Tag Archives: #greatness

#inspiration, #spirituality

All Things New

We love new stuff! Our favorite actor has a new movie out, we get a new car, or we visit a resort that’s new to us. There’s nothing like the excitement newness brings.

Most of life is routine, boring and more of the same every day. Yet, people take comfort in the mundane. Taking risks involves venturing into the unknown. This kind of newness is difficult for many to handle. So they stay on the sidelines playing it safe.

If you want real newness in your life, let God get ahold of you. He changes us, making us who we were created to be. Change of this magnitude has eternal consequences. God uses us to change the world.

Talk to God. Tell Him you are applying for the job. You will be glad you did…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

And Here We Are

In June of 1776, the second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to consider their future. They had tried to work with the Crown peacefully to no avail. King George III was being unreasonable, even using British troops to fire upon and kill some of his own citizens in Boston.

The men who met at the Pennsylvania State House were strong personalities. They were not always in agreement. Thomas Jefferson, only 33 years old at the time, penned the Declaration of Independence and presented it on June 28th. By accepting the Declaration, the men knew they were risking everything. For days they debated. On July 1st, the group adjourned for three days of prayer. They reconvened on the 4th of July, severed their ties to Britain, and it was game on.

Today we celebrate 248 years of independence from British rule. And despite our differences, that’s worth celebrating!

God Bless the United States of America!

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Measures

How do you measure success? Many among us use wealth, position or their zip code as representative of how successful they are. It is true that moving into a more desirable zip code might give your children access to better schools, but that doesn’t guarantee they will take advantage of it.

Chasing wealth is fleeting. Someone has more, so the rat race continues. Fame rarely lasts. Look no further than the child stars who have become train wrecks of adults.

Success can be defined by the amount of fulfillment we have in our lives. Anyone with a pulse would consider Mother Teresa to have been successful. She had no money, and she didn’t seek the fame she received. Yet, she found fulfillment in her life.

We can learn a lot from historical figures. Read the autobiography of Booker T. Washington. You will be inspired by his drive, determination and work ethic.

Success comes from making a difference. Start making yours…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Personal Responsibility

I love extracurricular activities in schools. Whether it’s theater, band or sports, they are great teaching tools for our young people. And kids are in school to learn more than how to conjugate verbs or solve quadratic equations.

Being part of something bigger than yourself requires responsibility, accountability and dedication. How well you compete is dependent upon how well you prepare. Every experience we have in life prepares us for something else. Even our bad experiences are useful.

Taking ownership when you do or say something wrong is vital for a functioning society. Getting out of something might cause someone to avoid some short-term pain, but it damages the offender in ways we can’t see, not to mention the carnage they leave in their wake. Face it and go through it. Adversity builds resilience and strength.

Be the one who leads well. Be the one…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Courage

Life is not a popularity contest. Going with the flow or not rocking the boat just doesn’t cut it sometimes. We must take a stand for what is true and right.

Most of us enjoy the peaceful times in our lives. We are always experiencing some conflict or challenge, yet we can feel calm among the chaos. Being courageous and going against the crowd can bring some tension into the mix. But if we are standing up for something, and our motives are pure and noble, we will win in the end. Good crushes evil. Light reigns over darkness.

If you are concerned about being part of the crowd, make sure it’s the right crowd. And when the moment arrives when you feel the need to speak up, that is a leadership moment in your life.

Embrace it, even if you are standing alone. It might take some courage, but you have it in you. Find it…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Rights

A few years ago, DFW Airport was shut down and all of the planes were grounded because of weather. I happened to be a passenger on one of those airplanes. An ornery passenger started hitting the call button repeatedly until our nice Flight Attendant appeared. He immediately started chastising the young lady, almost bringing her to tears because “he had rights” and needed to be in Austin for an important meeting. I had had enough. I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around, I told him to “shut the fuck up. It wasn’t her fault the airport was shut down. It’s safer to be on the ground than to try to fly.” The entire cabin clapped, he shut up, the Flight Attendant opened the bar and served everyone but him!

Our rights have become used and abused to get our way. Had the airline accommodated the emotionally disturbed man I mentioned before, the exercise of his “rights” would have endangered everyone else.

Freedom of speech is one of our greatest rights in The United States. With that freedom comes responsibility to be honest and to speak with integrity. Politicians and the media tell outright lies and are not held accountable. This is a perversion of our first right cited in The Bill of Rights. we expect politicians to stretch the truth, but lying is a whole different level.

It’s best to exercise your first amendment rights by telling the truth. Free speech does not mean the freedom to lie…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Sensationalism

People nowadays like to refer to themselves as “influencers.” Influence works both ways. There’s the so-called influencer in Britain who videoed himself licking a toilet in a public restroom. And there’s the girl who has made it her goal to sleep with 600 men in 2024. Who are these people influencing?

Outrageous acts produce headlines. William Thomas got front page coverage and a bunch of NCAA records when, in his senior year at UPenn he changed his name to “Lia” and transferred to the women’s swim team. This is an outrage to women, but it seems fewer and fewer people care. I hope he isn’t propped up as a role model for young children.

There are so many better stories that should be grabbing people’s attention. The lives of Dr. Ben Carson, Booker T. Washington, Henry Ford, Elon Musk and so many others will inspire you. You might not go down in history, but that’s not the goal. And remember, you altered the history of the world when you were born.

You can be sensational without the extra noise. Now go make a difference. Today…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Left Behind

We go through different periods in our lives. From childhood through the teenage years, and finally to adulthood. Our experiences shape us. Even our bad days can be used for good. Maybe they were just learning experiences. And hopefully we learned!

Over the course of our lives we have developed habits, both good and poor. We learn how to make friends and develop relationships. We make a habit of exercising and eating well. Yet I meet so many people who focus their attention on their faults. They have low self esteem and rather than focusing their energy on what they do well, they beat themselves up emotionally.

If this is something you struggle with, please be aware that you aren’t alone in your struggle. Everyone has to learn to leave the self-defeating behaviors behind and mold themselves into who God intended them to be. The Spirit is strong and will help you. Just believe in Him and believe in yourself.

It’s time to leave anything destructive behind. Sometimes this includes people…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Late

The word “late” has a lot of applications. For example, if a teenage girl tells her boyfriend “I’m late,” it might not mean she is late to their date. But if you tell someone you drive a late-model car it might promote status.

If you are reading this and are feeling some frustration with your life, it’s not too late to make a change. God is not finished with every single person who is alive and breathing. That includes you. His purpose for your life will bring meaning and clarity to your life. Your inner drive will be awakened.

Take inventory of what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. This will reveal what your purpose is. Then take a leap of faith and walk through that door.

Be brave. Be audacious. You’re going to need to be…

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#inspiration

Balanced Life

I hear people preach about getting balance in your life. You know, the whole work-life balance thing. I’m not sure that’s good advice.

It is true that all of us need rest, play, social interaction and nutrition in addition to our work. These are vital elements to maintain our mental health. Yet I have always leaned into my work while adding new projects. I enjoy it. That’s how I’m wired. Some people want a structured 9-5 job along with an element of predictability in their lives. That’s fine, too!

I believe the most neglected part of life is getting enough rest. You must take time to recharge. Deep, restful sleep prepares us to go fight another day.

Play is important, too. Take some time to let loose and have some fun! And don’t feel guilty for it. Solid playtime makes you better.

Find the balance that’s right for you. Don’t copy the templates of others, or what the “experts” tell you. You know what’s best for you…

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