Well, you knew it was going to happen, you just didn’t know when. You knew your dad, at some point, was going to tell you how to live your life. Well hopefully, it won’t be that bad. I will try to make it as gentle as possible! But before I get started I want you to know that I am not going to tell you WHAT to do; I am just going to tell you HOW, and with what emotions to do it! I know, that does not make you feel any better, but you gave me this soapbox, now I want to use it.

Rule #1 — Live your life with passion. It doesn’t matter whether it is sports, playing a musical instrument, or finding a spouse — you’ll never experience success at any of them without passion. Finding passion is as easy as looking at the desires of your heart. Once you know what you love, passion will follow — divinely inspired passion. Now, if it is divinely inspired, The Father must have inspired it. If He did, He has a passion for it too! After all “. . . the LORD, He is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you”(Exodus 34:14b).

Rule #2 — Live your life caring for others. Every individual likes to imagine himself as a caring person. But what is it in life that you care most about? The truth lies in your checkbook and calendar. You obviously have passion for the most prevalent entries. Remember who scripted your life with an infinite number of variations in order for you to make your own choices — and then remain by your side regardless of the choice. Make Proverbs 29:7 your mantra and then you know God will care for you.

Rule #3 — Live your life respecting others, but fearing God. In 1 John 4:18 we see that perfect love drives out fear. Nothing here on earth can alter what The Father chose for you eternally. It is appropriate to respect those you live with and compete against. However, you have no right to fear them. Since God sees them no differently than you (Job 34:19) they cannot be better or more valuable. Know your place, know your position, and know that 1 John 4:4 was written for a reason and that the wisest man alive said this: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).

Rule #4 — Live your life with hope. Happiness is not promised in scripture. However, joy and hope are, because they are what will make the difference in your life. Hope, more than any other emotion, will drive us to step out in faith more often, accomplish more with what we have, develop a better attitude, and live a life of example. It is the one promise you can count on. It is the one thing you are guaranteed as you persevere through the stress of life and accumulate the character God intended you to have (Romans 5:3–4).

Now why I have focused on these four emotions? They are the motivations that will get you from beginning to end with a smile on your face and a guarantee that The Father will say: “Well done, my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master’s happiness.” You see, the happiness is not guaranteed here on earth but it is in the Kingdom. So, if anyone tells you it is not good to be emotional, you just tell them that if you aren’t, you’ll never experience happiness!!

Love, Dad