Sharp and Effective

There are friends I love spending time with because I am so energized by the learning and ideas that come from/within conversation. Those friendships also hold the safety and love within which to be honest with one another at a deep level where one may tell the other a hard truth in love. It is one of the ways God speaks to us and that we grow, becoming more effective individuals.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

God has blessed me with some trusted friends whom I can bounce things off of and hear an honest answer as to my part. It is an amazing privilege and incredible blessing. I am better for it. Hope your week brings one of these amazing synergistic conversations this week as you go forth sharper and more effective.

Figuring or Trusting?

Dissheveled, but feeling some of the calm….still wondering what tomorrow holds, I am often left disquieted with a bit of apprehension looming until I look skyward and nearly audibly hear the Lord whisper in my ear…..

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

Oh that my faith was my first hold. I, however, am guilty of trying to figure out….explain or make sense in some way of an event. So I ask the Lord and endeavor to hold to my heart verses that remind me where my head, heart and understanding belong. So today I acknowledge that He has created and named me - knows me better than I know myself as He sees my innermost being… knows my heart (when I can be so misunderstood by others) and yet, He still calls me His own!!!!

Join me in the journey to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not unto your own understanding. I count on your understanding from Him as well as He guides and directs you.

As we hit mid-week, let’s take a deep breath…"Trust in the Lord with all [our] hearts, and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways, acknowledge Him, and let’s let Him direct our path."

I believe in you!!!

Trust

Have you ever been so taken aback by something so devastating that your knees nearly buckled from under you? Have you had to take time, quietly, in your heart to try to figure things out? Judging from recent news, I would imagine you have.

Luckily, we have a guide, directions to look toward - One in whom to place our trust and hope...our perfect Creator, Lord God Almighty.

Trust in Him with all your heart - He will never lead you astray or disappoint....or hide from you.

In thee, Oh LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Psalm 31:1

Place your hope above

At this time of year – and truthfully throughout the year – we will be disappointed, let down or unpleasantly surprised by another’s words, actions or lack thereof. Our hope is misplaced when placed in a person – for we are but human and prone to err. But if our hope remains in our Creator and Savior, then we are standing on sturdy ground with room to launch.

How would you treat people if you assumed they were good? If we gave one another the benefit of the doubt, how would it change the way we treated each other? Would we be more generous with our time and possessions? You know today you can smile at someone who has brought you grief because your trust and hope is not in them. It is in the Lord, who loves you without measure. So walk today with confidence. You are a child of the King and no one can take that away from you. And next week a good portion of the world will celebrate the Son’s birthday – whose suffering on your account made you a joint heir. Run with it!!!

Live, breathe, smile, laugh and celebrate this day ON PURPOSE because….Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV