Tip #20 "Life is found in giving our life away."

Tip #20 "Life is found in giving our life away."

All too often we get caught up in the day to day USA grind of work, family, friends, entertaining ourselves, etc. Why is it that we spend very little time helping others? Instead, we spend the majority of our time serving ourselves. This will never fulfill our souls. So, we are quite deceived aren't we? What do we do?


My favorite motivational speaker of all time says, "If you help enough other people get what they want you will always have what you want." - Zig Ziglar Ohhhhhhhhhhh, how true that is.

Instead of picking up that TV remote or surfing the Internet. Let's take one tiny 5 minute step today to serve someone else with a phone call, an email, or something that says "Hey, I am here to help you. Can I take out your garbage, clean your dishes, drive you somewhere, clean your house, watch your children, etc."

Let's no longer be deceived into thinking that the Ipod, Internet, the TV, the video games, the shopping, or anything else is more fulfilling than serving another person. The more we give our life away the more we will fulfill what our souls desire.

I have never known a giving and serving person to feel lonely for very long. Why? Because they seek to give instead of to get.

Tip #20 "Life is found in giving our life away."

Tip #19 "We get what we give"

Tip #19 "We get what we give"

I was at the grocery store the other day and I was about to check out when a nice lady behind me gave me a $10 coupon and said "You look like you are going to go over the $250 amount". Sure enough she was right. Well, now that was nice wasn't it? She gave something to me without expecting anything in return. I love that. Don't you?

So, I finished checking out and sure enough on the back of my long grocery receipt was a $5 coupon for my next visit. I turned to this lady and said "Here you are. $5 for you."

That worked out great! She gave something from her heart and was immediately given something back. Anyone that is over 3 years old understand that in life. We will reap what we sow. Won't we?

Tip #19 "We get what we give"

Tip #18 "Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care."

Tip #18 "Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care."

I will never forget some advice that a dad gave me once..."A hug can solve the majority of a child's emotional angst."

Just last week our oldest daughter, youngest daughter, and our son were emotionally upset about something. I said "Would you like a hug?" "Yeaaaah". Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. They knew that I cared.

I think that a hug with a spouse, child, friend, or even a stranger goes a long long way. It shows that we care a lot more than the endless blather that I am prone to. Why do I think I am so wise? Ha. I am not.

I am guilty of sharing suggestions with people that have no desire to know what I think about their situation. They just want to know that I care. Have you ever felt that way? I feel that way more often than I care to admit. :-)

I like to help people. I think that is a good thing. But, if the people I want to help do not want help than I cannot help them nor can anyone else. So, it is good to offer. But, if it is met with a bitter response I have found it much better to just listen(though I struggle with this too). Then, these folks know I care.

Most people(including myself) would rather talk than listen. But, true listening shows that we care. When people know that we care they are usually open to hearing what we have to say. I know that the mentors in my life do not call me daily, send me multiple emails, and harrass me to no end trying to help me. They wait for me to ask them. This way, I am hungry and open to learn. They have learned to not "cast their pearls on swine". Why give a beautiful string of pearls to a pig to wear? That would be silly. Wouldn't it?

Let's agree to drop the baggage in our lives by not casting our "wisdom" on people until they know we care. This way, we are all ready for stronger relationships.

Tip #18 "Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care."

Tip #17 "If you would only..."

"If you would only talk less, love me more, speak less, take out the garbage, discipline the kids, stop harassing me, talk more, speak louder, speak softer, eat with your mouth closed, sleep more, eat less, rest more, pray more, serve more, drive slower, drive faster, get organized, stop analyzing everything, stop thinking so much, mow the lawn, clean the driveway, pick up the leaves, plant the garden, plant the flowers, do the laundry, clean the dishes, be on time, feed the cat, dog, and take out the hog, pick up your clothes, think, brush your teeth, take a shower, eat something, think positively, read scripture more, memorize scripture, wait, be silent, be still, travel more, vacation more, read more, do something, be busy, play more, think less, feed the cat, give the cat a drink of clean water, go shopping, eat better, eat more healthy, eat organic food, wash your hands more, be in the sun more, go to the beach, play a game, draw a picture, watch TV, watch a movie, watch a play, watch someone else play, play golf, play softball, play basketball, play football, play soccer, play outside, take a walk, take a breath, take what is yours."

I have either spoken all of those things above at one point in my life or heard them said to me. I could go on and on and on. But, I will not for the sake of time.

My point in all of this is to say that there is only one place that we can find true fulfillment in this short short life that we have here on Earth....ONE PLACE ONLY that will give us true eternal fulfillment. Can you guess what it is?

Answer: Yeshua

Tip #17 "If you would only..."

Tip #16 "Master the Fundamentals"

I just finished watching the 2008 NCAA Championship game as Kansas defeats Memphis in overtime. It was painful for me to watch these college kids from Memphis watch their dream quickly turn to a nightmare as they could not hold on to a 9 point lead with less than 2 minutes to play because they could not make free throws when it mattered.

Quite frankly, I picked Memphis to be in the Championship game. But, I picked them to lose for that very reason...They are weak at free throws.

Folks, it is vital vital vital for us to master the fundamentals in whatever we choose to do. Whether it is in our personal life or professional life we must be a master of the fundamentals.

What are they? That depends on your situation. For me, personally I know that children spell love "T I M E" so I have made an effort to work from home for the past 5 1/2 years. In regard to time spent with my family I have no regrets.

My wife and I spend a lot of time together...almost too much if you ask her.... :-) We have a date night almost every week. This has done wonders for our relationship. On top of that we are heavily involved in the church that we are members of. We pray together and praise the Lord together. If it wasn't for those basics I hate to imagine what our marriage and family would look like.

When it comes to my spiritual life(keep in mind I am a Christian) I try to be consistent with two simple things....prayer and reading the bible. I wish I could say I did both every single day. But, I do not. Most days yes...But, mastering the fundamentals...working on it. :-)

In my professional life I am in sales and I am a professional speaker. The fundamentals are simply sending emails, picking up the phone, and meeting people face to face. I am pleased with my efforts professionally.

Physically is where I am failing for the time being. I really need to focus on the fundamentals here once again. Simple exercise 20 minutes a day, eating smaller portions as the day becomes night along with increased protein and decreasing bad carbs. Sounds easy. But, as I told someone recently knowledge is nothing unless it is applied.

What fundamentals do you need to master? I challenge you to take something on for the next 3 weeks to begin to master the fundamentals so that you will not be brought to tears someday like the Memphis Tigers. These graduating seniors will have to live the rest of their lives with the fact that they lost because they did not master the fundamentals of free throws.

Tip #16 "Master the Fundamentals"