Tag: inspiration

Do You Look Outward or Inward?

There is no better question on how you live your life to ask yourself! I mean, seriously. Of course, 99.9999…% of us look outward. We look at the sex of a person, skin color, our version of “attractiveness,” etc, etc. All outside. But God told Samuel how we should be “looking:”

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

Of course, this makes sense if you stop and think about it for a minute. God created us “in His image” (Genesis 1:27). The “image” of God is not outward—He can’t look anymore like me than He does you or anyone else. God doesn’t have any kind of doppelgänger. God’s “image” is His heart and total, absolute, and unblemished unconditional love.

OK, I’ll stop the gobbledygook and abstractions and bring this down to earth and practical living.

You need to look past the outside of a person, no matter how hard that may be. You have to look “inside” a person, at their “heart.” We can only move closer to God when we start loving like God loves. And the only way to really LOVE a person is how God loves you, me, and every other person past, present, and future. Inside.

Look at the world today. Hatred, violence, abuse, etc. It’s not God(ly) because it’s all about what’s outside people, not what’s inside. The world would be a far, far different place if each one of us even made the attempt to look inside people.

Want to change the world? Start looking “inside” people. Look past the flesh. Like all of life, it’s that very simple. Remember—we complicate life. God intends it to be simple. Change starts one person at a time. Change. Look inside.

Have a GREAT rest of this weekend, wherever you are!!!

Looking for God in Your Life?

He’s less than a heart beat away. You simply have to listen. That’s why I put LISTEN at the top of the list of Secrets to Life. You can’t “hear” God if you don’t LISTEN. You need to shut out the world and tune into God.

When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13

It takes your heart to “hear” God in your life. Practically speaking, you need to put the distractions of the world aside and really—REALLY!!!—tune into God. As I said, He is less than a heart beat away.

LISTEN and you will hear. I guarantee it. Don’t expect lightning bolts or revelations, although they may happen. But it’s in the silence of your life where you will most likely “hear” God.

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in the mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-14

Elijah heard God in the “sheer silence.” That’s where you will hear Him too if you can just shut out the world for a little bit.

I know this all sounds simple but it is. God makes life simple. We make it complicated.

LISTEN!!! And have a GREAT day!

A Life of Boundless Opportunity

In case you don’t know it, I’m here to tell you that God has a very specific, unique plan for you. Yes, you! We each have our own plan in life. The trick is to understand that plan—a plan with boundless opportunities—and then implement it. And what better time to start the understanding and implementation than now as the New Year unfolds before us. Continue reading “A Life of Boundless Opportunity”

Visiting The Shack

If you have not seen the movie The Shack I highly recommend watching it. I read the book when it came out but wasn’t sure the movie would do it justice. It did—at least as I remember the book. It certainly delivered the main messages in the book.

We all have out own “shacks.” They are dark places —some way darker than others—that eat away at us and stand in the way of moving forward with life. We need to face those “shacks” and not avoid them. And in doing so we need to look inward and not outwards at others—and judging in the process.

I haven’t written in a while because I was stuck. Watching The Shack helped me out of the rut. It helps put into perspective what is really important in life—the one and only most important thing in life.

Have a GREAT day!!!

Pick Someone Up Today!

Someone around you needs picking up today. It may be someone you know or a complete stranger. But someone needs picking up. So. pick them up!

Start with a smile, a good word, lending a hand, or buying someone a coffee. Even if you need picking up, try looking outside of yourself today to others. You may just find that in picking someone up you pick yourself up in the process.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

There’s no rocket science in this post. Look out today for someone who needs picking up. And, then, pick them up!

Have a GREAT day!!!

If Only More People Were Like Tim Tebow

Time Tebow is a very polarizing person, or so says the media. That’s because people seem to either adore him or loath him—or are jealous, whatever, of him. But what’s clear to me is that if more people were like Tim Tebow the world would be a better place. Why? Because he’s caring, goes out of his way for others, follows his dreams, and shuts out negativity. And in all that, he’s humble!

You might like to read this… Tim Tebow’s genuine appeal goes well beyond the playing field

We live in a world of so many bad role models for our kids. Tim Tebow is a great role model.

One additional thought… Let’s take time this Memorial Day weekend to remember the heroes who laid down their lives for our freedom! Enjoy!!! 

Battleground of Good and Evil

That’s our planet. Evil came out in full force in Manchester when children were very purposely fingered for death. That was evil on a very visible scale, with reporting around the globe. But evil is everywhere and its clash with good takes place every minute, everywhere on this planet.

Life has a fork in the road for all of us—actually, constant forks. One path is good and the other is evil. Most people scoff at the idea they are evil. That’s the thing about evil. It starts out as a tiny seed of doubt and/or dislike. If fed, it blooms into full blown evil.

There’s a reason God commanded us to love. And why Jesus was the message of love, both figuratively and literally. Only love keeps evil at bay. Walk in love and you keep evil at away.

Smile. Be mindful of others. Help someone in need. These may be tiny gestures but they keep you centered on the fork of love.

Whether you like it or not, or acknowledge it not, there’s a fight going on between good and evil. And you’re are part of it.

Love makes the world go round. Evil will destroy it. The choice is up to each one of us to choose.

Choose love! And have a wonderful day!

Mother’s Day

Why am I writing about Mother’s Day after the day? Simply because every day should be Mother’s Day. Without mothers the world would stop. Yes, it takes two to tango and we dads have a role but mothers truly make the world go around.

Let’s try to honor mothers not just one day of the year but every day of the year. They deserve it and we should fulfill it. And that means not just your mother but all mothers.

Have a great week ahead! And remember that it’s filled with endless possibilities. 

The Endless Possibilities in You!

There are endless possibilities in you. You simply have to seize the day to realize them. God made you—with the imprint of His “DNA”—so you have God in you. Understand that and put it into action. There is nothing you can’t do. The only one holding you back is you!

Start realizing your endless possibilities today!!!

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. Pope John XXIII

Politics & Airplanes

Hate is all around us. The politicians spew it just for the sake of it, regardless of the issue. I just watched yet another incident on an airplane where two passengers were literally duking it out in the aisle. It reminds me of the original Ghostbusters movie where the hate in New York City was feeding the ghosts. Unfortunately, this is real life and it’s not funny. We’re feeding the hate.

God gave us one commandment and that’s to love. Out of love for us, God gave His only Son. And Jesus left us with one simple command: love. It’s bad enough they hung Him on a cross. We continue the hanging every day as we just don’t love, but we actively hate.

I have said this so many times I can’t count, but change happens one person at a time. It starts with you and me. If we don’t start loving, hate will overrun us, as it is right now. You really wonder where all this hate leads.

LOVE!!! It’s not that hard. And it’s truly a key Secret to Life. I’ll try my best to do my part today. I hope you will join me in spreading some love.

Thanks for reading—and loving!