To be beautiful and lovely, to be handsome and attractive, to be admired and appreciated; these are the longing of every human heart.
Some spend a fortune on cosmetics and apparels, on handbags and shoes, jewellery and ornaments to achieve these goals.
But there are better methods to make yourself an attractive person.
It is when we are dissatisfied that we become jealous of others. And when we become jealous all our joy turns into bitter poison that corrupts the heart and darkens our facial features as well.
Therefore stop comparing yourself with others and feeling inferior. Instead be thankful to God for all that you are and all that you have.
Nothing compares with the beauty of a baby smiling. And we all had smiled as children. Now when did we lose that? We lost it by worrying often. Stop worrying. It accomplishes nothing. Worry increases the wrinkles and frowns on your face.
So don’t lose your attractiveness through constant worry. Try smiling more often.
That is needed, but more than that why not try to be an encourager.
Make a deliberate effort to speak an encouraging word to someone today. Appreciate others a lot. Try to do a kind deed even as simple as smiling at the person who filled petrol in your car today. Or, saying “Thank you” to the one who took orders at your table in the restaurant.
Remember one good word that lights up hope from you can be the pull that brings back a person to life from the pit of destruction he or she was about to fall into.
Let me conclude.
A thankful heart,
a smile on your face,
and an encouraging word for others
are three secrets of a lovely, attractive, beautiful, and a handsome, winsome personality. And look stunningly beautiful too.
Family is God’s gift to us. A family begins when a man and woman is joined together in marriage to become husband and wife. A family then consists of father, mother and children. It is the first unit that God created and blessed. Therefore we should thank God for families.
It is in families that we grow up. It is here that we are loved and cherished. It is in the family that we have joy and fun.
Families give us our first identity. What a blessing it is to have a home to go to where you are accepted and belong to. It is also a great joy to have grandparents and brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
There is an atmosphere of love and joy in our family. We have times of prayer together, we eat together and we have fun together as well.
We learn our first lessons in life from our family. The most important lessons we learn are that of love and trust, obedience and respect, hard work and honesty. It is in the family that we learn to share our resources and appreciate the talents and abilities of others.
Festival seasons are joyful occasions in the family. That is a time family members come together, have fun together, visit places together, exchange gifts and even team up together and play. Such colourful occasions remain in our memory for a long time. We often love to see the pictures of such times together in our family photographs and albums as well.
Let me conclude by saying that there are thousands of children in the world without a family. Among them are the homeless and the orphans and even the refugees. Let us remember them in our hearts even as we thank God for the blessing of a family. Thank you.
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching” — (Proverbs 1:8 Bible).
“I had always thought that the laughter of the little children in an empty cathedral was the most beautiful of all hymns of praise”– Corrie ten Boom in her book Tramp for the Lord.
Biodata/Résumé/CV though interchangeably used has differences. This article is not trying to highlight the differences but is to help you create a better impression about yourself to your prospective employer.
The first thing to do before you write a résumé is to try to remember and write down everything you know about yourself. Include all unimportant details as well.
The next thing to do is to group them into categories. Categories like Employment History, Education, Personal details, Co-curricular activities, Achievements, Awards and the like.
Now take a good look at the job you are going to apply for. What is the Company/Organisation looking for? That is the most important question. Again ask yourself, what are the skill sets the job demands? Then think, do I have the necessary skill sets to apply for the job?
If the answer is yes, then the next step is write your résumé which will impressively showcase your skill sets that the job demands. Here is where most people fail. They do not take time or effort to package what skills they have in a favourable light. If you do not think this is important, just ask yourselves, why do chocolates, soft drinks, soaps, cosmetics and a host of products come in attractive packages?
Or more importantly, why do they advertise in the best possible manner? It is because they want to capture the attention of customers and also put confidence in them that they can meet their needs.
Therefore organize your material quite effectively.
Many people simply cut-paste an Objective they find in some resume. Most of these objectives are very philosophical or optimistic (unrealistically of course). For example, one that I came across a few days ago: “To obtain a pocisition [position] which will allow me to utilize my capabilities effectively.”
There are two problems here. One, this is a very general statement and it adds nothing to the Interviewer’s/HR’s knowledge about what you will be able to contribute for the Company and its growth.
Secondly, (this is no exaggeration), the spelling mistake was really seen in the résumé that I came across. See, your résumé is the first impression about you. And this kind of spelling mistakes sends the red signal to your prospective employer. It tells him that you are not someone who is careful about details and takes things with a happy go-lucky attitude. Is that the image you want to project about yourself?
Make sure that you get a print out of your résumé, proof read it, make corrections in the original soft copy, save the changes and get another print out. Save it in a PDF format so that unexpected changes will not occur by mistake. Get the final printouts in good quality paper as well.
Now coming to inclusion of material in your résumé. Resist the temptation to include everything from your LKG to the present. Here, you have to select the best achievements that will match with the skill set the company is looking for. If the job is for a teacher’s post, it is not relevant to highlight the job you did as DTP operator or the sales job you did to earn some money.
Regarding, the order in which details are to be presented, it is always advisable to go for a reverse chronological order. That is listing recent achievements first and then going backwards.
Regarding length of résumé, it is good to keep it to one page, but do not exceed two pages. As for layout, make it with enough margins and space as far as your material allows you to. It is good to have your name printed at the top in big and bold and give your contact number and email somewhere near. If needed, give all personal information at the last.
Make sure that you keep at least two copies of the résumé you sent to the Company when you are called for the interview.
As a final and most important tip, do not make the mistake of waiting and doing nothing after you have sent a résumé somewhere. Hunt for other possibilities. Ask, seek, knock everywhere. Try to improve your skills. Or try to learn something new which might help in your future career. You can learn a foreign language like French or German or do an MBA or take short-term courses to improve your command of the English language. In short, make your waiting time for a job productive. That will give you a great leverage when you face the interview later. It will show the interview board that you are a person with passion. It will help you succeed.
When was the last time you asked an intelligent question? Why is that the frequency of your questions decreased as you grew from a child to an adult? What prevents you from asking questions now? Is it stage fright? These are important questions.
But more importantly, you need to relearn the art of asking questions. Why is this important? This is important because asking questions enable you to think with clarity. It helps you to communicate to the other person that you are serious about the matter under discussion. Questions help us to gather vital information, show genuine interest, clarify doubts, etc.
“It has been said that the whole art of gaining and of communicating knowledge consists in asking the right questions. It could be said that the way to certainty is to have the right kind of doubt.”1
A child is able to ask many questions because the child has a sense of wonder. Most questions begin with “Why?” in childhood. So to ask good questions, you need to be curious.
In a business setting, a few questions can really get you a lot of information. Having the right kind of information is an absolute must in decision-making; isn’t it?
Basically, there are two types of questions? One is the closed question. The other is the open-ended question. Closed question requires only a short response. Did you watch the movie yesterday? This just requires a Yes or No response.
On the other hand an open-ended question encourages the listener to talk more. Questions like, “Why do you think there are less women CEO’s in the industry? Is it because they hit the glass ceiling?” can make people talk and air their opinions.
If you ask questions aggressively, it can make people nervous and put them on the defensive. Many people are afraid to face questions because they have terror-filled experiences about it from School. So you need to be gentle when you ask questions. And show proper respect wherever and to whosoever it is due.
At the same time, asking wrong questions can show your lack of intelligence. It can reveal your ignorance and also make people question your credibility as well. Therefore do a lot of homework before you ask questions.
Finally, if you know how to ask questions, you can trap those who wanted to trap you. Here is a classic example:
Some people wanted to trap Jesus Christ. They came to him saying, “We know you are a man of integrity . . . Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesear or not?” But Jesus knew their evil intent and asked them why they were trying to trap him. He asked them, “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” When they brought the coin (a denarius) to him, Jesus asked, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Casear’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”2
This type of asking questions to turn the tables is an art. You too can be good at it if you try. Remember, sometimes the difference between failure and success in life is simply your ability to ask the right questions!
Magicians communicate effectively. In other words without using words with felicity, one cannot be a successful magician.
A magician is an excellent public speaker. His ability to interact with audiences, elicit desired responses from them and also his ability to persuade them quickly to take certain roles during the magic show is an art all who desire to be good speakers need to learn from.
Often we find magicians use some favourite phrase repeatedly. It not only creates a sense of unity to his entire performance but also creates a sense of anticipation in the audience as something amazing is going to happen. This is something similar to the sound bite “I have a dream” that Rev. Martin Luther King used in his famous speech.
Another impact of the magicians words is that he is able to divert the attention of the audience away from the sleight of hand trick he is going to do. This makes the jaws of the audience drop when the magic happens.
Some magicians make it a point to spread a social or moral message through their magic. For example, many magicians effectively convey the importance of staying united as a team, as a family and as a nation.
Again, a magician has a tremendous gift of voice modulation. Through effective variations of his voice he is able to create different moods in the mind of the audience as he desires. Combined with the colourful costumes, grand stage settings, the properties he uses and lively music, a magic show leaves us thirsting for more when it ends.
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The following video is in Malayalam Language but included because it is presented by a well-known magician and its content refers to magic and magicians while presenting on the Biblical message of purity and love for God with great clarity:
No one has become successful and maintained it without discipline. Talent, opportunity, passion, ambition, hard work and perseverance all have their contribution to make to success. But without discipline it is highly likely that a genius too will end up as a failure.
So what is discipline? “Discipline is one’s ability to adjust oneself to the given situation.” That was the thought the Principal at my school had driven home into our hearts at each school assembly. That means we are not to blame circumstances but instead rise above them by making necessary changes in our attitudes and actions.
The next step in discipline is to make priorities. As far as students are concerned, their first priority is not studies. You might be shocked and surprised by that statement, I am sure! But then what is your highest priority. It is to obey your parents and teachers!
Now why do I say this? This is because disobedience and disrespect are so fashionable with today’s young generation. But let me tell you; a disobedient child is an undisciplined child. And even if such a child becomes successful the traits of disobedience he or she carries in the mind will someday prove to be his or her downfall.
Let me add one more important thought to this. Many of you aspire to be leaders; don’t you? It is a good thing provided your attitude is to serve others in your leadership role—to be a true minister unto men. The Bible portrays this as servant leadership which Jesus showed when he took off his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around his waist, took water in a basin, washed the feet of his disciples and dried them with the towel the night he was betrayed.
Now if you want to be a leader, obedience is the key. Make a note of the saying, “He who cannot obey cannot command.” Just imagine what chaos will result if there is disobedience in the armed forces? Therefore obedience is the key as far as discipline is concerned.
After desire, and priorities and obedience, the next step as far discipline is concerned is to strengthen your resolve and commitment.Just making decisions are not good enough to lead a disciplined life. You have to increase your efforts to stick to commitments. Otherwise you will become bored and lazy with routines.
The key is to create good and healthy habits. Once those are formed; it is difficult to break them. Just imagine, the simple act of brushing your teeth every morning. This discipline became part of your life because your parents helped you to form that habit early in life; isn’t it?
Let me conclude with one last thought about a disciplined life. It is a very important thought as well. If you wish to maintain a disciplined and successful life, you have to avoid distractions. As far as youngsters are concerned, let me point out one way in which you are distracted is time you spent with your gadgets. If you do not learn to discipline yourself and limit time you spent on them; you will regret that later in life. For the quality and vigour of time in youth will never return. Therefore, invest the best of your time in life in the best things of life.
So my dear friends learn to adjust yourself to the given situations in life. Discipline yourself and leave behind an inspiring legacy of success!
What is your stand on the problem of stray dogs? Let me assume that as an animal lover you would like to protect stray dogs. That is good. There is nothing wrong with such a stand for no one is advocating cruelty against animals.
Now what is the cause of the problem of stray dogs? Several reasons have been suggested. One definitely is the improper disposal of garbage. Stray dogs are breeding in plenty because they get enough food in the streets. Some people even throw food to stray dogs on a regular basis. Isn’t this showing love without ownership or responsibility? What do you think?
Recently someone suggested that animal lovers should take responsibility for stray dogs. Either they should show their true love by at least taking one stray dog into their homes or finding common shelters for them. Or at least they should have the kindness to support the family of persons who have been bitten by stray dogs.
But what often happens is that in spite of the terror that people have passed through on account of stray dog bites, especially in a literate state like Kerala, animal lovers still raise their voices for stray dogs? Can people be blind to human misery like this? This is an extremely sad state of affairs!
Another idea that has been put forward to control stray dogs is the proposal to sterilize them. Many are arguing in favour of and against this as well. Whatever be the merit of the idea, one awful truth remains. If sterilized dogs bite, the bites are as painful and terror-striking as dogs that have not been sterilized.
Now let me conclude. Who is to blame? Is it the vaccine companies that are keeping alive the stray dogs so that their medicines can sell? Some argue like that. We do not know what the truth is. Do politicians who make the laws have a hidden agenda? Again, we do not know.
Now what is more important? Human life? Or the lives of stray dogs? If you are asked to vote for one of these, what will you choose? Human life? Or stray dogs? Think about it. How many more human beings have to be mercilessly bitten by blood-hunting stray dogs before the authorities will take action?
Why is reading important? It is important because it is a habit that can make you a better person. Biographies of great men and women tell us that most of them became great because of the inspiration they got from reading books especially during their childhood days.
Books not only inspire us, but they also provide knowledge. Even though technology has brought in many changes to the way we read, it has only enhanced our ability to get connected to different sources of knowledge through reading.
It is to be noted that reading exposes our mind to different cultures and languages of the world. It helps us to digest the best that different regions of the world like Asia and the Middle East, America, Europe, and Africa have to offer us. As our minds are exposed to such a wealth of ideas through reading, it helps us to communicate with depth of thought and a wide mixture of emotional colours as well.
Again, reading gives us entertainment. Novels, short stories, poems, travelogues, even comics and cartoons entertain our minds. It helps us relax. More than that it engages our mind in a way nothing else does. Our imagination is ignited when we read. We become co-creators of stories as we animate the stories we read in our minds. It is definitely a healthy exercise to the mind.
These are reasons why books have been treasured, and to create a habit of reading; libraries established. There are libraries in the world where ancient manuscripts are preserved. They connect us to our roots and are a window through which we are able to see the history of the world.
But then with the giant leap of technology has come digital libraries which place books at our finger tips. Therefore, with mobiles and tablets, reading can happen even while traveling. The one difference it has made is that instead of flipping through the pages of a book physically, we use touchscreens. Yes, the way people read has changed, but reading as a habit continues to hold sway in the minds of people.
At the same time, we need to be reminded that good books are a great investment. As Francis Bacon, the great essayist, said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” And in the words of the great poet, John Milton “A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.”
Finally, some books can be like a beam of light lighting up your path ahead. In the Bible, we find the author of a Psalm assert this, saying,
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”*
Therefore, choose good books wisely. Make them your companions. And like good friends, they will give you counsel and wisdom when you need those most.
Education is not just literacy. In other words a literate person may not be educated at all. The point is that education is about having a goal—the goal of equipping a person face life well.
Education is not just having academic knowledge about subjects prescribed to be learned. Instead it should aim at the holistic development of a student—cultural, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical.
One of the hallmarks of good education is how it has helped a person put to practical use the knowledge he has gained. Without this practical wisdom, education is a failure.
Another area where education should play a critical role is in the area of civic responsibility. Have you not seen educated people thoughtlessly throw a banana peel on the road while they travel in a car? What good is education if a person cannot see the harm he is doing to the public by his thoughtless and selfish act?
Unfortunately, today education has become a business in many circles. That adds to the cut throat spirit of competition in the marketplace. On the other hand education should vigorously aim to instill moral values in students.
To conclude, let me say that teachers and education should enable a person to see and to observe, to think and to talk and act with the good of others in mind. Without development of integrity and character, without learning to respect others; education cannot be said to have hit the mark. But when education ignites the mind and inspires the heart, then truly light shines in the darkness! Thank you.
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was a man who dreamed and whose passion in life was to inspire others to dream.
One of his best remembered quotes is about dreams as well. He said,
“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping it is something that does not let you sleep.”
He was a great scientist, thinker, writer, teacher, motivational speaker, the missile man of India and its 11th President.
What makes his life an inspiration is that he started from humble beginnings in a remote village in South India, Rameswaram. That was the place where he had his first job of collecting bundles of newspapers thrown from a passing train. Many decades later he still recollected and felt the surge of pride in earning his own money for the first time.
But then there were many people who influenced and inspired this great son of India to become a dreamer and become known as the Missile Man of India. Let me just mention two of these people who moulded and mentored Abdul Kalam.
First of all, Iyadurai Solomon. He was Abdul Kalam’s teacher. The relationship between them was very strong. This teacher influenced Abdul Kalam’s thoughts very much. It was he who taught him, “To succeed in life and achieve results, you must understand and master three mighty forces—desire, belief and expectation.”
He believed with all his heart that he too can make an impact on society even though his parents did not have the benefit of education. Abdul Kalam who was always fascinated by the mysteries of the sky and the flight of birds from early childhood, because of the influence of Iyadurai Solomon, began to dream of soaring up into the skies. And he became the first child from Rameswaram to fly.
Decades later, when Abdul Kalam went to Madurai Kamaraj University to deliver their convocation address, his beloved school teacher Rev. Iyadurai Solomon was on the dais. After his lecture, Abdul Kalam bowed before him and said,
“Great dreams of dreamers are always transcended.”
Iyadurai Solomon, in turn, replied in a voice choked with emotion, “You have not only reached my goals, Kalam! You have eclipsed them.”
Another person who influenced Abdul Kalam greatly was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. Dr. Sarabhai, when interviewing Abdul Kalam for the post of Rocket Engineer, was one of the first persons to see the possibilities that were lying hidden in Abdul Kalam. He saw Abdul Kalam fit into a larger picture.
The whole interview came to Abdul Kalam as a total moment of truth where his dream was enveloped by the larger dream of a bigger person. The rest of the story is how Abdul Kalam became the missile man of India, inspired and ignited by the great visionary scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
Let me conclude by saying that great dreamers like Abdul Kalam had people influencing him positively in life. But Abdul Kalam’s genius was that he did not try to hold on to dreams selfishly. Instead he burned out staying active till his last breath and spreading the inspiration to dream to all especially to the children and students across the length and breadth of India. Therefore, my dear friends, start to dream as Abdul Kalam often reminded us: “Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.”
#In 1997, Kalam received India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for his contribution to the scientific research and modernisation of defence technology in India.
#While delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong, Kalam collapsed and died from an apparent cardiac arrest on 27 July 2015, aged 83.
#He was known as the “People’s President” and his birth anniversary on October 15 is observed as “World Student’s Day.”
Ideally, your day should start yesterday.
Just before you go to sleep, thank God for all the work you could do this day.
And then plan for tomorrow.
The first thing is to make a mental note of all those things you plan to do tomorrow.
Then take a piece of paper and pen. And jot down all those things that came to your mind. Make a list. Even while you write, some points you missed will come to your mind. Note down that too. Sometimes it helps to number the items as well.
The next thing you can do is to arrange it on a time frame.
In other words put them in order according to the time in which you are supposed to do something. So your meeting with the School Principal goes up the list because that happens at 11 am compared to your going out to play which is scheduled at 5 pm in the evening.
Then classify your engagements according to priority.
It is the most difficult but extremely important task of all. Some items are low priority while others have high priority. Some matters are urgent, while others demand less attention. Once you do this part of the process of creating a list, you will know what the “must do” things are for the day.
Above all, even when your day is crammed with activity, a wise man or woman will keep a space available for some extraordinary emergencies that may arise. Emergencies need not happen, but should be included in all planning.
Let me conclude by saying that our lives are made effective by using the simple thing called “List.” It not only increases our time management capabilities; it also helps us prioritize life in the right order of importance. God first, immediate family second, career next, friends, hobbies, and recreation and so on the list can go on.
A list need not be a piece of paper alone; it can even be a small white board or even an app in your mobile. The joy of seeing items scored off from the list, perhaps with a colourful red marker or pen is worth the seeming trouble of making a list.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
Tailpiece
Schindler’s List is a famous 1993 American movie directed by Steven Spielberg. It talks about the time of the Holocaust and how a lot of Jews were saved by Schindler who made lists to save people from destruction.
If you ask people about the proudest moment of their lives, they come up with a variety of responses.
For example, Sachin Tendulkar, the legend of Indian cricket said, “Winning the world cup is the proudest moment of my life. I couldn’t control my tears of joy.”
And if you asked Wayne Rooney, one of the great English football players, he said, “Becoming a dad was the proudest moment of my life.Playing football does not even compare.”
So also if you ask me what is the proudest moment of my life, I can answer without doubt it was when I too became a part of my Mother’s Ph. D. Open Defence. Let me tell about it.
My mother got her doctorate in education. And open Defence was the last part in the process of getting a Ph. D. This was held at Educational Tech Seminar hall of Bharathiar University Coimbatore. It was a big audience with many great personalities and professors attending.
As the programme was charted, as I desired, I got a chance to do the prayer song. I was a bit tensed because everyone else in the seminar hall were senior people with great educational qualifications. I was the only child in the hall. But by God’s grace I sang the prayer song in Tamil.
And after my mother’s open defence, when she said vote of thanks, she mentioned my name for singing the prayer song. It was at that time the audience gave a huge round of applause. It was then that I realized how much the audience appreciated my song.
As I look back on that day, the 14th of November 2014, I can say with great joy, singing that prayer song was the proudest moment of my life. Being Chacha Nehru’s birthday it was children’s day as well. And I am sure I brought honour to my school also by standing before such a wonderful gathering and doing well.
Let me conclude by saying that this moment about which I talked so far will always remain as the proudest moment of my life because I too could do a small part in the process of my loving mother achieving her proudest moment in her life. Thank you.
#1. Be Thankful
Do you always complain? Or do you find something in your worst circumstances to be thankful for? If you can be thankful to God for all the blessings, big and small, that you enjoy in life, it can be your first step to lead a happy life.
#2. Be Creative
We love to do things in a routine way. That creates comfort zones. If you want to be truly happy, why not try to do something differently? Instead of sending an email to your friend on his birthday, why not take the time to write a hand written letter and greet him? It is thoughtful as well as personalized.
#3. Be Firm on Decisions
Take your time to think and arrive at a decision. Consider all the pros and cons. Know that every decision, good or bad, has consequences. If you want to be happy you cannot please everybody. Therefore take a decision and stick with it. You might not be popular but you can be happy.
#4. Be Gracious to Others When They Fail
All of us blunder at times. When others do so, our first instinct is to rejoice in their fall. But a happy heart belongs to one who allows the other person to save face. An encouraging remark from your side when someone makes a blunder can not only save his face but also create in him a deep sense of loyalty. It can benefit many.
#5. Be True to Your Loved One
In this age of Chats, several relationships are being broken by unfaithfulness. If you spend hours on chats, even if it is silly nostalgic nonsense with school/college friends; it is in effect cheating your loved ones of quality time. If you want to be truly happy, give your loved ones top priority. And guard your walls. Do not allow break-ins.
#6. Be Focused on Your Goal
It is amazing how people allow themselves to be distracted. You cannot be happy chasing too many things at one time. It is important to focus on one worthy goal and pursue it with all your energy, passion and perseverance. Without a single-minded aim, you are wasting your energy by lighting matchsticks here and there without setting anything ablaze.
#7. Be a Fruit-bearing Branch
No one is pleased to have a fruit-bearing tree planted at home which has a dense foliage but never bears fruit. It is deceptive. In other words, if you want to be happy deliver what you promise. And if you can do more than you promised, it is simply great.
To conclude, to be happy you need to do some homework. If you do it with a positive attitude, it can yield great results. Wish you a happy living!
Now, what is the truth regarding this thought? The truth is you are not good enough! So what? Who is? Do you know anyone who is perfect? Have you ever seen the failures and mistakes of those you consider perfect?
Why should you compare yourself with someone else? Don’t you have an identity of your own? Is there any other individual like you on planet earth? Aren’t you unique? Made so very special by your Creator, God!
Then why do you entertain negative thoughts about yourself? God knows your faults. He knows your frame. He remembers that you are dust. And like a father has compassion on his children he has compassion on you.
God is not here to solve your inferiority complex. He is here to reveal his awesome power in weak vessels. He is here to make you strong in spite of all your feelings of “I can’t” and “I am not good enough.”
When God transforms a person, he does it patiently and lovingly. He takes long years, but he never gives up on you. Until his face gets reflected in the gold being purified in you, he will take you through tough and challenging experiences.
But God’s unconditional love for you will tug at your heart. He will say,
“Be strong and courageous. Have I not commanded you? Get up and try one more time. It doesn’t matter if you fail. My love for you is bigger than your failures. Trust me.”
What is that in bold and black that you notice in newspapers every morning? It is the heart-breaking news of people getting badly injured or losing their precious lives in road accidents. Sadly, accidents have become so common place.
Why is this so? Reasons like using mobile phones while driving, careless overtaking, drinking and driving, bad conditions of roads, stray dogs, blaring loudspeakers in busy junctions, flex boards curbing visibility, not dimming lights at night, crossing speed limits, and even malfunctioning of traffic signals have all been identified as cause of accidents. These are all true.
But as children, what is our responsibility in preventing road accidents? Most importantly, we need to grow up as a generation obeying traffic rules. This is part of our civic responsibility as Indian citizens:
We need to learn to stop spitting outside from public transport.
We need to learn to use zebra lines while crossing the road.
At least we can stop throwing banana peels to the road from our cars.
Well, I agree that there is nothing new to know in all this. But we need to discipline ourselves to respect the Law and do the common sense things well. We need to discipline ourselves to wear helmets and use seat belts. We need to learn to manage our emotions and not contribute to road rage while stuck in traffic jams.
Above all, weneed to learn to smile when someone raves mad at us and verbally abuse us for no valid reasons while driving. I do admit that we are not angels to do that.
Still let us strive our best to make our roads a safe place to travel.
The precious blood of Jesus which he shed on the cross of Calvary for the sins of all mankind has tremendous power.
First of all, it is the innocent blood of the Son of God, the sinless and holy One of God.
Secondly, this blood is the result of the perfect obedience of the Son and his submission to his Father’s will. And it is by this blood that God has opened a new way for us to approach his throne of grace with boldness and confidence.
Let us remember the slain Lamb of God and have great intimacy and friendship with God by his blood. For God draws near to us like no other time when we approach God by the blood of Jesus in our prayers.
Fourthly, the Book of Revelation says, “they overcame him* by the blood of the Lamb.” That means there is victory over sin and Satan, and protection and deliverance from all forces of evil and darkness in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, your Lord and Saviour.
Finally, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his precious blood shed there is the ultimate answer to our pride. The blood of Jesus tells us that man cannot earn his salvation through any other means. Our salvation is not based on our merit or our goodness but it comes as a gift to us by God’s grace alone.
Yes, the blood of Jesus reminds us that we need a Saviour. It also tells us that the hope of life came to you and me by his costly sacrifice, bloody death and coming back to life from the dead.
May the blood of Jesus cleanse, purify, sanctify and make your heart as white as snow as you listen to this song and meditate on the power of the blood of the Lamb of God.
May you find reconciliation and peace with God; and forgiveness for all your sins, as you make the blood of the Lamb the basis of your prayers to the God of mercy, compassion and great tenderness.
Life is precious.It is God’s gift to you. It is so unique that there is no one else on earth like you. There never was; and never will be.
Life, again, is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to do good. Therefore it does not matter how long you live; all that matters is how well you live. And how many lives you are able to touch with love and encouragement.
Another thought is that life is always shadowed by death. All people have to face it. He or she is a wise man or woman who is prepared to meet death when it comes. It is a sense of readiness. It is also an expectation to pass through the bridge of death to life eternal.
Interestingly,the secret of life is best revealed to those who are not bound by their possessions. They are untouched by worry and the changing fortunes of life. They are people who do not live by adding things to life but by measuring their lives by things they can do without.
Life above all is a stewardship. It is a trust entrusted to you. Such an understanding of life makes you keenly aware that you are answerable to God for all the time, talent, treasure, and opportunity he has gifted you with.
This is in tune with the Biblical truth that “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” The balancing truth is that wrongs faced in this world will be made right; that God will wipe every tear from the eyes of his children, and good done will be rewarded.
It is this hope that makes life worth living. And it is in loving relationships nurtured within family and friendships that make life beautiful. Life is also made purposeful by knowing one’s role in one’s family, or one’s place of work, or society at large; and playing that role well.
Finally, there is an irresistible hope at the end of life’s journey for those who have trusted the One who said, “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*.” Is there a better hope in life than this? Thank you.
Social networking sites such as Facebook and instant messaging services like WhatsApp have made building relationships easy, instant and colourful. Yet children should not close their eyes to the dangers in it.
First and foremost,never add a stranger to your friend list. You have no way no knowing what his or her true identity is. He can be a link in an online racket or he can be part of a terrorist organisation. You never know.
Secondly, never reveal private information regarding your identity or location. For example, if you make it easy for strangers to know who your friends are, which are the places you hang out with them, and what your pastimes are, someone can easily track you. Therefore make sure that you fine-tune your privacy settings to make it nearly impossible for strangers to gather information about you.
Thirdly, do not share private photographs on social media. As a warning, know that if your smart phone is given for software upgrade or repair, a techie with wrong motive can easily transfer all your photos including deleted ones and chat logs. Several instances of such photos and chats being used for slandering people have been reported in recent times.
Finally and most importantly, if at all anyone tries to blackmail you do not panic and do not try to fight it alone. The blackmailers would warn you to keep your mouth shut. Do not listen to them. Instead seek the help of your parents and trusted teachers at once. Open up and talk. They will help you. And make sure you remember– suicide is NOT an option!
Let me conclude by asking you to do one thing: If someone adds you to a chat group where you feel the content shared or discussed is inappropriate for you, exit the group immediately!
Coach Gives Motivational Speech the Day Before Final Game!
Hi Team,
The power of defeat lies not in the score but in your attitude. A game lost is not the end of life; nor is it the end of your career. It is true that you made mistakes. Now what does that prove? It tells the world that you attempted to do something. But it did not turn out well. So what? There is still that final game ahead tomorrow. Let me tell you my friends, “Yes you can!”
We will look at defeat squarely in its eye. We will not give up in despair. Instead we will rally our best reserves of strength. We will sharpen and polish our skills. We will not focus on the reputation of the opposition but we will fight as if it is our last game on Planet Earth. In tomorrow’s final, my young friends, I do believe, “Yes you can!”
Young men, I see a look of fear and doubt on all your faces! Let me tell you what is bothering you. You are thinking: “It is OK Coach for you to say all this. But we are the ones out in the field; and that too before our home crowd. The opposing team have won the championship the last five years. Do we have a chance? What if we fail in front of our home crowd?”
The nod on all your faces confirms that what I just said is true. Now, here is my answer to your doubts. There is nothing to be ashamed of failure if you have done your very best. In fact, we all need to learn to fail graciously. We need to know that there are some days when our best is not enough. We need to accept that our opposition deserved to win. And in fact rejoice that we lost to a better team. But I am certain that tomorrow will be your day, “Yes you can!”
Young friends, success does not teach you much. But failures do. They are the best teachers if you are humble enough to go down with a winning attitude. Yes, learn to go down fighting. There shall be a resurrection yet. Out of ashes, you shall rise. That is my sure hope.
Therefore let nothing rattle your confidence. And the day will come when the world will stand up to applaud your crowning moment.
Tomorrow will be that day! There is no doubt; there is no uncertainty. Only assurance of victory. Victory in spite of the talent, the reputation, and the support for the opposing team from their fans world over. Believe in just one thing. Tomorrow you will win. They might be the hot favourites; but we will be the winners this time. My dear friends, Yes, you can!
No one can hold audiences spell bound without giving due attention to how he uses his body to communicate. It is proved beyond doubt that the way one uses one’s body to communicate can enhance the appeal of any message.
A raised arm, a sweeping movement, a bow, a playful raise of the eyebrows, a shrug of the shoulder, a pointed finger, a swift cut through the air, a bending forward while asking a question and then pause; all these are examples of powerful use of the body to emphasize, underline, and highlight what you say.
Your Eyes
The power of a look has to be experienced to be believed. Your eyes can express a variety of emotions like love, anger, joy, playfulness and so on. More importantly it is your first connect with audiences. So use your eyes to maintain eye contact with the audience.
If it is a small group you can look at each individual once in a while. If it is a larger gathering, you will feel comfortable looking at one or two individuals in each segment of the large gathering whenever you turn in that direction.
Your Smile
This is your second connect with audiences. A smile can not only open the ears of people but also their hearts as well. It makes it easy for the audience to identify with you and also open up a dialogue with you. Sometimes you can get tensed during your presentation that you forget to smile. So remind yourself once in a while to smile.
Your Posture
I have seen many people lean on the lectern. This is not good. An erect posture not only communicates a sense of leadership and purpose; it also helps you to breathe normally. That helps in your voice production as well. And most people make the mistake of keeping their two feet together while they speak. This makes them look like a robot. Such a stance gives little room for spontaneous movement. Creativity is stifled.
Your Arms
Some people would like to hold on to the microphone or the lectern. It gives them a sense of security. Nothing wrong about it. At the same time one should know how not to deal with the arms on stage.
Crossed arms will distance you from the audience quite easily. Arms flying around will distract. Palms up are very weak. Any move of the hand to face is a signal to the audience that you are not at your confident best. So be bold in stretching out your arm and use gestures that will support, highlight, illustrate and make plain your content.
Your Movement
Formal occasions might not give you a chance to move around. But many speech situations will give you the possibility of moving on stage. Do not stay behind the lectern always. Why not step out to make a point and move back? If there is no lectern and you are holding a mike in your hand, gracefully walk into the midst of your audience to ask a question or to interact with them. Such moves are welcomed by the audience and will help them to connect with you in a deeper way.
A Speech Is Not Just About Words
A speech is not just about words. Though content is important; you the speaker through whom the message is delivered is also equally important. So make sure that you are able to impact the audience through the way you use your body to communicate!
Isn’t it interesting that how to choose a topic is itself a topic? Here are some ways tips to choose a topic:
First of all, focus on the audience you are going to talk to. What are their interests, needs, concerns, fears at this point in time? If you have some of these answered you will have a starting point.
Secondly, think about your knowledge, expertize, and areas of interest. Think about how it can be made relevant to the audience you are going to talk to.
Thirdly, think about recent happenings. What are things that are being talked about in the world or in your locality? What or who is making news headlines at this time? It can be in the world of politics, entertainment, sports and games or even climate change.
Again, there is yet another aspect you need to consider when you choose a topic. Do you have an interesting story to share? The story can be personal or it can even be a story you read in your childhood. If you have a compelling story to share, it can suggest you a topic.
Another sure shot way to choose a topic is start with universal themes like love, hate, war, peace, success, confidence etc. The canvas for such themes is huge. For example, You Can Overcome Loss of Confidence is a topic that can interest many; if not all.
It was the Greek Philosopher Heraclitus who said, “The only thing that is constant is change.” As he noted, the world has become a better place today because of several positive changes that came to our society.
Two things are to be remembered about change: One is that change is happening very fast. It is a kind of “future shock”; which is the premature arrival of the future as Alwin Toffler wrote about.
Two,if you do not change you will soon be pushed out from the mainstream of society.
Keeping these two thoughts in mind, let me now share with you my dream of 3 changes I want to make in my village.
The first change I want to bring to my village is regarding formation of reading habit.
Everywhere I find young and old simply wasting their time in the evenings doing nothing but idling away their time in talking about silly things. If this time can be utilized in reading it will not only increase their knowledge but help them utilize their spare time wisely.
So the first change I wish to make in my village is to establish a small library and reading room to bring better knowledge. In this library I also wish to have at least one or two computers with internet connection so that people can also learn to keep connected with the world using latest technology.
The second change I want to bring to my village is regarding the formation of the habit of saving for a better future.
Why? This is because most of the bread earners in our village are men who go for work on a daily basis. They do not have a permanent income. But sadly many of these people spend their money to drink or gamble. Thus they create broken homes and dissatisfied children.
So, I wish to start an awareness campaign which will take the message of encouraging people to start savings bank account either in the nearest bank or post office. So the second change I wish to make in the village is regarding economic well-being.
Now let me come to the third change. It is regarding cleanliness.
It is said that cleanliness is next to godliness. One sad thing I find in the village is that the beauty of our village is slowly being destroyed by littering of waste in public places. This is a new trend but can seriously affect the health of people living here.
So the third change I want to make in my village is to create a proper waste disposal system. It will encourage people to dispose all degradable waste in their own compounds and have them store plastic waste in bins. Later this can be collected centrally and properly disposed off with the help of panchayath/village authorities.
Let me now summarize the 3 changes I want to bring in my village: First of all, change regarding knowledge and technology, secondly, change related to economic well-being and thirdly and more importantly change related to healthy living.
I do hope that these 3 changes would make the people in our village better educated, financially secure, and vibrantly healthy. Thank you.
We all think. And we all communicate. But how do we do it? We do it through words, not just words but words in a particular language which others understand.
Though it is easy to communicate in our mother tongue; that alone is not enough in today’s world. We need to consider the fact that people speaking different languages mingle with us almost on a daily basis.
There are people from other states in India as well as a few people from other countries who have come here to find work or just visit our place. Communicating with all of them require a common language.
It is here that English language and the knowledge of it becomes an advantage. English may not be the most spoken language in the world, but it is the official language in many countries in the world.
Along with that we find people moving out to other countries to work. And English is the most used language for business communication in the world. It is also not surprising that more than 50% of content in the internet is in English; not to forget newspapers in English that set the standard.
Moreover, the best books and films in the world are produced in English. Sometimes, popular and best-selling books in other languages are translated into English to reach a world-wide audience. I am sure you might have watched a film in Chinese and understood it because of sub-titles produced in English.
All these facts prove the importance of English language. It gives us access to business communication, the world of knowledge and also the world of entertainment.
The language itself is constantly in a state of change. It has borrowed words from all cultures and civilizations it has come into touch with. You will find words in English which have its roots in Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Hindi, French, German etc. So, the ability of the language to grow and expand is one important highlight of the English language. It is a truly colourful language and an international language as well!
As a concluding thought, let us consider our opportunities for higher education. It is an established fact that English is the language that gives us access to science; especially the fields of Engineering, Medicine, and Information Technology. Or think about a Post Graduate in Management and the distinct advantage he or she enjoys if able to communicate well in English! Thus English is the language that is used in higher studies and research.
Finally, let me ask you a question? Would each one of you like to have a job—not just a job but a good career ahead? If the answer is yes, why not make yourselves employable at the highest and the best spheres of work by mastering the English language? Thank you.
But today, I want you to focus on that one star that has inspired countless lighted stars down the centuries. It is none other than the Star of Christmas.
The Star of Christmas was first of all a shining star.
No one who was watching for it could miss its newfound presence in the sky. No doubt, like that star, God still shines his light in the hearts of all who sincerely search for the truth.
Secondly, the Star of Christmas was a unique star.
It rose announcing the birth of a king. It was fitting that God chose a star in the skies to make a royal proclamation. Otherwise, how would anyone have known that the child born in a manger is king?
Thirdly, the Star of Christmas was a guiding star.
It travelled in front of the Wise Men who came from the East in search of the child Jesus. It brought them safely to the place where Jesus was. No further mention is made of this star. It had fulfilled its purpose of pointing the way to Jesus; nothing greater was expected of it.
Finally, and above all, the Star inspired the Wise Men to come to worship Jesus and offer their best gifts to him. That first journey of the Wise Men even today inspires countless thousands to seek the One who bled and died on the cross to bring peace between God and men.
Children love gifts. They look forward to receive gifts during this time of the year. In fact, it is this sense of expectation that makes Christmas special.
It is said that there was such a sense of expectation in the air during the time of the birth of Jesus. His coming meant that God came down to be with us. In a special sense God came near to us in Jesus.
Yes, he came for you and me!
The great distance between a holy God and we sinners was bridged in Jesus. It was as if God were saying “I want to be friends with you!”
Yes, he came for you and me!
Therefore the gift of Christmas is about the presence of God with us. It is a gift that was given with an everlasting love. Because of this gift, life puts on a new meaning:
So here is a gift you are given for free. No need to read the price tag. It is beyond our ability to pay. I am talking about the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on the cross where he shed his innocent blood for the sins of all.
Therefore let us celebrate Christmas by thanking God for his indescribable gift—the gift of God’s Son Jesus!
It is said that you sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
Yes friends, our habits form our future. So let us cultivate healthy habits.
There are four kinds of habits. They are: Spiritual
Physical
Educational and Social
All of them are important for children.
Spiritual habits
include praying to God when we get up in the morning and thanking him for the gift of a new day. We should also pray when we start to study to ask God to give us wisdom to learn.
Physical habits
include brushing our teeth in the morning, taking bath properly and wearing clean dress. We should also spend some time playing in the outdoors so that our bodies stay healthy and strong.
Educational habits
include reading and studying well, listening to teachers, doing homework and going to school regularly. We should try to take part in all the activities of the school as it will help to improve our personality.
To conclude, healthy habits will help us to excel in life. Only children with excellence and character can build a strong democratic nation. Like good friends, healthy habits will stay with us always. Thank you.
Note: Covid–19 virus outbreak around the world in 2020 has compelled all, including children, to wash their hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub, It can kill viruses that may be on your hands. Thus washing hands has become a very important healthy habit.
Have you ever wondered what the story that is told every Christmas is?
It is the story of Someone who came searching for you and me.
This story is one of hope.
It is so because the story tells us that we belong. It tells us that we are not forgotten or forsaken. Though there is something that is broken about us, though there are many patches showing in our hearts, there is someone who deeply cares for us.
This story is one of hope, I repeat again, because a Saviour came searching for you and me.
It is so because Christmas is the true story of God’s Son Jesus coming down to earth to become man. He came not because any one of us is perfect but instead all of us are sinners in need of a Saviour. Since it was not possible for man to save himself, God came down to be one like us to save us.
This story is one of hope because in Jesus, God came near to us.
For all those who deeply longed to know God, Jesus came declaring that anyone who has seen him has seen God as well. As Jesus freely mingled with all sorts of people in the marketplace and touched them with love and compassion, so also God longs to touch you with his love and forgiveness.
Finally, this story is one of hope because Jesus came to give us life.
This became possible because Jesus shed his blood on the cross and died for us. His precious blood that flowed cleanses and purifies man from all sin. Above all, he came back to life from the dead. He lives for ever.
Therefore there is hope for all men and women.
Because he lives, those who believe in him will also live for ever. This is the good news of great joy declared for all people at Christmas. It includes you and me.
Yes friends, Jesus came to give you a clean break from your past and give you a brand new beginning in life. Like the Star of Bethlehem that rose the first Christmas night when the child Jesus was born in a manger, may the light of this hope shine in your heart bright and clear.
A smile is not just an expression of your joy; but it also helps spread happiness. In that sense, if you smile well you are making this world a better place to live in. Imagine, if all the people you met each day would smile. How great would be the sense of happiness it brings to all!
A smile, it is said, is of no use unless it is given away. It may just take a few seconds for you to gift a smile to someone. But the memory of that smile, the cheer and hope it might have given to that person would last a lifetime. Indeed, the richest man or woman in this world is poor if he or she cannot gift a smile!
A smile easily builds relationships. You make strangers your friends through a smile for it is the first step in building a relationship. A smile also gives your personality great attractiveness. All the big celebrities make sure that they appear before people with a winning smile.
A smile is also very critical in helping you becoming a good communicator. This is because people accept a message coming from a person who appears pleasing on stage more than from a person who speaks in a very serious tone all the time.
Above all, you should always remember that smile is God’s unique gift to human beings. Since man was created in the image and likeness of God, the ability to smile is a God-given gift to us. Like all other gifts God has given us, we should make good use of this gift.
Sadly, so many people simply forget to smile as they worry too much about what is going to happen tomorrow. The Bible says, “Cast all your anxiety on him [God], for he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). It is this sure knowledge that God cares for you that will help you smile even in difficult times.
Therefore smile. Thus spread joy all around. And find the whole world smile back at you!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.
–Mother Teresa
“I had always thought that the laughter of the little children in an empty cathedral was the most beautiful of all hymns of praise.” –Corrie ten Boom
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Featured image: Daniela B. Peter and Stefan B. Peter.
People without goals in life do not accomplish much. Therefore it is important to have worthy goals in life. If your goal in life is related to your passion in life, then you’ll have great enthusiasm as you work towards your goal. In this speech let me spell out 7 steps that will take you to your goal.
#1. You need to have a clear focus.
The sharper your focus is the greater chance is there for you to achieve your goal. The lives of great men and women teach us that they achieved their goals by having a sharp focus and single-minded aim.
#2. Do not postpone working towards your goal.
Each day and moment is precious. Make sure that you do some little bit each day that will take you nearer your goal. Often goals are achieved by the small efforts taken each day rather than a big effort done on a single day. There is great truth in the saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
#3. Know your obstacles.
There has never been any easy road to success. Every victory is achieved through “blood, toil, tears and sweat.” So first of all count the cost involved in achieving your goal. Get to know all the factors that can come against you. Then make a realistic plan to overcome each one of them.
#4. Make your goals specific.
If there is lack of clarity in the way you have defined your goals, try to make it as specific and realistic as possible. At times, you may need to narrow down your focus and prioritize the use of your time, talent and resources. Always make sure that there is an immediately doable step as you work towards your goal.
#5. Have a deadline and be accountable to someone.
Many people dream of doing some great thing in life but never get started. One reason is that they do not set a deadline to achieve their goals. It is also important that you have someone in the role of a coach or a mentor to whom you can make yourself accountable. Do a review about progress made along with him or her occasionally.
#6. Perseverance is the key to success.
Perseverance means moving towards your goal in spite of every doubt, every failure, every setback and disappointment. When setbacks come, at times it is wise to take a few steps backward and then take a giant leap forward towards your goal! Focus on finishing well. A good beginning is not good enough; greater is the ability to stick on to your purpose and being able to finish what you began to do.
#7. Above all, believe in your goal.
It is amazing how much can be achieved if you just knew and believed the truth that God has invested in you with potential far beyond you have ever dreamed of. When you achieve worthy goals your life blesses others by inspiring them to go for their goals as well. It is important that you have goals that you are motivated to achieve. If you are passionate about it, the chances are extremely high that you will achieve your goals!
[Published on LinkedIn]
