Creative Inspiration for Passionate Living

Once when I was feeling a bewilderment about how my team fit in a changing organization, I sought input from a trusted mentor.  By the end of the discussion, which lasted less than 30 minutes, I was not only assured that my team had an opportunity to play a vital role in the organization's transition but also admonished for not seeking ways to ensure we were involved at the appropriate levels.  My mentor encouraged me to seek ways to add value rather than artificially asserting the need for involvement and complaining when the invitations didn't come. Today's Inspiration Seek No One's Permission to Fulfill Responsibilities That Are Yours Oh so many times we sit feeling like we're bound by the validation or acceptance of others.  In some cases, though we know (internally at least) that we have certain obligations, we wait for someone in our lives - oftentimes we don't even know who - to make a way for us or to mov...

There are some visions placed in me that seem so out of the ordinary that it feels like I must be dreaming.  I'm sure my presence in church after a month-long absence was no coincidence especially when I learned that today's message in church was about a topic that has been on my mind for weeks - blessings so magnificent and immeasurable that my carnal mind can hardly hold on to them. Today's Inspiration Dream, Believe. Commit, Achieve If you've ever gotten a glimpse of the future God has for you, you understand how it can be both awesome and frightening.  To accept that we are here to live beyond our daily existence is to accept that our purpose requires diligence.  In addition to hard work, having purpose means that we must be willing to face unusual obstacles to reach extraordinary levels. The beautiful thing about all the hard work and trials we will face on our journey is that each prepares us to accept the glory of victory, to appr...

Remember the tan hand-writing paper with two solid lines and one dashed line in the middle? Capital letters were expected to start at the top line while lower case letters began their life at the dash. I always loved penmanship, that is, until I encountered the letter 'C'. I'm not sure why I couldn't figure it out but for weeks, the letter 'C' was my arch nemesis. One particular night, my errors outweighed the acceptable attempts and the thin paper tore under the pressure of my eraser. I must have restarted that blasted letter 'C' at least 3 times. My hands were plenty sore from gripping my pencil and I could no longer find the dashed line for the tears of failure that kept welling up in my eyes. I was utterly distraught over not my inability to curve the back of the letter - it looked more like a sideways 'U' than any 'C' I've ever seen. That darn 'C' was going to be the death of me I just KNEW it. Because of that awful e...

Ever asked this question of yourself? Have you ever felt paralyzed by fears of being less than what it takes (whatever IT might be)? As we continue to grow and stretch ourselves, it is natural to run into the speed bump called uncertainty. We might even trip over doubt and outright fear before it's all said and done. Experiencing these emotions is relevant so we should respect them for the value they bring - like keeping us humble - while realizing that the emotions themselves are only as important as what we do with them. Today's Inspiration We don't need a mountain of faith; we need just enough to take one more step Merriam Webster defines faith as a strong belief in something for which there is no proof; something that is believed with strong conviction.  Having faith can be more important than having ability. Without just a bit of faith, we risk turning away from our purpose and forfeiting our gifts. Believing in yourself just enough to push a little bit fu...