- Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit. Talk about your joys. – Rita Schiano
“Out of the abundance of one’s heart, the mouth speaks.”
What goes in, will come out.
What’s coming out of your lips?
Archives For Personal Development
This post was submitted by Sybil Brodie. At this time of year, Syb’s honest and transparent guest post reminded me of the plentiful opportunities you and I have as believers in Jesus Christ to share His message during the Christmas season. Syb’s prayer is that her writings will encourage and inspire others to seek Jesus as they read what He has done in and through her life. Follow Syb at her blog: Encouragem: Gems of Encouragement. You can also follow her on Facebook.
“…always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
What message will we bring to a non-believing world? Will it be a message of a liberating, light-bearing Saviour who loves us unconditionally? Or will it be one of an intolerant, legalistic, judgemental God? Am I fit for His service?
Image courtesy of worradmu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
For years I have taken to heart the Bible’s message to “love my neighbour as myself.” No problem there. Where I fall on my face is when Jesus tells me to “go and be fishers of men.”
This sounds so simple, but I have wrestled often with how I can do this when my verbal skills are woefully lacking. When I try to tell others about Jesus, I get overly anxious. What I know in my heart does not come out of my mouth! Frustration with myself, along with the other person’s frustration with me, quickly ends any meaningful dialogue. Continue Reading…
This post was submitted by Frederick Maystone, who writes on behalf of Projects Abroad about everything to do with gap years, including organising several volunteering missions in Africa. Projects Abroad offer a series of different gap year programs around the world.
A gap year provides the chance for those finishing study to take a break and see something of the world at the same time. After long periods of intense study, many young people feel that they need an opportunity to reconnect with themselves. Others view the experience as a valid way to gain work experience prior to starting a career.
A three-year study by Manchester Metropolitan University found that students who took a gap year felt that the experience had been worthwhile and had given them extra confidence. One of the researchers, Lucy Huxley, said that those taking a gap year were “getting a sense of confidence and maturity. It’s a cliché about finding yourself, but that still seems to be apparent and they are certainly getting something from it.”
So what are the best ways to spend a gap year, month or even week? Continue Reading…
I must admit, there really are few things I enjoy doing more than searching for YouTube for “Britain’s Got Talent best auditions ever” or something along those lines.
My favourite clips from Britain’s Got Talent are the ones that depict a contestant, whether young or old, walking across the stage, meekly introducing themselves, and then proceeding to lift the roof off the auditorium with amazing vocals.
There are a few common threads that flow throughout these particular video clips:
- The contestants usually convey the appearance of deep humility or meekness.
- Many of the contestants have amazing skills and abilities that have either been dormant for years or have never had the needed opportunity to be properly developed.
- There is often a “champion” of some kind in their life (grandparent, coach, parent, teacher, etc.) that has encouraged them to the point of getting them on the show.
- When given the opportunity to display their talent/gift/skill/ability, contestants often surprise themselves with how well they can really do.
Here is one such clip, which happens to be my favourite of these:
It is my belief that many of us are in a similar situation: Continue Reading…
A Beautiful Mess: Putting Your Life Back Together | by Charlie Lyons
I never cease to be amazed at how a comment from a three year old brings clarity and perspective to just about any situation. If you’re a parent, I’m sure you’ve experienced it many times also. Have you ever been bowled over by the oft accompanying (though perhaps unintended) depth and perception?
Just a few days ago I was down the hall from my son’s bedroom where he was kneeling next to his bed, playing happily with his Thomas the Tank Engine MegaBlocks set of toys. (I highly recommend this series of toys, by the way.) As he usually does, he was commentating the storyline as it unfolded in front of him.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Then something happened that also usually does when he’s playing with just about anything… there was, as he calls it, a big “crash-bang-boom.” Several pieces of MegaBlocks quickly made their way across his bed and onto the floor.
What he said next literally stopped me in my tracks: Continue Reading…
It might be post-vacation haze. It could be because summer just isn’t “normal routine.” I could even say it’s the summer heat. Whatever my excuse, it’s time for me to get out of that funk I’ve been in.
It might be time for you to get out of that funk too.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The definition at Dictionary.com for funk is simply this: a dejected mood. For whatever oddball reason, some days we all wake up in that exact frame of mind. For some of you (myself included) that funk comes in spurts and can stick around for days at a time or even longer.
Whether it has been a day, a week, or a season, here are 6 not-so-difficult ways to get out of that funk:
