Tag Archives: #inspiration

#inspiration

Relationship v. Religion

What’s the difference between relationship and religion? Relationships are intimate, they are turned on, and they are a safety zone. Religion, even the word turns people away. Let’s examine this just a little further.

Think of your closest relationships. They are built on a foundation of trust. Trust takes time to build. You feel like you can be yourself around your closest friends and family. There’s no need to pretend to be someone you’re not.

Religion evokes guilt, shame and judgment. This is because many religions use these as tools to get your attendance and your money. That’s not what God wants. He wants a personal relationship with us, even when we are at our worst. Yes, you read that correctly. God isn’t looking down on us with His arms crossed condemning us. No. God created us and He hasn’t forgotten about us. We are always on His mind.

I encourage you, and myself, to pursue a deeper relationship with God. Study the life of Jesus. Jesus was a rebel and he was a badass. He took away guilt, shame and judgment while calling out the hypocrisy of some of the religious leaders of the day. He is here for us, even though we don’t see him…

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#inspiration

Hurried

It seems like I’m always in a hurry. I’m not sure if it’s because I have a tremendous energy level and want to get as much life in as possible. Perhaps it’s due to my short attention span. Maybe it’s a combination of both.

Coach John Wooden famously told his players, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.” Being hurried can create unnecessary mistakes. Those are detrimental in life as well as basketball.

Let’s slow down, even just a little. You can be quick and get a lot accomplished. Leave the hurried behavior behind…

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#inspiration

Catalysts

A catalyst makes things happen. Every chemical reaction in our bodies was started by a catalyst. In the non-scientific world, a catalyst can be a person or an event.

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 were a catalyst for a renewed sense of patriotism in America. Flags were everywhere, and the demand for them was so high you couldn’t get one for months due to them being on back order. People felt unity. They knew we were in this together.

People can inspire action, too. Jesus is the greatest example of a catalyst. He started something that has not only lasted but expanded for over two thousand years.

Find your cause, your purpose for good. Take the lead and be a catalyst, too. Inspire the world…

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#inspiration

Heartfelt

The heart connects us. We listen to those we care about in a deeper way. We listen with our hearts.

Trolls on the internet show the dark side of themselves. They don’t consider how their insults and judgements might harm someone else. They only care about making themselves feel “superior.” How do we deal with them? Here’s a counterintuitive way: pray for them. We cannot change the heart of mankind, but God can. Let Him.

Less is more, especially when we speak from our hearts. People remember how you made them feel…

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#inspiration

Obstacles

Life is going to present us with challenges. Some might be as simple as running late due to an accident on the freeway, while others might be life-altering. We are going to be tested.

How we handle life’s obstacles depends upon our attitude. If we have the mindset of going through the challenges no matter how hard, we build resilience and are eventually on the other side of it. Should we decide it’s too hard, we will cave. But it really is up to us.

And our biggest obstacle lies between our ears, not in the challenge itself…

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#inspiration

Successful People

Have you heard of people who are called an “overnight success?” Usually those are people in the entertainment business. But there is no success that happens overnight, regardless of the industry.

We see the outcomes, the great achievements. What we don’t see are the lonely times, the failures, the inner doubts and frustrations. Successful people continue trying when things aren’t going well. They simply refuse to accept defeat.

To be successful, you must find what you are meant to do and be willing to work when others aren’t…

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#inspiration

Amazing

The word “amazing” comes from the root word amazement. Amazement means great surprise or wonder and awe. Let’s briefly explore this overused word, amazing.

We use amazing in a commoditized way. It seems that everything from ice cream to cheeseburgers are amazing. When overused, the word loses its value. Are we really in awe of those things?

Let’s pull back on our use of the word amazing. Then when something that truly holds us in awe arises, we will be amazed…

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#inspiration

Sacrifice

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. We have this day to honor those who lost their lives defending freedom and justice throughout the world.

We must revere those who sacrificed everything for generations of people they would never know. To give your life is the ultimate sacrifice. In the words of Jesus Christ, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Never take for granted the sacrifices others made for us so we may live freely. Let’s #neverforget…

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#inspiration

The United States Flag

A quote about the United States flag from Ronald Reagan to meditate on as we move closer to Memorial Day…

“The colors of our flag signify the qualities of the human spirit we Americans cherish. Red for courage and readiness to sacrifice; white for pure intentions and high ideals; and blue for vigilance and justice.”

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