Below are 24 phrases that can contaminate the connection in a relationship:
These days too much emphasis is being laid on the quality of our actions and deeds towards others. Many times we strive to live righteously, by doing…but how about our words? How righteous are they? To me it really doesn’t count much if you are kind to me and do other many great things for me, but still curse me.
Folks, words are powerful, yet many of us don’t realise this. Let your words compliment your actions. It was said of Jesus in John 7:46 “No man ever spoke like this man.” Think about this. Can others say the same about you, as a Christian?
In other to live your greatest life, always remember that,
“A careless word may kindle strife, A cruel word may wreck a life; A bitter word may smite and kill, A brutal word may accomplish nil; But, A gracious word may smooth the way, A joyous word may brighten a day; A timely word may lessen stress, A loving word may heal and bless.”
“For what shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and lose his soul?” – Mark 8:36
What brings you happiness? Was a question asked by a speaker at a seminar once. Responding, someone said it was having the money to live the life of his dreams that brought him happiness; another said getting married to a beautiful model is what makes him happy. Yet another said it was sex, someone else said it was his dog; his car; wearing beautiful clothes; living in a large house…and so on.
What about you? What makes you happy? Think about it for a moment. You see like everyone else, I desire to have a better life. To live in a wonderful neighbourhood, drive a nice car, look good, to not have to worry about money and so on. But I don’t believe that having all of those will make me truly happy. I don’t have believe that I have to be surrounded with luxuries to experience true bliss in life. Because in my life I have experienced true happiness even when I lacked many of the things others thought they needed to have before they can live a happy life.
Again, I have seen people who were supposed to possess the things which make people happy. They had what all most of us are seeking so badly – money. They lived in palatial homes and were surrounded with luxuries, and beautiful women, yet, the moment misfortune came, what they called “happiness” fled along with the things they had.
These are people who felt that having arrived, and achieved what most people are struggling so hard to get; their solid investments, and large bank accounts, that nothing could ever shake them. But, almost in the twinkling of an eye, their foundations slipped from under them, their reputations vanished, and their “happiness” had disappeared with their reputations. Continue reading What Gives You Happiness?
Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. Never again. There is a better way. – Og Mandino
“The moment you begin to worry about the things you want and the things you don’t have in life is the moment you will lose your gratitude…The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times.” – Zig Ziglar
I read about a preacher who had a unique way of counselling couples and other people with family problems. It was told that hen a couple would come to him and tell him of problems in their marriage, problems with their children, he would tell them the story of Moses and the Golden Calf. He would describe how Moses was coming down from Mt. Sinai carrying the tablets of the Ten Commandments written by the hand of God Himself. When he saw the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf, he gave up on them. He gave up the hope of ever seeing them become the people he had hoped they would be. So he threw the tablets to the ground and they shattered. Then, after the people realized what a serious thing they had done, God tells Moses He’s going to give Israel a second chance. He tells him to go back up the mountain for a replacement set of tablets, and this time, God would inspire him but Moses himself would write the words on the stones.
The preacher would tell the couple he was counselling that the original tablets written by God symbolize perfection, even as God is perfect. But perfection is too much to expect of human beings. So God told Moses to fashion a replacement set, representing the will of God as crafted by a human being, subject to interpretation by other human beings. They would demand the maximum but leave room for human frailty and imperfection.
The preacher would say to the couple, “When you married each other, it felt so perfect. You looked forward to the future being perfect forever. You would love each other and make each other happy every day of your lives. You would have children who would make you proud and never disappoint you. Then the first time you have a serious argument, the first time you hurt or disappoint each other, that’s the crack in the first set of tablets. That’s the loss of the dream of perfection. Now the challenge facing you is, Can you do what Moses did? Continue reading Permit Others to Be Humans!
I found this wonderful message as I was going through an old book. May it bless your life as it has blessed mine today;
“My child, I have a message for you today. Let me whisper it in your ear so any storm clouds that may arise will shine with glory, and the rough places you may have to walk will be made smooth. It is only four words, but let them sink into your inner being, and use them as a pillow to rest your weary head. “This is my doing.”
Have you ever realized that whatever concerns you concerns Me too? “For whoever touches you touches the apple of [my] eye” (Zech.2:8). “You are precious and honoured in my sight” (Isa. 43:4). Therefore it is My special delight to teach you. I want you to learn when temptations attack you, and the enemy comes in “like a pent-up flood” (Isa.59:19), that “this is my doing” and that your weakness needs My strength, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.
Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, never ask your opinion, and always push you aside? “This is my doing.” I am the God of circumstances. You did not come to this place by accident—you are exactly where I meant for you to be. Have you not asked Me to make you humble? Then see that I have placed you in the perfect school where this lesson is taught. Your circumstances and the people around you are only being used to accomplish My will.
Are you having problems with money, finding it hard to make ends meet? “This is my doing,” for I am the One who keeps your finances, and I want you to learn to depend upon Me. My supply is limitless and I “will meet all your needs” (Phil. 4:19). I want you to prove My promises so no one may say, “You did not trust in the Lord your God”(Deut.1:32).
Are you experiencing a time of sorrow? “This is my doing.”I am “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering”(Isa.53:3). I have allowed your earthly comforters to fail you, so that by turning to Me you may receive “eternal encouragement and good hope”(2Thess.2:16) .Have you longed to do some great work for Me but instead have been set aside on a bed of sickness and pain? “This is my doing.” You were so busy I could not get your attention, and I wanted to teach you some of My deepest truths. Continue reading See God in Everything!
We all want to have a good life. Many of us want to have more material things in our lives. Most of us just want to be happy and live at peace, and so we think if we have loads of money, drive in luxurious cars, live in big houses, we will be satisfied and be truly happy. And so we go seeking for the money and other material things.
Christ tells us to seek first the kingdom and righteous living, then we can have all the other things we desire. But the world tells us that if we go after the kingdom, doing good, seeking happiness and being content, we will not get the material things and the money we desire. Thus we follow the world, only to discover that when you finally get all the material things, your still unhappy, you still suffer depression, sicknesses, lack of peace and love in your home.
Folks the secret to happiness, bliss, love, and true success is to seek first the kingdom…because if you look at very materially successful people, those who have lots of money, who drive the best cars, and live in the most beautiful houses, and so on, the true fact is, for the vast majority, they are not very forgiving, loving, peaceful people. (They may be now, but when they were acquiring their wealth they weren’t.) Some of them, their health is poor. Their relationships are poor. They have money, but little else, and they are constantly seeking more money and control over others because they think if they get a little more, they will get what they are deeply seeking… acceptance, peace, contentment, fulfilment, bliss etc. But they never find it.
For you, you have a choice. Continue reading The Road Less travelled
Vincent Egoro 