The only person who cannot learn anything is the one who already is convinced that he knows everything.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN VERSE

Thou shalt have no other gods but Me.
Before no idol bow the knee.
Take not the Name of God in vain,
Nor dare the Sabbath day profane.
Give both thy parents honor due.
Take heed that thou no murder do.
Abstain from words and deeds unclean,
Nor steal, though thou be poor and mean;
Nor make a willful lie, nor love it.
What is thy neighbor's, dare not covet.

Facing the REAL YOU

Facing the truth about yourself is scary, but you don't have to do it alone. All your flaws are exposed to God, and if you ask Him for His perspective, He will help you pick yourself up, take responsibility, and live a peaceful life.

What Priorities?

If Jesus is not the most important thing in our life, then we need to rearrange our priorities. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek God and His kingdom first because if we don't have first things first, then everything else will also be out of order and cause us problems. God's way of being, doing and seeking His kingdom, is to find out how He wants things done- how to treat people, how to act in situations, how to spend money, what kind of attitude to have, and what kind of entertainment He approves of.

Who Lasts With You?

You can start at the bottom of the mountain with a large group of people, but by the time you get to the top only a few will remain.

Meekness

Meekness is not weakness but strength under control.
-Joyce Meyer

Trust In God

When God brings an “unwelcome disturbance” into our lives, He never asks if it is convenient. The Lord expects to be trusted. 

Foolishness

“Foolishness is more than being stupid, that deadly combination of arrogance and ignorance.” 
― Paul David Tripp

Pride

“Through pride we are ever deceiving ourselves. But deep down below the surface of the average conscience a still, small voice says to us, something is out of tune. ” 
― C.G. Jung

Faith... Love...

Faith makes all things possible.
Love makes them easy.

Falling in Love

Don't find love, let love find you. That's why it's
called falling in love, because you don't force
yourself to fall, you just fall.

Truthfulness

It's not about who is real;
it's about who stays real.

Trust and Suspicion

Every friendship, every relationship, is bound to fall apart when you start keeping things to yourself.
Secrets don't destroy things...but suspicion does..

Trust

Trust is the hardest thing to find... and the easiest thing to lose.

Word of Honor

The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honor.
(George Bernard Shaw)

Words and Acting Them Out

"However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act on upon them?"
- Buddha 

Be Careful

"Be careful of the words you say,
Keep them short and sweet.
You never know, from day to day,
Which ones you'll have to eat."
- Anonymous 

Tragedy of Words

"In human intercourse the tragedy begins, not when there is misunderstanding about words, but when silence is not understood."
Henry David Thoreau

Of Words...

"We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out."
(Winston Churchill)

When Love Dies...

Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.
― Anaïs Nin

True Friends to the End

You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.” 
Bob Marley

Love and Greatness

Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.
― Mother Teresa

Be True To Yourself

It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.
― André Gide

Light and Love

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” 
― Martin Luther King Jr.
"A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches"

Winning Friends

You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you.
- Ann Landers

Tactfulness

The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy  become.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Friends Worth Respecting

The friends who grew up with you deserve a special respect. 
The ones who stuck by you shoulder to shoulder, in a time 
where nothing was certain, all life lay ahead, and every 
road led home.
- The Wonder Years

Tragic Magic

"If you labor like a mouse, and give birth to an elephant, that's magic; but if you labor like an elephant and give birth to a mouse, that's tragic."


Sol Stone

Break Free!

You may have had a miserable past that continues to affect your present in negative and depressing ways. But I say to you boldly, your future is not determined by your past or your present! Let God break off the chains of your past.

Contentment

You can choose to be content every day. This is worth more than all the material possessions you could possibly accumulate in a lifetime.

Tested To Be Blessed

If you have asked God for something and He hasn't given it to you yet, rest assured that He is not holding out on you. He simply wants to make sure that you rid yourself of jealousy and make Him your top priority. God wants us to prosper in every way. He wants people to see His goodness and how well He takes care of us. But we must desire God more than we desire His blessings.

Healthy And Unhealthy Shame

Healthy shame reminds us that we are imperfect human beings with weaknesses and limitations. It reminds us that we need God. Unfortunately, when the healthy shame doesn't stop there, it becomes unhealthy and poisonous. When a person doesn't ask for or receive forgiveness, they can punish themselves and start to hate who they are.

WINNING

"There's a whole lot more to racing than just winning."
(Cars)

On Regrets

True remorse is never just a regret over the consequence;
it is regret over the motive.
(Mignon McLaughlin)

Be A Leader, Not A Boss

The boss DRIVES HIS MEN;
The leader INSPIRES THEM.


The boss DEPENDS ON AUTHORITY;
The leader DEPENDS ON GOODWILL.


The boss EVOKES FEAR;
The leader RADIATES LOVE.


The boss DOMINATES AND INTIMIDATES;
The leader SIMPLY MOTIVATES.


The boss says I;
The leader says WE.


The boss shows WHO IS WRONG;
The leaders shows WHAT IS WRONG.


The boss KNOWS HOW TO DO IT;
The leader LETS ALL HELP DO IT.


The boss DOES ALL THE TALKING;
The leader LISTENS FIRST BEFORE SPEAKING.


The boss THINKS HE'S ALWAYS RIGHT;
The leader WEIGHS ALL VIEWS TO ENLIGHT.


The boss DEMANDS RESPECT;
The leader COMMANDS RESPECT.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

YESTERDAY is a cancelled check.
TODAY is a promissory note.
TOMORROW is available cash.

Brokenness

Grapes are crushed to get wine. Wheat is ground to get bread. In the same way, our self-will is broken by God to make us useful vessels for His kingdom. 

Life

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

(Mother Theresa)

Cherokee Expression

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.  
Live your life so that when you die, 
the world cries and you rejoice.

Mission in Life

Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete.
If you're alive, it isn't.  

Richard Bach

Love & Compassion

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” 
Tenzin Gyatso

Beauty & Grace

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
but beautiful old people are works of art.

Proverbs 28:21

Uprightness will give men holy security in the worst times;

but the false and dishonest are never safe. 

Prayer

The purpose of prayer isn't to tell God about something;
it's to leave it with Him.
But how do you know if you've left it with Him? 
Answer: If you have peace when you're done praying.
(Ron Hutchcraft)

The Not-So-Easy Life

"Life is never easy, so whatever comes to destroy you,
BE FIRM and be the bravest you can be.
Cry... feel upset... but never lose hope and never give up."

Geniuses & Morons

‎"A genius is a genius, regardless of the number of morons who belong to the same race;
and a moron is a moron, regardless of the number of geniuses who share his racial origin.
(excerpts from "Racism" by Ayn Rand)

Christian Life

"The Christian life
is about relationships,
not performance."


(Neil Franks, pastor)

Receiving From God

Many people want to receive from God,
but they are not willing to give all of themselves to Him.

Good Fruit... Bad Fruit...

The principle never fails:
rotten fruit comes from rotten roots,
and good fruit comes from good roots.
BUT don't be discouraged;
you can be uprooted from that bad soil
and transplanted into the good soil of Christ Jesus,
so that you become rooted and grounded in Him and in His love.

Remember, uprooting can be painful. Being replanted and becoming rooted and grounded is a process that requires time and effort, but it is by faith and patience that we inherit God's promises.

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
BE KIND ANYWAY.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
SUCCEED ANYWAY.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
BUILD ANYWAY.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.

Happiness

"If you want happiness for an hour ? take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day ? go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year ? inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime ? help someone else."
Chinese Proverb 

Discipline

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments."
Jim Rohn 

The Lack of Discipline

"He who lives without discipline dies without honor."
Icelandic Proverb 

Self-Discipline

"No man or woman has achieved an effective personality who is not self-disciplined. Such discipline must not be an end in itself, but must be directed to the development of resolute Christian character."
John S. Bonnell 

Three C's of Leadership

Consideration
Caring
Courtesy

On Leadership...

"Rule a kingdom as though you were cooking a small fish:
DON'T OVERDO IT."
Lao Tze 

Trusting & Being Trusted

"Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great."
Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Leader's Responsibility

"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.
The last is to say thank you.
In between, the leader is a servant."
Max DuPree 

Leadership Essentials

"There are three essentials to leadership:
HUMILITY,
CLARITY, and
COURAGE."
Chan Master Fuchan Yuan 

On Becoming a Great Leader...

"No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself,
or to get all the credit for doing it."
Andrew Carnegie 

A True Leader

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent."
Douglas McCarther 

Outstanding Leaders

"Outstanding leaders go out of their way
to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. 
If people believe in themselves,
it's amazing what they can accomplish."
Sam Walton 

A Leader or A Boss???

"A boss creates fear, a leader confidence.
A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes.
A boss knows all, a leader asks questions.
A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting.
A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group."
Russell H. Ewing 

Integrity

Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership.Always keep your word. 
Jim Rohn 

Objective of Leadership

"A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better." 
Jim Rohn 

A Leader's Trust

No general can fight his battles alone. He must depend upon his lieutenants, and his success depends upon his ability to select the right man for the right place.
Philip Armour

Command Responsibility

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
George Patton 

Measure of a Man

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Character

"A man without character is like a ship without a rudder
Karl G. Maeser 

Character

"Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow.
The shadow is what we think it is; the tree is the real thing."
Abraham Lincoln 

Broken Reputation

"A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired,
but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was."
Joseph Hall 

Walk Your Talk!

"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say."
Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Integrity

With integrity you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide.With integrity you will do the right thing,so you will have no guilt.With fear and guilt removed you are free to be and do your best. 
Zig Ziglar 

What We Truly Need...

"We do not need more national development, we need more spiritual development. We do not need more intellectual power, we need more spiritual power. We do not need more knowledge, we need more character. We do not need more law, we need more religion. We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen." 
John Calvin Coolidge 

Higher... Gentler...

"The higher up you go,
the more gentle you have
to reach down to help other people succeed."
Rick Castro 

Character

"Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking."
Jackson Browne 

Dignity

"Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them."
Aristotle

Do Right, Do Wrong

"When I do right, no one remembers. When I do wrong, no one ever forgets."

Poor

"Though a man without money is poor, a man with nothing but money is still poorer. Worldly gifts cannot bear up the spirits from fainting and sinking when trials and troubles come, any more than headache can be cured by a golden crown or toothache by a chain of pearls."

Compromise

When a company or an individual compromises one time, whether it's on price or principle, the next compromise is right around the corner . 
Zig Ziglar 

Circumstance

"Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him."
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer 

Trust

“Trust people, and they will be true to you.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Elbert Hubbard's CONCEPT OF LOYALTY

If you work for a man, in heaven's name, work for him. Speak well of him and stand by the institution which he represents. Remember that an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness, If you must growl, condemn and eternally find fault Why! resign your position. And when you are outside,  Damn to your hearts content. But as long as your a part of the institution, Do not condemn it. If you do, the first high wind that comes along  will blow you away And probably you'll never know why.

Submit to God

God will turn every adversity, failure and heartache in your life into glory when you let Him mold and shape you according to His will.

Past to Future

If we do not know (the mistakes of) our past, we are doomed to repeat it in the future. (Gene Simmons)

It's Still Best to Be Real!

When we go to something other than God to make us feel good about ourselves, we're really just replacing something real with a cheap substitute.... Whatever your emotional needs are today, know that only God can meet them. He is the only lasting source of life. Go to Him today, He's the only One who can satisfy.

Trust

If you want people to trust you, you must assure them that you can be trusted, and let them know also that you trust them first. Then, the rest will just fall naturally.

MANIPULATION: Control vs. Trust

Manipulation is rooted in pride and selfishness, and involves viewing others as objects, not as individuals. It is an invsin of an individual's dignity because it seeks to limit freedom through control. The tools of manipulation are position, power, deception and distortion. The results, even if perceived as successful, are always a denigration of God's best as the manipulative individual believes that he/she knows more than God.

Scripture is replete with vivid examples of manipulation of people and situations. Sarah manipulated her husband Abraham and her servant Hagar in order to grasp in her own time what God had promised (Gen. 16:1-16). Rebekah manipulated her husband Isaac as well as her son Jacob in order to achieve her personal goal for her favorite son (Gen. 27:1-29). In these instances -- and countless others -- the manipulation brought more sorrow than joy (Gen. 16:5; 27:42-43).

Anytime a person focuses on self rather than God, the possibility of manipulation exists. Fundamentally, such a attitude shows a lack of trust in God and suggests the erroneous belief that since God is not doing the right thing, we must take matters into our own hands, and attempt to control environment, circumstances, and people by whatever means possible.

Manipulation is ultimately rooted in a lack of trust in God and a negative self-image that manifests itself in a driving need to control.

5 Keys to Understanding Temptation

We all face temptation, it's an unavoidable part of life. The question is not, "Will you be tempted?" The question is, "When you're tempted, will you be ready?"


In your own strength and by your own ability, you're right. You can't. But when you put God's Word in your heart, when you lean on His strength and trust in His promises, there's no temptation you can't overcome.


Over the years, I've noticed five things that make all the difference in overcoming temptation.


First, YOU'VE GOT TO BE WISE.
Think about the choices you're making and the consequences before you make them. Wisdom looks ahead


Second, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN RESIST TEMPTATION.
Condemnation, guilt and shame work off of momentum, if you stop them early, they lose their power, but once they get rolling, they're hard to stop.


Third, THINK OF FACING TEMPTATION AS A NORMAL LIFE.
If you're expecting a fight, you'll always be ready. 


Fourth, AVOID AREAS OF WEAKNESS.
Don't put yourself in situations where you can easily fall. If you struggle with managing your money, don't go to the mall when you can't afford to buy anything!


Finally, DON'T GIVE YOURSELF TOO MUCH CREDIT.
We don't graduate from being tempted. It's so easy to think you've matured beyond stumbling, and once that happens, you make yourself an easy target. 


God wants you to trust Him to bring victory in every area of your life. By His grace, you can!

The Purpose of Life's Boundaries

Exercising self-control and self-discipline, and establishing boundaries and borders in our life are some of the most important things we can do. A life that has no discipline is one that's filled with carelessness.

The Word of God establishes the necessary boundaries to keep us in God's safety zone. It tells us what we can do, and what we better not do, to be safe.

As Christians we can think it's kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of "Yeah! That's me! Living on the edge!" It's become a popular way of looking at life. But to be honest, God doesn't want us living on the edge, because if we're living on the edge, then we have no margin for error.

Highways have lines, one on each side and one in the center. These lines provide margins for our safety while we're driving. If we go over the line on one side, we'll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get killed. We like those lines because they help keep us safe. 

It's like that in our personal lives, too. When we have boundaries, borders, and margins, we feel much better and experience God's peace.

The key is to go to God's Word, where He has laid out all the boundaries we need to live by. Let God direct your path every day.

Passing Life's Tests

Life is filled with challenges that test our determination and our faith in God. Whether we're faced with the impending threat of evil or with everyday hassles, the quality of our character is sure to be tested on a regular basis.

It would be a great mistake to overlook the fact that God tests our hearts, our emotions and our minds. What does it mean to test something? It means to put pressure on it to see if it will do what it says it will do. Will it hold up under stress? Can it perform at the level its maker says it can? Is it genuine when measured against a true standard of quality?

God does the same with us.

Are you being tested today? The key is to keep trusting God, even if you don't understand. There is no such thing as trusting God without unanswered questions, but when you push ahead, despite your doubts, He will build you up and make you strong.

7 Ways to Practical Peace

Living in God's peace is vital to enjoying life. I believe that one of the keys to living with peace in your life is taking small steps toward peace every day. Here are a few tips you can use to develop a more peaceful lifestyle.

1. BE SELECTIVE WITH HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME. You may be trying to do too many things and end up doing none of them well. Hurrying is the flesh trying to do more than the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. Be led by the Spirit.

2. BE PREPARED TO SAY "NO" NICELY. Sometimes we take on things we shouldn't because we're uncomfortable saying no. Ask God to give you the words to say no when you need to.

3. RESIST THE SPIRIT OF PROCRASTINATION. God's Word tells us to exercise self-discipline. Do what you know you need to do now so you can fully enjoy your times of rest.

4.ELIMINATE KEY DISTRACTIONS. If you know you are prone to certain distractions, such as watching TV, set some guidelines for yourself.

5. SET APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES FOR INTERRUPTIONS. Life is full of interruptions, but you can learn to set boundaries that help you manage them in healthy ways, such as scheduling times when you are "off limits." Schedule time to give yourself a break.

6. MODIFY YOUR LIFE. Ask God to show you out-of-the-box ways to save time and trouble. For instance, when I don't have time to do the dishes, I use paper plates!

7. PRAY AND LISTEN. If you can see that your plan is not producing peace, go back to God, pray for peace in the now, and for the wisdom to make changes that will benefit your life.

The bottom line is to make peace a priority, take practical steps toward it, and let God lead you every day into His perfect peace that passes all understanding.

Do Yourself a Favor... Forgive!

Decide not to take offense; it won't change anything and certainly won't do you any good.

Measure of Life

Measuring life by what others do to you may disappoint you; measuring life by what you do to others will add more meaning to your life.

Essence of Good Friday

If not for the work Jesus did on the cross, all of us would have to live with the overwhelming shame of sin. But because of His sacrifice, mankind has the opportunity to enjoy perfect freedom with one another and with God.

Principle of Uprooting

The principle never fails:
rotten fruit comes from rotten roots,
and good fruit comes from good roots.
BUT don't be discouraged;
you can be uprooted from that bad soil
and transplanted into the good soil of Christ Jesus,
so that you become rooted and grounded in Him and in His love.

Remember, uprooting can be painful. Being replanted and becoming rooted and grounded is a process that requires time and effort, but it is by faith and patience that we inherit God's promises.

No One-Way Traffic with God

Many people want to receive from God, but they are not willing to give all of themselves to Him.

Speaking of Relationship...

The health of your relationships depends on how you speak to, over and about others.

Works of the Flesh

"Works of the flesh" are things we do without God's power flowing through us. They are difficult, they drain us, and they produce no joy or fulfillment. They are often good things, but not 'God things.'


People can literally get burned out on religious activity as they struggle to serve God in their own strength. But Jesus didn't die for us to have ceaseless activity...He died so that we could be one with God through Him, so we could have a deep personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Hope For Our Imperfections

Though we are weak and imperfect, when we fill ourselves with the Word of God, we become containers of His blessing, ready to be poured out for His use. All of us are valuable to the Lord, God can use even cracked pots!

But first we must be wholly consecrated to God. 
"Whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work." - (2 Timothy 2:21, AMP)

The Art of Letting Go

Letting go doesn't mean giving up... it means moving on. It is one of the hardest things a person can do. Starting at birth, we grasp on to anything we can get our hands on, and hold on as if we will cease to exist when we let go. We feel that letting go is giving up, quitting, and that as we all know is cowardly. But as we grow older we are forced to change our way of thinking. We are forced to realize that letting go means accepting things that cannot be. It means maturing and moving on, no matter how hard you have to fight yourself to do so."