Tag Archives: #hope

#inspiration, #spirituality

False Hope

We live in a materialistic society. Whoever has the most toys wins, right? Wrong.

As my life has progressed and I have grown, I have learned a few things. In my early adult life I chased money, believing it would bring me what I was looking for. But it never satisfied me. I wanted more. My hope for peace and purpose was misplaced.

The 17th century philosopher, Blaise Pascal wrote “that everyone has a God-shaped vacuum in their heart.” It can only be filled with God. I have learned that what he wrote is true. In my wrestling matches with God, when I let go and let God, I win. Every. Single. Time. It’s the letting go of my desire to control that’s hard.

I ask you, what are you placing your hopes in? If what you’ve been doing hasn’t worked, give God a try. You won’t be disappointed.

I promise…

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#inspiration

Next!

Now that Christmas is over, you may put the stress of the holidays behind you. Now we begin the week before the new year. This time of year has its own set of challenges.

There’s much to do, right? Return gifts that don’t fit, put a tree away, and get those New Years Resolutions written down. More stress! But it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Start by doing the next thing. Then the next. Just keep going because your list will continue to have things added to it. Need to make a change in your life? Start now. Make the change your next thing to accomplish.

If you start to miss the stress, don’t forget. Christmas is coming…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Christmas Cheer

I love to laugh and to make others laugh. I find that a lot of life is full of humor. And laughter is good for us. It burns calories without having to go to the gym!

Some people are having a difficult time finding anything to laugh about, and Christmas cheer isn’t waiting for them in their stockings. They have suffered losses and setbacks. It takes time to heal from the pain. It can’t be forced.

If you know someone who might be alone this year, reach out to them. Let them know they are in your thoughts. Your small gesture might put a smile on their face.

Speaking of laughter, here is an old SNL clip that always makes me laugh. Peace to all…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Nearby When You Need It

All of us have things in our past we would love to forget. The mistakes we’ve made, the things we have said we wished we hadn’t. All of them play on a never ending loop in our heads.

At the same time, there are more things we did right, and we continue doing them. We aren’t constantly reminded of them because they don’t induce stress. Yet, stress isn’t always a bad thing.

I grew up in a constant “fight or flight” way of thinking. My mind created coping mechanisms so I could survive. Over time, those coping mechanisms ceased to serve me well. At that point I was kinda lost. I was living in an adult world with no adult skills. Only by the grace of God I made it through.

In 2010 I found the right psychotherapist and I went to work on myself. Over time, I learned what the root causes were of my decision making. Only then did I remove the root and began making better, healthier decisions. It has been challenging, but man I have grown immensely.

The past remains in the past. It’s always nearby if I need it, but its only use is as a reminder of how far I have come. I’m still working on myself because that never stops.

Do the work…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Unspoken Stories

This week I have been doing volunteer speaking in seven Texas prisons. Some of the stories the men and women tell about their lives are unthinkable. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse are common to many of the inmates. But there is hope…

The State of Texas criminal justice system is designed to give inmates a path forward. An inmate can become a cosmetologist, a barber, even a nurse, courtesy of the state. The state believes in them while many in society have rejected them. Over the past couple of years I’ve had the privilege to speak to thousands. Many life stories will stay with me forever.

One of the truths I share with prisoners is that when they leave, they need to walk out with their heads held high and their shoulders back. They have done what the State of Texas required of them. Yet, there are people who will reject them because they are convicted felons. Some will throw their past in their faces and try to keep them down. Those aren’t their people.

There are a lot of good people in the world. You gotta look hard to find them, but they are there.

Be good…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Fantasyland

The Walt Disney Company is in the business of creating fantasy worlds. They are excellent at their craft. And just think, it all started with a mouse.

People create stories in their heads to cover up pain. They tell themselves (and others) the stories so often that they begin to believe they are real. The reality of our lives won’t change because we wish it away.

We put on masks, creating a facade for the world to see. Inside our heads and hearts we believe if people saw us for who we are, they won’t like us. It may surprise you to know that just the opposite is true. People crave human connection, rea connection. Not something based upon superficiality.

I encourage you, let your guard down. Connect. Leave the fantasy world to Disney…

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#inspiration

Indecision

Not making a decision is the same as making one. Indecision is a decision.

Why don’t people try and decide things? Perhaps it’s fear of failure. Giving too much thought to failing rather than succeeding has killed many dreams. If failure dominates your thinking, change it.

Indecision keeps us in limbo. Being unable to decide will stifle your happiness and fulfillment.

Change your thoughts. Begin now…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Eyesight

As I have gotten older, I have noticed my eyesight is not as sharp as it once was. But there are certain things I see clearly.

Consider the story of the man who was blind since birth. Jesus healed the man and restored his eyesight. In those days, when something bad happened like blindness, the people attributed it to either the sin of the man or his parents. Jesus declared it to be neither. The man was born blind so that in that moment, God would be glorified.

Some of the Pharisees were outraged because Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath. They missed it completely! Only God could restore the man’s sight, but they were blind to this because they were only looking at the law. Jesus didn’t come to bring us more religion. He came to show us the character of God. As you can see, there’s a lot of levels to this beautiful story.

I encourage you to open your eyes. See the unseen. When you see a wrong, don’t walk away. Make it right.

The unseen is not just the spiritual. It’s the people around us, too…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Your Greatest Battle

Every day we are in a fight for our lives. Good versus evil. Do we choose Gods way or the way the world thinks? The world isn’t always wrong, but it can be seductive. We can be lured into a false sense of security.

God gave us a guide for how we should live our lives. There is structure, emotional and physical health and how we should handle our money inside that book. There are also many self-help books in circulation. We turn to them because if we follow what the Bible teaches us, we might be thought of as weird. No one wants that because then you become an outcast!

The fight is real. Unseen forces are vying for our attention. I encourage you to pay attention to the Spirit that brings light and life into you.

You won’t be sorry or disappointed…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Government Efficiency

GREAT NEWS!!! I received a notice from the IRS informing me I had overpaid my taxes by $87.20! Given the level of efficiency I have come to expect from the government, I’m expecting to receive payment around August of 2026! It’s a Christmas Miracle!

Of course I’m being silly, trying to generate a laugh. But the reason it’s funny is because there’s truth in it. The old saying, “it’s close enough for government work” is what we have come to expect. This attitude would never survive in the private sector.

We certainly need a government, no doubt. And they have almost unlimited resources. But if you want to be the most efficient purveyor of those resources, put them in the hands of the faith and philanthropic communities. They will move Heaven and Earth while wasting precious little.

Enjoy your day, everyone…

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