#inspiration, #spirituality

Difficult Relationships

With the divorce rate of 50% for first marriages, someone isn’t getting along with someone else! But that’s not the difficult relationship I want to address today. I’m talking about my relationship with the unseen.

God doesn’t want more religion from me. He wants a relationship with me. It’s a challenge for me because of a variety of reasons. I can’t see God, yet when I talk to Him he listens. Every time. He has an interest in my life, but I’m not always aware of His presence. And there’s a lot of noise in the world which gets my attention. Man, is there a lot of noise.

God thought of us before the earth was formed. And there’s a great purpose attached to me being here. I wish He would just tell me what my purpose is and I would do it. Or would I?

Moses talked to God and said “you’ve got the wrong guy for the job!” Jonah ran the opposite direction God told him to go. What makes me any different?

My willingness to believe and trust will get me farther in life than I can get on my own. I’m willing…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

It’s Overwhelming. But Together We Can Make A Difference

Our world is facing many challenges. They are really overwhelming when you consider the scale of our problems. Hunger, mental health, illness, homelessness and many other societal issues are everywhere. What can we do?

It would be easy to just give up before even starting to tackle the problems. But giving up is not inside of us. We aren’t quitters. We have an inner desire to move the bar in the right direction.

When we combine our efforts we are making a difference. Together we are a force to be reckoned with. Even if it feels like the floodgates are open and we are swimming against the current, we keep going forward. People need us, and we must continue to meet the challenge.

We are serving more than just society. Jesus told us that “what we do for the least among us, we do for him.”

Let’s get started…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Live Before Dying

I see so many people living empty, unfulfilled lives. They are chasing something. It could be a mate, a more prestigious job, or perhaps they want greater influence. In the final analysis, it appears most people are chasing their tails.

We are meant for more than getting an education, a career, saving some money and then retiring to die. No, we are built for greatness. The Creator of the Universe doesn’t want us to live just for ourselves.

Strive for significance in your life. Significance goes beyond success. Significance means you are making a difference.

If you are one of the people who are chasing the stuff I described in the first paragraph, I encourage you to aim higher. Those things won’t fill your emptiness. Significance will…

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#inspiration

Rushed

People always seem to be in a hurry. Life is stressful enough without feeling like you have to rush around to get everything done.

I believe being rushed is a cultural thing. Europeans seem more relaxed, more laid back. And they have been around much longer than the Americans. Maybe they know a thing or two. Japanese are much like Americans when it comes to this.

Perform your work diligently. Stay focused on doing your best. Everything will come to you in its own time…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Intentions

Sometimes people do some strange things. Some of those beg the question, “what were you thinking???” Motives are sometimes misguided.

Jesus was the most intentional person who ever lived. He was on a quest, a mission to bring hope to the oppressed and the forgotten. Jesus showed us the character of God. His intentions were pure, and they still are.

Our educational system has been rewriting history for decades. They are intentionally misleading our youth. Purposely misguiding children is one of the most heinous things you can do. Kids can handle the truth.

Every action we take has a motive behind it. Live life intentionally, and bring forth what comes from a pure heart…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Obsess Over It

What drives you? What would you spend your time doing whether you were paid or not? The answer is the key to your true purpose in life.

It has been estimated that over 80% of people go to jobs they really don’t like. You cannot be effective when you aren’t fully engaged. This is something you can change if you are in this situation.

Change requires discomfort. When we are comfortable there is no reason to do anything different. Motivation comes when we become uncomfortable.

Take inventory of your strengths. Figure out what you love to do. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Just do it…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Power

Power. Everyone wants power, or do they? Perhaps they are seeking control and their perception is that power and control go hand in hand. They don’t.

First, let’s talk about control. The only thing we can control is our attitude. I can’t control what you think about me, and I can’t control whether you like me or not. Attitude is key to everything. It gets us through hell and keeps us going when things are tough.

Power comes from ceding power. That’s right. When we give up our quest to be powerful we actually gain power. Meekness is the best definition for gaining power. Meekness means strength under control. Doesn’t that sound a lot like power?

What we give, we get. And that includes power…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Story Time

Our stories connect us. People find themselves in stories of inspiration, and even in stories of despair. We relate to others in a way that is undefinable.

My own life story is not pretty. I grew up in a tension-filled, violent home. I walked on eggshells, afraid of setting my father off. Being in a constant state of “fight or flight” is not a good way to wire the brain. Fortunately, we can rewire our brains and heal from past trauma. It takes work, but there’s hope in the process.

I’m grateful for my life story. I have found that it resonates with inmates in prisons. Many of them come from screwed up families, and my story gives them hope for a better future.

Take a moment to consider how you want to be remembered. I want my epitaph to read, “He Cared.” Live your life in a way that will fulfill your desire of how you want to be remembered.

Do it now…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Something We Don’t Talk About

In the 25 years since the Columbine massacre, 394 kids have been killed in school shootings. It’s unthinkable that a place where kids should feel safe has been compromised. But there’s something else.

For every one of the 394, 426 kids have taken their own lives over the same period of time. This equals almost 168,000 dead children. Every 50 seconds a child is admitted to the emergency room because of a suicide attempt while every 79 minutes a child is successful. Yet, our focus remains almost exclusively on the school shootings.

Shooting up a school is wrong. I’m not glossing over it. But we aren’t doing enough to address the mental anguish our young people are experiencing.

It’s easy to point out problems but there is hope. Rachel’s Challenge is the best, most effective school program that truly changes the culture of the school. Kids who used to have issues with each other are now high-fiving each other. Rachel’s story has caused a drop in the youth suicide rate of 3%, but the program is only in .77% of schools. Rival gangs have become friends and bullying behavior goes away because of a story, Rachel’s story.

More on this to come. In the interim, please check out Rachel’s Challenge:

http://www.rachelschallenge.org

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Possibilities

Anything is possible when you believe it is. Finite thinking will only produce finite possibilities. When you open and expand your thinking into the infinite greater possibilities exist.

God is infinite intelligence. Nothing, literally nothing escapes Him. He exists in the past, present and future at the same time. His power is unlimited. We box Him in with our doubts.

Unleash your mind to consider the impossible dreams you hold in your heart. Pray about it. Be audacious.

With God on your side, who can stop you?

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