People like to identify us by our class. You know, upper, middle and lower. But that’s based upon our monetary value, not our intrinsic value.
In the eyes of God we are all upper class. He made us and God doesn’t create junk. Always remember this.
Someone may have more money than we do, but in the opinion of the one who matters, we are equally wealthy…
You have gifts. God equipped you with them. They are unique to you.
Living with purpose means you are using your gifts. We use them to glorify our Creator, not for personal gain or selfish reasons. God gave them to you to use for His purposes on this side of eternity. It’s important that you keep this in mind because they have eternal consequences.
Make a list of what fills your heart. These are hints about how you are gifted. Then go make a difference in the world. And don’t forget to give God the glory…
How many decisions do you think you make every day? According to my Google search, we average between 33,000 and 35,000 decisions daily. That’s mind blowing and inspiring at the same time!
We, occasionally, are asked for advice from others. I’ve had people say “just tell me what to do.” But it’s not my place to decide things for others. We learn and grow through experience. We learn more from our failures than our successes.
When I was raising my children, I made decisions for them while they were under my care. They are adults now, and must make their own way through life. Fortunately they are young men with solid character, so I’m confident things will work out well for them in their lives.
I encourage you to make a conscious decision to make a difference. That’s one of the best decisions you can make. Decide today…
Each of us have highlight reels of our lives and we have what I call “lowlight” reels, too. Both are available for replay in our minds all the time. Which reel do you play the most?
When looking back on your life, replay the good moments the most. Don’t get stuck there, thus you might think your best days are behind you. That’s simply not true. And don’t get mired down in memories of your setbacks and failures, either. This might stop you from trying anything new.
Focus on the here and now. Leave the past in the past, right where it belongs…
We are coming up on the 25th anniversary of the Columbine massacre. It’s been on my mind a lot lately. You see, I serve on the Board of Directors for Rachel’s Challenge, the largest organization in the world that focuses on kindness and compassion. This charity was founded after Columbine. Rachel was the first child killed that day.
Since Columbine, we have had many more school shootings. The gun isn’t the problem. When students feel connected and safe at school, all the societal ills go away. They learn better. And isn’t learning one of the reasons we send children to school?
Forgiveness has power. By forgiving those who have offended us, we harness that power and bring good from the bad. More on this in future writings.
Check out the organization by following the link. You will be glad you did…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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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