Tag Archives: #hope

#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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#inspiration, #spirituality

Holding On

Great memories are treasures we hold in our hearts. Moments in time permanently etched in the fiber of our being.

What are we holding onto that doesn’t serve us well? This could be anything from a bad habit to people who aren’t good for us. It’s a real challenge to let go.

Changing a habit takes about three weeks. Even after that we have a desire to return to old behavior. If we aren’t careful, we will allow our minds to play tricks on us. The tricks are real.

Letting go of people is challenging, too. There was a time in my life where I eliminated every person who wasn’t edifying and enriching to my life. I was lonely for a while, and loneliness sucks. But I held on to a stronger belief that I knew the loneliness would pass. I focused on myself. The healthier I got, the more healthy people I attracted into my life. It was worth the effort to make myself a priority.

I encourage you to take inventory of your own life. If there’s something you need to rid yourself of, take the brave first step in a new direction.

You might experience some loneliness, too, but the darkness will pass. Every time…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Welcome The Challenges

Sometimes life goes smoothly, but sometimes life is hard. Really hard. When we are in the middle of a storm we wonder if it will ever end. It will.

I encourage you to welcome the challenges that are thrown your way. Difficulties require us to grow, to stretch ourselves. And along the way our faith strengthens. When the shit hits the fan is the time many people cry out to God to help. He will answer us every time, although it might not be the answer we want. God knows what is best. Trust Him.

No one gets to live life without challenges. They will pass, and you will find yourself in the dark periods, your strongest self…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Hatred

Why do people hate others? Everything from the neo-Nazis to the KKK exists so they can isolate and marginalize others, keeping them living in fear. Although these groups are small, they can inflict great harm to people.

Anti-Semitism is rampant on college campuses and in mainstream society. Two weeks ago I attended a “Breakfast For Israel” meeting to learn about the battles Israel is facing. The Israelis are in a fight for their lives, their very existence. There was security everywhere to keep the attendees safe. This really saddened me.

Hatred is the default mechanism of a weak and empty society. Blame is oftentimes a companion of hate. People believe they have been victimized so they blame the people who aren’t like them.

People fear what they don’t understand. I encourage you to get to know people, learn about them and their culture. You will see that we are all pretty much the same inside…

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#inspiration

Redirect

For years I have been writing and speaking about controlling our thoughts. It’s challenging, I know, but it can be done.

Here is a solid way to begin the habit of controlling your thinking. I call it redirection. Whenever a potentially destructive thought or impulse enters your mind, instead of acting on it simply do the opposite. You don’t feel like exercising? Visualize yourself looking fit and do it anyway. You want to eat something that isn’t good for your body and overall health? Remember your fit physique visual. Over time, your mind will manifest your new way of thinking.

I get that our minds can seem like they are completely out of control. They really aren’t. You have control of your attitude which will direct your thoughts. Thoughts become actions.

Try it with just one bad habit you want to change. Stick with it and you’ll see the desired results…

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