Friday, September 26, 2014

“I Choose Love...

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so I may live.

I Choose Patience...

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so, Rather complain that the wait is to long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness...

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for that is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness...

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My friends will not question my word. And my family will not question my love.

I Choose Gentleness...

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control...

I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”

Max Lucado

Monday, September 8, 2014

I love you

I love you more than the stars above, than the sun that rises every morning, than the moon in the night sky. I love you more than all the sand in the Sahara Desert, all the water in the Pacific Ocean, all the clouds in the sky. I love you more than Texas. I love you more than the yellow roses in the bushes outside my grandmother's house, which bloomed each spring with memories of my childhood. I love you more than dew drops on the grass, and the smiles on people’s faces when the weather is warm and children are playing in the sprinklers. I love you more than rollercoasters, first kisses, and drinking bourbon. I love you more than ice cream, more than cookies, more than cherries. I love you more than the first day of fall when you get to wear a cardigan. I love you more than the sound of a train in the distace, across a sun-lit wheat field. I love you more than driving fast, more than the lake at night, more than music. I love you more than the wind, more than mountains, more than tall trees, more than cliffs over-looking the sea. I love you more than the canyons when they turn purple in the evening. I love you more than fireflies, a rainbow in the blue sky, the soft green and white of a meadow. I love you more than you will ever know.

When I Say I Love You

When I say that I love you, I mean that I love you more than anyone else loves you, or has loved you, or will love you, and also, that I love you in a way that no one loves you, or has loved you, or will love you, and also, that I love you in a way that I love no one else, and never have loved anyone else, and never will love anyone else.