A soft answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 15:1

John Wayne, famous American actor and film icon, once said, “Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.” His advice is hard for me to follow since I’m a fast talker and I don’t always speak quietly or limit my words. However, this idea of controlling our speech can be a useful tool when dealing with anger. The Bible says we are supposed to be “slow to speak” (James 1:19), and that “a soft answer turns away wrath” (Prov. 15:1).

Gideon gave a soft answer during a verbal scuffle with some fellow Israelites (Judg. 8). Just after his army defeated the Midianites, a group of his countrymen criticized him sharply (v.1). They were miffed because they missed out on the main part of the battle. Gideon did not fling back a rough response. Instead, he reminded them that they had captured and killed the Midianite princes. He also honoured the men by asking, “What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Finally, “their anger toward him subsided when he said that” (v.3).

With the Lord’s help, we can defuse heated situations by reining in our words. Responding gently and carefully to angry people can promote unity, for God’s glory. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Lord, set a guard upon my lips,
My tongue control today;
Help me evaluate each thought
And watch each word I say. –Hess-

**Bite your tongue before your tongue bites others.

Reasons to Never Give Up..!!

7 Reasons to Never Give Up..

1. Breaking through inspires. Lifts your spirit, what more the lives of the people around you. You will never know who's life you may save by being an example.

2. Your breaking through the toughest of times, is normally your best story ever. Many years from then, you would smile, reminisce and stand grounded like you won the greatest battle ever.

3. It brings the best out in you. You would never know what you were capatable of till you are cornered to be resourceful. Then you will be amazed by the things you could do. Every time you attempt the breakthrough you get better.

4. You are wired to persist and achieve. You are the same child that stood up everytime ypu fell when you were learning to walk. And you walked, ran, jumped and some even somersaulted over time. If we were wired to persist and achieve, then how come at times it feels only right to give up ? Conditioning created the comfort for us to settle.

5. Anything that challenges you after that seems all too easy and simple to handle. Yours of experience would have built the greatest of resourcefulness that in a snap of a finger, gets you on top of things.

6. What awaits you beyond the toughest of times will surprise you. Think of what you would have missed if you were just 2mm away from it if you dropped to your knees and called it quits. Many a times, you're that near to it, and you make a u-turn with a sigh. It is God's way of giving it to the deserving soul that stays the course.

7. Giving hope rather than Give up. Giving up is easy, so easy. All you have to do is walk away, sit, complain and experience what you rationalized as the world turning its back on you. In the grander scheme of things, hope empowers. It probably spurs the same amount of energy that giving up would do, but it creates magic. Giving up is tragic..


:)

“你的存在绝非偶然”

[ 我是你的创造者。在你未出生之先，我已经看顾你。] 以赛亚书 44: 2上

“你是你总有因，你是神精密计划的一部分。

你是祂完美宝贵的独特设计，是祂所挚爱的男人或女人。

你像你总有因，神是决不会出差错，

祂把你孕育成形，正是祂所深爱的那人。

神为你挑选双亲，不论你感受如何，

他们是神按照祂计划为你量身特制的，

并盖上大师的特许印章。

不！你所面对的不幸遭难绝非易事，

神也为你伤痛留眼痕，

神允许这一切发生来塑造你的心，

要你长成祂的样式，

你是你总有因，上主用杖练你成形。

亲爱的，你是你，

因为我们有一位神。”

-Russell Kelfer-

Small Things

Skeptical about the usefulness of a small lunch, Andrew said to Jesus, “What are [these five loaves and two fish] among so many?” (John 6:9). Yet the little lunch in the hands of Jesus turned out to be a huge blessing. So, before you think that you don’t have much to offer Jesus, consider this:

  Edward Kimball, a Sunday school teacher in Boston, decided to visit a young man in his class to be sure he was a Christian. That day he led that man, Dwight L. Moody, to the Lord.

 

  Moody, the Billy Graham of the 19th century, had a major impact on Wilbur Chapman. Chapman, a prominent evangelist, recruited Billy Sunday to join in his evangelistic campaigns. In turn, Sunday launched a national ministry that had great results in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina. An organization that started as a result of Sunday’s revival invited evangelist Mordecai Ham to Charlotte. In one of those meetings, Billy Graham received Christ as his Savior and later became the most prominent evangelist of our time.

When you think you don’t have much to offer, remember Sunday school teacher Edward Kimball, who spent a Saturday afternoon reaching out to someone in his class. God has a special way of using routine faithfulness in the “small things” to accomplish great things!

What may seem insignificant,
Mundane, routine, or small
Is often used by God to show
His power over all. —Sper

God uses small things to accomplish great things for His glory.

Tips for Giving Encouragement..

Tips for Giving Encouragement:

*Be Sincere: 

Don’t say it if you don’t mean it. People see right through flattery.

*Be Specific: 

It’s nice to say “Well Done”, but it’s much more effective to explain exactly what part of the job was well done.

*Don’t Delay: 

Say it when you think it or the opportunity may be lost for good.

*Do it in Public: 

Praising people in front of others adds to the impact.

*Put it in Writing: 

Thank You cards or encouraging notes can be looked at often, and kept forever. There are people who keep a file of every complimentary note they’ve ever received. Surely that says something about the power of encouragement!

“That dress really looks great on you!”, “You’re such a reliable person!”, “I admire the way you handled that situation!”  -- Compliments like this can make our heart sing and give us a lift for the rest of the day. A well placed compliment can even change the course of someone’s life.

Peeps.. How often do you praise and appreciate your workmates, friends or even your family..?

Let’s practice this in our daily life.! :D