It is no secret. We are facing turbulent times. We are burdened by many things, globally and personally. Many of us are fearful. We are not quite sure which way to turn or what to do to help our challenging situation. We may feel as if we have reached a roadblock. We experience the pangs of hopelessness.   

     Some of us are feeling the squeeze financially with the highly volatile (even chaotic) economic situation. Many have lost their retirement savings, funds for the education of their children, even homes and jobs. It doesn’t seem fair. We do not understand. 

     Worse off are those who have suffered the devastation of natural disasters, such as the brave people in Texas and Louisiana, just to name a couple of areas that have been destroyed. They have lost everything. Help is there and more is on the way, but will it come soon enough? For that matter, will it be enough? After all, these folks have lost everything.They are hanging on by a thread.

     But probably the least fortunate are those who suffer personal devastation, perhaps a family tragedy or loss. Many have lost loved ones or have seen them hurt or torn. Some of us have been hurt ourselves, either by someone we love or someone we trusted.

      It is truly heartbreaking to consider all of the individual tragedies many of our families face these days.  From loss to addiction, abuse to suicide, too many of us are in the throws of life shattering circumstances. It is truly a shame.

     If we all have something in common these days, it is fear. Many of us have been hurt and some of us cannot see beyond our misfortune. We do not always see the solution, which is faith. “Everything happens for a reason” is a scripture saying that definitely applies today. We do not see the big picture. We cannot see the miracle that lies at the end of each dark tunnel.

     A River of Hope offers some encouragement in its passage for August 9:

                                          Fear/Trust

     Fear is miserable. It holds us in a dungeon where we lose faith and hope. If we remain in these chains, we slowly die. Fear poisons the soul. How do we escape fear? How do we break free from darkness when there is not enough light to see our way out?

     Trust is our light when we cannot see. It guides us to freedom. It brings us closer to God. God is love, and there can be no fear where perfect love exists.

     Some of us refuse to trust. It is not easy to rely on something we cannot see. It is even harder to have faith in something we do not understand. And yet if we can learn to trust, fear disappears and so does confusion. Our vision clears, and we see the way out.

     Trust is developed over time with practice and patience. Each time we feel overwhelmed, or we are frightened by life’s tragedies, we can trust God to see us through. He takes care of each and every detail. His love is strong enough to turn the worst situations around for the better.

     Placing our lives in God’s flawless care frees us from the painful grip of fear. Focusing our thoughts on love brings us comfort and peace. We do not have to remain in the dungeon unless we want to. We hold the key. We can let trust lead us to the light.

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        Trust and faith walk hand in hand. We are empowered to overcome life’s burdens and challenges when we strengthen in faith! In fact, faith is the antidote of fear. They cannot coexist. Faith lifts us above our problems.

     In every circumstance, we can come to know that a loving God is in charge of the universe. Our higher power will indeed work everything out for good. He is with us even in the darkest circumstances. When all seems lost, we are on the verge of gaining something much more valuable, something we did not have before. We may not understand, but we do not have to. God’s miracles work far above our limited perspective.

     I absolutely love to present my workshop on overcoming burden and building faith. I have seen thousands of people turn their situations around simply by turning their thoughts around. We can take our focus away from our fears, away from our burdens and problems, and strengthen in faith. This is the key to a happy life. It is the answer to all our problems.

     So, whether you are struggling right now or know of someone who is, let’s make a decision to overcome our obstacles in faith! The miracle is happening, even if we do not see it yet. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and we can believe in the journey. It will be rewarding. Some day, we will understand.

Have you ever been at a crossroads in life and taken a step back to see what is “really”behind and ahead of you? This may sound goofy, but how many rites of passage do we cross in life? Think about it for a moment. We graduate from highscool and many of us continue to college or technical school to learn a lifelong career. We begin our careers, get married, and start families. We spend years raising children and eventually see them reach the same passages we have crossed.  Life replenishes itself. It is indeed miraculous.    

My son has recently arrived at one of these places in life. He is heading to college. He has an exciting education and life ahead of him in aerospace engineering. We are both excited for all of the opportunities that lie ahead, however, he is my youngest, so with him leaving; I am at another major crossroads myself. Perhaps it is age (and hopefully a little machurity as well), but this time I have taken a step back. I see I am at a crossroads. I am filled with the realization that each of my steps into my new future will be very important. 

We can all stop and reflect when we are at a crossroads in life. Sometimes when we are too busy, we miss what is “really” there. We fail to appreciate what is behind us: all those precious memories we have created, all of the blessings we have experienced, our gifts, our accomplishments, and our families.

Busyness also inhibits our ability to see what is truly in front of us. Life is filled with endless opportunities. We all have hopes and dreams, talents and abilities that we can pursue. They add meaning not only to our own journey, but also to the world around us. When we follow our passions we are enriching the earth. It is why we are born. It is why we are here.

Crossroads provide a special time for us to reflect and consider those things in life which are most important. We can slow down, take a step back from everything, and open our hearts and minds to inspiration and guidance. We will be given divine vision, the eyes to see our lives more clearly. We will  appreciate the beauty we have seen along the way, and be given a plan to extend the most beautiful parts of who we are into our future. It is our right. It is our gift.

Reading from A River of Hope:  

                                 Defining the Journey

     Some of us have felt ambiguous through life. We simply go through the motions. We do what we think we are supposed to do. We are lost in careless routine.

     We now approach the dawn of a new segment of the journey. Looking back, how long has it been since we’ve enjoyed the brilliant rays of a sunset, smelled a fragrant flower, or felt the tender morning breeze? How long has it been since we called an old friend or played with our children? We have not taken the time to do those precious things that mean everything to us. We have given ourselves to a creed that does not let us dance! Our soul is no longer breathing.

     It’s time to define our journey. We can make it what we have always wanted it to be. We can have courage and faith. We can carve enough space in our lives to make room for God., our loved ones, and ourselves. Our spirits will be rekindled. Our souls will be reborn.

     Looking ahead, let’s have the confidence and wisdom to define our journey. We do not need to live in fear and doubt. We do not have to live according to the expectations of others. Let’s find our innermost needs and live our lives accordingly. God will help us. He already is…

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Let’s pause and step back the next time we reach a crossroads. May we clear our minds and open our hearts to all the universe has in store for us. There are many treasures for us to experience and enjoy in the days, weeks, months,  and years ahead. We would not want to miss them.

     The world is confused. We are confused (at least many of us are). We get caught up in so many things. We have numerous responsibilities: work, home, children, spouses, extracurricular activities…the list is seemingly endless. It all gets confusing after a while. Our days begin to run together, one right after another.

     When we pause to consider all that we do, some of us discover that we are dedicating little to no time to those things in life that are most precious to our spirits. We missed the boat somewhere along the way. Our intentions are good, we may even be participating in profitatable and constructive activities, but our dreams and desires are left unfulfilled. It is time to regroup.

     But how do we even begin to turn things around? After all, we have operated this way for so long. 

     The best way to turn the tide in our life, letting go of the “unnecessary” to free up more space for us, is to establish personal and spiritual boundaries. These give us a roadmap to follow so we are not as easily distracted and swayed from our best lives. After all, we live our best life when we embrace and pursue our dreams and desires. These lead us along our path. They help us find our destiny.

     The boundaries will be different for all of us. The one thing they will have in common is they empower and support us to express who we are and live according to our deepest values and convictions. We can list what is most important to us in life: raising family, pursuing a talent, promoting a cause? Once we know what is most precious to our spirits, we develop boundaries to support our personal and spiritual goals. This helps us stay on track in the future. It leads to a remarkable and vibrant journey!

Reading an excerpt from A River of Hope…

                                               June 2

Boundaries/Courage

     It can be so hard to enforce our personal boundaries! Some of us may not even have boundaries in place at all. If we take an honest look at our past, we might discover we have never thought about developing a structure for living. Perhaps we do not understand how important this is. Maybe we have not loved ourselves enough to deem them necessary. Oh, but they are! Without knowing what is right or wrong for us, we are bound to get hurt, time and time again. Then we are stuck, and our lives do not get better.

     Boundaries define a better future. They are an intricate part of the road map that leads us to becoming who we want to be. We can begin by reflecting on those things that are most important to us, and then make a list of what it will take to preserve our values in the days ahead. It is not an easy process, but the results are incredibly wonderful!

     The key is courage. It is nearly impossible to develop and enforce personal boundaries unless we are brave. We can trust deeply that God will care for us as we make the necessary decisions. He will give us the strength we need to stick to them. He will comfort us through the transition from pain to joy. We can make a new beginning.

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     There is no better time to start a new beginning than spring. Everything is fresh. Nature is renewed. We can be renewed as well when we take the time to consider our boundaries and who we are. Some day, we will look back and appreciate this glorious time. It has led us to peace.

Blessings and Happiness,

Amy Lynn   

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We all have hopes and dreams. Perhaps we do not acknowledge their presence, but they exist. They are somewhere in the back of our minds, in our hearts, and in our souls. They are part of us. It is time to give them voice. We can believe and they will come true.

Some of us (many of us) have been conditioned to ignore our inner nudges. We start at an early age, and we just keep going and going. We were told what we should be, who we could be, and all of the benefits of fulfilling superimposed roles. We have suffocated within these thick walls. It is time to breath. We can believe in ourselves and honor our deepest desires in life. Our inner nudges are divine.

Looking at an excerpt from A River of Hope:

                                    Belief/ Inspiration

When we belive, we are inspired. When we really believe, great things happen in our lives. When we know in our hearts there is good in the universe and that we are an intricate part of unveiling this good, we embark on the beginning of the spiritual journey. When we decide to embrace destiny, we move even further along the path. We are created to contribute to the good in this world. It all begins with belief. We are created to believe.

When we fully believe in the power of God in the universe and open our hearts to feel this power at work in our own lives, we can be inspired to great levels. We become conduits through which amazing miracles flow. There is no limit to what God can do through us. It all begins with belief in God’s goodness and love, belief in the potential of others, and belief in our own strengths. 

Inspiration is God’s magic. He graces us with thoughts and ideas at unexpected times, and yet his timing is perfect. His love and providence are incredible. When we believe in this, our future is boundless. We can do anything with God’s help. His guidance is unfailing and wonderful. He designed a unique journey for us long ago, before the stars, before there was light. He loved us even then. How much stronger is his love for us when we choose to walk within this design! He will never let us down. When we follow Him, we cannot fail. We can simply believe!  

Believe and it will happen! The sky is not the limit. Our hopes and dreams become reality as we learn to embrace them. But how?

First, we begin by soul searching to discover who we really are. Some of us have been held captive to “existing on the outside”. We have spent a good amount of years squelching our inner desires. We learned at an early age how to act and what to do to achieve love and acceptance. This has carried through to our adult lives.

We rediscover our dreams and desires by pausing to quiet our spirits and open our hearts. This can be done through meditation or even simple time spent relaxing in silence. God speaks through the humble and quiet soul. We connect to the universe in this way. Our destiny is unfolded. Our journeys begin to flow.

Last but not least, we need courage. We can dare to believe in our new discoveries. They may not happen overnight, but it is guaranteed we will gain more faith in our journey if we  learn to trust in God and the universe. We are held. We are loved. We are cherished. It will be alright.

Believe and it will happen!

Have you ever woke up and wondered where your life is headed? Do you ever stop and consider where you are going?

Sometimes we get stuck in life. We are trapped in our surroundings, obligations, schedules, plans, and agendas. We just keep on going even though we are not quite sure where we REALLY want to go. Routine becomes the guiding force in our lives. But what about the greater guiding force? What about God?

We become more effective and definately more joyful when we loosen our grip on life and open our hearts to God’s guidance. We do not know where we are headed, but the creator of the universe does; and he holds our hearts and futures as carefully as he holds each of the stars in the universe. God will show us effective ways of living. He will lead us down successful paths if we will let go and trust. It is promised!

Reading an excerpt from A River of Hope for November 1st we discover…

Some of us are very busy. We get on a roll. We can’t slow down. There is so much to do. The thought of pausing seems absurd. There are not enough hours in the day, let alone days in the week. We think faster is better. We work harder to get somewhere. But where are we going and what do we really want out of life? These are important questions to consider.

Pausing allows us room for consideration. Instead of just thrusting forward without a solid goal, we can plan the day ahead. This helps us use our time more efficiently. Our work becomes more fruitful. We discover we do not necessarily have to work hard to see results. Pausing paves the way of success.

Pausing also helps us open our hearts to God’s plan for our lives. Somtimes we get so busy trying that we miss all that he is doing in and through us. We focus and obsess on our little plans, all the while missing the big picture.We are created to accomplish great things. We all have a purpose. We are given a destiny. Taking the time to contemplate the higher realm of our existence leads us to discover and follow our mission. This is where we truly want to be. It is where our work is the most enriching. It is the special place that fulfills our every need and desire. Let us pause and plan how we can embrace God’s will for our lives.  

And so we do not have to worry where we are headed or where we are going, or especially how long it might take us to get there. We are on a journey of faith, one that requires trust in a higher power and also ourselves. The journey may not be easy, but it will be beautiful if we will only learn to release ourselves to the universe. We can open our hands to the many gifts we will experience along the way. We can open our hearts to God.

Love and abundance,

Amy Lynn

Thank you for visiting my website. For those of you who are familiar with my books, I hope they have blessed you or someone you know in a mighty way. If you are not familiar with my material, my prayer is that you will find something here that will touch your soul in a very special way. My new release A River of Hope is especially designed to brighten your journey.

Speaking of journey, it is my belief that God has a unique and powerful, incredibly wonderful purpose for each and every one of us. I have discovered this along my path. Through good times and bad, blessings, trials and tribulation; the many threads I have sewn are now woven together to create the brilliant tapestry I walk on today. Praise God he has led me to a place where I can share this light with others.

And yet, it took some time. There are so many things that can hold us back from living our best journey, following our dreams, or simply listening to our heart’s desire. I am not alone. I dare say that some of you feel as if you are held back right now. You might know what you would like to be doing in life, but can’t seem to find the time. Or, perhaps you have given up on dreams? After all, many of us have been hurt.

One of the biggest things that robs joy from our journey is self-doubt. Some of us do not believe that we have what it takes to make a difference in this world. Well, let me tell you right now, “that is wrong”. We are all born to make a difference. We are all uniquely created with special gifts and talent. When we develop and use our gifts, we are adding love to the universe. We are making the world a better place. This in turn brings us deep peace and satisfaction. We are happy with ourselves and our place in life.

Another thing that prevents many of us from following our dreams and living out our purpose is fear. So often, we are afraid of what we might lose. We question whether we will have enough, especially if living out our destiny involves giving up a stable career, or even financial security.

And yet one truth remains. God is faithful. He will finish the good work He has begun in us, this is certain. God does not inspire us to let us down. He does not give us those subtle, yet unmistakable inner nudges in vain. God knows what he is doing. We can trust him. He loves us more than we can fathom. His greatest desire is to see us happy, joyous, and free. When we let go of fear and take his hand in faith, we discover a new freedom and happiness. Living out our purpose is what the journey is all about.

Another major obstacle to living our journey to the fullest is diversion. We are so busy these days. We keep full schedules, packed agendas, and bounce around from one task to another. Before long, we forget what is most important to us. The busier we are, the more we lose focus. We ignore the precious dreams planted deep within our soul, the seeds of the heart that make us sing and dance when we listen and follow.

We can make a conscious decision to slow down and pay attention to our deepest needs and desires. We can even learn to take breaks in between activities, special time-outs where we can relax, reflect, and meditate. This helps us keep our focus where it belongs. We can keep our mind on the things in life that matter most. We can devote our energy to seeking and accomplishing our life purpose. This is the true meaning of our journey. It brings us joy.

Will it happen overnight? Probably not, however, there is no particular restriction on time frames where miracles are involved. But if you are like me, you will probably grow toward a better understanding of your journey and purpose in life through trial and error. I began writing ten years ago, and I am still learning more about what God has in store for me daily. Do I still get caught in the fear traps? “Yes” Do I experience self-doubt? “Many times” Do I ever get diverted? “Of course” But, I am also learning and improving. We all are and that is what counts.

Just because we don’t get it right the first time does not mean we should quit trying. The whole journey is about trying. We will continue to stumble, learn, and grow until we return to heaven. That is God’s plan. We are here on earth to encounter the very essence of our spirit. We are on a soul journey. We are blessed to have the opportunity to discover who we are.

I look forward to hearing your comments regarding these topics. I plan to write something new every month, hopefully stimulating thought and conversation. We learn so much from each other. We are sojourners in faith. We are at our best when we give and take from one another. It is the exchange of thoughts and feelings that keeps us vital and growing. Please, feel free to write in this blog. It is ours.

I also welcome any comments about my books. I have received numerous emails, letters, and testimonies regarding the special ways my books have helped people overcome struggles and hardships. It is always nice to share our miracles with others. This keeps us all believing.

For if there is one thing I know, it is there is hope. I have found it in my life and you can too. Trust me. But more importantly, trust God. He holds you tenderly, carefully, lovingly…in the palm of his hand. May you rest in his grace.

Love and peace,

Amy Lynn