"I Choose Joy" & a GIVEAWAY coming up!

Giveaway for my one-year blog anniversary!

The other day I picked up a devotional I have by Max Lucado, whom I love, titled, "GRACE for the Moment" Volume I. I read something in there that moves me and I want to share it with you.

"EACH DAY...

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

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...

the tool of the lazy thinker. 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 that 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 than complain that the

wait is too 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 such 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 will

accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS...

Today I will keep my promises.

My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates

will not question my word. My wife will not

question my love. And my children will never fear

that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.

If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.

If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...

I am a spiritual being...

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.

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."

Above excerpt written by Max Lucado from "When God Whispers Your Name".

Do these words inspire you as they do me? Wow! Max Lucado is an extremely talented author and man of God. I want to live these words for Christ because He asks me to. It's not easy day to day, minute by minute, to display the Fruits of the Spirit, but it's what I aspire to do.

So here's the fun part, because it will be my one-year blog anniversary (Woo-hoo!), I am giving away a copy of "Grace for the Moment" volumes I and II. That's right, two books! If that's not enough, I want to also bless you with a $10 Starbucks gift card.

What you'll have to do to enter, and I never thought I would do this, is leave a comment and "Follow Me" if you are not already.

For one additional entry into the giveaway, post about this contest on your blog and leave me a link to that post.

Since my blogging anniversary is September 23rd, I will be choosing a winner on the 24th.

Thanks Erica for teaching me how to use some HTML codes. I learned how to use a "marquee" in my blog. :-)

Also, was I allowed to quote so much from an author's book without permission? I hope so.

Have fun and blessings to you!