by Inspiration | Feb 24, 2024 | Inspiration, Archives
If you are discouraged right now or have been discouraged before, this anecdote is for you. The only survivor of a was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He… If you are discouraged right now or have been discouraged before, this anecdote is for you. The only survivor of a was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me!” he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work
;
by Inspiration | Feb 23, 2024 | Career, Business, Inspiration
How to Excel in the Workplace The anecdote below captures the essence of going the extra mile as a necessary ingredient to excel in the workplace and marketplace: Ezra and… How to Excel in the Workplace The anecdote below captures the essence of going the extra mile as a necessary ingredient to excel in the workplace and marketplace: Ezra and Thomas joined a company together a few months after their graduation from university. After a few years of work, their Manager promoted Ezra to a position of Senior Sales Manager, but Thomas remained in his entry-level Junior Sales Officer position. Thomas developed a sense of jealousy and disgruntlement but continued working anyway. One day Thomas felt that he could not work with Ezra anymore. He wrote his resignation letter, but before he submitted it to the Manager, he complained that Management did not value hardworking staff, but promoted only the favoured! The Manager knew that Ezra worked very hard for the years he had spent in the company; even harder than Thomas and therefore he deserved the promotion. So in order to help Thomas to realize this, the Manager gave Thomas a task. “Go and find out if anyone is selling watermelons in town?” Thomas returned and said, “yes, there is someone!” The Manager asked, “how much per kg?” Thomas
;
by Inspiration | Feb 22, 2024 | Leadership, Archives
Leading without tears To be a good leader, you must be a good listener. Ever wonder why God spends greater part of His time listening to us? Listening is an… Leading without tears To be a good leader, you must be a good listener. Ever wonder why God spends greater part of His time listening to us? Listening is an effective influence tool. Every successful leader commands great followership because he yields himself to listening to those he leads. One mark of true leadership is when the people being led begin to hear their own voices in the words of their leader. Every good listener may not be a leader, but every good leader must be a listener. To have a successful leadership experience, learning the listening aptitude would be an unavoidable success-factor. This is because listening enables you to expose yourself to positive input from others. It usually opens a leader to many options required for the creative thinking process. It is in the strengths and weaknesses of other people’s words that a good leader fashions his own wisdom. Apply speed in paying attention to other people’s words, but slowly and carefully respond to them [James 1:19, paraphrased]. Listening must become a habit for any result-oriented leader, whether he is leading a home, company, community, association, or state. This
;
by Inspiration | Feb 21, 2024 | Archives, Featured, Inspiration, Spiritual Growth
Booster of potential… Saul called David’s attention to the natural things. David called Saul’s attention to the supernatural things [paraphrased]. – 1 Samuel 17:33-37 What we do not see are… Booster of potential… Saul called David’s attention to the natural things. David called Saul’s attention to the supernatural things [paraphrased]. – 1 Samuel 17:33-37 What we do not see are naturally bigger and more powerful than what we see. An oceanographer would tell you that the most populated part of the earth is the ocean. We don’t see this fact until we dive into the bottom of the sea. Do you know the buried part of an iceberg on the water is usually a hundred times bigger than the head we see above water? Ask a structural engineer and he would tell you that the foundation of a building is stronger than the whole bricks piled on it. We do not see the foundation while we usually admire the obvious building. We are often attracted by the unimportant. You cannot afford to be too conscious of your physical development at the expense of inner growth. How much of the money you spend goes into investing in your inner person? Those things you do not see about you are what defines you. In other words, they are what determine your realities.
;
by Inspiration | Feb 19, 2024 | Attitude, Archives, Featured
Waiting for the Wind My nephew’s 10-year-old son came for a visit one hot, July weekend. I was enticing him to stay inside by joining him in a Wii game…. Waiting for the Wind My nephew’s 10-year-old son came for a visit one hot, July weekend. I was enticing him to stay inside by joining him in a Wii game. After being mercilessly defeated by a more experienced player, I suggested that we relax awhile. I collapsed into my favourite recliner to let my neck muscles relax and my ego recover from such a beating. He had slipped out of the room and I was catching a few relished moments of peace and quiet. “Look, Alice,” he said enthusiastically as he ran over to the chair where I was recovering. “I found a kite. Could we go outside and fly it?” Glancing out a nearby window, I noticed there was not a breeze stirring. “I’m sorry, Tripper,” I said, sad to see his disappointed eyes, but thankful for the respite from more activity. “The wind is not blowing today. The kite won’t fly.” The determined 10-year-old replied. “I think it’s windy enough. I can get it to fly,” he answered, as he hurried out the back door. I peeked through the slats in the Venetian blinds to watch determination in
;
