Category Archives: #inspiration

#inspiration, #spirituality

Come Back

All throughout the Old Testament, God is saying “turn back to me. Stop worshipping idols and put me first.” I believe the message is the same today. It gets lost in the noise.

We live in the most connected world there has ever been. You can call anywhere in the world and you can watch events unfold in real time. But have we lost our connection with the eternal? We place so much importance on what we possess, our status, and our work that we forget that everything good in our lives are gifts from God. He deserves our thanks and praise. He deserves to be number one in our lives. He expects us to help others who are less fortunate.

It’s not too late. We can turn this ship around and rise to greater heights than we can imagine.

He’s waiting on us. It’s not the other way around…

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#inspiration

Almost There

In the United States, we are one week away from finding out who our next president will be. I, for one, am ready to get this election season behind us.

Every year it seems like the rhetoric gets more amped up. This year one party is calling their opponent Hitler while the other candidate calls his opponent a low IQ individual. Neither comment is acceptable. Hitler was a genocidal maniac who killed 11 million people. Insulting someone’s intelligence is questionable, at best, and unnecessary.

Our country will survive no matter the outcome. Next to the Bible, the United States Constitution is the greatest document ever written. It will stand. Our republic will remain intact.

Words have consequences. Let’s tone down our rhetoric and take the time to think before we speak…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Holding On

Great memories are treasures we hold in our hearts. Moments in time permanently etched in the fiber of our being.

What are we holding onto that doesn’t serve us well? This could be anything from a bad habit to people who aren’t good for us. It’s a real challenge to let go.

Changing a habit takes about three weeks. Even after that we have a desire to return to old behavior. If we aren’t careful, we will allow our minds to play tricks on us. The tricks are real.

Letting go of people is challenging, too. There was a time in my life where I eliminated every person who wasn’t edifying and enriching to my life. I was lonely for a while, and loneliness sucks. But I held on to a stronger belief that I knew the loneliness would pass. I focused on myself. The healthier I got, the more healthy people I attracted into my life. It was worth the effort to make myself a priority.

I encourage you to take inventory of your own life. If there’s something you need to rid yourself of, take the brave first step in a new direction.

You might experience some loneliness, too, but the darkness will pass. Every time…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

The Floor is Yours

Parents know this: your children are watching everything you say and do. If they call someone an asshole, it’s because they heard it from you first! Children are constantly learning while their neural pathways are being formed. We have a great responsibility to teach them well.

Adults are watching you, too. They watch you at work, in restaurants, at parties, basically everywhere. People pay attention to how you treat others. Are you kind, or do you take great satisfaction in being rude? Be kind. Always.

Our outer behavior reflects what is in our hearts and minds. We are either building trust or we are tearing it down. People let their guard down when they know you won’t shred their emotions.

Confidence is attractive, arrogance is not. If there’s something you don’t like about yourself, go to work on it. The work is internal. Change comes over time.

Remember parents, your little ones are watching. The floor is yours…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Welcome The Challenges

Sometimes life goes smoothly, but sometimes life is hard. Really hard. When we are in the middle of a storm we wonder if it will ever end. It will.

I encourage you to welcome the challenges that are thrown your way. Difficulties require us to grow, to stretch ourselves. And along the way our faith strengthens. When the shit hits the fan is the time many people cry out to God to help. He will answer us every time, although it might not be the answer we want. God knows what is best. Trust Him.

No one gets to live life without challenges. They will pass, and you will find yourself in the dark periods, your strongest self…

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#inspiration

Feel The Heat

To purify gold you must heat it to a temperature of over 1000 degrees Celsius. The final result is absolutely beautiful. Gold becomes so shiny you can see yourself.

Feeling the heat means you are under pressure. You have a deadline, or you are facing an extremely stressful situation. When we are dealing with difficult circumstances, we have a choice: melt or rise to the occasion. It’s yours and yours alone to decide.

In the heat of the battle we find out just how strong we are. And oftentimes we surprise ourselves.

Strength is tempered when things are hard, not when life is easy. Once you have risen to the challenge and conquered whatever you are facing, there’s no going back.

You are forever changed…

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#inspiration

Verify

As you are aware, there’s a lot of news thrust upon us 24/7. How do we discern what is true from the lies?

When I cite something like a statistic, I have checked its validity from three independent sources. The only pieces I read are scientific, not opinion based. I have an opinion but that doesn’t make it true. I have this unique ability to get things wrong sometimes!

The MSM has turned themselves into talking heads who spout the stories they want you to believe. Oftentimes they omit parts of questions and answers, or they edit them in ways to promote their outright lies. Purposely misleading people is wrong. No wonder podcasts are exploding while nightly “news” is barely hanging on. People want unfiltered news.

No one has the time to check out everything. Select what’s important to you. Do your research with an open mind. Consider things from all angles.

The truth is out there. You just gotta look for it…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Hatred

Why do people hate others? Everything from the neo-Nazis to the KKK exists so they can isolate and marginalize others, keeping them living in fear. Although these groups are small, they can inflict great harm to people.

Anti-Semitism is rampant on college campuses and in mainstream society. Two weeks ago I attended a “Breakfast For Israel” meeting to learn about the battles Israel is facing. The Israelis are in a fight for their lives, their very existence. There was security everywhere to keep the attendees safe. This really saddened me.

Hatred is the default mechanism of a weak and empty society. Blame is oftentimes a companion of hate. People believe they have been victimized so they blame the people who aren’t like them.

People fear what they don’t understand. I encourage you to get to know people, learn about them and their culture. You will see that we are all pretty much the same inside…

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#inspiration

The Beauty of America

I have followers in over 160 countries spread throughout the world. I’m grateful for all of you. My home is in Texas. If you have never visited Texas I hope you have an opportunity to. We’re friendly people!

Part of the beauty of the United States is the kindness we show to others, including our enemies. If there was a disaster in Russia, for example, we would be the first to respond. We have a history of helping. If you recall, the United States helped build a sarcophagus over the Chernobyl nuclear reactor after its core was breached.

It’s election season in the United States, and that can bring out some ugliness from some people. The beauty for most of us is, we can vote differently and still remain friends. I believe the heart of mankind is good.

The election will pass and our country will survive. We are better together…

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#inspiration

Redirect

For years I have been writing and speaking about controlling our thoughts. It’s challenging, I know, but it can be done.

Here is a solid way to begin the habit of controlling your thinking. I call it redirection. Whenever a potentially destructive thought or impulse enters your mind, instead of acting on it simply do the opposite. You don’t feel like exercising? Visualize yourself looking fit and do it anyway. You want to eat something that isn’t good for your body and overall health? Remember your fit physique visual. Over time, your mind will manifest your new way of thinking.

I get that our minds can seem like they are completely out of control. They really aren’t. You have control of your attitude which will direct your thoughts. Thoughts become actions.

Try it with just one bad habit you want to change. Stick with it and you’ll see the desired results…

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