Tag: inspiration

Help or Helped?

There are people in life who always want to help. There are also people who constantly want to be helped. Then, there are most people who just go about life aimlessly neither helping or being helped. Where do you fall?

Jesus, our role model in life, was constantly helping. He not only healed the sick and propped up the helpless, but also gave hope to all. It was not always easy medicine to take but it always was aimed at helping.

If more of us followed Jesus’ example and were helpers, the world would be a vastly different place. Unfortunately, most of us—and I include myself in that camp a lot of the time—don’t even think enough of others to realize they even need help. We may not ask for any help ourselves but we sure don’t serve up any help to others.

Help or helped? Or nothing? Good question to ask yourself as the week looks ahead.

Have a great day—hopefully, helping someone in need! Start with a smile. That’s all someone may need.

God’s Way or the Highway

There are two ways in life: God’s way or the highway to nowhere. It’s that simple. God’s way is the easy way. Yes, it may not be perfect according to your definition of life. But it is to God. The other path is a way to endless wandering. It never feels right and leads to nowhere.

The Israelites wandered 40 years in the desert for a trek that was about 10-12 miles. They wandered aimlessly because they didn’t follow God’s way. They may have followed for a bit, but then they lost their way. There’s a real life message for all of us, especially those of us who want to find the Promised Land in our lives.

The Promised Land is God and you only find Him walking His way. And that way can be summed up by one very simple word: love. Walk in love and you are walking God’s way. Don’t walk in love and you are on the path to nowhere in life. Life is that simple but boy how we complicate it!

Walk God’s way today. Walk in love. And enjoy that beautiful walk!

How Do We Know What Love Is?

Don’t listen to me. Listen to the apostle John:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

WOW!!! Are you ready to lay down your life for a “brother and/or sister” like Jesus did? And, by the way, that’s not as in a “blood” brother or sister. That’s in a complete stranger who should be treated like a blood brother or sister—or, for some of us, how a blood brother or sister should be treated!

The problem is, forget about giving up a life. If we could only show some kindness and respect to others—our “brothers and sisters.” Jesus not only showed us the way to love but He commanded us to love. In fact, it is the one and only thing He commanded us to do, and is the root of everything He did and said on this earth.

Love all comes down to putting others before ourselves. It’s really as simple as that. I know, trust me—simple to talk and preach about but tough to do. But, then again, we have the model in earthly love in Jesus.

Try a little love today!

Pray Continually

Short and sweet. Says it all.

If you think of prayer as something formal, this makes little sense. If you think of prayer as communication with God, it makes a lot of sense.

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Great advice from the letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. After all, who passes up the opportunity to converse with God all day, every day?

PRAY! One of the Real Secrets to Life.

Listen, Read, Love, Fight, Believe, Live & Pray

These are the 7 Secrets to Life I have found. Pretty simple. No, make that really simple.

LISTEN to/for God because He is always there calling you. Yes, you. God has a unique, special purpose for you.

READ the Bible because it is our God-given handbook on life. It’s not some old book. It’s a timely book containing answers—if you want them.

LOVE because God commands us to love, and lead a life of love. That’s pretty simply.

FIGHT the devil because it is around every corner whispering doubt about everything—starting with God—in our ears.

BELIEVE that God is in you because He made you. You can do anything if you just believe and don’t doubt. Reread the last Secret to Life if you doubt any of this.

LIVE this life like it’s only a tune-up for your life of eternity. Where you spend that eternity depends on how you live this life. Back to that love thing!

PRAY because it’s simply conversation with God. It works—if you give it a chance.

These 7 Secrets to Life work for me. They are simple and clear. You may find others but these work for me. I hope they work for you.

Have a GREAT week! 

Obeying God

Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 8:20

This verse in the Christian Bible and Hebrew Torah haunt me lately. Why? Because God gave us what should be 2 very simple commands: Love Him and love others.

As I look from Capitol Hill in DC, where I was most of this week, to my personal life, I see people clashing with one another, not loving one another. Can it really be that hard to come together as one people, not warring factions? What are we if we are not listening to God and following His very simple commands?

Good questions to contemplate.

Have a great day and even better weekend!

What to Wear?

I can’t tell you what to wear any better than Paul:

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

Five pretty clear words: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

So, think today when you decide how to “clothe” yourself!

Shirt Off Your Back

The common thinking is that the idiom about “giving the shirt off your back” originated in the 18th Century. It may have gained popularity back then but it was eighteen centuries before when Jesus said “from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold your shirt” (Luke 6:29). Translation: give to anyone in need, even if that literally includes giving the shirt off your back. And Jesus didn’t just talk the talk as so many so-called “Christians” do today. He walked the walk in going way past giving His shirt. He gave His life.

There’s not much more to say about this. It’s all pretty clear. Someone asks you (or begs) for something, give it to them. No questions asked. And if you ignore that person just think what Jesus did and asks us to do. Are you listening to that dark voice inside or Jesus?

Have a great day giving!

Only You Can Take Away Your Peace

The outside world cannot take away your peace. And, yes, unless you don’t know it, you have natural peace within you. That’s simply because God created you and God is peace to the core. Only you can take away your peace. Not someone else.

Not at peace? Events and/or people around you “stealing” your peace? Well, they can’t “steal” your peace unless you let them. Your peace is your’s. Only you can let events and/or others take your peace away. You own it.

Not at peace? Lost your peace? Find a quiet place like a church, library, mountaintop, etc. and tune out the world. Dig down deep inside of you looking for your peace. You will find it if you really try. And, if you don’t realize it already, that peace is God inside of you.

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

Have a PEACEFUL week!!!

Greed and Ego

If you look at any problems, from minor to major, at their root are greed and ego. We have made life out to be about the collection of “things”—money, shoes, cars, houses, etc, etc. Having one of something is not enough. And ego—me over you—is always the focus. Greed feeds ego. If I have more, I am better.

Whether it’s high politics of just our everyday lives, greed and ego factor into the root of all differences and disputes. We can’t put ourselves—our egos—on the back burner. Our egos need to be front and center. “I” am more important that “you.” “MY (and the all upper caps is intentional) wants come before “your”(and the all lower caps is just as intentional) needs.

Jesus tells us to live a life that is anything but greed and ego. Of all the teachings Jesus has given us, I think some of the best is summed up in Luke 6:27-42. If you are looking for a roadmap on how to live you life, it’s all right there. It’s the exact opposite of greed and ego. The verses are well worth reading and meditating on every day of your life. They are not always easy to live day in, day out. But they are pure Jesus. Pure Christian.

Have a great week!!!