Tag Archives: choice

The Best Choice – Psalm 16

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You are my place of safety
you protect me
you alone are my God.

You have given me so much,
you are all I can need
you make life good
even on my darkest days.

You are a trustworthy guide,
a light on the way,
always standing by me
and walking with me.

Lord,
I want to celebrate you,
all you are
and all you do
in and through
my life.
I bring you
my worship and Praise.

You
are the best choice

Always

Psalm 16 (CEV)

(A special psalm by David.)

The Best Choice

16 Protect me, Lord God!
    I run to you for safety,
2 and I have said,
    “Only you are my Lord!
    Every good thing I have
    is a gift from you.”

3 Your people are wonderful,
    and they make me happy,
4     but worshipers of other gods
    will have much sorrow.
I refuse to offer sacrifices
of blood to those gods
    or worship in their name.

5 You, Lord, are all I want!
    You are my choice,
    and you keep me safe.
6 You make my life pleasant,
    and my future is bright.

7 I praise you, Lord,
    for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night,
    your teachings fill my mind.
8 I will always look to you,
    as you stand beside me
    and protect me from fear.
9 With all my heart,
I will celebrate,
    and I can safely rest.

10 I am your chosen one.
You won’t leave me in the grave
    or let my body decay.
11 You have shown me
    the path to life,
    and you make me glad
    by being near to me.
Sitting at your right side,
    I will always be joyful.

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Which Choice?

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A new place,
a new way of living,
a new way to be.
Decisions, decisions.

How will I live
in this strange place?

Do I bring what I know,
trust
and have always followed,
the God who has always
walked with me?

Or will I be distracted
by all that is on offer here?

I’ve got to make a choice –
to follow God
or not,
to worship him
or not,
to live his way
or not.

A choice to make
today,
every day.

Who will I worship?
Who will I follow?
Who will be my God?

What choice will I make?

Joshua 24:1-2, 14-18 (MSG)

The Covenant at Shechem

24 1-2 Joshua called together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He called in the elders, chiefs, judges, and officers. They presented themselves before God. Then Joshua addressed all the people:

2 “This is what God, the God of Israel, says: A long time ago your ancestors, Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor, lived to the east of the River Euphrates. They worshiped other gods.

14 “So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God.

15 “If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”

16 The people answered, “We’d never forsake God! Never! We’d never leave God to worship other gods.

17-18 “God is our God! He brought up our ancestors from Egypt and from slave conditions. He did all those great signs while we watched. He has kept his eye on us all along the roads we’ve traveled and among the nations we’ve passed through. Just for us he drove out all the nations, Amorites and all, who lived in the land.

“Count us in: We too are going to worship God. He’s our God.”

Captain of Israel’s host, and Guide
Of all who seek the land above,
Beneath Thy shadow we abide,
The cloud of Thy protecting love;
Our strength, Thy grace; our rule, Thy Word;
Our end, the glory of the Lord.

By Thine unerring Spirit led,
We shall not in the desert stray;
We shall not full direction need
Nor miss our providential way;
As far from danger as from fear,
While Love, almighty Love, is near.

Charles Wesley

Mary #adventbookclub

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Luke 1:26-38 (CEV)

An Angel Tells about the Birth of Jesus

26 One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee 27 with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. 28 The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was confused by the angel’s words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, “Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!”

38 Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

 

You don’t expect to meet an angel do you?  Not an actual real one?  Maybe someone who does something good and we tell them they’re an angel, but not An Angel.

How did I know he was an angel?  Good question.  I guess there was just something about him.  I just knew.  Knew that this was God and this was serious.  If I’d known what he was about to tell me, I might have run away; but well, you know, when God speaks, what can you do?

Am I expecting to see
and hear you Lord?

Am I expecting you
to come into my everyday life
and bring news
that changes everything?

Am I expecting you to come
and change me
beyond comprehension?

Am I ready,
waiting,
for you to work in my life?

Let me stop,
hear
and allow you to work,
that I
and the world
may be changed.

 

Join us reading Walking Backwards to Christmas by Stephen Cottrell from SPCK Publishing this advent.  Be part of #adventbookclub, share your thoughts here, on your own blog (and let us know we’ll link to it), on Twitter using #adventbookclub or on the Adventbookclub Facebook page