#inspiration, #spirituality

Joyful

As I write this, I’m sitting in my hotel room in Gatesville, Texas. I had the privilege of speaking in two prisons earlier today, one with male inmates and the other female. Tomorrow and Thursday I will be speaking in four additional prisons. I’m ecstatic.

Public speaking is something I have enjoyed for decades. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would do volunteer work in prisons, but I’m glad I decided to. It gives me tremendous joy when I connect with the inmates. They feel seen and heard. And I make them laugh!

Get involved in volunteer work. You will get more than you give…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Marathon Runners

Life is a long journey, a marathon if you will. It seems to pass slowly and then one day you wake up and wonder where the time went.

If you are reading this, I have a revelation for you: God isn’t through with you. Or me! He wants to grow us, even stretch us to become who He created us to be. It’s not easy, but anything worthwhile is not going to be easy. We grow from our discomfort.

Pursue your true purpose. Stop wasting time and start living the dream God has for your life. Start now…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

The Flow

You were created for greatness. By greatness I don’t mean fame and fortune. I’m talking about more than that. You are unique, with abilities only you have. Your voice speaks in a way like no others.

“Going with the flow” will only get you so far. To reach your full potential, you must be willing to stand out, to be different from the crowd. Everything you do must be aligned with your true identity, not how the world sees you. You must move with purpose in mind.

Start now. If you don’t know which way to go, ask God for guidance. Then listen for His answer. Stay in touch with God. Ask for the courage to take the initiative and make a difference.

You can do it. Now get going!

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#inspiration

Less is More

I like to talk. Anyone who knows me will verify this. I’m a storyteller and I love to make people laugh through my stories. My life is what I call a “walking sitcom!”

There are times when words aren’t necessary. If your friends, family or colleagues are hurting, they need your presence, not your advice. Just showing up speaks louder than words.

Remember this when those moments present themselves. In those times, less is more…

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#inspiration

WTF?

We have, as a society, gotten accustomed to curse words. Admittedly, I use them occasionally. It’s not something I’m proud of, though.

It takes no special talent to cuss. It does require skill to write and speak effectively. These can be accomplished without cursing for added emphasis.

Lift others with your words and actions. And when you keep it clean, people notice…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Desperation

We have people in this world who don’t know where their next meal will come from. They experience struggles I know very little about. I have been hungry and broke before, but I’ve always had a roof over my head.

We find ourselves in the dark times. Hope comes in those moments. And sometimes hope is all we have. If you are feeling desperate, please remember that better days are coming. This period was not last.

Hold onto hope, no matter what you are going through. Hope is eternal…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Look Away

Many people enjoy the limelight. But don’t get too close because you might expose something.

Superficiality, whether in conversation or in closeness, prevents people from seeing the true person inside. But it’s what’s inside of us that defines who we are. And when we let our guard down it encourages others to let theirs down, too.

Believe in yourself, and accept yourself. God does. And He sees everything…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Breaking Out

Breaking out sounds like a plan a prisoner might have. And in some ways we are all prisoners. We are also able to grant ourselves parole.

Life is full of routine. We go through the same thing every day. But I encourage you to free yourself of routine. Take some time away from your phone. Instead of watching and posting on social media, call someone and have a conversation. Attend a seminar on something you know nothing about. Start a blog!

It’s time to stop fitting in and start standing out. Conformity is the breeding ground of mediocrity…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Trust

The foundation of every relationship is trust. Trust must be earned, and that takes time. Trusting someone else, as well as being trustworthy yourself is a high honor.

How do you know you can trust someone? We trust that the airline pilot knows how to fly the plane. We trust other drivers to obey the law. We give those types of trust without question.

So why don’t we trust God fully? I believe it’s partially because we humanize God. Not everyone we encounter has honest intentions. We can’t see God and that makes it even harder.

Here’s where faith intersects logic. We trust the promises of God, and we trust that He only wants good for our lives. Believe in Him, and when you are in doubt, talk to God. He’s always listening, and that’s a promise…

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