John Harrell's Blog, page 32

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Sometimes life throws us curveballs. We think we know the direction of our lives, and everything seems to be going smoothly. Then the shit hits the fan. Normal life is disrupted by an unexpected divorce, the loss of a job, or the worst thing possible happens, the loss of a child. Life as we knew it has forever been changed.

When dark periods occur, and they will, you have got to find your inner strength. Sometimes this is strength you didn’t know you had in you. The resilience you built through difficult situations in your past will serve you well now. You will get through whatever you are going through, even if it’s one baby step at a time. When you’re going through hell, don’t stop and build a house there. Keep going…

Life will get better. You will find a way to live with a pain that never goes away, it merely subsides. You will realize that God didn’t abandon you. He was in the mess with you.

And those curveballs I mentioned before. You will get good at hitting them, too…

Is It True?

There’s so much information thrown our way every day that it’s difficult to separate the truth from the lies. Our media is culpable, but so are we if we spread the lies we hear.

If we were to spend our time vetting information we would never accomplish anything else! We need information about the state of the world to help us make decisions. But how do we know if what we are being told is true?

The world is a much closer place thanks to technology. We can call someone in a foreign country and it sounds like they are next door. There are sources available to help us glean information. Then it’s up to us to think it through.

Decide what’s important to you and your family. Ask yourself if what you’re hearing is really true. Take time away from the noise to think.

And if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…

Whip It Into Shape!

There’s a great story in the Bible where Jesus is enraged when he sees what’s happening in the Temple. He forms a whip and uses it to drive the people and the livestock out. Just like in Jesus’ day, there’s pollution in the church.

Church should be a place where everyone is welcome. Everyone. Yet, I have read about some churches that exclude some people. I’ve heard of others that relaxed Biblical principles in the name of inclusivity and political correctness. We all must live with ourselves, but this is venturing into dangerous territory.

The Apostle John wrote about churches that strayed from God when he crafted The Book of Revelation. Jesus isn’t ambiguous. He wants it cleaned up.

I encourage you to seek God and His goodness. Stay close to the teachings of the Bible. It’s as relevant today as it ever was…

Preparedness

Netflix reported that over 60 million people viewed the Jake Paul/Mike Tyson bout on Friday night. It was a record. Yet, many people were disappointed because Netflix hadn’t ramped up their streaming capacity enough to accommodate the demand. They weren’t prepared.

When the work week begins, most of us are ready for whatever the week holds for us. The unprepared just show up and see what happens. Taking a few minutes to review your schedule on Sunday evening won’t solve all your work challenges, but it will help you in your preparation for what can happen.

Asking God to guide us as we go through the day helps greatly. He wants to be involved in our lives, not relegated to being a spectator. Talk to Him.

Yesterday was about sayings. Today I will close with one: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail…

Sayings

“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man…” you know the rest. There’s a lot of cute, catchy sayings that are meant to teach us something. Life is the best teacher of all. We take to heart the lessons we learn through experience.

All my life I’ve heard people say, “you know, they say” this or that. Who are they??? I wish they would show themselves because I have a few things to say to they!

When we are seeking wisdom, go to the Book of Proverbs. Written by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, it’s full of solid advice to guide us in life. His writings were inspired by God so we know they are true. God gave us a guidebook to navigate life on this planet. We are being prepared for eternity.

Remember, God didn’t create us and forget about us. We are in His thoughts. Always…

Time Out

In sports, teams call a time out when they need to regroup or rethink their strategy. Perhaps some people in the United States should call a personal time out.

The division in this great country has been building for 20 years. The last time we were united was immediately after 9/11. It makes me sad to see how divided and angry we have become. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Democrats are raging anger about losing the election. I have seen some Republicans gloating and throwing it in people’s faces. Both are wrong. We can be better, if we are willing.

Second to the Bible, the United States Constitution is the greatest document ever written. Our republic will still be here in 2028, no matter peoples opinions.

I encourage you to take time away from the noise. Get away. Travel. Enjoy time with your family and friends. The noise is always there if you feel some need to revisit it.

We are better together…

The Car Wash

Many gas stations have automatic car washes available for a fee after you fill your tank. Recently, I used one and the similarity between the car wash and people struck me. The car may be clean on the outside, but inside it’s still dirty. It needs some attention on the interior.

Some people look great when you meet them. But as you get to know them you begin to see a different person emerge. Arrogance, insecurity, even cruelty are hidden beneath the surface. Suddenly their outer beauty melts away and you see them in a whole new way.

Jesus spoke of this when he called out some of the Pharisees. He criticized them for being “clean on the outside but unclean on the inside.” Jesus can see straight through to the heart of mankind. It takes us a little longer!

I encourage you to look beneath the surface. Look at the heart. It’s revealed by our actions.

A kind heart is a special kind of beauty…

The Mind

Napoleon Hill wrote, “what the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Theres much power in that statement. Did you know you can trick your mind? It’s true.

Our minds don’t know the difference between reality and fantasy. Visualizing your future self, with emotional conviction, will manifest into reality. The key to success comes from the believing.”

It’s important to remember that this can and will work against you, too. If you focus on failure, doom and gloom, and you emotionalize it, those things will manifest. While you are guarding your heart, guard your thoughts, too.

I encourage you to spend a few minutes visualizing your future self. See yourself succeeding. Pursue your wildest dreams with everything you have in you.

And remember to include God in your visuals. He wants to share in your success…

Overstocked

Have you ever gone to Costco to buy just a couple of items, but ended up spending $600.00? I have bought a 100 pound bag of pinto beans in there because it was such a great deal! I love pinto beans, but there’s no way I can eat that many beans in a year.

Sometimes we do things that, in our rational mind, we know aren’t good decisions. The emotional side of our brain takes over and rules the intellect. We all do it. I might have a solution.

When you feel the need to buy something that you know you don’t need, I encourage you to enact the 48 hour rule. Wait two days before making your purchase. Had I had the forethought to do this myself, I would not have bought all those beans. The 100 pound bag would have still been there two days later. Most important, my emotions about getting a great deal would have subsided.

Try it. And remember, your emotions are a necessary part of you, but they aren’t always looking out for your best interests…

Guidance

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Recently I was reading this and it spoke to me in a whole new way.

Many times in this blog I have stated that the Bible is the best, most comprehensive self help book ever. It tells us how to live our lives without a bunch of rah rah. And there it is: “submit to him and he will make your paths straight.” It’s the submission part that trips us up. We don’t like being submissive.

God is in control of everything. When we submit to his ways rather than our own selfish desires, we have peace and contentment. Living in his will is often the road less traveled, and I admit it’s difficult. There are a lot of things to tempt us onto the superhighway to hell! And Satan knows exactly what appeals to each of us. He’s had a long time to observe human behavior.

Following God’s word won’t turn you into a religious nut. You won’t stop showering and start dressing weird . The change is inside. You feel it.

I encourage you to give it a try. The only thing you will lose is some chaos from your life…