IF THERE WERE NO GOD...THERE WOULD BE NO CHOICE!

From the beginning our Creator designed a world of order, cycles, predictability, patterns, constants, love, family, blessing, positives, protection... Things were good and He wanted mankind to enjoy what He had made for them. Yet, He was aware of the importance to give each person the freedom to choose. So, being the gentleman that God was and is, He told the first couple what would be good for them and what would harm them. He left them to choose. Actually, He really didn't leave them because God is all about relationship, especially family relationship. The Garden of Eden was full of trees. God had said that the people were welcome to any of the trees and their fruit except for one. Now, which one do you suppose they really really wanted? Of course, the one that was off limits!
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Here's the deal:

• God wanted the people who He had made to believe Him...to trust Him...that's called Faith.
• He wanted the people to obey the rules and guidelines for living that He had set forth since He was the designer of the people and their world, He knew what was best for them...that's called Obedience.
• He wanted them to be family. He would be their father and they would be His children. That's called Relationship.
• If the people would have Faith in their Creator, obey His rules, and then have a good relatonship with Him as their father, they would just keep getting better...maturing...growing.... changing...becoming more and more like their Daddy...that's called Transformation.

What a deal! The choice is and was: DEAL OR NO DEAL! Choose God's offer OR say "NO!"

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I hear it daily in story after story about our political elections. Americans want security! Financial security! Homeland security! Security systems! Future security! Family security! Medical benefits security! Job security!

I can tell you quite a bit about Security...I graduated from high school in Security, Colorado. Steve and I were married in a church building in Security, Colorado. I have loved returning to show our children Security, Colorado. SECURITY sits on the southern edge of COLORADO SPRINGS right next to FORT CARSON and all three places are at the foot of the mountains that hold NORAD, our North American Aerospace Defense Command. My Dad was stationed at FORT CARSON twice and then returned to live in retirement in SECURITY.

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Since I grew up as an "army brat" I was used to living in or near FORT's. You have to have a military I.D. to get on a military FORT. The security is high. It used to be that FORTs had walls around them for protection. There are many FORTs in the USA. In Colorado alone, there are 60 or more. Now that I have moved to New Jersey, I have learned of FORTs in NJ. FORT Dix is the one that I had heard of before moving here. Well, I have to say, it got me to thinking...as a child, living on Army FORTs, I felt more protection than when we lived off the post. That is what a FORT is for: protection, fortification, defense, safety, security....
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Then, came the ah-ha moment...the connection...that's how God designed my brain..."Ah-ha! The only real security in life is God and it can be spelled out with an acrostic: F.O.R.T. "

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• F aith in God
• O bedience to God
• R elationship with God =
• T ransformed lives who are SECURE in God and His promises.

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Would you join me today in thanking God for:

1. His design that includes: Faith, Obedience, Relationship, and Transformation
2. His kindness in offering us CHOICE.

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Today, I pray that you and I CHOOSE GOD in all that we do!

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