Good Monday morning to all! Today God laid a scripture on my heart for you.

"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."  - Jeremiah 10:23

What a strong verse! Especially for us here in North America who like to be in control. How many times have you made plans only to have them changed or cancelled all together? I know that my response is often disappointment or anger. I like having my way. And then I read this verse: it's not up to me!

A few thoughts: When I read this verse, there was first conviction and then comfort. I was convicted because when I plan things in my life, I want my way. And yet, when I really think about it, so many things that I have planned, have rarely gone the way I thought they would but when I've put them in God's hands, it's always turned out much better and beyond anything I could have pulled off. The comfort that I feel when reading this verse is knowing that I have a caring and loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for me. When I rest in His hands, there is such a peace there. Then even if things go very differently from what I had l outlined, I have this overall serenity that everything is as it should be.

What a wonderful verse to embrace!  Lord, I pray today for my friends and for myself that you would plant this verse deep in our hearts and that we would have full confidence in you and not in ourselves and our abilities. Thank you for the amazing peace this brings knowing that you are fully in control and we don't have to be. Direct our steps, even today, because you know the way that is right for us. Thank you! Amen!

The start of another new week! Spring is on its way! I know that here in Winnipeg, there's still lots of snow and it's still cold but I have noticed the sun getting warmer and I am encouraged.

There's something about spring - it's aptly named. It puts a spring in my step and makes all of the plants and animals spring into action. Everything gets moving again. I find spring very exciting. It means that summer is coming - holidays, swimming, barbeques or just lazing in the yard with a cold drink and a good book - all great things!

How about you? Is there something that you have been wanting to do but have been putting it off? How about we make this week the week that we 'spring' into action and start that which we have been procrastinating over? What do you think? Let's encourage each other over this.

There's a tub of books and papers in my room that has been sitting there all winter waiting for attention and I think that this week will be the week that I crack that lid and dig in. How about you? Are you ready to spring?  

Hello everyone! Monday morning and off we go into another week!

I love the Psalms. I find that I read them often. For me, they are very encouraging and life-giving.
I was reading in Psalm 13, verse 5 which starts like this: "BUT I trust in your unfailing love;..."
I capitalized the 'but' for emphasis.

Life is unpredictable. We can be going along and suddenly, boom! We are side-swiped with something we did not see coming and it can take our feet out from under us. Here's my encouragement today. When we are caught off-guard by life's surprises, we always have that 'but'. "This is really hard BUT..."; "I'm not sure of the outcome of all of this BUT..."; I'm not sure if I can do this BUT I trust in your unfailing love.

God's love for us is unfailing: boundless, eternal, steadfast, loyal, absolute, true, ceaseless, trustworthy and dependable. You get the picture! God's love is ALWAYS there for us no matter what we are going through. And since God's Word is true, then I know that this is truth.

So, feeling a little shaken right now? - remember the 'but"....

Good Monday morning, my precious friends! Life can get so busy sometimes and so full. God gave me a picture that I want to share with all of you:

I was at the bottom of a large staircase. The bottom stair was cluttered with all sorts of stuff - games, laundry, a laptop, shoes and other household items. I had a hard time actually finding room on that stair to walk. My thought was that I should come back after and clean up and organize this all so that I can walk here.  As I took a step up to the next stair, it had less stuff on it and so forth all the way up until I reached the top step and there was nothing on it. Then I saw God right at the top of the staircase. Now it was just Him and me and no stuff.

He said to me: this is how life is. The farther away from me you are, the more there is to clutter your mind and to worry you. As you draw closer to me, it is easier to walk and your mind gains clarity. Sometimes it's a struggle to get up here but when you do, you have a wonderful view and a clear perspective. Come up to this step often for this is where there is true life.

Oh God, help me to desire to live on the heights with You!! And to each of you, my dear ones, my prayer is for you that you will seek to go up those steps often and into His sweet presence.

A happy Monday to all! Lately I've been thinking about how we handle stuff in life. Someone might say to you, "you need to deal with that" What is 'dealing'?

In my job as a life coach and speaker, I meet many different people. So many people are stuck on hold because of some past experience. They have been hurt and it has stopped them in their lives and often in their relationships.

There was someone in my life who treated me very badly and was very unkind to me. I put up with it for years but by the grace of God, my eyes were open to the abuse and I took the appropriate actions. However, my heart was full of anger and bitterness when I realized how much this unkindness had affected me in my life. I know that bitterness and unforgiveness  can wreak havoc in my own life when it sits in my heart and festers. So I asked God to help me forgive. He knew how angry and hurt I was and He also knew that I didn't want to forgive. But out of obedience to Him and knowing that it was better for me, I asked Him to help. I know that only He can change my heart. Within months, I started feeling less anger towards this person and eventually I realized that the anger was gone and that compassion had actually set in! I had not tried to change my own heart but God did the work. I just needed to say yes.

Do you have something in your life right now that you feel is near impossible to deal with? Can I encourage you to go to your Heavenly Father and just say yes to whatever God needs to do in your heart and then just let Him do it. We don't need to have all the answers or to strive hard. He's for us and knows what's best. Just say yes...