From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gods Work Ministry Inspirational and Encouragement E-Mail
Dear Friend, We should always be quick to remember the blessings that our parents and grandparents have bestowed upon our lives. The many times they were there to comfort us, strengthen us, encourage us, and lift us up when we were feeling low should be thought upon and paid back in our own special way. We must not forget the many blessings that we received in our time of need, but rather we are to show our gratitude for their gifts of blessing and in-kind do our best to repay for the good deeds that we received. Be encouraged to return blessing for blessing and show by your actions that you're grateful for the love and support of your family. (1 John 3:18) I hope today's message ministers to your heart to remember those who were there for you and in your own special way, do something kind to show your gratitude. SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR MY GRANNY For some time I've had a church member provide me with a rose boutonniere to pin on the lapel of my suit every Sunday. Because I always got a flower on Sunday morning, I really did not think much of it. It was a nice gesture that became routine. One Sunday, however, what I considered ordinary became very special. As I was leaving the Sunday service a young man approached and said, "Sir, what are you going to do with your flower?" At first I did not know what he was talking about, but then I understood. I said, "Do you mean this?" as I pointed to the rose pinned to my coat. He said, "Yes sir. I would like it if you are just going to throw it away." The little boy said, "Sir, I'm going to give it to my granny. My mother and father got divorced last year. I was living with my mother, but I could not stay, so she sent me to live with my grandmother. She has been so good to me that I want to give that pretty flower to her for loving me." When the little boy finished I could hardly speak. My eyes filled with tears and I knew I you and go in a had been touched in the depths of my soul. I reached up and unpinned my flower. With the flower in my hand, I looked at the boy and said, "Son, that is the nicest thing I have ever heard, but you can't have this flower because it's not enough. If you'll look in front of the pulpit, you'll see a big bouquet of flowers. Different families buy them for the church each week. Please take those flowers to your granny because she deserves the very best." If I hadn't been touched enough already, he made one last statement and I will always cherish it. He said, "What a wonderful day! I asked for one flower, but got a beautiful bouquet." By Pastor John R. Ramsey Read and meditate on these scriptures: John 13:34-35 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." Romans 12:9-10 "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." Hebrews 13:1-3 "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity as being yourselves also in the body." 1 John 4:10-12 "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. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: A MOTHER IS A BLESSING Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem164.htm Today's Selected Testimony: ANGELS IN THE ROOM Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony84.htm In Christ's Service, Dwayne Savaya God's 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. All this and more available at --- http://www.Godswork.org You can also send prayer requests to --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Add your E-mail address if you'd like correspondence with the prayer partners. =========================================== Dear Friend, We should always come to God with the attitude of relief knowing that He cares for us and wishes to lighten our heavy burdens. The Lord declares in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." The Lord is not only our Savior and King; He is also our Father who wishes for our best interest at all times. Be encouraged to come to the Lord knowing that He does love you and wishes to place your feet on His solid ground. (Psalm 46:1-5) (Jeremiah 33:3) I hope you are encouraged by this message to come to God with your problems sharing with Him all that is on your heart and rest assured that He will answer your hearts cry. A MOUNTAIN OF LAUNDRY My husband and I became foster parents after we had been married for two years. Our first placement was two little boys, brothers, who we adopted after they were with us for eighteen months. When our boys were two and three, we were asked to take one and three-year-old sisters into our home. For the following two years we had our own little in-house, full-time daycare. After the girls had been with us for about six months, I attempted to get involved in a Bible study group at our church. One thing or another always seemed to prevent me from attending. I was feeling a little discouraged, but I'd purchased devotional tapes and a study guide and thought I could keep up with the Bible study by myself at home. One afternoon, after I'd put the children down for their naps, I tackled a mountain of laundry that had piled up on the sofa and needed folding. As I was folding, I began discussing my plight with the Lord. "You know, Lord, I've started attending this Bible study and I'm trying to find time for You and everything I need to do, but I just can't seem to find any time. I've tried getting up before daylight, but one of the kids always hears me and gets up wanting my attention and by bedtime I'm exhausted. I guess I could do them during naptime, but that's the only time I have to get caught up with the housework.mainly the laundry. I seem to be able to keep up with most everything but this laundry! Well, I guess You know all about it. You gave me all of these little kids to care for and You know they need clean clothes to wear. You know how much work this takes and I know You understand." The following Sunday my husband and I were sitting in Sunday School class waiting for the teacher to begin, when our family's adopted grandmother, Betty, came and sat down beside me. Betty is a widow who has raised five children. She's a wonderful woman who's always helping someone, and had personally blessed our family on many occasions, but I was totally unprepared for what she had to say on that particular day! She leaned toward me and said, "I have a proposition for you." My curiosity was aroused. "O.K., what is it?" I answered back. She sweetly and softly replied, "I really think this is the Lord, but would you let me do your laundry?" As I sat gaping at her with my mouth hanging open, my mind was racing trying to think who I could have told about my laundry situation. I knew I hadn't mentioned it to anyone, not even my husband, Rodney. "Do you know how much laundry I have?" I whispered back as my eyes started to fill. "Honey, I've raised five children and I know how much laundry you have," was her response. Then she continued, "You know, what you and your husband are doing raising these little children is wonderful, but I know it's hard work. I'm an old woman and I don't watch other people's children anymore, but I can do your laundry. You just have Rodney drop it off on his way to work, and pick it up on his way home. I'll wash it, dry it, iron it, fold it; whatever is needed." Shame on me, because the whole time she was speaking, I was thinking, "Oh, Lord, not the underwear! I can't send our underwear to someone else to do!" Betty was still talking, "Last week I noticed you up on the platform during praise and worship and you looked very tired. I was thinking about you all week and then I felt the Lord telling me to, `Ask Ronni if she'll let you do her laundry,'" then she finished with, "Now, don't you rob me of this blessing!" At the time I didn't know how to respond. Not wanting to hurt Betty's feelings, I let her know I would think about her offer. Even though I had poured out my heart about how difficult it was to keep up and how I missed my devotional time with Him, I was unprepared for God to actually do something about it. He had given me the task of caring for these little ones and I was a little put out that He'd taken me seriously when I said I was having trouble keeping up. So I thought, "If I just get a little more organized, I can take care of this myself." As I walked in and surveyed the laundry room a couple of weeks later, I sagged against the washer. The mountain of laundry hadn't diminished a bit with my efforts to take care of things myself. As a matter of fact, it was now bigger than ever. "Well, Lord," I said, "I guess I could send everything but the underwear." Very clearly, I heard that still small voice say, "When I ask you for your dirty laundry, I want all of it, even the underwear." That's when I broke. That mountain of laundry now represented the mountain of pride in my life. Who was I to look disdainfully on a gift offered in love? As I picked up the phone, my eyes were filling with tears and when I heard sweet little Betty's voice on the other end, my own voice shook as I said, "Betty, do you still want to help me with my laundry?" My tears quickly turned to laughter at her ready response of, "Bring it on over, Honey, bring it on over!" Our clothes were never cleaner, brighter, or less wrinkled than during the almost two years that Betty faithfully and lovingly did our laundry. Then when our little foster daughters were placed in their "forever home" through adoption, we both knew it was time for me to resume the task, and although she no longer does our laundry, our friendship remains strong. She laughed one day when I told her I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. I still do. By Ronni Wintermote Read and meditate on these scriptures: James 1:2-5 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD..." Joshua 1:8-9 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: HE IS IN CONTROL Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem142.htm Today's Selected Testimony: THE LORD WILL HELP YOU THROUGH Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony129.htm In Christ's Service, Dwayne Savaya God's 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. All this and more available at --- http://www.Godswork.org You can also send prayer requests to --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Add your E-mail address if you'd like correspondence with the prayer partners.
