Tag Archives: #hope

#inspiration, #spirituality

Timing

Timing is everything! This includes being on time as well. If you take an airplane to a different city, the airline typically leaves on time, with or without me.

God’s timing is perfect. I know the Bible tells us this, but it is evidenced everywhere in our lives. Look back on your life. Reflect and you will see.

When the 2001 terrorist attack happened, President Bush had the right experiences in his life to prepare him to lead us through that new and scary world. During the financial meltdown of 2008, the world’s leading expert on the depression was leading The Federal Reserve.

Every experience you have in life is preparing you for something else. This includes your bad experiences.

Trust the timing…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

A Line in the Sand

It’s an election year in the United States. That means much of the adult population will become pundits, pollsters and experts in 2024. It’s as predictable as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West.

For some reason, our society has become politicized to the point where we draw lines in the sand. This truly baffles me. Voting is one of our greatest privileges, and we are free to vote for whoever we choose. I have been called unprintable names by people on the left who don’t even know me. I have been called names by people on the right because I went to hear Bill Clinton speak. Then I had the audacity to vote for a friend of mine who was running for president of the Travis County Democratic Party. Friendship transcends politics. At least it does to me.

Government is not the answer to our problems. The government has tremendous resources, but they are the most inefficient purveyors of those resources. If you want to move mountains, put those resources in the hands of the faith and philanthropic communities. They will move Heaven and Earth while wasting very little. It would be awe-inspiring!

If you want to draw a line in the sand, make it count. Draw a line for goodness over evil, for law and order, and for equal justice for everyone. Those count!

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Unnatural

Worry is unnatural and unnecessary. When you take a moment to consider it, we weren’t born knowing how to worry. We learned how. Let’s dive a little deeper.

Perhaps we were raised by parents who worried. For certain, our world will give us much to worry about when you consider everything going on around us. But let’s change the word “worry” to concern. Being concerned rather than worried changes the narrative. Speaking of narratives, the media preys on people’s emotions such as worry. “You must stay tuned or you might miss something.” You will miss nothing. Tune out.

Replace your worries with childlike curiosity. Are you concerned about your health? Read scientific applications for better health. Do you want to be a better parent? Read credible resources about parenting and talk to people who have raised solid children. Do you see what I mean?

You aren’t going to miss a thing by turning off the news. So, don’t worry about it!

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Ignition

The ignition on your car must be used to start the engine. If you don’t engage it, nothing happens and you go nowhere.

Similarly, the Word of God gets things, big things started when you believe. The Bible gives us the best, most comprehensive toolkit to live our lives well on this side of eternity.

Our planet and everything on it is broken and flawed. Yet, God transcends time and space. He is in the past, present and future at the same time. He knows what our future holds because He’s already there.

You will experience your share of trouble in this life. Thankfully we have the guide to get us through everything thrown our way.

Read God’s Word and pray. It’s time to get started…

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#inspiration

Processed

You hear a lot about how bad processed foods are for us, and they are. Our bodies aren’t meant to handle unnatural elements.

In today’s post, I want to talk about processing our emotions. Our brains can handle a lot, yet sometimes the mind gets wired in an unhealthy manner. But there’s good news! What was done can be undone, if we are willing to do the work.

Stuffing down our emotions like anger can destroy us. Righteous anger is okay, but it must be channeled correctly. Use it as fuel to right some of the wrongs in our world. Then anger comes out in the right way.

If you have been hurt by another person, I’m truly sorry. People do horrible things to others and damage the innocent. But I encourage you to process your emotions in a healthy way. You might need the guidance of a psychotherapist to work through it. But you can get through it and live fully.

Start today. In fact, start now…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Seen or Unseen

Everyone wants to be seen, heard and understood. It’s universal, yet many are afraid to let their guard down and show themselves.

Musicians have written about this conundrum for years. The Goo Goo Dolls, one of my favorite bands, wrote this chorus in their song, “Iris:”

“And I don’t want the world to see me
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am.”

I believe people stay guarded because they believe if someone saw them for who they are, they wouldn’t be liked. A hard truth is, not everyone is going to like us. And that’s okay. When you are trying to make a positive impact in the world, you’re gonna rub some people the wrong way. And that’s okay.

I encourage you to continue showing the world who you are, spreading goodness and light along the way. If you piss a few people off doing that, it’s okay…

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#inspiration

Renewal

In the northern hemisphere, Spring is here! The grass is turning green, trees are sprouting new life, and in Texas we have bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes everywhere we look.

It’s time for the ritual known as “spring cleaning.” Hopefully we are cleaning our homes more than once per year.

Spring is a time for new beginnings for many. New beginnings bring new hope. New hope is followed by a better life.

Spring has arrived. Celebrate!

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#inspiration

Needs

We have wants and we have needs. They are different.

Someone might want a bigger house, but do they really need it is a legitimate question. It’s the same thing with food. I might want to go out to dinner every night rather than cooking for myself, but I don’t need to incur the extra expense. It costs a lot to go out to eat!

When you are about to buy something on an impulse, wait 24 hours before purchasing it. Do you still get as excited about it as you did the day before? If not, then let it pass.

When you find contentment in your life, you’ll clearly see the difference between wants and needs…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

By Definition

How do you define yourself? Maybe you want to be known for your sense of style, or maybe your character is the most important way you define yourself.

Whatever it is, we are known for something. People get impressed by possessions, positions and power. Yet there are people who have all those things but they are empty inside. No amount of money or prestige will fill an empty heart.

Serving your fellow man will bring you an indescribable feeling. Doing something for someone who can never repay you will fill the emptiness with incredible joy and peace.

Start by figuring out who you are. Everything else will fall into place…

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#spirituality

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. After his arrest the night before, his disciples ran, believing they would be next. Even though Jesus told them he would be killed and arise on the third day, they were frightened. Even after witnessing thousands of miracles, they fled. Jesus told them their “faith would be shaken,” and he got that right, too.

And Jesus told them this: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

I wish everyone a peaceful day…

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