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Today's Word 03-06-26 Chosen in the Crowd · The Early Morning Praise Party w/ Sherry Mackey

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  Speaker 1: It's your early morning praise party. I am a Sherry
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  Speaker 1: Mackie at his time, right now for today's word, chosen
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  Speaker 1: in the crowd, Chosen in the crowd, Luke twenty three
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  Speaker 1: twenty six says, as the soldiers led him away, they
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  Speaker 1: seized Simon from Syrene, who was on his way in
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  Speaker 1: from the country, and put the cross on him and
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  Speaker 1: made him carry it behind Jesus. Simon and Syrene woke
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  Speaker 1: up that morning with an ordinary agenda. He was simply
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  Speaker 1: traveling in from the country, likely focused on his own responsibilities,
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  Speaker 1: his own plans. He had no idea that before the
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  Speaker 1: day was over, he would be pulled from the crowd
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  Speaker 1: and handed across. Oh. Imagine the shock, Imagine the confusion,
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  Speaker 1: Imagine the sudden interruption. Out of all the people lying
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  Speaker 1: in the streets that day, the soldiers chose Simon. Not
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  Speaker 1: one of the disciples, not a well known religious leader,
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  Speaker 1: not someone who had publicly followed Jesus. They chose a foreigner,
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  Speaker 1: a man from North Africa, a stranger, someone who didn't
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  Speaker 1: look like he belonged in the center of that sacred moment. Oh,
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  Speaker 1: Simon could have thought, why me, I didn't ask for this?
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  Speaker 1: I don't even know this man. Yet, in that unexpected moment,
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  Speaker 1: Simon stepped into history. Come o, Jesus. What felt like
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  Speaker 1: an inconvenience became a divine appointment. What looked like a
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  Speaker 1: burden became a blessing. He carried the cross behind Jesus,
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  Speaker 1: the very symbol of redemption. See. Sometimes God calls you
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  Speaker 1: in ways that don't feel glamorous. Sometimes your assignment finds
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  Speaker 1: you when you least expected. You didn't apply for it,
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  Speaker 1: you didn't train for it. You may even feel unqualified,
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  Speaker 1: and the first question that rises in your heart is
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  Speaker 1: why me? But what if that interruption is actually an invitation.
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  Speaker 1: Simon had no history with Jesus, but Heaven had history
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  Speaker 1: with Simon before that day ever arrived. God knew his name,
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  Speaker 1: God knew his strength, God knew he would be in
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  Speaker 1: the right place at the right time. And in a
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  Speaker 1: single moment, Simon moved from anonymous observer to chosen participant
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  Speaker 1: in the greatest story ever told. See that's the beauty
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  Speaker 1: of grace. The scripture reminds us that while we were
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  Speaker 1: yet strangers, far off, disconnected, God chose us not because
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  Speaker 1: of our performance, not because we earned it, but because
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  Speaker 1: of his love. Simon didn't carry the cross because he
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  Speaker 1: was perfect. He carried it because he was present and
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  Speaker 1: he was willing. See, sometimes across your acts to carry
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  Speaker 1: is responsibility you didn't even expect. It's standing strong for
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  Speaker 1: your family. It's leading when when you even feel inadequate.
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  Speaker 1: It's forgiving when you've been hurt. It's showing up when
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  Speaker 1: it would be just easy at a walk away. See,
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  Speaker 1: the question is not why me. The deeper question is
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  Speaker 1: will I say yes? Simon's yes didn't change that day.
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  Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, it echoed into eternity. His
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  Speaker 1: name is forever written in scripture. A stranger became chosen,
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  Speaker 1: a bystander became a vessel, and that same God, Come,
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  Speaker 1: Oh Jesus, who chose Simon, is choosing you today. He
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  Speaker 1: sees you in the crowd, He sees you in the background.
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  Speaker 1: He sees you when you feel unnoticed. When he places
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  Speaker 1: something in your hands, even if it feels heavy, trust
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  Speaker 1: that it carries purpose. You may feel like a stranger
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  Speaker 1: to the promise, but you are never ever a stranger
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  Speaker 1: to God. Oh Father, God, thank you that you see
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  Speaker 1: us in the crowds. Thank you that your call on
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  Speaker 1: our lives is based on your love and not our perfection. God.
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  Speaker 1: When you place something in our hands that feels heavy
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  Speaker 1: to us, God or even unexpected, give us a courage
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  Speaker 1: to say yes, God, we trust that every assignment you
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  Speaker 1: give us carries eternal purpose in Jesus' name. Now that's
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  Speaker 1: your word for today. Take it apply to your everyday life,
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  Speaker 1: and you continue to be encouraged to and inspired. It
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  Speaker 1: is your early morning praise party. I am Sherry Mackie.