Monthly Archives: May 2024

#inspiration

Fortunate

I wake up every day believing I am the most fortunate man alive. Either I wake up in Texas or in Heaven. Either way I win!

If you are feeling down and out, take heart in what you already possess. You are reading this so you have the gift of sight along with a working mind. There’s two in the positive column! And those are big pluses.

Do you have food and a little money in your pocket? If your answer is yes, then you are better off than 95% of the world. Seriously. Many people wake up and are hungry, yet have no resources to satisfy their aching stomachs.

The simple truth is, if you can walk, talk, and think, then you can do. It’s the thinking and doing that stops most people.

Don’t be most people. Use your mind and get after it…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

It’s Overwhelming. But Together We Can Make A Difference

Our world is facing many challenges. They are really overwhelming when you consider the scale of our problems. Hunger, mental health, illness, homelessness and many other societal issues are everywhere. What can we do?

It would be easy to just give up before even starting to tackle the problems. But giving up is not inside of us. We aren’t quitters. We have an inner desire to move the bar in the right direction.

When we combine our efforts we are making a difference. Together we are a force to be reckoned with. Even if it feels like the floodgates are open and we are swimming against the current, we keep going forward. People need us, and we must continue to meet the challenge.

We are serving more than just society. Jesus told us that “what we do for the least among us, we do for him.”

Let’s get started…

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#inspiration

Everything Seen

Look around. Take in everything you see. Enjoy the colors, the sounds and the smells. Engaging the senses is refreshing, isn’t it.

We can get so caught up in our busyness that we miss much of life. Slow down just a little. Take time for others and take time for yourself.

The busyness of life will still be there when you return to it. You haven’t missed a single thing…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Strongholds

A stronghold is defined as “a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack.” Strongholds have spiritual significance, too.

Strongholds are mentioned dozens of times in the Bible. For this short blog, let’s look at our ways of thinking. If there is any area of your life that you need to rethink, please consider the following.

Paul encourages us to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” In other words, change our thought patterns. Any self-destructive behavior begins in the mind. When we act on our thoughts, a stronghold is established or fortified. Satan wants us to believe we can’t change our ways, but he is wrong. Way wrong. We aren’t able to break strongholds on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit which is inside of us to take over. Nothing can stand up to the Spirit.

We can change. I’ve seen alcoholics return to sanity. Miracles happen. Lives are restored. The power of God is unlimited and unstoppable when we align ourselves with Him. Jesus can break any stronghold in our lives. There is hope.

Light wins. Darkness ends…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

If I Had A Superpower

When I was a child, I loved Superman comic books. I thought, how cool it would be to fly, have x-ray vision, and to be faster than a speeding bullet. Let’s not forget that Superman was built like a bodybuilder and he got all the girls!

Humans don’t get to have superpowers, but if we did, I would want mine to be the ability to take away people’s pain. It troubles me when I see people struggle or in deep pain and despair.

Fortunately, I don’t have that superpower. Pain is a tool which can bring growth and resilience. If I could take away pain, I would be denying others the ability to grow through the pain and become who they are.

Pain is part of everyone’s life. Don’t waste it by wishing it away. By getting through it, fighting through it, you are being prepared for something greater.

Keep going…

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#inspiration

Underestimation

People like to brag. I have been one of those people in the past. Bragging or “one-upping” someone are prime displays of insecurity.

Confidence in yourself means you don’t have anything to prove. Your results speak for themselves. People notice because they are always watching.

When you receive a compliment, take it in stride and say thank you. Don’t allow it to inflate your ego or sense of self. Just keep doing the work!

Allow people to underestimate you. Set the expectations correctly, and then work to exceed their expectations.

Confidence is attractive. Ego is not…

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#inspiration

It Begins

Many of our favorite movies involve adventure. Everything from “The Chronicles of Narnia” to “Indiana Jones” keeps us interested from the moment their venture into the unknown begins. We feel our hearts beat faster while we anticipate the next turn.

Life can be the same way. Every moment of every day is an unknown. You might even call it an adventure. Yet, many are living in fear of the future rather than feeling enthralled. The fact that we don’t know what’s around the corner should excite us, not paralyze us. It truly is our perspective.

Treat each moment as an opportunity to live, to really live. In the words of Willy Wonka, “The suspense is terrible. I hope it lasts…”

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#inspiration

Community

We are meant to be with other people. God said this early in Genesis: “It is not good for man to be alone.” Personally I enjoy being with others.

In the sixties hippies formed communes and lived together as a cohesive community. They shared everything, and I mean everything.

Some sick people have perverted the idea of community. Jim Jones comes to mind, but there are many others. These people take advantage of people’s desire to be led. If we are called to lead, we must lead with honor and fidelity.

Isolation has shredded mental health. Now there are some who remain afraid to be with others. Encourage them.

If you haven’t heard from someone in a while, pick up the phone and give them a call. You will be glad you did…

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#inspiration

Principles

Principles are defined as “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.” For example, we have laws in the United States. If you disregard the law, you are held accountable. It doesn’t matter if you agree with it or not. The laws apply to all of us.

Our individual principles might be demonstrated through our ethical and moral behaviors. Telling the truth is a good way to live. If you always tell the truth, you don’t have to be concerned about what you told someone. If you are known to lie, people won’t trust you.

We live in an age where people regularly try to flout cultural norms. It’s perfectly fine to be counterculture as long as you aren’t breaking any laws.

Just be a good person…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Live Before Dying

I see so many people living empty, unfulfilled lives. They are chasing something. It could be a mate, a more prestigious job, or perhaps they want greater influence. In the final analysis, it appears most people are chasing their tails.

We are meant for more than getting an education, a career, saving some money and then retiring to die. No, we are built for greatness. The Creator of the Universe doesn’t want us to live just for ourselves.

Strive for significance in your life. Significance goes beyond success. Significance means you are making a difference.

If you are one of the people who are chasing the stuff I described in the first paragraph, I encourage you to aim higher. Those things won’t fill your emptiness. Significance will…

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