From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-Mail
Dear Friend, It is the greatest privilege to call the One who has created the heavens and the earth and all that is within them our Father. The Lord who has made all things for His good pleasure has extended His kingdom to us that whosoever shall believe and trust on the finished work of God's only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ shall have everlasting life with Him forevermore. God's plan of salvation is made simple because of the sacrificial death of His One and only Son, Jesus Christ. All who believe and trust in Him are made clean again in God's sight and are made righteous before His eyes. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords and wishes to call you His child. Call upon His name and allow the Lord to cleanse you and make you a new creation in Christ. (Galatians 4:3-7) (Acts 4:12) I hope this message encourages your heart to see that it is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that one can obtain salvation and an eternity in heaven above. The Bible says that there is no other way that one can come to the Father except through the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) MEETING THE KING There once was a little boy who wanted to meet the King. He set off walking across the beautiful countryside towards the King's castle. He walked and walked, thinking of all the wonderful things that he and the King could talk about, and he imagined how beautiful the castle was. He was just a little boy, and he wanted so much just to talk to the King, see Him on His thrown, as well as be in His presence. Finally, after many long days of walking, the King's castle came into view. It was even more majestic than the boy had imagined! He couldn't wait to tell the King how beautiful everything was and how much he had enjoyed his walk across the countryside. The boy began to run towards the castle! However, as the boy got closer to the outside of the castle, he noticed there was a huge fence all around it, and there was a big fancy gate in front of the castle. As the boy neared the gate, he was stopped by a gate- keeper. When ask if he had an appointment to see the King, the boy said no, and was told he would have to leave. "I just want to see the King..." the little boy began in a halting voice. "That's not possible, unless you have an appointment, said the gate-keeper." Well, the little boy didn't have to be told twice. After all that walking, after all that thinking, after all that wishing and hoping, he turned and ran. He was sad and so very disappointed. He began to cry. All he wanted to do was tell the King wonderful things, and see all the beautiful things in the King's house. But he couldn't even get near the castle! The boy finally stopped running and sat down and just cried. A young man happened to be coming down the path at that very moment. He was carrying a sack over his shoulder and whistling a happy tune. He saw the little boy and stopped. "What's wrong, young man? Why are you so sad?" he asked. "Sir, I've been walking for several days just to see the King, but the gate-keeper won't let me in. I just wanted to tell the King how lovely everything is and see all the nice things in his castle. If only I could tell the King that I just wanted to see him!" wailed the little boy. "Whoa! Slow down a little. Sounds like you've had a rough time today." With that, the man set down his sack and began to rummage through it. "Would you like to have a fresh apple?" asked the man. "Yes, thanks, said the little boy. I don't think I'll ever go back there!" The man looked at the little boy thoughtfully. "Look, why don't you try again. I'll go with you this time." The man smiled at the little boy, who was obviously concerned for his safety; apparently thinking the gate-keeper would be really mad if the boy returned a second time. The man stood up and dusted himself off. "C'mon with me. Maybe we can find something else to eat along the way." the man said, holding out his hand. The little boy looked up at the man, and looked in the direction of the castle. He was so close! Well, he reasoned, even if I can't see the King, maybe I can find something else to eat before I begin my walk home. With that, the little boy got up and took the man's hand. He gripped the man's hand tighter and tighter as they got closer to the King's castle. Finally, the gate-keeper spotted them: one very frightened boy holding the hand of a man with a sack over his shoulder. As they drew close, the little boy couldn't stand it anymore. "Look, mister, we don't have to do this... I don't want you to get hurt. I'll just be on my way. It was nice of you to stop...thanks for the apple...we can just turn around now..." the boy began to babble again. The man held the little boy's hand firmly and said, "Child, you've come this far with me...how about trusting me a little longer? Let's just see what happens." "OK..." said the little boy. The pair came closer to the castle and the gate-keeper watched them approach. The man looked down and winked at the boy. The boy really thoughtthe man might be crazy...until he looked back at the gate-keeper -- who was smiling now! The big gate in front of the castle was swung wide open. The little boy was amazed! "Who are You?" asked the little boy in astonishment. "Why, I'm the King's Son. By placing your trust and faith in me, you can enter the Castle and be with the King," said the man. The little boy had a huge smile on his face. "Can I go home and tell my parents about you?" asked the little boy. "So they can come to visit and praise the King, too!" Jesus threw His head back and laughed. He thought that was the best thing that anyone could do. Would you like to see the King? Let me introduce you to His Son...Jesus Author Unknown Read and meditate on these scriptures: Psalm 37:3-6 "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." Hebrews 10:22-24 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." 2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him..." Psalm 139:1-6 "O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: HE TOOK MY PLACE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem170.htm Today's Selected Testimony: GOD'S FAITHFULNESS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony190.htm ============================================ From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-Mail Dear Friend, We should always remember that no matter what our sins or shortfalls, God is the one who can forgive and make clean again. Many times when we fall short and sin before God, we run away from Him thinking that we are beyond redemption. This is a falsity that the enemy has used for generations convincing people that they are too bad for God to love. I want you to know that there is no sin so deep that God's grace and love is not deeper still. If you have fallen away from Him, I encourage you to call upon the name of the Lord, confess your sins, repent, which means to turn away and ask God to forgive you and make you a new creation in Christ. He is faithful to hear and forgive your heartfelt prayer. Trust Him and your life will change forever. (Isaiah 1:18-19) (Joel 2:12-13) (2 Corinthians 5:17) I hope this message encourages your heart to return to God if you have fallen away and to come to God if you have never done so before. He loves you and wishes for you to spend Eternity with Him in heaven. ARE YOU HIDING FROM GOD? I remember the hot summer when we discovered ice cream sandwiches in the bottom of the cooler at the corner store. They were ten cents apiece, a lot of money back then. I don't remember how we came to buy one and taste the sweet chocolate graham crust and the melting vanilla ice cream, but we were mad for them after that. Of course, none of us had any money, allowances being unheard of on our side of town. Whether we rode our bikes, or played ball, or sat and played marbles, we talked and dreamed about those soft, creamy sandwiches. Within a week we had tapped out our sources of money: mooching and pop bottles for 2 cents each. My dad worked nights, coming home to join us for breakfast, and then sleeping till late afternoon. When he came home one morning I heard the jingle of change in his pants and something ugly crept into my mind. That change was just what we needed, what I had to have. All day long I kept coming into the house and listening at his door. Sleeping sounds: slow, even snoring. I cracked the door, and there hanging at the foot of the bed were those pants, that change, those ice cream sandwiches; my chance to be the big man in the neighborhood. I slipped in and took a handful of change. We ate like greedy pigs, and I was a hero to my band of friends as we sat in the shade of the corner store. They thought I was rich. I told them it was birthday money I'd saved. I felt satisfied before I ever ate them sandwiches. I was somebody. That went on every day for about two weeks and what a time it was! I had gotten good at slipping in and slipping out, and then ran to my buddies and we headed to the store. One day there was no change in dad's pocket so I felt for his wallet, hesitated a moment, then took out two whole dollars. I had been okay with taking the change, but those dollars made my face feel hot. Even before we began gorging ourselves on ice cream, my stomach felt sick. The importance and joy I had felt buying for my friends was gone that afternoon. I realized I was in pretty deep. If dad knew, he'd kill me, but worse, he'd have that look in his eye, that disappointment he would get when I'd miss catching a ball or get a bad grade. Now, I had stolen from my dad. I couldn't face him, and didn't know what to do. Early that afternoon, the sun high and hot, I grabbed my fishing pole and walked down the tracks to the reservoir, wishing my stomach would quit aching, and praying nobody would see me crying. As I sat hurting that day, knowing there was no way to get right with my dad, I saw him walking along the tracks. He was big man who sort of swaggered like a sailor in a roiling sea, his arms swinging to the sides as he went. But now he was walking slow and deliberate, looking somehow as heavy as I felt. I couldn't run. I just sat there, watching him come to me, my pole motionless in my hands, barely breathing. I don't remember being afraid. No, it was more so feeling deeply sorrowful at hurting him. My eyes were watery when he came up. He just quietly sat alongside me and stared in the water with me. After what seemed a very long time he asked, "How're they biting son? I couldn't speak. I was too near crying, and he deserved me acting with some dignity I thought. We sat quietly, a bird singing nearby, and I stuck out my chin as best I could, willing to take whatever beating he thought I needed, if he would only take me back. In a moment I will never forget, he said, "Son, I've known since the first day you took the money. I watched out the window as you and your friends ate ice cream. I didn't say anything, because I wanted to let you come and tell me yourself. It hurt me that you were stealing from me, but it hurt more you didn't come and tell me. Son, you can always come to me when you've done wrong. I love you son." And with that, his hand reached out, not to strike me, but to pull me to his chest, where I cried. As I cried, my dad told me he trusted me, and that everything he had would be mine some day. Because I couldn't go to him, he came to me. God is coming to you. It isn't so much your sin that hurts Him, as your reluctance to face Him and trust Him even in your failings. He is your Father. His calling is unchanging. His love, unfailing. He has come seeking you, true Shepherd that He is. Bury your head in His chest, accept His embrace, and begin again, as at the first, to follow Him. There, in His grace, you will find a firm foundation for serving others, your own needs met. Jesus has work for you still. Author Unknown Read and meditate on these scriptures: Romans 10:9-11 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." Isaiah 55:6-7 "Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Romans 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: IT IS FINISHED Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem158.htm Today's Selected Testimony: GOD SAVED MY DAD Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony144.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. 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