'The God Memorandum' (from 'The Greatest Miracle in the World' by Og Mandino)

Article Title: 'The God Memorandum' (from 'The Greatest Miracle in the World' by Og Mandino)
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Category/Key words: Inspiration, 'The Greatest Miracle in the World', Og Mandino, book "reviews", inspirational books, good books, spiritual, spiritual growth

Web site: http://www.ragpicker.org/

The submitter's blog (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) is at http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22 and http://craiglock.wordpress.com

Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, 'spiritual writings' (how 'airey-fairey'), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig!)

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."
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Submitter's Note:

I ‘ve been reading this most uplifting and empowering book by Og Mandino; so am sharing this "review" in the spirit of passing on excerpts of the content, in the form of thoughts, quotations, concepts and principles (like the Laws of the Universe). And as I share, I learn too! In this piece I'm sharing what I feel is the central message of Mr Mandino's highly inspiring book (first published by Frederick Fell Publishers Inc in 1975). ISBN 0-553-27972-6

To properly understand my "highlighted" notes, you need to read the book fully ...to put them in their proper context.

Where the pronoun "his" is used in this article, please substitute "her" if appropriate.

Thank you, Mr Mandino and Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.

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About the Author and the Book:

The leading inspirational author of our time, Og Mandino was once a down-and-out alcoholic, who contemplated suicide. In this best-selling book, Og Mandino shares his personal story and reveals the process that turned a derelict into a millionaire and a happy man in ten years. It's one of Og Mandino's best stories

"This book is a celebration of a unique vision - a vision which reaches out and shines, touching with magic the drama of life across all it's limitless horizons."

"Ingenious and enjoyable, it is penned by an author groping in the darkness of the past for clues to the puzzles of the present and the future."
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'THE GOD MEMORANDUM' (from Chapter Nine of 'The Greatest Miracle in the World' by Og Mandino)

"I love you and am with you through these words...

Light your own candle

YOU are my greatest miracle.

YOU are the greatest miracle in the world

You were given the secret even of moving mountains, of performing the impossible.

If you are feeling down, count one blessing in your life.

Love:

To receive love it must be given with no thought of its return. Love is a gift on which no return is demanded. To love unselfishly is its own reward. And even should love not be returned, it is not lost; for love not reciprocated will flow back to you... and soften and purify your heart.

Your brain is the most complex structure in the universe. Within its three pounds are thirteen billion nerve cells that make your DNA, you unique. YOU are my finest creation.

Know then the first secret to happiness and success - that you posess, even now, every blessing necessary to achieve great glory. They are your treasure, your tools with which to build, starting today, the foundation for a new and better life.

The return of humanity from living death

For he is not poor who has little; only he that desires much... and true security lies not in the things one has, but in the things one can do without.

What are the handicaps that produced your failure? They existed only in your mind.

1. Count your blessings.

You are the most valuable treasure on the face of the earth.

You are the rarest thing in the world.
Imitate no one. Be yourself Show your rarity to the world and it will shower you with gold.

2. Proclaim your rarity. Celebrate your uniqueness

You have no handicaps. You are NOT mediocre.

3. The third law: Go the extra mile (for others)
In a word, serve. The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. The surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work for which you are paid.

You cannot command success, you can only deserve it.

Be patient with your progress.

Be proud. You were made with a purpose.

You need me... and I need you.

We are both miracles and now we have each other.

I gave you the power to think...

to love

to will

to laugh

to imagine

to create

to plan

to speak

to pray

'I gave you the power to choose. I gave you complete control over your destiny, in accordance with your own free will.'

Use wisely your power of choice.

Choose to love... rather than hate.

Choose to laugh...rather than cry.

Choose to create...rather than destroy.

Choose to persevere... rather than quit,

Choose to praise...rather than gossip.

Choose to heal...rather than heal.

Choose to give...rather than steal.

Choose to act... rather than procrastinate.

Choose to grow... rather than rot (or stagnate).

Choose to care about others

"Where there's care, there's hope."

"Hope is the anchor of the soul."

"The spring of hope is universal, eternal and will never run dry." - craig

Choose to forgive those who have hurt you, rather than hating

You can never be successful without forgiveness." (like Nelson Mandela, the "father of freedom/democracy in South Africa) Forgiveness is a great tool in healing (the giver, as well as the receiver)
"When you forgive (another person or country), you empty your mind of negative thoughts (perhaps even thoughts as strong as hate). Then the infinite Spirit of God makes a fresh space in our hearts to allow new positive feelings to take their place.. to pour into our hearts. The 'freed' person then moves forward with a new spirit...which takes root in people's minds, hearts, spirits and even in the deepest recesses of their souls."

- craig

Choose to pray (for strength and for others)... rather than curse.

Choose to LIVE, rather than die.

This world has provided me with everything a man could desire. It is time I began to repay my debt by doing all I can to help make a better life for all mankind.

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You are more than a human being; you are a human becoming.

You are capable of great wonders. Your potential is unlimited.

YOU can be a shining example of how much IS possible to accomplish with one's life despite obstacles and handicaps ...by releasing the champion within.

Never hide your talents from this day hence!

The choice is YOURS:

Remember, then, the four laws of happiness and success.

Count your blessings.
Proclaim your rarity
Go that extra mile
Use wisely your power of choice.

To fulfill the other four.

Do all things with love . . . love for yourself, love for all others, and love for me. Never, ever forget . . .

As a member of the human race, the greatest miracle in the world is YOU!

Shine YOUR bright light on humanity"

Shared by craig ("information and inspiration distributer, incorrigible encourager and people-builder")

"Each ONE of us CAN reach deeply into ourselves and plant seeds of hope, faith and love for those around us. Like throwing a pepple into a a calm pond produces ever-widening circles, your ripples of 'inspirational energy' forming on a peaceful heart will one day turn into waves, which can spread far and wide to galvanise positive change...in ourselves, others... and perhaps even the world."

"Since I can never see your face,
And never shake you by the hand,
I send my soul through time and space
To greet you. You will understand."
- James Elroy Flecker

To dearest dad, 'RC' Raymond Carruthers Lock, "the greatest salesman, supporter and encourager in the world" and to you mom, Hazel... for your great care and love and especially for your "infinite wealth of an enquiring spirit"... that lives on

"Death is not a foe, but an invisible adventure"

"Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity."

"Earth hath no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal."
- Thomas More

"Together, one mind, one soul at a time, let's see how many people we can impact, empower, encourage and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials. Change YOUR world and you help change THE world... for the better"

PPS: Always remember...
YOU ARE THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD

Check out: http://www.ragpicker.org/

Together, one mind, one heart, one life at a time, let's plant the seeds of a better future."

"Instead of the limits of borders (of countries, of peoples and of our minds) let us and our leaders expand our sense of possibility... and together let's look at building bridges to distant horizons, far and great. Lord, help us all lift our eyes a little higher."

- craig