#inspiration

Knocked Down, But Not Out

Some days life hits you. Hard. Stress is always present in life. I’m talking about those unexpected, unanticipated hits. Consider how life changing the loss of a child is.*

Our resolve is tested to the maximum in those circumstances. The pain is constant, sometimes overwhelming to the point you can barely breathe. You don’t know if you will ever feel normal again.

The pain gets worse before it gets better. But it does get better. Hope remains alive, like a tiny ember of a dying fire.

We don’t know how strong we are until we get leveled by life. If you are going through hell right now, keep going. Rise…

*This post is dedicated to two families I know who lost a child last fall. Their identities will remain anonymous.

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#inspiration, #spirituality

The Flow

You were created for greatness. By greatness I don’t mean fame and fortune. I’m talking about more than that. You are unique, with abilities only you have. Your voice speaks in a way like no others.

“Going with the flow” will only get you so far. To reach your full potential, you must be willing to stand out, to be different from the crowd. Everything you do must be aligned with your true identity, not how the world sees you. You must move with purpose in mind.

Start now. If you don’t know which way to go, ask God for guidance. Then listen for His answer. Stay in touch with God. Ask for the courage to take the initiative and make a difference.

You can do it. Now get going!

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Opposition, or Opportunity?

All of us face challenges in life. We have an invisible enemy that wants to subvert us, and even destroy us. Don’t give in.

When we have an opposing force trying to stop us, the reason is because we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. Every time we say “YES” to God, we are giving ourselves an opportunity to be more like Jesus. This will bring you closer to God, and our enemy doesn’t like that. Therefore, the attack. He wants you to quit.

Just because we can’t see our adversary doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist. Remember who is behind the next problem you incur. And remember why he’s moving against you. Keep going…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Christmas

Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. People slow their pace on Christmas Day. And the closer we get to Christmas, the happier people seem to be.

Yet there are those who are holding on by a thread. They have suffered loss during the year, or maybe they feel like their luck has run out. Whatever is going on with them within, they are finding it difficult to feel any joy or peace.

Let’s stop and say a prayer for the desperate people. Let’s pray they find their inner light, and they rise again.

Merry Christmas…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Freedom

The freedoms we enjoy in the United States came at a cost. Much blood was spilled defending our rights to free speech and liberty. We must hold these things deep in our hearts, because they are not permanent. They can be lost.

On this Thanksgiving day, I’m grateful I was born here during this era in history. My calling is to inspire others, and to spread encouragement, strength and hope to a world in desperate need of it.

Stay hopeful…

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#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…

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#inspiration

Down, But Not Out

People’s emotions ebb and flow. External things happen that can, and will knock you down. But you aren’t out unless you stay down.

When life gets really tough our natural tendency is to withdraw, take a short break and regroup. That’s fine as long as it doesn’t become a lifestyle.

If you are experiencing a hard time in your life, I encourage you to re-engage and rise up. You don’t know how high you can go unless you try…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Slow To Anger

Have you been around people who get ticked off at everything? Those types of people are difficult to be around.

James wrote to the church of Jerusalem and told them to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. It seems that listening well is the key to slowing our emotions down and thinking. God gave us brains with both analytical abilities and emotional responses, so perhaps there is some science behind James’ admonishment.

Learn to listen if that skill isn’t already in your wheelhouse. Your communication with others will grow exponentially when you do…

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#inspiration

Go Confidently

Believe in yourself. God created you for a greater purpose. He hasn’t forgotten you or abandoned you.

The world will knock you down. Get back up and get knocked down again. Keep getting up as long as it takes. Find your inner strength to accomplish your destiny. The world cannot defeat you because you have the Creator of the universe on your side.

Don’t go to your grave with your song still in you. The world needs to hear from you…

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#inspiration

Mistaken Identity

We all have a past. Some of the details aren’t so pretty. We might gloss over or sugar coat them to clean them up, but they exist in our subconscious mind forever.

We also try to shake off the bad decisions from before and work to improve ourselves. Making different, better decisions can be challenging at first but it gets easier over time. It’s like building muscle. You keep stressing and stretching the muscles until they grow and you get stronger.

Still there are those people who like to remind you of your past. They can’t see you differently. When they remind you of your bad decisions, they are projecting their own insecurities onto you. Let them know that your past is your past, and you don’t live there anymore. Then ditch those people…

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