Tag Archives: #faith

Spirituality

Repurposed

Old, vacant buildings can be renovated and repurposed for a new business. In the Midwest, especially, there are hundreds of former factories sitting vacant due to jobs going overseas. That’s a lot of unused real estate!

Maybe it’s time to change your life, a sort-of personal repurposing. The life you have been experiencing hasn’t really fulfilled you. You want more. It’s possible if you’re willing to turn the reins over to God and stop trying to do everything yourself.

You were created for a great purpose. There’s nothing random about you being here during this phase of history. Ask God to lead you where He wants you to be. If you’re willing to follow God, then get ready to be uncomfortable.

Growth requires change. Change isn’t negative if it gets you to where you are supposed to go…

Standard
Spirituality

Invisible

When I was a little kid, I thought it would be cool to be invisible. My plan was to sneak up on people and surprise them when I became visible. Playing pranks has always been part of my life!

Recently I read where an average person will see around 80,000 people during their lifetime. But how many do we remember? More importantly, what set them apart to cause us to remember them? I believe I have one answer.

How we treat others goes a long way toward being remembered. How you looked to them might fade, but not how your kindness made a difference. You made them feel seen. Making others feel important while lessening your importance is an act of humility.

In a world so full of divisiveness, be kind. Kindness will make you visible, not just another person…

Standard
Spirituality

Re-entry

If you are reading this it means you woke up this morning. Are you a morning person or a night owl? I’m both! I like to say I burn the candles at both ends, and also the middle.

Start your day with enthusiasm, knowing that every day you awaken God isn’t finished with you and your mission in this life. No matter what you are facing today and every day, having a positive attitude and a strong sense of self-confidence will get you through it.

You might be going through a rough period right now. It’s important to remember that you have gotten through every difficult period you have faced before. Your life can turn on a moment’s notice. You must keep pushing yourself to get to your next moment. Don’t give up.

Life is rarely easy on this side of eternity. But there are bright moments. Be the one who brings the light…

Standard
Spirituality

Protests

In Austin, Texas, there seems to be at least one or two protests each week. Most of the protesters are peaceful and respectful of the police and their fellow citizens, but there have been a few incidents of violence.

You are allowed to protest anything you want. This is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. Free speech is one of our treasured rights as Americans. It should never be taken for granted.

In 1517 Martin Luther protested the Catholic Church. Luther made this outrageous claim that our salvation came through faith alone. The Pope was on equal footing with all of us. Needless to say, this brought about a maelstrom of protests. It didn’t seem to matter to Rome that Martin Luther’s position was backed up by Biblical evidence. The fight was worth it. Today we have both Protestants and Catholics under the umbrella of Christianity.

You are allowed to protest poor service in a restaurant to a manager, denial of claims by your insurance company, or a bad performance review by your boss. Just do it peacefully. The world has enough chaos and violence already…

Standard
Spirituality

Take the Hard Path

In order to grow, you must get uncomfortable. When you decide it’s your time, no longer will you take the easy way through. You will face every challenge that comes at you with a drive and determination you have awakened inside of you.

To accomplish all God has planned for you, you must have grit. Don’t misunderstand, God isn’t making your life harder. He allows your invisible enemy to place hurdles and obstacles in your way. But guess what? God will help you through everything. Just trust and believe.

Push yourself to do the things you don’t want to do. And don’t quit. Don’t even slow down! You will get everything accomplished if you keep going…

Standard
Spirituality

Doubting Thomas

Do you have doubts? Of course you do, and that is a loaded question. We doubt eyewitness accounts, the news (rightfully so), and we doubt ourselves. Defense attorneys try to establish reasonable doubt. This doesn’t mean we doubt everything.

A “doubting Thomas” is a skeptic who needs to see things for themselves before they believe it. That’s okay. It’s not a threat to your character to be doubted. It is a wise decision to be doubtful about what you hear on the news. They have a story to tell and they aren’t always concerned with the truth.

When you live your life with integrity and tell the truth, you will build a solid reputation. Then even the full-time doubters will believe you.

And there is one who never doubts you or your abilities. His name is God. Get to know Him and you won’t doubt Him, either…

Standard
Spirituality

Going It Alone

All of us have changes to make in our lives. Perhaps we want to get up earlier, lose some weight, eliminate judgment or start reading more. What stops us? We stop ourselves.

Will power alone won’t do the trick. We need something more. Or perhaps we need someone to help us. God can and will help us. All we have to do is ask and believe. Pretty simple, huh? So why do we make it more difficult than it has to be?

Pride stands in the way. We have this warped belief that if we can’t change ourselves without outside intervention, we must be weak. Here’s some truth: when it comes to changing a habit that stops us from fulfilling our purpose, we are weak. We are battling an invisible enemy who is much more powerful than us. We need God’s intervention to win this fight.

Accept the things you can’t change by yourself. Ask for help. He will answer. That’s not my promise. That’s God’s promise…

Standard
Spirituality

Awaken

Let’s admit it, life can be routine and boring. We go through a lot of the same motions every day. Where is the adventure?

It’s up to us to create our own excitement. Sitting around waiting for something to happen is a waste of time. Life is meant to be lived, not merely existed through.

Awaken your senses. Make the neurons in your brain come alive. You can do this by creating new experiences for your mind to behold. Take deep breaths. Inhale every good smell with intention. It’s time to feel alive again.

Turn the television off and go enjoy your life. Start now…

Standard
Spirituality

You Gotta Do It

I love inspiring stories. The underdog is the one I root for. Doing the work to get yourself through the rough times builds resilience, strength and confidence.

We find ourselves in the stories of those who came before us. We think, “if they made it, then maybe I can, too.” We have so many lives to study from history.

Write your own story. Keep a journal. Writing helps you sort your thoughts. In a way it simplifies life. As you live your life, you are creating your own history.

Keep on creating memories. The world is watching and learning…

Standard
Spirituality

With Honor

We admire those who do the right things when others might be tempted to do wrong or take a shortcut. Those people handle their lives and decisions with honor and integrity. A lot of good happens in the dark, out of sight, too.

During most of Jesus’ time on earth, he didn’t call attention to himself. There are many miracles he performed, yet instructed the recipient to not tell anyone. He wasn’t trying to bring honor to himself. Weird, huh?

When your eyesight has been restored from a supernatural experience, human nature is to tell everyone by shouting it out! I probably would. In fact, I know I couldn’t keep quiet.

Every day we have decisions to make. We all make some left turns when we should have gone right. But hopefully we get more correct than incorrect. When we make a mistake, or we treat others wrong, make an apology unless it might cause more harm than good.

Handle your business quietly, and with honor. Allow God to guide you. He sees everything, including the heart of man…

Standard