Making Choices…So Many Choices

Hello Friends,

It’s officially Summer Vacation! Have you done anything fun or exciting since school ended last week? I’m sure some of you have spent a few days sleeping, trying to catch up on some sleep. Others of you have probably gotten up early every morning seeking to do something productive. However you decide to spend your summer vacation, make sure to do something that brings you joy.

Speaking of joy, last week I had the distinct honor to attend the graduation/moving on ceremonies of this year’s Preschool and Kindergarten students–the classes of 2039 and 2038. (You read that correctly!) Watching these students receive their “diplomas”, sing songs, dance, and wave to their parents was a simple reminder that with everything going on in the world–darkness, worry, doubt, and fear–there is still joy breaking through to bring light and love to our heart. Last week, I also had the privilege of playing kickball with the 4th and 5th graders for their field day…and let me tell you, my arm certainly needs some time to recover. I share this with you as a simple reminder to take time each day to do something that brings you joy! Cherish the smiles, enjoy the laughter, and embrace having fun. May you find joy throughout the summer!

As much as we enjoy having fun during the summer, sometimes having fun requires making choices. In Junior High, my principal would end his morning announcements with saying, “Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.” Do you like making choices? Would you rather have someone else make choices and decisions for you? Did you know that making choices is part of our life? According to research, an average American makes around 35,000 decisions and choices each day. These decisions range from the mundane – what color shirt to wear–to the important life decisions about health, finance, and education.

Believe it or not, you have choices when you go to the grocery store. Whenever you walk down the best aisle ever–the aisle with cookies, Little Debbies, and other delicious treats–you witness endless amounts of choices. For example, you have a choice between regular chocolate chip cookies or chocolate chip cookies with either M&Ms or peanut butter. You have a choice to choose either Swiss Rolls, Cupcakes, Twinkies, or (my personal favorite) Cosmic Brownies. We can’t escape, as hard as we try to, the obligation to make choices. It’s not only choices that we make related to every day life activities, but we also make choices about our faith. And just like the choices we make today, the choices we make about our faith today impact us tomorrow.

What choices have you made that have impacted your faith? For example, you have a choice to live a life focused on Christ or a life focused away from Christ. A life in which you decide to follow Jesus or a life in which you decide to turn your back toward Jesus. A life that overcomes temptations or a life that gives into temptations. A life that is willing to walk in the footsteps of Jesus or a life that avoids Jesus’ footsteps. A life to love your neighbor or a life to dislike your neighbor. A life in which you treat others the way you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12) or a life of judgment. A life in which is focused on the practices of kindness and being compassionate and forgiving others or a life in which is focused on holding onto grudges (Ephesians 4:32). A life devoted to loving one another or a life devoted to ignoring one another (Romans 12:10).

You have a choice.

Of the 35,000 choices you make each and every day, how many of those choices strengthen or deepen your faith–get you closer to acting like Jesus?

To bring this to a close, even if you can’t decide what color shirt to wear or what kind of cookies to buy, when it comes to your faith it is important to do what you can do today so that you don’t have to worry about tomorrow. You may not enjoy making choices, but hopefully when it comes to following Christ, it will not only be the best decision but also the easiest choice you’ve ever made. Jesus chose you, but will you choose Jesus?

So, will you make your life great or not? The choice is yours…

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!