Written by TWFYT
Saturday May 24
"Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" Amos 3:3 NIV
Relationships are built on mutual trust--and trust is based on speaking the truth. But there are ways of speaking the truth that help and ways that hurt. The "give-them-a-piece-of-my-mind" approach just drives the wedge deeper. Then there is the Bible way: "Speaking the truth in love, we will grow" (Eph 4:15 NIV). Let's suppose a couple fights because he is habitually late. How can she make sure her message gets across? Well, she could say to him: (a) "When you are late..." No judging, name-calling, or labelling; just a description of how she sees his action. (c) "It seems to say to me that my time isn't really important to you." No moralizing; just honestly sharing her emotions. (d) "In the future, can you please try to be on time or call me and let me know when you will be here?" Instead of focusing on past actions he can't change, she is telling him what she would like him to do differently next time. (e) "Would you be willing to do that for me?" No demanding or taking for granted; just asking for consideration and cooperation. And when he agrees, they have an implied "contract." She thanks him sincerely and rewards every effort he makes to keep his word. In effect, she has just redefined the focus as a shared one, not something she "does to him!" Like the Bible says, "we can "walk together" when we have "agreed to do so."
Saturday May 24
"Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" Amos 3:3 NIV
Relationships are built on mutual trust--and trust is based on speaking the truth. But there are ways of speaking the truth that help and ways that hurt. The "give-them-a-piece-of-my-mind" approach just drives the wedge deeper. Then there is the Bible way: "Speaking the truth in love, we will grow" (Eph 4:15 NIV). Let's suppose a couple fights because he is habitually late. How can she make sure her message gets across? Well, she could say to him: (a) "When you are late..." No judging, name-calling, or labelling; just a description of how she sees his action. (c) "It seems to say to me that my time isn't really important to you." No moralizing; just honestly sharing her emotions. (d) "In the future, can you please try to be on time or call me and let me know when you will be here?" Instead of focusing on past actions he can't change, she is telling him what she would like him to do differently next time. (e) "Would you be willing to do that for me?" No demanding or taking for granted; just asking for consideration and cooperation. And when he agrees, they have an implied "contract." She thanks him sincerely and rewards every effort he makes to keep his word. In effect, she has just redefined the focus as a shared one, not something she "does to him!" Like the Bible says, "we can "walk together" when we have "agreed to do so."
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2025
January
START BY FORGIVINGEMBRACING UNCERTAINTY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?DON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (3)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
February
PRACTICE SAYING NO TO YOURSELFTHE BEST IS YET TO COMETHE GRANDFATHER'S MISTAKE BECAME THE GRANDSON'S MIRACLEHOW TO CONQUER THE FEAR OF FAILINGLET'S RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCESPASS IT ON TO OTHERSKEEP TRUSTING GODFEAR IS THE ENEMY OF GROWTHCHANGE YOUR ROUTINEYOU ARE NOT BEYOND GOD'S REACHDON'T LOOK AT CHRISTIANS, LOOK AT CHRISTUNDERSTANDING THE WORD "IMPUTED"GOVERNED BY CHRIST'S LOVE FOR USTODAY EXCEPT GOD'S FAVORGROWTH IS ABOUT ENLARGEMENTFIND PRAYER PARTNERSKEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVINGREFUSE TO WEAR THE LABELJESUS IS THE ANSWERSHAKE IT OFF, AND MOVE FORWARDWHEN OTHERS "DON'T GET IT"RIGHTEOUSNSS IS A GIFT, NOT A REWARD
March
HOW LONG WILL YOU LIVE?DON'T BREAK, BOUNCE BACK (1)DON'T BREAK, BOUNCE BACK (2)KNOW WHEN TO LET GOPUT AWAY THE MEASURING STICKCONNECT, COMMIT, COMMUNICATEUSE YOUR IMAGINATIONCONSULT GOD ON YOUR DAILY TO-DO LISTBEARING SPIRITUAL FRUITHOW GOD SEES YOUBORN TO BELIEVE (1)BORN TO BELIEVE (2)ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY YOUR SOULPUT GOD BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE FOE"FORGIVE THEM" AND DELETE ITBE TRUE TO THE SCRIPTURESTHE KIDS ARE WATCHING YOU (1)THE KIDS ARE WATCHING YOU (2)IF YOU'RE A LEADER, READ THISPRAYER AND YOUR RASLEARN TO SAY NOYOU CAN LEARN TO LOVEALWAYS AGREE WITH GOD'S WORD
April
BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (1)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (2)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (3)BECOME WILLING TO CHANGE (4)REJOICE - DAY FORTY-ONE IS COMINGPASTOR, KEEP YOUR SWORD SHARPDON'T BURN OUT (1)DON'T BURN OUT (2)THE WAITING STRATEGYRESOLVE CONFLICT QUICKLY (1)RESOLVE CONFLICT QUICKLY (2)HELP FOR CAREGIVERS
May
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR MOTHERKNOWING THE SEASON YOU'RE INFAITH IS NOT FAITH UNTIL IT IS ACTED UPONHAVE A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVEFREE FROM JEALOUSYDON'T LOVE YOUR PASSION FOR GODGET ALONE WITH GOD (1)GET ALONE WITH GOD (2)GET ALONE WITH GOD (3)WHO ARE YOU DEPENDING ON?THE SECRET TO SUCCESSHOW TO STAY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GODDEALING WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES (1)DEALING WITH RELATIONSHIP ISSUES (2)