Don't you hate those annoying speed bumps?  Those bumps in the road that force you to slow down?

This scenario applies to our lives also.  There will be bumps in the road.  That is for certain.  Some bumps we will see ahead of time.  Some will appear out of nowhere.  If you're fearing something ahead, bring it to God's attention.  Seek His assurance that whatever is up ahead, God is in control.

No one enjoys a bumpy ride and there will be many twists and turns on the road of life.  I've learned that there will be trials in life, and some will move us to the mountaintop.  Eventually, we will encounter valleys again.  Trust God's plan!

So, sit back.  Enjoy the ride.  Be aware of the speed bumps and trust God to guide you on your journey.  Your final destination will be worth it.

Romans 8:28 – "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."

Have you ever experienced something that was not expected, a miraculous healing, or a happy surprise?

I have been through a couple of these events and have even thought to myself, 'was this God's doing?' 

God's grace is full of miracles and unexpected surprises.  God's miracles demonstrate His love for us. This is God's way of showing His power and His desire to work in our lives.

The basis of all miracles is God's sovereignty.  When we're unsure of what's happening or how it's going to turn out, trust Him.  Trust His wisdom and His goodness.  After all, what's the alternative?  Worry, frustration, anger?

Expect miracles.  Look for opportunities for God to do something great in your life. 

Miracles are one of the ways God gives evidence of His power and authority.  Be careful, friends.  Don't treat God as a Jeannie in a bottle.  Get to know Him.  Establish a relationship with Him.  Nourish and kinder that relationship and watch God move in your life.

Wait for a miracle!

Acts 3:16 – "And His name-by faith in His name-has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all."

Did you know that the above phrase can be related to discipleship?  As a Christian, one of our roles is to disciple other believers.  What does this look like?  Basically, we evangelize to the new believer.  Next, we disciple and stabilize, or help them maintain their faith.  Then, we repeat all of this.

In simple terms, it's to lead others to Christ, help establish them spiritually and do it all over again and again.

I've said this before.  We could be the only Bible someone sees today. 

Being a disciple of Jesus gets to the very core of who we are and what we should be doing with our lives.

We can represent Jesus anywhere.  At home, at work, in the grocery store, at our kid's ballgame, etc.  Be intentional about being a disciple. Others are watching Christians to see if this is something they want to be.

Evangelize.  Disciple.  Stabilize.  Repeat.

Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."

There is an author, Norman Vincent Peale, who wrote this, "When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade."

Do you sometimes find yourself in an impossible situation? Maybe it's a relationship that is not going anywhere, or stagnant at best. Maybe it's a prior diagnosis that has you worried and up at night wondering what's going to happen.

With God there is always hope, no matter how bad things get. What looks impossible to man is always possible with God.

It's not easy navigating through life. It's impossible to get through life here on earth without God in it. How do I know this? I've tried both ways.

I was rebellious in my early 20's and 30's. Although I was saved at an early age of 16, after a few years, I left God's ways and thought I could do things on my own. I found out very quickly how hard life was without God. You see, my vision of happiness was dependent on my current circumstances and how I could change things that were not working.

I could have been making lemonade with all those lemons that were handed to me, but I didn't.

God turned my life around in my mid 30's and I've never looked back. I'm not saying it was an easy life after that, but I am saying that nothing was impossible for my God. I didn't always understand why God took me down some roads, but I did trust that His ways were the best way.

Trust God to make your lemons into lemonade.

Mark 10:27 – "Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

Unless you have your head in the sand, you know that these are uncertain times we're living.  When life feels uncertain, it's easy to doubt that God is really with us.  But Biblical history proves over and over again that the same God that is with us during the good times, is with us during the bad times also.

Uncertainty is a difficult thing to bear.  In this age we live in, we're always wanting to know the outcome of things.  When will I get the promotion?  When will my child get well?  How do I know the right time to switch careers? 

But Jesus commands all who are to be His disciples to be able to bear uncertainty.  This is where trust comes in.  If we can't trust God with the little things, like waking up, walking, talking, seeing, then how are we going to be able to trust Him with our future?

There are going to be times in our lives when we don't know where the provision is going to come from.  The detailed plans you made seem to be crumbling before you.  People will disappoint you or reject your help.  Don't let these circumstances paralyze you with fear.  Jesus wants these things to motivate us to prayer. 

I know in my own life when I'm in the middle of an uncertain season, this is when God moves in and demonstrates His power and guidance and love.

So, take heart and know that if you're experiencing one of those seasons of uncertainty, that God acts for those who wait for Him.

Psalm 46:1 – "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

What do you think of this statement, "If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat."

Many things will challenge us to step out of the box and I think some challenges are worth the risk.  Fear is the number one thing that will cause one to not take a chance.  If you don't face these fears, then they will keep growing.

Don't limit your future because of your past.  This will only lead to discouragement.

Let God move you out of your comfort zone into something new.  Be open to God's plan for your life. Surround yourself with Godly people.  Your friends are either empowering and encouraging you, or they're not.

It's scary to do things out of your norm.  I get it.  But when you know and understand God's power within you, the sky's the limit!

Responding to God's call to fulfill your mission in life may require you to journey beyond the boundaries of your comfort zone.  Be obedient to God's voice and step out of your comfort zone.

 Mark 7:8-9 - “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!”

Do people look at you and say, "she/he’s the real thing." Do they see Christ in you? Or do they question your faith?

As a Christian, our life should be as an open book. Our testimony should be visible, accepted by those we meet as genuine. Our story, our life should exhibit God's work in us.

It's better to be an open book than to write one. Not everyone has to write a book. You can be a pattern of living excellence to those around you.

The work that Christ is doing in believers can result in an influence far greater than any book they might write. Your changed life is the ministry platform from which God can draw others to Himself.

Look for opportunities to show off God. You may be the only Bible someone reads. What's in your heart reflects your life to those you encounter.

Others are watching us as Christians. How you act and react is transparent to those around you.

What open book are you presenting with your life? Drama? Fiction? Or is it a novel filled with stories of all God has done in your life?

Romans 6:4 – "We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

I've never been interested in being a Marathon runner, but I admire those who are.

There’s an old Zambian proverb that says, “When you run alone, you run fast. But when you run together, you run far.”

The Christian life is not a 50-yard dash. It is a marathon.

This life, this world we live in is hard.  Daily we fight urges and temptations that Satan puts in our path.  There's no other way around these obstacles without Jesus.  Oh, you can try your own way, fight your own battles.  This will work, for a while.  Then what will you do when tragedy strikes?  How will you get your way out of that battle?

Running a marathon without training is not a wise thing to do.  Nothing you do in life that is great will ever be accomplished without great endurance and perseverance.  When you put your trust in God, rely on His protection and guidance, you'll win every race and accomplish your goals.

Keep feeding yourself the word of God.  That's your training, your fuel to victory. That's why it's so important when you become a Christian to surround yourself with other Christians.  Your endurance is meaningful.  Your perseverance is relevant.

Don't let the qualms of this life get you down.  Run the race with Jesus. You'll win every time!

Galatians 5:7 – "You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?"