Browsed by
Category: Self-Improvement

Something’s Fishy

Something’s Fishy

Comments 3 comments

Something's Fishy--fishNo one likes to smell fish left in a hot car, on the beach, or in a trash can. They stink! Only people who cannot smell escape the fishy aroma.

Getting rid of that odor is almost impossible. We rub. We spray. We open doors and windows. We do everything we know to do, but the smell remains.

In much the same way, we sometimes face situations that don’t seem right. We may not know why, but the negative feeling won’t go away.

  • A friend asks us to join an activity that makes us feel uneasy.
  • Someone offers an opportunity that sounds too good to be true.
  • We sense danger but can’t see why.

Those fishy situations disturb us for a reason. By trusting our instincts, we may avoid many future problems.

Flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11 NIV).

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Comments 4 comments
Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
courtesy of morgueFile

Have you ever been so hungry you could eat almost anything? Or have you cooked a favorite meal and couldn’t wait to taste it? Be careful! If you take too big a bite, you can’t chew it. You try, but nothing works.

The problem then is how to get it out of your mouth. You want to be polite. You don’t want to make anyone sick. You hope nobody sees what you’re doing. Then you ask yourself, “Why did I have to act like a pig?”

In our work, our homes, and at play, we can also try to do too much. No one has the ability, time, or energy to do everything. Yet, some people have a hard time saying no to an extra task. As with food, they bite off more than they can chew. Because they try to do everything, they can’t enjoy anything.

When we eat, let’s take small bites and enjoy each one. In our activities, let’s also accept our limits. If we choose our tasks wisely, each one becomes easier. The chance for success grows stronger.

“I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can’t contain your commands!” (Psalm 119:96 The Message)

First Things First

First Things First

Comments 5 comments
First Things First
Courtesy of morgueFile

Welcome to my first blog post. As explained on the home page, I want to help people with a non-English background understand some of our unusual English expressions. Those born into an English speaking family should also enjoy reading about our crazy language.

The expression first things first seems like a good place to start. It reminds us to begin with what’s most important. We have our first birthday before our second. We put on our socks before our shoes. We turn on our phones before we try to call. We study before we take a test. Oops! We don’t always do that last one, do we? If we want good grades, we do.

Too often we focus on what doesn’t really matter. We watch television instead of studying. We buy things we don’t need instead of giving to someone in need. We text in a car instead of watching where we drive.

Let’s do what’s most important first. Let’s put people before things.  Let’s put safety before play.

Have a good time with the words and wit in this blog. Above all, seek wisdom from these funny phrases.

I hope I didn’t bite off more than I can chew. I will explain that expression in my next post.

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding” (Proverbs 3:13 NIV).