“A truly wise person will constantly move forward, striving for self-improvement, knowing that daily repentance is needed for progress. He will realize the good life is simply conforming to a standard of right and justice. The joys of happiness can only be realized by living lofty principles.” InspirationalPersonsSelfMovingLife IsJoyRealizingJusticePrinciplesKnowingWiseProgressNeededSelf ImprovementStandardsStriveImprovementMoving ForwardRepentanceGood LifeConformLoftyWise Person Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“A friend in the true sense is not a person who passively nods approval of our conduct or ignores improper behavior. A friend is a person who cares.” PersonsCareBehaviorApprovalWho Cares Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“The practice of thrift is not outdated. We must discipline ourselves to live within our incomes even if it means going without or making do. The wise person can distinguish...between basic needs and extravagant wants. Some find budgeting extremely painful, but I promise you, it is never fatal.” IfsWantNeedsMeanPersonsPracticeWiseDisciplinePromisePainfulIncomeI PromiseExtravagantThriftOutdatedBasic NeedsWise PersonBudgeting Book:Ye Are My Friends Source: Ye Are My Friends
“One of the great tragedies of life, it seems to me, is when a person classifies himself as someone who has no talents or gifts. When, in disgust or discouragement, we allow ourselves to reach depressive levels of despair because of our demeaning self-appraisal, it is a sad day for us and a sad day in the eyes of God. For us to conclude that we have no gifts when we judge ourselves by stature, intelligence, grade-point average, wealth, power, position, or external appearance is not only unfair but unreasonable.” PersonsSelfSeemsEyeWealthLevelsTalentPositionJudgingDespairTragedyAverageAppearanceGradesDisgustingUnfairUnreasonableDiscouragementStatureDepressiveDemeaningGreat TragedyAppraisalSad DayExternal Appearance Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“God knows the feelings in every human heart. He can soften sorrow and lead when there seems to be no light. Prayer can give guidance and confidence. It reminds us that no one need be alone in this world. If all else fails, remember, God and one other person can be a family.” IfsKnowsWorldNeedsGivingHumansHeartPersonsFeelingsLightSeemsRememberPrayerFailingThis WorldFailureSorrowGuidanceHuman HeartGod Knows Book:The Measure of Our Hearts Source: The Measure of Our Hearts
“Someone has said, “A friend is a person who is willing to take me the way I am.” Accepting this as one definition of the word, may I quickly suggest that we are something less than a real friend if we leave a person the same way we find him.” IfsWayMayPersonsSaidRealAcceptingWillingDefinitionsTake MeReal Friends Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“A diet of violence or pornography dulls the senses, and future exposures need to be rougher and more extreme. Soon the person is desensitized and is unable to react in a sensitive, caring, responsible manner, especially to those in his own home and family. Good people can become infested with this material and it can have terrifying, destructive consequences.” PeopleNeedsPersonsHomeViolenceMediaMaterialsConsequenceResponsibleExtremesCaringSensesSensitiveDietsDestructiveGood PeoplePornographyExposureHome And Family Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“We ... tend to evaluate others on the basis of physical, outward appearance: their "good looks," their social status, their family pedigrees, their degrees, or their economic situations. The Lord, however, has a different standard by which he measures a person. When it came time to choose a king to replace King Saul, the Lord gave this criteria to his prophet Samuel: "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; ... for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."” MenLooksHeartPersonsDifferentSocialSituationLordEconomicKingsDegreesStandardsBasesAppearanceHeightProphetLooking GoodCriteriaEvaluateCountenanceStatureSocial StatusPedigreeOutward Appearance Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“A quality person is someone with integrity. To be worthy of the highest trust is a noble attribute and compliment. You will need to maintain confidences. Certainly it is greater to be trusted than loved. Truly happy persons will always be totally honest in their dealings with their fellowman.” NeedsPersonsQualityGreaterHonestIntegrityHighestWorthyNobleComplimentAttributesTrustedDealingsHappy PersonTruly HappyCompliments You Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“It is up to each of us to search for and build upon the gifts which God has given. We must remember that each of us is made in the image of God, that there are no unimportant persons. Everyone matters to God and to his fellowmen.” PersonsMadeMatterRememberGivenUnimportantGod Image Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“None of us need one more person bashing or pointing out where we have failed or fallen short. Most of us are already well aware of the areas in which we are weak. What each of us does need is family, friends, employers, and brothers and sisters who support us, who have the patience to teach us, who believe in us, and who believe we’re trying to do the best we can, in spite of our weaknesses. What ever happened to giving each other the benefit of the doubt? What ever happened to hoping that another person would succeed or achieve? What ever happened to rooting for each other?” NeedsGivingTryingBelieveWellsPersonsDoeTeachSupportDoubtHappenedAchieveBrotherSucceedBenefitsWeaknessAreasWeakFallenSpiteBrothers And SistersPointingEmployersDo The BestFamily FriendsBenefit Of The DoubtBelieve In Us Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“It takes personal sacrifice to communicate when conditions are right for the other person-during the meal preparation, after a date, a hurt, a victory, a disappointment, or when someone wants to share a confidence. One must be willing to forego personal convenience to invest time in establishing a firm foundation for family communication. When communication in the family seems to be bogging down, each individual should look to himself for the remedy.” WantShouldLooksPersonsSeemsIndividualHurtSacrificeShareConditionsWillingCommunicationVictoryFoundationDisappointmentCommunicatePreparationFirmMealsRemedyConveniencePersonal SacrificeFirm Foundation Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“Listening is more than being quiet. Listening is much more than silence. Listening requires undivided attention. The time to listen is when someone needs to be heard. The time to deal with a person with a problem is when he has the problem. The time to listen is the time when our interest and love are vital to the one who seeks our ear, our heart, our help, and our empathy.” NeedsHeartPersonsHelpingProblemInterestDealsAttentionSilenceHeardListeningQuietEmpathyAnd LoveEarsBeing QuietUndivided Attention Author:Marvin J. Ashton
“Being on time to appointments and meetings is a phase of self-discipline and an evidence of self-respect. Punctuality is a courteous compliment the intelligent person pays to his associates.” PersonsSelfPayDisciplineEvidenceIntelligentMeetingsSelf RespectComplimentPhasesSelf DisciplineAssociatesAppointmentsCourteousPunctualityIntelligent Person Author:Marvin J. Ashton
