How many times have you heard the words....Today is the first day of the rest of your life ??
Well, aside from the inarguable fact that this is true, unless you should meet your end before the actual end of the day.  We hear it but do we believe it?
But, I'm thinking a little differently today.  Yes, today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I need to make it count.  As do each one of us.  It is so easy to just give up hope.  To become depressed and distraught over the events taking place around us.  We have seen disasters such as the super storm Sandy that devistated so many people, in such a large portion of the country.  Elections that don't go the way that we would want them to go.  When you lose your job due to lay offs.  When uneployment issues arise in your claim and cause delays.
I have been through a few of these things lately and yes it makes you want to say "When it rains, it pours".  But, what I know that I need to remember, is that each of these things only happens for a moment.  When you look at them on the great big scale of time.  Things happening may seem to drag on for us.  But for God it is but the blink of an eye.  So, if we look at these things knowing that God is in control of all that is around us, in the bigger picture, than we can see a light at the end of the tunnel.  It may be a long tunnel, but there is an end.  We need to ask God to help us to reach that end and to show us what WE can do to make it there sooner.  It seems that we always want to know WHY?   But, sometimes it's not for us to know.  Because we all live together on this great big blue marble they call Earth, our lives are intertwined.  We may not be able to see it, but it's there.  We don't know why we are in this place at the moment.  We don't know what He is planning for us up ahead.  We tend to only see what is happening around us and then wallow in it.  Have you felt that you were unable to do anything to change your circumstances and therefore, just sort of given up? 
The other day I was driving down the road and I felt the Lord speaking to me.  At least I hope that was the Lord, lol.   I was thinking about prayer and how each of us has something different to pray for.  Whether it is for ourselves, family or friends...whether it is for help, wisdom or strength.... Whether it is for something in our neighborhood, in another state or even another country.  I started to think about how we a like the sands on the beach, the stars in the sky; how he knows each and every one and hears our prayers.  If you happen to be a mom, you know exactly how hard it is to have your children all speaking to you at the same time, vying for attention.  You may have even felt overwhelmed by it and raised your voice telling them one at a time.  (Trust me, I did) 
But, Our Lord is so awesome and amazing.  He is able to not only hear our prayers but He is able to decipher which ones are important and which we can live without, which burdens are necessary in order for some other need to be filled. 
The most perfect example of this is: Christ on the cross.
It is by far the most amazing thing, that God was able to see and hear His Son cry out to Him and still remain strong, still knowing that it was a necessary burden(Christ death) that must occur in order for another need (our salvation) to be filled. 
If God can do all of these things at one time, then surely He is in control of all the things we see around us and perceive to be out of control.  It is left to us to do one thing.....give it to Him.  Remember the old saying : Let Go and Let God.  
Well, it still has meaning.  We too often, say God help me, take this from me.  But, then we choose to hold on to it.  We choose to continue to look at this burden over and over trying to find a way out.  Instead of Letting Go and Letting God show you the way out.  It may be right there in front of you but you can't see it.  You just keep overlooking it, thinking that it can't possibly be the way you should go.  Until you see that you have not let go, you will not be able to see it.  If you never see it, then you will have taken it away from God and gone your own way.  We know what happens when we go our own way. We see it all the time.  People who are lost, alone and hurting.  That lost, lonely person may be sitting right next to you in church on sunday but you might not see them hurting.  Or that lost and lonely person may be you. But you're to stubborn or ashamed to admit it. 
What we need to do in those situations is Let Go and Let God.  If there is something that you are struggling with in your life right now.....  Take a moment to reflect on what it is and what you have tried to do on your own to fix it.  Take a moment to realize all the ways that you have tried to deal with this issue alone rather then giving it over to God.  Take a moment and pray about it.  Pray for the struggle you're dealing with but also pray to let go.  Pray that God will give you a nudge every time you even think about taking it back upon yourself.  You may not see it resolved before you eyes but, if you let Him have it, really let Him have it you will see it resolved.  You will also find a peace in the letting go.  How stressful our lives are when we try to control them ourselves.  We are only human and therefore there is only so much that we can control.
Isn't it wonderful that we have a Awesome & Loving God who is in control and takes care of us in so many ways.  Thank You  Lord!
Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I give it to You!