2018-02-19
John 10:11 NIV
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Your message may be wonderful and much needed by the hearer, but the look on your face can turn people off before you open your mouth. Ever notice how many people have bad memories of growing up in church? They recall stern, severe, strange-looking people who passed condemnation on the world at large. What a disservice to God! A little girl once saw a mule looking over a fence. Patting him on the head, she said, “It’s okay; my aunt is religious too!” Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd.” The word “good” comes from the Greek word kelos, which means “winsome” [attractive, pleasant, engaging]. Jesus’ attitude won people over every time! What we say accounts for 7 percent of what people believe. How we say it accounts for 38 percent. What they see accounts for 55 percent. Amazingly, more than 90 percent of the nonverbal cues we give off have nothing to do with what we actually say! So if you think communication is just about words, you’re missing the boat, and the chances are you’ll have a hard time connecting with others. A member of his staff once asked Abraham Lincoln to give a friend of his a job. After interviewing the man, Lincoln turned him down. Asked why, he replied, “Because I didn’t like the look on his face.” The White House staffer protested, “That’s not fair! Nobody’s responsible for the look on their face.” Lincoln replied, “That’s where you’re wrong. Everyone over forty is responsible for the look on their face.” So…what does your facial expression say to others?
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Matt 15:15-28; Ps 5; Prov 5:1-2
2018-02-18
James 3:13 NIV
In the first seven seconds people often decide they do or don’t want to hear what you have to say. It may not be fair – but it’s a fact. In How to Talk So People Listen, communication expert Sonya Hamlin says when it comes to hearing and seeing, sight is the more important and powerful sense. She writes: “We remember 85 to 90 percent of what we see, but less than 15 percent of what we hear. Countless numbers of people have lost sales opportunities, ruined job interviews, or been turned down for dates because their appearance didn’t match someone else’s expectations. If you’re wise you’ll ask your family and friends if you’re inclined to display nonverbal cues that capture their attention and take the focus off what you’re trying to communicate.” One pastor says: “I never realized how many nonverbal mistakes I was making until I saw myself on video. Now it’s my regular practice to go back and watch myself to determine not only what I said, but also how I said it. The tape doesn’t lie.” Great actors can tell a story without saying a word, simply by using facial expressions. And whether you are aware of it or not, you convey a message by the expression on your face. Even people who pride themselves on “playing with a poker face,” and on their ability to not let other people know what they’re really thinking, convey an unspoken message of detachment. And that makes meaningful connection with other people well-nigh impossible. If your face is going to “talk” – and it is – make sure you’re communicating the right thing.
Soul food: Exo 20:14; Prov 6:23-35; Matt 5:27-30; 1 Cor 6:9-20
2018-02-17
Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” When you’re in darkness, you see the light before you see the carrier of the light, right? The old saying, “First impressions are lasting impressions,” is true. One communications expert says: “You’ve got just seven seconds to make the right first impression. As soon as you make your entrance, you broadcast verbal and nonverbal signals that determine how others see you. In business those crucial first seven seconds can decide whether you win that new account, or succeed in a tense negotiation. Are you confident? Comfortable? Sincere? Glad to be there? In that first seven seconds you shower your audience with subtle ‘clues.’ And whether people realize it or not, they respond immediately to your facial expressions, gestures, stance, and energy. They react to your voice – the tone and pitch. Audiences, whether one or one hundred, instinctively size up your motives and attitudes.” Whether you’re speaking, selling, interviewing, or dating, your appearance, attitude, and approach make all the difference in the world. People can tell a lot in seven seconds. They may decide they don’t want to hear anything you have to say, or they may be struck by how much they’re drawn to you. Henry Ward Beecher said: “There are persons so radiant, so genial, so kind, so pleasure-bearing, that you instinctively feel in their presence that they do you good, whose coming into a room is like bringing a shining lamp there.”
Soul food: Heb 5-8; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 149; Prov 4:25-27
2018-02-16
Jeremiah 15:16 NIV
People in Bible times dealt with depression too. Elijah said, “I have had enough, Lord…Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4 NIV). Job said, “I loathe my very life” (Job 10:1 NIV). David wrote, “My soul is downcast” (Psalm 42:6 NIV). Now, when you’re clinically depressed you should seek professional help. But the kind of depression we’re talking about here is when your motivation is drained, your desire to pursue God is gone, your conversations have turned sour, you’re blind to your blessings, your enthusiasm is forced, and you’re in a daze regarding the future. Here are some possible causes: (1) Sin. Sin is like a stone in your shoe; you’ll have no peace until you get it out. No vacation, job change, relationship change, or doctor will heal it. But the blood of Jesus will cleanse it (See 1 John 1:7). (2) Greed. King Ahab’s obsession with owning Naboth’s vineyard made him miserable and affected his entire family (See 1 Kings 21:4). (3) Comparisons. Constantly comparing yourself to others will depress you (See 2 Corinthians 10:12). (4) Speaking negatively. “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). (5) Fatigue. Jesus called His disciples aside to rest. Why? Because He recognized that when fatigue walks in, faith walks out (See Mark 6:31). (6) Unforgiveness. When you refuse to forgive someone, you carry them like an albatross around your neck. So what’s the remedy for depression? Often it starts with prayer and Bible reading. Jeremiah, who battled depression, wrote, “When your words came, I ate them…they were my joy and my heart’s delight.”
Soul food: Heb 1-4; Matt 14:22-36; Ps 145:14-21; Prov 4:23-24
2018-02-15
Philippians 1:10 AMPC
To achieve greater self-discipline, you should: (1) Start your day by doing the hard things first. And when you get sidetracked, make yourself go back and complete them. For example, make your bed, pick up your clothes, and wash the dishes; don’t make extra work for others. And don’t start several projects at once; the feeling of “getting something done” will help you grow in self-respect and self-discipline. (2) Make a commitment to be punctual. Tardiness is a hard habit to break. To conquer it you must be willing to call it what it often is – inconsiderate, selfish behavior. (3) Plan ahead. Everything takes longer than you think, so don’t wait until the last minute and then rush around like a chicken with its head cut off. “Living under the gun” can give you ulcers, whereas allowing extra time is good for your health and peace of mind. (4) Accept correction from those who care about you, without sulking or retaliating. Until you’re willing to take correction, you’ll never be qualified to give it. The Bible says, “Wisdom is found in those who take advice” (Proverbs 13:10 NIV), so if you’re wise you’ll welcome feedback and seek counsel. Gandhi once said, “There’s always a limit to self-indulgence, but none to self-restraint.” Ask God to help you control your unruly thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors. Identify the unmanageable areas in your life, stop making excuses, face the truth even if it hurts, refuse to feel sorry for yourself, and set a few attainable goals. In other words: “Learn to sense what is vital…and of real value.”
Soul food: Tit 1-3; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 145:1-13; Prov 4:20-22
2018-02-14
Romans 12:6 TLB
Paul writes: “Just as our bodies have many parts and each…has a special function…We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other…God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (vv. 4-6 NLT). Dr. John Maxwell recommends that you work where you’re strongest 80 percent of the time, where you’re learning 15 percent of the time, and where you’re weakest 5 percent of the time. So, what are your strengths? To find the answer to that question, you must: (1) Be secure. If you allow your insecurities to get the better of you, you’ll become inflexible and resistant to change. And if you don’t change you won’t grow. (2) Get to know yourself. Spend time exploring your gifts, ask for feedback and receive it, and be honest about your blind spots. (3) Trust your leader. If you can’t trust the person you’re following, you should look for someone you can trust, or get on another team. (4) See the big picture. Your place on any team only makes sense in the context of the big picture. If your sole reason for finding your niche is personal gain, your wrong motives will rob you of the very joy, fulfillment, and success you desire. (5) Rely on your experience. The only way to know you’ve discovered your niche is to try things, take risks, learn from your failures and successes, and discover what God has gifted you to do.
Soul food: Num 6:1-21; Matt 4:1-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 9:23-26
