My son turns 13 this weekend.  As I reflect on my first 13 years, I have come to the conclusion that the decsions that I have made will provide my son with a better foundation than the one that I had.  As a born-again Christian, my son has the solid foundation of the Word of God.  He is learning more everyday.  My foundation at 13 was Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and Dungeons and Dragons.  I have come a long way since those days and I m thankful.  I too am learning.  Oddly enough, you never stop learning.  If you choose the path of “I know what I know and that’s all I want to know…” you will suffer from a stagnating soul.  Since my son is 13, here are 13 things to remeber in life.

1. God is God, but he trusts you to do.  Act in a manner that will get the job done.
2. The Bible will give you what you need if you are willing to spend time and effort developing this skills.
3. Read and write everyday.  One will add knowledge and wisdom to you and the other will allow you to express your understanding of what was added to you.
4. Wishing for easier does not help you grow.  Don’t wish for easier, make yourself better.
5. Love and Faith are developed daily through spending time with your Father.
6. Any information you obtain is easier to use if you have an organized system to retain it.
7. Listen to your Heavenly Father.  He knows the who, what where when and why.  He will show you how as well.
8. Rocky Balboa was correct.  The punches will come.  It is up to you to keep moving forward.  Stopping will not complete the job.
9. Integrity more essential than ever.  Once your life hits the online world, it does not disappear.
10. Trust God; Love People.  Don’t get this mixed up.
11. Your future is yours, but live disciplined to have freedom.
12. Birthdays, anniversaries and the like are good days.  There will also be bad days, but  remember that they are only signposts in the roads.  Celebrate the good, learn from the bad, but don’t camp out at either.
13. Sowing is only the beginning.  Reap when the season is correct.

Keep on keeping on….

Planning ahead is more a skill than an art. When you follow any well laid out plan, you increase your success rate by ensuing you are equipped to complete the goal. When Jesus sent the Disciples into the world, He equipped them with the necessary power to minister to the lost. Similarly, Jesus has equipped us with the necessary power to finish our race.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 10:1-42

Action is often a missing ingredient in our busy lives. We have so many “things” that distract us from what we want to act on, we often lose interest in the goals that we set. As we enter a New Year, remember that your maximum sustainable effort toward your goal is necessary to bring it to completion.

Scripture Reference: James 1:22-25

People who persevere are committed. These people are not just committed to the idea, goal or mission, rather they are commtted to completing the process that will “bring it to pass.” In today’s society, we so many different things that we need to complete, but those that win the race persevere through the circumstances.

Scripture Reference: Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

Determination is a critical success factor in your life. Detrmination sees you through the storms, the bumps in the road and allows you to fulfill long-term goals and visions.

Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT