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1. 28 Ways To Smash
What Shattered You
By Tony Baker
Shattered!

2. Copyright © 2013 by Tony Baker
All rights reserved.
Cover designed and arranged by Tony Baker

3. The Eagle
An eagle is known to fly by itself. It climbs the highest rock and free falls
head first. In one burst the eagle flaps its wings and is lifted high in the
air. An eagle never flies in a pack; it is often alone.
Have you ever wondered why you don't fit in? Has it ever dawned on you that you
are like the eagle? Perhaps your life has been challenging because you try to
hang around people who are like the penguin, the ostrich, and the chicken. None of
these birds were meant to fly. The penguin was meant to live in the cold. The
ostrich was created to run on the ground. The chicken stays in the coop. But
you, you the eagle were meant to soar.
Do not be discouraged by your present circumstance. Even the eagle has to fly
through the storms and the rain. You may walk alone now, but I believe the
further you fly, the more your life and destiny will be revealed. If your
blessings have escaped your grasp, keep soaring. The reason you have not received
your blessings is because you are not high enough. You can make it...you eagle.
Reflections
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4. Nothing Just Happens
It is often said that things never just happen. I truly believe that. In our
lives we can honestly look and say without a doubt what we have
accomplished and what we have yet to accomplish is not a result of others.
Instead, it is a direct reflection of where we are or what we desire at the
time. I also hear many people say when things don’t go their way that it wasn’t
God’s will, it wasn’t their time, or this was not meant for them. The better
question is this. Do you really want it? What are you willing to sacrifice
to achieve it? I say that because whatever and I really mean whatever you
desire in life, you can have – as long as it is not harming others, causing
destruction, or hindering our society. You must ask and keep on asking. Seek
and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking and I can assure you that the
doors will open for you. Never Give Up!
Reflections
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5. Finish What You Start!
Finish what you start! One famous saying goes, “The race is not given to the
swift, neither the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, but it is given
to the one that endures until the end.” I know this has been a rough year with
its economic woes, relationship problems, and countless other burdens that you
carry. However, I believe in you and know that you have what it takes to move
forward. Make up your mind right now to finish what you start.
Bill Gates didnt quit when Microsoft failed. Its initial name was Traf-O-Data.
Oprah was abused as a child, fired, and told she wasn’t fit for television.
Moses was called to lead a multitude of people, but had a speech impediment. My
point is simple. All of these people and many others started, but did not quit.
Finish what you start!
Reflections
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6. Your Future Is Forward…
My favorite motivational speaker, Les Brown, once said, “Most people fail not
because they aim too high and miss, but because they aim too low and hit.” I
want to encourage you to keep aiming high. There is nothing down or backwards
that you need. Your future is forward and bright. That is why you must continue
to fight! I am sure there have been many people in your life that have told you
that you cannot make it, but here you are making it! This may be the year that
all of your dreams and goals are fulfilled. I really believe if you keep reaching for
what you want out of life, life must release it to you. Whatever you do, stay
focused and never stop until you get what you desire!
Reflections
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7. Perspective Acceptance
There will always be things in life to challenge your perspective. The great thing is that you don’t
have to accept what others say. Don’t even allow how someone else feels about you block your
progress. The most important person in the equation is not how others view you, what they say, or
how they feel about you…it is how you see yourself. Why? This is very simple, because you have the
privilege of being with yourself 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. This is one of the reasons you
should be your biggest fan and cheerleader. We all have weaknesses. Focus on your strengths and
move your life forward.
Reflections
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8. The Sandwich Shop
What do you do if you start a business to raise money for college? The business you choose is
making sandwiches. One thing no one told you was that you would start four sandwich shops, but
all four would fail. To keep up appearances, you continue to try and juggle them as people think you
are a fool. Well, this is exactly what Fred Deluca, the owner of Subway did. Now there are tens of
thousands of Subways around the world. I wonder if you would have quit after the first two failed…
Reflections
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9. The First Bloody Mary
She was labeled as a crazy woman. Her name is never even mentioned. No one wanted to go near
her. The doctors took her money, but never healed her body. Weakening from the hemorrhaging
she finally has had enough. Tired of being stereotyped and scorned she pushes her way to the first
of the crowd and does what few people dear to do - she touches Him. No, you don’t understand He
had been touched many times, but this was special for He said, “Virtue went out of me.” After
twelve (12) long years, she finally healed because she kept on reaching. How far are you willing to
reach to fulfill your destiny and receive healing for your soul?
Reflections
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10. 7 Days
What do you call an 86-year-old woman with the energy of a 20 year old? The spirit and zest for life
of a teenager. She has the heart of a worshipper, the class of a first lady, and to top it all off she
wears stilettos every day -- we call her Ma’ Barker. Mary Barker is the hero of many people in her
town and certainly our church.
Recently, she had some health problems. The doctors told her that she had some form of stomach
cancer. She lay in that hospital bed for a couple weeks. The doctors told her that they had to operate
to remove the cancer. In typical Ma’ Barker fashion she refused the procedure. As a matter of fact
the last thing she would ever do was take a bunch of medication, let alone allow doctors to perform
a major surgery.
They gave her 7 days to live. Tears flooded the eyes of many people as the news spread. Seven days
is what the doctors said. Well, the doctors did not know Ma’ Barker, her faith, or the God she
served. I am glad to report that it has been quite some time since seven days and she is still alive. She
has not put back on her stiletto, but I feel it is just a matter of time.
The morale of the story is this. Doctors may know science, but it is best that you know your God. If
you don’t, you may very well take your last breath in 7 Days, or your seventh day could become the
string of many more pleasant years.
Reflections
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1,009
So you have this chicken recipe. This new flavor is supposed to be really good. At least it is good to
you. But wait a moment. How old are you? You mean to tell me at this age, this stage in life, you
want to start a business? Well, at nearly 70 years old one man did just that. He did it using only his
social security check. After 1,008 tries, on the 1,009th
try Colonel Sanders finally found someone to
believe in him and Kentucky Fried Chicken was born.
Even after 1,008 tries he kept knocking. When did you stop knocking for opportunities? Was it after
the 5th
rejection? No, perhaps it was the 103rd
failure. After 1,008 attempts Colonel Sanders found
someone to believe in him. I believe the real thing he discovered was that he never stopped
believing in himself. Neither should you stop believing in yourself. Keep Dreaming!
Reflections
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