Tag Archives: #hope

#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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#inspiration, #spirituality

Tis the Season…

December has arrived! Thanksgiving is behind us and now Christmas is staring us in the face. Don’t sweat it. Just like every other year, you will get everything done.

For some, the holidays won’t be the same this year. Perhaps they suffered a loss during the year, or maybe their relationships with their family is fractured. Maybe they received a bad medical report and they are considering that this might be their last Christmas. These are real life situations that exist all around us.

Take a moment to think about the people you know. If someone comes to mind who might be struggling, pick up the phone and give them a call. Just checking on people goes a very long way.

Take the time…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Asking For A Friend…

We see Facebook posts from people asking about certain situations, whether they are acceptable or not. Oftentimes they are “asking for a friend.” This is code for “I’m asking for myself!”

Most of the posts are funny. But what about the questions that go unasked? People are hurting. Mental health was shredded from isolation during the pandemic, and it hasn’t recovered. We are hardwired to be connected with others, not isolated.

The holidays are upon us and we are told to be cheerful and merry. At Thanksgiving we are instructed to be thankful for what we have. The holidays bring up the sins of the past. Not every family was functional. For some of us, Christmas and Thanksgiving were huge disappointments.

I encourage you to reach out to others when you are hurting or lonely. Don’t let pride stop you or even slow you down. It’s perfectly acceptable and normal to need to be heard.

In the words of Dr. Frasier Crane, I’m listening…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Don’t Look Away

Over the course of my life I have learned that there are many people who have demons to rid themselves of, yet they refuse to face them. You can quash them for a while, but they always return.

Inner workings are difficult. They allow us to look not only at decisions and behaviors we made, but why we made them. When you remove the root cause, you have freed yourself from destructive thoughts and actions.

People put off doing self-work. I get it because you are taking responsibility for your actions, and not everyone wants to do that. You no longer have anyone to blame. But you grow immensely by the process. And aren’t we all trying to grow?

My encouragement to you is, if you know there are things you know you need to work on, stop putting it off. Face your inner demons. Stare them down and change your thought patterns.

Freedom is waiting for you on the other side. Walk into the light. Take that brave first step today…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Interview with Travis Taylor

Travis Taylor is a bright light in a dark world. His life journey has been filled with hardship as well as joy. Travis will tell you he barely has a high school diploma, but his life experiences are worth at least a Masters Degree.

Travis is the Worship Pastor and an Associate Teaching Pastor at an Austin mega church. He uses the pain from his past to teach and inspire others. Please take a moment to reflect on how in the darkness, there is hope…

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