Have you ever seen a pressure cooker going full tilt? It’s a noisy, powerful event. Weights rocking. Steam hissing. The sound of boiling water from inside the cooker. It can even be a bit scary if you think about all the built-up pressure and stress going on inside that sealed kettle. Yes, the kettle you are standing right next to! With this illustration, let’s discuss the pressures of life and secrets of hope.
By now, I hope you’ve had a good start into this new year. Like so many other years, you’ll likely find yourself wearing down at some point. First, you’re not alone. Second, the key is to get in front of that reality. In this content, we look at the need for a heart-lift when you’re weary. Plus, we identify what it looks like to pursue a heart-lift.
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The first article this year was “Start This Year Well.” We explored 10 great action points. January is almost over, and some of the emotional energy of starting a new year is wearing off. So, we ask the question – how can you live well this year? The entire year!
Afterall, it’s an on-going question.
When you think of “refreshing and rare,” who comes to your mind? What character qualities define this person? I’m guessing they are courageous, personable, persevering. Further, I imagine they are kind and gentle, as well as strong and honest. Most of all, the person who comes to your mind probably lives with hope.
As you enter this next year, you need hope, too. The next 12 months provide opportunity to manage, enjoy, and problem-solve in your life. Thankfully, God provides refreshing and rare hope for every day.
It’s Thanksgiving! Time for a “self-check” on gratitude. A mindset of gratitude makes a huge difference, even when things are difficult or painful.
So, if you had a Gratitude Scale that measured how thankful you are, where would you score on a scale 1-10?
Let’s explore “mindset of gratitude.” But first – let’s have some fun with that Gratitude Scale we mentioned.
Someone’s hanging from a high ledge, ready to fall! They’re yelling for help and losing strength. Now, they hold on with only one hand. You know emergency teams will never make it in time. Frantically, you grab a nearby sturdy tarp and enlist five or six strong-looking by-standers to hold tightly on corners and sides – a “make-shift” life-net directly below. Realizing the person is about to fall, yet is filled with fear, you yell, “Let go. It’ll be OK.”
This is #6 in a series on hope.
Have you ever desperately cried out “change me, Lord?” I have.
I vividly remember a time I said this many years ago. Challenges had piled up. Demands were high. Expectations even higher. I was pulled in too many directions. And I felt overwhelmed.
Hope is so important, don’t you agree? Sometimes it seems hope just . . . disappears! Or – you can barely it see through a pinhole of hope. Regardless, just like –
Life-saving fluids enter your body through a “pinhole” of an IV needle.
– so the “pinhole” of hope gives you a more realistic view of life. This is critical – especially during difficult seasons.
This is #2 in a series on hope. I’m excited about this series. I hope you will be, too.
I’m thinking of a specific person. Actually, a remarkable person. As I got to know and interact with them, I realized they are the perfect example of what we discuss today – well-thought, well-spoken, well-lived. Over time, I came to deeply respect this person because they represent a very well-lived life!
Who comes to your mind as you consider today’s content?
The power of good ripples is like tossing a pebble into a quiet pond. First, the entry of the pebble creates a “plunk.” As the water receives the pebble, it leaps up with a splash of welcome.
Then the ripple begins! It’s beautiful to watch from the side. Artful, smooth, concentric circles roll outward. Interestingly, their art continues to “tell” about the pebble. Finally, the ripples reach the edge of the water and fade into the bank. Circle by circle becomes still – and once again, you see your own reflection in the pond canvas.
Thankfully, good ripples still happen in life. First, there’s a start – the plunk. Then, the power of good – ripples outward. Considering the upheaval and confused state of our world, wouldn’t you agree you should adopt good ripples on a personal level?
