Spirituality

Have The Courage to Be Used

Has someone ever used you? Of course they have! If we are being honest, we have used others to get something we want. Maybe tickets, backstage passes, or an introduction. It happens.

God uses us. But God uses people in a pure way. He puts us in positions to accomplish His will on earth. God cannot do anything underhanded or nefarious. That would go against His nature.

You might think that God could never use you. I have met many people who believe this lie. They feel like they are too small to be used by God, that He only uses the greatest among us. Not true!

Consider some of the people in Scripture that God chose: Moses, Elijah, David, Gideon and many others. These were very flawed men. Yet, God saw the greatness in them. Now these men are known by many.

Try to see the world through the eyes of God. Pray about this. Ask God to use you. He will. Then be willing to say yes when you are called…

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Spirituality

How Ya Looking?

People talk a good game. But there are several better ways to take the measure of another person. Let’s examine.

The eyes tell a lot about someone. They show us what is in the heart.

Are you a good poker player? The best poker players watch the body language of the other players. It’s because of this I don’t play poker. If I have two great hold cards, I’m like a puppy dog wagging his tail. It’s unmistakable.

Pay attention to the manner in which people walk. The people who walk fast, keep their heads up and shoulders back are displaying inner confidence. You can’t fake it.

The way we carry ourselves is representative of our inner self image. This is why I encourage others to do the difficult, inside work on themselves. Getting rid of past hurts, mixed messages we believed about ourselves and false beliefs will bring out the best version of yourself.

Do the work…

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Spirituality

Getting It By Osmosis

In today’s column I’m using the term osmosis as a metaphor. You will understand.

Recently I saw an advertisement for gummies filled with THC that are designed to reduce PTSD and allow for better sleep. Or there’s the clothes specifically designed to hide a poor physique. Are the manufacturers encouraging people to give up?

This is pretty much the same as believing you are getting some exercise because you drove past a gym. Life doesn’t work this way. In many ways people are being manipulated to take the easy route. Easy doesn’t cut it for those who aim higher.

I’ll admit, the older I get the harder it is to stay thin. It takes more effort than it did when I was in my 20’s and 30’s. But it is worth the effort. What we gain from exercising is more than just muscle. The mental health benefits are immeasurable.

PTSD doesn’t go away on its own. In 2010 I suffered from PTSD. You feel like a walking zombie. No emotions. You are just existing through life. Using a therapy called EMDR, I recovered. No gummy could have accomplished what EMDR did.

Today’s column might sound a little rough. This is not my intention. I want you to notice the subtle ways advertisers try to influence us. Life is a contact sport. Make contact…

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Spirituality

Make Your Choice

Both faith and fear challenge us to believe in something we can’t see. We have a choice in our to approach to life. We can have a faith-filled mindset or one overcome with fear and trepidation.

No matter which choice you make, it doesn’t alter the fact that God is in control. He doesn’t take time off or need to rest and recharge. Seeing God through human eyes might be shortsighted. In fact, it might limit His power. Let’s examine this.

When Jesus went to his hometown, Scripture tells us “he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”
— Matthew 13:58

Now, Jesus was still fully God, so he could do miracles in Nazareth. But why display divine power among people who didn’t recognize him for who he was and believe in him?

Faith and fear cannot coexist. We choose one or the other. And it can happen many times each day. Whatever we choose will determine our outcomes. Choose wisely…

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Spirituality

The Fear View Mirror

Everyone experiences fear. It’s normal to feel uneasy when you are trying something new, or if you have a health scare. Yet you cannot allow fear to consume you and control your life.

Did you know that in the Bible we are told to “fear not” 365 times? That’s once for every day of the year. Coincidence? Nope!

Recently I was having a conversation with someone who left a stifling marriage. After ten years she had had enough of feeling small and unfulfilled. For the past decade her life was filled with private jets and great wealth. She found it in herself to walk away and become the woman she was born to be. She overcame her initial fears, but there are more waiting for her.

Facing your fears is the first step to overcoming them. The work is internal. Over time, you can reshape how your mind processes whatever you fear. It takes work, but anything worthwhile does.

Sometimes life feels like a battlefield. We have battle scars from the past. But we cannot let a little pain stop us from pursuing the life we want.

Face whatever you fear or whatever is holding you back. The fight is won or lost in your mind before you begin. Think about it…

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Spirituality

Be Willing

Human beings are selfish. We are. It’s our nature. But I believe in the goodness of mankind as well. We see people show up when crisis strikes.

So many people wonder what this life is about. “Why am I here,” they ask. At the same time, everyone on the planet knows there is a greater purpose for their lives. They know. So, what stops them from pursuing their purpose?

People can become lazy, complacent, even sedentary. Maybe they think it’s too late. Time has passed them by. If you are alive and reading this, there’s still time. Get going!

Be willing to take risks. Ask God to guide your steps. He will. This doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges along the way. There will be. But put those on God’s shoulders and let Him lead you.

Willingness will keep your attitude straight. You are going to need it when you make a decision to pursue your purpose. Stay focused on your goal. And remember to pray…

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Spirituality

Forget It

Do you have to keep a list of things you need to do, and cross them off as you accomplish them? I do. There’s a lot to do on any given day.

But let’s talk about forgiveness. You may have had someone tell you to “forgive and forget.” But the truth is we aren’t able to forget, even after genuinely forgiving someone. Only God can forget. There’s another reason He’s God and we’re not.

The hardest one to forgive is ourself. Every moment of our life is stored in the subconscious mind. Bad memories may not be at the forefront of our minds but they are in there. It is possible to offer ourselves self-forgiveness and still hold harmful memories. It takes work, but it’s possible.

Focus on what you have done well in your life. Think about the times you were unselfish. Stay present of mind on those moments, not the ones you beat yourself up over.

Add the things you are holding onto to your list. The things that bother you. Face them. Forgive yourself while forgiving others, too. The past is good for one thing: learn from it…

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Spirituality

Don Rickles

Don Rickles was born in New York City in 1926, served in World War II and had a career in show business spanning six decades. There was no one like him, before or after.

Rickles was called an “insult comic,” but he himself called it attitude. He pummeled everyone from Johnny Carson to Frank Sinatra with his attitude. Even the audience members who sat up front weren’t shielded from his observations.

Many times I have written that it’s not what you say but how you say it. Rickles epitomized this. His comments, while both insulting and funny, were never mean spirited. It was a badge of honor to be picked on by Don Rickles.

Comedy today has become sensitive. Some comedians do take it too far. It’s never okay to make fun of someone in a mean way. Anyone who does this is showing a dark side of their heart, all for the sake of getting a laugh.

Rickles died in 2017. He lives on via YouTube. Catch him while you can. Someone might cancel him, and the world would lose a great artist…

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Spirituality

Read It and Heed It

Are your days filled with peace and purpose, or are you fighting anxiety during your day? You have a choice.

God didn’t create us and then forget about us. It might seem like we have been thrown to the wolves to fend for ourselves, but we have a guidebook, the Bible. Our job is to read it and apply it.

There is a lot in Scripture I don’t understand and probably won’t on this side of eternity. But there is enough in Scripture for me to accept it in faith and use it to live my life. It especially helps during the difficult days. It works during the easy days, too.

There are times when I read Scripture and I don’t get anything from it. Those are the days I put it aside. There’s no reason to beat my head against a wall, right? Then there’s other times I read the same passage and the words jump off the page at me. I never know what I’m going to experience so I keep coming back.

If you’re feeling lost, lonely, or have reached the end of your rope, give it a try. And keep trying. God will speak to you through Scripture, but you gotta pick the book up to hear His voice…

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Spirituality

Coffee or Tea?

Which do you prefer in the morning, coffee or tea? Personally, I’m a coffee drinker. I love the smell and the taste. Tea is nice, it’s just not for me.

The point of today’s column is, we are all different. We are uniquely created and wired in our own special ways. As long as we are living a moral and ethical life, there is no right or wrong.

Along with our drink preferences, we see the world differently. We combine logic and feelings to create our perceptions. As we learn more in this life, we are able to adapt and evolve. Only the closed-minded are rigid in their beliefs.

The more we engage with our fellow man, the clearer we see the world. People are important. All people. The good in the heart of mankind transcends politics. Yet for some reason, some have decided to draw a line in the sand over political differences. You can miss so much when you do this.

Look for the good in others. You will find what you’re looking for. Every time…

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