Category Archives: Christian Living

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How to Stop Lying and Speak the Truth — to Yourself

What You Tell Yourself Can Be the Worst Lies of All

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Ok. I admit it. I’m a liar. Or am I? Funny thing about liars. No one believes them even when they do tell the truth. Which I am doing right now. I think.

If only I could be authentic and stop lying — to myself.

Here’s my problem. I am quite conscientious about speaking the truth to others–to you, for example. I’d put up with a lot of hurt to speak the truth to you. That’s not the problem.

It’s when I talk to myself–inside, where no one else can hear – that I struggle to speak the truth. I am all about being authentic with others, but I struggle being authentic with myself.

Weird, I know. But maybe you feel the same way.

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Episode15: How to Read the Bible Every Day—And Enjoy It!

A Proven Approach for Daily Bible Reading

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How many times has it happened to you? You know you should read the Bible but you just don’t know how best to do it. Been there, done that.

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If you are reading this post in email, click here now to visit FaithWalkers and listen online.

Over the many years of coaching Christians to engage the word, I developed a simple acrostic as a framework anyone can use.

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Where Is God When You Start Your Day?

Help for Intentional Growth from Psalm 16

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I encountered some verses in Psalm 16 this morning that got my attention for they seemed to ask me: “Do you always start the day with God before you?”

I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope…. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (8,9,11)

When I asked myself that question, I confess that I didn’t like the awkward silence that followed. All too often I feel as if I am out in front, taking the lead and hoping that God can keep up. It’s silly, I know, but maybe you do the same thing from time to time?

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How Easter Makes an Authentic Life Worth Living

Do You Really Want to Live an Authentic Life without Christ?

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What does Easter have to do with living an authentic life? Hint: It has nothing to do with jellybeans. Answer: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only reason I would ever want to live an authentic life.

Authentic means real, genuine, true to reality. We hear a lot these days about people who allegedly discover their authentic selves. And we are then expected to celebrate that discovery. But the truth is that our authentic selves are not to be celebrated as is.

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What You Need to Know When Your Life Direction Gets Tough

You Can Choose Your Response to Resistance

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When you’re thinking about stepping out in a new life direction, you should get advice. But be careful whom you ask for input.  Not everyone is qualified to give you guidance about stepping out by faith.

I mention the need to get wise and experienced counsel in Episode 10 of  The FaithWalker’s Podcast.

There may be voices in our life that we respect, but if they have never attempted to do what we are contemplating, we should take their input with a grain of salt.

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What to Expect When You Step Out in a New Life Direction

The Easy Path Isn’t Always the Right Path

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When you’re considering stepping out in a new life direction, you should not expect it to always be easy. There is a learning curve that each of us must experience at the start of anything new.

The curve can be scary when you’re in it, even bewildering and disorienting. That is normal.

Let me repeat that: it is normal to find the curve to be challenging.

Following your new life direction will be scary at times. You will experience turbulence.

When you step out in a new life direction it is almost always going to be harder than you thought it would be.

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Do You Worship Your Next Paycheck?

When Your Life Calling Requires You to Walk Away from Money

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We worship what we fear. If it’s God, that’s a good thing. He should be feared. He’s God. But my own journey to find my calling forced me to ask myself a question that may be helpful for you. Do you worship your next paycheck?

One of the biggest challenges to stepping out in a new life direction is money.  I’m going to unpack some strategies and insights about that challenge in the coming weeks.

Let’s start by thinking about this statement: “I don’t know where my next paycheck is coming from.”

Does it strike fear into your soul? Pity? Or joy at the possibility of amazing opportunity?

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Why Knowing Your Strengths Isn’t Enough

Finding Life Direction Requires a Kingdom Awareness

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Finding your life direction requires figuring out your strengths. I shared about how I discovered my strengths in this post. But for the Christian seeking to live an authentic life, it will take more than an awareness of strengths to find God’s best for your life.

It will take a Kingdom awareness.

Our strengths reside where our passions and talents unite. So if we devote the bulk of our time to doing things where those two intersect, we will be more productive and more fulfilled.

Why? Because we are doing the kinds of things God wired us to do.

You do not need to be a Christ-follower for this to be true.

But the disciples of Jesus should desire more. Jesus calls us to follow him ahead of career ambitions, the love of money, or even family ties. Our life direction priorities must align with His Kingdom priorities.

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The First Step to Find Your Life Direction

Start by Figuring Out Your Strengths

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What are you good at? Isn’t that the classic question people ask you when you’re trying to figure out your life direction? It’s not a bad question, but it’s not enough. We need to start by figuring out our strengths.

It took me five years to figure out my strengths. It doesn’t have to take you that long.

I worked it in between running a school, getting my MBA, and engaging a family of five or six–however many kids we had at the time. I didn’t get intentional about it, partly because I didn’t get to it until later in life.

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What’s Holding You Back from God’s Best?

Your Life Direction Doesn't Have to Be a Mystery

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Yes, but…. Have you ever used that expression when talking to yourself or others about what God might want you to do in life? Have you ever thought you had figured it out, only to conclude that God’s best just isn’t possible for you? You are not alone.

I’ve coached a lot of people through the process of figuring out their best life direction (and it is a process!). I’ve been through it myself and must continually re-engage the process to ensure I stay on course.