From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, Whether we realize it or not, we are all connected in this world. The Lord has created us to be our brother's keeper showing our love, compassion and care towards those who are hurting around us. I truly believe it touches the heart of God when we do for others what they can't do for themselves. Jesus said that when we give a cup of water to someone in need, it is equivalent to giving it to Him. Jesus also said that every deed that is done in His name will receive a just reward. We must remember that God is gracious and merciful and as His children on the earth, we are to be caring and compassionate towards those who are in need around us. Be encouraged to think of how you can be used as God's vessel to bless someone who is in need of what only you can give. (Matthew 25:34-40) (Mark 9:41) I hope this message encourages your heart to see that we are all connected in life and as brothers and sisters of One Creator, let us move forward with love and compassion sharing with all the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. PATHS TO PONDER Can you imagine living in the desert for a whole year, observing the activity of a mound of busy fire ants? Deborah Gordon of The Santa Fe Institute did exactly that, and discovered four main groups of workers: cleaners, haulers, gatherers, and security ants. Each category consisted of an ever-moving line of ants marching in cadence toward a specific goal. Cleaners carried debris from inside the nest, to a dumping ground. Hauler ants circled the top of the mound, clearing clutter from the entrance. Gatherers marched off on time-consuming missions for food, and security members fought off threats to the community at large. How could one person observe so much? Deborah painstakingly painted a tiny dot of color on the back of each ant, to the tune of over 50,000 dots! The dots enabled Deborah to chart the course of each line of workers. One of the most fascinating aspects of her study was watching the ants overcome obstacles and threats to their orderly world--a stick across the trail, invading insects, lack of water, and fire. Haulers immediately stopped to help gatherers; cleaners came to the aid of the security force. None ran for cover, but scurried to and fro, working to protect and serve each other. They overcame obstacles by fulfilling their own tasks, then helping fellow members of the community to excel at their tasks, too. Complex adaptive behavior. That's what Deborah called the ants' behavior. How adaptive are we when unexpected obstacles or events litter our path? How do we react when people around us stumble? What have we done this week to make our community and world a better place? They're questions worth pondering. "Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established." (Proverbs 4:26) By Bonnie Bruno http://www.bonniebruno.com Read and meditate on these scriptures: 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." 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." Psalm 37:3-5 "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." Colossians 3:23-24 "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: HE DIDN'T STOP AT THE CROSS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem146.htm Today's Selected Testimony: THE PINK BIRDS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony155.htm ======================================== From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, We should never look at our limitations and think that we are unable to accomplish our God given dreams. We must stand in confidence knowing that with God by our side nothing shall be impossible to us. If God has been with us this long and hasn't left our side, then we must stir up our spirits and move forward with a renewed determination that we will fulfill and accomplish everything that God has put on our hearts. Be encouraged to renew your mind with the word of God and know that no matter how hard things may seem right now, you have the power of Almighty God standing beside you ready to help you realize every dream that you have within you. Praise God that He loves us so much that He is willing to meet our every need and fulfill our every desire. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) (Romans 12:2) I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to believe in yourself and reach forth anew towards the dreams and desires that have lain stagnant in your heart. Know that with God by your side, it is a majority rule that success is ahead of you. FLY I have seen him before. In fact, I believe now that, after seeing him nearly every time I go into the back yard, that there is a purpose in our meeting so often. I speak to you of signs, verbal nudging, brilliant, glowing, attention- grabbing moments, that make me aware that God is trying to say something to me. But there are also subtle, seemingly insignificant occurrences that may in fact, bring even more important issues to light. He sent me a feather. "Oh, Bob there are feathers all over the yard around bird feeders," you might reply. That's true. So, what is so significant about this one? The tiny bird handed it to me. "Okay, too much medication, Bob!" It is most likely the fact that because I am back to my old self, I have once again found life in the smallest of things. Most of which goes unnoticed. A Chickadee. A Black Capped Chickadee. Not any bird. But the same one over and over. How can that be? How could I possibly know one from another? This one has one good leg. The other is crippled and held close to the body. The very first time I noticed it, I was amazed by the perfect balance and ease this bird expressed in doing what every other Chickadee does. I have made it a point to stand just a few feet away from the feeders so I can see them close up. The only birds that appear unaffected by my presence are the Chickadees and an occasional sparrow. My one legged friend always stops by. We talk. Yes, it's true. I make a high pitched "beep, beep beep," sound and they respond. My friend even dances from pole to pole on the feeder, finally grabbing a sunflower seed and vanishing to the nearby holly bushes and back again. "How do you do it?" I asked. "You are limited and not the same as all the others." He teases me and jumps back and forth to show off his power to adapt. Every single time I walk out there, he appears. Every single time I stand there amazed by his ability to be what he was created to be no matter what limits were placed on his life. "I see you and want to be that brave," I said. The thought then came to me that perhaps he looks at me and sees me limited because I cannot fly. "Oh, my friend. I would give anything to fly!" I said, and walked back into the house. Later in the early evening, as a part of my regular routine, I went back to the feeders, filled them, added water to the bird bath and waited. As always my feathered friend appeared. "Beep, beep, beep beep!" I said. He quickly darted back and forth showing off a bit. For the first time he came close enough that I could almost touch him. The right leg was indeed damaged beyond use. "Fly for me, please and take my spirit with you so I can soar in my dreams tonight." This will be hard for anyone to believe, but trust me I thought it to be amazing, too. He tucked his head under his right wing and plucked a feather. Looking at me as he nervously cocked his head back and forth, he released the tiny feather from his mouth. What seemed to me like a dreamy slow motion moment, I watched the feather falling and reached my hand to catch it. Looking down into the palm of my hand, the tiny feather appeared to glow in contrast. I looked back up at my "frequent flyer friend," and said "Thank you!" Now, as silly as all this may seem to you, I see it as a precious gift from God. For I had asked my friend to take my spirit soaring and he in turn gave me a feather so I could fly. "It won't get me off the ground!" I said laughing. "But it is a beginning. A little piece of a dream to prove there are no limits to the abilities you have been given," the Voice said to me. I, a part of him in flight and he a part of me grounded in my reality. The only limits that exist are the ones you choose to accept. So, Fly! By Bob Perks [EMAIL PROTECTED] Read and meditate on these scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence." Joshua 1:9 "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." Psalm 28:6-8 "Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed." Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: GOD IS ALREADY THERE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem107.htm Today's Selected Testimony: FATHER KNOWS BEST Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony109.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 right on our website. Volume One contains 15 messages that can be heard and enjoyed at Godswork.org. To hear our messages, please click on this link: http://www.Godswork.org/Audio.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.
