Tag Archives: #inspiration

#inspiration, #spirituality

Fear of Death

Last August I went to check on a friend of mine who had missed his appointment with his personal trainer, and he wasn’t answering his phone. When I let myself into his home, I found him dead on his kitchen floor. That was not exactly how I wanted to start my week!

My friend, Mark, was only 67 years old at the time of his death. This is my age today, and his death made me start thinking about my own mortality. My eternity is secure by my faith and belief in Jesus. I’m not afraid to die. I’m just not ready!

Everything we do in this life prepares us for eternity. God gave us a purpose to fulfill. Are we doing it? Or perhaps we are spending our time watching television, arguing about politics, or participating in other time wasters.

It’s time to get busy! Our true purpose is calling. We never know when we will breathe our last breath…

Standard
#inspiration

As Good As It Gets

There’s a saying that I absolutely cannot stand. When people make reference to “back in the day” I want to pull my hair out. It’s a subtle admission that their best days are behind them. They aren’t.

We have a lot of great memories, no doubt. But our best days are ahead of us. We aren’t done with living. We can make our lives whatever we want them to be.

It’s up to us to choose to live life fully. Or we can fade into the sunset. It’s up to each of us to decide…

Standard
#inspiration

Leave ‘em Behind

People come and go in your life. Sometimes they are around for a short time, while solid friends are there for life.

Growth requires change. When we outgrow people, it might be time to let them go. We should always treat others with dignity and respect. Yet some people are determined to remain right where they are. You can’t help them or change them.

Remember, if you aren’t growing, you’re dying. I plan to live a long time. Join me…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Second Guessing

Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Wherever you are on this trip called life is exactly where you are supposed to be. And since you are reading this, you are still on the trip!

God didn’t create us to live in doubt, fear and worry. We have a great spirit inside of us. Unleash yours and move forward towards your true purpose. There will be plenty of naysayers along the way, but their opinions don’t count. They are simply projecting their lack of confidence onto you. You don’t have to listen to them.

Just keep moving forward, no matter what happens. Don’t second guess yourself. You will reach your destiny if you refuse to accept defeat…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Transactional vs. Relational

Oftentimes life is a series of transactions. When you buy something at the store, you might exchange pleasantries with the person checking you out, but you don’t form an ongoing relationship with them.

Is this how we treat God? We want something so we ask God for it. After all, the Bible tells us to ask. Prayers answered. Deal done. On to the next transaction.

We are God’s children. We shouldn’t treat Him like we are ungrateful teenagers. We can’t manipulate God, nor should we try to. Teens are good at getting their way because parents don’t know all the facts. God knows everything, literally everything.

Let’s take the steps to enter into a meaningful relationship with God. He certainly wants one…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Talk To Me

What are your most dominating thoughts? Whatever they are will become your reality.

If you spend time doubting yourself, you will be filled with fear and trepidation. You will be hesitant to try something new, and you will become uneasy standing up for yourself.

Conversely, filling your mind with great dreams, fueled by emotional energy will make your dreams soar. You might not fulfill all your goals, but confidence will get you much farther than self-doubt ever could.

Focus your thoughts on what you want to achieve. Do not allow negativity to creep in, either from your own thoughts or from the people you hang around with.

Stay true to what you want from life. And believe in yourself. Confidence begins in your mind…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Decency

A bit of decency dies off with every generation. The older generation knows how to tell us off without insulting us. It’s almost an art form in how they do it. The younger generation shows their lack of intelligence by using profanity and vulgarity. Of course I’m generalizing, but I’m telling the truth.

The art of listening is something everyone should learn. Listening is active. It’s much more challenging than simply hearing someone. Active listening requires thought, and it can be exhausting. But when you listen and engage, your conversations become more meaningful. You learn.

I encourage you to practice listening to others. Remember the old Chinese Proverb: Seek first to understand before trying to be understood…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Divorce

The divorce rate for first marriages is around 44%. The percentage goes up from there for second and third marriages. Why are so many couples getting divorced when things start off so well?

There are many reasons ranging from infidelity to finances. And let’s face it, living with someone else can be stressful. But the number one reason couples divorce is lack of commitment. Their commitment might seem strong at first, but it starts to dissolve when the stresses of life kick in. The way someone pictures their spouse goes from partner to adversary.

With statistics like these, it makes you wonder if it’s possible for marriages to survive and thrive. There is hope. Couples who pray together regularly have a divorce rate of about 2%. You read that correctly. Couples who open their hearts and pray together not only defy the odds, they crush them.

Biblical teachings of love, forgiveness and mercy are parts of prayer. I enjoy gambling and sometimes bet on a long shot, but I like the odds in this case…

Standard
#inspiration

Merit

I love watching the Olympic Games. The very best athletes in the world come together to compete in their respective sport. All of the dedication, missed parties and discipline culminate in this. Just qualifying is a great honor. They earned it.

In the United States we have placed great emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). It doesn’t matter how hard you work to position yourself for success under DEI. I believe DEI is a breeding ground for mediocrity.

Personally, I want the most qualified person flying the plane I’m traveling on. Only the best will do when that pilot is responsible for hundreds of lives.

Don’t mistake what I’m saying. Everyone should have equal opportunity to better their lives through education and training. Women should be paid the same as men for the same job. And everyone should feel included in this great experiment known as the United States. Everyone.

Merit is a good thing. Earning your way forward gives you a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Consider how the Olympians felt when they learned they qualified to compete with the best of the best. DEI deprives people of this…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Self-Help Books

The self-help industry can trace its roots all the way back to 1830. Surprising, isn’t it? The industry generates over $10 billion in annual sales, and there’s no sign of it slowing down.

People have engaged in all kinds of activities designed to conquer their fear. These activities include jumping out of perfectly good airplanes to walking on hot coals. Unless the change is internal, the only fear they conquered was one of a physical nature. The underlying trauma of the past remains.

Self-help authors have taken advantage of people. Everyone has dissatisfaction in their lives. “Read my book and never be unhappy, disappointed or afraid again,” they promise. But they are making promises they can’t keep.

The only comprehensive self-help book is the Bible. It covers every area of life, offering true solutions for every challenge you face. It doesn’t make false promises that you won’t experience some unhappy times, but it tells you how to find peace and clarity during those times.

If nothing else has worked for you, give the word of God a chance. Start with Proverbs. You won’t turn into some religious fanatic. But you will find wisdom…

Standard