#inspiration

Plans

We make plans but they sometimes go awry. What do we do then?

We adjust. We adapt. Just because our best-laid plans don’t work out the way we planned is not a reason to wallow in disappointment and self pity. We are better than that.

Do your best to plan your day, your weekend and your vacation. But if they go haywire you know how to handle it…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Make Room

What occupies your time and energy? Whatever you are focusing on will answer this simple question. We make room in our lives for the things we value.

Another question to consider is whether the people you allow into your life are edifying and enriching to your life. Sometimes we must eliminate distractions to make room for who and what matters most.

It’s decision time…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Blame Game

When things go wrong, or even when things go right, aren’t we looking for someone to blame? Things go wrong and we blame others or circumstances. Things go right and we are ready to glorify ourselves.

The truth is, the way our lives turn out begins with us. We must accept responsibility for the decisions we make. We are the only ones who get to make decisions for ourselves.

Accepting responsibility is a giant step forward. Keep growing…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Acceptable

Universally we crave acceptance. We want to be loved and accepted for who we are. Yet, people will change themselves to try to “fit in” with the crowd they are in.

There is great freedom in knowing yourself, faults and all, and accepting yourself. This doesn’t mean you stop working on improving yourself. That’s a process that will not stop until you die.

Fitting in might work temporarily, but you will eventually be discovered. You will feel better if you remain true to yourself, and are not concerned with whether the crowd accepts you or not. Focus on making yourself acceptable to God. After all, Gods opinion is the only one that matters…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Hope

Through the myriad of challenges life throws at us, one thing remains: hope. Hope keeps us going when everything else is falling apart. Hope is the calm in the storm we are searching for. Hope gives us light when everything is dark. We remain hopeful even when our situation remains uncertain.

Have you lost hope in your life? If so, turn your focus to God’s power and promises. He is faithful to us even when we doubt Him.

Remember this: God did not create us and then forget about us…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Conversations

We have become texting machines rather than actually speaking to one another. Texting is fine for a quick check-in, but it’s not the same as having a conversation. Plus there is much that can be misinterpreted in a text, even a simple one.

Communicate with others. Have real conversations. Connecting is key to forming relationships with our fellow man. We are better together, and we are more alike than we are different…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Pursuit

Did you know that God is pursuing us every moment of every day? He wants a relationship with us, not to give us more religion but to mold us into the person He created us to be. We are on God’s mind all the time. Is He on ours?

We are rebellious by nature. No one had to teach us that. We don’t want anyone controlling us and that includes the God of the universe. Yet let’s face one simple truth: God is in control of everything. Every breath we take is a gift from our Creator.

I encourage you to take the difficult road. Surrender your will to the Creator. Learn who He is. He will guide you when you allow Him to.

From the Book of Jeremiah: “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart…”

Standard
#inspiration

Wonder and Awe

Have you ever watched a toddler learn? It’s fascinating. The neurons in their little, developing brains are exploding because new neural pathways are being formed. Everything, and I mean everything, is new to them.

Toddlers are pure-hearted. They want, no, they demand your attention. Little children are simply curious. They want to know how things work.

I encourage you to approach life like a toddler does. View the world as if it is a miracle, because it is…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Disarray

All one has to do to see a world in disarray is open their eyes. An ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, Hamas doing what they do in the Middle East, and these are just the bigger issues. Are we doomed?

No, we are not doomed. The world has always been a mess. As long as things are going okay in our personal lives we don’t feel the impact. Yet we are impacted.

Fear is what the media thrives on. “If it bleeds it leads” is a common saying in newsrooms across the planet. I’m not minimizing the state of the world. I’m simply saying it’s important to try to look at things objectively.

Should you find yourself fearful or panicked, remember that God is in control. Nothing surprises Him. Take heart. He has overcome the world…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Earn It

We value what we earn. Investing our time and energy into something that produces a worthwhile outcome makes us feel good, makes us proud.

Coasting through life and accepting whatever life sends our way will dull the senses. We need mental stimulation. We need to be challenged. We learn from our mistakes. Success is never a straight line. There are curves, speed bumps and setbacks along the road less traveled. Those who succeed are the ones who keep going.

If you are experiencing a setback in your journey, I encourage you to pick yourself up and move forward. Even a little progress is progress…

Standard