Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn—and most fools do. (Dale Carnegie, author)
Everyone wants to be a critic. Whether it’s politics, music, theater, or sports, we all seem to think we know better than everyone else. But Carnegie continues: “It takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” What a challenge!
Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. (Ecclesiastes 7:5)
Faith helps us to be courageous even in the midst of overwhelming odds. (John Smith, minister)
How are you supposed to respond when circumstances confront you in such a way that you see no way out—no route of escape or overcoming? Of course, we should reason and consider the options, but at times that just doesn’t seem to be enough. As Smith suggests, there is another factor. Do all that you can do but seek the help of the God who hears and answers when we call.
The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
It’s ok to be angry when someone hurts us but [we must] not respond in sin. (Mike Lee, pastor)
Lee concludes: “Never allow anger to control what you do.” We are living in a time when anger seems to be the prevailing emotion—the response to almost anything that is happening personally or in our community. There is a time to be angry when injustice or unfairness harms individuals or groups. But anger must be overcome by a reasoned response to correct the wrong.
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:16)
The best mirror is an old friend. (George Herbert, 17th-century British poet and author)
Looking at your image in a mirror isn’t always a pleasant experience. Whether it’s a bedhead, a dirty face, or the dreaded acne, it’s unpleasant at best. But it is reality, and we have to face it (pardon the pun). A really close friend can be a mirror into our soul. He or she may point out how well we’ve done, or they may help us recognize a faux pas and help us correct it.
The godly give good advice to their friends. . .. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Proverbs 12:26; 27:17)
Truth and tears clear the way to a deep and lasting friendship. (Quoted by Michelle Sterling, author and photographer)
Actress Marlene Dietrich defined friendship this way: “a building contract you sign with laughter and break with tears.” Our first thoughts about friends are usually about the good times we’ve had together, the laughter, jokes, and long conversations. But, in reality, we note that, indeed, our deepest friendships have often involved shared tears—experiences that strengthen and empower.
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. (Proverbs 27:9)
Friendship
The friendship that can cease has never been real. (Saint Jerome, 5th-century priest and historian)
Do you remember a childhood friend you “pinky-pledged” never to forget, whose name you can’t recall now? The kind of friendship that is really precious and strengthening is one that never fails. It endures through the hard times when there may be disagreements and even confrontations. If it’s real, however, like love, it will endure.
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. (Proverbs 17:17)
The hard days are what make you stronger. (Aly Raisman, former Olympic gymnast)
No one really likes the hard days even though they may make us better people. Author Tim Kight suggests an important factor about those hard times: “The way you respond has an impact on the people around you. Your response is deeply personal but is rarely private.” When we allow those hard times to make us stronger, we can really be a help to others in their hard times.
Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. (Ecclesiastes 7:14) So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! (Psalm 31:24)
It’s better to wrestle with truth than wallow in turmoil. (Lysa TerKeurst, author)
It’s been said that truth hurts only when it’s applied. If we ignore truth, we won’t have to wrestle with it, but we will undoubtedly suffer the consequences of such ignorance. It often is hard to handle the truth, especially if it makes us aware of our shortcomings, but to wallow in it is to continue confusion and unsolved issues. It is better to face the truth and adjust to it.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:21)
Among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness. (The Bible)
The writer continues, “It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself” (James 3:6). Earlier James wrote: “If we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way” (v. 2). In a time when hatred and biased speech seem to come from everywhere, it’s good to recognize that a civil tongue can overcome much hatred.
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4).
A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him. (John Maxwell, leadership guru)
It’s a rare person who can lead and control his followers and their mission without assistance. Most successful leaders assemble a crew of skilled and highly motivated cohorts to assist. From national presidents and CEOs to shop foremen and chairpersons, they achieve most who are supported by chosen team leaders. Don’t go it alone. Chose and use the best talent you can find.
He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. (Exodus 18:25)
Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. (C. H. Spurgeon)
Tombstones may tell interesting stories by the etchings in the stone. Flowers can be placed on the grave as a memory of the love for the lost one. But, as Spurgeon suggests, the most valuable memories are from the loving life of one whose grave is being marked. We should live in such a way that our care of others will be a life-long memory for those we leave behind.
We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. (Proverbs 10:7)
But wisdom is shown to be right by its results. (The Bible)
The proof is in the pudding. “Generally, the expression [is] used to say that the real worth… of something can only be determined by putting it to the test by trying…it, …just as the best test of a pudding is to eat it” (dictionary). That’s certainly true about thinking matters. Talk is cheap; the test is in the reality of its expression.
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13)