'...Forgiving each other, just as...God forgave you.' Ephesians 4:32 NIV

The power of forgiveness is an awesome thing. No relationship can survive without it, much less thrive. Whatever the issue, forgiveness sets both sides free, takes a weapon out of Satan's hands, and opens the door

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'...He knew what was in a man.' John 2:25 NIV

Here are three areas in which you must learn to have realistic expectations: (1) You must have realistic expectations of yourself When you do things poorly you usually feel bad. That sets in motion a neverending cycle of reaching for things

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'...He knew what was in a man.' John 2:25 NIV

Jesus saw the best in people and worked to bring it out. But He wasn't naïve; He understood human frailty. When people disappointed Him, He didn't retaliate in anger, or distance from them. What did He do? '...Many people saw the miraculous

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'The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.' Proverbs 13:4 NIV

The word 'diligence' includes such qualities as hard work, honesty, persistence, and striving for excellence. The New Living Bible Translation puts it this way: 'Lazy people want

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'...I try to find common ground...' 1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT

Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy. To win someone over, you must first do two things: (a) understand them; (b) become comfortable with diversity. Paul wrote, '...So I can bring them to Christ...I try to

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'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' Exodus 33:14 NIV

Unless you spend time in God's presence you will always have an underlying sense of insecurity. There are certain people we draw security from just by being around them; their presence and approach to life make us

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'...I have suffered the loss of all things...' Philippians 3:8 NKJV

Stop and listen carefully to what some of the people around you are saying. Many of them express regret because they backed off from their dream of earlier years: a career not pursued, an opportunity left unseized, a

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'...I have worked...been in prison...been flogged...' 2 Corinthians 11:23 NIV

Second, there's the ongoing cost We all want what successful people have. The problem is we don't want to pay the price they paid initially, and continue to pay every day. Paul spells out the true story behind

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