From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-Mail
Dear Friend, It is the simple things in life that bring the greatest joy. Many times we get caught up with the issues of life and lose focus on the simple things that bring the most joy. We are to appreciate every gift that we've been given and make a conscious effort to count our blessings and see that we are highly favored in the eyes of God. It is in seeing those less fortunate than us that we find how truly blessed we are. It should not take for us to look at those less fortunate to appreciate life, but sadly this is what it sometimes takes for our eyes to be opened and shown that we have much to be appreciative of. Be encouraged to enjoy this day to the fullest and realize for yourself that you are abundantly blessed and have many reasons to be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-17) (1 Timothy 6:6-8) (Psalm 34:1-4) I hope this message encourages your heart to see that you are highly favored and have much to be grateful for. BLESSED BY SIMPLICITY This is a simple little story, with a simple meaning - but it has a very powerful message... I recently started working part-time at a discount store. I have had the opportunity to observe customers from all walks of life. Even though the store is a "discount" store, shoppers range from well-to-do to the plain and simple whose economic needs probably necessitate their shopping at discount stores. Of course I already knew that having a bright loving persona isn't by any means related to how affluent a person is, and that is what this little story is about... This week a special blessing was sent my way! Three very special customers came in together - three young ladies - or maybe I should label them angels in disguise! I was standing behind the counter as they entered and realized that one of the ladies was the caregiver and that she had brought the other two "mentally challenged" ladies in to shop. I believe that's the modern term for what society formerly called "mentally retarded." Webster's Dictionary defines the word "retarded" as "slow or delayed." What I am about to describe certainly reflects neither... As the ladies shopped all around the store eventually they came up to the counter where I was standing, to look at the ring display. One of the ladies had her arms overflowing with little toys and other items. I think most of it was for friends back at the group home where they lived. She was naming what she had chosen special for each friend. She then carefully picked out a ring which she said she was buying for her boyfriend. The other lady tried on different rings and then decided upon one for herself, with the guidance of the caregiver, who was so kind and patient with them. As they were standing at the counter looking at the rings, I started talking to them, and one of the ladies formally introduced me to the caregiver and to her other friend. She put her arms around each one, hugged them up close to her and said, "These are my friends", and told me their names. Then she looked direct at me, smiled, and said, "You are two of a kind!" I smiled back at her in silence, not knowing what she meant by that! I have since thought about those words and I'm not totally sure of what she meant by them, but I hope that in her own special way perhaps she sensed a friendly loving spirit within me as that of her friends! That one simple little sentence blessed my heart that day, and made me feel very special! I saw the joy of simplicity that these ladies were savoring, and I felt the happiness they were sharing together as friends. As they paid for their purchases with their own money, I could sense their feeling of satisfaction of being independent in choosing what they wanted to buy. They seemed so happy and content with what they had chosen. No debating over whether they should do this or that, and no discussing or worrying whether their friends would be happy with the gifts chosen just for them. I'm sure they had no doubt that their friends would appreciate what they had bought for them, because it was coming from their hearts. Just a simple day - a simple shopping spree - but it made me realize that these young ladies were living life to the fullest! I believe they were truly angels in disguise sent just for me that day, to make me more aware of how complicated I tend to make my own life sometimes, and that I need to slow down, look around, and savor the simple joys of life. It's right there under our noses, if only we will slow down enough to see it! These young ladies didn't have lots of worldly possessions or any of the things that we think we have to have in order to enjoy life. They were just simply enjoying the pathway that God had chosen for their lives, to the best of their abilities. How many of us can honestly say that we do that? It's the simple things in life that matter the most. Sometimes we get so busy that we forget that. We get so caught up in the rat race of life that we forget how our lives can be so richly Blessed by Simplicity! By Kathy S. Norris Read and meditate on these scriptures: Philippians 2:2-3 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Psalm 34:1-4 "I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Hebrews 13:5-6 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Revelation 22:12-14 Jesus declares "And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: EIGHT GIFTS THAT DON'T COST Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem135.htm Today's Selected Testimony: THE PINK BIRDS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony155.htm ========================================== God's Work Ministry E-Mail Dear Friend, We should always portray an attitude of gentleness towards those around us and allow them to feel the love and care that we have in our hearts for them. Many times we go through life not really taking an interest in what others are going through and in turn causing an uncomfortable relationship. We must remember that God calls us the children of light who are meant to encourage, lift up and strengthen those who are weak and discouraged. We must take an interest in those who are feeling alone and discouraged and let them know that they are loved and have much to offer this world. It is in blessing others that we are blessed and it is in encouraging others that we become encouraged. We will reap exactly what we sow, so be encouraged to sow goodness, cheerfulness, hope and love and expect to reap the same in your life. (Galatians 5:22-26) (Matthew 5:14-16) (Galatians 6:7-8) I hope this message encourages your heart to bless those who persecute you and allow the light that is within you to shine brightly where they will be changed because of the example that you set forth. ARE YOU ADOPTABLE? One of my favorite activities is to visit our local animal shelter. It's a bittersweet tug on my heart, as I would love to scoop up and take a bunch of the animals home with me, yet I know that reality tells me I can not. So, my time spent is mostly conversing with and petting the animals that I can. There is one large dog there named, Otis, who is Not up for adoption. I believe the Lord used this dog to teach me a valuable lesson. When I first started coming to the shelter to visit with the animals, Otis would always growl, bark and sometimes lunge at the cage. It didn't matter how much I tried to talk to him, he was still very standoffish. Soon, I gave up trying and kept my distance so as to not cause him any additional stress. Months had gone by, and even when in the same room with Otis, I would just ignore him and not go by his cage. Although, he wasn't barking or growling at me anymore, I still maintained my distance. I just didn't trust him. One day, a small, 4-month-old black lab puppy was placed next to Otis. I went up and started talking to this puppy, gently and playfully. Little did I know that the whole time I was talking to the puppy, old Otis thought I was talking to him. Starved for attention and human touch, Otis placed the side of his body up against the cage for me to pet him. Was I nervous? You bet I was! This was the same dog I thought would bite my hand off. I looked in his eyes and all I saw was one of God's creatures, wishing only to be loved. Slowly, I started to pet Otis and call him gently by his name. The joy in his eyes was inexpressible. How many times, I thought, had I treated a person in the same manner as I had treated Otis? Maybe, because of their outside exterior, their gruffness, rudeness or maybe even irritability, I had distanced myself or even ignored them. Had I failed to really, really look and see their true inner being? Like Otis, all of us long to be loved and accepted. Isn't it wonderful that God accepts us and wants us just as we are? He doesn't say, "Come, when you get your life in order." or "Come, when you stop with that bad habit.", or "Come, when all your relationships are mended." No, when He says, "Come as you are," that's exactly what He means. Remember a kind soft word, gentle hug or smile may be all that is needed to soften the hearts of the Otis's in this world. And Yes, Otis is still at the shelter, and he's still one of my most favorite dogs to spend time with! Author Unknown Read and meditate on these scriptures: Romans 12:15-18 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Philippians 2:3-7 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Galatians 6:2-4 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in 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." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: JUDGE GENTLY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem180.htm Today's Selected Testimony: MY SALVATION STORY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony120.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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