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For example, have you ever been thirsty, and instead of reaching for a bottle of water, you chose a soda or coffee, or even a milkshake?  Or have you ever been hungry, but instead of getting a healthy meal, you chose fast food? We all know what the better choices are. However, we sometimes accept less than the best and pay for it later. It seems like we live in a world where unhealthy choices are the norm and even preferred. I must say I have been guilty of making wrong choices—and even justifying my decision with: “It is too expensive to eat healthy” or “It’s not convenient” or “It just doesn’t taste as good.”  I remember when I was taking classes at Regent University, pursuing my degree in leadership. I would stay up late working on my papers—with a few bags of gummy bears right next to my stack of books. I convinced myself it was the only way I could stay focused while I studied.  Well, as you can imagine, after eating those gummies every night, I experienced the worst upset stomach, and I felt like I was bloated and just miserable. Of course, there were better food choices, like grapes or apple slices, but my decision was based on instant gratification and my sweet tooth rather than my health and wellbeing.  Making quality decisions is important, and it determines our quality of life. Every decision comes with an action, and every action comes with a consequence. And every consequence affects our quality of life.  In the book of Amos, chapters 4 to 6, the children of Israel made decisions that were contrary to the will and way of God, and, therefore, faced very difficult consequences for their actions.  The Lord God Almighty wanted nothing more than for the children of Israel to turn back to Him and lay aside their sinful ways. He even said to them, “Seek Me and live” (Amos 5:4 NKJV), and it is repeated in Amos 5:6 with "Seek the LORD and live."  I love that even when we make poor decisions, our loving God and Father always shows us the way back to Him and what is right. In fact, the Bible is full of stories that teach us the importance of doing what is right in the sight of God and not man.  There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). If there is anything that causes us to walk contrary to the will, the way, and the Word of God, we must make the decision to let it go and live for Christ. There are so many temptations that capture our attention and pull us away from righteous living and the things of God, but we must resist them at all costs.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36). So, be careful of gummy bear decisions.  ~ Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.ImageDon't Be DistractedHave you ever set out to accomplish a task only to have a situation come up that distracts you? There are times when I get distracted easily and fail to complete projects on time or even at all. For example, I remember working on an important assignment that needed to be completed by the weekend, and I received a call from a family member asking if I would give them a ride and grab lunch afterward. I genuinely value spending time with my family, and I was getting hungry, so I put the assignment to the side and went without a second thought. I came back that evening and frantically tried to complete the project on time, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. I felt awful and was quite disappointed in myself. Could you imagine what would have happened if Jesus had allowed distractions to keep Him from completing His assignment? In the Gospel of John, chapter 4, Jesus was on an important assignment that required Him to go through Samaria on His way to Galilee. It was clear that Jesus knew His mission and was always about His Father's business. Even though He was tired and hungry, He did not allow that to become a distraction. After having the extraordinary encounter with the woman at the well, His disciples came to Him, offering food. Jesus' response was, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" (John 4:32). Of course, the disciples were puzzled by His response; however, Jesus never lost His train of thought as He spoke with them. Jesus' response to the disciples came to mind after I returned home late that evening with shopping bags and a full stomach. It is so easy to think we are doing something good but neglect what is important. In Colossians 3:2, we are told: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Jesus was always mindful of His assignment and why He came to earth. "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work" (John 4:34). This is a valuable lesson for me to stay focused on what I have been called to do and accomplish my assignments. We must be disciplined, dedicated, and not distracted as we fulfill God's purpose and plan for our lives. It is easy to get caught up in being busy doing good works yet not doing what we have been called to do. Jesus tells His disciples that the fields are ripe for harvest, meaning there are many souls to be saved, and now is the time. We, like Jesus, must be busy with our Father's business of winning souls for the Kingdom of God. Have you ever found yourself distracted from your true calling from God? ~ Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.ImageReturn to SenderHave you ever received a package that was sent to you in error?  When that happens, we usually leave the post carrier a note that says, “return to sender.” There are several reasons a package can be returned to the sender; however, one common reason is that the receiver did not accept it.    When I thought about the process of sending things back to the sender, I began looking at my life’s journey and reflecting on those times when I wanted desperately to put “return to sender” on the gifts and calling God had given me. Like the person who returns a package, I felt like the “Sender” must have made a mistake.   For most of my childhood, I was a quiet and shy girl. As a teenager, I accepted Jesus Christ into my life and fell in love with sharing the word of God. My heart was overwhelmed that God chose to use me to teach and preach His Word.   Initially, I was like Peter in the gospel of Mark, full of passion and faith to serve Jesus at all costs and to operate in my gifts. In Mark 14:29 (NIV), Peter said to Jesus, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” I had experienced the mighty hand of God in my life, and I was excited to share my experience with all that would listen and receive. There were powerful times of miracles, signs, and wonders.   Through life’s journey, I experienced many challenging times that left me with battle scars and brokenness, and I eventually reverted to the quiet, shy girl of my yesteryears. I wanted to run and hide like Elijah did in 1 Kings 19, and return my gifts and callings to the Sender.  During those times, I had low self-esteem; I did not believe I was smart enough or good enough to carry out such an awesome plan of God. But one day, while reading the Bible, I came across the Scripture in Romans 11:29 (NKJV) that said, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Irrevocable can be defined as final and not able to be changed, reversed, or recovered. God was not waiting for the gifts and calling to be returned. He had given them to me, and He had no intentions of changing His plan for my life. Instead, He was waiting to give me instructions and help me carry out His purpose and plan. After praying and praising God, I knew I was ready to walk in my calling and use my gifts again. But now I allow every scar to represent my victory and my testimony is of God’s love, grace, mercy, and faithfulness.    Each of us has gifts and a calling that God wants us to use to bring Him glory and to be a blessing to others. We will have His presence, promise, and provision when we are faithful to His plan. Your gifts and calling are not a mistake, and they are not to be hidden or discarded. I realized, and I pray you will, also, that “Return to Sender” is not an option.    ~ Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.ImageAn On-Time GodI remember being in church singing the words to Dottie Peoples' Gospel song, "He's an On-Time God" as I played my tambourine. In my life, God comes right on time and rescues me. If you are like me, you have found yourself in a position where only God could rescue you. In John 11:1-29, there was a situation that only Jesus the Messiah could fix. The two sisters were worried and sad because their brother was deathly ill. The brother of Mary and Martha needed a miracle from Jesus. The sisters sent for Jesus to come right away and heal their brother so that he would not die. When Jesus got the message, He waited four days before heading their way. I am sure everyone thought Jesus missed His opportunity to show His healing power and compassion. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, yet He knew His assignment. There was a specific time I remember crying out to God in prayer, asking Him to make a way out of my situation. I had bills to pay and not enough money to pay them. My electricity was going to be turned off by the end of the week. I tried to figure out what I could do to keep it on; I had used up my extensions and grace period. I could not think of what to do except pray for God’s intervention. All I knew to do was trust God and listen to His instructions. I love the words Martha said to Jesus when He finally arrived. It reads, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (John 11:21-22 NIV). It was the “But I know” that I had to grab ahold of in my greatest time of need. Although she was upset that He did not come sooner, she composed herself and remembered who He was and what He could do. I knew that Jesus was not limited in His power, compassion, or resources for me. So, like Martha, I had to trust He knew what was best and not lean on my own understanding as it says in Proverbs 3:5-6. After the conversation, Jesus sent Martha to get Mary and come to Him. And like Martha, I listened and obeyed His instructions when He told me to contact a family member from whom I usually wouldn‘t ask for money. Because of my faith that God can meet my needs, I could pay my electricity bill and rest easy. Jesus loves us and wants the best for us. John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.” Although He has the power to perform miracles, He empathizes with what we are going through. He loves us with an everlasting love. In John 11:43, Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of the grave, and he was made alive. We must remember to have faith and believe in God. With every situation you may be going through that seems hopeless and even dead, just know that He is an on-time God. Father, I pray that you will always help us remember that your timing is perfect. You know more than we do, and we trust that your timing is better than ours. In Jesus’ name. Amen. ~ Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.ImageStay Alert“Minister Diane, we need you to come to the hospital.”  Several years ago, I received training in pastoral care through the church I attended. This proved to be rather intense, but extremely rewarding. One of the exercises was learning how to be prepared to receive and respond to a crisis call—a member of the church who needed emergency help. A crisis call could come at any time: in the wee hours of the night, during the workday, or so early in the morning that you have not yet had that first cup of coffee. When I reflect on those days and how I responded to “being ready at all times,” I think about the conversation Jesus had with His disciples where He tells them of the things that must happen before His great return. He also admonishes them to be watchful and ready at any time: “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you do not know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!” Mark 13:32-33 (NLT). After receiving instruction in responding to an emergency call, we were sent on our way. For the next few days, I felt I was on heightened alert, waiting for the all-important call to come. I would make sure my cell phone had a full charge and was not silenced. I monitored the amount of gas I had in my car, and I wore my nice suit when I went out to shop, just in case I received a call. But when there was no call after 4 or 5 days, my alertness began to subside. If it had not been for fellow ministers-in-training reaching out to stay connected, I might have forgotten entirely that I would be needed. It is important to stay alert to the things of God. Living a life that glorifies Jesus Christ means we continue being a light that shines bright in a dark and sinful world. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. We know through the Word of God that Jesus is coming back. But no one knows the day or the hour. The long-awaited call came from my pastor around 12:30 one night: “Minister Diane, we need you to come to the hospital.” He asked me to come to the hospital immediately and meet him in the lobby. He went on to say that a member of the church was very ill and needed our prayers and comfort. Also, the family of the church member needed to be consoled. I had completed my training and instruction. I had accepted the responsibility to be prepared to respond at any time. Although I did not know the day or the hour the call would come, I knew that it would come. We too must heed the instruction of the Lord and stay alert and ready for His glorious return. Lord, we thank You for giving us Your Word to guide us into all truth. Help us live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. We want to always be prepared for Your glorious return. In Jesus’ name, amen. ~ Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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