#inspiration

Inspiring Stories

Ever since I was a little boy I have loved inspiring stories. I’m not sure why. I suppose it’s in my DNA, and I’m glad it is.

The first story I read was the story of Harriet Tubman. She was not even 5 feet tall, a woman, yet she faced great danger and escaped from slavery. Even more remarkable, Harriet returned to her home 19 times and brought over 300 others to freedom. There was a bounty on her head in the amount of $40,000, equal to over $1.5 million today. It’s remarkable that no one who helped her on the “underground railroad” turned her in.

Find role models, people who inspire you. Tubman was my first, but there have been many others since then.

Get inspired and start making a difference in the lives of others…

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#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…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Leave Me Alone

Teenagers usually like their parents to leave them alone. That is, until they get hungry, need money or want to be driven somewhere.

Adults like for God to leave them alone, too. That is, until they need his help to get them out of some mess they created. And when he comes through, we put him on the back burner where we think he belongs until we get into another mess. But is that really right?

God knows what is good for us. He wants to mold us into who he created us to be. Sometimes the molding and the work is painful. But God only wants what is best for us, and he never stops trying or gives up on us.

I’m grateful to be able to worship a God like this. Even when I feel like being left alone…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Prepared

Solid preparation gives you confidence. If you’re about to take a test and you have studied properly, the odds are you will do well. Just “winging it” isn’t the best strategy.

Every experience we have in life prepares us for something else. This applies to the bad experiences as well as the good. We rarely have the luxury to know what we are being prepared for. I trust that God knows how he will use the difficult times in my life. Some of my hardest times have been used to help others. When the purpose becomes clear it strengthens my resolve and my trust.

If you are in the middle of a rough patch, or even if you are going through hell, I encourage you to keep moving through it. Your pain has purpose, whether you see it now or not…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Fame

Andy Warhol is credited with saying, “in the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” Whether Warhol was the first to say this is up for debate, but it appears everyone is seeking their 15 minutes. Fame is not always pretty.

Why do people seek fame? Perhaps they want the attention that comes with fame. My belief is that wanting to be famous exposes a deeper insecurity. Fame follows accomplishment. Think of the great achievements of Lincoln, Ford, King and Musk. Two of them lost their lives because of their convictions.

Do your work. If fame finds you, all the better. If not, just do your work anyway. The only one whose opinion matters is God. Work with His purpose in mind…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Check The Box

A lot of life feels like we are just checking the box. We get to work on time. Check the box. Pick up kids and get them to their after school events. Check another box. It’s like we have a daily to-do list and then we do the same list the next day. As I have said before, much of daily life is routine and boring. It’s that way for everyone, no matter what People Magazine wants us to believe.

Let’s take a moment to consider our goals, dreams and desires. Are we checking any boxes in this important part of our lives? If we are just going through the motions or giving it lip service, we are cheating others as well as ourselves. We are built for purpose, God’s purpose. Let’s live like it matters because it does. Ignoring our purpose will not make it go away.

I encourage you to do something, even if it’s just one thing, every day to get you where you want to be. Start today. In fact, start now…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Shocked

As many of you were, I was shocked by the assassination attempt on former President Trump. Had he not moved his head at the last second, his head would have exploded.

People have become unhinged. No matter how you feel about Donald Trump, this was uncalled for.

What was equally appalling was the number of posts from people “wishing the shooter hadn’t missed.” I would not want to live inside the heads and hearts of those people.

We must do better and be better…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Requirements

In Luke 12:48, Jesus tells us “to whom much is given, much is required.” Notice that Jesus used the word required, not expected. Since Jesus didn’t make small talk, I believe this has deeper meaning along with eternal consequences.

We are here for a greater purpose than many of us are living. Our purpose is to do God’s will and work on this side of eternity while bringing honor and glory to God. This is our requirement, not merely a suggested activity.

I encourage you to get out of your daily routine, get uncomfortable and do what you are here to do. God wouldn’t ask us to do something we are incapable of. He equips us with everything we need. Will it be easy? No. Hell no. But it will be gratifying.

If you get nervous, and you will, remember Luke 12:48. You are given much. Now use it…

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#inspiration

Above The Law

Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) intends to introduce legislation to amend the Constitution. His bill? Reversing the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity while conducting official business. Mr. Morelle is treading into dangerous waters.

There is no hiding the fact that he’s targeting former President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court did not single out Trump. The ruling covers all former presidents. I doubt Morelle’s bill will get any traction, just sound bytes to rev up his base.

The Court assured Biden he won’t be held liable for the deaths of thirteen soldiers during the horribly botched Afghanistan withdrawal. Obama will escape liability for the drone strike he ordered on three innocent Americans in Yemen (2011), including a teenage boy. Bush can breathe easier because he gets off scott free for leading us into a war in Iraq under false pretenses (WMD’s).

We have three branches of government for a reason. The crafters of our constitution didn’t want any single branch to become too powerful. It works!

It is true that no one is above the law. But we need to allow the law to apply the way it is intended to…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Insults

Have you ever been made fun of? I believe we all have been, and much of it is harmless teasing. I certainly give people a lot to work with!

I have observed people making fun of how people look or calling people dumb, even deplorable. Most of these insults occur from behind a computer keyboard, but occasionally I have experienced people making fun of others to their face. Either way it’s wrong. When an insult is hurled at someone, the offender is ridiculing one of God’s creations. God doesn’t make mistakes, nor does He second guess himself. There is a purpose behind every creation.

Let’s think before we speak. If what we are about to say is harmful, let’s quieten ourselves. Remember, God knows what He’s doing. We don’t always…

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