Marion Gaskins

"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve; I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, But everything I had hoped for. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day, Just go to a mirror and look at yourself And see what THAT man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife Whose judgment upon you must pass; The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the one staring back from the glass. Some people may think you a straight-shooting' chum And call you a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you're only a bum If you can't look him straight in the eye. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, For he's with you clear up to the end. And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life And get pats on your back as you pass. But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you've cheated the man in the glass. Author Unknown

#1 - Think Positively!         You must think positively about ALL of your accomplishments, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem to you or to others.  They are your building blocks. #2 - Make Mistakes!        Yes, it is important for you to allow yourself to make mistakes.  Making mistakes is an essential growth component. #3 - Believe!        Before you can even begin the task of being successful, you have to BELIEVE that you have already succeeded.  You must speak - act - and even dress….not for who you are right now but for who you want to become. #4 - Eliminate The Negative!        To be successful you must REPLACE all of your negative words and thoughts with POSITIVE phrases, thoughts and words.  Tell yourself - "I am a success."  "I am a wonderful, kind and good person."  If you practice this every night before going to bed and every m...

" The man whispered, "God, speak to me." And a meadowlark sang. But, the man did not hear. So the man yelled, "God, speak to me!" And, the thunder rolled across the sky. But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But, the man did not notice. And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle!" And a life was born. But, the man did not know. So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here!" Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. Author Unknown PLEASE don't be this man!

Below is an article I just read in The American Scholar by Jim Hinch……… I have highlighted some sentences that I think are very important. "Cover Story - Winter 2014                            Where Are The People? Evangelical Christianity in America is losing its power—what happened to Orange County’s Crystal Cathedral shows why                                                                                 The Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, California, is one of America’s largest and most celebrated ecclesiastical buildings. At 60,000 square feet and designed by architect Philip Johnson, it was until recently the sanctuary of Robert H. Schuller, once one of the country’s most prominent and influential C...

                                                          "I remember hearing a story about a father and his son.  The father, a wonderful farmer, did not have the opportunity for higher learning, but he was going to see to it that his son got the best.  Upon the son's returning from his freshman year at college, father and son were standing under a tree on the farm, and the father began to interrogate the son about his experiences that year at the university.  The boy said, "Dad, I enjoyed my first year in school, but you know, I studied biology and philosophy and geology and I have learned some things that have upset me."  The father was curious to know what was troubling his son and so he inquired further.  The boy replied, "Dad, I have discovered that God made the world wrong.  For example, look at this st...

The Art of Letting Go To let go is not to care for, but to care about. To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive. To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. To let go is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies. To let go is not to deny, but to accept. To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them. To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. To let go is not to cut myself off.  It's the realization that I can't control another. To let go is not to try to change or blame another.  It's to make the most of myself. To let go is to fear less and to love more . Author Unknown