Do you know that giving someone your undivided attention speaks volumes to your love, care and appreciation that they are in your life? So many times we pay more attention to someone we don’t know than we do to those who mean the world to us. What we must always remember and keep in mind is that the same love that we give out in the same love that will return back to us. When we give our all for those who mean the world to us, we are sowing seeds of respect, appreciation, gratitude and love that is sure to take root in their hearts and be reciprocated back to us when we need it the most. Just as we wish to be shown love, respect and appreciation, so must we bestow the same upon others so that there will never be a doubt to how we feel about them. (Galatians 6:9-10) (Luke 6:31)

No matter how busy you may be I encourage you to think of the most important people in your life and now imagine if they were gone from your life. How would you feel about that? What would you wish you would have said that you didn’t say? Now think of those people again and say those things to those people that will bless their life and show them how much they are thought about, cared for and greatly loved. Always remember that affirming thoughts don’t make anyone better until they are spoken to the recipient. That is the only time that your thought blessings become manifested blessings that can brighten up someone else’s day and let them know how loved they truly are. (Romans 12:3-10)

Nothing matters more than our relationships. It is for this reason that we can’t ignore the most important people that are in our life because without them we would be found lacking more than we can think or imagine. Bless your future by blessing those around you with your affirming, encouraging and loving, words, deeds and actions. (Romans 13:10)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to make yourself available to be helping whenever the opportunity comes your way.


IT STARTS WITH LISTENING

I believe the highest compliment my child ever gives me is when they come to me with a problem or want to talk about something that is really important to them.

It took me some time to figure out that while sometimes they are asking me to help them solve a problem, many times they just want me to listen. Which isn't very easy for me when I have accumulated so much wisdom. The greater wisdom lies in taking the time to understand which of my resources is being asked for.

I've learned that the quickest way to shut them up is to verbally or nonverbally let them know how foolish, or worse yet - stupid, I think they were to get into the mess they're telling me about. Do you know how much you hate it when your kid rolls his eyes at what you are saying? Or she lets out a sigh the neighbors can hear? Your own kids feel the same way when they are telling you something important. Even when a voice inside your head that sounds like an air raid warning is screaming “You Did What?” just nod your head and listen.

I was amazed to learn that even when their sentence began with, “I don't know what to do...,” they were not asking me what I thought they should do. “I don't know what to do,” does not equal, “Please tell me what to do.” If you're not sure whether you're being asked to listen or problem solve, listen for a while and then in so many words, just ask.

Example: “You know, I can just be a really good listener or I can try to help you solve this. Tell me what you need.”

That may sound a little weird but it really works. If you feel compelled to share your opinion and no one asked you for it, say, “Can I tell you what I think?” If they say “No”, try very hard to accept their wishes. I've lost some credibility when I've responded with, “Well, I'm going to tell you anyway because you need to hear it.”

When you do share your opinions, i.e. wisdom, asked for or not, do so with unmistakable Love. Love they can hear all the way to their so often frightened, confused, topsy-turvy heart. In your own life, think how many times that would have made all the difference in the world.

So, after all of my screw-ups (translation: experience) I hope you can gain something from this opinion (translation: wisdom) - keep your opinions and problem solving to yourself...at least for a while. The longer you are able to keep your own ideas out of the conversation, the more you will be able to focus on what is going on deep down inside this precious person you love.

You will also be making several powerful statements to the one you are listening to:

I love you enough to really listen.

I believe in you and know you are capable of solving problems on your own.

I am here when you need me.

In fact, don't hesitate to say those things out loud to your kids...and your spouse. Could someone you love and respect ever say anything more valuable to you?

By Mark Reiman


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”

1 John 4:10-12 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

Romans 12:14-17 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today's Selected Poem: GOD WON'T ASK
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem38.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: RESCUED FROM DEPRESSION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony37.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry