I Choose Generosity

1. God does not need your money. Ps 50:9-12; Acts 17:24-25
2. Giving is for us. Lk 12:13-21, 30-34 parable of the rich fool. Where my treasure is, that's what my heart is. Where is my heart?? Would God call me a fool?
3. Giving is cheerful, generous, sacrificial, proportional, on purpose. 2 Cor 9:6-11, 8:1-4, Mal 3:8-12, 1 Cor 16:2
Ex 36:6-7, Lk 21:2-4, John 3:16

I Choose Suffering

I choose to suffer well because of who Jesus is and what he's done in my life.
Rom 8:17-28
v17 we should not be surprised by suffering, we should expect it. But we will also share in His glory.
v20 creation was subjected to frustration. Gen 3 - the fall of man and the consequences of pain, disharmony, and frustration. We live in a broken world.
v18 KJV "I reckon" our present sufferings aren't worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us.
v19 creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
v21 creation will be liberated
v20 "in hope" it's going to happen, a sure thing
v22 creation groaning in pain and brokenness, knowing it will be worth every second of pain, because something awesome is going to happen
v23 we will be sons and daughters of the King
v26-27 the Spirit helps us and intercedes for us
v28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
In suffering, lean in to Jesus, and know that our suffering will pale in comparison to eternity with Jesus.

I Choose Rest

We are all tired and busy. Biblically, it's not as hard to rest as we would think. Do less stuff. Busy is not ok.
Mt 11:28-30 "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Rest for your soul.
1. Rest begins with knowing Jesus. "Come to me" Jesus wants me to know him, intimately. Take time to bask in the Lord and his glory. Ps 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." Lk 10:38-42 Mary and Martha
2. Rest involves trusting Jesus. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Ps 39:6-7
3. Rest involves sabbath. Mt 12:8 Spend time and do things to get to know God. Stop doing, and just BE. Unplug from technology.
4. Rest involves rest. Mk 6:30-31 Physical rest is important.

I Choose Prayer

Prayer - personal communication with God. We need to be people of prayer.
Mt 6:5-15
1. Talk to God, not to other people. v5, Lk 18:9-14.
2. Get alone. v6, if I don't ever pray alone to God, it's not okay. I need to have intimate conversation with God. v7 don't just keep babbling, slow down, take time to listen. 1 Kings 18:36-37. v8 Why should I pray? God is sovereign, and knows what we need. Prayer is not about getting God on our agenda, but about getting us on God's agenda.
3. Start with God. v9 Our Father in heaven... (Abba, Daddy) Mk 15:38 The curtain in the temple was torn in two. Hebrews: we can come boldly to God. Hallowed be thy name... revere, respect and awe of God.
4. Pray God's will. v10 If we have started with Abba, and have worshiped Him, we will be able to truly trust His will, and pray according to His will.  Jas 3:4
5. Now you. v11-13.
6. Prayer is powerful!  Jas 5:16

I Choose Obedience

1. Obedience is important. Mt 28:19-20; Jn 14:15, 21, 23; Jn 15:14; Mt 7:24-25; Jas 1:22
2. Obedience grows out of relationship. It all comes back to the relationship we have with Jesus.
3. Obedience involves an understanding of God's Word. Ps 119:105 God's Word gives us direction. (Rightnow media through 2Rivers).
4. Disobedience has consequences. Direction determines destination. If we continue to make poor choices, we will end up in a bad place. Prov 7, 3:5-6; The momentary thrill of sin is not worth the pain of obedience.
5. Obedience is hard. Ps 73

I Choose God

Josh 24:1-15 you must choose whom you will serve. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
We will only choose to serve God if we are head over heels in love with God.
Jer 2:1-13. God's charge against Israel (and us): They turned away from God, and turned to other things to satisfy themselves. We get to this point by taking our eyes off of God as our greatest treasure.
We will only be satisfied if God is our greatest treasure. We are sinners and prone to turn away from God.
1. The ultimate essence of evil is choosing, desiring and treasuring anything or anyone more than God.
2. The cross was to bring us to God. 1 Pet 3:18a
3. Nobody is like this on their own. Only God can do this in us and for us.

Called by Grace

There, but for the grace of God, go I.
None of us deserve grace.
1. By God's grace, we are called to salvation. Accounts of Paul's conversion: Acts 9, 22, 26. Paul was not trying to hide his past. Paul never forgot what Jesus did in his life, and wanted others to know what God had done. Rom 1:16, 1 Tim 1:12-15. In grace, God is the initiator, he pursues us. Acts 26:12-14. We should not be ashamed of the gospel, always be thankful, allow God to use us and our life as an example to others.
2. By God's grace, we are called to service. Acts 22:6-10. "What shall I do, Lord?" Eph 2:8-10. We are called to service by the same God as Paul. Faithfully live out the role God has given us.
3. By God's grace, we are called to suffer. Acts 9:15-16. We should not try to avoid suffering. Paul's life became harder when he became a Christian. Rom 5:1-5. We should be on guard that our suffering is for Christ, not for doing wrong. Be aware and pray for those who are being persecuted and suffering around the world today.