From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gods Work Ministry Inspirational and Encouragement E-Mail
Dear Friend, Doing for others brings greater satisfaction to ones life than many of the great accomplishments they may achieve. Jesus made it clear when He said it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. The Lord knows of the many benefits that givers receive and throughout His preaching, the Lord commanded us as believers to give. The Lord says in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Galatians 6:1-4) The laws of God command that givers will receive, but more importantly, the feeling of fulfillment that givers receive greatly outweigh any gift that was given. Be encouraged to do for others what you would want them to do for you and allow yourself to be an angel to someone else who is in need of your intervention. (Malachi 3:10) (Luke 6:31) (James 1:22-27) (James 5:7-11) I hope today's message ministers to your heart to allow yourself to be used of God to minister to someone else in need and allow your light to shine brightly where all darkness will cease to exist. FAITH AND DEEDS I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3), and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reaction. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say, hello, anyway...so, I thought, this would be a piece of cake, literally. Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's, one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell...and there standing behind me were two poor men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling." His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentle man was his salvation. I held my tears...as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked them what they wanted. The man doing the ordering said, "Coffee is all Miss." -- because that was all they could afford. To sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something... hey, they just wanted to be warm. Then I really felt it...the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with his blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me...judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this alone for you...God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me honey...to give me hope." We held hands for moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace of God that we had been given, that we were able to give. We are not church goers but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it...then she looked up at me and said, "May I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read, and that is when I knew that we, as human beings and being part of God, share the need to help people and be helped. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn...Unconditional Acceptance. Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this. Learn how to love people and use things -- not love things and use people. Author Unknown We need to keep love and kindness at the center of our lives because there are people watching to see if we are practicing what we preach. If our lives truly belong to God, then we are to love one another as He has commanded. A lawyer once asked the Lord Jesus Christ what is the greatest commandment? His response was this; "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (1 John 4:7-12) (Matthew 22:34-40) (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) I encourage you to remember the Lord's command to love your neighbor as yourself and allow your life to be the tool to which God's hand can reach through to touch someone else. Read and meditate on these scriptures: James 2:14-17 "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." 1 John 4:7-11 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." 1 Peter 3:8-11 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it." ========================================== From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gods Work Ministry Inspirational and Encouragement E-Mail Dear Friend, We should always be quick to show our love and compassion toward those closest to us and let them know how much they mean to us. Love implied isn't the same as love shown, and it is for this reason that we are to act out our love with reinforcing and thoughtful words, gifts and loving deeds that show how special they are to us. The Bible declares in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Be encouraged to lead by example and show the love that is within you towards others that you may glorify your father which is in heaven. (John 15:12-13) (1 John 3:16-19) (Matthew 5:14-16) (Philippians 2:1-7) I hope today's message encourages and inspires your heart to have the same love and compassion for your siblings that the Power's women have for one another. THE POWERS OF LOVE By all accounts, the Powers' household was like any other in the Mt. Greenwood community. With five daughters close in age, and a son, there was, no doubt, never a dull moment for their patient parents. And I thought having two daughters less than two years apart was a challenge! Like any other family overflowing with females, they fought, snuck each others clothes and, in coming of age years, shared the all important teen-age secrets. They supported each other in bad times and shared the laughter in happy times. Not much has changed in the years since they have grown into adults. I recently read an empowering story about the Powers women. They have joined forces to fight breast cancer with what they call Team KA-POW. Membership to this team includes many friends and family who support Annie and Kathleen, both cancer patients who are dedicated to raising funds to find a cure for this dreaded disease. Breast cancer is not the only medical affliction affecting women in the Powers family. Along with her mother Marilyn, Debbie frequently fights the painful flare- ups that Rheumatoid arthritis brings. However, it doesn't divert her efforts to support the cause of cancer research on behalf of her sisters. But there is another side to this story -- an inspiring show of their sisterly love that is a profound example of sodality in overcoming adversity. Kathleen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Her sister Annie would also be diagnosed with the same disease, one year later. Sadly, in 2005, Kathleen's cancer was found to have spread to her pelvis and spine, while Annie's breast cancer had also returned. Through the demands of dealing with cancer and undergoing the rigorous chemo regimens to treat it, a story of pure love and hope is born amid the medical challenges. For Annie, the desire to become a mother never faded though it seemed unlikely. Medications and cancer treatments would prevent her from becoming pregnant. And then, the "Powers of love" shone brightly on a promising situation. Annie wanted a baby of her own but wouldn't be able to carry one. But, her sister Mary could. So Mary became a surrogate mother for Annie -- an unselfish act of love that not many women would be able to commit to. Little Mary Elise was born July 2, 2006, lovingly named after the aunt who carried her, allowing her to grow right below her heart. To her mom, Mary is a wee angel of pure love, an answered prayer from God above. Sisters, they share many things throughout a lifetime. They celebrate good times and hold each other up when bad times threaten to knock them down. When family ties are sewn securely within the heart, there is nothing that can't be done or overcome. In writing this story I am reminded of an old expression, "It's not what life hands you, but how you handle it that counts." The determination of these women is a gift of inspiration to us all and a true testament to their parents, Marilyn and Gene Powers, who can be so proud of raising such loving, caring and compassionate daughters. There is no denying the Powers of sisterly love. By Kathy Whirity Read and meditate on these scriptures: 1 John 3:16-19 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus declares "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Romans 12:9-16 "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another..." Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: CANCER IS SO LIMITED Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem173.htm Today's Selected Testimony: HOW GOD USED CANCER TO BLESS ME Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony145.htm In Christ's Service, Dwayne Savaya Gods Work Ministry Please feel free to visit the Website to read more Encouraging and Inspirational stories, poems and testimonies. Our E-mail Archives are available as well to read the messages that have been sent in the past. You can now hear our stories and poems by ordering Voice Messages. Each volume contains 15 messages that can be heard and enjoyed anywhere a CD player is available. To order your copy, please click on this link: http://www.Godswork.org/voicemessages.htm You can also send Free E-cards to friends and loved ones with the many choices available. You are also welcome to post your prayer requests in our Prayer Forum. 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