Families Personal Duties

General Duties of Personal Conduct

 

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” 

Paul often starts a thought, then digresses, then returns to his orig-inal thought. The therefore of verse 15 is resumptive; it returns to the thought of a worthy walk emphasized in verse 8. This is the seventh time that Paul has referred to the walk of the Ephesian believers. Ephesians 2:2 speaks of their pre-salvation walk and 2:10, 17; 5:2, 8, 15 speaks of their post-salvation walk.

The verb be is literally see to it. This implies they may have become forgetful of the imperative of Christian conduct. The adverb careful (akribwß = akribos) means to pay close attention to detail. How is a word that requires careful choice. We should be alert, precise, and discriminatory in the way we walk. Who is the wise man and who is the unwise man? Verse 17 pro-vides the answer—the wise man knows the will of God; the unwise man does not. The wise man is truth oriented; the unwise man is ignorance oriented.

Verse 16 points to a specific area of walking wisely—the judi-cious use of one’s time. The word time (kairoß = kairos) refers to an epoch, or critical moment, and thus opportunity. Making the most is literally buying up. We are to make the most of every opportunity like a good merchant or businessman does. We must remember that time is a daily treasure that attracts many robbers. The words the days are evil tell why careful attention to one’s walk is so important. One watches each step very carefully when walking a path covered with ice, whereas a straight and level path would not require such care. In days when the path we must walk is full of the debris of sin, we must tread with care and diligence. 
Persistence With Regard to God’s Will 5:17 

“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 

The word foolish (afrwn = aphron) is stronger than unwise in verse 15. It refers to stupid and totally senseless action. The word understand (sunihmi = suniami) means to give the mind to something with a view to getting hold of it. Our idiom “get it together” expresses the meaning of the verb quite well. 
Control With Regard to God’s Spirit 5:18-20 

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiri-tual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” 

DISSIPATION FORBIDDEN 5:18A 

The grammatical structure of these five verses is very important. They open with two contrasting com-mands, the second of which (be filled) is explained by five participles.

The opening command is a quotation of the Septuagint translation of Proverbs 23:31. The climate of Greece caused the ground to produce the fruit of the vine prolifically. Drinking of wine was not only a social custom but was closely linked to the heathen festivals. If historical accounts are accurate, Alexander the Great hastened his death by the use of alcohol.

The danger of drunkenness lies not so much in drinking itself, but in what it produces. Paul calls it dissipation (aswtia = asotia), used in classical Greek for the squandering of both money and physical appetites. The adverbial form is found in Luke 15:13 and describes the activity of the prodigal son as loose living. 

FILLING COMMANDED 5:18B 

One might expect that Paul’s prohi-bition of drunkenness would be followed by an exhortation to abstinence. But this is not the case; the exhortation is instead to be filled with the Spirit. Christians are to know a “Christian drunken-ness,” that is, the filling of the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Holy Spirit provides a genuine exhilaration that others seek from alco-hol.

While the prohibition concerning drunkenness stands by itself, it also clarifies what is meant by being filled with the Holy Spirit. One who is drunk is controlled by something other than himself— namely, alcohol. The same idea is involved in filling: One is con-trolled by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Filling is not a matter of quantity but of control, a concept that can be established by noting its uses in the book of Acts. The contrast between the two commands is between wrong animation and right animation. The words with wine stand in contrast to with the Spirit. Both verbs are present tense, indicating habitual action. Paul is not speaking of a charismatic experience; he is commanding an ongoing condition.

The Greek text does not tell us whether Paul is referring to the human spirit or the Holy Spirit. It is not unusual for Paul to speak of the human spirit as the instrument of the Holy Spirit. The same ambiguity is found in Ephesians 2:22, 3:5, and 6:18. Is Paul telling us where to be filled or with whom to be filled? When one consid-ers the numerous references to the filling of the Spirit, it seems best to capitalize the noun Spirit making it a reference to the person of the Holy Spirit.

The significance of the verb be filled (plhrow = plaroo) is critical for a sound doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The imperative mood makes it clear that filling is expected of all believers, and the pre-sent tense forbids a once-for-all experience, specifying instead a continuous replenishment—“keep on being filled.” The passive voice means this is not a manufactured experience but a gracious gift of God available to all. 

RESULTS ASSURED 5:19-21 

The Control of the Holy Spirit is Manifested by Speaking—Five par-ticiples follow with each describing the results of the filling of the Holy Spirit. In each of the expressions, the control of the Holy Spirit is manifested in some type of praise.

It is interesting that both here and on the day of Pentecost the thing affected by the Holy Spirit was the tongue. This is not to imply that the speaking referred to here has anything to do with tongues, but it was the organ of speech that was touched in each context. This harmonizes nicely with James words, “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” The word speaking (lalew = laleo) is not con-fined to words spoken in normal conversation but incorporates all kinds of utterances, such as those that are lyrics of a song. Its gen-eral meaning is using the voice, in whatever manner. Under the relaxing influence of wine, the tongue is loosened; likewise, under the control of the Holy Spirit the tongue is loosened to offer praise to Him to Whom it is due. The speech is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the vine.

The words speaking to one another probably correspond with the words of Colossians 3:16, teaching and admonishing one another. Psalms suggests the Davidic psalter; hymns center on praise and worship, whereas spiritual songs refer to meaningful lyrics in a broader sense. A hymn is distinguished from a song in that hymns focus on the character or work of God. Hymns are not the expres-sion of how we feel about God; they are statements recognizing and exalting His person. A song may speak of how we love Him; a hymn speaks of how He loves us. The participle making melody (yallw = psallo) originally referred to plucking the strings of a lyre. In our usage it means to sing to the accompaniment of a harp or similar instrument. It is the word from which psalm is devel-oped.

The words to the Lord show that these songs of praise do not need to be heard by men. They may thus be private and personal or public and corporate. The issue is to whom, not before whom. Jerome makes an interesting comment on this verse. He says, “Let young men hear this: let those hear it who have the office of singing in the church, that they sing not with their voice, but with their heart, to the Lord; not like tragedians physically preparing their throat and mouth, that they may sing after the fashion of the theatre in the church. He that has but an ill
voice, if he has good works, is a sweet singer before God.” 

The Control of the Spirit is Manifested by Giving Thanks 5:20—How can one give thanks for all things when all things include unpleas-ant things? It is easy to thank God for the pleasant things of life, but it is another matter to thank Him in the midst of suffering. And yet, when men are controlled by the Spirit, this is not only possible but normal. The Spirit controlled believer knows “Behind a frown-ing providence, He hides a smiling face.” So many are His bless-ings brought by adversity that the Spirit controlled believer is not prone to hang his harp on the willows but rather strikes up a con-cert of praise. Remember those Spirit motivated apostles who, while in prison with their feet in stocks, were heard at midnight praying and singing hymns of praise to God? This counsel to give thanks in all things could well be understood to be the advice of those who expect perfection if we did not have the living example of Paul who practiced it himself. 

The Control of the Spirit is Manifested by Being Subject 5:21—Paul now introduces a concept that permeates the entire household of husband and wife, parents and children, slaves and masters— mutual deference, dependence, and service—in short, submission. Success in the home comes only when our own insistence on personal rights is surrendered for those of others. Submission to one another is placed on the highest footing: mutual submission of all to the headship of Christ.

The word submit (upotassw = hupotasso) is found about twenty-three times in Paul’s writings. In each case it denotes sub-ordination to those who are worthy of respect because of personal virtue or position held. Without submission, anarchy prevails, whether in the family, the church, or the state. And why does the Christian render such submission? The answer is easy: out of respect (fear) of Christ. 
Specific Duties of Personal Conduct 5:22-6:9

The Duties of Husband and Wife 5:22-33

AS PERTAINS TO THE WIFE 5:22-24 

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the hus-band is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.” 

The Responsibility of Submission 5:22—these words about the submission of the wife to her husband must be viewed from the correct perspective. Christianity elevated the wife; it did not relegate her to a place of subservience.When a woman became a believer, her status was raised from the comparative servitude she once knew as a citizen of the Greek-Roman world to the new freedom of Christianity. Pagan civilization put women behind the plow—Christianity has always freed women.

The relationship of the Christian husband and wife, children and the parents, the slave and the master, Christian and govern-ment, and Christian to Christian is always triangular. The triangle involves the two human entities and God. Motivation and direc-tion always come from God. It is the inclusion of God that makes Christianity unique and distinguishes it from the moral standards of the gentile world. Codes of domestic behavior are found in Colossians 3:18-4:1, I Timothy 3:4, 12, 5:14, 6:1-2, Titus 2:1-10, I Peter 2:13-3:7. We could represent this graphically as follows.

 

The words be subject are in italics, meaning there is no counterpart to them in the Greek text. Literally, we have “Wives, to your husbands ” It is correct to insert the words be subject because of their appearance in verse 21. Verse 21 spoke of the subjection to be found among all Christians, and now Paul focuses on a particular aspect of that submission to be found in marriage.

The words to your own husbands show that Paul is emphasizing to whom submission should be given. The verse is speaking of a woman’s responsibility to her husband. Paul is not implying that women are inferior to men nor that all women should be subject to all men.

What do the words as to the Lord mean? They do not mean that a woman should give her husband the same deference she gives to the Lord. They do mean submission to one’s husband is the duty owed to the Lord. 

 

The Basis of Submission 5:23-24—The word as shows the hus-band-wife relationship is based on an analogy. Christ is to the church what the husband is to the wife. I Corinthians 11:3 reveals God’s hierarchy. God is over Christ and Christ is over man and man is over woman. It is important to remember that hierarchy does not mean superiority of nature or character. The point is this: God has order in everything He does. Believers should have the highest view of marriage. It is the earthly illustration of the rela-tionship that exists between Christ and His church. Marriage is defined in the most sublime terms. It it compared to the marriage of the Lamb to His bride!

The word subject (upotassw = hupotasso) was a military term meaning to line up in order. The issue is orderliness, not superiority. Two ideas are stressed in the analogy. Christ is head and savior of the church (direction and deliverance); so the husband is head and savior of the woman (direction and deliverance). The word savior is never used in the New Testament of any other than Christ or God. The responsibility of the husband, however, is analogous to that of Deity, though certainly to a much lesser degree. 
AS PERTAINS TO THE HUSBAND 5:25-31 

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,because we are members of His body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.” 

As the duty of the wife is submission, so the duty of the husband is love that answers to the love of Christ exhibited in the giving of Himself for us. If Paul places the duty of the wife on such a high level, the obligations of the husband are no lower. There are five major aspects of this love. 

His Love is to be Realistic 5:25a—Verse 25 leads us into the con-cept of reciprocal relationship; each owes something to the other. In the Greek-Roman society it was recognized that wives had duties to their husbands, but it was not recognized that husbands had duties to their wives. In assigning responsibility to the hus-band, Christianity was introducing a revolutionary approach to marriage. The single word submit summarized the duty of the wife; one single word summarizes the duty of the husband, love.

The husband’s love is rooted in his response to the love of Christ for us. No husband who is a stranger to the cross of Christ can truly love his wife. He has no motivation higher than her own merits, and the union of the two is only mundane; it is devoid of the highest divine blessing. Christ reminded the disciples of His love repeatedly as seen in John 13:34, 15:9, 12. Christ loved the church, not because it was lovable, but in order to make it such. So the husband is to love his wife with the same noble purpose. 

His Love is to be Sacrificial 5:25b—It is extremely important to understand that the primary thrust of this passage pertains to Christ and His church. Understanding of the husband-wife relationship is born of a knowledge of Christ and the church. The doc-trine of the church is the foundation upon which the Christian view of marriage is based. The primary reference of the pronoun her is the church; the secondary reference of her is to the Christian wife.

The analogy of the husband’s love for the wife is strengthened in that the word church is feminine gender. These words of Paul show us that Christian doctrine is the foundation of Christian con-duct. Were it not for the church, the wife would have no pattern to follow in obeying the command to submit in verse 22. In a day so oriented to Christian counseling and psychology, one should bear in mind an important fact: Biblical teaching concerning marriage is not psychologically based; it is doctrinally based! It is a sad commentary that a believer with a marriage problem will often consult a psychologist before a Bible teacher. Psychology, even Christian, can assault the sufficiency of the word of God. 

His Love is to be Purposeful 5:26-27—In these two verses Paul digresses from the subject of marriage in order to dwell on the pur-pose of Christ for the church. This is doubtless triggered by the word church in verse 25. Christ’s purpose for the church is stated three times in these verses (see the word that in English or the Greek ina clause.)

His Love is to be Unreserved 5:28-30—The word so signals Paul’s return to his analogy between Christ and the church and the hus-band and the wife. Christ does not love the church as though it were His body; He loves the church because it is His body. The husband’s love is derived from the oneness of marriage. The one-ness is so strong that to love her is to love himself.This stands in strong contrast to the way a wife was treated in a pagan society wherein she was regarded as a piece of property only. The words no one ever hated his own flesh mean it is as unnatural not to love one’s own wife as it is to hate oneself. The word nour-ishes means to supply nutriment (food), and cherishes means to supply warmth. When Paul speaks of husbands loving their wives as their own bodies, does he mean as they love their own bodies or does he mean as being their own bodies? The latter seems better because the church is truly the body of Christ.

To speak of a man loving his wife as his own body is a signifi-cant concept. Altruism is the unselfish concern for others and is the opposite of egoism. From a biblical standpoint, however, a husband’s love for his wife is not altruism for she is to be regarded as an extension of himself. Since this is the case, a man who does not love his wife does as much damage to himself as he does to her.

The statement no one ever hated his own flesh is the death knell of ascetic practice. Severe treatment of the body is condemned by the New Testament as unnatural and has no place in Christianity (Colossians 2:23). Christians are never called upon to walk upon a bed of nails as a means of gaining control of one’s life. Paul’s self-discipline of I Corinthians 9:27 falls into an entirely different category.

Paul bases his appeal to the husband on the same principle as his appeal to the wife. Wives are to obey their husbands as the church obeys Christ. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. In each case, a relationship to the Lord is assumed. Without this, the exhortations are without meaning.

His Love is to be Exclusive 5:31—This is the most foundational statement found anywhere in Scripture concerning God’s plan for marriage. Adam regarded Eve as “bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” The marriage tie takes precedence over every other rela-tionship and for this reason is to be regarded as inviolable. The verb shall cleave (proskollaw = proskollao) literally means to be glued to but is used figuratively in the New Testament to mean to be faithfully devoted to. Polygamy, divorce, and adultery have no place in New Testament Christianity. Marriage is not the extension of an old home but the establishment of a new one with its own separate and independent existence.

Jesus quotes this verse from Genesis 2:24 in Mark 10:7-9. He uses it to teach that marriage is a lifelong union. He does so by adding to the words from Genesis His own interpretation of its meaning saying, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” The permanency of marriage parallels the perma-nency of the believer’s relationship to Christ. Lifelong marriage teaches the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer. Need we argue that there is no divorce of the believer from the body of Christ?

AS PERTAINS TO THE MYSTERY 5:32-33

“This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. ³²Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband.”

The word great does not point to intensity but to magnitude. It has been paraphrased “it is of far-reaching importance” and “has many implications.” It is a mystery in the sense of being wonderful truth hidden in Christ and not revealed until Christ came to die for, sanctify, and glorify His bride, the church. Verse 33 summarizes the whole matter. Paul’s readers may not understand all that is involved in the mystery, but the essential truth Paul is trying to convey is found in this verse.

The Duties of Children and Parents 6:1-4

THE CHILDREN 6:1-3 

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise). ³that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” 

Commanded 6:1-2—First, the children are addressed directly.  These words are not a message to be delivered by parents to the children; the noun children assumes they were present and listening when this letter was read. Paul does not speak about the children but to the children. This assumes the children were interested in hearing what Paul was saying. Paul offered the children the same thing, in the same form, that he offered their parents—the word of God. Nehemiah 8:1-3 makes the criteria for listening to God’s word ability to understand, not age. It is important to note that Paul lifts the common relationships in life to celestial heights. Christ and the church is the heavenly relationship that becomes the pattern for the husband-wife relationship, and now it becomes the pattern for the child-parent relationship.

Second, the children are addressed doctrinally. The words this is right assume the children have been taught moral absolutes. They were aware their conduct could please or displease God (Colossians 3:20). It is important to remember in our day that our children will not learn moral absolutes from school, television, or any other part of their environment except home. Third, the children are addressed scripturally. The words are taken from Exodus 20:12. The word honor covers more than obedi-ence; it refers to the respect given to those who are placed over us by God.

The word obey (upakouw = hupakouo) is literally to listen from under. It incorporates obedience and more—taking advice. Isaac’s willingness to be sacrificed is a model for this kind of submission (Genesis 22). Parents includes both husband and wife, but verse 4 turns to Fathers. Once the headship of the husband is understood, the reason for this arrangement is clear. He does not act in place of the wife, but she is represented by him as the family head.

What do the words in the Lord mean? Paul has a Christian home in view as he writes these words. A Christian home knows no conflict of loyalties among any of its members. There is no family problem that is beyond cure when each member is submissive to the Lordship of Christ.

One thing cannot be said too often or too forcefully. Christian parents should teach their children never to marry an unbeliever. There are two compelling reasons for this. First, if one does not marry a believer, one does not have a Christian home. Second, we are taught that as Christians God is our heavenly Father. A young lady should remember that the man she marries will be her chil-dren’s image of God. To marry an unbeliever robs one’s unborn children of a Christian mother or father.

In what sense does verse 2 contain the first commandment with promise? Paul probably has more in mind than chronological sequence when he speaks of first commandment with promise. The idea of priority is prominent. Disobedience in children is a symp-tom of a disintegrated society (Romans 1:30, II Timothy 3:2). Paul’s teaching in these two verses is based on spiritual relationship, moral perception, and scriptural teaching. 

Promised 6:3—In what way does obedience to parents con-tribute to long life on earth? Is it not possible that heeding parents good advice will prevent one from engaging in some of the excess-es that shorten life? For example, what parent has not discouraged using drugs, tobacco, or alcohol, all known to be life shortening? 

THE FATHERS 6:4 

“And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” 

Here is another revolutionary concept concerning the family. In the Greek-Roman world, the father’s authority was held to be absolute; but here we are taught that the feelings of the children are to be considered. Colossians 3:21 warns of the results of unrea-sonable demands—the child loses heart. If children must obey, then parents must deserve that obedience. Psalm 127:3 tells us children are a heritage of the Lord. Training them, therefore, should be done out of a sense of responsibility to the Lord. 

On the Negative Side of Things 6:4a—Provoke…to anger is one word in Greek (parorgizw = parorgizo) and means to provoke by being overexacting. 

On the Positive Side of Things 6:4b—The word bring them up (ektrefw = ektrepho) means to nourish the body. In a wider sense it refers to providing total education. Parents may not be the direct instrument of their children’s total education, but they are fully responsible for it. As a practical matter, three rules must be remembered in parenting.

The word instruction (nouqesia = nouthesia) is literally to place in one’s mind. In usage it refers to correction by word of mouth. Reproof is implied, but so is encouragement.

• Let a Child Know What is Expected.

• Let a Child Know Why this is Expected.

• Let a Child Know the Consequences of Disobedience, and Always Follow Through!

The Duties of Slaves and Masters 6:5-9

THE SLAVE 6:5-8 

“Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. ⁷With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.” 

That which is learned in childhood prepares us for success or failure in adult life. The requirement for the servant is the same as for the child. Those who successfully meet the requirements of childhood also meet the requirements of later life.

What is the biblical perspective on the social conditions of the Roman Empire, particularly with regard to the subject of slavery? The word of God does not state its approval of slavery, nor does is suggest, or even imply, the revolt of slaves. The New Testament clearly teaches servants to be good workers and continue in sub-mission to their masters

Why does the New Testament do this? Being a slave was no dis-advantage in living for the Lord, and living for the Lord is all that counts. If the believer’s life honors Him in every respect, then all is well. How does the New Testament teach this? It shows that a master can be served as unto the Lord. God’s word did not free the slaves who were believers; it rather gave them new motives for being good slaves.

One’s job on earth, whatever it may be, is related to the tempo-ral order of things, but how it is performed has eternal impact. Servants had masters according to the flesh, which shows how truly limited their slavery really was. The quality of their work and ulti-mate reward comes, not from their masters, but from the Lord (6:8). The fear and trembling refers to the deep desire to be a good ser-vant. There is nothing wrong with anxiety to do a job well. The effort must be sincere and not performed by way of eyeservice. This is a single Greek word (ofqalmodoulia = ophthalmodoulia) that conveys several ideas. First, it denotes the performance of a job only when the master is looking. Second, it may also refer to doing a job in order to gain the master’s attention. Either of these two ideas shows we are serving man, not God, and are unacceptable motives for service. Notice that Paul teaches that doing our job well is identical to doing the will of God. Final and full compensation comes, not from the master, but from the Lord. Eternal reward is unrelated to earthly compensation, but the quality of work put forth on earth has direct bearing on that eternal reward. The earthly employer of the believer is only the agent through which the Lord Himself is served. Full-time Christian service is for everyone, and to regard a job as secular is sinful. The service of a believer as a check-out clerk in a grocery store is as holy and God-honoring as the missionary to a foreign land. 

THE MASTER 6:9 

“And, masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” 

The early church did not have many people of great promi-nence nor many slave owners (I Corinthians 1:26-29). However, there were some, and it is noteworthy that Paul did not exhort them to release their slaves. They were rather instructed in right treatment of them. Paul wrote a personal letter to Philemon at Colossae about receiving back Onesimus, his fugitive slave.

The master is to practice what has often been called “the golden rule”—“do the same things to them (as you would have done to yourself).” They are to give orders as ones who are themselves under a master. The slave and the master are equal on one major point: both diligently seek to do the will of God. Cruelty was the watchword of many masters, and the slaves had no legal recourse. Christian masters should stand in complete contrast by treating their slaves kindly and fairly. Anything incon-sistent with their heavenly Father should be rejected. Both slave and master must know that there is no partiality with God. The word (proswpolhmyia = prosopolampsia) is literally to receive face or looking upon the face of someone to determine how they are to be treated. Both slaves and masters are precious to the Lord and their treatment of one another should reflect this.

Heavenly Words For You

100 Heavenly Words

 

When was the last time I've heard from you? Well, I just want you to know that I miss you so much. How I'd wish that you would talk to me again. I love you. Sender: Jesus.


Jesus asked me how much I love Him so I spread my arms and said "This much". I asked God how much He loves me. He spread his arms and said "This is how I died for you."


I died with Jesus And with Him was buried; Yet raised from the dead, with a new life to live.


Hello, how are you today? May Christ shine in everything you do, with a prayer that you'll always be safe, not only today, but always.


Jesus Christ died for me, And now I live for Him; To Heaven He ascended, my place to prepare.


The new life I have is a life lived by Jesus; At the right hand of God, He directs my path.


I am dead to sin but alive to God in Christ; Possessing the glorious hope, with Jesus in eternal life.


I've known you before you knew me. I tried to get your attention, but you're so busy. I want you to give all and make you mine. I proved my love when I gave you my life. [JESUS]


Jesus is where I need Him, and I am where His love is. Why should I ever worry if He is always beside me?


One missed call, no one answered. Missed 1: Jesus. But He will never stop calling, no matter how many times you missed His calls... till you hear and answer. Jesus Loves You.


Never a weakness that He can't fill. Never a sickness that He can't heal. Never a sorrow that He doesn't share. Moment by moment- you are under Jesus care.


Wherever you go, whatever you do, no matter how far or how long, Jesus Christ will always be there for you.


I love you and I miss you. If you have time, can you please talk to me before working. Always remember Me whether in good or bad times, okay. Sender: Jesus.


Prayer is an open line to Heaven. No cards to use, no low bat problem, no error, no charging, always good signal, and all messages sent. Make prayer a habit like texting.


What's the fastest thing on earth? Bullet? Nah... Sound? Not quite. Light? Almost. Answer: Prayer. Because it reaches Heaven even before you can say it. Have a nice day.


Prayer is not an extra option nor is it a last resort when all other methods have failed. When man works, man works. But when man prays, God works!


When earthly help is no avail, there's one friend who will never fail. Just lift your eyes, the answer is there. For nobody knows the power of prayer. Have a worry free day!


Prayer is the key that opens your day to every blessing. It also is a lock that closes the night to keep you safe while sleeping. So what you have to do is "use your key all the time."


Smile! It will make you look better. Pray, it will keep you strong. Love, it will make you enjoy life.


Daily Prayer: Whatever plans I have in mind, Lord I surrender them to You. I will do the best I can but in the end, let Your will be done. Amen!


No mater how softly you whisper a prayer, God surely listens, understands and knows the hopes and fears you keep in your heart. For when you trust in His love, miracles happen!


Morning Prayer: I'll walk this day in faith dear Lord. No foe, no storm I'll fear. Trusting in your precious word, I'm safe for You are near.


We are always excited whenever we hear our text tone beeps. What more would God feel if we can also send Him text messages thru our prayers; free of charge?


I ask God to... make you happy, make you smile, guide you safely through every mile; grant you wealth, give you health, and most of all, give you care and love you well.


May the love of God always shine in your life, as you become a light for others. Have a pleasant day. God bless.


Like the rain can't be stopped from falling, God's love and blessing keep on pouring. I hope you woke up renewed and refreshed and comforted by His company.


New day, new blessings. Don't let yesterday's failures ruin the beauty of today. Blessings of God are new every morning. Today has its own promise of love, forgiveness, joy and success.


As the sky breaks into a beautiful sunrise, may God open the heavens to shower you lots of love and happiness to make your day a meaningful one. Good Morning!


God unfolds each day like the petals of a rose, each gentle touch a beauty to behold. Hope each of your moments today be so held with His tender loving care.


Let prayer be the key to open and close your day.


A special breakfast for you today: a plate of love, a bowl of peace, a spoon of hope, a fork of care, and a glass of prayer. Enjoy your meal for you are under God's care.


Mornings are reminders that God loves you! You're not just given another day to enjoy but a chance to right the wrong of yesterday.


Before you start your day, have a quiet time with the Lord. Commit to the Lord Jesus whatever you do and your plans will succeed, each in his own time.


Prayer seeks for wisdom, not simply answers. It looks for courage, not simply help. It seeks for the gift of persistence, not only quick solutions. God bless you.


Don't run ahead of God. Let Him direct your steps. He has plans. He has time. God's clock is never early nor late. It always strikes on time. Good am.


The loveliest day comes when you wake up one morning and discover the truth that love still colors our world. How lovely to be loved by Jesus. Good morning!


May God send his love like sunshine in his warm and gentle ways to fill every corner of your heart and give your day a good start?


As the dawn breaks into a beautiful sunrise, may God shower you His blessings of love and lead you always to the right path.


God smiled at me just this morning thru the rising sunrays. I'm sharing the same courtesy with you by sending you a warm smile that your heart can feel even without seeing.


God created mornings so that we can say how great the previous day has been and how wonderful the next 24 hours would be!


Sunrise makes our mornings beautiful but the words of God strengthen us and make our lives more meaningful. Smile & enjoy life!


God sprinkles tiny but wonderful seeds of blessings on earth each day...and I just caught one that's so nice and true...it's you!


God planted a seed of faith in our hearts, so all we had to do is water it with prayers, fertilize it with words of God and cultivate it with lots of love.


Life is like music. It has high notes and low notes. No mater how high or low your notes may be, keep in tune with God and you'll never go out of tune in the music of life.


You may not know where life's road will lead you. But keep moving. God is walking with you.


Everything in life is temporary coz everything changes! That's why it takes great courage to love, knowing it might end anytime... But having the faith, it will last forever!


God said "Build a better world." I said, "How? The world is such a complicated, cold dark place and there is nothing I can do." God said "Just build a better you."


Trusting God won't make the mountain smaller but it will make climbing easier. Hope you will be able to climb all your mountains today and every day. Have a great day ahead!


It's not how high you build your dream that makes a difference, but how high your faith can climb. It's not how much you accomplish but how many lives you touch.


Conscience: The inner voice that tells us that Someone is looking.


When you encounter problems in life, don't ask God to take them away. Ask Him to show His purpose. Ask ways how to live a day searching His purpose for you.


God has a reason for allowing things to happen. We may never understand His wisdom but we simply have to trust His will. God bless you all the way.


May God give you a caring heart so that you can become a whole person, not just gifted with intellect that can understand, but with heart that truly cares and loves.


God answers prayers - YES: He gives you what you want; NO: He gives you something better; WAIT: He gives you His best in His time...


Only a fish knows the splendor of the sea. Only a Christian knows the glory of God.


Happy moments - praise God. Difficult moments - seek God. Busy moments - bless God. Quiet moments - worship God. Waiting moments - trust God. Painful moments - touch God. Lovely moments - thank God.


Be happy with what you have...while working for what you want...Remember, a happy and successful life...begins with God and ends for God.


Live life with a joyful heart and keep your spirit young and free! Stay true and firm to Jesus Christ! And be the best that you can be! Take care!


It's not the presence of someone that brings meaning to Life. But the way Someone touches your HEART gives LIFE a Beautiful Meaning.


Don't work too hard to give yourself the best of everything, instead make a greater effort to give God the best of yourself.


God gave you a promise that you wont have to face life alone...for when you grow weak in your struggles, His strength will prevail and not your own.


Journey to God starts with one small step at a time. He doesn't expect you to run the mile -- but HE promises to give you strength to go the distance.


I can love you but God can love you deeper. I can be a friend but God can be your best friend. I can hug you but God can envelope you. You can cry to me but God can dry your tears. I can hold your hand but God can carry you.


When God puts a tear in your eye, it's because He wants to put a rainbow in your heart.


God often uses small matches to light up great torches and no matter how small you feel in this world, He has something big in store for you.


Life is good when somebody remembers. Life is uplifting when someone is always there. Life is great when someone would protect you and suffer. Cherish life because Someone always cares.


Search for truth and you shall find beauty. Search for beauty and you shall find love. Search for love and you shall find God. Search for God and you shall have them all!


In God's eyes, love is never absent. In God's heart, forgiveness is never impossible. In God's embrace, no one is ever alone or forgotten. God Bless!


God never closes a door without opening a window. He always gives us something better when He takes something away.


I go to EAST, I go to WEST. I found so many good things, but GOD is the BEST.


Walk with the Lord when your heart needs company. Take His hand when you feel all alone. Turn to Him when you need someone to lean on. He's the only one you can always rely on.


God made you a promise that you won't have to face life alone. For when you grow weak in your struggles, His strength will prevail and not your own.


God can reach each falling tears. He sees the heart that needs a cheer. He knows the path that's hard and dear. Don't ever give up coz He is near.


God often uses small matches to light up great torches and no matter how small you feel in this world, He has something big in store for you.


Step by step, the journey goes on. Little by little it may seem so long. The things we learn will keep us on. With faith in God He'll keep us strong.


Falling in love with the Lord is the greatest romance; searching Him, the greatest adventure; finding HIM, the greatest achievement; and being with HIM, the greatest source of happiness.


God said don't look around because you'll be impressed. Don't look down you'll be depressed; just look to me all the time and you'll be blessed.


The Lord is waiting above to give you His grace and send you His love. Whatever your cross, whatever the pain, God always sends a rainbow after the rain.


If you have a problem, don't say "Hey I have a big problem." Rather say, "Hey problem, I have a great GOD."


In God's eyes, love is never absent. In God's heart, forgiveness is never impossible. In God's embrace, no one is ever alone or forgotten. God Bless!


When God closes a door, He opens a window... but at times He shuts both. Worry not for He would tear down the roof... so His blessings could overflow. God Bless!


When God drops needles and pins along your path in life, don't avoid them. Pick them up and collect them. They were designed to teach you to be stronger.


God did not promise days without pain; laughter without sorrow; sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears; and light four our way.


Just sleep tight and thank God for the wonderful things He has blessed you. Be grateful and thank Him, coz He will give you more important things.


Even if I can't see you, don't worry God will always be there for you.

God will never leave you empty. He will replace everything you lost. If He asks you to put something down, it's because He wants you to pick up something greater.


God is truly wise. He made sadness so we'd know joy, pain so we'd have pleasure, war so we'd seek peace, hate so we can love and a morning so we can face a new day.


Step by step, the journey goes on. Little by little it may seem so long. The things we learn will keep us on. With faith in God He'll keep us strong.


A word of love gives spice to life. A word from a friend gives pleasure and happiness to the heart. And the word of God gives light and meaning to our lives. Good morning.


If you keep God inside your heart, there is nothing that will come into your life that you won't be able to handle.


Sometimes GOD pushes us to our LIMITS...HE tests us beyond our ENDURANCE, because He has greater FAITH in us than we have in ourselves!


God makes us brave when we're afraid, makes us strong when we are weak, but most of all, he teaches us to hold on to him when things keep falling.


Trusting God won't make the mountain smaller but it will make climbing easier. Hope you will be able to climb all your mountains today and every day. Have a great day ahead!


Don't let little things get you down. You've got many big reasons to look up to God and say thanks. It's going to be a great day.


God sees you just exactly as you are He sees you perfectly and more truly than people can, and He loves you more than you can ever imagine.


When things are not working as we expect them to be, take it as God's subtle way of teaching us to grow. The process may be difficult but it will surely bring the best out of you. God bless.


Little trials without God will break you. Big trials with God will make you great. May you always find strength in God's love and faithfulness.


God can reach each falling tears. He sees the heart that needs a cheer. He knows the path that's hard and dear. Don't ever give up coz He is near.


No one has traveled the road of success without ever crossing the street of failures. GOD never promised us an easy journey in life, only safe arrival.


In the ocean of life, God is our buoyant force. No matter how strong the wind and how gigantic the waves are, we will not sink because we are anchored to Him."

Are You a Fan of Apples?

Interesting Facts About Apples

1. What is the scientific name for apples? Aplicus Rosacea

2. The science of apple cultivation is known as Pomology.

3. Where did apples originate from? Apples are said to have originated from a region between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea

4. How many apples does an average person eat in a year? 65.

5. Did you know? Apples come from the Rose family, Rosacea, that’s why they have a rosy aroma!

6. Animals which eat apples include horses, monkeys, chimpanzees, bears, raccoons and rabbits.

7. Horses love munching apples, in addition to sugar cubes which they also love.

8. How heavy was the largest apple ever picked? 3pounds 2 ounces.

9. If you threw an apple in water, it wouldn’t sink – apples float in water! This is because 25% of their volume consists of air.

10. Why should you eat your apples with the skin? Because most of the anti-oxidants in apples, including Quercetin, are found in the skin.

11. Which country produces the largest amount of apples? China.

12. Which states produce the most number of apples in the USA? Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and California.

13. The largest importers of apples are Russia, Germany and the UK.

14. New York City is nicknamed “the Big Apple.”

15. Apples were designated as the official state fruit for Washington in 1989.

16. Apples were native to Central Asia.

17. Apple trees have a life of over 100 years.

18. The Apple is popularly known as the supposed forbidden fruit of Eden. But this is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible!

19. You can't compare apples with pears.

20. "Your neighbor's apples are the sweetest."

21. "A pear tree cannot bear an apple".

22. The bump at the front of the throat is called Adam’s Apple, which is said to be caused by the forbidden fruit getting stuck in Adam’s throat when he ate it in the Garden of Eden.

23. "Ever since Eve started it all by offering Adam the apple, woman's punishment has been to supply a man with food then suffers the consequences when it disagrees with him." -- Helen Rowland

24. What are the most popular apple varieties in the US? The Red Delicious, the Golden Delicious and the Granny Smith.

25. Which apple varieties originated in Native America? Only one – the Crabapple.

26. During the colonization of Native Americans by Europeans, apples were called winter banana or melt-in-the-mouth.

27. How many calories do apples contain? A medium sized apple contains 80 calories.

28. Apples trees can also be affected by mildew, which leads to a gray powdery coating on leaves.

29. Apples can help you improve your memory.

30. How much fiber does a medium sized apple contain? 4 grams

31. Five small apples contain 15 grams of fibers.

32. The daily requirement of fiber is 25 grams. Apples are amongst the highest sources of fiber.

33. The soluble fiber contained in apples is called pectin, and can help lower cholesterol levels.

34. Apples are cholesterol-free, sodium-free and fat-free.

35. The high quantity of fiber in apples can help fight constipation.

36. Eating an apple before bed can help cleanse your teeth and is said to be able to whiten your teeth.

37. Eating too many apples may cause gas in some people as the soluble fiber contained in it is broken down by bacteria in the small intestines.

38. Apple trees only bear fruits after they reach 5 years of age.

39. In Africa, apples are only grown in the Mediterranean regions.

40. Humans have been eating apples for a while now – from as far as 6500 BC!

41. In the Chinese culture, the word for apples is pronounced as ‘ping’ which also stands for peace. This is why apples are a popular gift to give when visiting someone in China.

42. Apples aren’t true fruits! Botanically speaking, true fruits grow from the ovaries of the flower, yet apples develop from the receptacle of the flower.

43. The average apple has 10 seeds.

44. Isaac Newton is said to have discovered the Law of Gravity when an apple fell on his head!

45. How tall is the average apple tree? Over 40 feet!

46. Dwarf apple trees are much more popular these days, their smaller heights making it easy to prune the branches and harvest the apples.

47. To produce one apple, it takes energy from 50 leaves.

48. The tiniestapple is about the size of a pea while there are some large apples the size of a small pumpkin.

49. Apples are still picked by hand during autumn.

50. The McIntosh apple is the national apple of Canada.

51. It is generally agreed that apples originated from Kazakhstan.

52. The most famous saying involving apples is, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

53. The original saying in old English adage was, “To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread.”

54. The saying, “You are the apple of my eye,” is a romantic phrase often used among beloveds.

55. A bad tree does not yield good apples.

56. Celebrity actress and singer, Gwyneth Paltrow named her first daughter, “Apple.”

57. "The sweeter the apple, the blacker the core. Scratch a lover and find a foe!" - Dorothy Parker

58. Some famous poems involving apples include, “After Apple Picking,” by Robert Frost.

59. Apples were popular in ancient Greece and Rome and were a sign of opulence.

60. In the popular tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Evil Step-mother tries to kill Snow White using a poisoned apple.

61. Being apple to successfully shoot an apple off a child’s head was a feat of marksmanship in bow and arrow.

62. Apple Cider Vinegar is derived from the fermentation of apple must and is a brownish yellow color.

63. Apples can be grown by two methods; budding and grafting.

64. It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.

65. Freshly pressed apple juice immediately turns brown upon contact with air because of oxidation.

66. A nifty trick to prevent fresh apple juice from turning brown is to add a few squeezes of lemon juice or lime juice. This helps prevent oxidation.

67. In literature, apples are used to symbolize a wide variety of meanings including temptation, immortality and reincarnation.

68. Apples are also said to symbolize health, love and fertility.

69. Apple blossoms are a symbol of feminine beauty.

70. Italy is among the top 5 producers of apples.

71. Apples ripen five to six times slower when kept in the refrigerator than when left at room temperature.

72. The Apple Macintosh was named so as it was the favorite apple of the head of the team that created the computer, Jef Raskin.

73. Some fruits which have the word apple in them include custard apple and pineapple.

74. Apple juice in young children may cause diarrhea.

75. Are apples a brain food? Yes! Apples contain high levels of boron, which stimulates electrical activity of the brain and increases mental alertness.

76. Apples may not be rich in calcium, but its high levels of boron make it a great food to prevent osteoporosis and strengthen bones.

77. Apples have the ability to boost estrogen levels in menopausal women to a great extent.

78. The flowers of the apple tree are called apple blossoms.

79. Apple blossoms are pinkish in color but they turn white as they get older.

80. Apple blossoms are fertilized through cross pollination.

81. Honey bees are the most important pollinators of apple blossoms.

82. In ancient Rome, apples were regarded as luxury fruits.

83. There are more than 8,000 varieties of apples – the largest variety of fruit to exist.

84. "Why do we need so many kinds of apples? Because there are so many folks. A person has a right to gratify his legitimate taste." -- Liberty Hyde Baily

85. Apples come in a variety of colors from lime green to golden yellow to burgundy and chocolate brown.

86. The Turks eat the most number of apples per person in the world.

87. Turkey is among the highest producers of apples in the world.

88. Some of the pests that affect apple trees are aphids.

89. "When the apple is ripe it will fall." -- Irish proverb

90. The Roman Goddess Pomona is the goddess of apples.

91. In Norse mythology, the goddess of youth, Idun was believed to grow magic apples that kept the gods youthful.

92. People who love apples are said to be outspoken, charismatic and enthusiastic.

93. Apple seeds contain a cyanide compound.

94. No, it’s not that easy to die from the cyanide in apple seeds. The tiny amount of poison is locked away inside the hard seed coat and may pass through your digestive system intact.

95. "Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why." - Bernard M. Baruch

96. The fear of apples is known as Malusdomesticaphobia.

97. This phobia gets its name from the scientific name of apples, which is Malus domestica in the Rose family (Rosaceae)

98. Apples are one of the most popular juices taken with breakfast in the United States.

99. An apple shaped body type is where most of the body fat is stored around the waist and belly, the middle of the abdomen.

No One Is Born Into Success

Twelve Things Successful People Do Differently

Most Successful people were not born into success; they simply did, and continue to do, things that help them realize their full potential.  Here are twelve things they do differently that the rest of us can easily emulate.

1.  They create and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Successful people are objective.  They have realistic targets in mind.  They know what they are looking for and why they are fighting for it.  Successful people create and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.  Let’s briefly review each:

• Specific – A general goal would be, “Get in shape.” But a related specific goal would be, “Join a health club and workout 3 days a week for the next 52 weeks.”  A specific goal has a far greater chance of being accomplished because it has defined parameters and constraints.
• Measurable – There must be a logical system for measuring the progress of a goal.  To determine if your goal is measurable, ask yourself questions like:  How much time? How many total?  How will I know when the goal is accomplished? etc.  When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued efforts required to reach your goal.
• Attainable – To be attainable, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work.  In other words, the goal must be realistic.  The big question here is:  How can the goal be accomplished?
• Relevant – Relevance stresses the importance of choosing goals that matter.  For example, an internet entrepreneur’s goal to “Make 75 tuna sandwiches by 2:00PM.” may be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, and Timely, but lacks Relevance to an entrepreneurs overarching objective of building a profitable online business.
• Timely – A goal must be grounded within a time frame, giving the goal a target date.  A commitment to a deadline helps you focus your efforts on the completion of the goal on or before the due date.  This part of the S.M.A.R.T. goal criteria is intended to prevent goals from being overtaken by daily distractions.

When you identify S.M.A.R.T. goals that are truly important to you, you become motivated to figure out ways to attain them.  You develop the necessary attitude, abilities, and skills.  You can achieve almost any goal you set if you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps.  Goals that once seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them.

2.  They take decisive and immediate action.

Sadly, very few people ever live to become the success story they dream about.  And there’s one simple reason why:

They never take action!

The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing.  Growing happens when what you know changes how you live.   So many people live in a complete daze.  Actually, they don’t ‘live.’  They simply ‘get by’ because they never take the necessary action to make things happen – to seek their dreams.

It doesn’t matter if you have a genius IQ and a PhD in Quantum Physics, you can’t change anything or make any sort of real-world progress without taking action.  There’s a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it.  Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action.  It’s as simple as that.

Success hinges on the simple act of making a decision to live – to absorb yourself in the process of going after your dreams and goals.  So make that decision.  And take action. 

3.  They focus on being productive, not being busy.

In his book, The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferris says, “Slow down and remember this:  Most things make no difference.  Being busy is often a form of mental laziness – lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.”  This is Ferris’ way of saying “work smarter, not harder,” which happens to be one of the most prevalent modern day personal development clichés.  But like most clichés, there’s a great deal of truth to it, and few people actually adhere to it.

Just take a quick look around.  The busy outnumber the productive by a wide margin.

Busy people are rushing all over the place, and running late half of the time.  They’re heading to work, conferences, meetings, social engagements, etc.  They barely have enough free time for family get-togethers and they rarely get enough sleep.  Yet, business emails are shooting out of their smart phones like machine gun bullets, and their daily planner is jammed to the brim with obligations.

Their busy schedule gives them an elevated sense of importance.  But it’s all an illusion.  They’re like hamsters running on a wheel.

The solution:  Slow down.  Breathe.  Review your commitments and goals.  Put first things first.  Do one thing at a time.  Start now.  Take a short break in two hours.  Repeat.

And always remember, results are more important than the time it takes to achieve them.

4.  They make logical, informed decisions.

Sometimes we do things that are permanently foolish simply because we are temporarily upset or excited.

Although emotional ‘gut instincts’ are effective in certain fleeting situations, when it comes to generating long-term, sustained growth in any area of life, emotional decisions often lead a person astray.  Decisions driven by heavy emotion typically contain minimal amounts of conscious thought, and are primarily based on momentary feelings instead of mindful awareness.

The best advice here is simple:  Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence.  Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.

5.  They avoid the trap of trying to make things perfect.

Many of us are perfectionists in our own right.  I know I am at times.  We set high bars for ourselves and put our best foot forward.  We dedicate copious amounts of time and attention to our work to maintain our high personal standards.  Our passion for excellence drives us to run the extra mile, never stopping, never relenting.  And this dedication towards perfection undoubtedly helps us achieve results…  So long as we don’t get carried away.

But what happens when we do get carried away with perfectionism?

We become disgruntled and discouraged when we fail to meet the (impossibly high) standards we set for ourselves, making us reluctant to take on new challenges or even finish tasks we’ve already started.  Our insistence on dotting every ‘I’ and crossing every ‘T’ breeds inefficiency, causing major delays, stress overload and subpar results.

True perfectionists have a hard time starting things and an even harder time finishing them, always.  I have a friend who has wanted to start a graphic design business for several years.  But she hasn’t yet.  Why?  When you sift through her extensive list of excuses it comes down to one simple problem:  She is a perfectionist.  Which means she doesn’t, and never will, think she’s good enough at graphic design to own and operate her own graphic design business.

Remember, the real world doesn’t reward perfectionists.  It rewards people who get things done.  And the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time.  Only by wading through years of practice and imperfection can we begin to achieve momentary glimpses of the perfection.  So make a decision.  Take action, learn from the outcome, and repeat this method over and over again in all walks of life. 

6.  They work outside of their comfort zone.

The number one thing I persistently see holding smart people back is their own reluctance to accept an opportunity simply because they don’t think they’re ready.  In other words, they feel uncomfortable and believe they require additional knowledge, skill, experience, etc. before they can aptly partake in the opportunity.  Sadly, this is the kind of thinking that stifles personal growth and success.

The truth is nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow emotionally and intellectually.  They force us to stretch ourselves and our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.  And when we don’t feel comfortable, we don’t feel ready.

Significant moments of opportunity for personal growth and success will come and go throughout your lifetime.  If you are looking to make positive changes and new breakthroughs in your life, you will need to embrace these moments of opportunity even though you will never feel 100% ready for them.

7.  They keep things simple.

Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  Here in the 21st century, where information moves at the speed of light and opportunities for innovation seem endless, we have an abundant array of choices when it comes to designing our lives and careers.  But sadly, an abundance of choice often leads to complication, confusion and inaction.

Several business and marketing studies have shown that the more product choices a consumer is faced with, the less products they typically buy.  After all, narrowing down the best product from a pool of three choices is certainly a lot easier than narrowing down the best product from a pool of three hundred choices.  If the purchasing decision is tough to make, most people will just give up.  Likewise, if you complicate your life by inundating yourself with too many choices, your subconscious mind will give up.

The solution is to simplify.  If you’re selling a product line, keep it simple.  And if you’re trying to make a decision about something in your life, don’t waste all your time evaluating every last detail of every possible option.  Choose something that you think will work and give it a shot.  If it doesn’t work out, learn what you can from the experience, choose something else and keep pressing forward.

8.  They focus on making small, continuous improvements.

Henry Ford once said, “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small pieces.” The same concept configured as a question:  How do you eat an elephant?  Answer: One bite at a time.  This philosophy holds true for achieving your biggest goals.  Making small, positive changes – eating a little healthier, exercising a little, creating some small productive habits, for example – is an amazing way to get excited about life and slowly reach the level of success you aspire to.

And if you start small, you don’t need a lot of motivation to get started either.  The simple act of getting started and doing something will give you the momentum you need, and soon you’ll find yourself in a positive spiral of changes – one building on the other.

Start with just one activity, and make a plan for how you will deal with troubles when they arise.  For instance, if you’re trying to lose weight, come up with a list of healthy snacks you can eat when you get the craving for snacks.  It will be hard in the beginning, but it will get easier.  And that’s the whole point.  As your strength grows, you can take on bigger challenges.

9.  They measure and track their progress.

Successful people are not only working in their job/business, they are also working on it.  They step back and assess their progress regularly.  They track themselves against their goals and clearly know what needs to be done to excel and accelerate.

You can’t control what you don’t properly measure.  If you track the wrong things you’ll be completely blind to potential opportunities as they appear over the horizon.  Imagine if, while running a small business, you made it a point to keep track of how many pencils and paperclips you used.  Would that make any sense?  No!  Because pencils and paperclips are not a measure of what’s important for a business.  Pencils and paperclips have no bearing on income, customer satisfaction, market growth, etc.

The proper approach is to figure out what your number one goal is and then track the things that directly relate to achieving that goal.  I recommend that you take some time right now to identify your number one goal, identify the most important things for you to keep track of, and then begin tracking them immediately.  On a weekly basis, plug the numbers into a spreadsheet and use the data to create weekly or monthly trend graphs so you can visualize your progress.  Then fine-tune your actions to get those trends to grow in your favor.

10.  They maintain a positive outlook as they learn from their mistakes.

Successful people concentrate on the positives – they look for the silver lining in every situation.  They know that it is their positivity that will take them to greatness.  If you want to be successful, you need to have a positive outlook toward life.  Life will test you again and again.  If you give in to internal negativity, you will never be able to achieve the marks you have targeted.

Remember, every mistake you make is progress.  Mistakes teach you important lessons.  Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal.  The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.

So don’t hesitate – don’t doubt yourself!  Don’t let your own negativity sabotage you.  Learn what you can and press forward.

11.  They spend time with the right people.

Successful people associate with people who are likeminded, focused, and supportive.  They socialize with people who create energy when they enter the room versus those who create energy when they leave.  They reach out to connected, influential individuals who are right for their dreams and goals.

You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with.  If you hang with the wrong people, they will negatively affect you.  But if you hang with the right people, you will become far more capable and successful than you ever could have been alone.  Find your tribe and work together to make a difference in all of your lives.  

12.  They maintain balance in their life.

If you ask most people to summarize what they want out of life they’ll shout out a list of things like: ‘fall in love,’ ‘make money,’ ‘spend time with family,’ ‘find happiness,’ ‘achieve goals,’ etc.  But sadly, a lot of people don’t balance their life properly to achieve these things.  Typically they’ll achieve one or two of them while completely neglecting the rest. 

When you let your work life (or social life, family life, etc.) consume you, and all your energy is focused in that area, it’s extremely easy to lose your balance.  While drive and focus are important, if you’re going to get things done right, and be truly successful, you need to balance the various dimensions of your life.  Completely neglecting one dimension for another only leads to long-term frustration and stress.