Words are powerful. Your words can determine where you go in life, shape the opinions of others about you, and build the foundation for your future successes or failures.

Perhaps the most powerful ability of your words, though, is in how they reveal who you really are. Who you are on the inside is expressed outwardly through your words. If you are a person of integrity, that integrity will shine through the words you say and how you say them. If you have a serious deficiency in character, that will become evident through your words, too.

What do the words you say and how you say them reveal about you? Do they contribute toward a good reputation or do they betray you? To help you get a handle on your words, here are four basic guidelines...

As most of us have experienced, time is a commodity in high demand. There never seems to be enough time for us to do everything we have to do and want to do. We all face expectations and demands, pressures and desires, and there are simply not enough hours in the day to attend to everything.

All too often, our families are the ones who suffer for it. While we have a propensity to focus our time and energy on activities outside the home, those we love the most get the short end of the stick. After expending ourselves for other people and other obligations, many people arrive home, unwind in front of the television, and then collapse into bed without devoting any attention to the others living under the same roof or to prayer.

It may take some restructuring of your schedule and it will require an intentional effort, but it is possible to realign your life so you can give more time to your family. You may need to make some sacrifices and you must learn to say "no," but you can make your family a priority. Here are some suggestions to help you get started...

Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, andriseth up again (KJV)

Taking risks are unavoidable. It's a part of life and everyone must make decisions when faced with problems. The outcome is always uncertain. The risk taken today may fail miserably tomorrow, yet it could be a success when taken six months later.

Risk taking should not be something to fear. Of course the best policy is to minimize the chance of failure by taking all the possible factors into account before acting on a decision. Business executives always weigh their options before making a final decision, but when they do, they don't procrastinate or look back wondering if the decision was the right one.

Whether you're debating on what college to attend or who will be the best soul mate for you...