Guidelines For Living Devotional

5 Guidelines To A Meaningful Conversation

Men and women have always had difficulty communicating, and now we know why--at least, to a very small degree.  It's a proven fact that women listen with both sides of their brains, men primarily with one side.  But what we've known for ages is still true: though it may be a challenge, it can be done.  I am convinced that communication is the key to any relationship, whether it is your marriage, getting along with your neighbor, or succeeding in business.

5 Tips to Effective Communication

Speaking in public and talking in private are not the same at all.  There are people who are great public speakers.  They motivate, they inspire, they move people to tears, but talk to the same person one-on-one and it's like trying to get a dead fish to swim, or a corpse to tell you how he feels.

This Is The Difference Between Men And Women

"My husband just doesn't get it," a wife complains.  Often, she is right, and she has scientific evidence to back up her allegation.  Scientists using a modified MRI have taken pictures of both male and female brains that prove--Are you ready for this? --that women use both sides of their brains when they listen, and men use only one side.

Find God When You Lose Your Dream

"Dear Dr. Sala, where was God when my dream died?  I thought I could trust Him.  Now I'm not sure!"  No, you were not the one who wrote those words, but chances are those thoughts have at some time or another risen from your troubled heart, whether you voiced them aloud or just thought them.

Tomorrow Can Be Different

When I was a kid in school, I found myself constantly thinking about tomorrow--what I intended to do as soon as I could get out of the classroom and get moving.  The young often dream of tomorrow, thinking of what they are going to do, and the old often focus on yesterday--what they have done.  You know the attitude, "The older I am, the better I was!"  With each telling of the story, the fish gets bigger or the hero gets braver. 

3 Guidelines To Fighting The Battle Within

Do you ever feel yourself being torn between what you know is the right thing to do and what you really want to do?  If you answer, "no," either you're not telling the truth, or the battery of your conscience has gone dead.  The struggle is an old one.  Even Paul experienced the conflict.  He candidly told of the battle which waged in his heart.  He said, "When I want to do good, I don't; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway" (Romans 7:19, Living Bible).

What Is The Meaning of Marriage?

"Marriage is a relationship in which a woman never gets what she expects and a man never expects what he gets," so said a pundit. Another cynic tells of a conversation a dad had with his school-age boy, who asked, "Dad, I hear that in some parts of Africa a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her.  Is that right?" and the dad replies, "That happens in most countries, son."

Find Rest In The God Of Comfort

Few people ever have had an encounter with a burning bush that would not go out, but Moses did.  Few people ever audibly hear the voice of God, but Moses did.  Few individuals are given supernatural signs which convince others that they have had an encounter with God, but Moses was one who did!  Yet--and I want you to make that word a bookmark for what I’m saying--yet Moses cried out to God: “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you…" (Exodus 33:13).

Learn About The God Of Hope

On Saturday," writes a friend of Guidelines, "I was so depressed that I wanted to kill myself. This is not the first time, either. No matter what, I can never stop feeling this way." She then told what triggered this depression. She explained, "There was a misunderstanding this morning between my sister and me and I took it personally."

How Can I Find Peace In God?

A comedian making light of God's instruction to Noah, mimics his response to God's call, saying, "What do you want, God?  I didn't do nuthin'!"  That was supposed to be humor, but it underlines a pretty common belief that God won't bother you if you don't bother Him.  Sadly enough, individuals who prefer to live independently of their Maker live in rebellion against Him and are the real losers, not because of God's wrath but because of the blessings which they are denied.