Tag Archives: #faith

#inspiration, #spirituality

Deals

We love to get a good deal, don’t we? Think about it. You go to buy a car and after a bit (sometimes a lot!) of haggling, you agree to the terms the dealership offers. You both are happy.

False advertising tries to reel us in. Promises of easy weight loss or quick wealth are empty promises. There are no shortcuts to those.

The best deal of all is God’s promise to spend eternity with us. There will be no pain or suffering in Heaven, only eternal bliss. And it’s a free gift! Take the deal. There’s no better deal out there…

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#inspiration

Insecure People

People will try to tear you down, sometimes to your face but more often behind a computer keyboard. They are insecure and unfulfilled in their lives, so they want the rest of the world to feel the same way.

Don’t take the bait. Stay on the high ground. Aim higher and think higher.

The naysayers and doubters will always be there. Stay true to who you are…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Inside Job

We love to be on the inside of things, to be “in the know.” We might believe this gives us a leg up on the rest of the world.

Here’s some truth for you: change is an inside job. We cannot fix anything about ourselves by changing something external. Botox might make you think you are staving off the aging process, but it is a temporary solution at best. The only way to slow down aging is intense exercise. Hard exercise changes your biochemistry, your inner organs.

Every one of us needs inner work. This never ends. But take heart! We grow when we change from within…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Including Others

Remember when you were a kid and you got picked to be on a team? If we were playing basketball, I got picked last or not at all. I was horrible at basketball.

Everyone wants to belong, to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Kids join gangs because they think they’ve found their people. Their family lives are a mess or nonexistent. Adults join car clubs and country clubs. They belong to a unique, sometimes exclusive group.

We should always treat others with kindness and respect. They might not belong to something we do, but that doesn’t make them less important.

Our identity is found in who we are, not what groups we belong to…

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#inspiration

Looking Back

Today’s post is not about reliving your past. Long time readers know me to say that our best days are ahead of us. That hasn’t changed. The focus for today is on growth.

Change is gradual. This is true for positive change as well as developing bad habits. It happens little by little. But when we reflect on where we were ten years ago, we can see how we have changed. We have gained wisdom, and perhaps we are in better physical shape now than we were before. If our bad habits are the same today, then maybe it’s time to face the root cause and remove it.

If you feel like you haven’t gotten to where you planned to be, give yourself a little grace. You certainly aren’t the same person you were a decade ago. And that’s a good thing…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Damage Done

I grew up in a home filled with constant tension. If I accidentally spilled a glass of water I would be told “you’re not worth a damn. You’ll never amount to anything.” My home could become violent, too. I never knew what might set my father off. I felt alone.

The brain is an incredibly efficient marvel. It created coping mechanisms which allowed me to function through the chaos. But coping mechanisms are short-term solutions. They aren’t meant to sustain us indefinitely.

I took a lot of insecurities into adulthood. At the time I didn’t see them as such, but as my life evolved I knew something was amiss. I began working on myself. The work paid off.

I still work on myself. Practicing gratitude led to me forgiving my parents long after they were dead. But forgiveness came at the right time.

The damage was done early in my life, but I found the repair center. Find yours…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Prestige

Prestige is defined as “widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something on the basis of a perception of their achievements or quality.” We revere people of prestige.

Have you ever met a famous person or celebrity? I have met many. I have had dinner with multiple people of prestige. The interesting thing is, they are just people. They might have special talents to entertain us, but their lives aren’t free from struggles and stress. There are some famous people who want you to worship them, but they are the minority. Most just want to be seen as regular people.

In the eyes of God we are all the same. No one reaches Heaven in a different way because of their earthly accomplishments. No one should feel diminished by another person because we are here to do God’s work. Sometimes fame comes with that, and sometimes not…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Hidden

When I was a kid, there was a popular television show called “Candid Camera.” Goofy pranks were played on unsuspecting people and their reactions were recorded by a hidden camera. The show was hilarious.

People hide their inner pain. We show the world that we have it all together. But the truth is, many people are barely holding on. For some, all they have left is hope.

Words can heal or they can hurt. Whatever is going on inside a person’s head and heart is reflected in what they say or how they act. Hurt people hurt other people. Healthy people heal others.

Our world is struggling. It’s expensive to live. Mental health was shredded from isolation during the pandemic. Masking inner pain with fake smiles doesn’t heal the wounds.

Let your guard down with others. Allow them to see you for who you are. And let them show you who they really are, not who they want us to think they are.

Be kind. Always…

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