Most Important Words

Once again, let's recall those important words that help mend every strained relationship and put a smile upon the face of someone dear to you.

The six most important words
"I admit that I was wrong!"

The five most important words
"You did a great job."

The four most important words
"What do you think?"

The three most important words
"May I help?"

The two most important words
"Thank You!"

The most important word
"We."

The least important word
"I"

Just One

 

One song can spark a moment,
 

One flower can wake the dream.

One tree can start a forest,
 

One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,
 

One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,
 

One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation,
 

One sunbeam lights a room.

One candle wipes out darkness,
 

One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey,
 

One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,
 

One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,
 

One heart can know what's true.

One life can make the difference,

You see, IT'S UP TO YOU!
 

- Author Unknown

God's Beauty Tips

For attractive lips,
speak words of kindness.

For beautiful eyes,
look for the good in others.
 

To lose weight,
let go of stress, hatred, anger, discontentment, and the need to control others.

To improve your ears,
listen to the Word of God.
 

For poise,
walk with knowledge and self-esteem.

To strengthen your arms,
hug at least 3 people a day; touch someone with your love.
 

To strengthen your heart,
forgive yourself and others.

For the ultimate in business, casual or evening attire,
put on the robe of Christ; it fits like a glove but allows room for growth.
 

Best of all, it never goes out of style
and is appropriate for any occasion.

Doing these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful person.

~Author Unknown

Love Opens Doors

According to an article in Today in the Word, soon after Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert, the couple had a quarrel, whereupon Prince Albert locked himself in his private apartment. Queen Victoria knocked furiously on his door.

"Who's there?" asked Albert.

"The Queen of England, and she demands to be admitted."

There was no response and the door remained locked. The queen knocked furiously again.

"Who's there?" asked Albert again. The queen's response was the same … as was Albert's.

After more furious knocking and no response came a quiet pause—and then a gentle tap.

"Who's there?" asked Albert once more.

"Your wife, Albert," the queen replied. Immediately the door was opened.

As the writer of this article pointed out, "Love opens doors."

Love the Opportunity

by Jim Rohn

Somebody said you have to love what you do, but that’s not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success and fortune. Knocking on someone’s door or making that extra call may not be something you love to do, but you love the opportunity of what might be behind that door or call.

For example, a guy says, “I’m digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?” The answer is, “No, you don’t have to love digging ditches, but if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you say, ‘I’m glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches and I’m going to do it so well, I won’t be here long.’”

You can be inspired by having found something; even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven’t learned before. You don’t have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate where you live, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news—who found you.

Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, “Hey, if I can do it, you can do it.”

If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon, when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world. Every person you meet—what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It’s big-time stuff. And sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don’t always see how big it is.

So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long-term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it’s sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.

The Night I Did Not Die

After a great Father's Day service and a good lunch with some friends, Grace and I were heading home. As we walked to the car, I turned to my wife and said, "I am not feeling too well". Grace looked a little worried as she took the wheel. While in the car, I was doubling up with a deep uneasy feeling in the pit of my tummy.

It must be something that I ate. I had cold sweats and my bones felt hollow. Grace knew that it was serious. We usually talk during our car journeys and if I were to become quiet, then something must be wrong.

Being a nutritionist and editor of a health magazine, she has a whole library of diseases and their accompanying symptoms. While I was in the midst of my physical misery, a running commentary of what might have caused my ailment was going on in the background.

"Could it be the cendol or the coconut milk? I think you are suffering from food intolerance. What about the red beans in the cendol, that may cause food allergy. Blah blah blah...."

I was not analyzing as much as agonizing. I had never felt this way before. So, at the back of my mind, I thought that that could be my last day on earth. Yes, it sounds morbid now but that thought actually ran through my mind. Of course, I did not tell Grace. She might be too shocked to drive or worse, she might just drive me to the hospital. 

Grace reached out with her left hand and placed it on my head. She began to command healing in the name of Jesus. That brought slight relief. After that she put her foot to the gas pedal to get me home fast. It was a relief when I hit the bed. The thought of seeing Jesus soon was still running inside. 

"If I were to die now, it would be fine. My theology was obviously intact. I felt no fear but even had a hint of elation. If that is the feeling of death then it should be quite all right. I will definitely miss my wife and a list of relatives and friends but if I have to go then I have to go!"

Grace interrupted my dying thought with a cup of Swedish Bitters and a mug of Ho Yan Hor herbal tea. My sense of humor kicked in - my darling wife was using the best of Europe with the best of the Asian world to revive me. 

Swedish Bitters is known as the elixir of good health and it supposedly can cure almost anything, especially stomach disorder. Ho Yan Hor herbal tea is even more potent in its curative ability. With 24 herbs, it is able to relieve 'heat, nausea, indigestion, waning appetite, hangovers, common flu, fever and most probably resurrect the dead.

The only problem was that these two life-reviving elixirs had really challenging taste. The Swedish Bitters shot fire up the nose and down the throat like a race car spinning out of control and crashing. The herbal tea tasted better because Grace had added dried plums into it. After making sure that I obediently consumed her prescription, she left me to my dying.

The tonic and tea did wonder instantly. They took away that nauseating feeling. My bones still ached and weariness was taking over fast. Within minutes, I fell into a deep sleep and slept for three hours before the gentle voice of my wife woke me up. 

I remember thinking, "Where am I? So, I am not dead yet."  

The bad feeling had gone even though I did not really feel on top of the world... but I was not dead.

Since I had given heaven a miss, I had to attend the Father's Day celebration dinner with my wife's family.

Albert Kang

What does the Bible say about Christian fathers?

The greatest commandment in Scripture is this: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Going back to verse 2, we read, “So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” Following Deuteronomy 6:5, we read, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (vv. 6-7).

Israelite history reveals that the father was to be diligent in instructing his children in the ways and words of the Lord for their own spiritual development and well-being. The father who was obedient to the commands of Scripture did just that. This brings us to Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” To “train” indicates the first instruction that a father and mother give to a child, i.e., his early education. The training is designed to make clear to children the manner of life they are intended for. To commence a child's early education in this way is of great importance.

Ephesians 6:4 is a summary of instructions to the father, stated in both a negative and positive way. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” The negative part of this verse indicates that a father is not to foster negativity in his children by severity, injustice, partiality, or unreasonable exercise of authority. Harsh, unreasonable conduct towards a child will only serve to nurture evil in the heart. The word “provoke” means “to irritate, exasperate, rub the wrong way, or incite.” This is done by a wrong spirit and wrong methods—severity, unreasonableness, sternness, harshness, cruel demands, needless restrictions, and selfish insistence upon dictatorial authority. Such provocation will produce adverse reactions, deadening children’s affection, reducing their desire for holiness, and making them feel that they cannot possibly please their parents. A wise parent seeks to make obedience desirable and attainable by love and gentleness.

The positive part of Ephesians 6:4 is expressed in a comprehensive direction—educate them, bring them up, develop their conduct in all of life by the instruction and admonition of the Lord. This is the whole process of educating and discipline. The word “admonition” carries the idea of reminding the child of faults (constructively) and duties (responsibilities).

The Christian father is really an instrument in God's hand. The whole process of instruction and discipline must be that which God commands and which He administers, so that His authority should be brought into constant and immediate contact with the mind, heart, and conscience of children. The human father should never present himself as the ultimate authority to determine truth and duty. It is only by making God the teacher and ruler on whose authority everything is done that the goals of education can best be attained.

Martin Luther said, “Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well.” Discipline must be exercised with watchful care and constant training with much prayer. Chastening, discipline, and counsel by the Word of God, giving both reproof and encouragement, is at the core of “admonition.” The instruction proceeds from the Lord, is learned in the school of Christian experience, and is administered by the parents—primarily the father, but also, under his direction, the mother. Christian discipline is needed to enable children to grow up with reverence for God, respect for parental authority, knowledge of Christian standards, and habits of self-control.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). A father’s first responsibility is to acquaint his children with Scripture. The means and methods that fathers may use to teach God's truth will vary. As the father is faithful in role modeling, what children learn about God will put them in good standing throughout their earthly lives, no matter what they do or where they go.

Source:http://www.gotquestions.org/