Monthly Archives: June 2024

#inspiration, #spirituality

Used

People have personal agendas, and people use other people to get their way. I’ve been used before. So have you. Being used can leave you feeling empty.

There is an upside to being used. God uses us to accomplish His will on earth. And God can use anyone, even me! He used David, an adulterer and a murderer. He used Paul, the self-described “Pharisee of Pharisees” who was persecuting men and women who were following Jesus. Paul ended up writing two-thirds of the New Testament! There are many others, but you get the point.

Chances are that you and I will be used again in the future. This time let’s ask God to be the one who uses us, and ask for protection from human agendas…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Awareness

It seems that every month is some “awareness” month where we are encouraged to become aware of something we should already be aware of. Seriously, aren’t we already aware of Alzheimer’s Disease, Breast Cancer, Men’s Health and many other worthwhile causes? I believe it is naive to believe we could forget about any important cause we are supposed to be aware of.

On Sundays, we get cleaned up and head to church. But what about the drug addict we pass on the street corner. Are we aware of him and his needs, or do we look the other way and pretend he doesn’t exist? We should invite him in. That might make us get a little involved and perhaps a little dirty. But we need to remember (be aware) that in the eyes of our Creator the drug addict is as important as we are.

I encourage you to be aware of opportunities to lift others, not tear them down or ignore them. Remember what Jesus said: “what you do for the least among you, you do for me…”

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Grounded

When I was a child, being grounded had a whole different meaning than what I’m writing about today!

Being grounded means you are not reactive, you are responsive. Grounded people are secure in their identity, not needing affirmation from other people or from their possessions. When you become grounded, you have peace.

If chaos rules your life and you want to change, then go to work on finding your true identity. God created you, so that’s a great place to begin your journey towards a peaceful, meaningful life…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Finding Strength When You Have None

I started my podcast, The Determined People Podcast, in the middle of the pandemic. I quickly realized how badly people’s mental health was affected because of isolation and fear, and I wanted to provide encouragement, strength and hope to a world in desperate need of it. Since then, I have had an opportunity to interview people who found strength when they had little or none.

Our world is still compromised, living in fear and doubt. Stories connect us. You find yourself in the stories. Connection strengthens us. My hope is that you watch an episode and say, “if that person made it, maybe I can, too.”

If you have a moment, please go to YouTube and search The Determined People Podcast. Subscribe and get notified when new content posts. Find encouragement when you need it.

Sometimes hope is all we have. Hold on tightly to it…

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#inspiration

D Day

Operation Overlord, better known as D Day, took place on June 4, 1944. It was one of the major turning points in World War II.

The allied forces began their landing at just past midnight. The beaches at Normandy had been fortified by the Nazis with barbed wire, metal tripods and wooden stakes, and the troops were under constant heavy artillery fire from the enemy. There was no turning back for the 156,000 brave men that day.

By the time the battle was over, 29,000 men had lost their lives. Death is never easy, but those men did not die in vain. They were serving a purpose greater than themselves.

Please take a moment to remember those who fought against tyranny. Sometimes you gotta fight, and freedom is worth fighting for.

Never forget…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Intrinsic Value

When considering the purchase of a new home, we take a look at several factors that might create value. These include the school district, neighborhood, crime statistics and access to shopping and restaurants. These create intrinsic value, an intangible value, so to speak. But people have intrinsic value, too.

Consider the things we take for granted: our hearing, eyesight, our brains, even our ability to walk have great value. We would miss them terribly if we lost any of them. It’s vitally important that we take care of ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually so we maximize our worth. Since we are interconnected with the rest of the world, this allows us to be the best version of ourselves to reach and impact others. Make sense?

Never discount your worth. God put a lot of thought into creating you…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Government Formation

There are those who are trying to change the truth about how the government of the United States was created. They want you to believe that there were no biblical principles in the thinking of the founding fathers. They are lying to you.

Isaiah 33:22 says:

For the Lord is our judge,
    the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
    it is he who will save us.

The judge gives us the Supreme Court, the lawgiver our Congress, and the king is our president. There it is in plain sight, but we have strayed so far from the original intent I’m sometimes uncertain we can ever right the ship. Being an optimistic man, I refuse to give up.

Biblical truth will stand the test of time. The word of the world will perish…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

What Are You Thinking?

You have heard it said that we become what we think about, and it’s true. Our thoughts are powerful, and they control our actions to an extent that is more than we realize. Thus, be diligent with controlling your thoughts.

If you want to regain your health, fill your mind with information about healthy eating and exercise. Start an exercise routine. Focus on your long-term goals, and realize that you are making progress every day. Think about what you are gaining by jettisoning a crappy diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Nowadays it seems most people are thinking about politics. That is wasted energy. Congress will continue wasting trillions of dollars while the time you spend fuming about “the other side” has robbed you of valuable time. Regain control of your time.

Decide what you want from your life. It’s been written to begin with the end in mind, so think about how you want to be remembered. Then put your thoughts into action…

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#inspiration

Reviews

To me, reviews are not worth reading. I prefer to experience things for myself, whether it’s a restaurant or a movie. Had I listened to the reviews of “Caddyshack,” I would have never seen the movie. And it is hilarious.

In lieu of reviews, I ask for referrals. I have found great doctors that way. Restaurants, too! And hotels. The list goes on.

Word of mouth is the best review, good or bad…

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#inspiration

Simplicity

Life can be complicated. I spent years learning subjects in school that I wasn’t sure I would ever use. Reading and spelling were helpful to prepare me for life. Yet, I still cannot understand why geometry was so important.

We are all capable of making life harder than it should be. Some things can be accomplished through simple solutions. If it’s too easy, we question whether we might have missed something.

Simplicity reigns. We should take the time to rid ourselves of clutter and unnecessary noise. Focus on important things like family, friends and making a difference.

Keep it simple. It’s not that hard…

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