After another restless night of sleep, I woke up early this morning and just laid their praying. The image came to my mind of when I was in high school and taking the test to pass my lifeguard certification. There was one test we had to do where we had to tread water with a 10 pound weight in our hands, that had to stay above water. I have been swimming since I was about 2 years old...but this was a tough test. I managed to pass just fine, but I remember the feeling of having to kick harder and adopting my dad's philosophy of "if you think you can do it, you can"...so I never let myself think I couldn't. But I was thankful when they took the brick from my hands after those 60 seconds! I felt like that this morning, my mind was plagued with thoughts and I felt like I had to kick extra hard to give them over to Jesus. I know if I will do that, He will relieve me of the weight that I bear. Fight the good fight.

Here are some thoughts from others from the morning that I just feel like putting out there:

"There are times in life when all you can do is gather up everything you know to be true and simply get back up and keep running. Often we are gifted with moments of grace, when Christ's presence seems very near, and at other moments we just keep running because God is worth it.
"The reality is part of our lives on this planet. Falling is part of the race. There will be moments when our love for God will be tested in a furnace. Will we still love and serve Him even when He doesn't do what we ask Him to do?"

"I'm not very gifted," [Heather Mercer] had said to the Lord before she went to Afghanistan. "Can you use me?" Jesus simply asked her if she could love the poor and serve them in His name and weep with Him for the lost. Her answer was a resounding yes!"
-"All that Really Matters", Sheila Walsh

"When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way. " Psalm 142:3a

"Set me free from my prison, that I may praise Your name." Psalm 142:7a

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

And I have shared this one a few days ago...but God just keeps speaking it to me with each passing hour...

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.
Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."
Jeremiah 31:3-4