Tag Archives: #challenges

#inspiration, #spirituality

Preparedness

Netflix reported that over 60 million people viewed the Jake Paul/Mike Tyson bout on Friday night. It was a record. Yet, many people were disappointed because Netflix hadn’t ramped up their streaming capacity enough to accommodate the demand. They weren’t prepared.

When the work week begins, most of us are ready for whatever the week holds for us. The unprepared just show up and see what happens. Taking a few minutes to review your schedule on Sunday evening won’t solve all your work challenges, but it will help you in your preparation for what can happen.

Asking God to guide us as we go through the day helps greatly. He wants to be involved in our lives, not relegated to being a spectator. Talk to Him.

Yesterday was about sayings. Today I will close with one: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail…

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#inspiration

Overstocked

Have you ever gone to Costco to buy just a couple of items, but ended up spending $600.00? I have bought a 100 pound bag of pinto beans in there because it was such a great deal! I love pinto beans, but there’s no way I can eat that many beans in a year.

Sometimes we do things that, in our rational mind, we know aren’t good decisions. The emotional side of our brain takes over and rules the intellect. We all do it. I might have a solution.

When you feel the need to buy something that you know you don’t need, I encourage you to enact the 48 hour rule. Wait two days before making your purchase. Had I had the forethought to do this myself, I would not have bought all those beans. The 100 pound bag would have still been there two days later. Most important, my emotions about getting a great deal would have subsided.

Try it. And remember, your emotions are a necessary part of you, but they aren’t always looking out for your best interests…

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#inspiration

Look At Yourself

I’m a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan. It’s the most frustrating team to be a fan of. I often say, “the Dallas Cowboys are the team of the future, and always will be!” So much talent. So little execution.

There is one common denominator to the Cowboys woes: Jerry Jones. I don’t doubt that he wants to win. He just can’t stay out of the way. Let the coaches coach, the players play, and you stay in your lane as owner.

Accountability is one of the great lessons team sports teaches. Did you take care of your body so you will be at your best? Getting enough sleep? Know your playbook? Are you mentally prepared for the rigors of the game?

When we fail, we must take a hard look at ourselves. What part did we play in the letdown? We must give our best effort. Always. And if we don’t, not only will we let others down, but we let ourselves down, too.

Enjoy the times in life when you win. Evaluate yourself and come back stronger when you don’t…

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#inspiration

Veterans Day

November 11th is Veterans Day. For many it’s simply a day off. For others, the day represents a deep, meaningful remembrance of the sacrifices some have endured for us and our country.

People who serve in the armed forces are special. They don’t serve for fame or fortune. It is their way to honor this great nation and give back to it. We are safe because of the work they do.

In some ways we have dishonored our veterans. Our anti-war sentiment spilled over to the soldiers who served in Vietnam. When that battle was over, people spat on them and waged a hateful campaign against them. They were simply following orders.

Take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices our veterans made for our freedom. And take a moment to thank God for them.

Without our veterans, life would look very different…

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#inspiration

Medicate

Medications are a part of life. If you get an infection, prior to the invention of penicillin you had to wait it out and hope for the best. Penicillin revolutionized antibiotic therapy.

It seems like every third commercial is for a drug. “Have you ever been depressed? Try Abilify.” First off, I’m not picking on Abilify. But consider the advertising. Almost everyone has experienced depression. Most often it’s seasonal depression, not chronic. It will pass.

Unless you have chemical depression, consider natural therapy. Get outside. Go hiking. Do something for someone who can never repay you. Take into consideration what you are eating. Many of our foods alter our brain chemistry. What I’m suggesting is, there might be a better way to help your mental health than a drug.

I encourage you to medicate yourself with fresh air, sunshine and the company of good people. Give it a try. The only thing you might lose is a depressed attitude…

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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

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, #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, #spirituality

When Fears Become Gods

Fears can be a powerful force. The fear of missing out is a real phenomenon. And there are over 500 listed phobias. The fear of fears has a name, too. It’s phobophobia. Where should I begin?

If you allow your fears to dominate your thoughts, you can become paralyzed. You are so fearful that you become afraid to make a move. Keeping fear at the forefront of your mind can impair your decision making, and it takes a toll on your overall health. You must find a way to fight through it.

I encourage you to take a break from media, social and political. The MSM pours fear out in truckloads. If they keep you fearful you will tune in because you might miss something. You won’t miss anything, I promise. Take a break. Get outside. Exercise your body and your mind. Your future self will thank you.

Personally, I’m deathly afraid of snakes. If I’m on a lake and I see a snake, I’ll be the third man to walk on water! They creep me out.

Take care of yourself. People need you at your best…

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