#inspiration, #spirituality

Sensitivities

Life is tough. Some of the challenges people face can feel overwhelming at times. I know people who have been affected by cancer, the murder of a child, rape, incest, suicide and more. The reason they are still standing is because they developed resilience earlier in their lives. Weak people crumble like an origami.

Resilience can be built, even in adulthood. You face your challenges head on, refusing to back down until you have come out on the other side. When you are going through hell, you keep going.

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Prepared

Solid preparation gives you confidence. If you’re about to take a test and you have studied properly, the odds are you will do well. Just “winging it” isn’t the best strategy.

Every experience we have in life prepares us for something else. This applies to the bad experiences as well as the good. We rarely have the luxury to know what we are being prepared for. I trust that God knows how he will use the difficult times in my life. Some of my hardest times have been used to help others. When the purpose becomes clear it strengthens my resolve and my trust.

If you are in the middle of a rough patch, or even if you are going through hell, I encourage you to keep moving through it. Your pain has purpose, whether you see it now or not…

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Revelations

As I grow in wisdom and understanding, God reveals things to me. I’m in a constant state of fascination and awe at how God expands my understanding. Things become crystal clear. It’s up to me to use what God has revealed.

In The Book of James the author tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James further reminds us that if we ask, we should believe God will answer.

He does answer…

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Fame

Andy Warhol is credited with saying, “in the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” Whether Warhol was the first to say this is up for debate, but it appears everyone is seeking their 15 minutes. Fame is not always pretty.

Why do people seek fame? Perhaps they want the attention that comes with fame. My belief is that wanting to be famous exposes a deeper insecurity. Fame follows accomplishment. Think of the great achievements of Lincoln, Ford, King and Musk. Two of them lost their lives because of their convictions.

Do your work. If fame finds you, all the better. If not, just do your work anyway. The only one whose opinion matters is God. Work with His purpose in mind…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

The Great Escape

Are you running from something? Maybe an unsafe situation, an ex, or perhaps you are running from yourself.

As a young adult, I couldn’t wait to get away from my family home and leave my dysfunctional past behind. I threw myself into making money and chasing women. My pursuit of both had no limits, and I was pretty good at both. But I was empty. No matter how much success I had in the business world, it was never enough. Same with women.

We can run from ourselves but we can’t escape who we are running from. I really didn’t like myself but my ego refused to recognize it that way. Arrogance blinded me. God humbled me. Only through psychotherapy was I able to recognize why I made the poor choices of my past. When I took ownership of my part I changed. And I became free from the trauma of my childhood and my fucked up history after childhood.

Today, I am free to be who God created me to be, who I am. Now I’m ready to be used for whatever God has in store for me.

Stay tuned…

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Worth Fighting For

The American dream remains alive and well. Yes, we have our share of problems and challenges, but we remain the freest country on earth.

Freedom gets taken for granted. We treat it cavalierly, as if there wasn’t a price paid to have it. The truth is, a great price was paid, from the Revolutionary War to the courts today. Many have died for a cause greater than themselves. Their sacrifice was not in vain.

The United States remains the greatest experiment ever conceived, and that is worth fighting for…

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Check The Box

A lot of life feels like we are just checking the box. We get to work on time. Check the box. Pick up kids and get them to their after school events. Check another box. It’s like we have a daily to-do list and then we do the same list the next day. As I have said before, much of daily life is routine and boring. It’s that way for everyone, no matter what People Magazine wants us to believe.

Let’s take a moment to consider our goals, dreams and desires. Are we checking any boxes in this important part of our lives? If we are just going through the motions or giving it lip service, we are cheating others as well as ourselves. We are built for purpose, God’s purpose. Let’s live like it matters because it does. Ignoring our purpose will not make it go away.

I encourage you to do something, even if it’s just one thing, every day to get you where you want to be. Start today. In fact, start now…

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Plus One

I’m invited to a wedding in October. The young man getting married is someone I’ve known for about 25 years. I refer to him as “my other son I didn’t have to send to college!” The invitation is to me plus one.

I have no plus one, and I don’t feel pressured to go find one in the interim. There is no dishonor in being single. Over the course of my life, I have traveled to resorts, seen movies, and I have gone to dinner by myself. Making conversation comes naturally for me, but solitude has a different kind of peace attached to it.

If you have insecurities about being single, I encourage you to work on yourself to learn why. Facing your inner challenges can be scary, but there is freedom on the other side. The obstacle will remain until you decide to remove it.

The times you are single, in a committed relationship, or you are married have a season in your life. Make the most of them. Most importantly, never try to force outcomes in life. Just keep working on what you want from life. Then, you will be putting yourself in a position to succeed…

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Shocked

As many of you were, I was shocked by the assassination attempt on former President Trump. Had he not moved his head at the last second, his head would have exploded.

People have become unhinged. No matter how you feel about Donald Trump, this was uncalled for.

What was equally appalling was the number of posts from people “wishing the shooter hadn’t missed.” I would not want to live inside the heads and hearts of those people.

We must do better and be better…

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Timid

Wherever I am I notice everyone. I make eye contact and speak to others. It is remarkable to me how many people are timid about saying hello. Perhaps they have a lot on their minds and can’t take on anything else. The truth is, I don’t need to know.

We weren’t timid as children. We were outgoing and friendly. Then life happened. Life can knock you on your ass sometimes. Life can make people reticent to try one more time. But I say don’t quit, no matter what you’ve been through or what happens in your future. You are here for a purpose.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, it says “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Recapture your inner power. It’s there, it’s just muted.

Start today. Rekindle the fire that burns within you. Go make your mark on the world…

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