A SMILE

A smile cost nothing, but gives so much. It enriches those who receive it, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

– BJ.Morbitzer

 

CONFUSION AND CLARITY

All of us have had periods of confusion in our lives. Confusion is an odd combination of emotional, spiritual, circumstantial and cognitive dysfunction. Confusion – to mix up, jumble together, and put in disorder: An inability to distinguish between things, bewilderment: A lack of coherent, orderly thinking in the midst of complex problems, relationships, and decision-making opportunities. When confusion sets in it typically immobilizes, paralyzes, demotivates and neutralizes individual and corporate progress and effectiveness. So your individual confusion is never an isolated incident. We are part of a bigger picture and when one part is confused it affects the whole. Two keys for reducing confusion lie in the following – 1. Reduce Complexity or as the old adage says, KIS (Keep It Simple) 2. Increase Clarity which equals GBTB (Get Back To Basics) Simplicity Step One – God is Great! Plain and simple – the greater God becomes the smaller your circumstances seem. Is God Big enough for you and your problems? If you’re having trouble answering this question then the next one is probably more important – Are you rightly related to God? Increased Clarity always comes when God is glorified and magnified and my world is put in proper perspective to His Greatness. Simplicity Step Two – Is my Gas Tank always on empty? In other words, Am I spending or investing my life? If you made a list of gas tank fillers on one side and what empty’s your tank on the other – I think you’d be surprised by what you have. If you have a lot of things in your life that empty your tank or that you spend on and not a lot of things that you invest in and in turn energize and fill your tank – this could be a key area to address. Increased Clarity may come when you remove or step away from the identified areas that continue to take away your strength and joy. Simplicity Step Three – Start with You. Self evaluation will lead to personal responsibility, or it should. Ask a couple of questions – Am I taking sin seriously? And, Father God, is there anything You want to put Your finger on in my life so that I can be whole and free? If you and I own our stuff and lay it at the feet of Jesus so He can take it away from us, then the weight and burden we carried into confusion will be lifted and increased clarity will take place. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28 – 30
Posted on May 3, 2011 by juanmuriango

 

STRIFE

Good Morning

Strife
“The beginning of strife is like letting out water.
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.” Proverbs 17:14

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone in your workplace and in your particular industry
spoke kindly, courteously, respectfully, and selflessly?

Unfortunately, that’s a pipe dream.
It is even more unfortunate when we (you and I) are the ones who do not speak kindly
or in a Christ-like way to those with whom we intersect on a daily basis in our work environments.

How will you respond today if/when someone in your office or workplace insults you or
speaks rudely to you in the line of duty?

It is natural to bark back, one-up them with rudeness, or hurl an even deeper insult back
in their face. (We are all capable of this and our arch-enemy loves nothing more when we
fall into the flesh). When we fall prey to such behavior, we often lose any ability to minister
to that coworker or person ever again.

“A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of
a citadel.” (Prov. 18:19) Some relational breeches at work are almost impossible to fix
once they have occurred, especially if you have insulted or humiliated someone publicly.
The verse above is a reminder that when words are spoken they are like water released
from a dam; you cannot get them back no matter how hard you chase them. Walking
away from a fight in your workplace is far better.

Even better, though, than simply walking away from a client or coworker as a result of
self-control (that the Holy Spirit can and will give you) is responding with something pleasant
and positive. It has been said that there is no demand in our world for negative people.
What a truth that is!

And when you respond in love to someone who has just bitten your head off, it often
surprises them and leaves them speechless. It also gives them an instant snapshot of who
Jesus is and a glimpse of His love for them. “A gentle answer turns away wrath…” (Prov. 15:1)
Speak gently, carefully, and with an eye to redemption as you talk and respond to others today.

Remember, Jesus, when on trial and being oppressed, afflicted and accused of all manner
of evil (including being the devil himself) “…He did not open His mouth.” (Isa. 53:7)
When He did, He said, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Today’s Workplace Challenge:

* Demonstrate Christian maturity today… think before speak. When you do speak,

do so in a way that will motivate, edify, encourage, or bless others.

*
Let grace be the seasoning that flavors your speech like pepper or salt is to food.
*
Refrain from going on the offensive with your words.
*
Let Christ be your perfect guide.
*
Imitate Him in this and all other areas of life.
*
People are magnetized to positive, humble employees coworkers.

You will find that, in time, everyone at work wants to be around you because you
always have something uplifting to add to a conversation.

Have a great day and really make it count.
Be different!
Let your words be a workplace asset, not a liability as you serve Him at work!

WB “The Other 6 Days” Journal