Yes! It really is all about choice! Deep, real transformation is about us choosing what God wants for us. And God wants all that is truly for our best! God wants to give us life–and God offers us life. Yet we, in so many different ways, continually choose death–in our self-centered attitudes and behaviors. And in doing  this, we kill our hope or someone else’s, we fear and worry, we hide and hate.  We turn our backs on God’s very best for us…and for those around us.

God offers to give us life, and He puts the choice in our hands.

…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…

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Personal Reflections from Sylane:                                                                       Today is a new day. And it’s a Friday. The first Friday of 2009! That’s big!

I like Fridays. Most of us do. We all understand the acronym: TGIF- it usually makes us smile or say “Oh, yeah!” or “WHEW!” when it really finally is Friday. There’s even a fun restaurant chain: TGIFridays-named in its honor. (Gosh, I wish they’d bring back their mocha mud pie-haven’t had it since the mid-90′s!)  

Anyway, we take our Fridays very seriously.  Why? Because we like to chill, we like to play, we like to relax and kick back from the pressures of our week-day-constantly-on-the-go-work-schedule. At least I do.  And I can be very guilty (or stupid!) about the long, intense hours I choose to work.

But you know what? It’s not about whether or not it’s Friday. For me kicking-back a bit really needs to happen every day.  If I wait until Friday to have some fun, be a bit chilled, or be a bit playful-then I have not really lived each day to its fullest. God is the God of joy, hope and peace. Right now. Right every day. Not just on Fridays.

So, in my intensity-I need to make TGIF stand for: Today God is First! God makes our every day. Scripture reminds us that: “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”-Psalm 118:24.  

So, today, I am purposely going to choose to give God thanks and rejoice in the gift of this day. It is a gift, not an entitlement.  I’m going to choose to take some time to kick-back a bit-regardless of how much more I think I should get done. And, I’m definitely going to choose to let my nearest and dearest know that I love them-very much.  Right now, right today.  

And with God’s help, I will keep this attitude-no matter what day it is on the calendar; no matter what my circumstances are on that day. TGIF: Today God is First. God really always is. I just need to live like He is.

In love, peace and purposeful passion,                                                                      Sylane