Encouragement

Good morning. I received the following words from a cousin of mine throught an e-mail. She is in the final weeks of 52 weeks of kemo for breast cancer. She has been up beat through out the whole process and she is a survivor.

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." Psalm
84:10a (NIV)

Why do I often want to settle for less than what God has for me? What
if I truly lived today completely obedient to God's word and in tune
with His voice? What if before every choice I make today, I held up
my options to the Lord and chose obedience over convenience and
righteousness over my rights.

God has never asked me to do great things for him. All He has ever
required of me is to allow His greatness to enter me, change things
around in me, and be revealed through me. Not to do for Him, but
rather to simply be with Him.

So, just for today I will live this way. Just for today, I am making
the choice to not settle. Just for today, I will not let the subtle
influences of pride, what is best for me, what is easiest for me, and
what I want overshadow my desire for more of God in my life.

Today, I will believe with absolute certainty. Today, I will obey
with complete surrender. Today, I will seek with complete abandon.
For today, I want God to find in me a haven in which to rest.

Isaiah 66: 1-2 (NASB) says, "Thus says the LORD, 'Heaven is My throne
and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build
for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all
these things, Thus all these things came into being,' declares the
LORD. 'But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite
of spirit, and who trembles at My word.'"
My soul jumps at God's question, "Where is the house you could build
for me -- where is a place that I may rest?" He is the God of the
Universe - so big and so mighty and so capable. Yet, asking almost a
vulnerable question to a completely unworthy human - "Can I abide
with you today?"
If the president of the United States called me today to inquire,
"Can I come and stay for a while? I'd like to sit and find rest with
your family today," I would be left utterly speechless. How much more
so that the God of the Universe actually desires that with each of us
today.

Unimaginable. Uncontainable. Unfathomable. Yet completely true.
There are no great people in the kingdom of God. Just simple people.
But every now and then a simple person makes a great choice. Oh God,
let me make that choice today. Even if it is just for a day - how I
long for it to be more - but even if it is just for today, may it be
completely so.
For one day completely with You, is better than a thousand elsewhere.

Dear Lord, I desire You today. Surround me with Your presence.
Remove the distractions from my heart and mind so I can see only you.
Lead me, guide me and teach me today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.