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The only way to manipulate people is to convince them to believe a lie. The truth doesn’t manipulate anyone. It sets them free. Feelings are a powerful thing and they should not be ignored. Many times they lead us to truth, but more often than not, acting on them alone will lead to our own destruction. Following our feelings without seriously considering the truth will hurt everyone around us and destroy us. Don’t ignore your feelings, but please don’t follow them. Let them be a warning sign tha …

What we go to sleep thinking about impacts how we rest and how we start tomorrow. Make a conscious effort to fall asleep grateful for the little things that are truly the big things. Just having a bed to sleep in is a blessing in itself. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Ps. 100:4-5 …

It’s God that does the healing but He needs us at some point to move on and trust Him. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

Read this many times. It’s insane truth written by CS Lewis. Your real, new self (which is Christ's and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more everyday matters. Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and ar …

I often say the little things are the big things. Every decision we make from what seems little to what seems big is one more step towards or away from our purpose. The good news is we are never more than the next right decision from turning everything around and heading back to what God has for us. Our purpose is to live a loving life and we have unique gifts to help us fulfill exactly what God created us to do. Nothing in this world is more fulfilling than being where God called us. It’s never …

I talk about this extensively in “The Right Fight-How to Live a Loving Life.” If you haven’t read the book, please do. I personally struggle with this issue, because even when I check my own heart, I realize I have blind spots and sometimes I don’t know my own heart. This is just one of the many reasons we need Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and we need to pray and seek truth. If you’re not sure why you’re giving, pray and ask God to reveal to you what you may need to change. And say a prayer for me …

If you have read “The Right Fight” and are willing to share a few sentences that may encourage someone else to read it please share them. We will pick a couple to put on the back cover of the book for the next printing. Whether you share anything or not I am forever grateful to you all!!! Your encouragement and conviction has helped me become a better father, husband, friend and man. I don’t think you could ever understand how much your comments mean to …

I have learned never to just follow my feelings. If I wanted to wreck someone’s life, I would advise them to just do what they feel is right. That said, I never ignore my feelings either. I check them with the truth. First I go to God’s Word, and if my feelings don’t align with God’s Word, I trust God’s Word, not my feelings. Then I ask the people I trust for their insight. I dig for the truth until I believe I have it, and let the feelings follow me. This is not easy but it’s essential! Don’t f …

When we are slaves unto ourself, we are the only one who can make the decision to set ourself free. That decision is to love Jesus...who is love. To love the God who loves you whether you loved Him or not. I write about this extensively in “The Right Fight” -How To Live A Loving Life. Available on Amazon and at shieldsofstrength.com. Every time I hear someone say respect me and I will respect you, I ask them if they realize they are giving the wheel of their lives to others. Fear loves others w …

God is love. If we know love, we know God. Love was not what I thought it was most of my own life. Learning what love really was drew me closer to God than I have ever been. This is why I wrote “The Right Fight -How To Live A Loving Life.” I’m telling you the truths in that book radically changed my life forever. It took me off the path of self-destruction and put me on the path that leads to Jesus and fruitfulness. Please read it if you have not already, but first read God’s Word. Even if it’s …