Tag Archives: #greatness

Spirituality

Demand More

You and I are in competition, but not with each other. We are competing with ourselves, striving to do better. I can only run my race and it’s the same for you.

Comparison is a dangerous trap. When we compare ourselves to others we have a tendency to look at life through an out of focus lens. God gave us our life, and he created us to do his will on this side of eternity. When the day arrives when we meet our maker, God will ask us what we did with the talents he gave us. He’s not going to compare us to anyone else.

If you feel like you are just going through the motions in life, it’s time to change. We aren’t going to find fulfillment if our life consists of going to work, coming home and watching television, going to bed and doing it again the next day.

It’s time to demand more from yourself. God won’t put us in a position to fail. But he will stretch us and grow us into the man or woman he created us to be.

The time is now. Don’t wait and don’t worry. God doesn’t demand anything of us he hasn’t equipped us for. It’s time…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Count Me In

We count calories, likes, and we count our daily steps. When I was a (little) kid, I was scared of Count Dracula! But do we count where it really matters?

There is a universal homogeneity in all of us. We want our lives to count. We want to matter. In the heart of mankind, we know we are here for something greater than ourselves. Yet, we can get distracted by life and all the twists and turns it brings.

We were created in God’s image. He’s the only one who gives generously but doesn’t need anything from us. Or, does he? We can use our abilities and our resources for the betterment of mankind. We may not be able to help everyone, but we can make a difference in the lives of some. And when you do something for someone who can never repay you, you receive a wonderful feeling too intangible to describe.

Find the areas in need that appeal to your heart. Don’t hide or waste your talents. You were gifted to make a difference, to make your life count…

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Spirituality

Originality

The meme creators are having a field day! I must admit, there are some seriously funny, creative people out there. But some of the creations are intended for harm.

People share others creations readily on social media without checking the veracity of it. The volume of stuff is too much for a successful person to investigate. Time is precious and time is limited. We have to use it wisely.

Some of the inaccuracies are meant to influence young people. Misleading a child is one of the most heinous things that someone can do. When people hurt children I tend to go al-Qaeda on them.

My encouragement to you is, get on the creative side of your brain. Create original material, stuff that will inspire and encourage others. You are an original creation made for a purpose by the Creator of everything good. Use your talents. Keeping them hidden helps no one…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Come As You Are

I remember seeing restaurants advertise that you were welcome to “come as you are,” a sign that all were invited in to enjoy the food and experience. It was great advertising because it made me feel welcome before I went inside.

The church I go to is this way. Everyone is encouraged to come as they are and experience God’s grace. And true to their word, all are welcome. It’s a non-judgmental, no guilt or shame allowed place.

And there are other churches that are just plain churchy. They have good intentions, but the message gets lost because people are paying more attention to how the congregation is dressed than they are the Word of God.

Church is the one place where everyone should feel comfortable just showing up. It shouldn’t matter whether you are in a big building or meeting under a tree. You are welcome.

Jesus never turned anyone away. He even touched lepers! All could come to him and experience the kindness of God. Only this time he was in human form. What a truly magnificent Creator we serve…

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Spirituality

When Crazy Isn’t Crazy

Have you ever come up with an idea others considered crazy? Technically, to be crazy means you are mentally deranged. Most of us crazy people aren’t deranged. We approach life with an enthusiasm not understood by others.

The Wright brothers were told their idea about flight would never “fly.” After all, what did they know about aerodynamics? The Wright brothers were simple bicycle repairmen. Their craziness led to the creation of an entire industry, employing millions of people worldwide.

Or Galileo. He came up with this crazy idea that the earth revolved around the sun, not the other way around as conventional wisdom dictated at the time. Now who were the crazy ones?

Be fearless in your pursuit of creative ideas, especially if they contribute to a better way of life. Pay no attention to the people who try to talk you out of your creativity. They can’t see what you see…

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Spirituality

Rome

On April 21st, 753 BC, Romulus founded the city of Rome. It was a small settlement sitting on a hill. Centuries later, Rome was a marvel to behold. It was a bustling city with aqueducts, a Coliseum, markets and commerce.

Just like Rome, you are a great work. You are a wonderful work in progress, growing and developing your unique skills and talents. There is no one else like you, and there never will be.

People have a tendency to copy others so they can “fit in.” Don’t fall for it. Trying to please others stifles your creativity. It’s time to show the world who you are. This doesn’t include their version of who they think you should be.

Keep your eyes on the target, your long-term goals for your life. Keep working. Be relentless. No one can make you quit.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will you be…

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Spirituality

A Rare Talent

Andy Warhol is credited with saying, “in the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” He said this decades before the first iteration of social media had come to be. Warhol’s flippant remark is something many in society are trying to fulfill.

People will work like hell to be called “influencers.” But what does that really mean? Influencer has the allure of someone you might want to look up to. Politicians have influence. I don’t consider them to be role models, though. The guys who created “Jackass” are considered to be influencers. All they did was some really outrageous things to gain viewers. Yet, I wasn’t influenced to do any of the crazy stuff they did!

It is a rare person who goes about their life, doing good work, taking care of others, yet they are not seeking attention. Jesus was one of those people. He healed many, yet never sought his own honor. He brought people back to life after they were dead, but told the witnesses to “tell no one.” His influence has lasted for over 2,000 years.

I have been privileged to meet people who are rare finds, they are truly treasures among us.

Good people are out there. Sometimes you gotta look hard to find them, but they are there. My encouragement to you is to follow their example. It doesn’t matter how many people notice or give you credit. We are only here for an audience of one. God will see what you did, and that’s all that matters…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Eyesight

Do you view a half glass of liquid as being half full or half empty? And just how big of a glass are you looking at? Today’s post is about what we see.

Admittedly, I’m a good finder. I see the good in every person and every situation. While I’m usually happy with this trait, sometimes I hang on to people too long. When I don’t use discernment and solid judgment, it can be a character flaw.

Others are pessimistic about the future. They can be the Eeyores of the world. Those types of people see a problem in every solution!

My hope for you, and me, is that we see the world around us through God’s eyes. He sees everything. Let’s focus on seeing the beauty in creation. This applies to people and animals as well as nature.

Peer into the heart of mankind. See and acknowledge the good works people do for others without expecting anything in return. There’s beauty there, too…

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Spirituality

Unstoppable

Watching your children learn to walk is both exhilarating and a little stressful. They pull themselves up, take a step or two, teeter and fall. And what do they do? They get right back up and try again! We all eventually got it right because we don’t see adults crawling around from place to place.

Adopt the mindset of a child. You have dreams and desires for your life. Big dreams. Sometimes they fade into the background because, well, life gets in the way. Or perhaps life has knocked you on your ass so hard you are afraid to get back up. Face your fears and get up anyway. You weren’t created to stay down.

When our dreams and desires are aligned with God’s purpose for our lives, we cannot be stopped. This doesn’t mean you won’t have setbacks, challenges or hurdles get in your way. You will. But when you have a white hot determination to succeed, you will.

It’s impossible to stop a person who refuses to give up. So, it’s time to rekindle the fire that lives inside you. Start today…

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Uncategorized

I’m Flattered

Oscar Wilde wrote “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” There is much to unravel with Wilde’s quote, but for brevity’s sake let’s stick with flattery.

It’s nice to receive a compliment. Being confident in yourself and your abilities allows you to accept the compliment with humility and appreciation. I have had been privileged to have dinner with some accomplished people in the acting and sports world. To a person, each one realized how fortunate they were to have had such great success in their respective fields. No arrogance or rudeness, even when dinner was interrupted by people seeking autographs and pictures.

There are people who try to flatter others thinking they will get something in return. The fakes are pretty easy to spot.

I encourage you to look for ways to pass on compliments when you can. Remember that it’s not always about you. Be sincere. Write a short note to people you admire. Sincere flattery can go a long way when offered in the right way…

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