A statue of beauty and marvel is born when the marble allows the chisel to chip away its edges; hidden potential is never brought out without the pain of edges being shaved off sharply.
Prayer works best only when you are ready to change and accept the answer that God in his wisdom delays; he never answers unless you are desperate enough to grab the new and leave old ways behind.
Therefore grow old in years but retain that wonder which provoked the child in you to ask and keep on asking; for when you lose that wonder all is old and nothing new.
—
Inspired by the words of the Bible, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
A balloon is a simple toy that delights the heart of any child. Be it a festival season, or a day in the park or at the beach; we find the eyes of children eagerly scan everywhere for balloons.
Balloons delight the hearts of young and old; both lovers and friends, and those who look for simple entertainment and hope.
A balloon filled with helium or hydrogen rise up when released from our grip. There is something inside the balloon that defies gravity–all negativity that pulls it down. Its aim is high; isn’t it?
Then what a sight it is to see colourful balloons put together. The sheer joy of variety they bring is a sight to see. A room full of such balloons can make our hearts pulsate with joy. Celebrations are often marked by balloons.
Birthdays are occasions colourful balloons are present. Many ceremonies like Olympics and World Cup inaugurations employ them.
Coming back to our streets we cannot forget the balloon vendors in our neighborhoods who make a living selling not balloons but joy to our children. They too have families; and this is their lifeline to support them.
Let me conclude. Life is short and brief. But joy that you find lasts. May colourful balloons bring you happiness.
May memories of childhood and the simple joy of holding balloons–in red, white, blue, orange, yellow and pink; in shapes of hearts, monkeys, apples, and long–tails come back to you.
Not to wound me but that I might not lose my way and perish! In that discipline I find comfort.
I never need to worry about what I need. He supplies it all. He knows what is best for me and he provides. What is not good for me; he denies.
There are no secrets in my life not known to him. There is absolutely nothing in my life that does not matter to him. All that concerns me is his concern too.
It’s a long journey ahead but he has gone before me. And I find everything prepared for me. Even when those who oppose me are watching he satisfies me with what is good with a surplus added.
Oh, how I love his special attention given me even when life is busy and no one else finds time to even ask how I am doing!
The skies become cloudy at times. And the walk takes me through valleys that are dark and frightening. Dangers lurk there at every step. But I have this one assurance, he is with me.
Jesus came as one who taught with authority and as a Friend of sinners! It was a shock for respectable people of the day to see him mingle with the sinful characters and social outcasts of his generation. But in no way did that stain his loveliness.
At his word, demons shuddered and fled. Diseases were gone. Bread and fish were multiplied to feed thousands. The stormy winds and waves of the Sea of Galilee were stilled. The dead were raised to life.
At his touch, people were made whole; healed on the inside, forgiven to the core. What moved him to act for others was his compassion. Those who were shunned and rejected by others found in him a Friend!
One look from him, people wept in brokenness and found love that never accused. For he showed them their worth and the possibility of a new dawn in their darkened lives. He believed, he truly believed, in failures!
In spite of all the good he did, he was crucified—nailed to the cross—like a criminal on top a hill outside the city of Jerusalem.
The cross of Jesus, no doubt, was God’s foolishness! Yet in that seeming failure and weakness was revealed the extraordinary power of God to save the worst of men and women.
For no light ever shone in human darkness like his life that was the light of men.
No hope ever entered human hearts like his triumphant resurrection from the dead.
No new beginning in human hearts and lives was ever made possible like the forgiveness of sins granted in his name.
Yes, the Bible declares, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”1
Again the Bible says,
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”2
Stefan and Daniela playing with plane and cock hydrogen balloons
I am the simplest of toys. Yet what else can match with the flight of joy, the leap of hearts, the waves of laughter and the bubbling memories I do create in life!
See, my friends, you need not be born in a palace to make it big in life. If you have a will to touch the skies, you can rise above from what pulls you down and fly.
And it is not in the colour or shape that the secret lies, but the faith and confidence you have on the inside. That is what makes you and me fly.
If you look at circumstances, if you look at the wind and the clouds and the surging waves, you will never move out of the safety of the shore.
What does that mean? It means you lose your opportunity. And opportunities might not knock a second time.
Therefore have an eye that looks out for opportunities. They might not present themselves well-dressed and might even appear in beggar’s clothes. But it is your eye that looks out for the opportunity which sees potential hidden within.
Secondly, ask, seek, knock. Opportunities will never come for those who simply sit, wait, and daydream. They come only to those who actively seek for it. Be bold and persistent. And be gently persuasive. But do not give up.
Above all, never think closed doors as permanent. Trust God. He can open doors where no opportunity seems to exist. He can bring things to life out of what others term as dead situations.
Therefore be wise in the way you use God-given opportunities in life. It can mean the difference between failure and success!
The world has seen a very small microbe Covid 19 become a giant global showstopper. Life itself is a big question mark to millions. Economy has slowed down. Man’s busyness has taken a back seat. Death has wrecked havoc in countless homes. We are disrupted in every way.
Now there is every reason to fear. At the same time I would like to encourage you to keep up hope. And not to lose courage. These are times when we need to cling to God and seek his help and ask for his mercy to be shown.
This is a time to hope and to value our loved ones; to keep them close to our hearts and be thankful for the loving relationships that make our life on earth meaningful.
This is a time to hope and to review all our activities and let go those that are simply stealing away our time. Instead focus on those few that will make a meaningful contribution to others.
This is a time to hope and to prepare for the unseen future. It is going to be tough. Jobs might be lost overnight. Prices of essential commodities might soar. Travel might continue to be restricted. Save by minimizing expenses.
This is also a time to hope and not to get lost in the tsunami of social media posts. The time people lose in scrolling from post to post is enormous. True, there is much that is useful and entertaining. But it can make you lose perspective and make you lose initiative.
Let me conclude by asking all of you to be thankful to all in government authority, medical personnel and law-enforcing people who are selflessly working day and night to fight the Covid threat. Let me remind you once again that when fear of what the future is going to be hits you, this is a time to hold on to God in hope.
Two, hope is what you need to hold on to. When you look at the hopeless situation you are in, you might have every reason to despair. But remember if you fall into the water, the first thing to do for survival is try to keep your head above water until help comes. Hope is that attitude.
Thirdly, get up out of dead-end thinking. What does it mean? Despair often comes when your thinking happens along the same lines again and again. Try to think creatively. There will be more options to solve pressing problems than you think.
Above all do not act out anything when your emotions are like a swirling current. Let this night pass. Just hold on. Tomorrow is a new day.
The second skill needed is abundant enthusiasm. It is that quality that keeps up a joyful energetic go-getting attitude even when progress is extremely slow.
The third skill you need is the readiness to do the same boring things again and again. One step at a time, one step at a time, one step at a time it goes on.
Finally, what you need is the hope that you’ll touch the finishing tape however slow life seems to move on. There is no substitute for this.
Above and beyond all this, trust that God does not despise a slow mover. The God who created the eagle also created the snail. And if the snail made it to Noah’s ark it crawled all the way. Wow; isn’t it?
Do not give up. Problems in life will keep coming just like waves keep hitting the shore. Do not fear when you see them. Instead of running away you have to look for ways to ride on the waves.
Do not give up. Life is precious. You are given only one. So make the best use of it. Focus on what you can do today. God has given every man and woman promise of strength for each day’s troubles.
Do not give up.
Some people whom you trusted might have let you down. It is now your feel that no one can be trusted. But there are others who will come to help you and stand with you. Have hope.
Do not give up.
You might have lost many opportunities in life. You might have wasted many years. My friend do not brood over a dead past. God can always give you a new beginning. He will take care of all that was lost.
Do not give up.
Good things to happen in life takes time. Be patient. When difficulties come in life and no progress is made in what you planned to do, be patient. Use this time to slow down, make plans, and dream big. Do not allow people’s opinions to frustrate you.
Do not give up. You may not have much money. You may be lacking much needed resources. These are limitations. But they need not stop you from thinking creatively. Adapt to limited resources. Think big. Cut your expenses wherever possible. Put off certain purchases. You can make it through a rainy day. The sun will shine again.
Do not give up.
If you believe that God is watching over you, do not become anxious. I know it is easy to say, “Do not worry.” But it is difficult to practice. When loss and hurts and distress come it is quite natural to ask God, “Why?” You might not get all the answers. When you feel like giving up then, just ask God to hold you tight. Don’t You Quit
I am sorry.
It takes courage to say those words. For you are taking responsibility for what went wrong.
I am sorry. It shows your humility. For those who are proud well never admit that they are wrong.
I am sorry.
It shows your sincere willingness to change. For there is no point in repeating mistakes again and again.
I am sorry.
It shows that you are a human being and not an automated robot. For we tend to err in spite of all our good intentions and best efforts.
I am sorry. Life is about relationships. Like oil that lubricates hinges which moves huge doors are these words. Saying I am sorry can heal hurts, forgive wrongs, and restore friendships.
So let go of your pride. Take that first step. Instead of arguing that you are right just tell the other person “I am sorry.”
What a joy it is when you are brought back to God and people are brought near to each other with those simple words!
So many people suffer from guilt. It need not be a great crime like murder that troubles, but it can be the little wrongs they have done.
Their past haunts them.
They suffer silently as their minds torture them.
They feel someone accusing them all the time.
Unable to open up to anyone they carry untold secrets till they die.
He knows that not one of us can find the solution for what troubles our innermost hearts and minds.
He simply says, “Look to me.” On the cross the innocent Lamb of God bled and died for the forgiveness of your sins. The blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse and purify from all sin. One look of believing faith is all that is needed.
Stories have got great power in communication. Primarily we need to understand that a well-told story is a complete piece of communication.
It has a definite beginning. Are we not familiar with the well-loved phrase, “Once upon a time”?
And stories do have a definite end. Again, we remember how we loved those fairy tales which ended, “And they lived happily ever after.”
There is action in a story. It gives our imagination a good exercise. Most stories arouse our curiosity. Thus we become active participants in the action when we listen to a story.
This power to engage the listener is so vital to communication. That is why a story succeeds in capturing attention where other speech techniques probably fail.
It is also important to understand that great stories do revolve around themes that lie close to life: Fight between good and evil, competing for love, honour, loyalty and sacrifice, war and hate, heroes and villains, journeys and dead-ends, explorations and conquest, myths and legends, light and darkness, death and beyond, pain and suffering, joy and fear, success and failure, birth and new beginnings. This list is by no means exhaustive.
Yet anything from personal life that touches one of these chords will not fail to captivate the audience if told well. And nothing surpasses the power of a story that ends with hope!
Jesus walks into your life even when others have rejected you. He understands you perfectly because he himself had faced rejection by his own. He can give strength to you to face the negatives that people throw at you. He can be your joy, courage, and peace when your emotions are rocked by the railings of men and women. Even when others walk out on you, he will stay with you.
He will never leave you nor forsake you. His love for you is everlasting. Even when others label you a failure and as good for nothing; God sees infinite value and worth in you. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross is the greatest and ultimate proof of his love for you.
When your life is clouded with despair, just call out to him. The Name of Jesus is powerful. He will listen to you cry and answer you. Do not be disappointed with delays. He will come to save you and help you at the right time. Do not give up because people reject you. For you are his beloved child; loved and accepted just as you are. Not for a moment are you forgotten. So cheer up even when people reject. For what does it matter when God has accepted you!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
—
“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.”
Listening is one key to success in life that is neglected often.
When you listen you gather vital information that can come to be useful in making correct decisions.
When you listen you make the other person feel valued. That itself is a key element in building lasting relationships.
When you listen you are showing humility and a willingness to learn. It is quite the opposite of “I know it all” attitude.
When you listen you can avoid the trap of speaking hastily. For when you speak without thinking you say foolish things, and sometimes you speak angrily too.
When you listen you show great understanding. It shows your ability to see all sides of the issue as it helps you to analyse the situation, weigh the pros and cons and come to an effective conclusion.
When you listen you train yourself in the art of reading between the lines. Often what is left unsaid is more important than what people really said.
When you listen you are doing others a great favour. You are sharing with others your precious time. For many in today’s madly busy world are finding it nearly impossible to get a listening ear even within one’s home and with loved ones too.
Let me conclude by saying that listening is one of the great arts of communication, leadership, and human resources management.
Sleep is one of God’s best gifts to us. It is sleep that gives us needed rest. It is the time our body finds time to repair itself.
Sleep refreshes, relaxes and revives us. It is not the length of sleep that alone matters but the quality of sleep as well. Getting up in the morning feeling refreshed and excited about the coming day is a sign of good sleep.
Keeping yourself active during the day, engaging in physical activity, and finishing all your assigned work or study for the day is a good way to get a good night’s sleep.
With the arrival of mobile phones, tablets and computers; children have developed a habit of browsing the internet, chatting on social media and gaming long into the night. If you discipline yourselves at a young age to sleep at a regular time early then you can succeed in life.
In fact, there is great wisdom in the saying, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man, healthy, wealthy and wise.” Perhaps eating less sugar and junk foods can also help you sleep better.
Such good habits can give you a healthy heart, good memory, and a fit body. I believe it is not the quality of the bed you sleep on; but a relaxed mind without worry that enables you to sleep best.
God made the trees.
The brown wood and the green leaves are pleasing to the eyes.
A garden full of trees in bloom is a lovely sight too.
They provide birds and animals a home and shelter.
Trees give us fruits.
It gives us shade.
Above all it gives us much needed oxygen.
But today because of man’s greed trees are being cut down in large numbers. Greenery has given way to concrete jungles and bonsai.
Yet there was a time people used to gather together under large trees. They met, they talked, they made friends with each other. But those good old days are gone.
Let us bring back those beautiful memories by planting more and more trees. Thank you.
Isn’t it amazing that for every one human being there might be around 1 million ants in the world. So today, let us learn something from these common ordinary creatures.
Go to the ant. It is a tiny creature. But it is able to accomplish so many things.
Go to the ant. It stores its food in summer. That means it makes hay while the sun shines or it is storing provisions for difficult days ahead. In other words it has great foresight.
Go to the ant. It has tremendous perseverance. As you look closely at the ants moving, you find that they will not quit until they overcome obstacles somehow.
Go to the ant. It shows amazing teamwork. Together, they are able to carry loads that will surprise us. They unite and motivate each other to achieve common goals.
Go to the ant. They keep on communicating with each other. Have you not seen in how short a time the news of availability of some food is conveyed by one ant to many. The unselfishness of ants make them wonderful communicators.
Go to the ant and learn said Solomon the Wise King and Teacher. How wonderful it is that God our Creator has shown us wisdom through such tiny creatures as ants!
“Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
— Proverbs 6:6–8 Bible NIV
Sluggard means a lazy, slow-moving, inactive person.
Ants–Interesting Facts and Figures
Myrmecology (/mɜːrmɪˈkɒlədʒi/; from Greek: μύρμηξ, myrmex, “ant” and λόγος, logos, “study”) is a branch of entomology focusing on the scientific study of ants. [Source: Wikipedia]
Ants can lift objects which have 10 to 50 times their body weight!
Ants have two stomachs. One for holding their own food; the other for sharing with others!
There are more than ten thousand known ant species in the world!
Leiningen Versus the Ants is a Short Story by Carl Stephenson. It grips the reader with the fighting spirit of a man against an army of ants.
Even in our earthly existence we know that all our tomorrows were shaped by what we all did yesterday; isn’t it? If all those actions had consequences; then definitely life when it moves beyond death is going to feel the impact of all your choices made today.
The one thing that can shape your tomorrows is whom you trust your tomorrows with? Some prefer to trust their tomorrows with their Banks; some others with people close to them. But some choose to trust God. This is often made fun of by others. Yet in the end, trusting God proves the wisest of all decisions you can make.
Some people make elaborate preparations for journeys. We don’t find people travelling long distances without making plans and arranging for a comfortable stay. But so many wait too long to prepare for eternity which stretches timelessly ahead. For those who delay to make a decision; tomorrow will spell darkness, no hope, no return, and no end to misery.
But to those who hope in God today, life becomes meaningful; because in God they find the LORD of their tomorrows. They realize that tomorrow is in God’s hands. And nothing can separate them from the love of God; not even death. Those who hope in God lose sight of tomorrow; instead they see the One who knows what tomorrow brings.
Yes, my friend, God loves you. It is an undying love; an everlasting love. He loves you not because you deserve his love; but because he decided to love you even before you were born.
What greater love do you know than you being called a child of God! It is true. You became God’s child when you trusted in him.
Love has been lavished on you.
You might say you have sinned against him much. Let that be true. But the greater truth is you’ve been forgiven much.
Will you love him less?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
Hi friends, today I would like to speak a few words on hope.
First of all, hope is what makes life go forward. It helps you forget the past. It makes you feel that the best is yet to be. In short, hope looks ahead to a better tomorrow.
Secondly,hope looks up. It is when the night is dark, that stars shine the most. Hope looks up to God when all earthly help fails. In short, hope believes in miracles.
Thirdly,hope helps people to hold on. When life is tough and bad things happen; it is hope that says, “Do not give up.” It is hope that helps you to fight one more round.
Finally,hope rises in our hearts as we listen to promises. When parents tell us, “Next birthday, we will be buying you this gift,” we rejoice in the hope of getting it, When God says, “I will not leave you nor forsake you*,” we get courage by his presence with us.
Let me conclude by saying, hope is the stuff life is made of. So live in hope. Overflow with Hope
Life is forward. And birthdays are milestones along the journey. It reminds us that the gift of life is God-given; to be cherished, valued, and kept as a sacred trust.
Birthdays also are reminders. It tells us that time is ticking on. It does not stop for anyone. A birthday thus becomes a snapshot of a good moment, a tiny speck in the passage of time. It is a day you can feel special; which you truly are.
Birthdays remind us to be thankful. Each birthday you celebrate is a time to thank God for bringing you thus far.
And it is also an opportunity to take stock of all that is past, correct mistakes, and move on with hope.
Yet again, birthdays tell us how special our loved ones are. In fact it is our family and friends who share our joy with us. It is definitely our loved ones who make birthdays special.
So also the gifts they bring. We often remember with love and gratitude the people who gave gifts to us on our birthdays.
Most of these gifts are carefully chosen, sacrificially given, and lovingly gifted not only to express their heart to you but also to let you know how valued to them you are.
To put in a final thought, birthdays tell us that life can never be truly estimated or measured in years. The length of time lived rarely is an indicator of how well it was lived.
Therefore, may each birthday find you with a stronger resolve to live your life with purpose.
On behalf of friends and family and all gathered here, let me wish you a wonderful birthday with God’s blessings accompanying throughout the coming year!
Ambition is the burning desire that enables you to achieve your goals in life. Without ambition no one has ever succeeded. Therefore it is important to have a healthy ambition in life.
Ambition keeps you motivated. So many people are like a football. They need to be kicked to move forward. But people with ambition are fuelled from within and fires forward like a rocket.
Again, ambition helps you to have a fighting attitude. See, life is no easy game; neither is it a fairy tale ending minus all the hardships that go before it. Defeats, failures, mistakes, setbacks, criticism, and opposition are plenty in the lives of all achievers. But it is ambition to achieve that helps them move on in spite of all this.
A distinction to be made however is between ambition and wishful thinking. So many people live in fool’s paradise thinking that they have great ambition. But when you question them, you will soon know that they are simply living on borrowed motivation. They are not realistic nor are they prepared to count the cost of high achievement.
Yet again, ambition can be spurred on by knowledge. Those who are driven by ambition are those who get maximum available information about where they are heading to? Do you think Christopher Columbus set out on his ambitious voyages without available maps, compass, and seasoned sailors? Unthinkable, isn’t it?
Finally, the ambitious ones always aim high. They are like eagles that soar high. Lesser things of life do not distract them. They do not waste time in frivolities nor do they take pleasure in finding fault with others. Instead, they discipline themselves to harness their full potential and resources to achieve greatness in life.
What Gladys Aylward, the British Missionary to China said, is relevant in this context. She said: “The eagle that soars in the upper air does not worry itself how it is to cross rivers.”
Therefore you will find that those with ambition are in passionate love with excellence. And when it is rooted in strong character, they are unstoppable. That is why the world stands in admiration when the ambitious record wins, stand on top of summits, and touch the skies in their upward flight.
There are more than one lakh planes flying every day world wide. Can you imagine them take off and land without pilots listening to instructions from the control tower?
Similarly life and its safe flying depends much on listening to the control tower called wisdom. The Bible says, “The fear of the LORD–that is wisdom, to shun evil is understanding.”*
The fear of the Lord means to acknowledge that God is holy and he is to be worshipped with reverence and awe. It means to accept that God is the source of all true wisdom. Once you do so, you have a solid foundation to build your life upon.
The practical part of wisdom is avoiding evil. You cannot fear God on one side and allow yourself not to listen to his life-giving instructions on the other. Today, evil comes in innocent-looking attractive packages. It gnaws away at your life without you even being aware of it.
To avoid being trapped by them, ask yourself three questions:
Question number one,
“How much time are gadgets stealing away from my time to study?” Question number two,
“Does what I am doing a clear disobedience of instructions given by my parents and teachers?” Question number three,
“Are my relationships and friendships influencing me for good or bad?”
Time, obedience, relationships. If you can keep tabs on these three watchwords, you can walk in the ways of wisdom.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
*Job 28:28, Proverbs 3:16, 4:22
Two related thoughts from the wise king, Solomon: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 1:7).” and “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10).”
and one from Psalms:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).
A role model is a person whom I can look up to; learn from, and imitate. I can also be inspired to succeed the way he or she has done in his or her life.
A role model can be my father or mother; it can be my teacher, my best friend, a sports personality or a leader in my neighbourhood or community. What makes a role model impact my life is not the position he or she holds; but the positive influence and the way he or she sets an example by his or her behaviour, speech and courageous action.
Now we need to note that we either consciously choose role models or sometimes we are influenced by them without our even knowing it.
So just ask yourself this question, “Who am I looking up to as a standard of behaviour, and reference point to emulate or follow?” The next question to ask yourself is “What makes his or her life a success?” Once you have identified those elements like honesty, discipline or courage; the third question to ask is, “What character traits of that person can I copy, implement, and reproduce in my life so that I too can shine a light for others?”
Again, a role model is one who brings about a positive change in me. He or she is someone whom I can relate to in my struggles as well as my dreams.
Personally, I have had not one; but many role models in my life. At each stage of life’s journey I have looked up to someone for motivation to live life better.
If I look at them close; they may not be perfect but there is something good about them which makes me respect and admire them and also push myself to excel in life.
Surprisingly, many role models that I have had are not public figures, but unsung heroes and heroines whose lives shone a bright light for me!
It could have been the mistakes of the previous day or the seeming hopelessness of a present situation that weighed you down then; perhaps even this day. I do not have any easy solution to your problem. But I can point you in the right direction.
The Bible declares that God’s compassions never fail; they are new every morning.*
This can be the basis of your hope. You can lean heavily on the compassion of God. Each day it is supplied afresh. The one thing you need to do is not to look at what is going happen tomorrow. His supply for tomorrow will not be lacking; that is all you need to know.
Well, you might be hesitant to come to God. You might feel like a beggar in tattered clothes standing outside a big mansion where a wealthy merchant is giving a feast. You feel unworthy.
But then if that is the picture you have in mind about God, you are thoroughly mistaken. Jesus made it clear that he came to call sinners to repentance (and not the righteous). He also said that it is the sick who need the doctor (and not the healthy).*
He is compassionate to you today. He is calling you. He simply says, “Come to me.”* The invitation is to himself and not to any agenda, programme, or even a Church.
God has not forgotten you.
He will not forsake you.
He will see that your needs are met.
He is gently whispering peace into your troubled mind.
His love does not ask questions about your failures; he simply asks you to come to him.
Will you just ask God to help you?
It can even be a prayer in your heart.
No words are required. When you cry out, “Help me O God,” he will.
But first, he will answer your heart with hope. He will put courage in your heart.*
Here is a man whose life and work mostly revolve around these historical places.
He was cradled in a manger in a tiny village in Bethlehem when Augustus Caesar ruled mighty Rome.
He was raised up as a carpenter; a man earning his daily bread in a poor home in Nazareth; a place of relative insignificance.
He calmed the stormy winds and waves of the Sea of Galilee with just his word, “Quiet! Be still!”
He preached with authority; healed the sick; cast out demons; fed thousands miraculously, and raised the dead to life. He was hungry and thirsty and slept when tired like any one of us. He was moved with compassion and wept when he saw human sorrow.
But the light in his life, darkness and evil forces could not tolerate. He, the Innocent One, was betrayed by his friend with a kiss; and even when found not guilty of any crime was crucified like a criminal on top of a hill called The Place of the Skull outside the City of Jerusalem.
There he bled and died; and left his tomb empty the third day. He lives for ever.
While on earth, he was God in human flesh; made common like you and me. He was tempted like all; but never ever even once did he cross the boundaries in thought, word, or deed. Therefore, he is moved with compassion when you cry out; “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.” For he understands what you pass through. His love for you is steadfast and everlasting even when you fail dismally.
When you turn and come back even after wasting your life in wild living, he welcomes you to the presence of God. He will not accuse; nor does he find fault with you. “My friend, do you love me?” is the only question he asks. And that can break even a heart of stone to bitter tears.
In him and his poured out blood on the cross is found the forgiveness of your sins. From Bethlehem to Nazareth to Galilee to Jerusalem; his story therefore did not end in despair; but in one brilliant sunrise of hope for all: eternal life for all those who repent of their sins and believe in him; yes, for you and me.
He was before Time and remains the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Introducing the Man like none else, incomparable and above all; Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Son of God, Saviour, and Judge of all the earth; the Man of sorrows and familiar with pain; now crowned in heaven the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for ever and ever!
It is a great honour for me to introduce and welcome our Chief Guest this evening. He is an accomplished writer with several published works to his credit.
[Title] [Title] [Title] are some of the works that has critical acclaim and international recognition with [Title] winning the [Name] Prize.
His literary works have been agents of social change. His books have ignited a fire in every heart that dares to dream.
Today we are privileged to have an opportunity to listen to him this evening. On behalf of all gathered here I welcome you Sir to this literary evening of the International Book Fair.
Welcoming a Cricketing Legend
Often compared with the legendary Sir Don Bradman; and having a copybook style with shots on all sides of the ground; an entertainer of the crowds, one who wears his passion for cricket on his sleeves, a gentleman cricketer, a brand that sells, a run machine, a game-changer who rewrote record books, the man whose proudest moment came when he became part of the Indian team winning the world cup.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the man whose name is wedded to centuries, the inspirational performer whose wonderful cricketing journey; his life between 22 yards for 24 years enthralled and captivated the crowds in all the cricket playing nations of the world–Sachin Tendulkar.
I wish you joy and the ability to make music out of the discord and dissonance that will naturally arise. Two simple things that will keep you afloat and in harmony are saying “Thank you” and “I am sorry” with genuine and sincere hearts often.
Each day rise up with the intent to add something more to make your relationship stronger, your affection for each other richer, and your togetherness sweeter.
Do not let the mobile screen take away from your valuable time together. Instead, may prayers for each other rise in your hearts–prayers that will bless, encourage and protect.
May you be blessed with long life together and may faithfulness to each other shield your married life from all storms that may arise.
Let me wish you the centuries old priestly blessing and conclude:
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
She is known for her ability to weave magic with the curious blend and mix of tradition and modernity. Her designs give us a sense of careless ease but is nothing short of impeccable perfection. Most of her dresses sport vibrant colours and serene patches.
One, who has stamped her imprint not only in the Fashion Weeks of London, New York, Milan and Paris; but also in the glamorous and traditional attires of models in their private appearances across the globe; and on the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival, Oscar Award nights etc.
She has been able to carve a niche for herself in the ever changing world of fashions with her uncanny ability to showcase talent and highlight personal branding.
A caring wife and a loving mother who has set her signature in floral designs; her outfits for the career woman exudes power and confidence. Please welcome the inimitable . . . .
Felicitation Speech During Sports and Cultural Fest Inauguration
Respected Chief Guest and other dignitaries present here today; a warm good morning to one and all.
It is my privilege to stand here before this gathering to wish the participants of this Sports and Cultural Fest all the best. The importance of sports and cultural competitions in nurturing talent and promoting good will and understanding between students of different institutions is well known.
I am happy that the alumni of our College under the able leadership of the Principal has taken the initiative to organize a national level competition for students of Arts and Professional colleges. I welcome all the participants and wish you all the best.
More than winning or losing; the spirit in which competitions are conducted deserves special mention. May these competitions bring out the best in you and spur you on to greater achievements in life. May the friendships you build across campuses through your participation in this event ever widen into better understanding and cooperation between students and teachers across the length and breadth of our country.
Let me conclude by wishing that each one of you will carry back from here some wonderful memories of this Sports and Cultural Fest that you’ll cherish for a long time to come.
Thank you.
Vote of Thanks
Respected Director of [Name] Hospitals, Respected Chief Guest of the Day, other dignitaries, colleagues, graduating students and parents,
We have come to the end of a memorable Graduation Ceremony and College Day Celebration. It is a day that marks a new beginning in the lives of graduating students. I am sure that these students would carry from here professional excellence on one hand and compassion towards fellow men on the other.
First of all I wish all graduating students a glorious career ahead where you’ll be the channels of God’s healing touch to a broken world.
As the Organizing Secretary of College Day Celebrations, I stand here today to propose the vote of thanks.
First of all our thanks are due to our Director, in charge of our Hospital and Educational Institutions who presided over this function. We are grateful to have had such an eminent administrator and a man with a vision and mission as our Director. His leadership is reflected in all developmental activities of our Institutions. Thank you so much for presiding over this function.
Our Guest of Honour for today is none other than [Name]. His priestly blessing is something graduating students will certainly treasure for years to come. For none of us achieves anything in life without God’s grace. So I thank you [Name] for your gracious words and for distributing prizes and scholarships.
We were indeed privileged to have had an eminent person our Chief Guest today. He is the Vice Chancellor of the [Name] University. He is a man who looks forward to reform the whole education sector with the aid of technology. We were honoured to have listened to your insightful speech on the importance of quality education, integrity, and utmost dedication in the medical sector. On behalf of all gathered here, our heartfelt thanks to you Sir.
Our thanks are also due to [Name] for making all feel welcome at this college day and graduation function; and, [Name] for presenting the annual report. Thank you Madam. [Name] was gracious enough to administer the oath to the graduating students. I do hope that it would motivate our graduating students to proceed in their chosen career with hope, vision and courage. I would also like to thank [Name] for giving voice to the vibrant thoughts of the graduating students.
As a key stake holder of this institution let me tell all of you that the time has now come for you step out of this cosy nest and fly on your own. The training and discipline you got from this college will definitely carry you through. And when you feel overwhelmed by challenges know that God will carry you in his everlasting arms spread underneath you.
Finally let me thank all the distinguished guests once again and also my colleagues, members of the teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, and beloved students whose dynamism you will witness in the cultural programmes tonight.
Let me end by challenging you to go out and shine your light. As Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Go out and shine and let the world rejoice with hope at your shining light. Thank you all once again.
Sample Acceptance Speech
Respected Chairman, dignitaries on the dais, and all others present,
A warm good morning to all of you.
It is with a deep sense of humility that I accept the award you have chosen to bestow on me. On behalf of my team, let me express our thanks and gratitude for choosing me and my team for this award.
This is an occasion to celebrate and remember all those who made it possible. In particular, let me thank all the colleagues in my team in this moment of great gladness.
There was a sense of deep commitment to the vision of reaching the completion of this project within the given deadline among the members of our team. We are glad that we could do so through hard work, determination, best utilization of man and machine power, and perseverance.
So this award belongs to not just one person but to the entire team who worked tirelessly and with great enthusiasm and single-minded aim.
I also would like to thank our clients for putting their faith in us. Your faith in us had given us tremendous confidence and on this occasion we are glad to have you present here with us.
An award is a milestone on a long journey. So it is not an end; but a new beginning. It is a time to look back and look forward at the same time.
On this occasion let me tell you that our Company is still eagerly looking forward to the taking up of new projects in the area of renewable energy resource management.
There are several dream-projects ahead of us. This award will inspire us and motivate us to continue to pursue excellence more and more in all that we do.
I would like to dedicate this award to our CEO for his inspirational leadership, relentless pursuit of excellence, and ability to speak words of wisdom in times of change and challenge.
Thank you all once again. And let us join hands for a better future ahead as we try to make this earth a better place through our projects and achievements. Thank you.
Felicitation at a Christmas Carol Singing Competition
This night was heaven-breathed. I stand here to felicitate all the participating choirs. Your efforts have not only made this evening special but also brought near to us the joy of the first Christmas.
At a time when Jesus, who was born a child in a manger, is marginalized today during Christmas celebrations, your song selections–both traditional as well as contemporary–helped us to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
Let me congratulate all the winners. May this victory inspire you to make greater efforts to make harmony that will save the world from all dissonance of war, worry, and strife.
I wish all of you a blessed Christmas. Indeed, God came near to us through Christmas. And in Jesus we have a trusted friend. He is our Saviour and Lord and worthy of our highest adoration and worship.
May the love of God and the gift of peace come to you as each one of you go back home tonight even as the heavenly melodies you heard continue to ring joyous bells of Christmas in your hearts.
Blessed Christmas once again even as all of us with prayerful hearts stand holding out lighted candles to sing together the most loved carol of all times, Silent Night, Holy Night!
Sample Felicitation Speech at Youth Leadership Awards Function
Respected Chairman, Honoured Chief Guest, Dignitaries, Asia Pacific Region Youth Representative Elect Mr. …. , Office Bearers, and all delegates attending,
Good evening one and all.
I am privileged and excited to stand here in the midst of this exuberant ambience in this auditorium in the Lion City.
As I look around I see not just youthful faces but potential, diversity of talent with extraordinary drive, ambition, and above all commitment to excel.
Time flies. As I stand here memories flood my mind and there is a surge of emotions hitting me like wave after wave.
I remember distinctly an evening like this when I was elected to be the Asia Pacific Youth Representative thirty years ago in that august meeting held in New Delhi.
That night will always remain special in my mind. It was the first time a woman from India was selected to that post. It then created an increased interest among college students about the philanthropic activities of our Organization.
With today’s oath taking, he is all set to shift gears on to a global stage. His vision about the contribution of youth in our Organization, his charismatic personality, individual talent, persuasive communication skills, extraordinary ability to get the momentum going in all initiatives will definitely set standards of excellence.
His declaration of policy tomorrow, I am sure, will find an eager and enthusiastic following.
On this momentous occasion, let me congratulate this young dynamic youngster doing his Master’s in Business Administration on his election. Let me, on behalf of all gathered here, and as the Senior President of the Asia Pacific region wish him all success.
I assure him off our prayers, cooperation and support.
A life with purpose is one which looks with intense focus and passion on the goal. It defies all odds and comes back from all setbacks in the pursuit of the same.
It rises out of depths of despair; often clinging on to God in moments when strength gives out. It is energized by a single-eyed determination and a burning desire to excel.
It does not allow oneself to be distracted by the frivolous and the silly. Purpose enables one to be decisive in action, judicious in the use of time, wise in investments of talent and treasure, and cautious in friendship.
It is only when one is driven by purpose that one will persevere till the end. A purpose driven life knows where it is headed to; and in the first place why it is travelling to that destination.
Even when all other rewards are taken away; even when all others oppose, mock or reject; even when nothing else is there to be gained but only the joy of doing what one is called to do; a man or woman with purpose will remain true and faithful to it.
When life is dominated by purpose, there is no time to be wasted in answering critics, no time to wallow in self-pity licking the wounds of battle and no time to scatter away wishing “What might have been!”
When purpose takes hold, it knows how brief life is and with what speed and finality windows of opportunity will shut tight. Therefore it will act and will not rest till the matter at hand is done.
Aimless drifting is one sure sign that your sail has not caught the wind. If you are driven by purpose, life will never find you unprepared. Now is the opportunity and it is never too late.
It is not just the take off nor the flying that matters; but what counts is how you land finally. When you look back, hope you will be able to find many lives impacted just because you stayed good and true to your purpose.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
“There are two great days in a person’s life–the day we are born and the day we discover why.”
— William Barclay
The LORD declares:
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
