I am yet to meet a genuinely talented person who has not passed through a period of loss of confidence in his or her life or career. Certainly these dark periods of doubt have really made people stronger than before.
When you pass through a period of loss of confidence it is quite natural to brood on all negatives and failures that has happened to you. That is self-defeating. Instead of doing this, think of all your best past performances and believe that you can do it again.
Some people accept loss of confidence as a permanent attachment of their lives! How sad to see people live in the belief that they will never get out of loss of confidence. Such a belief is a lie and totally untrue!
What we need to accept is the fact that for a brief passing period of life we have entered a tunnel experience where all is dark. But hold on. Light will break at the end of the tunnel. Loss of confidence therefore should be accepted as a normal part of life but never accepted as a permanent condition. In this acceptance you will find freedom!
At the same time resist the huge temptation to rush things and the attempt to get back to top gear as quickly as possible. But if you attempt to rush things, that attempt is surely going to backfire on you
Instead take your time. Go it slow. Stop your activity and simply do nothing for long periods. Your mind and body need the stops rather than the notes of music at this time. And remember each person in the same situation of loss of confidence takes a different time to recoup and recover. So take your time and do not allow anyone to rush you!
Your goal at the moment is to get back the rhythm and the passion and the enthusiasm and the effortless grace with which you did things in the past. Till you get back to your absolute best, stay contented on the small stage. Your time to roar and soar is just a few days away!
No matter what the darkness in your life; no matter how great the loss you have faced; no matter whether it was your irresponsibility or mistake; no matter how long you have been out of touch with your best; no matter who or what great odds are pitted against you; no matter how depressed and sorrowful you are now; know that with God nothing is impossible.
As King David rightly expressed,: “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28). Yes, with God you can. Even before you stop reading this, thank God for the mighty comeback he has enabled in your life. It will happen; it surely will!
A final thought that we need to keep in mind is that loss of confidence is no hopeless condition.
If rightly approached, such a phase in life can bring the best out of us; and can result in an outflow of creative use of our hidden potential and talents. More perhaps has been achieved by people with loss of confidence when they have trusted in the grace of God.
When St. Paul prayed thrice that God would remove a thorn in his flesh (exactly what this source of his loss of confidence was no one knows), the Lord Jesus Christ told him the secret to get the better of it:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses.”
Paul, powered by that word of confidence, became a great achiever in spite of all negatives that happened to him in life. So also we too can achieve trusting in the power of the One whose grace is sufficient in all our loss of confidence and whose power energizes us to rise and conquer in spite of all our weaknesses!
Therefore with St. Paul, let us also confidently say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 Bible NKJV).
Great dreams are deposited in human hearts by divine hands. Then an ordinary man becomes a dreamer. He starts thinking beyond his time and circumstances. It is soon followed by the dreamer being shaped by his dream.
Dream Big
Dreaming big has many impacts. First of all it changes you from within. It enlarges your heart to think of possibilities. It gives you an increased measure of faith to trust in God. It gives you a sense of destiny. When these kind of things happen you feel a stirring within you to fly high above your circumstances that might be trying to pull you down.
When dreams are lived out it is quite natural to encounter rough weather. It can come in the form of mistakes,unkind criticism, threats, failures, thoughts of giving up, and finally loss in many forms including finance and reputation. But bad times enlarge one’s heart, strengthen one’s resolve, fuel the passion to achieve and steel one’s character with integrity.
Go On. Finish Strong.
The temptation to give up midway into the success story is common to man. It all happens when one loses sight of the finishing tape. Then the focus gets blurred. Other distractions too can easily side-track at this point in time.
Plan Your Innings
It is a great surprise to me to see how many people go through life without any serious planning. All they do is crisis management. Instead if they could have a game plan and stick to it they can have success. Be flexible to change according to what the situation demands without totally destroying the original game plan.
Wisdom to Run Your Business
A lamp cannot burn if there is no supply of oil to it. Likewise a man cannot continue to shed light if his wisdom runs out of supply. He, in order to successfully run an enterprise, needs a continual supply of wisdom. It is needed not only to plan but also to make right decisions. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 Bible).
Time cannot be bought nor can it be saved. Yet we often procrastinate and allow the doors of opportunity to close. Therefore “Never leave till tomorrow which you can do today” as Benjamin Franklin so wisely observed.
Celebrate What Is That Is Uniquely Yours
Others are usually good at pointing out what you are not good at. But it might take a long time for them or for you yourself to know the worth of the treasure that you carry in your earthen vessel.
But realize that each one of us has a gift of his own. And it is in the exploring, developing, and maturing of that gift to fruitfulness that a person becomes useful to others. Therefore fan into flame the gift of God that is in you.
Failures Do Not Mean the Game Is Over
Perhaps we need to learn to fail successfully:
Of course its primary lesson is sportsman spirit. One has to learn to treat failures with the same courtesy with which one treats successes.
The second lesson of course is to know that failures happen once in a while to the best of men. But we will never lower our standards. And never stop striving to win.
Purpose Is Important
Purpose gives direction to life. It helps you to focus on priorities and not get entangled by the niceties of life. A purpose-driven life is not easily distracted. Instead such a life is relentlessly focussed on achieving the goals and objectives which it had set out to accomplish and finish.
Growth: You Cannot Afford to Stay Still!
Growth in life is a complex process. But its principle is simple. It can be said in two words, “Let go!” And there is much value in those two simple words. Real growth in life comes only when we learn to leave self-defeating habits and negative thinking patterns behind.
“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).
Focus
Focus, I believe, is a key element in any success story. Being sure of what you want to do in life and why! When you are focused you will eliminate all good things that are distractions. In modern contexts, gadgets and social media can take your focus away quite easily.
Empty Spaces
Empty spaces can come in the pursuit of any dream. See those blank spaces through the eyes of music which too has empty spaces. “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes — ah, that is where the art resides” so said the noted Austrian classical pianist Artur Schnabel.
Looking at Closed Doors
I have learned from experience that God is in the business of opening and closing doors: “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open . . . See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut (Revelation 3:7b, 8)” is what he has said. Therefore looking ahead with hope and trust in God when doors close is part of a dreamer’s attitude to achieve success.
Loss of Confidence can strike after a series of defeats. It can make you think that you are not worth it and that all your efforts were in vain. It can drain away initiative from you. But surprisingly loss of confidence can happen at the best moments too though I have never discovered why it happens. That is a whole lot more difficult to handle.
Often a smile, an encouraging comment, a positive feedback or an unexpected phone call are those little things that has put confidence in me back again in such situations. If you are able to have one good laugh it can easily restore confidence.
This is the simple and most enduring lesson I have learned: Keep on doing what you are good at in spite of all doubts, despair, discouragement, disillusionment and defeats. And bounce back from most astonishing setbacks.
Leave a Legacy Behind
You leave a legacy behind when you have been able to show someone the stairway they had to climb in life. You leave a legacy behind when you have been a small match lighting up great torches. You leave a legacy behind when you have been able to make a person smile.
The Bible in the words of the Prophet Daniel promises a rich star-studded legacy to those who have tried to live like that: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3)!”
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!“The journey has by no means ended. But when one hits a century it is always an emotional moment. Yet it is also a time to look back and find out what elements had contributed to the success story.”
The above post is a condensation of Century Notes published on the occasion of the Century Batch of Bejoy Peter’s Public Speaking. In the preface I had written then:
“The journey has by no means ended. But when one hits a century it is always an emotional moment. Yet it is also a time to look back and find out what elements had contributed to the success story.”
The 100th Batch of Bejoy Peter’s Public Speaking was held at the Trivandrum YMCA from 2nd July to 14th July, 2007 with 16 students in attendance.
There are three things you should remember once you have tasted success:
The first thing to remember to counter complacency is that others are working hard to reach where you reached. You simply cannot relax.
Do not think that competition disappears when you have succeeded. The truth is it becomes more competitive than ever. So to stay at the top you need to exercise more vigilance than what it took to take you to the top in the first place.
Remember, when success weds complacency, it spells failure!
The second thing to remember to counter complacency is that you need to be ready to embrace change and adapt new methods. Times and methodologies and technologies are changing rapidly.
What was cutting edge yesterday is blunt tomorrow. Therefore be alert to changing needs and stay ahead by initiating change than following it.
Remember, when success weds complacency, it spells failure!
Why do I stress this point? It is because great men and women, great teams and organizations, nations and empires fell because they compromised on the basics.
Remember, when success weds complacency, it spells failure!
So let me remind you once again. the three points you should remember to counter complacency: One, Others are on the move to reach where you are, probably inspired by your own performance. Two, you need to be flexible and willing to change methodologies as needed. Three, and more importantly remind yourselves of basics all the time.
Let me end by reminding you yet another time: When success weds complacency, it spells failure!
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.
Let me start with what money cannot buy. It cannot buy love, it cannot buy friendship, it cannot buy peace; but it might save you time and get you temporary happiness.
Money is neither good or evil. When money is in your control it is good; but when money becomes your master you become its slave. And when you start loving money even your loved ones can feel like an obstacle or barrier in fulfiling your goals in life.
With the solemn warning that the love of money, not money as such, is the root of all kinds of evil1; let me try to give you a few tips on how to make money and grow rich.
First of all, make money grow little by little2. Small amounts add up. Small savings starting from your pocket money add up. Save a little every month and keep it aside. Someday when it is a rainy day, what you saved on a sunny day will certainly come to your aid.
Secondly, do not live on borrowed money. Of course buying a car, having an education loan, or constructing a house are exceptions and not the norm. Live within your means and with what is in your hand. Use credit cards with caution and use it wisely.
Hoped-for-money is not yours until you are rewarded for honest hard work; for no one has ever earned a gold medal for laziness! What you need is not more money but wise management of money you already have.
You needn’t wait for big money in your hand to start giving. Start today, start now with even a ten rupee note in your hand. You know what, giving can be the wisest investment you make in your lifetime for all eternity.
Finally, avoid unnecessary expenses. This in itself will make you earn more than you expect. Switch off lights and fans when you are not in the room. Do not buy little trinkets on impulse when you see them.
If you can walk to the store, why should you take your car out? There are more creative ways in which you can save and double your money than you have probably so far thought about.
Above all, trust God for your finances. You can be poor but if you can seek God’s wisdom for wise stewardship of your limited resources; then you can live on what is available. The fact is that there are so many things in life you can easily do without.
At the end of the day, and beside your grave, all that matters is how rich in life you were in being loved. No man or woman is rich by hoarding up money and never blessing others with it. So let me end now saying, “Make money, grow rich, love more!”
Welcome all to the 74th Independence day. This time we are celebrating in the midst of a global crisis due to Covid-19.
This is a time we cannot come together to celebrate the joy of independence. At the same time we cannot miss to observe this most important day of Indian history.
Therefore we have joined together online to mark the occasion.
Let us remember with gratitude all freedom fighters and all those who sacrificed much to make India free.
Today, we are in the front ranks of the nations of the world and we can be proud about our secularism and democratic principles that has stood the test of time.
Freedom, as our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his famous First Independence Day Eve speech Tryst with Destiny 1 said, brings responsibility. So dear children, freedom not only brings privileges but also duties. Therefore let us join hands today to preserve our hard-earned freedom.
We should remember and never forget that democracy survives on freedom of speech. Therefore tolerance and respect should be the watchwords that we should keep in mind to maintain unity in diversity in this colourful and pluralistic land of rich traditions and ancient heritage.
On this occasion of Indian Independence Day, let us remember the meaningful words of Rabindranath Tagore which he penned in his great work Gitanjali:
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
Let us therefore pledge to do all in our strength to guard the flame of independence and freedom that our freedom fighters lit for us.
Let us say no to all divisive forces. Let us salute our national tricolour and proudly say Mera Bharat Mahan!
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
Every achievement in life springs from a burning desire to succeed. It is this burning desire that helps you conquer fear and break out from inhibitions.
Another word for burning desire is passion. What can I compare passion to? It is like a forest fire. It rages wild and burns down everything in its path. Therefore try to fuel passion in life.
Now let me ask you, “Have you met someone with a real burning desire and passion in life?” One thing you cannot miss about such a person is his or her single-minded aim.
He or she is someone who has given up on lesser ambitions and focused sharply on getting one thing done in life. Such a person is a disciplined person who has chiseled away everything else in life that will not contribute to that one aim that has taken hold of his or her heart so powerfully.
Yet another important mark of a passionate person is the ability to utilize time wisely. He will make use of opportunities that come his way. A passionate man knows that time is a resource that is constantly running out and can never be replenished. So he will plan and prioritize and act accordingly.
For his farewell Michael Schumacher wore his traditional Schuberth red helmet showing a single thank you message for his fans. “Life is about passions – Thank you for sharing mine” is written on the sides.
Yes, those who live life to the fullest are those who have a burning desire to succeed. Now the question is, “Do you have such a passion?”
If you have not failed, that means probably you succeeded in everything you did or you did not attempt to do anything at all.
The chances are that you never tried. Now why is that so? Most likely you were afraid to try because you feared to make mistakes. But then you already made the big mistake of not attempting.
What is the fear that keeps you from not trying. Isn’t it the fear of failure? Yes, it is!
What happens when you fail? The best thing that happens is that it shows you the stuff you are made of. Failures inspire you to do better next time, helps you learn from your mistakes and makes you desperate about winning. Failures can unmask your pretensions and show you your true character.
Failures also teach you humility. It teaches you that success is a process and not a destination. So there is no reality in classifying certain experiences of life as failures. What you probably call “failure” has done more to mould you into a person with strength of character than anything you achieved and termed as “success.”
So if you ask me, I prefer you to go and risk failure in something that you know to be good. The world may laugh at you. Let it do so.
But you go multiply your attempts. And when the nets come in empty after a long night’s hard work I hope and pray you will hear the voice of God saying“Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch!”*
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.
Life has changed after Covid-19. Classes are online. I miss the warmth of friendship, the ambience of learning, and the fun of doing things together.
Life has thrown new challenges. In this context, as I look back at all my experience of teaching, I think there are three things every student should know. Let me share that with you.
First of all finding yourself where you are now was never your choosing.
When you were young it was your parents who decided things for you; perhaps they still do.
You might not like everything they do and might not agree with all that they decide for you. But there are no perfect parents on earth and yours are no exception. Learn to forgive in case they are wrong.
At the same time do not give up when you find yourself in a course of study that was never your first choice.
Instead make best use of time and opportunities that are present for you. Do not compare yourself with others and feel inferior. Negative circumstances are just the right conditions for you to excel.
Who knows! If you show passion for the subject that you find yourself in today, your skill in it might just be the most wanted in the changed world tomorrow.
Secondly, learn to do ordinary things exceptionally well.
Let me start from the simplest of examples. From drawing a margin in your notebook, writing today’s date on the blackboard when given the chance, tying your shoelace properly, are all indicators of greatness.
No task is below your dignity if you can stamp it with a divine “nothing left undone that could be done” attitude. Whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm and as if there is no second chance.
When such an attitude becomes a habit there are no end to possibilities. What is mundane and routine becomes ablaze with glory.
So then, aim high and keep on doing the ordinary with the best of your efforts every single time you attempt. Let there be no exceptions.
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles. This is a great promise that God told his people through Prophet Isaiah (40:31).
It tells you about God who has not forgotten you or your struggles in life. He has immense power and wisdom to show himself strong on your behalf.
He is motivating and encouraging you to rise up from your bed of despair. He is calling you to believe in him who will help you to soar on wings like eagles.
When you feel like quitting or giving up; do listen to this motivational podcast.
It will surely inspire you to trust in God who will help you to fly high just like how eagles do.
“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 1
1Isaiah 40:31 Bible NIV 1984.
Featured image courtesy: Photo by Frank Cone on Pexels | Microsoft Designer
To the people taken captives and in exile, to a people who had nothing to look forward to or hope for, God spoke through Prophet Jeremiah asking them not to lose heart but to work with all their hearts in the land of their captivity:
But what means this song to you and me today?
One, it is a message of present opportunity. And it is a clear call to you today as well: Do not look back at lost opportunities and wasted years in life. Instead do what you find to do right now with all your heart and strength. Do it with enthusiasm.
Two, there is promise of God’s helpin the midst of hopelessness. The message is that God has not forgotten you even though he has disciplined you. He is compassionate.
Third, God has plans for your life. Even though circumstances of today seem to restrict you, do whatever your hands find to do to the best of your ability.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”2
Yes, there is a future for you. It doesn’t matter how others have tried to make you feel despair, useless, and as having no worth; God will reverse your fortunes once again.
Therefore do not yield to despair. Instead connect with God. There is no one else who can repair the smudges on the canvas of your life like he can. He listens when your heart sighs in despair and feeling of hopelessness. For,
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.3“
Now listen to the song once again: It was the voice of despair of a people taken captive in war: “Now how shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” It was the cry of broken hearts!
But that was what the captors demanded. “Sing,” they had said. 2500 years later, the very words of lamentation of a people in exile and captivity expressing their inability to sing have conquered the world as a song of hope.3
Covid 19 has changed the face of the world. Faces have been masked, handshakes are not welcome anymore, social distancing is the norm, classes are online, and work from home (WFH) and video-conferencing is the new culture.
A lot of changes in quick time has happened. And change is never easy.
There are three things you can do to cope with change:
One is acceptance. There is no good in closing your eyes to changed realities. The longer you resist change the harder it becomes for you to adopt and adapt. So show a positive attitude to change.
Second is managing fear. The pandemic has made man realize how fragile life is. Carefully laid plans are disrupted, dreams crash, and hopes dashed in the blink of an eye. Being wise in practical steps and trust in God along with it are the means to handle fear.
First of all, don’t be afraid of change.
It has to be seen in a positive light. Know that every act of change is accompanied by doubts. Some of these doubts, if entertained for a long time, can stop you from acting. Therefore it is important to act and make needed changes before opportunities close their doors on you.
The second step is to know that there is no survival without change.
Though there is nothing new under the sun, change keeps happening. If you resist change, you will soon be outdated. Your competitors will get far ahead when you have not even begun. So be open to change. And be willing to learn and add new skill sets to your profile. Yes, with a learning attitude most of the difficulties accompanying change can be overcome.
Thirdly, be excited about change.
There is nothing like enthusiasm which can change your attitude. Instead of finding excuses for not changing, why not find reasons to be full of joy and anticipation about the change that is coming into your life? After all, expectant mothers look ahead with hope to see the newborn’s face even when they know that their world is going to change dramatically with the arrival of the child!
Finally, many people have found COVID-19 an opportunity to vent their anger against God and to proclaim him dead. I do understand their feelings. There are lot of questions I too do not have an answer to.
But what if the pandemic is a simple reminder from God to man that in spite of man landing on the moon and probing space like never before there are lot of things he is yet to understand!
Even though it sounds very difficult just thank God for all that went wrong this morning if it did for you. Sometimes plans that get upset are Godsend to save you from running into greater difficulties during the day. In our busy world, we often need attention-grabbers; and interruptions early in the day can mean just that.
Know that a bad start does not change the big purpose of your life, whatever that be. Race along in the slow pace that is possible even when you had a bad start. At the end of the day, you’ll be surprised to note that you were able to accomplish far more than you dreamed was possible.
Let me conclude by saying that it doesn’t matter if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. What matters more is with what attitude you are going to face life today. — “For his [God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning” — Lamentations 3:22b, 23a Bible.
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!
You cannot please everybody. It is like trying to juggle a football, a cricket ball, and a table tennis ball along with a few cups and plates.
And that is not only impossible but even the attempt is futile.
Therefore it is wise to focus on what you do and attempt to do that well each time you do it. Of course there will be people to criticize your mistakes.
Simply accept the fact that no movement or progress is possible without being criticized.
But when that happens there is no need to lose heart.
First of all examine criticism truthfully.
It might have some lesson you can accept to correct your course of action and improve yourself. Never lose that opportunity. But accept it with humility.
Secondly, criticism can dishearten you easily. You might feel like giving up. If you do you lose a valuable opportunity to show the world how good you are in what you do. When people speak ill of you, sharpen your skills and come back more strongly than ever.
Thirdly, trust the true estimate God has about you.
It is not the colour of your skin that makes you look beautiful in his eyes. Instead it is sheer love for you that made him die for you. No one can snatch you out from his hands. Therefore do not worry, “Am I good enough?”
Let me conclude by asking you my dear friend to humbly accept criticism honestly. Use criticism as an opportunity to show your strength and not cower in weakness and fear.
Finally, be assured that in spite of all the criticism the world can throw at you and all that you think is not good about you God loves you and accepts you the way you are right now.
Why worry anymore about what others think about you?
When it happens the first thing to believe is that you can come out of it, God helping you.
Again, do not be surprised that you feel totally confused and unable to do so many things you did with ease in the past. That is how it is during a period of loss of confidence.
What you need to do is to look back, look forward, and look up. What you shouldn’t do is look inward and feel helpless.
Instead, look back to your best past performances and believe that you can do it again. Perhaps much better than how you did it then.
Then you need to look forward and focus on dreaming big for your future. Do not focus on the present misery and limit yourself. The greater your dream the better chance for your quickness of recovery.
And when you dream, always think of helping people to be at their best through your success. It will give a greater purpose to your dreams and enthusiasm in your present efforts.
The next thing to do is to look up. God loves you and is always ready to help you. The only thing you need to know is that his sense of timing is different.
He is patient. He takes time to rebuild your confidence. His goal is formation of your character and making you have inner strength and courage.
Perhaps the hidden blessing in loss of confidence is that you become a person with compassion for others. Instead of being puffed up with pride because of your talent and abilities, you learn to stoop down and give a helping hand to those who struggle with lack of confidence themselves.
So cheer up. Your loss of confidence is not going to last long. With hope in God and trust in his unchanging love for you, move forward to climb greater heights than you have ever achieved so far.
Not one of us chose to be born. But we were born anyway.
Not one of us chose our parents; nor the place of our birth or the circumstances into which we were born.
We can complain about so many things. Or we can be thankful. Or be forgetful or even worse indifferent.
But there are others who take life as it is. They try to make best use of whatever life has thrown them.
So make the best use of time and opportunities you have even when you have not much choice about what comes your way.
Life in its truest sense comes to those who do not hold on to it. They see life as a stewardship God gifted to them. They are aware that someday the Giver will ask how their life was spent.
Some others amass wealth and possessions. But “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”1
There are a rare few who have said like what Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” The truth I believe is to keep a loose hold on life. What you hold too tight might slip away.
The famous lines from the song The Gambler2 come to mind:
You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s done
Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And knowin’ what to keep
2 Minute Speech on the Meaning of. Life
Is this not what Jesus meant when he said: “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”3?
He perhaps more than anyone else is the greatest Gambler the world has seen. When he died after having shed his blood on the cross and said “It is finished”4 he might have looked like a dismal failure. But was it?
Finally, treasures and riches mean what it means. We all love to store up money. Nothing wrong with it when it is made through genuine hard work.
Yet Jesus asked us to store up our riches in heaven where moth doesn’t eat and rust doesn’t corrupt. It points out the uncertainty of riches in this world. And the permanence of what is sacrifially given away out of compassion and love for others.
Let me conclude. When God is promising you such great treasures of darkness and riches stored in secret places, will you settle for less?
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.
Leadership is an intentional exercise. If you leave it to chance, the chances are that you will experience power leakage in leadership. Here are 7 areas you need to be conscious about.
#1. Getting over-familiar with people.
There is nothing wrong in building relationships and friendships with people who are under your leadership. But never forget the principle of distance. Leadership that allows people to get too close to you personally can disable you to function well when you need to correct, discipline and persuade them to take action.
#2. Being a caring person.
Caring for others is a good quality. But there is a conflict here with power in leadership. The more you seem to care for people, the more they tend to steal your valuable time. A need that can be met in five minutes might go into a prolonged discussion of personal needs and difficulties if you don’t exercise proper leadership. Be matter of fact in your listening, give to-the-point advice, delegate wherever possible, and instil hope. Do that in quick time and get back to your work of leading. Don’t be pulled into the trap of seeing only the need of one person when you are leading an entire team or organization.
#3. Late intervention.
Leadership is best when there is anticipation of emerging situations. That calls for timely intervention. If as a leader you become a spectator watching others lead the show in a discussion, then there is power leakage. You have to show boldness to step in, take the lead, and control discussions. There will always be people who love to have the limelight, to show off how knowledgeable they are, and those who deliberately try to usurp leadership. Therefore you need to be alert to the fact that leadership is always open to competition and the seat you occupy is envied by many.
#4. Being surprised by information. One of the mistakes leaders make is when they do not take care to get information from the grassroots. Do not depend on your immediate chain of command alone for critical information. Bypass them and have a secure reporting system in place. The worst thing that can happen in a discussion is when you have to ask, “What is the discussion all about?” It makes you look weak and uninformed. Having vital information with you is an absolute must for any leader.
#5. Not leading with questions.
A leader who exercises power and influence is one who knows to ask the right questions. This helps to question wrong assumptions people have about situations and problems confronting them. Asking the right questions can shake people out of complacency and make people commit themselves to deadlines and plan of action proposed. Questions can help to elicit critical information that might become vital in solving problems or taking negotiations forward. A leader is one who should have persuasive ability and that cannot be true without the ability to ask questions. A simple question like, “What would you have done in this situation?” can get the listener become creative with his or her response.
#6. The Nero effect.
Nero was busy playing his fiddle when Rome was burning. Leaders who close their eyes to immediate needs and substitute them with other lesser pursuits, hobbies, or distractions fall into this category. Problems do not disappear on their own. They have to be tackled with diligence. St. Paul makes that point very clear when he wrote that if a person’s gift is leadership he should exercise it diligently1 which means that he should do it with careful and persistent work or effort. Yes, leadership should be approached as work to be done with a long-term vision and keeping long range goals in mind.
#7. Forgetting the killer instinct.
Leaders who forget the killer instinct are like athletes who relax when they see the finishing tape allowing others to edge them out. A leader should always be doing critical follow-up to ensure that nothing takes him or her by surprise. Whatever can be foreseen should be anticipated; and necessary measures taken to avoid surprises. A leader cannot take promises made at face value but should keep reminding people of their commitments often. It might seem annoying but that is part of the killer instinct. Get things done without fail. Don’t leave it to chance. That is the power of leadership in action. Read 7 Essential Stops to Leadership Power Leakage on LinkedIn
I stand here today to speak to you because of what happened this morning. One of our classmates had to leave the class in tears. She is our friend; yet our words and actions caused her to leave in shame and distress.
Who is responsible? We all are.
And what is the problem? Somehow we enjoy jokes at other’s expense. Everybody laughs. Maybe even the person about whom the fun was all about also joins in the laughter.
But that doesn’t mean that the fun was cool. Knowingly or without thought we have wrongly succeeded in destroying the sense of worth of another person.
Now why do we crack silly and frivolous comments about someone’s personal appearance or dress or mannerisms? It is an attempt from our part to appear smart by diminishing someone else.
The temptation to do so is great, but with a little patience and effort you can overcome the urge to make fun of others. Instead, if you yield to it; someday it will boomerang on you.
I appeal to all who were involved in making fun of our dear friend to understand the deep hurt you have caused her. For you, it was moment’s joke; for her it is a lifetime of pain and shame.
What did you gain by making fun of her? Let me ask you, do you become smarter when you make fun of others? Or does your beauty increase when you demean others by your thoughtless remarks?
My dear friends, I ask you to try your best to redeem the situation. Reach out to her and say with genuine hearts that you’re sorry. There is still a ray of hope that things can be straightened out. Act before it is too late.
Let me conclude by appealing to the whole student community to put to an end to the insensitive act of making fun of others.
There are moments in life when each one of us feels the need of God to come and stand alongside with us as our Helper, Comforter, Guide, Counsellor and Friend. Listening to these songs can make God be real to you.
1. God Will Make a Way — Don Moen
2. Every Tiny Star That Twinkles in the Night Sky
3. O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus
4. God Will Take Care of You –Michael’s Children Home
5. 10000 Reasons (Bless the Lord O My Sou) — Matt Redman
6. The Love of God
7. “My Life is in Your Hands” sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
8. Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow — Virtual Choir
9. Softly and Tenderly — Sounds Like Reign
10. Love Lifted Me | Acoustic | Encounter Music
11. Take My Hand Precious Lord — Jim Reeves
12. What a Friend We Have in Jesus
13. Just a closer walk with thee – Patsy Cline And Willie Nelson
14. One Day at a Time — Lynda Randle
15. It Is Well With My Soul
16. The Lily of the Valley
17. May the Good Lord Bless You and Keep You
18. Count Your Blessings
19. Create in Me a Clean Heart
19. Whispering Hope — Willie Nelson
20. Jesus Loves Me This I Know — Joey + Rory
21. Fear Not I Am With Thee
22. O God Our Help In Ages Past
23. Showers of Blessing
24. Faithful One — Cliff Richard
25. Your Love Broke Through — Keith Green
26. Virtual Hymn “The Comforter Has Come” by Melharmonic Virtual Choir
27. Blessed Assurance Christian Worship Song (with Lyrics) written by Fanny Crosby
28. How Deep the Father’s Love for Us – Stuart Townend
29. Under His Wings I Am Safely Abiding
30. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
31. Love from Heaven Born Tonight — A Lovely Christmas Song for Children
32. Abide with Me — Abide With Me – Beating the Retreat 2020 – Republic of India
33. Nearer My God to Thee — André Rieu (live in Amsterdam)
34. God be With You Till We Meet Again (Russian version)
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.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” — Jesus Christ
1. Thine Be the Glory — Virtual Choir 2020
2. Risen — written by Shawna Edwards
3. Easter Song — Keith Greene
4. Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed (Live at the Gospel Coalition) – Keith & Kristyn Getty
5. Up from the Grave He Arose — Daniel Thornton
6. In Christ Alone My Hope Is Found
7. Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus
8. Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow
9. Matt Redman – One Day (When We All Get To Heaven) (Acoustic)
10. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today — Brookwood Praise Choir
11. Awesome God — Michael W. Smith
12. All Heaven Declares (with lyrics) – Martin Ball
13. All Glory Laud and Honour — First Plymouth Church, Lincoln Nebraska
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?
We look at photographs and see a moment that was captured. It is a reminder that the train of life has moved on from there. Therefore we need to learn to move forward in life instead of living in the past.
Often you and me get comfortable with our past triumphs. A new day brings new challenges and new opportunities. We need new plans and new strategies. Living in the glory of the past can blind our eyes to changes that are much needed to achieve success.
Therefore forget the success of your past. Instead adopt and adapt new strategies.
Beyond forgetting success and failures you need to tackle hurts people dented your heart with. Life will always have an element of friction when you deal with people. It cannot be avoided. Sometimes we are at the receiving end. It is painful. It hurts. But do not allow that to make your mind sour. Not easy. But with God’s help you need to keep your mind strong.
Therefore leave your baggage of hurts somewhere. Do not carry the luggage on your head while you sit in a moving train.
Finally, have hope. There is a moment when the grip of the past on your life will be broken. It can happen in spite of the hopeless circumstances you are in.
The train will move on. But the driver has changed. No longer are you in control. Leave it to him. He will do something new. It will take time. Be patient. Endure through tough times.
So look ahead and see the new thing God will do in your life. Believe it.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” — Isaiah 43:19 Bible.
