THE RIGHT CHOICES by Robert Soto (Posted on an email from Words from the Creator)

THE RIGHT CHOICES
By Robert Soto
Posted on an email from Words from the Creator

December 5, 2009

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

It was another good day. I spoke and danced before three Juvenile Detention Centers full of teenage kids whose paths and plans did not go the way they were intended to go. But as I spoke in the second session I noticed one young man about sixteen years of age. As I looked at him I could tell he was Native. But at the same time I noticed that he did not look too interested in what I was saying. Each time I looked his way he looked down at the ground. I realized though, that he was not being rude; it was as if he was really thinking and meditating on what I was saying. Finally at the end of my presentation which consisted of dancing, drumming, playing my flute and sharing stories I spoke on choices. I asked the teens, "Do you know why you are here?" and this young man looked at me for the first time and said, "Because I made bad choices." I looked at him and said, "Yes, you have made bad choices but today, with God's help, you can start making good choices that will help you on the right path."

You see, life is full of choices. Each day we wake up and choose life or death. We choose to obey or disobey. Each day we choose to do what God desires of us or to go on our own path. Moses wrote, "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." We choose our own destiny. We choose our own direction. We choose the path we are to follow. We choose each day to succeed or fail. As we follow Him we need to make sure we are obeying His will for our life. Moses said if you want to choose life you need to love the Lord, listen to His voice and hold fast to Him. If we choose a path of obedience, He will give us a good and prosperous life on this earth. The choice is ours.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church