You Are Chosen

Happy Sunday and Happy New Year!
Today was a beautiful day! 

Don't get me wrong, everyday is beautiful when you have life, health, and strength.  But today was a beautiful day!  I worshipped at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona.(www.pilgrimway.com) The service was wonderful!  Bishop Thomas preached, "You Are Chosen!".  He took his text from Ephesians 1:3-4 and John 15:16.

Ephesians 1:3-4 (The Message)   How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
John 15:16 (The Message)  You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
Bishop reminded the congregation that enemy emphasizes the physical, tangible, and the seen. His intent is to steal our joy.  But if we remember what God has done on our behalf we can stand against the enemy.
GOD chose us "before", before we were born, before we made any mistakes, before we failed, before we faltered, before we did any of the things that bring us shame.  He loved us and in spite of our short comings he chose us - to bring forth fruit.  He believes in us!  He is our biggest cheerleader!  He even described us in 1 Peter 2:9-10,   ^"But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted".
So, I just wanted to share this good news with you, God chose you!  He never makes mistakes. He knows you are the right one for the job.  That is the job he designed you to do!
Love, Cynthia