I was proud and smiling as I listened to my 2 year old grandson, Luke count from 1 to 10 perfectly!  Of course, he is very intelligent, but I also recognized that the “counting lessons” from his mom and dad had taken root in him.  They had captured those teachable moments here and there, and the efforts paid off.  Luke was even beginning to understand the actual values of the numbers.  His parents continued to work patiently with him as he went around the room counting various objects.
I am glad the Lord is just as diligent with me when it comes to counting lessons.  He is in the process of teaching me to count the trials of life as “pure joy.”  Since that is not my usual way to respond to difficulties, I have to set aside my normal way of thinking. 
How can I count something that is a problem as a joy?  The task is not easy for me, but these reminders help me as I learn to count His way:

     Each difficulty is an opportunity for me to grow
     Each trial brings its own “gift”
     Each testing offers me a new perspective

As with any lesson, learning to count the Lord’s way takes some time and effort.  But I am learning – and you can, too!  After all, we have an excellent Teacher who is patient, understanding and willing to work with us.  So the next time difficulties come your way – stop, take a deep breath and say,

“Lord, I’m ready for my counting lesson!”

I have chosen the following verse as my commitment for 2009:

“…to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.”  Joshua 22:5

For me this means:

• I commit to love the Lord by staying in right relationship with Him and tending that relationship
• I commit to live the way He wants me to live through my words, actions and attitude
• I commit to be obedient to Him by listening and following through
• I commit to turn to Him first in all situations of life
• I commit to serve Him from my heart, allowing Him to prioritize my life
• I seek the Lord’s help in keeping this commitment

I pray today you too will find a fresh commitment towards the Lord and that you will be blessed beyond measure in 2009!

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high, and when you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit – rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out – the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst that you must not quit!

So many people are struggling in various ways…some physically, some financially.  Some are weighed down with burdens of a job or a strained relationship.  Some are in the depths of despair over the loss of a loved one.  And we are all touched by the unjust and evil happenings in our world.

But I want to encourage you:  Don’t give in or give up!  Persistence in doing the right thing with diligence is the way to make a difference.

• Keep moving forward
• Don’t lose sight of hope
• Show kindness
• Share the Lord’s love
• Hold on
• Don’t quit!

May you be blessed today in every way!

I overheard a conversation between a high school student and his teacher.  Eddie spoke excitedly about his first week at his new job.  His teacher smiled and congratulated him, then asked, ” Eddie, what do you enjoy the most about your job?”

Eddie replied, “It is so awesome!  I get to fold towels and put them on the shelf.  Some of the towels are yellow.  Some are blue and some are green!  They are really pretty and it looks like a rainbow when I am done!  And the next best thing is that they call me Edward instead of Eddie because that is what my name tag says and that is what my paycheck says.  They pay me money and I have lots of fun!  I tell my  boss thank you everyday for picking me to work there.”

Even though Eddie is considered “educationally challenged”  he has learned something that the majority of people I know haven’t learned.  He has learned to be thankful.

Consider these steps toward developing a thankful heart:

1. Look for joy in the simple things.  It is true that most circumstances in life are complex, but usually there are unique blessings we can enjoy if we only take the time.
2. Express gratitude.  Thank the Lord and tell others about the blessings you enjoy.
3. Live out gratitude by showing kindness to others.  Let thankfulness flow from your heart into the lives of those around you.

As we focus on being thankful, joy and peace will be multiplied in our hearts.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 150:6

There is a wide variance in the word “no”…

There are BIG no’s and small no’s.  There are clear no’s and blurred no’s.  There are truthful no’s and deceitful no’s.  There are clarifying no’s and confusing no’s – and I could go on and on.  It seems the tiny word “no” is in reality much bigger than it looks.  After much thought, I have decided that it is truly difficult to fully understand a “no” – yet I have found it helpful to focus on what I do know about “no”…

1. “No” usually means a vast range of emotions with flood my heart and mind.  So I ask myself:  How can I work through these feelings in a positive way?
2. “No” usually means that there is much more to the situation than what is readily seen, so I should carefully consider all that surrounds a “no” that is directed at me.  So I ask myself:  What is the truly important information here?
3. “No”  usually means that there is a “yes” for me nearby.  That yes may be in a completely different direction on a path that is yet unclear, but there are always options.  So I ask myself:  What are the possibilities open to me because of this no?
4. “No” usually means that there is some action needed on my part in order to move forward.  So I ask myself:  What is the next right thing for me to do?

We may not be able to understand all the parts of “no” – but learning to be aware of the parts we do understand will certainly help equip us to face the “no’s” in a more productive manner.

“Life’s difficulties and troubles are not intended to arrest your progress, but to increase your speed.”  ~ A.J. Russell

The truth is:  words are powerful.  They most certainly can cause wounds that hurt and last a lifetime.  But the good news is:  words also have the power to encourage and heal.

Proverbs 16:24 says:  “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Finding the right words doesn’t always come easy.  It helps if you do a little thinking and plan ahead.

I borrowed (with permission of course!) the following exercise from a study guide my husband, Rick recently wrote.  Take a few moments to complete the following sentences:

1. The most encouraging word is…
2. The most refreshing word is…
3. The most beautiful word is…
4. The most peaceful word is…
5. The warmest word is…
6. The kindest word is…
7. The most comforting word is…
8. The most needed word is…
9. The most neglected word is…
10. The most powerful word is…

Purposely try to find an opportunity to speak these words of encouragement.  When we choose to use words that are “pleasant” we can truly make a difference to those we encounter each day.

“Perhaps you will forget the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them for a lifetime.”   -Dale Carnegie

The human thought process is intricate and amazing!  From thoughts creativity and achievement flow.  Yet thoughts can also fill us with discouragement, paralyzing our progress.  Because thoughts are so powerful, it is beneficial to learn to “lasso” our thoughts to keep them focused in the right direction.

Thoughts stem from three basic sources:

1. Information taken in – either true or false
2. Opinion - mine and others
3. Feelings – based on reality or imaginations

Information is all around us and we take it in constantly.  The information can be true or false.  It can be something we purposely learn or something that is passively placed in our mind.  It is certain that anything we allow ourselves to see or hear and every circumstance that touches our lives does contribute to the thinking process.

Opinions help shape our thoughts.  The opinions of others – what they believe or how they feel about issues – those things enter our thought process.  Additionally, my own opinions will either contrast or blend into those of others.  No matter the source, opinions definitely contribute to the thought process.

Then feelings come alongside and add even more complexity to the process.  Feelings can stem from reality or imaginations.  They can be intense or mild.  Feelings can be fleeting or constantly present.  Feelings can remain the same or change in an instant.  Feelings can have solid explanations or come from nowhere and confuse our thoughts. 

Added to the mix are certain thought tendencies unique to each individual.  For the most part, the natural inclination for many people is to think more negative thoughts than positive thoughts.  Here are some of those tendencies:

• Fearful thoughts
• Worried thoughts
• Guilt filled thoughts
• Blaming thoughts
• Angry thoughts
• Greedy thoughts
• Pride filled thoughts
• Obsessive thoughts – not able to let go of a certain thought
• Runaway thoughts – one thought builds on another and spirals out of control

With all these components weighing heavily in our thought process, it might seem that we have no control or that there is no way to harness our thoughts.  Yet, I believe that there are some suggestions that are helpful:

1. Be aware of all input – make sure to choose some positive input each day
2. Apply the filter of truth – challenge the false or misleading information and choose to believe what you know to be the truth
3. Replace old thought patterns with new – purposely choose to set aside the negative thoughts as soon as they enter your mind and find something positive to dwell on
4. Pray specific scripture concerning your thoughts – find verses that are uplifting and helpful to you and ask the Lord to help that truth become a reality in your life

These ideas have proven to be beneficial to those who want to”lasso” their thoughts.  The steps are not complicated, but they don’t come easy.  There must be a purposeful decision moment by moment to take thoughts captive.  When we do, we find ourselves living a happier, more productive life.

So, during these times I would like to suggest an investment strategy that is available to everyone.  It is safe, and sure to bring returns.

This strategy is not so much about money as it is about the individual.  Below are some steps to take that will surely lead you to a brighter future:

1. Invest in your own positive mental attitude.  Try to limit your exposure to the media.  All the “breaking” news tends to produce an excessive amount of dread, fear and anxiety.  Instead, stay informed without overdoing it.  Then choose to remind yourself of the positives of your particular situation.  Ask yourself:  “What do I have to be thankful for?”  A thankful focus will help balance your thinking.
2. Invest in the lives of others.  Share your knowledge.  Volunteer to teach or coach.  Share your talents and abilities.  Show someone how you learned your special skill.  There are many good things to share – pass them along.
3. Invest in relationships.  Cultivate friendships.  Spend extra time with loved ones.  Make new friends.  Do something special to make someone happy.  Take time to make a call, send a note or an email of encouragement.  Speak kind words.  Remember to smile!
4. Invest in yourself and in others spiritually.  Spend time in prayer.  Meditate on the truth of God’s Word.  Form a prayer group to pray specifically for the needs of those in the group.  Share the Lord’s love with others by serving them.  Continue to give financial gifts to help further the work of the Lord.

Taking these steps will help you through the uncertain times and you will see continuing benefits in the years ahead!

So where is a safe place to put our hope?  There is only one sure place to go: 

“We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.”      Psalm 33:20-22

The scripture above tells us that some wonderful things begin to happen when we place our hope in the Lord.

• When we wait in hope before the Lord, our confidence grows as we anticipate His power to be at work in our lives
• When we wait in hope before the Lord, we are assured that He is our specific help and protection
• When we wait in hope before the Lord, we experience the true joy of relationship with Him
• When we wait in hope before the Lord looking to Him for answers, we are surrounded by His unfailing love

This is the way the Lord designed hope to operate.  We trust in Him, He responds to our needs.  Be blessed today as you place your hope in Him!

I began to pray as I walked, asking the Lord to help me sort through the emotions.  I did a quick inventory to try to uncover whatever “it” was that was weighing so heavily on me.  Nothing major came to light, so I began to wonder if the altitude was playing with my head.  Still I prayed asking the Lord to show me whatever it was that I needed to know.

I kept walking.  The ancient trail was beautiful winding through the rocky canyon.  I thought of all the others whose feet walked here long before me…and I knew that life for them was difficult and dangerous.  Compared to the perils they faced, my life seemed easy.  I marveled at how burdened they must have felt each step of the way and I wondered how they survived not only physically, but emotionally.

I was becoming winded, but kept a steady pace up a particularly steep incline.  As the trail wound around a huge rock, the sun was hidden and the path grew darker.  I couldn’t see what was ahead because of the rock formations and the dense trees.  As I came around a bend I saw a group of trees that had obviously seen some stormy times.  There were huge trees toppled over, and large limbs covered part of the path in a jumbled mess.    I thought about how these things pictured the way my heart felt.  It was in that moment that my eyes fell upon a small tree that was still rooted in the ground, but so bent over from the weight of debris from other trees that it was actually growing parallel to the ground.   All that burden had caused the unusual direction of growth.

As I looked at that tree, the Lord seemed to say to me, “Child, this is a picture of what happens when you allow burdens to shape the direction of your growth.  This is not what I intend for you.  Remember, I want you to cast your cares upon Me.  Let Me bear the weight of your burdens.  It is then that you will once again grow straight and tall.”

I began to pray asking the Lord to take my burdens – all those things jumbled in my mind I released to Him one by one.  A wonderful peace came over me and in that same moment, the sun filtered through the trees assuring me of the Lord’s presence.

I took a picture of that tree…

It is a reminder to me:  Don’t allow burdens to weigh you down and cause you to grow in the wrong direction; instead, release those burdens to the Lord!

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me.”

Psalm 54:4