We admire another person’s strength. We want to be strong too.

Did you know God has commanded you to be strong? One version says, ‘Your God has decided you will be strong.’

Another verse says, ‘the God of Israel gives strength and power to His people.’

What does all this mean?

I believe God made us to be strong mentally, physically and emotionally. He didn’t make us to be weak and cowardly, unable to make good decisions, always needing help and unable to contribute to the good of our community in some way.

We were made in the image of God who is not weak. The key is this: our strength is from Him. We do what needs to be done and His strength empowers us to do it…whatever it is, no matter how big or scary it might seem, if we look to Him, His strength will enable us.

He is so for us that He has commanded for us to be strong. This world needs strong people, fortified with all goodness and excellence, willing to keep moving forward taking new ground, innovating, creating…whatever good thing it is you do…but to be doing it, and He will help you so you can do it and keep doing it!

If you feel weak, and we are many times in ourselves, then He says to say, ‘I am strong!’ That’s not mere positive talk, that’s repeating what God says and His word contains the power that will make us strong.

Let’s get up! Let’s stand up! Let’s move forward! Let’s get done what needs to get done! Not everyone wants to be strong (or maybe realizes they can become strong) so the rest of us need to get going.

Are you ready? Forward march!

Lots of talk today about mental health…your mental health, my mental health.

Who owns your mental health?

Who is responsible for your mental health?

Ultimately, we each are responsible for our mental health.

Can I talk about God again?

He said He has given us a sound mind.

He said in Psalms 94:13, “He has given me the power to calm myself and find peace in the days of adversity.” AMP

I need to hear this. God has not left us hopeless or helpless. Talk to Him first about your mental health. He will lead you into peace and freshness of thinking. He will remove the turmoil and angst from within and give you a new outlook on life. He will restore your mental health.

He made you. He will set you free…today!

My father was a load lifter. I think I’ve inherited it.

He always tried to make people laugh. When I was growing up he’d crack a joke that didn’t make any sense to me and he’d laugh and laugh and pretty soon others were laughing. I asked him why he did this. He said people had enough problems in their life and if he could make them laugh, perhaps it might lift their load a bit, and they’d walk a little taller.

Sometimes mom would be over at the sink washing dishes stewing about something, Dad could sense it and he’d say something funny and next thing mom would be laughing and so would all the rest of us.

With all the levity in our world today, it’s wonderful to laugh and be light hearted with one another. We can’t carry all the problems on our shoulders. It will weigh us down right into the ground. But a little laughter radiating from us can dispel worry, fear, negative emotions and get us all back up on our feet again.

Today, how can I help lift someone’s load through a funny joke or even just a smile?