26 Life Principles

?26 LIFE PRINCIPLES

A

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ACCEPT

Accept others for

who they are and

for the choices they

have made even if

you have difficulty

understanding their

beliefs, motives

or actions.

B

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BREAK AWAY

Break away from

everything that

stands in the way

of what you hope

to accomplish

with your life.

C

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CREATE

Create a family

of friends whom

you can share your

hopes, dreams,

sorrows, and

happiness together.

D

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DECIDE

Decide that you’ll be

successful & happy

come what may, and

good things will find

you. The roadblocks

are only minor

obstacles along

the way.

E

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EXPLORE

Explore & experiment.

The world has much

to offer, and you

have much to give.

And every time you

try something new,

you’ll learn more

about yourself.

F

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FORGIVE

Grudges only weigh

you down and inspire

unhappiness & grief.

Soar above it, and

remember that

everyone makes

mistakes.

G

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GROW

Leave the childhood

monsters behind. They

can no longer hurt you

or stand in your way.

H

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HOPE

Hope for the best

and never forget that

anything is possible

as long as you remain

dedicated to the task.

I

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IGNORE

Ignore the negative

voice inside your head.

Focus instead on your

goals and remember

your accomplishments.

Your past success is only

a small inkling of what

the future holds.

J

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JOURNEY

Journey to new worlds,

new possibilities, is

mostly by remaining

open-minded.

Try to learn something

new every day and you

will grow in Knowledge.

K

?

KNOW

Know that no matter

Also read  Excess and Excuses

how bad things seem,

to be they will always

get better.

The harshest Winter

is always followed by

the Warmth of Spring.

L

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LOVE

Let love fill your

heart instead of hate.

When hate is in your

heart, there is *NO* room

for anything else,

but when love is in

your heart, there’s

room for endless

happiness.

M

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MANAGE

Manage your time and

your expenses wisely,

and you’ll suffer less

stress and worry.

Then you’ll be able to

focus on the important

things in life.

N

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NOTICE

Never ignore the poor,

infirm, helpless, weak,

or suffering people.

Offer your assistance

when possible, and

always your kindness

and understanding.

O

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OPEN

Open your eyes and

take in all the beauty

around you.

Even during the

worst of times,

there’s still much

to be thankful for.

P

?

PLAY

Never forget to have

fun along the way.

Success means nothing

without happiness.

Q

?

QUESTION

Ask many questions,

because you are here

to learn & be informed.

R

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RELAX

Refuse to let worry

and stress rule your

Life, and remember

that things always

have a way of working

out in the end.

S

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SHARE

Share your talent,

skills, knowledge,

and time with others.

Everything that you

invest in others will

return to you many

times Multiplied.

T

?

TRY

Even when your

dreams seem

impossible to reach,

try anyway. You’ll be

amazed by what you

can accomplish.

U

?

USE

Use your gifts to

your best ability.

Talent that is wasted

has no value. Talent

that is made into

efforts will bring

unexpected rewards.

V

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VALUE

Value the friends and

family members who

have supported and

encouraged you & be

there for them as well.

W

?

WORK

Work hard every day

to be the best person

you aspire to be, but

never feel guilty if you

fall short of your goals.

Every sunrise offers

a second chance.

X

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X-RAY

Look deep inside the

hearts of those around

you and you will see

the goodness and

beauty within.

Y

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YIELD

Yield to commitment.

If you stay on track

and remain dedicated,

you will find success

at the end of the road.

Z

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ZOOM

Zoom to a happy

place when bad

memories or sorrow

rears its ugly head.

Let nothing interfere

with your goals.

Instead, focus on

your abilities, in

your dreams, and

a brighter tomorrow.

Meditation: Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

You will succeed because Jesus loves You!!!

Thinking of Divorce? Think Again

Thinking of divorce? This testimony is good for you. It will help you to think twice.

“I am 32 years old. Me and my ex-hubby dated for six years, I started dating him while I was in grade 12, I was 19 years old then. We were best of friends. I waited until he completed college and started work, my family, and his family then met, we got married and had a son. (7 years old now).

My husband was short tempered at times, but our problems started when I wanted to make him feel like he couldn’t control me. Every time we argue, I would pack my bags, go to my family and explain. My sisters would phone my husband and shout at him. If he is controlling me I would always dare him that if he wished to divorce me, he should do so. I never wanted divorce, I just had pride and I never wanted to look a loser in his eyes.

One day, I pushed him so hard that for the first time he beat me and locked me outside. I went to my family; my family took him to police. This happened every time. I would pretend like I was being abused! But to be honest, I used to abuse my husband emotionally.

He was arrested and detained. I was asked by his family to withdraw the case. My husband was never a violent man; he did what he did because I pushed him to the wall. Of which he openly knelt down and apologized. I withdrew the charges, and we reconciled.

After three months, I packed my bags after a small issue, and he remained alone. After two days I received a call that he was in hospital, my family told me that I shouldn’t go there because it would look like I was begging him, and my sisters believed he was faking the illness.

All this time, people felt sorry for me like I was the one being abused. He spent a week in hospital, after he came out, I just received a divorce summon. I wanted to say no to divorce, but because I felt this pride, I wanted him to change his mind and beg me. I called him and said he will get the divorce because I had been living like I was in hell. This, of course, was not true.

When we went to court, I wanted to make him pay, so I told the court that I needed his properties to be shared. To my surprise he openly told the court that whatever he and me acquired together should be given to me, all he wanted was divorce.

We got divorced in July 2009. This Saturday, my ex-husband is getting married again, whilst I am here wasted! My family members are gossiping about me, and I depend on what my ex gives to my son for survival.

I know I wasted my marriage. I am here telling all wives to be careful how you get advice. Don’t be cheated. Even my young sisters are much more respected than me. Those who encouraged me to get a divorce are the ones always bad mouthing me now.

There is no benefit in pride!”

This a perfect example and advice for those dancing in some overrated ego.

Credit: Relationship Matters Forum

Meditation: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. – Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

You will succeed because Jesus loves You!!!

Unconditional Love

This is a very moving story about unconditional love.

A soldier was finally returning home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home but, I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.”

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know,” the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a landmine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. They were told their son had died after falling from a building. The police believed it was suicide.

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him but, to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know. Their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around but, we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are. That Person is Jesus Christ. He beckons all to come to Him irrespective of their handicap.

– Author Unknown 

Meditation: But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. – Luke 6:32

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Who Do You Trust?

Author Unknown

A man just got married and was returning home with his wife. They were crossing a lake in a boat when, suddenly, a great storm arose. The man was a warrior, but the woman became very much afraid because it seemed almost hopeless.

The boat was small and the storm was really huge, and any moment they were going to be drowned. But the man sat silently, calm and quiet, as if nothing was happening.

The woman was trembling and she said, “Are you not afraid? This may be our last moment of life! It doesn’t seem that we will be able to reach the other shore. Only some miracle can save us; otherwise death is certain. Are you not afraid? Are you mad or something? Are you a stone or something?”

The man laughed and took his sword out of its sheath. The woman was even more puzzled; what he was doing? Then he brought the naked sword close to her neck, it was so close that it was almost touching her neck.

Then he asked, “Aren’t you afraid?”

She started to laugh and said, ”Why should I be afraid? If the sword is in your hands, why I should be afraid? I know you love me.”

He then put the sword back and said, “That is also my answer. I know God loves me, and the storm is in His hands.

“So whatsoever is going to happen is going to be good. If we survive, good; if we don’t survive, good. Everything is in His hands and He cannot do anything wrong.”

Meditation: As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. – 2 Samuel 22:31

You will succeed because Jesus loves You!

Why God Loves You

Author Unknown

As I gazed up at the mountains, I was awed by their majesty;

I bowed my head and asked myself, “Why should He care for me?

I am not great like the mountains that tower so high above,

What is there about me that God can find to love?”

“Father, I am not strong like the wind that makes your tall trees sway,

I cannot sing sweetly like your birds; will you love me anyway?

But most of all, I am simply me, and often have cause to fear,

In spite of all my weaknesses, do you promise to be near?”

With eyes closed tight against my tears, I wished He could hear me pray.

Then I felt His Spirit tell me, “Child, look up, I have something to say.

“You are simply you, the spirit I love, a part of my great plan.

I put you here to learn of life and to return to me again.”

“You are more beautiful to me than the loveliest mountain I made,

And your strength exceeds that of the winds, so do not be afraid.

I love you not for what you are, but for what I know you will be.

I am always beside you watching you grow, you are very special to me.”

A smile touched my lips – I knew it was true, my Father had always been there

Giving me comfort and blessings and love and my own special talents to share.

So I do my best to make Him proud. I am not afraid, for you see,

He loves me not for what I am, but for what He knows I will be.

Meditation: The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” – Jeremiah 31:3

You will succeed because Jesus loves You!

The Story of Tommy

The Atheist Theology Student Who Was Found by God

– Author Unknown

John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the first day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders.

It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn’t what’s on your head, but what’s in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped.

I immediately filed Tommy under “S” for strange … very strange. Tommy turned out to be the “atheist in residence” in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father-God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew.

When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a slightly cynical tone: “Do you think I’ll ever find God?”

I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. “No!” I said very emphatically.

“Oh,” he responded, “I thought that was the product you were pushing.”

I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out: “Tommy! I don’t think you’ll ever find him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!” He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.

I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line: “He will find you!” At least I thought it was clever. Later I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful.

Then a sad report, I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted, and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe. “Tommy, I’ve thought about you so often. I hear you are sick!” I blurted out.

“Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It’s a matter of weeks.”

“Can you talk about it, Tom?”

“Sure, what would you like to know?”

“What’s it like to be only twenty-four and dying?”

“Well, it could be worse.”

“Like what?”

“Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real ‘biggies’ in life.”

I began to look through my mental file cabinet under “S” where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification God sends back into my life to educate me.)

To continue tomorrow…

Meditation: And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. – Ezekiel 22:30

You will succeed in Jesus Name!