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!”*
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.
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.
The world has seen a very small microbe Covid 19 become a giant global showstopper. Life itself is a big question mark to millions. Economy has slowed down. Man’s busyness has taken a back seat. Death has wrecked havoc in countless homes. We are disrupted in every way.
Now there is every reason to fear. At the same time I would like to encourage you to keep up hope. And not to lose courage. These are times when we need to cling to God and seek his help and ask for his mercy to be shown.
This is a time to hope and to value our loved ones; to keep them close to our hearts and be thankful for the loving relationships that make our life on earth meaningful.
This is a time to hope and to review all our activities and let go those that are simply stealing away our time. Instead focus on those few that will make a meaningful contribution to others.
This is a time to hope and to prepare for the unseen future. It is going to be tough. Jobs might be lost overnight. Prices of essential commodities might soar. Travel might continue to be restricted. Save by minimizing expenses.
This is also a time to hope and not to get lost in the tsunami of social media posts. The time people lose in scrolling from post to post is enormous. True, there is much that is useful and entertaining. But it can make you lose perspective and make you lose initiative.
Let me conclude by asking all of you to be thankful to all in government authority, medical personnel and law-enforcing people who are selflessly working day and night to fight the Covid threat. Let me remind you once again that when fear of what the future is going to be hits you, this is a time to hold on to God in hope.
Two, hope is what you need to hold on to. When you look at the hopeless situation you are in, you might have every reason to despair. But remember if you fall into the water, the first thing to do for survival is try to keep your head above water until help comes. Hope is that attitude.
Thirdly, get up out of dead-end thinking. What does it mean? Despair often comes when your thinking happens along the same lines again and again. Try to think creatively. There will be more options to solve pressing problems than you think.
Above all do not act out anything when your emotions are like a swirling current. Let this night pass. Just hold on. Tomorrow is a new day.
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.
Do not give up. Problems in life will keep coming just like waves keep hitting the shore. Do not fear when you see them. Instead of running away you have to look for ways to ride on the waves.
Do not give up. Life is precious. You are given only one. So make the best use of it. Focus on what you can do today. God has given every man and woman promise of strength for each day’s troubles.
Do not give up.
Some people whom you trusted might have let you down. It is now your feel that no one can be trusted. But there are others who will come to help you and stand with you. Have hope.
Do not give up.
You might have lost many opportunities in life. You might have wasted many years. My friend do not brood over a dead past. God can always give you a new beginning. He will take care of all that was lost.
Do not give up.
Good things to happen in life takes time. Be patient. When difficulties come in life and no progress is made in what you planned to do, be patient. Use this time to slow down, make plans, and dream big. Do not allow people’s opinions to frustrate you.
Do not give up. You may not have much money. You may be lacking much needed resources. These are limitations. But they need not stop you from thinking creatively. Adapt to limited resources. Think big. Cut your expenses wherever possible. Put off certain purchases. You can make it through a rainy day. The sun will shine again.
Do not give up.
If you believe that God is watching over you, do not become anxious. I know it is easy to say, “Do not worry.” But it is difficult to practice. When loss and hurts and distress come it is quite natural to ask God, “Why?” You might not get all the answers. When you feel like giving up then, just ask God to hold you tight. Don’t You Quit
Instead of seeing yourselves as failures; try to see yourselves as valued in the eyes of God. You are someone who can shine a ray of hope in some dark corner. For the darkness that clouded your vision is being lifed from your life.
The past died. And has been wiped out. It can no longer act today. Arise in the newness of this realization and fulfill the vision.
2. Do not limit vision by myopic vision.
Most people have a short-sighted vision. They make their life a mockery. To gain riches or fame or power are their life’s goals. Some just want to eat, drink and be merry. All these are like the grass that grows up today and withers tomorrow. Throw such silly things into the fire. Let it burn to ashes.
Instead enlarge your vision. Climb high. Look down from there. Have a bird’s eye view. See your entire life in one stretch. Or imagine all your life being played on the screen fast forward.
What would you like to have achieved at the end of it? What difference did your life make? When you look back at your life from the end of it; does not most things that you count most dear today seem like tattered rags instead of trophies?
So dear friends, awake to a bigger vision. A vision that looks impossible. And dare to live it.
3. Do not limit your vision by your circumstances.
To the one who complains; no circumstance is ever right. The winds are needed for the boat to sail. And its fury required to make a man a sailor in the truest sense. For a man who has seen no storms will never have a tale to pass on. He will never teach a vital lesson to those who get ready to sail.
Difficult circumstances are God’s chariots to lift you up high. They are the playgrounds where God teaches you to fly; to defy gravity and soar in spite of it.
Those who do so have a vision of seeing themselves kiss the stretch of blue and catch the orange gleam of golden sunrise on their wings. To the onlooker from down below it looks as if their wings are on fire.
But it is their hearts that are on fire; fully ablaze at their triumph over their negative circumstances. Powered forward by walking on dry ground through the midst of the raging seas.
4. Do not limit your vision by what others tell.
Almost always all others tell you is why you shouldn’t do it. Believe me; they are telling you their fears. They are afraid that their unspoken dreams will be fulfilled by you. They cannot bear that thought. So they advice you why you can’t live your dream.
But let me ask you; is this your life? Have you only one life on earth? If so, decide; who will be at its steering wheel? When your hand is held by the Almighty; fear none else. Be sure that His plans and purposes will never fail. For “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).
And His vision is always to make broken vessels a channel to pour out His comfort and strength to the downcast, the oppressed and the needy. Dear friends, if you have a vision to touch the lives of people with hope; then go ahead and bring that vision to fruition.
Jesus walks into your life even when others have rejected you. He understands you perfectly because he himself had faced rejection by his own. He can give strength to you to face the negatives that people throw at you. He can be your joy, courage, and peace when your emotions are rocked by the railings of men and women. Even when others walk out on you, he will stay with you.
He will never leave you nor forsake you. His love for you is everlasting. Even when others label you a failure and as good for nothing; God sees infinite value and worth in you. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross is the greatest and ultimate proof of his love for you.
When your life is clouded with despair, just call out to him. The Name of Jesus is powerful. He will listen to you cry and answer you. Do not be disappointed with delays. He will come to save you and help you at the right time. Do not give up because people reject you. For you are his beloved child; loved and accepted just as you are. Not for a moment are you forgotten. So cheer up even when people reject. For what does it matter when God has accepted you!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
—
“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.”
Rain comes down from heaven to earth. It makes no distinctions as it showers down on the rich and the poor; the good and the wicked; young and old, men and women; in the watered lands, the deserts and endless seas.
Rain is regarded as a sign of God’s blessings in many cultures of the world. If there is a light drizzle at the time of beginning something new, the elderly people are quick to say that those are showers of blessing.
Rain refreshes, renews and revives. The dusty leaves of plants and trees covered with a film of brown dust looks fresh green, vibrant, and full of youthful zest after a heavy first rain.
Rain is a welcome to kids to play. Some like to jump into puddles, others like to get drenched or play football, a few like to float paper boats, while the careful ones don colouful raincoats or umbrellas to walk in the rain.
Rain has inspired not only peacocks to dance but also great works of art. From stories, poems, and songs of romance and fights in the backdrop of rain in movies, to paintings and photographs, and to the variety of moods it inspires in those who witness the same.
Rain is musical. On a cold night, tucked warmly beneath bed sheets as you listen, the heavy downpour falling on tin sheets, on empty pots, striking against window panes, the howling wind, the croaking frogs all become a blend of sounds pleasing to the ears. It lulls you to sound sleep and sweet dreams.
Rain is a sign of sorrows being washed away. “I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying” is how the famous comedian and actor Charlie Chaplin described his life experience. Yes, there is something about tears that reminds us of the rain.
In spite of the fact lighting and thunder and flash floods sometimes strike terror, the rare sight of a rainbow arching its way across the clouds, can be to you the token of God’s promise to save you and keep you. Rain, ultimately therefore, is a sign of hope. That there will be good times once again. That God’s mercy will rain down yet again:
There shall be showers of blessing:*
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing—
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
My dear friends, if rain were totally absent from this earth, what a dry brown barren desert strewn around with skeletons parched by thirst the world would be. Therefore let us love and cherish the rain, and thank God for the gift of the rain he showers down on us from heaven!
Some hurts in life keep hurting for long.
Some hurts can never be shared. You bear it all alone.
Some hurts come because of our own fully.
A few others because some others did something bad to you over which you had no control.
It is difficult to forgive or forget.
It is still difficult to erase memories.
It is most difficult to get over the feel that I am not good enough.
We all need help. Sometimes we have friends to stand along with us. But they cannot fight the waves of negativity that dump trash and garbage of the past into our minds repeatedly.
Rejection, abuse faced as a child, being made fun of by others, financial difficulties, unfair comparisons, negative labelling, failure in exams, and plenty of other reasons contribute to inferiority complex.
Now let me try to specify a few attitudes that can help:
The first one is that your life is precious. It has a purpose. If you believe that you can make a difference, you still can.
Secondly, do not try to get rid of inferiority complex. I doubt whether you can fully get rid of it. But instead of thinking of it as an enemy let us try to utilise it creatively. It can give you a killer instinct to win in life.
Thirdly, forget the past. It does not help you in any way to recap all the bad episodes time and again. Instead look forward with hope.
Finally, seek God’s help. You might be having anger against God for allowing all those negatives in your life. Agreed, you have every right to feel so.
But he is still standing there to help. Therefore ask for help. He will use all that darkness in your life to build character in you.
Beyond all this, if you allow it, God can bless others through the brokenness in your life. It might take a long time, but he will also make the burden of your memories light!
In conclusion, let me tell you that inferiority complex is not a problem that is solved in a moment’s time. Sometimes it can be a lifelong battle. Those who are suffering from inferiority complex need not lose heart if the struggle seems too long drawn out. There is yet hope. Do not despise yourself. But be thankful that you can still make a positive and creative difference in the lives of others in spite of struggling with feelings of inferiority!
I talk to you today because I’ve been there.
Not once or twice, but many times.
I know what it feels like to be discouraged.
I know what it feels like being a failure.
I know what it feels like when all around you people are full of fun and happiness but you are down.
Yes friends, discouragement has put more people in the side benches than have casualties in war.
It has sapped the strength of talented people committed to their cause and calling.
It has taken away from people their confidence.
It has made people forget that there is a purpose for which they can live for.
I hope I am not speaking to listeners far away, but to you.
Yes, to you, who now with dropping shoulders stand before me with that desperate look in your eyes as if there is no tomorrow.
Let me thunder in your ears.
The night shall not remain.
The dawn will break.
And you shall rise from your bed of despair with renewed strength and hope.
First of all, know that someone believes in you. Yes, I along with God, believe in failures. I believe your rotten performance today cannot erase what you truly are within you.
Hey team, you are talented; but talent will not take you places.
What you need is grit.
A game lost; a trophy not won is not the end of life.
Fame is a bubble; when for a moment all lights flash on you.
But today, we show character when all eyes are turned away from us.
Yes, we choose, to stay undefeated in our failures!
Life is a journey.
However hard we try there is no way to reverse the journey and start from the beginning again one more time.
So what about mistakes made?
What about opportunities lost?
What about relationships that turned sour or broke apart?
Who is to blame?
If we put the blame on others, however true that might be, it is not going to help in any way at all. The best thing to do is to own responsibility.
Now, what does that mean?
It simply means that we decide to accept the reality of all that happened.
It means to refuse to give up.
It means that we refuse to bow down to negative circumstances.
It means to get up and make the best of the rest of our lives.
Is that easy? I don’t think so. Our emotions come to play. They often try to move us to self-pity. They make us feel we are helpless victims and hopeless failures.
Emotions keep us tied to our past hurts and don’t allow us to think of creative solutions. Never for a moment yield to the lie that you are not good enough. The truth is that the Bible says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”* See, God has placed immense value on you even with all your cracks and faults and shortcomings.
Therefore take command. Order your emotions to stay behind. They are the servants to your will. Keep your emotions chained; that however much they bark they shouldn’t be let to run loose to bite.
Now it is time to do three things:
One, trust God to lead and guide you.He cares for you. He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you* even as you trust in him.
Two, lift up your head and look around. You will find that there is much left in the journey of life for you to enjoy. So many of us are just concerned about the destination. It is more important to travel hopefully, joyfully and enthusiastically the different stages of the journey. Be like a child seeing the world around for the first time.
Three, pick up the broken strands of relationships. Wherever possible tie them back together and have a fresh start in life. Forgive as much as God gives you the grace to forgive. Let not your emotions decide what is love, but let your decision to love make your emotions feel the same.
Not one of these steps is going to work like magic. It takes time to repair the dents and repaint a car that is badly hit. How much more your life!
But be patient. Persist in thinking good. The journey is still a long way to go. It might be that before the sun sets the skies will paint a glorious canvas just for you!
Then your tears will be wiped away. Your faith will be rewarded. Many will also have found life to be worth living because you struggled, prevailed, and won at the end of it!
If you ask me what is that people fear the most about public speaking ; I can answer in one word: Mistakes! I can almost see you nod your head in agreement. I have learned that mistakes will comeno matter how talented you are or how best prepared you are. It is just the way we human beings are.
If you ask me again, what is that people fear about public speaking, I can answer again in one word: Criticism! This is tougher still. “What will others think about me?” Well, what can you do about that; absolutely nothing. People might smile at you and say nasty things behind your back. Well, why should you lose your sleep about something that you have no control over at all? Think about it.
Now, what if your mind goes blank? And thus make yourself a fool on stage! So what; my friend? Many great speakers began this way; and there is nothing to be ashamed about that. The brain sometimes makes its presence known by such tricks that it plays. Don’t worry; your mind will back you up with better speeches in the days ahead.
Now what if your speech is boring? Well you don’t become an interesting speaker the Day 1 you speak. It happens over time. The key is to understand people. Ask yourself what their fears, needs, and dreams are? You need to learn to speak not just logic but also with feeling and emotions. Simply be yourself and touch on life and life experiences while you talk.
Above all; create memories. Not just speeches. If one person smiles because of what you said; if one person is inspired to hold on for one more day and not give up saying “I quit” ; if one person comes up to you years later and says that the words you spoke made a lasting impact on his or her life; if one person makes a connect with hope in God through your words; then that is what is the true stuff speeches should be made of.
Let me close with one final word. Some golden rules are never meant to be violated. Keep it short and simple is one such. And when you are in doubt about something you feel like speaking; it is always better to leave it out.
Of course, you can glide in or halt with tires screeching or get people ready to act while you end. And remember, if you attempted to speak; if you gave your very best; then even if you failed—it is triumph!
Even in our earthly existence we know that all our tomorrows were shaped by what we all did yesterday; isn’t it? If all those actions had consequences; then definitely life when it moves beyond death is going to feel the impact of all your choices made today.
The one thing that can shape your tomorrows is whom you trust your tomorrows with? Some prefer to trust their tomorrows with their Banks; some others with people close to them. But some choose to trust God. This is often made fun of by others. Yet in the end, trusting God proves the wisest of all decisions you can make.
Some people make elaborate preparations for journeys. We don’t find people travelling long distances without making plans and arranging for a comfortable stay. But so many wait too long to prepare for eternity which stretches timelessly ahead. For those who delay to make a decision; tomorrow will spell darkness, no hope, no return, and no end to misery.
But to those who hope in God today, life becomes meaningful; because in God they find the LORD of their tomorrows. They realize that tomorrow is in God’s hands. And nothing can separate them from the love of God; not even death. Those who hope in God lose sight of tomorrow; instead they see the One who knows what tomorrow brings.
Life is God’s gift to you. Do not nip it in the bud.
Life might not have been fair to you. But that is not reason enough to take your own life.
You might have made mistakes. Yet when you choose to live, you get a chance to redeem those mistakes made. But if you choose to end your life that is the biggest mistake you can make. You cannot undo it.
Do you say no one cares for you? God will not forsake you even if your father and mother forsakes you.
Even if a mother forgets the baby at her breast and has no compassion on the child she has borne, God says, “I will not forget you!”
He has loved you with an everlasting love. His unfailing love for you will not be shaken for he has compassion on you.*
My dear friend, thoughts of suicide can attack you at any time; sometimes without any reason at all. What should you do then?
Let me ask you what you would do if an ugly worm falls on you when you are standing under a tree? You will shake it away in disgust; won’t you? Yes that is what you should do with all negative thoughts; always! Brush them away. Do not entertain them. Do not lovingly spread a bed for them. Instead, kick them out!
If you have a friend share your struggle with him or her. Accept his or her love and care. Never deceive yourself by thinking that no one cares. It’s a lie!
My dear friend, you can come back from life’s defeats, loss of confidence and failures. Just hold on. The Bible says, “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Remember my friend, God loves you even if you don’t feel like it. Even when your problems seem so huge and unsolvable, he has a plan and purpose* for your life.
Sometimes you might have faced abuse, mental torture, and been the subject of jokes. You might be going through shame and guilt and feelings of worthlessness. Yes, I admit some memories are hard to erase.
Yet you can have a brand new beginning* in life! Choose Life. My friend, that doesn’t mean life is going to be easy, but life will certainly be meaningful when you look forward with hope as God walks along with you!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — Jesus Christ (John 10:10, 11; 14:6 Bible NIV).
*Bible references: God’s child (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1), Father and mother forsake (Psalm 27:10), Mother forgetting (Isaiah 49:15), Loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) Unfailing love and compassion (Isaiah 54:10), Apple of God’s eye (Deuteronomy 32:10), weeping and rejoicing (Psalm 30:5b), Plan and purpose (Jeremiah 29:11), brand new beginning (2 Cor. 5:17).
Life is
limited by time,
happening in space,
and destined for eternity.
Let me explore Time, Space, and Eternity one by one.
First of all Time is the stuff life on earth is made of. Though 24 hours is equally made available to all, the length of years one lives is beyond the scope of man to determine.
Time given is best utilized when one realizes that life has a purpose on earth and it has been God-ordained.
Secondly, Space is the platform on which life happens. Earth is just a tiny speck of dust; a blue and white jewel in the endless galaxies and stellar regions of space.
The stars shining at night are a constant reminder that life on earth is no accident and it has been God-designed in wisdom and sustained by his mighty power!
It is when you think of the vastness of space and its endless wonders that you cannot but exclaim with the Hebrew poet, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”*
Thirdly, God has set eternity in the hearts of men. Death is by no means the end of life.
Life becomes meaningful when it is lived in the perspective of eternity. What determines the quality of life in eternity are the choices we make here and now.
Life we live on earth is just a preparation; and what we sow here is reaped for ever and ever.
Let me conclude. In the light of what was spoken about Time, Space, and Eternity, go throw a pebble into the still waters of a pond and see what happens!
Isn’t there more to life than what you have seen so far? Truly,
“No eye has see,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Yes, my friend, God loves you. It is an undying love; an everlasting love. He loves you not because you deserve his love; but because he decided to love you even before you were born.
What greater love do you know than you being called a child of God! It is true. You became God’s child when you trusted in him.
Love has been lavished on you.
You might say you have sinned against him much. Let that be true. But the greater truth is you’ve been forgiven much.
Will you love him less?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
Hi friends, today I would like to speak a few words on hope.
First of all, hope is what makes life go forward. It helps you forget the past. It makes you feel that the best is yet to be. In short, hope looks ahead to a better tomorrow.
Secondly,hope looks up. It is when the night is dark, that stars shine the most. Hope looks up to God when all earthly help fails. In short, hope believes in miracles.
Thirdly,hope helps people to hold on. When life is tough and bad things happen; it is hope that says, “Do not give up.” It is hope that helps you to fight one more round.
Finally,hope rises in our hearts as we listen to promises. When parents tell us, “Next birthday, we will be buying you this gift,” we rejoice in the hope of getting it, When God says, “I will not leave you nor forsake you*,” we get courage by his presence with us.
Let me conclude by saying, hope is the stuff life is made of. So live in hope. Overflow with Hope
No two people are alike.
No two people succeed alike.
And it follows that no two people fail alike.
Now if you have fallen, whatever it be, there are two choices for you:
One is to stay defeated. Choice number two is to rise up.
Now if you choose to rise up, there are several possibilities.
You can stand up on your own or you can ask someone to help you. Beyond all this you can trust God to lift you up.
Again, defeats can make you feel good for nothing;
it can make you focus on yourself which ends in self-pity;
it can make you angry at others and cause you to curse circumstances;
and it can even make you resign yourself to whatever has happened.
None of these attitudes does anyone any good; the least of all to you.
So embrace light instead of wooing darkness.
Be honest with yourself.
The simplest thing you can do is to stop telling excuses.
Accept responsibility for your fall.
Make a commitment to try once more.
There is no magic formula for success.
If I know one, it is perseverance.
That means you keep on doing what you are good at in spite of all defeats,
failures, shortcomings, mistakes and predictions of doom.
At the same time you can hold on to God in hope.
Here is how Prophet Micah expressed this.
“Do not gloat over me, my enemy!Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light (Micah 7:8 Bible).”
So dear friends, let not your defeat discourage you. Avoid distractions and focus on the task ahead. God loves you not because you succeed all the time.
He knows what is in your heart.
He knows what your motives are.
He knows that you tried your very best; but failed.
The way he calculates points is entirely different from the way we evaluate and judge our own performances. His final analysis is about whether you loved him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. If you tried and failed; he still accepts you.
Now if you are looking for one word of assurance, one word of encouragement that will lift you up from your bed of despair, this is it. God is telling you,
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands
–(Isaiah 49:16 Bible).” To be engraved means to be remembered always. To be engraved means to be held by the mighty and strong hand of God. To be engraved means to permanently belong. To be engraved, again, means that no one can snatch you out of God’s hand.*
You are his, precious child of God.
Do not let defeats and failures throw you down.
Stand up. And move on.
Accept the forgiveness of God. Rise up to succeed!
No one can forget the scene. On top a hill lifted up on a cross hung wounded and bleeding, Jesus, the Saviour.
You call him a good moral teacher, a divine healer, a great prophet, a worker of miracles or even a revolutionary. But this death he died for all mankind changed it all.
He came to take his cross and walk; and to be lifted high on it. Love then was on exhibit; naked and bleeding—a public spectacle!
Why should it have been so? There is only one answer. God’s love for you on one side; and on the other side, God’s judgement on man’s sin and rebellion against him.
When you feel forsaken; one look of faith at him is enough. It was love that made him shed his last drop of blood for you.
With one look of faith and love on him who was crucified and risen, you can pass on from death to life, from despair to hope, and from darkness to light.
This my friend is the magnetic pull of the cross! It then bled love, and now it spells LIFE for you!
When Jesus was born he was called Immanuel meaning God with us. Can God be so ordinary? Can God be human? Incredible!
Yet God chose to humble himself to be a servant of men. This is one meaning of God with us. God stood with us in our brokenness. Well, some of you might think we are OK. Really! Is it true?
Just look around you. The kind of broken hearts and tears you find everywhere. God came to experience all this firsthand. No longer can you tell God, “You don’t understand!”
Yet he will point you to a Man lifted up on a hill between earth and sky, naked and bleeding on a cross with a crown of thorns on his head. An inscription above his head read, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
And God will say to you that there he carried your sorrows and was broken for you. Looking at that Man you will find peace. For the punishment of your sins that should have fallen on you fell on him who was innocent. He carried it all for you.
Respected Principal, honoured guests, beloved teachers, and my dear friends,
Good morning to one and all.
Let me first of all thank God as well as the Principal of the School for giving me this opportunity to speak to you on Christmas. I wish to talk to you about the meaning of gifts during Christmas.
Christmas is a beautiful time of the year when family and friends come together. And gifts are exchanged. One group that is always excited at Christmas are children. This is because 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.
Let me tell you how gifts can make Christmas special. There was a lovely young husband and wife who were poor. Both of them, Jim and Della, loved each other dearly. As Christmas came near both of them secretly thought about gifting each other with a lovely Christmas gift. But they did not have much money.
Della had long and beautiful hair. So Jim thought of buying her a beautiful hair clip. Della saw that the strap of Jim’s watch was broken. So she thought of buying him a watch strap. And on Christmas Eve both of them wished each other Happy Christmas and gave the gifts to each other.
But children there were tears in both their eyes. Do you know why? It was because Della had cut her long hair and sold it to get money to buy Jim a watch strap. And Jim had sold his watch to buy Della a hair clip.
This spirit of sacrifice is the true meaning of Christmas as this classic short story from O. Henry highlights. Likewise, it was not easy for God to send his Son Jesus to this world. It was a sacrifice. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Therefore let us celebrate Christmas by thanking God for his indescribable gift—the gift of God’s Son Jesus!
Remember my dear children; he came just for you and for me!
Let me also tell you the story of a young boy who was an orphan. He was poor. During Christmas time he used to go to the street and watch the lovely gifts displayed inside shops. He would press his nose against the glass to have a closer look.
But he was sad because there was no one to give him a gift. One day, he saw a small cat on the road. He also saw a car coming against it. On seeing this the boy jumped in front of the car and saved the cat. But the car hit him. And he was taken to hospital.
There was a good nurse who took care of him. On Christmas day she gifted him with a toy. The boy opened the packet and found a toy train inside it. The nurse asked him, “Do you like it?”
The boy with great joy cried out: “There is no glass between.” Saying so he put the toy train close to his heart. See how happy he was when he had a toy for himself.
Dear children, may God gift you with the real joy of finding Jesus this Christmas. So that you too can say with this boy, “Now there is no glass between; I too have found the true joy of Christmas.”
Finally, during Christmas time we remember the journey of the Wise Men who came from far way to worship baby Jesus. They had seen a star and travelled from far away to meet Jesus. And when the star led them to Jesus, they gave gifts of gold and myrrh and incense to Jesus. That is why in remembrance of their act of worship we also give gifts to each other during Christmas.
So think about it. When you meet Jesus, what will be the gift you wish to give him? I am sure Jesus will be happy to see your love towards him more than anything else. So try to love Jesus more this Christmas.
Wish all of you a blessed Christmas and a prosperous new year. Thank you.
I was watching a fancy dress program at my kids’ school a few days ago. A five -year old dressed as an old lady was hobbling along the stage with the aid of a stick. She looked very realistic.
Suddenly she saw someone at the far end of the stage holding out a chocolate to her. At that moment, totally forgetting the situation, she rushed to grab the chocolate! Watching the rest of the participants perform, I have no doubt that she would have easily been voted the best of the participants otherwise.
What made her do so? Temptation.
Temptation. It often comes right at the path of your duty. One way to escape it is to be prepared. Do not let temptations take you by surprise.
Temptation. The moment you allow curiosity to take the first bite; you are finished. The moment you think it is safe to step inside a lion’s cage to take a selfie; even your bones will not be recovered.
Temptation. The longer it knocks at your door, the more bold you should be that you can overcome it. It is because you are still safely locked in. However great and furious the knock or pleading just say NO.
Temptation. It has great power when it comes through your friends. The possibility that they might reject you or make fun of you can unnerve you. It is good to be called names rather than to slip into a lifetime of misery and regret.
Temptation. It often defeats you when you stay a moment longer at spots you are not supposed to be. Run away. And do not look back for that second glance. Guard your eyes. Let it not look at evil and have your hearts hooked by what you see.
Temptation. It can come in many subtle and glamorous forms.
Temptation that is not attractive;
that doesn’t have a tinge of pleasure in it;
that does not give you a momentary satisfaction cannot be called temptation.
The danger about temptation is that it makes you think only of instant gratification and not about long-term and far reaching consequences, guilt, shame, remorse, ridicule and the burden of sin that you need to face or carry.
Ultimately the only absolute defence against temptation that I know is God. Call out to him for help. A sincere heart prayer and cry from a broken and contrite heart is always heard and answered.
It is at those moments that you look for someone who has passed through such trouble to come and be with you. Perhaps speak an encouraging word. For only those who have experienced what you are going through can offer any help.
It is at this point our burden-bearer stands at life’s difficult hours and crossroads. The man who “was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering!”1
Not only does he understand pain and grief, he knows what it is to weep. He knows what it is to carry the greatest burden of mankind—the burden of sin and its accompanying guilt and shame.
He calls you his friend. More than that, he calls you, “My brother, my sister.”
He who carried the cross will willingly carry your burden as well. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”2 That is his call and invitation.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens” — Psalm 68:19
Because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” — Hebrews 13:5, 6.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9.
“For we do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” — Hebrews 4:15, 16.
[Quotes from Bible, New International Version 1984]
