If your life is anything like mine, it’s filled with detours! I should know better by now but somehow I keep reverting back to old thinking patterns that life should be straight ahead and smooth sailing.

Just when I pick up momentum a detour sign pops up. My initial reaction is never positive. I don’t like detours. But I should! Detours alert us to danger. In the spiritual realm God will also show us that we’re going the wrong way. His detour signs are always for our benefit.

As frustrating as they can seem to be, we have the opportunity to thank God for His redirection. A thankful heart helps us follow God’s path, keep a good attitude, and keep focused on God’s plan rather than what we think it should look like.

I encourage you to join me in changing our perspective. The next time we encounter a detour sign, let’s be quick to thank God for His redirection in both the natural and supernatural realms.

When we trust God, He performs the miraculous. When we cannot see how something could possibly happen – He makes a way!

We tend to look in the natural and see roadblocks and dead-ends but God sees possibilities. In fact, He specializes in making a way supernaturally.

When we come to the end of a road and face a body of water, we stop. Sometimes we even give up. When we look to God – to do things His way – we go places and do things beyond our own capabilities.

He makes a way – like a supernatural bridge over the water. He takes us on a journey that is both fulfilling and exciting.

Take that step of faith. Trust Him to lead you in His plans for your life. He’ll lead you step by step in an amazing adventure. You won’t be sorry!

Have you ever been pricked by the words of a friend? Perhaps you have pricked someone by your words. It happens easier than you may think. Communication is an art that takes practice, practice, and more practice. We can say a loving comment in an unloving way and cause pain instead of encouragement.

Communication is a two-way street. Some people think that a misunderstanding is the problem of the listener but that’s not necessarily true. I have played a game with people that really reveals our need for better communication – most people are shocked at the discovery.

I remember my son asking me to pick him up at a mall entrance several years ago. The problem was we both had a different entrance in mind. We both had a clear picture of a certain entrance but neither of us communicated well enough to make sure we were talking about the same entrance. This is one example of poor communication.

I chuckle to myself when I hear people talking about large dogs – weighing 60-100 pounds. That’s not what I consider a large dog – at least not after having a 260 pound dog! Words paint pictures in our minds but our experiences help form those pictures. Everyone’s experience is a little different.

The more we practice good communication skills the less conflict we will have with others. After all, we want our words to express encouragement, comfort, and love to others.