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Goodness

I believe most people are good at heart. They mean well and typically treat others with kindness and respect.

When we give, whether we are giving money or giving of ourselves, let’s do it with a cheerful attitude. Doing good without concerning yourself with getting repaid is pure. If we give and feel resentment, we should examine our hearts to determine why we are resentful.

Everything we do and say is a reflection of what is in our hearts. Let’s allow goodness to reign…

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Status

People are confused nowadays. They are confused because they believe their worth is tied to their status, money, zip code or position in life. They are gravely mistaken.

Our worth lies in the one who created us. God planned each and every one of us exactly how He wanted us to be. This is the foundation of our worth.

External stuff will die, but our relationship with the Creator is eternal…

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Bold Christianity

We Christians should show we are people of faith by our actions, not just our words. Words without actions are hollow. Set the example for others and don’t make it about yourself.

There is much good that God provides beyond what is visible. I can take things for granted. I don’t have any way of knowing how many things God has protected me from. But I know He has.

Be bold in practicing your faith. In fact, be audacious…

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Eternal

Eternal means something with no end but also no beginning. How does that happen?

We know God is eternal. Our home in eternity will have no end to it. This is hard to get my head around, but I don’t have to understand it to believe it. Just like gravity. I cannot explain it, yet I know better than to jump off a building because it wouldn’t end well!

We know there is more than what we see. The spiritual realm is real. Let’s work on focusing on what we can’t see beyond what we can see. It’s got eternal consequences…

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Life and Death

Yesterday I went to check on a good friend because I hadn’t heard from him. I let myself in to his house and he wasn’t on the sofa. I felt encouraged because that was his normal resting place. I walked into his kitchen and found him dead on the floor.

God knows how many days we have on this planet. We don’t have that luxury. But we are inspired to make the most of the time we are here. I don’t always do that, but I keep trying.

My friend had a history of bad health which he was working to improve on. I’m at peace with his passing away. He did live a good life, and was a blessing to many. He will be missed, and he will be remembered.

Live fully, everyone. Don’t waste the dawn…

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Empathy

Nowadays I see a lot of people who label themselves as “empaths.” They believe they feel what others are feeling, no matter the circumstances.

All of us have intuition. It’s a gift from the Creator. Our intuition protects us from bad people and dangerous situations. We feel alerted in the moment.

Empathy is shared experience. Who better understands what it’s like to be married to an alcoholic than another person who is, too? The only people who know how it feels to lose a child are people who have lost a child.

The pain and struggle you have experienced in life can be used to help others. In this way, pain is a gift, too. Don’t waste it…

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Pain and Void

Late yesterday afternoon I received a call from a good friend of mine. He was calling to let me know that his son had taken his own life a few days prior. I knew his son. In fact, a couple times per year “Mike” and I would catch a movie together. He was the sweetest kid you ever met, and he was only 18 years old.

Youth suicide is the #2 killer of our young people. The stressors kids are dealing with, along with the immeasurable damage caused by shutting down schools has exacerbated this malady.

Mike didn’t leave a note. In his final days he seemed happy. He was in college and had a job he enjoyed. Mike wasn’t a druggie or drinker. This one is a puzzle we may never be able to put together.

My friend and his family will forever wake up missing a valuable piece of their lives. Holidays will be different. Their pain will get better as time goes on, but the void will remain.

Be kind to everyone. We don’t know what lies beneath the surface…

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Demons

We all have our demons. When we say this we are speaking metaphorically, but demons are real beyond metaphors.

There exists a spiritual battle in another realm that is going on all around us. Just because we can’t see it doesn’t make it untrue. God commands His angels to fight for us and protect us from evil spirits. We could not fight this enemy on our own.

When we believe in God, the attacks intensify. It’s not easy being a believer. I call Christianity a blood sport.

If you are experiencing pain and struggle in your life, know the source from which they came. Rely on God to fight for you. When the battle is between God and anything else, there is no fight. He wins every time…

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Obstacles

Obstacles are defined as, “something that hinders progress.” Running late because of traffic congestion fits this definition. But we can’t control traffic. However , there is an obstacle we do have control over.

Our biggest obstacle lies between our ears. We pay far too much attention to the inner voice that tries to discourage us, and not enough time listening to the voice of encouragement.

The first step in controlling your thoughts is you must believe you can. Without belief you will not get anywhere. Once you learn you can control your thinking, then it gets easier to get rid of negative, unproductive thoughts. Keep doing it. It’s the same as building muscle. The longer you lift, the stronger you become.

Both voices will remain in your mind forever. You decide which one to listen to…

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Human Rights

There’s a lot of talk about human rights, and there should be. Not everyone lives as freely and as well as we do in the United States. But much of that talk by our leaders in the government is just convenient garbage. Democrats and Republicans alike are at fault.

We continue to try to negotiate a new JCPOA with Iran while that country throws gay people off of rooftops. We look the other way because calling it out would not secure a political win. Our policy towards China has been to make the Chinese communist party wealthy at our own peril. And then there is Saudi Arabia. And others.

If you are going to take a stand, then take a stand. The rest of the world cannot afford to lose the United States as a trading partner. We have leverage…

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