“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.”  Psalm 37:5

The other day, I came across a resource that gave the literal meaning of this passage of scripture in the original language:

“Roll your way onto Jehovah and trust upon Him, and He works!”

As I saw this picture in my mind, some things became very clear to me.

First of all, I need to gather all the parts of my life together…my goals and plans; my hopes and dreams; my hurts and joys; my failures and successes; my relationships; my family; my finances; my health; my needs; my very soul.  Then, I must push these things away from me….out of my path and roll them onto the Lord.  I have to let go so that my hands don’t keep trying to control it all.

Next, I have to learn to completely trust the Lord with the things I have rolled onto Him…trusting that His ways are always better than mine…trusting that He knows exactly how to take care of me…trusting that His time frame is more precise than mine could ever be…trusting His strength in my weakness…trusting that His provision is always enough…trusting Him to carry the weight of my world…trusting Him enough to believe His word…trusting that His love always has my best interest at heart.

Finally, as I choose to roll all my “stuff” onto Him and trust Him, then I get to experience Him at work in ways that are specifically designed for me!

• He takes my “stuff” and works it to bring out the good.
• He encourages me to grow in the process.
• He uses my life circumstances to equip me to help others.

Today, I challenge you to roll your life onto the Lord - when you do, you will be blessed by what He does!

The following scripture gives a picture of an amazing rescue:

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.  He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.  They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”  Psalm 18:16-19

What a relief to realize that the Lord knows exactly how to rescue us - just like He did for the psalmist!  Some situations are just too much for us…even when we try with all our might, we still need help.  When we come to those times it is good to think about the different ways He can rescue us:

• When I am in over my head, overwhelmed and and about to give up - His sees the total picture from above.  He has perfect perspective in my situation.  He sees every detail and at just the right moment, He stretches out His hand to grab hold of me and pull me to safety.
• When I am struggling with the personal battles of my life and it seems like everything coming against me is too powerful to overcome - He comes to stand at my side using His strength to help me.  He provides all the back up I need to stay in the battle until victory is won.
• When I feel pressed on every side…weighted down and can hardly breathe - He leads me to a wide open place where the air is clear and I can breathe deeply, be refreshed, and gain perspective.

Even more amazing is the fact that He chooses to do all of this because He cares for me - He delights in me!  Even when I make mistakes or struggle with bad habits or I am surrounded by problems, He still loves me!  He is always listening…and when He hears my cry for help - He comes to the rescue!

One additional note:  For those of you who have Aaron Loy’s CD “Increase My Faith” -  the song “Rescue” is the #8 cut and it reflects the above thoughts.  For those of you who don’t have this CD, it is available on iTunes and definitely worth a listen!

Between stimulus and response, there is space.  In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response.  In our response lies our growth and freedom.  ~ Victor Frankl

This is a reminder about the privilege and responsibility of choosing how I will respond in any given situation.  I always have a choice:  When I hear something…I can choose how I will respond.  When I see something…I can choose how I will respond.  When something happens…I can choose how I will respond.

My response to the situations of life will determine how I live my life.  The ability and the responsibility are mine.  Not only do I have the freedom to choose my response, but there is also a distinct power that is activated as I choose how to respond.  There is power in choosing to be kind when others are not.  There is power in taking action to correct a mistake.  There is power in remaining calm in the midst of difficult circumstances…and the list goes on and on.  My choices matter.

Additionally, choosing how I will respond provides the opportunity for growth.  As I learn to use the “space” to choose, I begin to see the consequences of my response.  I can grow by learning to respond with thought and wisdom.

The more I grow, the more freedom I can enjoy:  Freedom from regret; freedom from harsh actions; freedom to make more productive choices.

It is good to know that there is always that “space” provided for choice…the question is:  How will I use it?

Every year in early spring over 500,000 cranes come to a small area of land along the Platte River in Nebraska.  This northward migration has been an annual occurrence for countless years.  The cranes are on their way to Canada, Alaska and the Siberian Artic.  They have flown hundreds of miles with many more to go.  They arrive weary, thin and hungry.  For these birds, the Platte River is the perfect place to rest, refuel and re-energize before the next part of their journey.  In this place they find abundant food and a quiet place of shelter.  For about six weeks, the cranes stay close together while they feed and rest.  Then suddenly, as if on cue, they rise with new energy and take flight to complete their journey.

Just like the cranes, we too need a place to stop, rest and re-energize.  Some of us have been on a long difficult road and the journey has been overwhelming.  Some of us may have been on an easier road, but it has been tiring and demanding just the same.  Many times we are so driven that we fail to see the need to stop or even slow down.  Continual activity becomes the norm and we might even feel guilty if we think about taking a break.  No matter what road we have travelled, there comes a time when we must find a place of rest…a place of renewal…a place to re-group and regain the strength needed to carry on the next leg of the our journey.  When we find that place and take the time to stop, soon we will find that we are able to rise and take flight with new strength and energy.  Jesus said:

“Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31

“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”  Isaiah 33:6

Sometimes life throws us a curve…those unexpected circumstances that make you feel like the bottom just dropped out and you are left falling and floundering.

Those situations happen to all of us at one time or another, and if you are like me, they happen at the most inconvenient moments!  Some of these circumstances are devastating - life altering; others are not so major, but crucial just the same.  And they leave us trying to find our footing in a suddenly unstable world.

I have found the above scripture particularly helpful in those times because it is filled with bold reminders on how I can find the floor:

1. The Lord is my firm, secure foundation at ALL times in my life.  Even when things are spinning out of control, I can find safety and stability by turning to Him.
2. The Lord has everything I need for ANY situation that arises in my life.  He has an unending supply set aside for me in His storehouse.  Again, I just need to look to Him.
3. The Lord is my Savior and that means He is my Hero ready to rescue me!  He rescues from the power of sin; He rescues me from fear; He rescues me from harm; He rescues me from loneliness; and He rescues me from hopelessness.
4. The Lord has the EXACT knowledge and wisdom I need for my situation.  He knows all the details.  He knows all the answers.  He has the perfect plan for me in the midst of my circumstances.
5. The key to all of this is KNOWING the Lord…knowing WHO He is, realizing the power He possesses; respecting Him enough to TRUST Him completely with my situation.

When I look to Him, recognize all that He is offering me, and TRUST Him fully, all of a sudden I can feel the floor again!  And it is rock solid!

Over the past several years my husband and I have challenged ourselves to cross “interesting” bridges.  He has a “fear of heights” issue; I have a “fear of falling” issue.  Together, we decided to face our fears.  So far we have climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia; we’ve walked the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Natchez Trace Bridge in Franklin, Tennessee.  We’ve also had the chance to ride across the various bridges in New York City and we have driven many times across the Hernando de Soto Bridge spanning the Mississippi - every time praying as we go!

During these interesting adventures, I’ve noticed some things about bridges:

• The construction is complex and intricate
• The height and length of the bridge is determined by the obstacles around it
• The bridge, though built with strong materials, is also built to “give” in certain conditions
• The purpose of the bridge is to connect one place to another

And so it is with the “bridges” of life…

• Life bridges usually take some time and care to build
• The measurements of life bridges are determined by the circumstances and feelings of those involved
• Life bridges must be made of the right stuff:  caring, determination, forgiveness, reconciliation, hope, faith and love…these are the things that give strength yet offer needed flexibility
• Life bridges are built to connect or re-connect people…but the actual crossing of the bridge is an individual choice

So today I am asking myself: 

 Are there some bridges I need to build? 

 Are there some bridges already in place that I need to cross?

The answer is a resounding YES!

I am determined, so I pray,  face my fears, and take the first step.

Take a moment to think about how others feel when they are around you.  Do they feel comfortable, important, special, glad, encouraged?  Or do they feel nervous, diminished, frightened,  judged or discouraged?

It is true that we can never quite know for sure what someone else is thinking or feeling.  However, it is equally true that we each have the opportunity to set the atmosphere that accompanies us everywhere we go.  It doesn’t matter if we are with family, co-workers, friends or aquaintances, we can have a positive effect regardless of the circumstances.

Here are some tips for setting an encouraging atmosphere in realtionships:

• Smile
• Look others in the eye
• Find something to compliment
• Listen
• Speak caring, thoughtful words
• Show kindness and compassion
• Offer help instead of just merely advice
• Speak their name

When you take these few simple steps, you will see the opportunity for relationships to flourish.

“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”  ~ Carl Buechner

There is no power or change in intention.  Power and change come only through action.

Action is the process of getting something done - moving to accomplish something.  A dream, a goal, an idea or a thought - all can have the potential for greatness.  But without action, they are merely concepts trapped in the mind or on paper.  So how can I become a person of action?

Action begins when I choose to engage in the process…to enter in…to connect…to participate in transferring a thought into reality.

Action takes form as I follow specific steps; when I choose to do something consistently to move forward.  It is important that the action is positive in every aspect - not just a “spinning of the wheels” or an exercise in futility, but rather measured steps towards accomplishment.  This might involve asking for input and assistance from others, learning something new, or seeking out specific opportunities where the concept can flourish.

Action grows and becomes clearer as I take intentional steps to accomplish the details of the plan.  The more I do, the more I will know what else to do - or what not to do.   Taking action will bring clarity to the process.

Action becomes stronger as I overcome barriers and obstacles that come along.  By pressing on, I can acquire skills needed to deal with distractions effectively.  By refusing to quit, I can set aside excuses and not be held back.

Action becomes powerful as I develop courage in the face of fear.  My willingness to stand up for what I believe will give me fearless energy to face distructive opposition and to accomplish the goals before me.  Minor setbacks will not become permanent failure, but rather an occasion for multiplied opportunity.

As I continue to take action, I will see results.  Results will bring accomplishment and accomplishment will bring the transformation from thought to reality.

What action can you take today?

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves - or rather in spite of ourselves.”  ~ Victor Hugo

Please note and enjoy these special dimensions of love this week:

• Love lightens the heaviest burden.
• Love deepens victory.
• Love whispers hope.
• Love has a gentle, but firm touch.
• Love pours kindness all around.
• Love is calm and patient.
• Love rejoices in accomplishment.
• Love practices forgiveness.
• Love points to truth.
• Love keeps going even when fatigue sets in.
• Love offers a safe shelter.
• Love can turn bitterness into the sweetest thing.
• Love gathers strength as it grows.
• Love brings smiles…and tears.
• Love is like a million stars glowing in the heart.
• Love endures.

May you love and be loved today!

Sometimes hope seems hard to find.  It gets tossed about in the wind of disappointment and heartache.   It gets covered over with loss and unfulfilled dreams.  It gets tangled in the vines of weariness and stress.  And when hope is gone, an overwhelming darkness settles in.

But is all hope really gone?  Is it beyond our reach?  I don’t think so…as a matter of fact, I believe hope is much closer than we might realize.

Hope is about an expectation that there can be a “positive something” ahead.  It is that spark of light in the midst of surrounding darkness.  It is a covering of warmth when everything else is cold.  It is a soothing balm for the wounds of the heart.   Hope illumines the path as it beckons a weary traveler to a new place filled with possibilities.  Hope is like a sweet, unending melody filling the emptiness and bringing peace to the soul.

Hope is about perseverance…the willingness to keep moving forward even when the mind cries out, “I can’t go another step!”

Hope is about belief…a certainty that good exists and is available to all who care to partake of its richness.

Hope is about trust…learning to trust in the One who not only created me, but also created a specific purpose for me.  He knows where I am.  He knows where I am going.  He knows what I need.  He has unlimited provision for my journey.  He walks beside me with the light and the melody of hope.

See the light.  Hear the music.  Walk safely and confidently holding on to Hope!

Some Hopeful Quotes:

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.  And sings the tune without the words and never stops - at all! - Emily Dickinson

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. - Psalm 62:5

Always laugh.  Always hope.  Always pray. - Karen Covell

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. - Psalm 130:5

Hope endures - hold on! - Lizette Conrad

The Lord delights in those who revere Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.  -                                                                                                                     Psalm 147:11