From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, I hope you are doing well and are in the best of health. I am doing very well and am thankful for another day that God has given us. Even though we sometimes go through struggles and hardships, we must remember to be thankful for this day that we are alive. Things have been going well for me and the Ministry because I believe the Lord has kept His hand on my life leading me to where I should go next. As long as we keep God first and follow His leading wholeheartedly; the Lord will do extraordinary things with each of our lives. The main thing that's required is obedience. Everything else, the Lord will supply. (Psalm 118:24) (Philippians 4:19) The Lord has spoken to my heart to write a message on believing God and trusting in His everlasting Word. I was reading the book of Jeremiah recently and noticed the many instances that God spoke to Jeremiah to tell the people including Kings and officials of that day what the Lord wanted them to do. As I was reading, I found a revelation truth that I had not thought about before. Why did God speak to Jeremiah to tell the people what He had said? Why didn't God Himself speak from the heavens to tell His people what He wanted them to do? I believe the answers to these questions will better equip us to follow the leading of the Lord and trust that God knows best and has even given us His everlasting Word to live a life of triumph and victory in Him. (Romans 3:4) (Isaiah 30:21) (Proverbs 2:2) Throughout the book of Jeremiah we find many instances when God speaks to Jeremiah to tell this person or that person what the Lord wants for them to do. The Lord then gives those people the option to either believe what Jeremiah has said and do what God wants for them to do or to not believe and do the opposite of what Jeremiah had instructed under God's leading. I believe the Lord gives the option because He has given us all free will to do what we want. The Lord will not force us to follow Him, but the consequence of our rebellion is our sole responsibility and we will reap the harvest of our rebellious seeds. (Jeremiah 38-40) (Joshua 24:15) Another reason I believe God spoke to Jeremiah to tell His people what He wants is because it takes faith to move forward on what someone else had instructed. If God spoke from the heavens, there would not be one person who could doubt that God spoke and all would obey; therefore negating free will. A prophet speaking in that time is very comparable to the Bible in this time. We have to believe by faith that God's Word is true and will come to pass just as He said it would. It is our own free will to either believe and accept or not believe and reject. On our Judgment Day we will have no excuses and no one to blame but ourselves. (Hebrews 11:1-3) (John 1-3) We must remember that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. He wishes for our success and victory in life and has given us the keys to move forward in the positive direction. A scripture that comes to mind is found in Isaiah 1:19-20 "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." The Lord simply wishes for us to be obedient to His word so that we may live life victoriously. Only a fool would disobey this command because the end result is clearly written. (Joel 2:13) (3 John 2) (Deuteronomy 30:19) Most of Jeremiah's prophetic messages to the people had to deal with their obedience to the Lord. Time and again Jeremiah warned the King's, governors and lay people who lived in the towns where Jeremiah spoke of the dangers that would come upon them if they continued with their rebellious ways. Some of the times the people listened to Jeremiah and repented before the Lord and God graciously forgave them and received them unto Himself again, but most times they refused to obey what Jeremiah had said under God's leading and suffered the consequences for their disobedience and rebellious attitude towards the Lord. (Jeremiah 18:8-10;8:6-18;15:6-9) Let us learn the lessons of those who came before us and see that it is to our benefit to listen to the Lord and follow His Commandments. God has not given us these rules of life to hinder our joy and happiness, but rather He has given them so that we may live peaceably among ourselves and neighbors and be filled with the peace and joy of the Lord that surpasses all understanding. The Lord Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Trust God with your life and follow His commands because when you do, your life will be blessed and favored of the Lord and the desires that are in your heart will be given unto you. (Philippians 4:6-7) (Habakkuk 3:19) (Psalm 37:4) Read and meditate on these scriptures: Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Romans 3:3-4 "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." Proverbs 2:1-6 "My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." Deuteronomy 30:19-20 "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: HE'S THE REASON WHY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem15.htm Today's Selected Testimony: IT JUST CLICKED Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony77.htm ============================================= God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, We must always keep in mind that God loves us with an everlasting love. We are very dear to Him and even though the Lord may seem far away when troubles come near to us, we must realize that He is still right there watching over us. We sometimes need to go through struggles so that we can become strengthened from the inside out. It is in the tough times of life that our character takes shape and makes us strong enough to handle the hardships that will come our way throughout life. If the Lord saved us at the beginning of every hardship, then we would not be able to handle any problems that come with life and living. Take courage and know that the Lord is right beside you when hardships come your way, but still He wants you to grow and learn so that you can be better equipped to handle life's trials that are sure to come your way. (Galatians 2:20) (Psalm 139:1-10) I hope this message encourages your heart to see that God is with you and cheering you on for victory. He knows the strength that you possess within, but still He will be there to lift you up when you're not strong enough to lift yourself. HATCHING LIFE You should have seen my Shayna holding that egg and hearing it PEEP! I had no idea that they could peep even before they hatch! The mother hen had sat on the nest for 21 days. Her first baby hatched and as soon as it was fluff dried, decided to jump down to see what all the clucking was about. Mama Hen had to go protect her first born, so we got the job of egg-sitting! She held a little brown egg and felt the chick bumping around inside. She's 3 years old and everything is exciting for her, especially new babies! The thumping in that egg reminds me so much of the wonderful thumping going on while carrying Shayna 3 years ago! We put the eggs in a box with a light to try to keep it warm enough. We were careful to not jostle them around and marked the top of each one with a heart. But this one got a heart with a crack through it because I knew it would be the one to watch for cracking soon! We had to leave our little nest to go to the next town to visit my parents and my sweet Grandma who has been ill. We didn't get home until 10:00 and found there were two tiny cracks in the shell. I told the kids it probably wouldn't hatch until morning but I stayed up just in case. It was quiet until after midnight when I'd hear a tiny tap now and then. It would peck and push for a few minutes then sleep for 20 or 30 and start pushing again. Finally at 2:00 a.m, I knew it was time and tried to get the kids up to see it but could only pull Dallin, who is seven, out of his bed. He and I knelt down on the floor looking into the little shoe box with a warming light, and we watched that little thing push and push. I told Dallin how important it is that we not help the little chick to break free of its shell. I told him how he needs all that time of pushing and pecking and struggling so that he would have strength enough to make it through the night. We talked about how that struggle would make him strong, like when we exercise. It was amazing to be watching this all happen as if on stage with a spotlight. I told Dallin that it was kind of funny to be watching, but the chick had no idea we were there. About that time, there was one more push, and the egg broke in two and our sweet little pink, wet chick toppled right out! It still wasn't free though. It was on its back and its little umbilical cord was still holding him to the back side of the egg. I really wanted to help that tiny, fragile baby to get rid of its entanglements. Then the thought came to me that our Heavenly Father watches over us just like we were watching this little drama playing out before us. I told Dallin that our Heavenly Father sees us just like this, going through struggles. Sometimes He seems to help us quickly, but many times He knows that the struggle is necessary for us to get stronger or to learn things that we'll need to know later in life, things that will help us. So even though we may not be aware that He is watching us and even rooting for us to be successful, He doesn't interfere. He knows us and what our potential is, just like we know that the little chick can make it out of that egg and will soon be growing and scratching and catching bugs and be a big chicken that will lay eggs of her own or a rooster who will wake us all up every morning. Our Heavenly Father knows what we will grow up to be and that the things that seem to be hard for us to do or to understand is an important part of life. He is always there watching, wanting to help us, but having the wisdom to know when to step in and when to let us get stronger through the struggle. Even though I thought I was teaching Dallin an important principle, the Holy Spirit testified to my soul that it was true, and that it was truly a lesson for both of us! Well, she's all fluffy now and peeping and thinks we are her mommies. She'll tuck under any hand that comes near her and get quiet, then wiggle her head through our fingers. I tried to get the hen to take her in, but she didn't think this little chick belonged to her. So the chick is ours to raise until she can defend herself in the chicken coop. A new life begun, an indelible memory made with Dallin, and an eternal truth seared into my soul! By Shelly Duke Read and meditate on these scriptures: Isaiah 49:13-16 "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Jeremiah 31:3 "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: GOD KNOWS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem15.htm Today's Selected Testimony: GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony157.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.
