Choosing Love Today

Have you ever felt unsure about how your gifts fit into the church… or wondered if they even matter? Most of us have. It’s easy to look around and think, “Well, I’m not a pastor… I’m not a teacher… I’m not a singer… so maybe what I bring isn’t that important.” And when you feel that way long enough, you either pull back or you start comparing yourself to everyone else.
Believe it or not, that’s exactly what happened in Corinth.
Corinth was a gifted church — wildly gifted. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:7 that they “did not lack any spiritual gift.” That’s impressive. But instead of using those gifts to build each other up, they started using them to build themselves up. Some were showing off. Some were competing. Some were dividing into little groups based on who had the “better” gift.
And Paul steps in and says, “No… this isn’t what gifts are for.”
In chapter 12, he reminds them that the Holy Spirit gives gifts for the common good — not for status, not for spotlight, not for ego. Gifts are tools to be used for service, not trophies to try and make yourself look good. They’re meant to strengthen the church, not fracture it. Bottom line: they are meant for you to use to help others, not just help yourself.
And maybe that’s something we need to hear today.
Because God has given you gifts — real ones. Maybe you teach. Maybe you encourage. Maybe you serve quietly behind the scenes. Maybe you give generously. Maybe you pray faithfully. Maybe you listen deeply. Maybe you show up when others don’t.
But those gifts weren’t given to make you impressive… they were given to make the church stronger.
Paul says we’re one body with many parts. Different roles. Different strengths. Different functions. But one purpose: to build each other up.
Let me ask you: Where have you felt overlooked? Have you been tempted to compare your gift to someone else’s? Where have you forgotten that your gift is needed?
Paul ends this section with something beautiful: “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31)
What’s the “most excellent way”? It's love.
Love is the fuel behind every gift. Love is the difference between noise and meaning. Love is what turns messy gifts into beautiful ministry.
Carry this with you today: Your gift is not small. Your gift is not accidental. Your gift is not about you. Your gift is grace in the mess and take it with you.....not just in the church.
 
And that's another way to Keep Choosing Love Today!
 

Have you ever been in a situation where everyone seemed to have a different opinion, and you weren’t sure which voice to trust? Maybe at work. Maybe in your family. Maybe even in your own thoughts. It’s exhausting when the noise around you pulls in different directions and you’re left trying to sort out what’s actually wise, helpful, or true.
Corinth lived in that tension every single day. Their city was loud — full of philosophers, influencers, spiritual leaders, cultural pressure, and moral confusion. Everyone had a message. Everyone had a platform. Everyone had a “better way.” And those voices didn’t stay outside the church. They slipped in. They shaped opinions. They created tension. They made people choose sides. Some followed one leader, some followed another, and some weren’t sure who to follow at all.
Paul stepped into that noise and didn’t try to out-shout it. He didn’t try to win an argument. He didn’t try to impress anyone. He simply pointed them back to a way of living that was quieter, steadier, and rooted in love. A better way — not because it was trendy, but because it was true. He reminded them that unity mattered more than winning. Humility mattered more than being right. And love mattered more than any loud opinion demanding attention.
And that’s still true today.
We live in a world full of competing voices — social media, news, friends, family, trends, expectations. Everyone has a take. Everyone has a solution. Everyone has a “better way.” But not every voice leads to peace. Not every voice leads to unity. Not every voice leads to love. Some voices stir anxiety. Some stir division. Some stir pressure. And some just make you feel like you’re not enough.
Maybe you’ve been pulled by too many voices lately. Maybe you’ve felt the tension of trying to please everyone. Maybe you’ve been caught between what culture says and what your heart knows is right. What would it look like to pause and ask, “Which voice leads me toward grace? Which voice leads me toward peace? Which voice leads me toward love?”
The better way isn’t louder. It’s quieter. It’s patient. It’s humble. It’s rooted in kindness. It’s the way Paul pointed Corinth toward. It’s the way Jesus lived. And it’s the way grace invites us to walk — not perfectly, but intentionally.
So today, if you feel pulled in different directions, take a breath. Slow down. Listen for the voice that leads you toward love. That’s the better way.
And that’s how you keep choosing love today — even when the world is loud.

So, let me ask you...have you ever had one of those days where you catch yourself thinking, “Why does this have to be so hard?” I don't mean it's crisis-hard. And not life-falling-apart hard. Just the everyday stuff that wears you down a little at a time. You know – Misunderstandings. Expectations. Trying to grow while feeling pulled in two directions. Those honest struggles that don’t make headlines but still take up space in your heart and your head.
Corinth had plenty of those moments. Their church wasn’t collapsing — it was simply full of people trying to grow while still wrestling with old habits, new pressures, and a culture that pulled at them from every angle. They had spiritual gifts but didn’t always use them wisely. They had passion but not always patience. They had enthusiasm but sometimes lacked maturity. They were trying… and sometimes trying creates friction.
And that’s not much different from us.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you want to be and who you currently are, you’re standing right where the Corinthians stood. If you’ve ever felt confused by mixed messages — culture saying one thing, your faith saying another — you’re walking the same road they walked. If you’ve ever felt like your spiritual growth is slower than you hoped, you’re in familiar company.
Paul didn’t scold them for struggling. He didn’t shame them for not being further along. He guided them. He reminded them that growth isn’t instant. It’s layered. It’s uneven. It’s honest. And it takes grace — grace from God, grace toward others, and grace toward yourself.
Maybe you’re carrying an honest struggle today. Something small but persistent. Something you don’t talk about much. Something that keeps showing up in your thoughts. What would it look like to bring that into the light — not with embarrassment, but with honesty? What would it look like to say, “I’m still growing, and that’s okay”?
Grace doesn’t rush you. Grace doesn’t shame you. Grace doesn’t compare your pace to someone else’s. Grace simply says, “Keep going. You’re not alone.”
And maybe that’s the reminder you need today — that your struggle doesn’t disqualify you. It doesn’t make you less loved. It doesn’t make you less valuable. It simply makes you human. And God has always worked beautifully with honest, imperfect, still-growing people.
So today, if you find yourself wrestling with something — big or small — don’t hide it. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t pretend it’s not there. Just acknowledge it. Bring it to God. And let grace steady your steps.
That’s another way of choosing love today — even in the middle of honest struggles.
 

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to forget that the people around you are just… people? Real people. Not the version you imagine. Not the version you expect. Believe it or not, they're just regular people trying to figure life out the best they can.
Corinth was full of real people too. They weren't polished and not perfect....and not spiritually impressive. Just people who brought their personalities, their pasts, their habits, and their blind spots right into the church. And honestly, that’s really not much different from today. We all walk into relationships carrying something—old wounds, strong opinions, insecurities, hopes, fears. And sometimes those things bump into each other.
Paul wasn’t writing to a group of spiritual superheroes. He was writing to folks who were struggling with division, pride, confusion, and competing voices. People who were trying to follow Jesus while still being pulled by the culture around them. People who didn’t always get it right. People who sometimes made a mess of things.
Does any of this sound familiar?
If you’ve ever felt frustrated with someone… or disappointed… or confused by their choices… or even hurt by their words, you’re in good company. The Corinthians felt all of that too. And Paul didn’t shame them for being human. He didn’t tell them to “get it together.” He reminded them of grace. He reminded them that God works with real people, not ideal versions of them.
Maybe that’s something you need today. Maybe you’ve been expecting someone to be more than they are. Or maybe you’ve been expecting yourself to be more than you are. Maybe you’ve been carrying frustration or disappointment that’s been weighing you down. What would it look like to pause and remember: “They’re human. I’m human. And God meets us right here.”
Grace doesn’t ignore the mess. It steps into it. It steadies us. It softens us. It helps us see people the way God sees them—real, imperfect, valuable, and worth loving.
So today, as you move through your world, maybe take a breath and give someone a little room to be human. And maybe give yourself that same room. You don’t have to fix everything. You don’t have to carry everything. You don’t have to be perfect.
Just choose to see real people… and respond with real grace.
That’s another small way of Choosing Love Today.
 
 

Corinth wasn’t a disaster — it was a normal church full of real people trying to follow Jesus in the middle of real life. In this episode, we look at Paul not as a distant theologian, but as a pastor who loved a messy church enough to tell the truth… and loved them enough to stay.
If you’ve ever served in a church, volunteered, led a small group, or simply tried to follow Jesus around other humans, you already know the truth: church can be wonderful and exhausting, sometimes on the same day. Paul understood that. And instead of giving up, he leaned in with love, patience, and clarity.
This message is for anyone who’s ever wondered why church feels harder than it looks on Sunday mornings — and why God still chooses to work through imperfect people anyway.

As we close out this Enduring Faith series, I want to come back to something Paul has been teaching us all along through Romans: faith isn’t just what you believe — it’s what carries you. It’s what steadies you when life shakes. It’s what anchors you when your circumstances shift. It’s what reminds you that God is still working, even when you can’t see how.
Romans has walked us through some big truths. We’ve talked about grace that meets us where we are. We’ve talked about strength in our weakness. We’ve talked about hope that doesn’t disappoint. We’ve talked about the Spirit praying for us when the words won’t come. And woven through every one of those messages is this simple reminder: God is faithful, and He is with you.
Paul never pretends life is easy. He doesn’t sugarcoat the struggle. He doesn’t hide the tension between what we feel and what we believe. Instead, he shows us that faith is something you live — day by day, step by step, moment by moment. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about trusting the One who does.
And maybe that’s the biggest takeaway from this whole series. Faith isn’t loud. Faith isn’t flashy. Faith it's definitely not perfect. Faith is steady. Faith is patient. Faith is enduring. It keeps going when life gets heavy. It keeps believing when circumstances get confusing. It keeps hoping when the future feels uncertain. It keeps leaning on God even when your own strength runs out.
And if you’ve been walking through these mini messages every day with me, I hope you’ve felt that. I hope you’ve sensed God reminding you that He hasn’t left you. I hope you’ve seen that your weakness doesn’t disqualify you. I hope you’ve realized that your questions don’t scare Him. And I hope you’ve discovered that faith isn’t something you perform — it’s something you receive.
As we wrap up this series, let me leave you with this: Whatever you’re facing today… Whatever you’re carrying… Whatever you’re hoping for… Whatever you’re afraid of…
God is already in it. He’s already working. He’s already strengthening you. He’s already guiding you. And He’s already preparing the next step.
Romans has shown us that faith isn’t just about surviving — it’s about growing. It’s about becoming. It’s about learning to trust God more deeply than you ever have before.

Have you ever wanted to have a conversation with someone, but were at a loss with what words to say?
Well, there’s a part of Romans 8 that has stopped me in my tracks, the first time I can remember reading it. Paul says, “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve had plenty of moments in my life where I didn’t know what to pray. Not because I didn’t believe… but because I didn’t have the words.
Life has a way of knocking the wind out of you sometimes. You get hit with something unexpected. You carry a burden that feels too heavy. You face a situation that doesn’t have a clear answer. And in those moments, prayer doesn’t always come out clean and polished. Sometimes it’s messy. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s nothing more than sitting in the presence of God with a heart that’s too tired to speak.
And Paul says… that’s okay. Because the Spirit steps in.
Think about that. The God who created the universe doesn’t wait for you to come up with the perfect prayer. He doesn’t need you to sound spiritual. He doesn’t need you to impress Him. He doesn’t need you to pretend. He meets you right where you are — even when all you can offer Him is silence.
There have been seasons in my life where I didn’t know what to ask God for. I didn’t know what the, so-called, “right” prayer was. I didn’t know what outcome to hope for. I just knew I needed Him. And according to Paul, that’s enough. Because the Spirit knows your heart better than you do. He knows what you’re carrying. He knows what you fear. He knows what you long for. And He takes all of that — the confusion, the pain, the hope, the uncertainty — and He brings it before the Father in a way you never could.
That means you’re never praying alone. Even when you don’t feel strong. Even when you don’t feel spiritual. Even when you don’t feel like you have the words.
And maybe that’s where you are today. Maybe you’re facing something that doesn’t have a neat solution. Maybe you’re carrying something you haven’t told anyone. Maybe you’re trying to pray, but the words just won’t come.
If that’s you, hear this: Your silence is not a failure. Your confusion is not a weakness. Your lack of words is not a barrier.
The Spirit is praying for you. Right now. Right where you are.
And that’s another way we keep… Choosing Love Today.
 
 

There’s a line in Romans 8 that’s always meant a lot to me. Paul says that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Not in our strength. Not in our victories. Not in our polished moments. In our weakness.
That tells me something important: God isn’t waiting for us to get it all together before He steps in. He meets us right in the middle of the struggle. And if we’re honest, most of us spend more time in the struggle than we do in the victory.
We live in a world that celebrates strength. We admire people who look like they have everything under control. We applaud confidence, success, and stability. But Paul reminds us that weakness isn’t a failure — it’s an invitation. It’s the place where God does some of His best work.
Because when we’re weak, we’re finally honest. When we’re weak, we’re finally listening. When we’re weak, we’re finally open enough for God to work.
And here’s the part that gets me: Paul doesn’t say the Spirit fixes our weakness. He says the Spirit helps us in it. That means God doesn’t always remove the struggle — sometimes He strengthens you inside it. Sometimes He gives you endurance. Sometimes He gives you clarity. Sometimes He gives you peace that doesn’t make sense. And sometimes He gives you just enough strength for the next step.
Not the whole journey. Just the next step.
I’ve learned in my 73 years that most of the time, God doesn’t hand us a map. He hands us a moment. He gives us enough grace for today. Enough wisdom for the next decision. Enough courage to keep moving when we’d rather quit. And that’s how He grows us — not by making life easy, but by walking with us through the hard parts.
And maybe that’s where you are today. Maybe you’re tired. Maybe you’re worn down. Maybe you’re carrying more than you want to admit. Maybe you’re trying to be strong for everyone else, and you’re running out of strength for yourself.
If that’s you, hear this: God isn’t disappointed in your weakness. He’s present in it.
He’s not asking you to pretend. He’s not asking you to push through on your own. He’s not asking you to be the hero of your story.
He’s asking you to trust Him — right where you are, with whatever you have left.
And sometimes, that simple act of trust becomes the turning point.
So today, if you feel weak… you’re in the perfect place for God to work.
And that’s another way we keep… Choosing Love Today.
 

One of the things I’ve learned about God is that He often begins His work in our lives through people we’d never expect. Not the leaders. Not the experts. Not the people with titles. Sometimes it’s the quiet voices, the overlooked people, the ones who seem small in the story.
There’s a moment in 2 Kings 5 that shows this so clearly. It’s the story of Naaman — a powerful military commander, respected, successful, and trusted by his king. Naaman had everything going for him… except one thing.
He had leprosy.
And in that culture, leprosy wasn’t just a sickness. It was a sentence. It was fear. It was isolation. It was something no amount of success could fix.
But here’s where the story takes a surprising turn.
In Naaman’s household, there was a young servant girl — a girl taken captive from Israel. She had no status. No authority. No influence. She was invisible in the world’s eyes.
But she knew something Naaman didn’t.
She knew there was a prophet in Israel who served a God who could heal. And she spoke up. Just a simple sentence. Just a quiet suggestion. Just a small voice in a big house.
And that tiny moment changed everything.
Naaman listened. Naaman traveled. Naaman sought out Elisha. And when Elisha told him to wash in the Jordan River, Naaman resisted — because it sounded too simple, too ordinary, too small.
But eventually he obeyed. And he was healed.
A powerful man’s life was transformed… because of a quiet voice he could have easily ignored.
And I think that’s how God still works today.
Sometimes the encouragement we need comes from someone we didn’t expect. Sometimes the wisdom we need comes from a small voice. Sometimes the turning point in our story begins with a simple suggestion, a quiet nudge, or a moment that doesn’t feel big at all.
A transformed life doesn’t always start with dramatic moments. Sometimes it starts with listening. Sometimes it starts with humility. Sometimes it starts with paying attention to the small voices God places around us. In the very first episode of Choosing Love Today I said that “Life is very simple, it's just not easy.” As humans, we have an uncanny way of making things more difficult than they need to be. Often times, most things can be figured out with common sense (or what I call “uncommon sense”).
So today, don’t overlook the people who seem small. Don’t ignore the quiet encouragement. Don’t dismiss the simple suggestion. I've learned from my 73 short years on this planet that I've learned from a lot of people older and younger and and have it true that most people aren't as wise as they think they are....that's why it's always best to listen twice as much as you talk.
God has a long history of using unexpected people to begin unexpected transformations.
 
And that's.......all part of Choosing Love Today!

There was a time in my life when I used to send a card or a handwritten note to someone every week. Nothing fancy. Nothing long. Just a simple message to let them know I was thinking about them or praying for them. Even today I like sending birthday cards instead of emails or messages to those I'm closest to.
It didn’t feel like much. Honestly, most weeks it felt small… almost insignificant.
But every now and then, I’d hear back from someone who said, “You have no idea how much that meant,” or “I really needed that today,” or “That came at the perfect time.”
And it reminded me of something I think we forget: Encouragement is a ministry.
 
There’s a man in the New Testament who lived this out better than almost anyone. His name was Joseph… but the apostles didn’t call him that. They gave him a nickname.
They called him Barnabas — which means “Son of Encouragement.”(Acts 4:36)
Think about that. His life was so marked by lifting people up that they literally renamed him.
Barnabas wasn’t the loud preacher. He wasn’t the miracle worker. He wasn’t the guy writing letters to churches.
He was the encourager.
He’s the one who stood beside Paul when everyone else was afraid of him. He’s the one who believed in John Mark when Paul didn’t. He’s the one who traveled with Paul to strengthen new believers.
Barnabas changed lives with encouragement.
He didn't do it with big speeches, not with dramatic moments and and not with a spotlight.
He did it with simple, steady encouragement.
And I think that’s something God still uses today.
A text. A card. A note. A message. A small gesture that says, “You matter. I’m thinking about you. I’m praying for you.”
Most of the time, you won’t know what it does. You won’t see the impact. You won’t hear the story.
But every now and then… you will. And it’ll remind you that God can use the smallest things to make the biggest difference.
So maybe today, think of one person. Just one. And send them a word of encouragement.
It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be sincere.
Because God still uses encouragers. And the world still needs Barnabas'.
 
It's another way of Choosing Love Today!