Start Your Day Off Right Series 3/30

https://youtu.be/Tnra42J3Yak?si=xOsfb4YXE_f5LM0n

Here is some food for your Daily Bread!

3/30– Start Your Day Off Right Series

Quote:

3/30–Every time you’re about to criticize someone for what they did wrong first remember to thank them for the things they did right and to mean it, to sincerely affirm them and if there still a problem that Will needs to be shared it will come from a completely different energy and actually be heard

Story:

3/30–

A man’s daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived,he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his impending visit.

“I guess you were expecting me,” he said.

“No, who are you?”, said the father.

“I’m the new minister at your church,” he replied. “When I saw the empty

chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.”

“Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bedridden man. “Would you mind closing the

door?” Puzzled, the minister shut the door. “I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man. “But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the preacher talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.

“I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” the old man continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and, in faith, see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because He promised; ‘I’ll be with you always.’ Then just speak to him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.’

“So, I tried it and I’ve liked it so much that I do it a couple o f hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.”

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him and returned to the church building. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.

“Did he die in peace?” he asked.

“Yes, when I left the house about two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about his death.

Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?”

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, “I wish we all could go that way”

Scripture:

Psalms 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Humor:

3/30–Ever had a real bad day?

A man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh theater. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the man, “Sorry, sir, but you’re only allowed one seat.”

The man groaned but didn’t budge. The usher became impatient and said, “Sir, if you don’t get up from there I’m going to have to call the manager.”

The man just groaned, which infuriated the usher who turned and marched briskly back up the aisle in search of his manager. In a few moments, both the usher and the manager returned and tried to remove the fellow but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police.

The cop surveyed the situation briefly then asked, “All right buddy, what’s your name?” “Sam,” the man moaned.

“Where are you from, Sam?”

With pain in his voice, Sam replied, “The balcony.”

Ooh.

– adapted from James Merritt, TX

Walking In Someone Else’s Shoes: The Power Of Empathy

Quote of the Day:

“Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.” — Mohsin Hamid

Introduction

It’s easy to look at someone’s situation from the outside and form an opinion.

But empathy asks us to do something deeper—

to step into their shoes and feel what they feel.

Empathy says,

“I may not have lived your life… but I care enough to try to understand it.”

And in a world full of judgment, that kind of understanding is powerful.

A Simple Story

A man noticed a coworker who had become quiet and distant. Others assumed he was being rude or unfriendly.

Instead of judging, the man pulled him aside and simply asked,

“Are you okay?”

The coworker opened up and shared that he had been going through a difficult family situation.

From that moment on, everything changed—not because the problem disappeared, but because someone cared enough to understand.

What Empathy Looks Like

1. Listening with Your Heart

Not just hearing words, but feeling the emotion behind them.

2. Seeking Understanding, Not Judgment

You don’t rush to conclusions—you pause to understand.

3. Putting Yourself in Their Place

You ask, “How would I feel if I were them?”

4. Responding with Care

Empathy leads to kindness, patience, and support.

Scripture to Reflect On

Romans 12:15 (KJV):

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

A Little Humor 😊

Someone once said:

“Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes…

that way, you’ll be a mile away—and you’ll have their shoes!” 😄

Encouragement for Today

Everyone you meet is carrying something you can’t see.

A hidden struggle A silent worry A private pain

Empathy helps you respond with grace instead of criticism.

It slows you down…

and softens your heart.

Challenge for March 30

Today, ask yourself:

👉 Am I trying to understand—or just reacting?

Then take a step:

Listen a little longer Ask one more question Show a little more patience

Choose empathy.

Closing Thought

Empathy doesn’t require you to have all the answers.

It just requires you to care.

Because when you take the time to understand someone else…

you build bridges where there once were walls.

Start You Day Off Right Series 3/29

https://youtube.com/shorts/xvW5IvGrMHY?si=SGQRfdYOGcNvRsyU

Here is some food for your Daily Bread!

3/29–Start Your Day Off Right Series

Quote:

3/29–The amazing thing about love and attention and encouragement and grace and success and joy is it these things are infinite. 

We get a new supply every single morning, and so we can give it away all day!

Story:

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Humor:

3/29–As someone else has said, “She won’t listen to her conscience. She doesn’t want to take advice from a total stranger.”  

Can You Spare A Minute Or So 3/29?

https://youtube.com/shorts/GG9Xfl20PLk?si=6j4w3Oi1GDFGZDUa

If you can’t find five minutes, can you spare one or two?

3/29– Can You Spare A Minute?

3/29–Let the silence settle

Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:

Building Take Skill, Tearing Down None https://www.amazon.com/dp/1521429154/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_SVW02XRC092DE7VBSNE2

Also Check Out Sermons Under Dale Cantrell’s On You Tube And Please Subscribe:

Also Check Out Sermons at http://www.freeholiness.net under Bro Dale Cantrell 

Check out http://www.encourager98.weebly.com

Also Check Out Sermons On Dale Cantrell’s You Tube

The Strength Of Having Compassion

Quote of the Day:

“Compassion is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain

Introduction

We live in a world where people are fighting battles we cannot see.

Some are carrying grief.

Some are dealing with fear.

Some are just trying to make it through the day.

That’s why compassion matters so much.

Compassion isn’t just feeling sorry for someone—

it’s choosing to care enough to act.

A Simple Story

A woman stood in line at a grocery store, clearly overwhelmed. Her child was crying, and she looked exhausted.

The person behind her noticed and simply said, “You’re doing a great job.”

Tears filled the woman’s eyes.

In that moment, nothing about her situation changed…

but everything felt lighter.

That’s the power of compassion.

What Compassion Looks Like

1. Seeing Others Clearly

Compassion opens your eyes to what others are going through—not just what’s on the surface.

2. Responding with Kindness

It moves you from noticing pain to doing something about it.

3. Being Slow to Judge

You never know someone’s full story. Compassion gives grace instead of criticism.

4. Offering Presence

Sometimes the best thing you can give is simply your time and attention.

Scripture to Reflect On

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV):

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

A Little Humor 😊

Someone once said:

“Be kind… everyone you meet is fighting a battle—

and some of them haven’t had their coffee yet!”

Encouragement for Today

Compassion doesn’t require big moments.

It shows up in small ways:

A kind word A patient response A helping hand A listening ear

These simple acts can leave a lasting impact.

You may never fully understand what someone is going through…

but you can always choose to be kind.

Challenge for March 29

Today, ask yourself:

👉 Who around me might need a little extra compassion?

Then act on it:

Encourage someone Forgive someone Help someone Be patient with someone

Let compassion guide your actions.

Closing Thought

Compassion is not a weakness.

It’s one of the greatest strengths you can have.

Because when you lead with compassion…

you reflect the heart of God and make the world a better place.

God Wants Us To Be A Victor And Not A Victim

https://youtu.be/ZW-K81XgoUg?si=vAWvxntjtorA5csK

God wants us to be a Victor!

Romans 8:31-35 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Start Your Day Off Right Series 3/28

https://youtube.com/shorts/OQiBPKI8_nU?si=IAEXBWAd3vX5JJCu

Here is some food for your Daily Bread!

3/28–Start Your Day Off Right Series

Quote:

You don’t have to make your whole life good today, just make your today good first.

Story:

Scripture:

Proverbs 16:7

When a man’s ways please the LORD,

he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Humor: