Spirituality

Blindly Following

Who did you look up to? A good question to ask yourself is, what is it about them that makes you want to admire them.

Many people admired O. J. Simpson. He was a phenomenal athlete and he did a good job at Monday Night Football. But there was something dark in Simpson that he hid from the world, until he was exposed.

There have been a good number of TV preachers who fell from grace. Every time one of them falls it’s a victory for the devil. Anything that happens to give people a reason to stay away from God is a notch in his belt.

We the people like to pass judgment on our fellow man. But it’s more important to remember that God is the only judge who matters. Where we spend eternity is in His hands alone.

If you want to follow someone blindly, putting your faith and trust in them, make it Jesus. He is alive and will guide us. And following Jesus will never lead us down a dark path, only into the light…

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Spirituality

Where Does Your Trust Lie?

More people are anxious today than at any time in history. People are worried about their finances, their safety and security, their health, and the future. Would you like to stop worrying and start living fully? Keep reading.

In Proverbs 3:5, Solomon encouraged us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Notice that Solomon used the word heart. The heart is the center of our emotions. Worry is an irrational emotion. It’s irrational because the worrier is trying to control outcomes. We are not able to control outcomes so it’s a never ending cycle. Too much worry will land you in an asylum!

The only thing the Creator gives us control over is our attitude. Admittedly I view the world with optimism and hope. It’s how I’m hardwired. But if someone is nervous about the future, they can flip the script on their beliefs and see the world through a bigger lens, one filled with hope and prosperity. Anything is possible if you believe it is.

My encouragement to you is to meditate on Solomon’s writings. And remember, most of the things you have worried about in the past haven’t come true. Change your attitude and change your life…

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Spirituality

The Innovative Blacksmith

John Deere made an observation. He was born in Vermont, trained as a blacksmith and found work in Grand Detour, Illinois.

Farmers in the Midwest had a challenge. The thick, sticky soil slowed down their plows. The soil would stick to the blades, requiring farmers to stop often to clean the blades. Deere came up with an innovation that changed farming. He created a plow made from steel. The soil rolled off the steel blades instead of sticking to them. This adjustment not only saved farmers time, but it increased their productivity as well.

People can get stuck doing things the same way. You have heard the non-visionary types say “but we’ve always done it this way.” It’s the visionaries who change the world. You might have noticed that they are the ones who get ridiculed, too. That’s okay. Other people can’t see what the visionaries see.

Today, the John Deere company is a worldwide company that manufactures tractors, combines, harvesters, construction equipment and more. The company has over 70,000 employees. A simple blacksmith with an idea created a legacy that changed the world of farming. Not bad…

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Spirituality

Wasted Talent

All of us have talents. You might even call them gifts. God loves variety so no one has every talent. But a talent is only worthwhile if we use it to benefit others. Using our gifts for ourselves alone is selfish.

Some people are good public speakers while others are terrified to stand in front of an audience to deliver a message. Some are called to care for the sick while others steer clear of the sick.

What are your talents? Have you taken inventory? When you become outward focused you will ignite something inside yourself. You will want to serve others because this is why we have the talents we were given. This leads to a fulfilling life.

Take the inventory I cited above. Prayerfully consider how you can use them to make a difference in the lives of your fellow man. Then you will be really alive…

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Spirituality

Put It On The Shoulders of God

In my career, I have an administrative assistant who handles all service aspects of the job. Recently I discovered that she had let multiple things fall apart. To say she let me down would not scratch the surface of how disappointed I am.

It’s very rare for me to get angry. But on this one I was seething. Taking care of my clients is job one. On Wednesday night I was struggling to fall asleep because of my anger. I told God that I was putting this on His shoulders because I needed help. Then I slept soundly.

On Thursday my manager walked into my office and told me she was shifting some administrative assistants around, and I was getting a new assistant. The young woman who was assigned to me is the strongest assistant in the office. I couldn’t stop smiling. In one day, yesterday, she remedied every outstanding problem my prior assistant neglected. These were not easy tasks, but she got them done. Perfectly.

Whatever problems you may be experiencing, put them on God’s shoulders. They are big, strong, and can handle anything we are going through. And I mean anything…

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Spirituality

Daily Habits

Do you have some daily habits that improve your life? Building your life around certain habits can either get you where you want to be, or they have the potential to destroy you.

Some of my best building blocks come from Scripture. There are days when I read the Bible and get nothing out of what I’m reading. But sometimes the words practically jump off the page. Those are the times I cherish. God has a way of showing up with perfect timing.

Exercise is another daily habit. Weights, Pilates and walking are great ways to clear your mind while strengthening your body. Posture and flexibility are improved, too.

Start by adding one thing to your day. Just one. Commit to it and stick with it. Then add another. Before you know it you will be on your way to building a better life for yourself. And remember to take God along with you. Ask Him to help you remove any bad habits you might need to eliminate. He is willing to help. Just ask…

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Spirituality

When You Refuse to Quit

Setbacks are part of life. They are only final if you decide they are. Or, you can choose to keep moving forward, taking into account what you learned from failure.

George Washington thought he wasn’t fit to lead after his inexperience got many men killed in battle. But he learned from his mistakes, regained his confidence and went on to become our first president.

Walt Disneys first animated film company went bankrupt. Then Disney’s first commercially successful animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, was taken from him in an unscrupulous business transaction. But Disney refused to stop. He came up with Mickey Mouse while traveling back to Hollywood after learning Oswald’s fate. Disney, and the mouse, made history.

There are many stories of others who wouldn’t quit when the odds were against them. Single mothers who work several jobs to make ends meet are true heroes. We might not know their names, but they are as important as those we do know.

Life is going to knock you around. But when you get knocked down, keep getting up. Learn from the setbacks, and pay no attention to the critics and the naysayers. They can’t see what you see…

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Spirituality

Effusive

An effusive person is enthusiastic. You could substitute the word gushing and you wouldn’t be wrong. What are you enthusiastic about, effusive even?

For those of us in the Spirit we should show it. This doesn’t mean going around and beating people over the head with Scripture or standing on a street corner with a sign. We should show our beliefs by our words and actions.

Kindness and compassion matter. Thanking God for every good thing in our life is vital. What would you think if you had a child who never showed his appreciation for all you did for them? It would be hurtful.

Some of us get excited about an outstanding cheeseburger! But in my defense, I have been an enthusiastic person since birth. In the final analysis it’s just food, but it’s really good so I’m excited about it.

Show your enthusiasm with strength under control. Your true spirit will come through…

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Spirituality

Two Different Messages

This past weekend, in the United States we saw pride in our country on display. It was everywhere. But some people heard a different message.

Washington DC was lit up. The speeches President Trump gave all weekend had a constant theme: exceptionalism. The great experiment is working. People all across the political spectrum came together to celebrate. But not everywhere.

Some people in higher office chose to be overly critical of the country. For those people, anything Trump does means they are against it. Their hatred blinds them to the truth and the common good this administration is accomplishing.

I have questioned some of the things the administration has done, too. Some of the pardons don’t make sense to me. But I’m not in the Oval Office so I don’t know everything.

The success of this Constitutional Republic wouldn’t have happened without God. Our country has thrived beyond belief because our Creator was for it. There are some who are fighting hard to keep God out. So we must fight harder. Every single day…

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Spirituality

Crisis Response

Recently someone asked if a little chaos was good for us. Perhaps a better question might be, is stress good or not? Like with most things, there is no “one size fits all” answer.

A bit of stress keeps us on our A game. Deadlines and pressure can produce order when managed properly. If you manage others, you must know how much stress your people can handle.

But what about when a crisis occurs? My mind becomes hyper-focused when the shit hits the fan. It’s like the world slows down while my thoughts become crystal clear and orderly. This is a benefit of growing up in an unpredictable environment. I learned to think on the fly, to seek safety when panic happened. This trait has never left me.

Our minds are incredible machines. But just like any machine, we must take care of it. Eat well, exercise, get plenty of sleep and be judicious about what you read or watch on television. Even our choices in music affects us.

Hopefully the stresses are minimal in your life. Taking care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually will allow you to handle whatever life throws your way. Trust the process…

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