Tag: secretstolife

Never Alone—You Always Have a Friend!

We’re kidding ourselves if we deny ever feeling lonely. No matter how many family and friends you have around you, loneliness can always creep into your life. And sometimes it can become a cancer, growing into despair and even depression. And it can get worse from there.

No one in this world is ever alone. Jesus is a friend to one and all—equally! He has no favorites. Each one of us is His best friend. Really. Really!!!

This isn’t more religious mumbo-gumbo. It’s life. It’s living. And it’s real. You have a friend in Jesus, no matter where you are in life, no matter what you have done in life. Now or in the past. A best friend.

Friends converse. They listen and they talk. It’s conversation, which is 2-way. In fact, a best friend is always ready to listen and understand before talking.

So, if you’re not listening to and talking to Jesus you don’t know He’s your best friend. You have to spend time with Him, listening and talking. Not just for a few minutes in prayer in the morning or night, but during the day. Just like you would do with a best friend. And Jesus doesn’t have a cell phone; you can’t text Him. You simply have to use good old human 101 communication.

Trust me, trust me, trust me!!! You have a friend in Jesus. A best friend. I’m fortunate to have a lot of friends, starting with my two best friends—my wife and daughter. But my first best friend is Jesus. He makes all of my friendships so much better.

I have certainly been alone during my life, regardless of the people around me. It’s taken more years than I can count, but I have come to understand that Jesus is always there. Always!!!

Enjoy the weekend and spend some time with your best friend (and mine)!

Inward or Outward? Life’s Fork in the Road.

It’s all about me. That’s inward. It’s all about others. That’s outward. The major fork in the road on how you live your life. We all want to feel good and happy. The question is do we find meaning in life by always making it about ourselves or about others.

Jesus is our role model. With Him it was all outward. He lived and died to erase the sins of everyone past, present, and future. He hung every one of those sins on the cross He was nailed to. His life was 100% totally about others.

This is a very simple concept. You either live your life looking outward to others or inward to yourself. Everyone wants to be happy, fulfilled, and at peace. The choice in life is if you find that somewhere inside yourself or outward in others.

I don’t know about you but the people I know who try to live life just for themselves are the unhappiest. Those who are constantly looking outward and reaching out to help others seem to be the happiest, fulfilled, and at peace.

It’s a fork in the road we all face. And the choice is pretty important. Inward or outward? All about me or all about others? If you follow Jesus—meaning, call yourself a Christian—the choice is clear.

Have a GREAT outward facing day!!!

 

Only One Person Can Take Your Joy Away

You. If you let anyone else take your joy away it’s your fault. So, no matter how you slice it, you are the only one who can take your joy away. And if you think you have no joy, think again.

God hardwired joy into each one of us. But we let circumstances and people take that joy away. Note that “we” let circumstances and people take that joy away.

Let me try it once again—only you can let anything or anyone in life take your joy away.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Jesus came that you may have life, and have it “to the full.” Life to the full is joy. The joy of knowing that no matter what happens in this world, there is a joy of eternity around the corner. Meanwhile, enjoy every moment!

This isn’t more mumbo-jumbo. Turn inward to God and you will find joy hardwired inside of you. It may seem tough—especially when life gets a little rough—but you will find God, and your joyful side, if you just spend some time with God. Quality time.

Shame on you if you let anyone steal your joy!!!

I recently wrote about finding joy in the moment and not worrying about yesterday or tomorrow. Just relish in the joy that the moment brings.

Have a joyful day!!!

Joy in the Moment

I’m someone who is constantly thinking about what I should have done yesterday and what I need to do tomorrow. I almost always forget about the moment I am in… and taking joy in it. That’s a recipe for losing any joy in your life.

I’m telling myself over and over again to take joy in every moment. Yes, planning for tomorrow is good, as is thinking through what you should have done differently, better yesterday. But tomorrow and yesterday can’t overshadow the moment you’re in—and taking joy in it.

Jesus said it all too well:

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 

Don’t ever let anyone steal your joy (more on that in the next post). And that “anyone” starts with you. Plan ahead and look back, but don’t forget to live in the moment. And find joy in that moment.

I’m at Laguardia airport in New York and all I want to think about are my next three days in DC—and taking off for a week over the July 4th holiday. But I’m trying to take my own advice, and live what I am writing now in the middle of the airport chaos, to live in this moment. And taking joy in it!

Have a GREAT and JOYFUL day! Take some breaks today, smile, and live in the moment!!!

You Better Than This 4-Year-Old???

Watch this clip from CBS News the other night and tell me if you measure up to this 4-year-old, Austin Perine. Sadly, I certainly don’t!

Handing out food to the homeless with the message to “Show love!” Answering the question about why he does this and you get, “Because it’s the right thing to do!”

All I can say is WOW!!!

My urge now is to write about how he is following Jesus’ message to help those who need help and Jesus’ command to love. But, frankly, I feel pretty inferior to pontificate about anything. I’ve already communicated what needs communicating.

Feeling pretty inferior, and speechless, right now!

No Cute Little Devil!

Don’t want to get too heavy but in case you don’t know it the “devil” is real. Very real. He/She/It/whatever is not some cute little red-horned creature that pops up on your doorstep trick-or-treating. The devil is all too real!

The doubt you hear whispering in your ear—even now about what I am writing—is the devil. It is great at simply holding you back in your life with doubt; nothing more dramatic than that. However, when the devil gets a hold in your life with anger, jealousy, and worse, it can lead you down a very bad, and even destructive, path.

The devil doesn’t want any overt recognition. It works best behind the scenes, nudging, pushing, and cajoling you down dead ends and, at worse, off cliffs in your life.

I don’t obsess about the devil in my life, and how the devil “demons” in almost every aspect of my life try to steer me down dead ends. I’m simply aware those demons exist and talk them down on at least a daily basis. Understanding that the devil exists, where the demons are in your life, is a key step in winning the battle. And it is a battle! 

Of course, the closer you are to God—Father, Son, and Spirit—the farther away the devil will be. But it always finds a way, like water seeping into the smallest basement hole, to find those “holes” in your life.

Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Don’t freak out about the devil. Don’t obsess. Just be aware. And move as close as you can to God. It’s really that simple! It’s why one of my Secrets to Life is FIGHT the devil at every turn in your life.

Enjoy the rest of a beautiful weekend!

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! 

Victim or Victor?

Which one are you? There are people who go through life constantly playing the “victim” card. Someone else is always to blame for their plight in life. There are others who see themselves as the “victor” over someone else. And I think there are a large group who can’t answer the “victim” or “victor” question. What’s wrong with this picture is that everyone—and I mean EVERYONE!!!—should confidently answer “victor” but just not in the way you may be thinking. Continue reading “Victim or Victor?”

Are You Passing Lazarus on the Street?

Last week I went from Washington, DC to Chicago. What I noticed was more people on the streets of both cities begging—in one case a mother with a small child. And the other thing I noticed was north of 99.9% of people totally ignoring those people. Reminds me of Jesus talking about the story of Lazarus:

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:19-21

What happened? Lazarus died and went to heaven. The “rich man” died and went to hell. He lamented not having stopped and helped Lazarus when both were alive on earth.

Are you passing Lazarus on the street?

One more thing to think about that Jesus said:

Give to everyone who begs from you. Luke 6:30

Do you?

Have a great day!

Shine Some Light Today on a Dark World!

I am not a doom-and-gloom sayer but look around you—the world is a pretty dark place these days. Bombings, stabbings, shootings, and lots of animosity. It’s a rare day when we aren’t hearing about something bad happening. I am afraid the world is getting darker.

That’s where you and I come in. Today is a day to shed a little light on our dark world. It’s simple. Start with a smile, show some kindness to a stranger, and help someone in need. It’s not difficult. Just spend some time today thinking more about others than yourself. Let that light of God that is in you do some shining today.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Smile. Do good. Go out of your way for others. It’s not hard to let your light shine. Don’t keep your light under a basket today. Let it shine! The world needs your light!

Have a GREAT, shining week!