"I'm Just Sayin" by Alan P. Scaglione

“He’s just doing his Best to improve His World!”

                                                                    

                                                                         “I’m Just Sayin’”


                                                                     by Alan P. Scaglione

So my wife got me this book by Katie Couric, “The Best Advice I Ever Got”, and it has advice from those who have been the kind of success that this world admires and seeks to emulate. There are remarks from some famous people espousing their wisdom based on their success in life. Katie put together this collection of advice for those just starting out in life…so they can learn from others…the ones who must have gotten it right…they’re successful, right?

Or are they?

After reading a few pages, it caused me to ask myself? “What’s the best advice I ever received and applied to my life?”

Funny….it comes from two places: I combined them into one-- to become my lifetime mantra.



The first: from an old guy who lived a long time ago...Shakespeare. He said, “To Thine Ownself Be True!”

That’s how I have always tried to live…true to self…looking myself in the mirror and asking…”Am I proud of the man I see?”

And in the moments when I am not, I set the course to get back to the place where I can see him again, in that mirror, and be proud to be me!



The second: from an old guy who lived a long time ago….and continues to live! It’s from Jesus. He said:

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you!”

Since I was 11 years old, when I made the best decision of my life, to accept Christ as my Savior, I have sincerely made that my #1 goal!

I have always set as the barometer in my life whether I was pleasing the Lord with my actions and my life. When I wasn’t, I sought forgiveness, set the course back to the direction that was pleasing to Him and did my best to do what was right in His eyes…my ultimate goal in my life!



I put these two together to make my life’s mantra:

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God…and you will always be true… to the “true” you!”



The Word says, “What does it profit a man to win the world…and lose his soul?” Mark 8:36



I know -- to the world, money=success; but I have never accepted that.

If it did, we wouldn’t see so many “successes of this world” put a gun to their head or a needle to their arm…and end their miserable life!

So I always knew: a true success must include peace of mind.



I’ve met people who were never financial scions of the industry, but…they smile, they laugh, they are at peace with the course of their life.

Did I mention? They each have a relationship with their Maker and look forward to meeting Him in Heaven.



If I were to share my quotes from successful people, those with “heart and soul” success, and give to those starting their life who want to be truly successful, here’s my collection:

- This world will either keep you from His Word or…His Word will keep you from this world!

- The BIBLE: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

- You can buy a lot of things, but you can’t buy peace of mind…only God can give you Peace in the Storm!

- Forgiveness helps the one who forgives more than the one forgiven- give it, even if no one is asking for it!

- When possible, live at peace with all men; when it’s not, move! Life is too short to stay angry with anyone.

- If you meet me and forget, you have lost nothing; but, if you meet Christ and forget Him, you have lost everything!

- You can never out give God; don’t be stingy with your giving if you don’t want Him to be stingy with His!



And you know what? I didn’t find a single one of these quotes in Katie’s book, but…I found a lot of them in God’s!

Who ya gonna believe? I think He’s got a longer history of being successful—

No matter how they try to ignore and replace Him—He’s still God!



Until next time,

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”