We hear about the importance of developing our IQ or Intelligence
Quotient all the time. But not enough emphasis is being made on the
importance of developing our EQ or Emotional intelligence Quotient.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize one’s moods,
feelings and impulses, and process them into right thinking and action.
It goes hand in hand with spiritual maturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
Disappointments are inevitable. And how we handle our emotions
especially in difficult circumstances says a lot about our emotional
maturity, and ultimately, about our spiritual maturity. Parents must
teach their children how to face disappointments and not to shelter them
from it. The problem is, even some adults are unable to process
disappointments properly. They make sinful decisions that hurt
themselves, others and God.
Emotions are not necessarily bad,
but they can be negative. We don’t have to deny them, but we need to
learn to process them, to master them. I we don’t master our negative
emotions, they will master us. Take Saul for example. When David won the
face-off with Goliath, Saul eyed him with jealousy instead of praising
God (1 Samuel 18:8-9). And when he saw that God was with David, Saul
became fearful of him instead of just thanking God that he had such a
man on his team (1 Samuel 18:28-29).
Five Characteristics You Need to Excel at Work by Rick Warren
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were
working for the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23 TEV)
The Bible identifies five characteristics of people who excel at what they do:
People who excel work with enthusiasm. Regardless of whether the job is
big or small, give it your best. Great performers give their best
effort, no matter what the size of the audience: “Whatever you do, work
at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and
not for people” (Colossians 3:23 TEV).
People who excel sharpen
their skills. They never stop developing, growing, learning, and
improving: “If your ax is dull and you don't sharpen it, you have to
work harder to use it. It is smarter to plan ahead” (Ecclesiastes 10:10
TEV). It takes more than desire to excel; it takes skill! Remember:
You're never wasting time when you’re sharpening your “ax.”
People who excel keep their word. They are reliable. They can be counted
on to do what they say they'll do. They excel because people of
integrity are rare in our society: “Everyone talks about how loyal and
faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!” (Proverbs
20:6 TEV)
People who excel maintain a positive attitude. Even
under pressure, change, or unrealistic demands, they don't allow
themselves to become negative: “Do everything without complaining or
arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God
without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine
like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life”
(Philippians 2:14-16a NIV). And remember: “If your boss is angry at you,
don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes”
(Ecclesiastes 10:4 NLT).
People who excel do more than is
expected. This is a secret that every successful person has discovered.
You'll never excel by only doing what is required. Jesus said, “If
someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the
servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously” (Matthew
5:40-42 MSG). The Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein once told the
story of seeing the top of the Statue of Liberty from a helicopter. He
was impressed because of the incredible detail the artist had sculpted
on an area that no one was expected to see. In fact, the Statue of
Liberty was completed with no idea that man would someday be able to fly
over the statue!
When you’re tempted to cut corners, thinking, “No one will ever know,” remember that God is looking down and sees everything.
~grabbed from - https://www.facebook.com/betty.d.tan
Because it is the start of another school year I'd like to share a post I saw on FB from www.teachwithjoy.com regarding educating the next generation.
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"The Bible tells us to be careful, “lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
We have to go back to the word of God and look at his command to us
as parents.
Ephesians 6:4 addresses fathers and says, “bring up your
children in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am
commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them
diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your
house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you
rise up.”
Dueteronomy 6:5-7 compels us to consider the who, what, how, when, where and why of teaching our children.
Who are we teaching? Our children.
What will we teach? Love for God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
How will we teach this? By exemplifying it first then being intentional about teaching them – mentoring and discipleship style.
When will we teach this? Everyday, moment by moment.
Where will we teach this? Everywhere possible.
Why should we teach this? Let’s look at the preceding passages…
The backdrop to Deuteronomy 6:5-7 can be found in Deuteronomy 5.
Moses gives the 10 commandments to the Israelites (again) and the people
convey their desire to follow God. In response, God says in
Deutereonomy 5:29, “Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they
would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well
with them and with their sons forever!” We see the heart of the Lord –
his desire to bless his people. The laws and statues of God have always
been intended for the greater good of people. But, wait a minute, does
this all apply to us if it these passages were referring to the Jews?And what should this person be like? To what aim are we going to home educate our children? True success is a person who
loves God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, who love
others, makes disciples (Christ-committed followers) and lives for the
glory of God.
Our children are created by God, for God. Colossians 1:16 tells us,For by Him all things were created, both
in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through
Him and for Him.
Parenting is a stewardship. We don’t have the liberty to treat our
children however we want to, nor do we have the liberty to do whatever
we want to with our children. While they were born to us, they exist for
the purposes of God. So we have to ask God, “How do you want us to
raise our kids?” He will certainly not say things like, shout at them when you are angry, lose your temper, or spoil them!
Our children are created in the image of God – uniquely designed, gifted and purposed. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27).
However, our work is hardly over. When a child prays the “sinner’s
prayer,” it is merely the beginning of his faith journey – one that will
require us to shepherd him through it. Our children need discipline, training and discipleship from parents. Proverbs 19:18 reminds us, “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.”
We must do everything we can to raise our kids to love God by
teaching them about the Bible, helping them to grow in character,
disciplining them when necessary, praying faithfully, leading by
example, and “training them in the way they should go.” (Proverbs 22:6)
We may make mistakes and our kids may still make sinful choices from
time to time. But we can remain confident that God is at work in their
innermost being to change them into the person he wants them to be."
