Tag Archives: #hope

#inspiration

An Observation

The theme of my blog and my podcast is to spread encouragement, strength and hope to a world in desperate need of it. From the feedback you have given me, I know I am making a difference. But I want to do more.

The top podcast category is comedy. Over 20% of listeners spend their time in that genre. This reminds me that the world needs to laugh. So, as best as possible, I will introduce more humor into my work. In person I’m funny as hell with a genuine ability to tell funny stories. Let’s see if I can pull it off.

I appreciate everyone who reads my daily posts and listens/watches my podcast. You are special to me.

Let me know how I do. I’m certain I will hear from you…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Birthdays

November 8th is my birthday. That’s right! It’s today. As much as I enjoy being the center of attention, I would rather my birthday pass without much attention. I woke up this morning, so that’s enough.

We should give thought to the time in history we were born in. God knew the exact moment I would be brought into this world, and He knows when I will check out. It’s up to me to make the most of my time. Not for selfish reasons, but to bring honor and glory to God. He’s the reason for everything I have.

I encourage you to remember why you’re here. Life is a grind sometimes, but if you are here God is not finished with you, yet.

And if no one else remembers, God knows your birthday…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

The Holidays

Holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving is still three weeks away, but there are plenty of people who already have their Christmas tree up and decorated. Some retailers started promoting Christmas in July. Every year it begins earlier and earlier.

With the holidays approaching, we will be deluged (assaulted?) by the Hallmark movies. You know the story. A perfect family has some trouble. They bend but don’t break and they live happily ever after.

Real life is not a Hallmark movie. For some it’s more like a dystopian nightmare. They are facing struggles we can’t imagine. This is why I regularly post about being kind. Kindness costs you nothing, but it reaps dividends we also can’t imagine.

You never know, your kindness might be someone’s last, best hope…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Make Time

Last week I ran into a friend of mine. He was leaving his office to go pick up his foster daughter from school. This man is the Senior Pastor of a large church in Austin. The demands on his time are many. Yet, he makes the time to show this girl she is important.

We make time for what is important. You want to be healthy? You make time to exercise. Want more education? You make time to get advanced schooling. Want to know God more? You spend time studying the Bible and talking to Him during your day.

We all have the same 168 hours each week. The reason some people accomplish more than others is because they are focused on what is important. Time is seen as a precious commodity and should not be wasted.

My friend I mentioned before is creating a legacy that will last for generations. I believe that is time well spent…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Angered

There’s a lot of angry people out there. Some people have lost their minds over politics. They even seem to revel in their angry rhetoric. It almost gives them a purpose.

Jesus got angry. In fact, he made a whip and cleared the Temple with it. Getting angry isn’t wrong when you are angry about the right things.

Injustice makes me angry, as does the exploitation and harming of children. Currently there are over 300,000 children who have been trafficked across our border that our government has lost track of. How something this colossally cruel and irresponsible could happen is beyond me.

When you get angry, ask yourself a question: is it worth it? If it’s important, pursue it with everything in you. If the answer is no then let it go.

There will always be something new to make you angry waiting around the next corner…

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#inspiration

Medicate

Medications are a part of life. If you get an infection, prior to the invention of penicillin you had to wait it out and hope for the best. Penicillin revolutionized antibiotic therapy.

It seems like every third commercial is for a drug. “Have you ever been depressed? Try Abilify.” First off, I’m not picking on Abilify. But consider the advertising. Almost everyone has experienced depression. Most often it’s seasonal depression, not chronic. It will pass.

Unless you have chemical depression, consider natural therapy. Get outside. Go hiking. Do something for someone who can never repay you. Take into consideration what you are eating. Many of our foods alter our brain chemistry. What I’m suggesting is, there might be a better way to help your mental health than a drug.

I encourage you to medicate yourself with fresh air, sunshine and the company of good people. Give it a try. The only thing you might lose is a depressed attitude…

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#inspiration

The Family

Families are in a crisis. It’s estimated that 70-80% of families are dysfunctional. I grew up in a family filled with fear, chaos and sometimes violence. Living in a constant state of “fight or flight” does damage that can last a lifetime.

Dysfunctional families are characterized by, don’t talk, don’t trust and don’t feel. I don’t need to go into a great amount of detail about those. They speak for themselves. When I was a child, I thought the families I saw on television were representative of all families. Boy, was I naive.

Healthy families display open communication, conflict resolution and cohesiveness. Parents lead by example and set expectations and boundaries for their children.

If you grew up in chaos, you have the ability to change the course of the next generation. Work on yourself. It’s difficult, no doubt, but you will be creating a legacy.

Do the work…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

True or False

We have a tendency to either stretch the truth or sugarcoat things so they don’t seem so bad. Why not just tell it like it is?

There’s been a growing trend where people don’t call a lie a lie. Substituting the word falsehood or disinformation might sound more palatable to some, but it doesn’t change what it is. If it isn’t the truth, it’s a lie.

The truth will stand on its own. There’s no need to exaggerate to make a point. God’s word is always true, so you can rely on it no matter the situation. In fact, God cannot tell a lie. It goes against his nature. What he said 2,000 years ago is still true today. Our exaggerations pass in a moment.

I encourage you to see things clearly. Question everything except the word of God. He’s the only one who will tell us the truth every time…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Come Back

All throughout the Old Testament, God is saying “turn back to me. Stop worshipping idols and put me first.” I believe the message is the same today. It gets lost in the noise.

We live in the most connected world there has ever been. You can call anywhere in the world and you can watch events unfold in real time. But have we lost our connection with the eternal? We place so much importance on what we possess, our status, and our work that we forget that everything good in our lives are gifts from God. He deserves our thanks and praise. He deserves to be number one in our lives. He expects us to help others who are less fortunate.

It’s not too late. We can turn this ship around and rise to greater heights than we can imagine.

He’s waiting on us. It’s not the other way around…

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#inspiration

Almost There

In the United States, we are one week away from finding out who our next president will be. I, for one, am ready to get this election season behind us.

Every year it seems like the rhetoric gets more amped up. This year one party is calling their opponent Hitler while the other candidate calls his opponent a low IQ individual. Neither comment is acceptable. Hitler was a genocidal maniac who killed 11 million people. Insulting someone’s intelligence is questionable, at best, and unnecessary.

Our country will survive no matter the outcome. Next to the Bible, the United States Constitution is the greatest document ever written. It will stand. Our republic will remain intact.

Words have consequences. Let’s tone down our rhetoric and take the time to think before we speak…

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