I am proud to dedicate this book to my beautiful wife, Linda; our four wonderful children, Michelle, Greg, Mike, and Dave; my two daughters-in-law, Brittany and Kelley; and my three grandchildren, Emma, Olivia, and Beckett.
To Linda, for your steadfastness and love.
To Michelle, for your smarts and ability to organize a mess like me.
To Greg, for your faith and patient perseverance.
To Mike, for your resourcefulness and fearless approach to life.
To Dave, for that contagious smile and how we love to watch sports together.
To Brittany and Kelley, for your love for my sons and your love for the Lord.
To Emma, Olivia, and Beckett, for the sweetness, laughter, and abundance of love youve brought to our family.
Your support, help, encouragement, sense of humor, and prayers sustain and bless me every day.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Introduction
Part 1: Looking Inward
NUGGETT #1: When God Sees Someone Who Doesnt Quit, He Says, Theres a Person I Can Use
NUGGETT #2: No Gift from God Is Insignificant
NUGGETT #3: Persistence Is a HabitSo Is Quitting
NUGGETT #4: We Can Grow by Our Questions as Well as by Our Answers
NUGGETT #5: Give Me Six Hours to Chop Down a Tree and I Will Spend the First Four Sharpening the Axe
NUGGETT #6: For Every Reason There Is to Lie, Theres a Better Reason to Tell the Truth
NUGGETT #7: Be Decisive, Even If It Means Youll Sometimes Be Wrong
NUGGETT #8: Focus on What to Do Next Instead of Thinking about What Went Wrong
NUGGETT #9: Some People Wait Their Entire Lives for Their Ship to Come In, Not Realizing They Are Standing in an Airport
NUGGETT #10: Fear Isnt Reality
NUGGETT #12: Choices Bring Increase or Decrease
NUGGETT #13: Never Start Your Day in Neutral
NUGGETT #14: A Goal Changes Everything
NUGGETT #15: Bark Less, Wag More
NUGGETT #16: Alibis Are Lies Gift Wrapped in Explanations
NUGGETT #17: Dont Quit after a Victory
NUGGETT #18: The Price of Greatness Is Responsibility
NUGGETT #19: A Mistake Is TemporaryQuitting Is Forever
NUGGETT #20: Take a ChanceIt Might Give You a Brand-New Life
NUGGETT #21: Faith Has Feet and Hands
Part 2: Looking Outward
NUGGETT #22: Find Yourself by Giving Yourself to Others
NUGGETT #23: Its Better to Be Alone Than in the Wrong Company
NUGGETT #24: Why Fit In When You Were Born to Stand Out?
NUGGETT #25: Go Through What Youve Been Going Through
NUGGETT #26: Say No to Many Good Ideas
NUGGETT #27: There Are No Shortcuts to Anyplace Worth Going
NUGGETT #28: Change the Way You Look at Things and You Yourself Will Change
NUGGETT #29: Sometimes the Smallest Step in the Right Direction Is the Biggest Step of Your Life
NUGGETT #30: Forgive Your EnemiesNothing Will Annoy Them More
NUGGETT #31: Sticks and Stones Are Thrown Only at Fruit-Bearing Trees
NUGGETT #32: The Struggle Today Builds Strength for Tomorrow
NUGGETT #33: It Takes Little to Follow the CrowdIt Takes Everything to Stand Alone
NUGGETT #34: Rise by Lifting Others
NUGGETT #35: Some People Can Live an Entire Month from a Pat on the Back or an Encouraging Word
NUGGETT #37: Ten Truisms That Arent True
Part 3: Looking Upward
NUGGETT #38: Stop Every Day and Look at the Size of God
NUGGETT #39: Ideas Go Away, but Direction Stays
NUGGETT #40: Go Away to Get Ahead
NUGGETT #41: Knowing What God Cannot Do Reveals What He Can Do
NUGGETT #42: Just Say Yes
NUGGETT #43: The Bible Is a Book of Directions, Not Suggestions
NUGGETT #44: To Listen to Gods Voice, Turn Down the Worlds Volume
NUGGETT #45: A Moment in Gods Presence Can Change a Whole Story
NUGGETT #46: You Can Buy an Education but Wisdom Comes from God
NUGGETT #47: PrayerThe Worlds Greatest Wireless Communication
NUGGETT #48: God SpeaksAre You Listening?
NUGGETT #49: God Is Not Your ProblemHes Your Answer
NUGGETT #50: Learn the Alphabet for Success
NUGGETT #51: Develop a Holy Curiosity That God Is Always Up to Something in Your Life
NUGGETT #52: God Will Use You Right Where You Are Today
About the Author
Books by John Mason
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Back Cover
Introduction
Giving up is a region bound on the north by compromise, on the south by indecision, on the east by fear, and on the west by a lack of vision.
T his book is written for people who want to quit... so they wont. And for people who want to go to another level... so they can!
Each of us has been given a certain mixture of abilities and opportunities that make us unique. No mixture is insignificant. Those matchless qualities that God has placed within all of us cause us to yearn to be above average and extraordinary.
In Genesis 3:9, God asks Adam, Where are you? He is still asking that question of each of us today. Where are we regarding Gods plan for our lives? Where are we concerning the gifts and talents He has given us?
Is God finished with you? No!
Dont leave this earth letting everyone but God use you.
It is my prayer that as you read this book, you will allow the Holy Spirit to encourage you to stay the course. Ask for Gods help and never give up.
Part 1
Looking Inward
Nugget # 1
When God Sees Someone Who Doesnt Quit, He Says, Theres a Person I Can Use
G od does not quit. Its impossible for Him to do so. In Philippians 1:6 the apostle Paul wrote about being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. There are several important points in this verse. The most crucial is the fact that God doesnt quit. Therefore, we can have great confidence that He will complete the good work He has begun in us. He will see us through every step until we reach our ultimate destination.