Choose Life!!! 7/24/22
Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
CHOOSE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went back to bed at 5:30 AM this morning AFTER sleeping most of the night-PRAISE THE LORD!
As I lay down in my man cave to retire I heard the SWEET Voice of the Lord:
“OFTENTIMES IT TAKES MORE COURAGE TO LIVE THAN TO DIE!”
As I type I am reminded of ancient pictures of the men who stormed the beaches in World War 2.
They were mostly EXTREMELY young men on them tiny landing crafts that had only one exit-that exit beckoning almost certain death upon opening.
Story after story depict these men vomiting on themselves, soiling themselves, as they smoked one last cigarette and/or took one possible last glance at their loved ones safe at home.
They had arisen that day CHOOSING LIFE yet knowing they had to stare death in the face also.
They, as WE, must LIVE with a purpose.
One of my all time FAVORITE Stories about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is found in:
Luke 4:28-30 (KJV)
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
Jesus had, (for lack of a better word) ANGERED His listeners with His Words and deeds, and in their anger tried to PREMATURELY kill the Savior.
I believe with all my heart that it was NOT Angels or supernatural force that prevented them from throwing Jesus to His death, BUT Jesus “MANNED UP” and simply PHYSICALLY pushed back and PASSED “through the midst of them!!!!!”
Jesus CHOSE LIFE, determined to live until it was God's time for He to exit this world VICTORIOUSLY.
HE chose to LIVE:
Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Jesus also KNEW that His death was coming-a horrendous and cruel death.
Jesus had no dream of a comfortable retirement or upcoming vacation. Jesus simply understood that THIS WORLD had nothing to offer Him in comparison to what he knew awaited Him on the other side of THIS life.
BUT, Jesus also understood that while he presently lived in this physical life and world he MUST make the best of everyday!!!
As they said in the movie THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION:
“EITHER GET BUSY LIVING OR GET BUSY DYING!”
It is hard to CHOOSE LIFE!!!!!!
One almost needs blinders such as are placed on horses pulling loads or plowing fields!!
The blinders prevent the horses from looking around, looking at the other horses NOT pulling their loads-horses free to snort and race the wind in pastures of green.
Paul wrote to his spiritual son Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:1-4 (KJV)
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
These are HARD words my dear friends!!
It is HARD not to look at other's “seemingly” blessed lives and wish for “their” ease.
It is HARD to arise daily knowing the same pain and hurt YOU endured yesterday awaits YOU this day.
I may sound like a crazy man but I must tell you what my grandson Devin said to me AFTER he passed away-I SAW HIM!!!!!!!!
He appeared to me and as he passed me on his way to our kitchen, stopped and said to me:
“Zada, you have no idea how hard it was form me to get up every day knowing that I was gonna' die.”
“OFTENTIMES IT TAKES MORE COURAGE TO LIVE THAN TO DIE!”
TODAY LET US CHOOSE LIFE!!!
I go now into the house and CHOOSE to watch a movie with little Amanda. I have no idea how much longer I can do this but MUST CHOOSE to live life until...............
THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless You,
Pastor Doug
Pastor Doug
404-295-5644 or
CHURCH ADDRESS:
70 Stone Rd.
McDonough, GA. 30253
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Thank You and God Bless You!!!
