Life can throw you one curve ball after another making you feel as though you were locked in a racquetball room with no racket to ward off all of the incoming balls that are barreling back in your face one right after the other. It doesn’t matter if you are 25 or 55, possibly even 75, life can come at you faster than a rocket headed for the moon with all G forces engaged melting you into the driver’s seat that you simply hang on for dear life. Grasping for any kind of control you can hang on to, you quickly realize that you are not in control, but simply along for the ride. No matter our age or gender, race or creed we do our best to display a valiant effort to handle what life throws at us, while we put on a face of strength, gritting our teeth hoping and praying it's almost over. What do we do when we can’t get a handle of our situations or our circumstances that reel out of control? We can do one of two things. We hang on for dear life. Or we can allow our circumstances to overtake us. Just like a water skier grasping the 12 inch handle behind a speeding boat, we quickly realize we can either grip or gulp. It was on a lake in Southern Florida during my teenage years that I made my maiden voyage behind a speed boat and braved riggers of a water skiing. Learning to ski in Florida brings one small dilemma. Alligators. On any given day you can witness two dark eye balls peering just above the waters surface while they swim in any direction at their leisure. If you choose such a lake to water ski on, you may not only be encountering the splash and waves from the boat but you more than likely will be sharing the waters with such floating companions whose space you may be invading. Like me, in life you will need to learn to grip and grip hard. It was on my first go around the lake that I felt at any time I could become more than just fish food. I quickly learned after I fell in the water the first time that I was not one to stay and linger because I knew what lingered below. I insisted if I went down, the driver of the boat had to come back and get me as quickly as possible. It was there on that bright sun shining day, I decided to set my feet like I was placing them in concrete and I would stay up and keep going no matter what. That water would be a solid surface for me, not one of fluid. After I got up on my second try, I knew it was do or die. Possibly literally. I went around and round the lake that day standing up, knees locked, until my legs no longer could take the thrust of the wake. But itwas there that I learned a very valuable lesson in my life. That no matter what is in front of you, behind you, or even possibly beneath you, you hang on and hang on like your life depends on it. Because sometimes it does. Life is hard. Life if unpredictable, and life is sometimes even crazy. Regardless of what season you are in today, could I encourage you to hang on and ski like you are a pro. Don’t give in to the temptation of face planting into the waves of circumstances. Lock your knees, feel the splash of the waves, but more importantly, enjoy the ride. Even when it’s hard. Allow the radiance of the sun to penetrate your skin. Turn your face toward the heavens and breathe in the air, being grateful that your lungs still can be filled. Yes, your eyes are still open and you are on an adventure of a life time. Maybe not one you ultimately signed up for, but one you must travel through. Even if your knees are giving way, hang on. Gods got you!!! Remember this detail… He tells the alligators where to swim. So, trust Him. I did that day and you should to. Know that if you do, everything is going to be alright if you let it be. Who knows, you might just become an expert at what it is threatened to eat you alive. Happy Skiing. 
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 As daybreak began to appear in the wee hours of the morning, I peered with my foggy eyes and heard the sweet sounds outside my window. The song birds broke out into song as they welcomed a new day with joy and gladness that seemed to inspire my soul to rise and shine! “It’s a new day!” As cheerful as they caroled, I realized there was a part of me that seemed to have trouble stirring myself out of a deep slumbering sleep. It was my own inner joy and happiness that was absent. Nothing like theirs…that was full and vibrant. As if mine were lost and missing.
Welcome Back! This is the EIGHTH session of our eight week study called Coffee Shop Talk :: The Life You Want. This week we will be continuing where we left off from last week - Prayer. We talk more about prayer as well as re-evaluating our plan and how it aligns with God's plan for our lives. When was the last time you called upon the Lord? God wants us to call upon Him and earnestly seek Him. And when we call and seek the Lord we will be rewarded for our faithfulness (Hebrews 11:6). So join us for this episode of Coffee Shop Talk to learn more about a powerful prayer life and living a life for Jesus Christ. If you have any questions that you would like Shannon to address or you are in need of a Bible please leave a message in the comments or feel free to email us at askshannon@journeyliving.org.
 For most of us, life eventually takes its toll on us from the day to day grind. It often begins to feel as though someone has hit you upside the head and knocked you silly, but you are far from laughing. As a matter of fact you rarely have fun anymore at all. Your giggle is lost, your smile is broken, and your spirit is crushed.
You may find where you no longer want to keep doing what you have needlessly have been doing for the last several months, years or even decades. Some may ask how do I pray and what do I pray for? Prayer is a powerful tool that God has given us and we should use it to the best of our ability for ourselves and others. In this weeks edition of Coffee Shop Talk we will be talking about how to pray and what to pray for as what the Bible says about praying as well as methods to help us pray. This is the SEVENTH session/week of this devotional series and we hope that it has helped you in your spiritual walk. If you have any questions that you would like Shannon to address or you are in need of a Bible please leave a message in the comments or feel free to email us at askshannon@journeyliving.org. 
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