I can only speak for myself because I do not know you personally or how you were raised. I was indeed masterfully blessed to have had the parents (both mom and dad) who were gifted to me by the Creator, God of the Universe, in the spring of 1945. My dad was my hero and best friend. He was a native Idahoan and he was a very good provider, protector, teacher, and example to and for his one and only wife and three children. He was a military (U.S. Navy) veteran of World War II. He loved his family and country and passed on its history as well as the price that had been paid by our ancestors for the freedoms and liberties we all enjoy as free Americans. We, his family, had been well schooled in and about the full price that had been paid by and with our ancestor’s shed blood on battlefields all over the globe. My precious mother was a beautiful black haired, brown-eyed sweetheart who somehow, someway, by virtue of her own upbringing, always mysteriously just knew how to elegantly, gracefully, and properly handle each and every situation that confronted us as we grew up in Boise, Idaho, and the surrounding State of Idaho in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.
My siblings and I were taught good social manners and personal hygiene. We were taught good social skills, manners, and graces. We were taught good penmanship and proper use of the English language both in writing and speaking. Good and accurate grammar reigned supreme in our lives. It was very important for all we kids to properly and effectively communicate with other human beings. My dad insisted we always behave well and properly. We were taught how to live a good life and lifestyle with honesty and integrity. We were raised to be proud of our good family name and reputation. I thank God for my parents and their influence in my life.
My dad was always teaching us how to plan ahead and to be aware of our surroundings. “Pay Attention to what is going on around you.” And, “Think before you Act,” were the two catch phrases for all of us to use at all times. “Think beyond what other people are thinking,” was his daily encouragement. Indeed we were blessed by his family leadership role and active involvement in each of our lives. Little did I realize how valuable his counsel would turn out to be in my own life as time marched forward.
The 1950s and the early1960s were the most formative years of my personal life. Thank you, Al and Kitty Severn for all that you poured into me as your oldest son and personal student as to how to become a real, responsible, and most successful man, husband, father, visionary, and American Patriot.
Leadership, in any arena, always boils down to simply…influence…in, on, and around other people with whom you are dealing. Your own personal strength and ability as a leader of other people is best measured by the amount and strength of leadership talents and abilities you possess, develop, and pass on to those who are following you.
It has been said somewhere within the confines of those who study and publish official individual statistics that every person alive,…including the most introverted people…will influence at least 10,000 other people with their own use of their own lives! Think about that number for a moment. Regardless of your own abilities, as compared to other people, you will touch and influence at least 10,000 human beings while you live a full and normal life on this earth! Now ponder that number as you mentally roll it over in your own mind. Look at the geometric reproduction, impact, and influence that your cause, mission, or purpose will have over the years of your personal service to those whom you influence. The impact of your life will definitely be of great significance and importance. Have no doubt about it. You are most valuable and usable. Don’t waste your own life! You count! Make your own life count as your live here on earth!
God’s Laws equally apply to everyone, everywhere, every day. Whenever you know, understand, and then apply God’s Laws of Success….they do precisely what God’s Word says that they will do.
Never doubt or question God or His Word.
The Word of God tells us (in only one place within the Bible) about the word “Success.” It is recorded in the Book of Joshua, Chapter 1, verse 8, NKJV:
(8) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good SUCCESS.”
Now in order to get a good perspective of God’s intention, let use take a quick look at verse 9:
(9) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
And again at the Book of Mark, Chapter 11, verse 24:
(24) “Therefore I say to you, what ever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
God tells us in His Word in the Book of John, Chapter 14, verse 6, NKJV:
(6) “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Because of these true statements, it is clearly obvious that the only way to a personal relationship with God Almighty and to insure your only way to get to heaven after your physical life here on earth ends, is through your belief in and acceptance of Jesus Christ, the only Son of the Living God, as the Lord and Savior of your soul.
Meeting these requirements is discussed in the New Testament Book of Romans, Chapter 10, verses 9—10. NKJV:
(9) “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
(10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Now as a word of caution, your personal actions truly tell the world what your true personal beliefs really are. In other words, your example…what you do…as you are living out your own life…gives away what you really believe. Your example is always on display for all the world to see.
So why then should you pay attention to all people who come into your life as you live it out on a daily basis? God’s Word tells you that He created you in His own image and that He has a full and complete plan for your life— a perfect plan for your own personal success. This statement of Truth appears in the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 2, verses 1—10, NKJV:
Now believing that specific Truth and accepting it into your own mind allows you to conclude that God makes no mistakes and He is fully knowledgeable of anybody and anything that occurs or comes into your own believing mind and existing world of activities. Whatever those things may be, they are all a part of an overarching Plan for your successful life—as long as what you are doing is honest, and legal, and is the right and righteous thing to do, and it honors and benefits God Almighty and your fellow man or woman.
Therefore, all such things are all part of God’s master plan for your life. Therefore, be aware of your surroundings and activities, and the people who come into your life. When something or someone new or different than your normal operating procedures comes waltzing into your life, reach out to them, introduce yourself to them, show interest in them and what they are doing. This could be the start of something Big!
You never know…if this new person or some other person whom you have never met before, but who is or will be influenced by this new person, just may lead you to another person who can and will help you establish a new personal relationship that will be a doorway to the successful completion that God has in store for you. How do you ever know if the new person is the one? You don’t. Just play out this personal relationship development with a positive mental attitude, a smile, and a servant’s heart and let God do His work. This new person coming on scene in your life is not an accident. He or she is being sent into your life for a specific purpose.
God always works initially behind the scenes. He and His helpers always first come into your life from “out-of-the-blue.”
Peace and Love to All of You…………..Poppa Bear