As I looked over my zigged zagged path, I couldn’t help but think about how I have often zigged zagged my way through life. It’s amazing that when I was competing in water skiing, I had such focus. I knew in my heart what I wanted to do and made sacrifices and choices in my life to achieve the goals that lied within. Since my retirement from being a professional athlete, however, I have often struggled with having the discipline to achieve the passions that lie within my heart. My heart is so filled with things that I feel God is leading me to do, yet, somehow, I am often slow in moving forward. Why? Because I lose my focus. I allow distractions to steal my time, focus and energy.

For example, I feel God leading me to write more as well as to do daily video teachings. This has been on my heart for 2 years! Yet, somehow I get to the end of my day and I haven’t done either one. I could come up with a whole list of excuses from having three kids to running a couple of ministries to justify why I haven’t been obedient in this area. But the truth is, I have not always been a good steward of my time. I haven’t always been focused on what He has called me to do, rather I have often done what I felt like doing at the time.

I have to laugh… even as I sat here writing this entry, I found myself distracted. Somehow in the midst of paragraph two I found my way to my emails. After answering a couple of emails, I realized I wasn’t writing anymore! Within seconds I was off doing something else! I believe distractions are the greatest thing Christians have to guard themselves against. Distractions keep us from being focused, they keep us from moving forward in the plans God has for our lives, plans that will touch the world for eternity!

Webster’s defines distractions as a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else. Distractions can come in many forms. People can distract us, as well as our circumstances. Our emotions can distract us. For example, we may not ‘feel’ like doing something so we don’t. We can be distracted by our own thoughts and desires. We can be distracted by all the offerings of the world … things like emails, Facebook, television, internet, and cell phones. We can even be distracted by good things. But even doing good things, if it isn’t what God has purposed for our lives, is a distraction. It is something that is preventing us from giving full attention to what God has purposed for us.

I often hear people say how busy they are. I say the same thing. But I think if we examined how we spend our time, we may just find we are more distracted than busy. Somehow we have allowed ourselves to lose focus from what God is leading us to do. Let’s lay aside distractions and ask God to give us His vision for our lives. As He lays His vision on our hearts, His revelation for our lives, and we begin to take steps in line with this vision, the world will never be the same!
Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”

Wherever you are, be all there! (quote I read a couple of weeks ago)

Dear Lord, Help me to regain my focus. I don’t want to wander aimlessly through life. I want to fulfill my God-given destiny. Show me where I am distracted then show me steps to take to move forward in your vision for my life. Give me the courage to take the first step and the discipline to stay on course. Give me discernment to know when I am allowing things or people to draw me away from the path you have purposed for me so I can walk in your ways. Amen

As I looked at the watermelon vine and the fruit attached to the vine, John 15:5 popped into my mind … “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” As I thought about this verse, I begin to imagine what would happen if I pulled the watermelon off the vine and laid it in the rocks. Inevitably, within days, the watermelon would dry up and wither away. It needs the vine to keep it alive. It needs the vine for nourishment. It needs the vine to become what it was designed to be.

Looking at this fruit lying there amidst all the rocks, I began to think about how we, as believers, can flourish and thrive in the midst of the rocky places of our lives. Our victory and our growth doesn’t have to be determined by our circumstances. Rather, we can produce much fruit in our lives no matter where we find ourselves planted.

What is this fruit that can be produced in our lives? Galatians 5:22-23 says, “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” What this verse is saying is that if we remain in Jesus Christ, His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) will begin to do a work in us and cause us to produce the above fruit in our lives. The Holy Spirit will enable us to love others with God’s unconditional love. His Spirit will produce joy and peace within us even when our circumstances could tempt us to lose these things. His Spirit can help us be patient or as other versions say, be long-suffering, so that we persevere when things get tough. His Spirit can help us be kind, good and gentle in our dealings with others. It will also help us be faithful (loyal and steadfast). Finally, His Spirit can help us have self control so that the things in the world and our own flesh do not rule over us.

Our ‘fruit’ is very important. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus tells us that true followers of Christ can be identified by the fruit in their lives. It’s what differentiates us from the world and gives evidence to the power of God working in our life.

The problem with Christianity today, in my opinion, is that many Christians aren’t remaining in Christ so He isn’t able to produce the fruit that gives us victory and that will point the world to Him. We bypass the process of allowing the Holy Spirit to go to work in our lives. We separate ourselves from the vine by focusing on our own wants and desires or by holding onto deadly emotions like fear, guilt, anger, resentment, un-forgiveness, or pride (to name a few). We rely on our own reasoning and strength rather than tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit…power that can transform anyone!

Or, like me, we make the mistake of thinking that producing fruit is something we “DO” for God. But if you notice in these scriptures, “fruit” isn’t something a person necessarily does; rather it is something that is produced by the vine it is attached to. I describe “fruit” as a quality in a person that the Holy Spirit develops which ultimately results in actions that are God-honoring. So often, believers get this concept a little backwards. We set out in life to “DO” for God when what He is most concerned with is that we “BE” in Him so that He can transform us from the inside out.

Like the watermelon, the secret of our victory lies in our remaining on the Vine. Jesus Christ is the Vine. To remain means “to stay.” We need to stay in Jesus and refuse to venture out on our own for “apart from Him we can do nothing.” We stay in Him by drawing close through His Word, through prayer, praise and thanksgiving. We stay close by laying aside our reasonings and listening to Him. We stay close by trusting Him and stepping out in obedience. We stay close by focusing on the One who is able to help us become what we can never become on our own.

As we remain in Him, our lives will produce much fruit. Some fruit may take a little longer than others to develop but as we surrender to the Vine, He will transform us bit by bit, little by little, until our vine is full of ripe fruit for all the world to see and taste!

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want,

and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.

This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:7-8

As I sat there and watched this interchange, I was moved with an overwhelming sense of compassion for this family. As I envisioned what their life must be like on a daily basis, my heart cried out to God, “Oh Lord, heal that little girl. Help that family.” I then secretly vowed to pray for them. As I made my promise to pray, a thought quickly entered my mind that said, “Go pray for her right now.”

Immediately my internal battle over whether to obey what I knew the Holy Spirit was directing me to do or stay in my comfort zone began. “Lord,” I argued, “Why can’t I just pray from a distance?” Wouldn’t He move in this family’s life regardless of whether or not I audibly prayed for this couple in their presence? Why did I have to get up and go over to them in the middle of a restaurant? What if they didn’t want prayer? What if they thought I was crazy? What if people looked at me and became uncomfortable? What if, what if, what if….

As I flooded my mind with negative ‘what if’ scenarios, a new thought pattern began to fight for attention. What if what God was leading me to do would somehow affect the life of this family now or for eternity?  What if God touched this little girl physically because of my obedience? What if, through a simple prayer of faith in the middle of Cracker Barrel, this family was encouraged to carry on for one more day? What if this family needed to know that someone in the world noticed their life?

Why would I not want to be a part of that? Why would I want to let my fear and pride stand in the way of what God may be ready to do? How selfish. As I weighed the two ‘what if’ arguments, I realized that I really didn’t care what people thought. For the sake of that little girl and her family, I had to get out of my seat and tangibly show them the love of Christ no matter the cost and no matter the result.

I looked at my husband Tim and said with all seriousness, “I have to go pray with that family. Don’t let the waitress take my salad!” I got up and found the family in the merchandise section of the store. I walked over to the mother and said, “Hi. I know this may sound a bit crazy, but my husband and I were sitting next to you in the restaurant and as you got up to leave, I felt the Lord wanted me to come over and pray for your little girl.”

I waited for the lady to grab her daughter and run or yell some insult back at me, but instead she smiled and said, “I don’t think that sounds crazy at all.” She asked my name and introduced me to her daughter, Sophia Rose. Then, right there in the middle of Cracker Barrel merchandise, I knelt down, laid my hands on this little girl’s legs and prayed. When I finished, I rose up and faced the parents. The mother had tears streaming down her face; as did I. Through tears, we hugged and I left promising the family that I would continue to pray for them.

As I reflect back on the above story, I honestly don’t know all that God was doing in this interchange. This young girl didn’t suddenly shed her walker and run through the store. Lightening bolts didn’t pop down from heaven giving us all a ‘sign’ that God was moving in some miraculous way. But you know what … I really don’t need a sign. I know it was God who prompted my heart to get up and pray for this family and I trust Him. It certainly wasn’t my flesh directing me to do this because my flesh would have preferred to stay in my chair and continue eating my salad! I know from scripture and from experience, that when God places a burden on the hearts of His people to do something and they obey, God is moving. He is doing something whether or not I see or feel anything.

Yes, God could’ve touched this family whether or not I got up out of my chair or not. God is God. He can do anything. But for reasons I cannot explain, God has chosen you and I to be His vessels in which He demonstrates His love, power, provision and presence to the world. Through OUR prayers of faith, simple acts of kindness, and obedience, mountains are moved in the lives of others and in our own lives.

We have to remember that we are God’s hands and feet on this earth. Our purpose on earth is to show His love to others whether or not it is convenient or comfortable. How will they know His love, how will they know He cares otherwise?

Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying there is anything wrong with praying for others from a far or saying, “I will pray for you.” But how often do we actually remember to pray? If you are like me, life somehow has a way of erasing our ‘promise to pray’ from our minds and we never end up praying at all. What if we actually stop, rise up, and out of our compassion over the person’s situation pray a prayer of faith with them? I believe the world would be forever changed! People will be healed, hearts will be encouraged, and circumstances would change. We have to remember that it is our prayers that move the hands of God. It is our faith that moves mountains. It is our act of kindness and love that show people the love of Christ. Through our compassion and our prayers, God releases His power and touches the lives of people physically, emotionally and spiritually.

So what are waiting for? Let’s lay aside our fears, pride and ‘what if’ scenarios, get out of our seats and risk something for the sake of another. ‘What if’ God is ready to use us today to change the life of another? It’s a chance worth taking.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him…instantly the man was healed. Mark 1:41-42

These miraculous signs will follow those who believe….they will be able to place their hands on the sick and they will be healed. Mark 16:17-18

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16

I immediately knew my heart was being challenged from above … a challenge which somehow turned my physical walk into a spiritual crossroads. Two choices were suddenly laid before me: Do I stop and pick up something that could cause harm to someone? Or, do I keep walking on?

I found lots of reasons to keep moving. First of all, I hadn’t put the glass on the beach. Second, there were no trash cans in sight and I really didn’t want to carry this glass with me on my morning walk … what if I cut myself? Furthermore, what really were the odds of one child stepping in that one spot on the beach? Couldn’t they cut their foot just as easy on a sharp shell? Would my picking up this one piece really make a difference? Wouldn’t the tide come in soon anyway and wash the glass away?

But in the midst of all these reasons, I couldn’t shake the picture of the child getting injured. No, I hadn’t placed this glass on the beach and yes, it would be inconvenient to stop, pick it up and carry it on my morning walk; but somehow, now that I had discovered this dangerous object, it suddenly became my responsibility to remove it. I began to realize that if I didn’t pick it up, a child’s blood would be on my hands.

Now I know this may sound a bit ‘deep’ for someone who was just out for her morning walk, but God somehow has a way of teaching me spiritual lessons as I go about my way. He began to show me how this glass represents the things in our lives and the things in the world that we have a tendency to want to ‘step over’ and ignore. These things seem little and we can often reason away our responsibility of action, but these things have the potential of causing those who walk after us great harm.

My heart began to focus on our responsibilities as Christians to clean up the ‘glass’ both in our personal lives and in the world so that those who are following in our footsteps will be able to walk in victory. This ‘glass’ can be represented by many things. Perhaps it is a piece of ‘glass’ hidden deep amongst the seashells of our own lives that we have tried desperately to hide … like a painful or shameful addiction to things such as food, sex, alcohol, drugs, relationships, pornography, gambling or spending.

Perhaps our ‘glass’ is a deep emotion, ungodly thought pattern or attitude. Perhaps it is a personal habit or cycle in our lives we keep tripping over. Maybe it is an item we have laying around our home or an activity that is allowed in our home that has the potential of causing our own little ones to stumble. Perhaps the ‘glass’ is something we see going on in the world that we know just shouldn’t be, but somehow we find a million reasons not to stop and ‘pick it up.’

Dear friend, it’s time to take action. It’s time to stop reasoning away our responsibility and do something. We can’t keep ‘stepping over’ the things that are contrary to God’s Word and His plan. We can’t keep leaving stumbling blocks in our own path and the path of others.

James 4:17 says, “To him that knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, it is sin.” Yes, removing ‘glass’ may be inconvenient. It may cost us our time, effort and resources. It may even require major adjustments in our lives. But it has to be done. Our victory and the victory of others, maybe even our own family members, depends on it. Woe be it to us if we leave something in the path of someone we had the ability and opportunity to remove.

Has God opened your eyes to some ‘glass’ that needs to be extracted? Is there some area in your life that you know needs to be addressed? Have you seen something in the world that has just pierced your heart? It’s time to take action.

You may be asking, “Where do I start?” You and I start by taking a walk with God on the beaches of our own lives. We cannot lead others to victory until we are purified ourselves. As He reflects His light on the ‘glass’ in our life, we need to stop and ask Him to help us remove it. He will help us and show us the way. With His help, even the largest most embedded piece of ‘glass’ can be removed.

After we have removed the ‘stumbling blocks’ in our own lives, we can then begin to partner with God and remove the ‘glass’ on the beaches of the world. As you walk along your journey of life, God will reveal ‘glass’ that needs to be removed. You may be thinking, “What can I do that will possibly make a difference? The world is so full of ‘glass’ and I am just one person.”

Let me answer that question with this truth …  don’t underestimate the difference you can make. God is not looking for someone who has the talent and resources to take on the entire ‘beach’. Rather, He is looking for a heart that is tender to the things of God; a heart that will stop in their tracks and take action when God reveals something that needs to be removed. A heart that will do the right thing when it is time for the right thing to be done.

I am sure that there were millions of other sharp objects on the beach I was walking on. Removing this one item probably didn’t even make a dent in the potential hazards out there in the sand and ocean. I am sure this act didn’t impact the lives of millions. But you know what, if it removed a stumbling block for at least one person who may walk in my path, it was worth the time it took me to remove the glass. You can’t put a price on that.

No, you may not be able to tackle the entire ‘beach’ of the world, but you can make a difference in the path you walk. And as you clean up your ‘beach’ and I clean up my ‘beach’, TOGETHER, as the body of Christ, we can cover much territory and touch many lives.

Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending the 52nd US Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament in Callaway Gardens. While there, I had the opportunity to commentate the live web broadcast of the men’s and women’s slalom events. The competition brought with it lots of excitement as the world’s top water skiers fought their way through the course in hopes of becoming the 2011 Master’s Champion.

As the commentator, I had the best view of anyone attending the event as I sat on top of the pavilion and looked down over the skier as he or she navigated their way through the course. I also had a great view of the water conditions and as usual, the waters of Robin Lake served up the world’s best quite a challenge.

Unless you’ve navigated your way through the waters of Robin Lake, it’s hard to understand why these waters are so difficult to compete upon. When you look out on the water, everything looks perfect. White sand surrounds most of the lake, green trees and plants outline the banks, and the water is a beautiful blue color. But when the skier takes to the water, they quickly realize that the water isn’t as ‘perfect’ as it looks. Concrete pylons and a rocky shoreline on the far side of the lake create walls that the boat’s wakes bounce off of. This ‘backwash’ creates rollers that pop up unexpectedly in the skier’s path, bringing with it the potential of knocking the skier right of their ski.

Unfortunately, I saw this happen to many skiers over the weekend. It is so sad to watch a skier sit in the water in disbelief as they try to figure out what knocked them down. I know from experience the pain, disappointment, anger and frustration that can rise up in the athlete’s heart as all their dreams of becoming the Master’s Champion come to an abrupt end.

From my ‘birds eye’ view, I could often tell if a skier was going to survive the challenging waters. Rollers were present for every skier but the skiers who successfully ran the course were the ones who were in the most solid position, centered over the top of their ski.

I don’t know about you, but I often feel like life can serve up some ‘rolly’ waters just like Robin Lake. I can be running my course of life and out of nowhere, ‘rollers’ can pop up that throw me off my rhythm or stop me dead in my tracks. Like the skier, we need to make sure we are in a solid position so that we can ‘ski’ through these ‘rollers’ victoriously.

Matthew 7:24-27 says “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is build on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like  a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

If you read these verses carefully you’ll see that ‘rollers’ come into everyone’s life, whether they are a Christian or not. The verses say “when the rain comes,” “when the floodwaters rise,” and “when the wind beats…”, not “if” these things will come. We will all face a course of life filled with challenges. Relationship issues will come. Sickness and death will come. Financial challenges will come. Career issues will come. Dreams will be challenged.

Whether we remain standing or fall flat on our face depends on our position spiritually…it depends on our foundation. If we build our life on a relationship with God and center it on His Truth (The Word of God), no matter what comes into our life, we will remain standing because our life is built on a foundation that will not fail us, a foundation that can weather any storm, a foundation that is sure and true.

Unfortunately, many people choose to build their life on a foundation of ‘sand.’ They build their life on their successes, passions, relationships, money, fame, outward appearances, performance, education, and their careers … all of which are temporary, earthly things. When the ‘rollers’ of life come, the person’s life foundation is shaken and since the person isn’t centered in Christ, they get knocked down. The person ends up like the skier in the middle of Robin Lake who’s dreams have just come crashing down all around them.

Have you ever wondered why some people are able to keep moving forward in life with peace, joy and hope while others seem paralyzed by emotions caused by the ‘rollers’ that surround them? The difference lies in their foundation. Those grounded in Christ have hope which serves as an ‘anchor to their soul’ (Hebrews 6:19).

You don’t have to be tossed about by the ‘rollers’ of life. If life has caused you to feel a bit shaky lately, I encourage you to check out your foundation. Make sure your life is built on ‘rock’ and not ‘sand.’ And if you have found yourself in the water, don’t lose hope and don’t give up. Unlike the boat drivers of the Masters Tournament, God has not left you in the middle of the lake to swim to shore in defeat. He is right there with you, offering you hope, joy and peace in the midst of the storms of life. He has an answer to life’s biggest issues. Nothing is too hard for Him. Grab ahold of Him today and let Him pull you back on top of the waters. Get grounded in Him and no matter what comes into your life’s course, He will navigate you to victory.

Isaiah 43:2-5 “When you go through the deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown….For I am the Lord, your God…your Savior…You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

Recently as I was reading in the book of Genesis, I came across the story of Abraham and King Abimelech. Abraham was on a journey with God. He didn’t know exactly where he was going, he just knew God promised to reveal a special place in His perfect timing. So, based on this promise (Gen. 12:1-3), Abraham took daily steps of faith to many various places. In Genesis 20, we find Abraham settling in the land of Gerar, the land of King Abimelech.

When Abraham met King Abimelech, he introduced his wife Sarah to the King as his sister. We find in verse 13 that this was a common practice for Abraham as he had asked Sarah to tell people they encountered on their journey that he was her brother. Abraham feared that because of Sarah’s beauty he would be killed by men in power who desired to have her as their wife (Gen. 12:10 and 20:11).

Based on this deception, King Abimelech sent for Sarah and had her brought into his palace. During the night (and before the King had a sexual relationship with her), God came to the King in a dream and warned him that Sarah was Abraham’s wife and that he (the King) was in fact “a dead man” because of her being in his palace. King Abimelech was shocked and immediately said to God, “In integrity of heart I committed this act.”

I love God’s answer. He said, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That is why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her” (Gen. 20:6). God then gave Abimilech the choice to return Sarah to Abraham to make things right.

This story both blessed me and challenged me. It blessed me as I realized that God is watching over me and He is ready to guide me in truth and keep me from stepping into a mess! If I but just seek God’s direction, ‘listen’ for His guidance and then walk in it, He will protect my path.

This passage also challenged me to to evaluate my own life and make sure that I am constantly walking in integrity. As you can see from this passage, lack of integrity brings with it a great price. Abraham’s lack of integrity brought a large financial cost to the King, confusion and ‘drama’ into his life, and also resulted in great judgment as his entire household became infertile. Sarah paid an emotional price as this was not the only occasion she was taken into another man’s home because of Abraham’s request (See Gen 12:10-20).

How amazing to think that one man’s lack of integrity, a man of God nonetheless, can impact so many people. How amazing to think that my words and actions can have such great consequences on my family, friends and acquaintances as well.

Walking in integrity of heart is of utmost importance if we desire to walk closely with God and impact others in a positive way. There are many verses in the Bible dealing with this subject. If you study them you will see that God demands integrity and as we walk in it, we walk in the blessings of God (His protection, peace, provision, power).  The word ‘integrity’ originates from the Greek words ‘integritas’ and ‘integra’ which means whole. Integrity isn’t about just telling the truth, rather, it enters into every aspect of our life. In addition to honesty, it includes being sincere, keeping agreements, being fair, just and having ethics. It is about having values and then sticking to those values regardless of the circumstances. It is being without compromise.

Have you ever thought about why Abraham would put Sarah in this position? Have you ever thought about why it is so hard for us to walk in integrity? I think it all boils down to two words: FEAR and PRIDE. We fear what may happen if the truth is exposed so we go into self-protection mode. Or, we twist the truth so that an outcome in our life is beneficial to us. In Genesis 12:13 (another instance where Abraham lied about Sarah), we see Abraham asked Sarah to lie so that “they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”

It’s interesting that when Abraham was confronted by the King, he attempts to justify his actions. Basically he says to the King, “Well, I was technically telling the truth because Sarah and I are in fact related.” Based on the judgment that fell on the King and his household, I think it is safe to say that God wasn’t concerned with the facts behind Abraham’s statement, rather He was concerned with the motive. Abraham’s motive was self-preservation. Abraham’s motive was based out of fear and pride.

I guess this story hit me between the eyes because I know there have been times where I’ve gone into protective mode myself. Perhaps I may have twisted the truth, left out details, or added a few details to make a ‘story’ better all because of my fear of man or selfish pride. Like Abraham, I’ve often reasoned in my mind that my actions were justified when in fact my motive was improper. Can you relate?

May we be challenged by this story to keep not only our words pure but our motives pure as well. May we walk in integrity, in values that are honoring to God, so that we and others can walk in the blessings of God. Will you join me in this prayer?

Dear Lord, Forgive me for the times that I have twisted the truth out of fear. Forgive me for the times I have lacked integrity based on pride. Search my heart, mind and motives and expose my known and unknown sin. Help me to seek forgiveness and make restoration when needed. May I listen for your voice of direction, lay aside fear and pride, and then walk in faith as I trust you. Amen

Trust Jesus. If only we’d just simplify our lives down to these two words, our lives would be so different … so less confusing and so less overwhelming. How much easier it would be if we would trust Him rather than try and figure everything out.

As I think about my life’s path, I can honestly say it has been these two words … trust Jesus … that have enabled me to keep moving forward. As I have developed my relationship with Him through prayer and through studying His Word, the Bible, He has been faithful to give me His wisdom in areas such as my finances, mental and physical health, eternal salvation, parenting, marriage, relationships, and how to handle life’s battles. His Word has been a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Psalms 119:105).

And for those specific questions I couldn’t find the answers for in between the pages of Genesis and Revelation, His Spirit has always been faithful to guide me. Even though I couldn’t find the words “adopt two children from Russia” or “start a water sports ministry called In His Wakes” or “go to Boston for your surgeries” or “marry Tim” in the Bible (trust me, I looked!!!), I can say without a doubt that God’s hand was all over these situations because I was seeking His guidance. No, these answers didn’t necessarily boom down from Heaven in a loud audible voice, but His Spirit was faithful to nudge my heart in one direction or another.

Here is what I know to be true … when I surrender my decisions to God and say, “I trust you with my life. I trust your plan, your promises and your love for me” and ask Him to lead me, He brings the answers I need. When I quit trying to figure everything out and plan everything out, He begins to show me the way. When I acknowledge I want His will above all else, He is always faithful to lead me down His path. God has never let me down. He has never left me hanging. He has never played “hide and seek” with His answers.

Through His Spirit, that is alive in me, and through the Bible, I am given the answers I need, when I need them, without fail. His leading doesn’t always make sense and often goes completely against my human reasoning or my flesh’s desire, but if I trust Him and obey Him, He brings about amazing results.

Trust Jesus. It’s that simple. Quit trying to figure out every detail. He can make a way where there seems to be no way. Quit saying you don’t know what to do. Start with what you do know and trust He will show you the rest of the details when you need them. Quit asking all your friends what to do. Ask God. Ask the One who knows tomorrow and holds it in His hands. He will show you what direction to take and He will never lead you astray.

Remember, if you are a child of the Living God, His Spirit is in you and it will guide you. He gives you a sound mind and wisdom to make decisions. So, lay aside fear, lay aside doubt and trust Him. If your heart is right with the Lord, if your heart’s desire is to do His will, He will lead you down the path He has for you. And if need be, He will redirect your footsteps if you take off in the wrong direction.So step out in faith and let peace be your guide (Colossians 3:15).

Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known (Jeremiah 33:3). But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).

Yesterday I went into town to run errands. One of the errands was to go by Target to purchase a birthday present for a friend as well as a gift card for a family in our town who recently lost their home to a fire. As the card was being scanned and the amount entered for the card, the lady at the register, a beautiful African American women with an awesome smile, jokingly said “You can adopt me if you want.” We laughed and then she handed me my receipt and I headed towards the door.

As I was walking towards the door, I heard a question rise up in my heart, “Why don’t you adopt her? Why not go do for her what you would do for your child? Why not do something nice for her?”

Of course, as we all often do, I continued on out the door wondering what that lady would think of me if I went back over to her and gave her something. Would she think I was crazy? Would I insult her? Would she think I thought she looked like she ‘needed’ something?

Within minutes, an internal battle started firing up in my mind. Do I go back in or do I keep heading to my car? Do I risk rejection or looking crazy, or do I just simply go do what I know was being whispered in my heart to do?

After a few mental rounds, I resigned to the fact that I needed to go back in and be obedient to the voice I had heard. So…I wheeled my cart around, got in another line and purchased a gift card. I went over to where the lady at the register was working and waited for her line to empty so as not to draw attention to what I was doing. When the coast was clear, I handed her the gift card and said, “This is for you.”

At first she looked confused. Then I told her, “I can’t adopt you but here’s something for you.” When she realized what was happening, she became overwhelmed and started crying out, “Lord, Jesus!” To which I replied with a smile, “That’s who sent me back in here.”

She looked at me and said, “I wish I could share some things with you.” But unfortunately there was no time as people were lining up waiting to have their items scanned. So, I hugged her, she thanked me, and I headed to my car. As I walked out, tears stained my face as I became overwhelmed with gratitude that God had allowed me to be a part of His reaching out to this lady. I was so thankful that ‘this time’ I had followed the nudge in my heart and laid aside my ‘to do list’ so that God could touch someone’s heart.

When I got in the car, a sense that I needed to talk to her some more started rising up in my heart. As I was debating over what to do, I looked up and saw her walking over to sit on the bench outside of the store. She was crying. I drove up to the curb and asked her if she was ok. Through tears she just shook her head. I parked the car and went over to the bench and sat with her.

In minutes she poured out her life story. She had been married for 27 years to a man who abused her physically and emotionally. She had finally gotten the courage about a year ago to start a new life for her and her two daughters. Over the past year she had lived in a car, lost her job at the hospital and been abandoned by a new boyfriend who left her with a mountain of bills to pay. To top it all off, her teenage daughter just came home and told her she was pregnant.

At the end of her story, she just fell apart emotionally. She said she didn’t know what she was going to do. She felt her life had no purpose and no hope of moving forward. She shared that as a 40 year old woman, it seemed her life was going backwards. Defeat, pain and fear flooded her heart and stained her face.

I just sat there and listened. It was all I could do. I asked God to give me words to speak, but honestly, there weren’t many words flowing out of me. So, I just sat there. I cried with her, hugged her and then prayed with her. Too soon, her 15 minute break came to an end, and it was time for her to go. She wept, thanked me for taking the time for her and hugged me like I have never been hugged before. She said as I walked away, “Now I know God is there.”

What I realized as I drove away from this unexpected, unplanned scene is how much God loves us individually. The God of this universe was looking down from Heaven and saw this lady’s pain, He saw her need. In response, He nudged the heart of one of His other daughters (me) to go minister hope to her.

God sent a total stranger back into Target to show this lady in a tangible way that He loved her, that He cared for her and that He hadn’t forsaken her. God used a Target gift card as a sign of hope to strengthen her heart so that she could face another day. I thought of all the times He has done this same thing for me. He has sent so many people in my path with words of encouragement and even tangible items and services needed for our ministry that have given me the hope to keep moving forward. (And guess what, He sees your needs and has people lined up to minister hope to you too!)

So often we wonder what we can possibly do to help people. People’s needs are so great. One day I asked God the question, “Lord, How can I help all the people I meet who have such great needs, needs greater than I can fill?” A simple answer popped up in my heart…”Love them.”

Can it be that easy? Love?

What I have come to realize is that, yes, it is. Love is the answer. It’s the only answer. But what we have to realize is that love isn’t a feeling, rather love is an action. Love is patient, kind and merciful. Love takes the time to put other people’s needs first. Love is willing to be stopped in its tracks to show that it cares. Love, God’s love, is unconditional and expects nothing in return.

We make ministering to people so difficult. We make being used by God so confusing. We spend so much time trying to figure out what God would have us TO DO or TO SAY when the truth of the matter is that God just wants us to be willing to love others through acts of kindness. God just wants us to be available to be stopped in our tracks so He can place us in His and use us as a vessel of hope to someone in need.

I didn’t have any magical words for Shirlean. I didn’t wipe away her bills with one swipe of my credit card. But what I was able to do was encourage a heart that was at the end of its rope. God, through me, was able to say, “I see you, Shirlean, and I haven’t forgotten you.”

We don’t have to go far to find someone in need, they are in front of us every day. Often, however, many of the people in great pain may not be easy to spot. Like Shirlean, they may have a smile on their face and laughter coming out of their mouths. But if we are willing to be tuned in to God, listening and watching for His “assignment,” He will expose the hidden pain and use you to bring restoration and hope into someone’s heart.

People don’t need much. They just need to know someone cares. They just need to know they aren’t invisible to the world and to God. They just need someone to listen. We aren’t called to go out and save the world, we are, however, called to love on those God puts in our path. We are called to do what we can do for those we can whether that is simply sit and listen or do something tangible (like buy a gift card, pay a bill, take someone to lunch, or simply teach someone to do something you love to do).

Don’t worry, God will lay on your heart your part of His plan. You won’t have to figure it out. You won’t have to go out on a mission to find people to touch for God. God will bring them to you. God has already paved the path and He has already prepared the hearts to receive you. Your part is to obey. Your part is simply to ‘turn the cart’ around and head back in the store.

You never know who may be at the end of their rope. Ask God to open your spiritual eyes. He will bring them one by one into your path. Be willing to lay aside your ‘to do list’ for the sake of another. God will redeem your time, God will redeem your sacrifice. He will bless you more through the encounter He has planned than you could ever be from sticking to your agenda.

Matthew 22:36-39  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

As I thought about her command, I began to chuckle inside. Isn’t this statement the desire of our hearts? Don’t we often wake up and head out on the waters of life and say, “No Bumps, God.” Our flesh wants smooth waters, no obstacles, and no challenges.

Yes, there will be bumps along your journey of life … there will often be HUGE obstacles that you must go through. Sometimes the bumps will be caused by other people, by the winds of life, or perhaps by the wake you leave behind … but no matter what the cause of the bumps, be encouraged that as you pass through the deep waters, God will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, they will not overtake you (Isaiah 43:2).

God, as your Power Source, will plow through the waves, creating a path of victory for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Just as I knew the path to take for this young girl to have a safe and victorious ride over the bumps, God knows the way for you too. He will uphold you and help you through. As long as you are in the safety of His wakes, focused on Him and standing on His promises, there are no waves of life that can knock you down (Matthew 7:24).

Don’t let the bumps of life steal your joy and your peace. Your Power Source will never fail you. He will get you to the other side and one day soon you will be able to look back over those waters and say, “Oh, how sweet the victory!”