't a true choice. My choice to hit the snooze three times this morning meant I got a few extra minutes of sleep, but it also meant that my day started later and I felt a little behind the gun in terms of time pressure. And so it goes with all choices. Some choices are better than others. Some choices bring contentment and joy and others bring hurt and anger. We can't always choose what life throws at us, but we can choose how we respond. As Genni the wonder dog and I walked around the lake yesterday, soaking up the sunshine and listening to the songs of the geese and ducks who are arriving in droves, I meditated on a piece of Old Testament Scripture that deals with choices. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV As I walked I took a few minutes and recommitted some choices I had already made to the Lord. I prayed a prayer along the lines of: Father  I commit my life to you and your purposes. My desire is to be in the center of your will. Forgive me for the times I have stepped out of that center in search of my own desires or comfort. Where there is hurt in my heart, I choose to forgive.  Where there is pride, I choose humility.  Where I have uttered curses with my thoughts or words, I renounce those curses and in their place I ask seven fold blessings. Where my heart is hard, I ask you to break it and soften it.  Where my eyes see through the lenses of the world, I ask you change the lenses to be yours.  Where I have chosen paths that are not pleasing to you, I ask your forgiveness and that you place me back on the right path. Lord, I choose you and your desires.  Amen It's ironic in many ways that we have the choice of saying no to the Lord of the universe. No Lord is an oxymoron. If we say no, He must not be Lord. What choices are you facing in your life? Will you choose the ones that are pleasing to Him? Is He really Lord of all your life? Until next time, may all your choices be for Him.  Be blessed.  Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!  Kevin  We are in the process of enlarging our prayer team. If you think you might be interested drop us an email with the subject line "Prayer Team" and we'll send you more information. YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are an instrument of righteousness. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:13 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. It's up to you. God won't force you to accept His forgiveness, love and an eternity with Him. He will respect your choice to walk in sin and rebellion and face eternity in hell. He doesn't force people to be separated from Him eternally; He only respects their choices. Will you choose to accept Him? If you want to know how that's possible simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . 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