scrawford181

1
Quick to Listen,Slow to Speak
2

• We can put a man on the moon, clone a sheep and
  video chat with people throughout the world on
  our phones. But some things in life still remain
  the same

3

• Were still solving relationship problems. Since
  the days of Adam and Eve weve struggled to get
  along. Anytime two or more of us are in the same
  room relationship problems are bound to happen
  sooner or later. Id be a rich man if I had a
  dollar every time I heard pray for me chaplain,
  these people are driving me crazy.

4

• Fortunately the book of James gives us an answer
  to some of our relationship problems.
• James 119 (NIV)
• My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this
  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak
  and slow to become angry

5

• But how can we be quick to listen and slow to
  speak? It begins when we approach people and
  situations with an open mind and open heart.

6
Open Mind

• We shouldnt accept anything and everything
  someone wants to put into our minds. God has
  given us a spirit of discernment.
• 1 John 41 (NIV)
• Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but
  test the spirits to see whether they are from
  God, because many false prophets have gone out
  into the world.

7

• But we also shouldnt be closed minded and assume
  we already know everything there is to know about
  other people and situations. The Word of God also
  teaches we can gain knowledge and wisdom from
  other people.
• Proverbs 2717 (NIV)
• As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens
  another.

8

• We live in a world full of opinions. Im 100
  correct and youre 100 wrong and theres nothing
  you can say or do to convince me otherwise. In
  contrast, having an open mind is an
  acknowledgement we dont have all the answers and
  we can often learn from other people.

9

• I love keeping an open mind. Its liberating to
  know the universe and our existence are not
  limited to my understanding.
• - Izey Victoria Odiase

10
Open Heart

• We all have individual personalities and limited
  life experiences that have the potential to
  create personal biases. Having an open heart is
  not allowing our personal biases to cloud our
  view of people and situations.

11

• Having an open heart also involves having
  empathy. We should resist the urge to judge other
  peoples problems until weve walked a mile in
  their shoes.
• Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and
  narrow-mindedness.
• - Mark Twain

12

• We get angry when we feel disrespected. We often
  feel disrespected when were misunderstood. But
  we cant be truly understood until people are
  quick to listen and slow to speak!