Life Application Archives - Page 31 of 64

How People Pleasing Leads to Death

We all like to please people in one way or another. It’s part of our nature. I love to see the smiles on the faces of my loved ones when I do something that makes them proud. It warms my heart. I love to see people happy when I’ve been able to do something good for them, whether that’s giving them a simple hug or spending quality time with them.
What about when we get so stuck on pleasing others we’re actually harming them and ourselves?

photo credit: _ambrown (creative commons)

When Jesus was turned over to Pilate to be crucified, he could find no fault in Jesus. But he had to worry about pleasing the Roman government. That’s why he was put into that position – to keep the peace. If he went against the people, all hell would break loose and word would get back to the Romans. Pilate was more concerned about politics than doing was was right.
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Tear Down Those Walls

by | Life Application

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

In 1987 Ronald Reagan made those words famous as he gave a speech to the people of West Berlin. Mikhail Gorbachev got a challenge to provide freedom for the Germans. After Reagan made that speech, the obvious could no longer be ignored.

photo credit: snrang (creative commons)

When I think about it, I have been in the exact place Gorbachev was. Though he wanted to control people, I wanted to control the little girl inside of me from coming out to see the world. She had been hurt too much. Building walls up around my heart kept her from coming out and kept people from getting too close. Afterall, if they really knew me, they wouldn’t want to get close anyway.

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The Power of Silent Friendships

by | Life Application

In the movie Nights in Rodanthe, Richard Gere and Diane Lane begin a whirlwind romance after he stays at her beach house bed and breakfast while visiting to rebuild a relationship with his estranged son. They fall in love and life looks as though it will be a happily ever after story.
After taking a mission trip overseas to provide medical care with his son, Dr. Paul Flanner, Gere’s character is killed. His son delivers the news to Adrienne Willis, Lane’s character. Of course she falls apart.
There’s a scene in the movie where Adrienne sits on the back deck of her North Carolina beach home staring out at the ocean full of devastation. Her best friend, Jean (Viola Davis) sits next to her. She then reaches out her hand and holds Adrienne’s. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t try to fix anything. She just sat in silence with her best friend and let her grieve. I love the true picture of friendship in that scene. It’s the best part of the movie, in my opinion.
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Changing My Legacy

by | Life Application

I have this fear that creeps up every now and again. It usually takes a while to shake. It rocks me to the core. I feel it drag me down. I find myself asking others if they see it in me. God eventually reels me back in with time. Someday I plan for the fear to disappear altogether.

Yesterday it scared me. The day before that it scared me. Today, the fear was still lingering.
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Four Tips to Better Email Etiquette

by | Life Application

Email is a necessity, especially in the corporate world. I prefer it over any other type of communication, especially when I’m doing business. It doesn’t leave room for error, because everything you said is in writing and can be referred to later. It makes miscommunication virtually impossible.

photo credit: micky (creative commons)

Translation: It covers your butt when someone accuses you of saying something you didn’t. Simply refer back to the email to get the facts straight.
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