Tag Archives: #inspiration

Spirituality

Things Work Out

Are you a worrier? Are you living by the “what if” principle rather than focusing on what can be? The battle is won or lost in your mind.

No one was born with fear and worry as parts of their personality. They are learned behaviors. But there’s good news! Anything learned can be unlearned. You have to want change in your life. Anything is possible if you believe.

The genesis of fear and worry is control. Perhaps bad past experiences make us want to take control so it doesn’t happen again. It’s futile to think this way. We don’t know what will happen in the next five minutes so why do we think we can control our outcomes? Instead, change your thinking and you will change your life.

Everyone has some dissatisfaction about their life. You may not feel good about where you are or how your life has turned out. This can be temporary or permanent. It’s up to you.

If you really want control, I encourage you to cede control to a Higher Power. He’s not a mad scientist or puppeteer. God is on our side. He didn’t create us and then forget about us.

If you decide to change your thoughts about controlling outcomes, meditate on this Proverb: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but The Lord establishes their steps.”

And when you think back on past experiences, you will see that everything always seems to work out the way it’s supposed to…

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Spirituality

Cheating

Recently, a group of people were charged with sports betting. Betting is legal in some states, but these were crimes because the people charged were players and coaches in the NBA.

Cheating is a shortcut. The Bible has a lot to say about this. In The Book of Proverbs it says: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” There are many other passages, but this one says it all.

Let’s face it, cheating can feel fun. The excitement of doing something you know you aren’t supposed to can give you a rush of adrenaline. But it’s only a temporary high. It doesn’t compare to doing the work to get you where you want to be. That brings a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. And it sustains.

When people cheat, they are damaging themselves. The brain creates neural networks that start looking for other ways to cheat. In the long run, cheaters will be found out and their reputations will be ruined. Reputations can be rebuilt, but it’s better to not put yourself in the position of having to do so.

When you feel like taking a shortcut, stop and consult the Word of God. His principles and guidance never fail us. God didn’t promise us it would be easy on this side of eternity. But He did give us a guide to living a fulfilling life.

Trust Him…

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Spirituality

Removal

We take out the trash regularly, right? If we ignored it for a couple of weeks it would begin to smell. Then we spring into action and remove what’s stinking up the place.

There might be some people you need to remove from your life. You know who I’m talking about. The ones who cut you down and aren’t adding to your life.

The people we allow into our lives should be good for us to be around. They tell us the truth even when it’s hard to hear. And they encourage us when we need a lift. We should be doing the same for our inner circle.

The reason we allow people to hang around longer than they should is comfort. We avoid conflict so we put up with it. Some people have a hard time standing up for themselves. If this is you, I encourage you to work on the reason why.

Setting boundaries is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. It’s only difficult the first time you do it. But it’s the way to protect your inner peace…

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Spirituality

Take A Holiday From Politics

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and Christmas is just around the corner. This is a time of great anticipation, excitement and celebration. Don’t miss it because you prioritize your politics over your family and friends.

In 2022, the American Survey Center published a study demonstrating that 11% of respondents had stopped talking to a family member because of political differences. The real question is why. People you have known all your life have been isolated from your life because of a politician you don’t know. I know a handful of politicians. They are decent people, but don’t fool yourself. They want your money and your vote, not your friendship.

Who shows up when the shit hits the fan, your representative in Congress? No. Your family and friends arrive, and they bring reinforcements and refreshments.

Please don’t make the mistake of severing relationships over political differences. If everyone agreed with each other on all matters then there would be no divorces or wars. But we know that’s not the case.

Strong people can handle conflicts. The politicians don’t spend one nanosecond think about you, no matter what they say. A family member in isolation does, and they miss you.

Conflict resolution is messy because of pride (arrogance). Be the bigger person and start the process of reconciliation…

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Spirituality

Without Limits

We limit God’s ability. Our unbelief is our problem because God can do anything. Anything…

This is cited in the Bible. For example, in Matthew 13:57-58 the author says : “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Jesus, being fully God, could do miracles but chose not to because of their lack of belief. They really missed quite a display! Water to wine, eyesight to the blind and raising the dead, just to name a few. The important point that must not be missed is their tiny Faith was the reason they missed out.

Take a moment to consider the unlimited power of God. He doesn’t get angry with us when we doubt him. But he does want our faith to grow, not remain stagnant.

My encouragement to you is to become more reliant on God and less on yourself. No matter what you are going through, God can handle it. Let Him…

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Spirituality

Thanksgiving Week

In the United States, this is the week of Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day (always Thursday), families and friends will get together to celebrate everything they are grateful for. The day is filled with food and football. Everyone takes a moment to appreciate what they have been blessed with. But why only one day?

My belief is that we should take time to reflect on all the good in our lives every day. It’s easy to fall into the trap of taking things for granted. If you have a few dollars in your pocket, you are better off than most of the world. Life is a struggle, but some people face challenges we have no concept of. In 2025 there are still people who have to walk miles to get fresh, clean water. Think about it.

It is my hope that our world begins to be filled with gratitude. Actively practicing gratitude changes the biochemistry of our brains. Change your mind and you change your life…

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Spirituality

War Games

In two World Wars the United States was dominant. Brave men and women fought for a common cause. Did our citizens have political differences then? Of course they did. They put their differences aside and fought.

There’s a war going on inside the United States. We are fighting each other over our politics. Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Candidate Trump had two attempts on his life (two that we know of). This madness must stop.

Before the country was formed our Founding Fathers had plenty of different ideas and beliefs about what this new experiment would look like. Things got so crazy that George Washington called for a three day recess for fasting and prayer. Perhaps this is a better way to handle our internal conflicts.

We don’t need another World War to arise so we can be united. We must examine our own hearts and decide to be better. It starts with me…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

There’s A Little Bit of Clark in All of Us

Have you seen the “Vacation” movies with Chevy Chase? Chase plays the role of Clark Griswold, a chemical engineer who desperately wants to create great memories for his family. As hard as Clark tries, stuff always goes haywire and the comedy follows. But Clark never gives up.

There’s a little bit of Clark in all of us. We want to create something special for our family, but our best plans rarely turn out as planned. I fault the Hallmark movies for this. Everything is perfect in those movies, and everyone lives happily ever after in the end. My own attempts at making holidays special looked more like a sitcom than a Hallmark movie! But no one can say I didn’t try.

The holidays have arrived. The season brings enough stress on its own. People add to the stress because they want everything to be perfect. And when things go awry, the stress levels rise.

My encouragement to you is to enjoy the season. Take it in stride when unexpected surprises happen. In fact, expect them to happen.

Don’t fall into the trap of trying to create a Hallmark movie. You will have beautiful moments. Hold onto those and don’t concern yourself with the rest.

All you can do is try your best. When you give it your all, take solace in that…

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Spirituality

In Faith

We are told to “step out in faith” or to “take a leap of faith.” But what does that mean? Let’s take a look!

Faith is a verb, an action word. God can give us every victory our hearts desire, but He wants to see us trust Him in the process. God is interested in developing our character. If He gave us our wants in addition to supplying our needs, we would be a bunch of spoiled brats.

God isn’t a vending machine. His unlimited power goes on display when we rely more on Him and less on ourselves. I say let’s allow God to show off a bit. But let’s remember to give Him the credit He deserves.

This life is not about us. It’s a great ride when you put your faith in action…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Art and The Heart

The greatest art is created from the emotional side of the brain. Whether it’s music, theater, a painting or sculpture, feeling inspires the artist.

God is the original Creator. We are his artwork. Each of us is an original masterpiece. None of us are like any other. Even identical twins have different fingerprints! Coincidence? I think not. According to Albert Einstein, “coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”

Everyone has a creative side. You just have to tap into it. Spend some time focusing on how you feel about things. Do it daily and watch where it goes.

And I encourage you to spend time actively practicing gratitude. Gratitude changes the biochemistry of your brain. You will begin to pay more attention to the art and beauty all around you. It has always been present, but now you notice.

Every morning, physically write down three things you are grateful for. Try this exercise for twenty one days. You will feel different, I promise. Then continue the daily practice.

You can get into your creative side. It might have been dormant for a period of time, but it has never gone away…

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