this is the day...

Psalm 118:24(ESV)

24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This verse was on my heart this morning as I woke up to the perfect day.

Snow outside - 

Beautiful sunshine streaming through all our windows - 

And most importantly, a day at home!

As I thanked the Lord for this rare opportunity, I wondered something....

If this day hadn't started so wonderfully, if I was facing a difficult decision or crisis, would I still have had this verse on my heart?   Would my day have begun with thanking and praising the Lord?

I couldn't answer yes for sure.

The thing I DO know, is that God accepted my morning praise and our communion has continued today.  This hasn't however only included praise - although I've continued to be still  and I'm listening and praising - He's brought to mind forgiveness that needs to happen, things that need to change while at the same time a renewed sense of unconditional love floods my soul.

He is good all the time.

It is OUR choices that cause our day to seem anything less than a day 'we can rejoice and be glad in'...

Our choice to complain

Our choice to be jealous

Our choice to misunderstand suffering

Our choice to harbor unforgiveness choosing instead to remain wallowing in feeling sorry for ourselves and the way we were mistreated

God created THIS day - let us rejoice and be glad in it..

what I learned today

In Nancy Beach's book "Gifted To Lead" she quotes Betsy Cohen... "Our society creates inevitable comparison and inevitable dissatisfaction." Nancy goes on to say, "Our God is so serious about the problem of envy that he specifically addresses coveting in the Ten Commandments!" She goes on to talk about how she has had to sacrifice in some areas to do what she feels God has called her to do. But how Satan time and time again makes her feel jealous or inadequate especially in domestic areas.

Why do we all compare, why do we waste so much time gossiping, being jealous, wanting what others have.

This discontentment has to slap God right in the face! How dare we not be happy and satisfied with the very place that the God of this universe has placed us?? HE created us- He has placed each of us right where He needs us to be! Is it not our own decisions that create our problems? I know it is in my case for sure!

Any time I'm low on cash - MY fault because I couldn't be patient and just had to buy something I didn't really need. Any time I loose a quality relationship MY fault - I at least have to share in the blame. Any time I have made a wrong decision - MY fault usually because I rushed ahead to solve it on my own ignoring God's timing. Any time I am jealous - MY fault - no one has the power to make me feel that way!

I say this to say we make a decision to be jealous and covet, or not to. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

POWERFUL - that is what I learned today!