Today was a good day.

I have to say that I have tried with all that is in me to give into an attitude of defeat. I have enough reasons around me to feel that way, if I look hard enough. I can go to any store or street corner to see examples of why life just isn't good, and fair treatment is never a possibility. The thing is, I choose to see what I want to see.

Choice can either liberate or confine.

Choice has power - and that power is awesome.

Choice is what I have control over.

We had an outreach Friday night for our city. I did not want to participate, and I tried to work up the courage to tell the man responsible for the event that I had valid reasons for not helping. My house was broken into, my kids were sick, and my car broke down on Thursday. I know that he would have understood, because he is a great friend.

I decided to not attach myself to negativity - just for that night. I decided to cook hot-dogs for kids that would eat them. I decided to try and forget about the week that was and focus on the night that could be.

Choice is a powerful thing.

Nearly 250 kids showed up at one house. We had three houses that were hosting kids on Halloween. 250 + at one house = victory.

I did not have any wonderful realization of anything supernatural that night. I was tired, and my feet hurt afterwards. I could have played the "I told you so" game with myself.

I didn't.

I was tired - from the inside out. My soul ached. I felt like I had gone through a title fight with a heavy-weight boxer. The week had taken a toll on me, and I felt weak. I had shed tears, piled on worry, and lived in fear of what was to come next. Waking up this morning, I needed a fresh breath from God. No other fresh breath would work, and no coffee from Starbucks would spur me on. I needed God - plain and simple.

Service was amazing.

Worship was pure and intimate.

I felt Holy Ground.

God's arrival was not because of what I brought to the table. He showed up because He knew that I needed Him. I felt like a physical weight was lifted off of my shoulders, and I could smell the presence of my Jesus. My heart leaped from my chest, and I looked with the expectancy of a child as I scanned the room for Him. Jesus wrapped his arms around me in the middle of my pain, despite my weak spirit. It is such a tremendous feeling when we do what we were created to do. It finishes our puzzle when we give in to the embrace of our salvation.

My worries were washed away with sobbing tears.

We see what we want to see. I will see the things around me, but I can choose what light that I want them to be seen in. I want to see Jesus - all the time. I look for him, and he will not hide from me. When I call His name, He will not ignore me.

Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes. Thank you for the stuff that steamrolled me last week. I would not know You as well as I do now if it were not for that. I would not know the fullness of joy that could be felt when You enter into a situation and turn the lights on. I have seen You chase away darkness, and I will try to do a better job of telling others about what You can do. Please help me to know what to do and when to do it. I sometimes feel like a blind man feeling around in a dark closet for a light switch that I can't find. I too often focus on the negative and hopeless aspects of the lessons that You teach me. I should be spending time searching for the opportunities for You to show Yourself to me in greater ways. Thank you, Jesus, for being You.

The right choice makes good things feel even better.

The wrong choice makes you find the right choice.

The power of choice is tremendous when it is allowed to manifest fully.