Choices, Changes and Chocolate Pudding. Mmm..

We make choices every single day. Maybe not really important ones, but choices none the less. In the first few minutes of the day you could have decisions such as:
What to have for breakfast
If you should have breakfast
If sleep is more important than breakfast
How many times can we hit the snooze button before we reach the point of no return (being late)
If we should get up or just play the sick card
or even possibly if we have enough clean underwear to make getting out of bed worth while.


Those are questions that could all take place in the first half hour of your morning! So what happens when we come to decisions in life that are actually tough choices?


I know that usually work tends to get in the way of a lot of things.  It's stressful having to choose between work and your family, friends and even God.  You could take that extra shift on Sunday and finally have enough money to buy that nice car or pair of shoes or even that bulk package of chocolate pudding that you are drawn to every time you are at the Grocery store. But when it comes down to your Eternal future, is pudding really worth it?


Right about now you might be saying, "Come on Spencer, I love my chocolate pudding!"  I'm not saying no Chocolate pudding. Pudding is great.


I just can't help but notice so many excuses like "There is nothing I can do about it, my boss always schedules me on Sunday mornings and Friday nights!" or "I only missed it one time, I'll come next week, I promise." But the truth is that we always have time to work and to be busy.  We live in a society where we are always doing something and life moves really quickly.  Will you remember all the chocolate pudding you bought or will you think back and be relieved that you took the time to sit down...calm your mind....and spend time with your creator.  It may just change your life, where as pudding may only change your pant size.


I know I'm nowhere near a perfect attendance record for going to Church on Sunday and Youth group on Friday.  In fact I remember a time when I was younger that I purposely tried to get out of going to church by trying to sleep in as long as possible.


Another great example of important choices are future choices.  I think the hardest thing is trying to make an important life changing decision on the spot.  But if we choose to ignore the issues we are being dealt with and fail to think about the choices ahead of time, we wont make a decision at all.  If you were going into High School and never thought about the choices that lay ahead you probably wont make a choice at all until it is too late.  Making a conscious decision that your not going to drink and go to parties where you may be tempted to drink, is much more successful than going to the party, being offered a drink and making a quick "heat of the moment" choice. You will probably just go with the flow.


Now Jesus calls us to be Changed.  To separate ourselves from the ones around us "living the life".  I know for me that I used to be really bad with comparing myself to others and thinking that if peers are doing something then it must be alright if I do it as well.  That is not what Christians are supposed to be like.  Now, I yearn to be like Jesus.  Instead of comparing myself to others and assuming things they do are O.K. for me, I say,  "If Jesus did this, I should probably get my butt in gear and follow what he's doing!"


After all Jesus knows how we are supposed to live, better than Billy whats-his-face does.  I make poor decisions all the time and do/say some really stupid stuff sometimes. All I can say is that I try not to compare myself to what others are doing, and focus on what Jesus would do. Only dead fish go with the flow.

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

(for Chris)

Spencer L.