#inspiration, #spirituality

Your Greatest Battle

Every day we are in a fight for our lives. Good versus evil. Do we choose Gods way or the way the world thinks? The world isn’t always wrong, but it can be seductive. We can be lured into a false sense of security.

God gave us a guide for how we should live our lives. There is structure, emotional and physical health and how we should handle our money inside that book. There are also many self-help books in circulation. We turn to them because if we follow what the Bible teaches us, we might be thought of as weird. No one wants that because then you become an outcast!

The fight is real. Unseen forces are vying for our attention. I encourage you to pay attention to the Spirit that brings light and life into you.

You won’t be sorry or disappointed…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Government Efficiency

GREAT NEWS!!! I received a notice from the IRS informing me I had overpaid my taxes by $87.20! Given the level of efficiency I have come to expect from the government, I’m expecting to receive payment around August of 2026! It’s a Christmas Miracle!

Of course I’m being silly, trying to generate a laugh. But the reason it’s funny is because there’s truth in it. The old saying, “it’s close enough for government work” is what we have come to expect. This attitude would never survive in the private sector.

We certainly need a government, no doubt. And they have almost unlimited resources. But if you want to be the most efficient purveyor of those resources, put them in the hands of the faith and philanthropic communities. They will move Heaven and Earth while wasting precious little.

Enjoy your day, everyone…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Tis the Season…

December has arrived! Thanksgiving is behind us and now Christmas is staring us in the face. Don’t sweat it. Just like every other year, you will get everything done.

For some, the holidays won’t be the same this year. Perhaps they suffered a loss during the year, or maybe their relationships with their family is fractured. Maybe they received a bad medical report and they are considering that this might be their last Christmas. These are real life situations that exist all around us.

Take a moment to think about the people you know. If someone comes to mind who might be struggling, pick up the phone and give them a call. Just checking on people goes a very long way.

Take the time…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Asking For A Friend…

We see Facebook posts from people asking about certain situations, whether they are acceptable or not. Oftentimes they are “asking for a friend.” This is code for “I’m asking for myself!”

Most of the posts are funny. But what about the questions that go unasked? People are hurting. Mental health was shredded from isolation during the pandemic, and it hasn’t recovered. We are hardwired to be connected with others, not isolated.

The holidays are upon us and we are told to be cheerful and merry. At Thanksgiving we are instructed to be thankful for what we have. The holidays bring up the sins of the past. Not every family was functional. For some of us, Christmas and Thanksgiving were huge disappointments.

I encourage you to reach out to others when you are hurting or lonely. Don’t let pride stop you or even slow you down. It’s perfectly acceptable and normal to need to be heard.

In the words of Dr. Frasier Crane, I’m listening…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Finite

We are here for a short period of time. Compared to eternity, it wouldn’t even be a drop in the ocean.

God has determined not only the length of our lives, but He chose the period in history we were to be born in. My purpose for being here would not have served God’s purposes if I was born in the 1400’s for example. This suggests there is no randomness to our being here. There is a reason.

It is true that I have wasted a lot of time in my life. Chasing things I thought would fulfill me never worked out. Striving for the Creators purpose is the only thing that has ever filled the hole in my heart. You have the same hole. What are you trying to fill it with?

I encourage you, don’t waste another minute. Pursue your purpose with your entire being. The day will come when we all will check out.

Finish well…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Don’t Look Away

Over the course of my life I have learned that there are many people who have demons to rid themselves of, yet they refuse to face them. You can quash them for a while, but they always return.

Inner workings are difficult. They allow us to look not only at decisions and behaviors we made, but why we made them. When you remove the root cause, you have freed yourself from destructive thoughts and actions.

People put off doing self-work. I get it because you are taking responsibility for your actions, and not everyone wants to do that. You no longer have anyone to blame. But you grow immensely by the process. And aren’t we all trying to grow?

My encouragement to you is, if you know there are things you know you need to work on, stop putting it off. Face your inner demons. Stare them down and change your thought patterns.

Freedom is waiting for you on the other side. Walk into the light. Take that brave first step today…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Interview with Travis Taylor

Travis Taylor is a bright light in a dark world. His life journey has been filled with hardship as well as joy. Travis will tell you he barely has a high school diploma, but his life experiences are worth at least a Masters Degree.

Travis is the Worship Pastor and an Associate Teaching Pastor at an Austin mega church. He uses the pain from his past to teach and inspire others. Please take a moment to reflect on how in the darkness, there is hope…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Unlimited

We have unlimited potential to do great things, to be a true difference maker. What’s stopping us? I believe we stop ourselves and we stop God from working through us. Let me explain.

All of us have very full calendars. We cram more into a week than we can possibly handle because “the busiest person wins the race.” We should take the time to consider how much of what we are doing is important.

The converse of this is laziness and giving in to distractions. Instead of doing something fulfilling, let’s just watch some television and relax. Or maybe play a game on our phone. Those things will take our minds off the business of tomorrow.

You have a strong spirit of desire inside of you. It’s like a fire. Perhaps your fire is down to the embers. Throw a log on it and bring it back to life.

Don’t wait! Begin now…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

The Babylon Bee

The Babylon Bee is a satire site and it’s hilarious. Satire is defined as, “the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.”

Politicians give a guy like me a lot to work with. Some of the things they say are either outrageous or pandering. They love to talk down to us to remind us how smart they are. Yet, they have managed to put us $36 trillion in debt. Who’s the smart people?

And some religious leaders have their own share of ridiculousness. One popular “clergyman” has a fleet of private jets and said, “God told him he wanted him to have those jets.” (And no, it wasn’t Joel Osteen). I can’t prove it, but I doubt God told him that!

We need to laugh to get through life. Take a look at The Babylon Bee if you dare. But be prepared! They might make fun of your favorite politician!

    Standard
    #inspiration, #spirituality

    Redirected

    Sometimes life throws us curveballs. We think we know the direction of our lives, and everything seems to be going smoothly. Then the shit hits the fan. Normal life is disrupted by an unexpected divorce, the loss of a job, or the worst thing possible happens, the loss of a child. Life as we knew it has forever been changed.

    When dark periods occur, and they will, you have got to find your inner strength. Sometimes this is strength you didn’t know you had in you. The resilience you built through difficult situations in your past will serve you well now. You will get through whatever you are going through, even if it’s one baby step at a time. When you’re going through hell, don’t stop and build a house there. Keep going…

    Life will get better. You will find a way to live with a pain that never goes away, it merely subsides. You will realize that God didn’t abandon you. He was in the mess with you.

    And those curveballs I mentioned before. You will get good at hitting them, too…

    Standard