Tag Archives: #relationships

#inspiration, #spirituality

Divorce

The divorce rate for first marriages is around 44%. The percentage goes up from there for second and third marriages. Why are so many couples getting divorced when things start off so well?

There are many reasons ranging from infidelity to finances. And let’s face it, living with someone else can be stressful. But the number one reason couples divorce is lack of commitment. Their commitment might seem strong at first, but it starts to dissolve when the stresses of life kick in. The way someone pictures their spouse goes from partner to adversary.

With statistics like these, it makes you wonder if it’s possible for marriages to survive and thrive. There is hope. Couples who pray together regularly have a divorce rate of about 2%. You read that correctly. Couples who open their hearts and pray together not only defy the odds, they crush them.

Biblical teachings of love, forgiveness and mercy are parts of prayer. I enjoy gambling and sometimes bet on a long shot, but I like the odds in this case…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Advantage

Have you ever been taken advantage of? Of course you have. People have agendas to fulfill and some of them are happy to use any means necessary to make them happen.

Politicians take advantage of the population. “Vote for me” and all your problems will go away, they say. In our rational minds we know this isn’t true. But the politicians aren’t appealing to our sense of reason. They are hitting our emotional hot buttons. We get disappointed and disillusioned when they don’t come through. There’s a reason Congress has an approval rating of only 13%.

I encourage you to be pure in your motives. If you need help, ask. Don’t take advantage of others. Living life with integrity will bring you everything you need in life…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Plus One

I’m invited to a wedding in October. The young man getting married is someone I’ve known for about 25 years. I refer to him as “my other son I didn’t have to send to college!” The invitation is to me plus one.

I have no plus one, and I don’t feel pressured to go find one in the interim. There is no dishonor in being single. Over the course of my life, I have traveled to resorts, seen movies, and I have gone to dinner by myself. Making conversation comes naturally for me, but solitude has a different kind of peace attached to it.

If you have insecurities about being single, I encourage you to work on yourself to learn why. Facing your inner challenges can be scary, but there is freedom on the other side. The obstacle will remain until you decide to remove it.

The times you are single, in a committed relationship, or you are married have a season in your life. Make the most of them. Most importantly, never try to force outcomes in life. Just keep working on what you want from life. Then, you will be putting yourself in a position to succeed…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

You Said It!

A man was asked if he minded that his wife always got the last word. The man replied, “No. I’m just glad when she gets to it.”

The average person speaks about 16,000 words per day. I’m more interested in the quality of our words than the quantity. Our tongues can be sharper than a surgeon’s scalpel. They can be used to slice and dice people into shreds. Yet our words can lift others when they are down.

It’s important to recognize that our world is hurting. People are still struggling with the after effects of isolation, it’s expensive to live (over $10,000 per year more than just three years ago), and everywhere you turn it seems like people are at each other’s throats.

I encourage everyone to choose their words carefully. I’m not suggesting you avoid the truth. Use some gentleness and self-control when engaging in conversation with others.

Unite when possible, don’t divide. We are better together…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Experience

Have you ever had someone describe their favorite beach to you but you don’t feel the same way they do? Empathy means shared experience. The only way you can empathize is through experience.

This is the principle behind Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics willingly share their experience, strength and hope with others in the room. They are all affected by the same disease, so they understand each other. A non-alcoholic might be entertained by some of the incredible stories they will hear in an AA meeting, but it won’t impact them like it does the alcoholic.

I encourage you to share your experiences with others, especially the painful ones. Most people have felt deep heartache in their lives, and you will be letting them know they aren’t alone.

Let your guard down. Don’t waste your pain…

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#inspiration

Dividing Lines

It’s an election year and you know what that means. People are drawing lines in the sand over their candidate. There are many factors that influence voters selection: history of voting for a party, a desire for change, they like the way a candidate sounds, or they just plain hate one of the choices.

Arguing over politics is as old as America herself is. You almost can’t avoid it. In today’s internet connected world the debate sometimes turns nasty. People hurl insults at others from behind their computer keyboard, with no consequences for the ugly things said. We get to peer into the heart of others through their words and actions. It’s not always pretty.

Take a moment to examine your own heart when you feel yourself getting amped up over politics. People throw insults at me regularly because of what I believe. They don’t bother me. I have a sound basis for what I believe, and I won’t lie or exaggerate. Facts matter. Opinions are…just opinions.

I encourage you to reach out to those with whom you disagree with. Listen and learn from each other. You will be better for doing it, and so will our country…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Teach Children Well

There are many dedicated, devoted teachers in our schools. I know several. They didn’t become teachers to achieve fame and fortune. Hardly! There are lots of careers available with less headaches along with better pay.

All of us had our favorite teachers growing up. Why were they our favorites? It wasn’t because they broke down difficult mathematical equations with ease, or they made English interesting. They captured our hearts. They truly cared about us. We remember them fondly because they reached us at a deeper level than most.

Teaching is a high calling. Even Jesus spoke about it. He said if anyone misleads a child it would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea. That’s not a casual statement.

Most teachers are off for the summer. But that doesn’t stop us from remembering the best among them…

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Left Behind

We go through different periods in our lives. From childhood through the teenage years, and finally to adulthood. Our experiences shape us. Even our bad days can be used for good. Maybe they were just learning experiences. And hopefully we learned!

Over the course of our lives we have developed habits, both good and poor. We learn how to make friends and develop relationships. We make a habit of exercising and eating well. Yet I meet so many people who focus their attention on their faults. They have low self esteem and rather than focusing their energy on what they do well, they beat themselves up emotionally.

If this is something you struggle with, please be aware that you aren’t alone in your struggle. Everyone has to learn to leave the self-defeating behaviors behind and mold themselves into who God intended them to be. The Spirit is strong and will help you. Just believe in Him and believe in yourself.

It’s time to leave anything destructive behind. Sometimes this includes people…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Red Flags

We are familiar with the term “red flags.” Red flags are a warning sign that something isn’t quite right. So why do we ignore them when we know they are warning us for a reason?

We ignore red flags when we are trying to force outcomes. We want the relationship to work, so we overlook glaring character flaws. Or our sense of greed kicks in, and we don’t ask the right questions. Ultimately the responsibility for ignoring the warnings and going ahead lies with us. And we must accept the consequences of our decisions.

The next time life presents a red flag, pay attention. It might save you from a lot of heartache…

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#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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