Tag Archives: #fulfillment

#inspiration, #spirituality

More

When my kids were little, I would take them to the pool and we would play a game. They would stand on the edge of the pool and jump into my arms. I would “play” for hours because their battle cry was “one more time, daddy!” We would do this until my arms felt like they were going to fall off.

I don’t believe I was teaching my kids to be greedy just because they wanted more of a good time. But our society has become one of greed. It’s everywhere, from who has the most toys to getting super sized at your favorite fast food restaurant. Greed is so pervasive that the politicians want in on the game by taxing us as much as possible. In a touch of irony, when you lower taxes you actually increase tax revenues. That’s because people spend more when they have more!

Contentment brings peace. Peace brings an intangible prosperity into your life. Don’t misunderstand, I’m more ambitious now than I have ever been, but if I accomplish nothing else I will be okay. Being content doesn’t take away drive and desire, it gives them a higher purpose than simply making money.

I encourage you to take inventory of any areas of your life where you are dissatisfied. If the source of your dissatisfaction is greed, go to work on eliminating it. Then peace follows…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Lost

Every week, I encounter many people and have a lot of conversations. By the end of the week, I’m pretty exhausted, but in a good way. What’s more telling to me are the people I don’t have an opportunity to engage with.

People look lost, merely drifting through life without any real sense of purpose. Life has beaten them down. They are existing, not living. I get it. We all have highs and lows to navigate through. It’s very expensive to live nowadays, and there’s no end in sight to the effects inflation. But you gotta keep going.

If you are experiencing a dark period in your life, I encourage you to get rid of any negativity. Turn the television off. Read great works and listen to podcasts that feature inspiring stories. You will make it if you refuse to give up.

Just keep going, no matter what happens…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Used

People have personal agendas, and people use other people to get their way. I’ve been used before. So have you. Being used can leave you feeling empty.

There is an upside to being used. God uses us to accomplish His will on earth. And God can use anyone, even me! He used David, an adulterer and a murderer. He used Paul, the self-described “Pharisee of Pharisees” who was persecuting men and women who were following Jesus. Paul ended up writing two-thirds of the New Testament! There are many others, but you get the point.

Chances are that you and I will be used again in the future. This time let’s ask God to be the one who uses us, and ask for protection from human agendas…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

What Are You Thinking?

You have heard it said that we become what we think about, and it’s true. Our thoughts are powerful, and they control our actions to an extent that is more than we realize. Thus, be diligent with controlling your thoughts.

If you want to regain your health, fill your mind with information about healthy eating and exercise. Start an exercise routine. Focus on your long-term goals, and realize that you are making progress every day. Think about what you are gaining by jettisoning a crappy diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Nowadays it seems most people are thinking about politics. That is wasted energy. Congress will continue wasting trillions of dollars while the time you spend fuming about “the other side” has robbed you of valuable time. Regain control of your time.

Decide what you want from your life. It’s been written to begin with the end in mind, so think about how you want to be remembered. Then put your thoughts into action…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Difficult Relationships

With the divorce rate of 50% for first marriages, someone isn’t getting along with someone else! But that’s not the difficult relationship I want to address today. I’m talking about my relationship with the unseen.

God doesn’t want more religion from me. He wants a relationship with me. It’s a challenge for me because of a variety of reasons. I can’t see God, yet when I talk to Him he listens. Every time. He has an interest in my life, but I’m not always aware of His presence. And there’s a lot of noise in the world which gets my attention. Man, is there a lot of noise.

God thought of us before the earth was formed. And there’s a great purpose attached to me being here. I wish He would just tell me what my purpose is and I would do it. Or would I?

Moses talked to God and said “you’ve got the wrong guy for the job!” Jonah ran the opposite direction God told him to go. What makes me any different?

My willingness to believe and trust will get me farther in life than I can get on my own. I’m willing…

Standard
#inspiration

Everything Seen

Look around. Take in everything you see. Enjoy the colors, the sounds and the smells. Engaging the senses is refreshing, isn’t it.

We can get so caught up in our busyness that we miss much of life. Slow down just a little. Take time for others and take time for yourself.

The busyness of life will still be there when you return to it. You haven’t missed a single thing…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Live Before Dying

I see so many people living empty, unfulfilled lives. They are chasing something. It could be a mate, a more prestigious job, or perhaps they want greater influence. In the final analysis, it appears most people are chasing their tails.

We are meant for more than getting an education, a career, saving some money and then retiring to die. No, we are built for greatness. The Creator of the Universe doesn’t want us to live just for ourselves.

Strive for significance in your life. Significance goes beyond success. Significance means you are making a difference.

If you are one of the people who are chasing the stuff I described in the first paragraph, I encourage you to aim higher. Those things won’t fill your emptiness. Significance will…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Ask

What do you really want from life? Have you asked God for it?

This is everywhere in the Bible. Jesus himself told us that “whatever we ask for in prayer, believe you have already received it.” Faith is ignited by our belief. But remember, our motives must be pure, not selfish.

In The Book of James, the author reminds us that when we ask and don’t receive, it’s because we asked with the wrong motives.

There’s no ambiguity here. Proper motives aligned under God’s will have power. We just need to ask and keep asking. Does God need a reminder? Of course not. He wants to see how badly we want what we are asking for.

And if you are unsure, ask God to align your request under His will. He will take care of the rest…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Rest

Most people are stressed to the maximum. Family responsibilities, work responsibilities, the high cost of living and the state of world affairs keeps us on high alert. Thus, most people are not well rested.

Rest is necessary for us to perform at our optimum. The example for the need for rest comes from God himself. In Genesis, it says that “God rested on the seventh day.” Now, God didn’t take a day off. He doesn’t need rest, but this was put in there as an example for us. I believe we should follow it as best we can.

Take a little time for yourself every week. The stressors of the world will be waiting for you…

Standard
#inspiration

See What?

When you look at someone, do you see their outer appearance or do you look deeper? Looks are one thing, but there’s so much more.

I encourage you to see through to the heart of others. Everyone has a strong desire to be seen, heard and understood. Let them. Making things about yourself might cause you to miss some things. Some important things!

Take time to get to know people. See what makes them tick. When you let your guard down, you encourage others to do the same…

Standard