From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, When our life on Earth is said and done, the only thing that we will have to show the Lord is what we did as representatives of Christ and how we cared for our fellow man. We must always keep in mind that there are others around us who need our help and intervention to become better equipped to stand up and move forward in a positive direction. Showing love one to another is a sure way to brighten up our world and being helpful towards our neighbors will make our community a better place as well. Be encouraged to take the initiative to be a beacon of hope and light towards someone in need of your assistance. By being helpful towards someone in need, you are shining your light before men and glorifying your Father in Heaven. (John 13:14-17) (Galatians 6:1-4) (Matthew 5:16) I hope this message ministers to your heart to allow yourself to be a beacon of light towards someone in need. By taking a few moments to make a bad situation a little better, you will be making a difference that will never be forgotten. NO MORE WITH ME "I'm sorry. Please forgive me! I don't mean to hold you up," he said as he struggled to get off the escalator. I'll admit to it. There have been times when walking or driving behind an older person I've gotten impatient and upset. I've huffed and zoomed around them because I was in a hurry to get nowhere. Perhaps I'm more aware of it now because I see myself there one day soon. Today I saw myself in this old man's shoes and it caused me to slow down, stop and ask for his forgiveness. He was about five or six people ahead of me. I was in a hurry and saw him as an obstacle. I've seen people get off the end of an escalator and stop dead in their tracks, gather their things and suddenly there's a pile up of angry people behind them. You can't stop an escalator full of people behind you. Like the Energizer bunny, they keep on goin'. This man was well aware of the challenge. He tried desperately to step aside. Fumbling with his small packages, struggling to gain his footing, you could see how troubling this was for him. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me! I don't mean to hold you up," he said as he struggled to get off the escalator. I suddenly saw this in a whole new light. It was like I was watching my future. I felt sorry for him. I felt sick to my stomach because this man was apologizing to everyone, when we should have been helping him and calming his fears. One by one, people zipped around him. I heard a few angry comments whispered as one lady passed by him. I saw me. By the time I got to him he was just about steady on his feet. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know there was more," he said. "No, sir. No more with me," I said. This really hit me hard. I realized right then how sad it was that the world was in such a hurry. That, of course, included me. But...no more with me. Count me out. This wonderful man paid his dues. For whatever time he had spent on this earth, he most likely walked many rough roads and too many important miles. Now he should be apologizing for moving slower? My heart ached as I looked into his eyes. I wished that I could see what he had seen all those years. His face weathered from life itself, was creased and wrinkled. The small soft pockets under his eyes and the gentle lines that curved up and around them told me he had many happy moments, too. Those were traces left behind from laughter and a smiling, happy man. "My friend, can I help you with those things?" I asked. Hesitant at first, he finally said, "Well, yes, thank you!" I placed my hand under his left arm and walked with him a safe distance away from the rush of people. "So what are you shopping for, sir?" "Oh, just a little something for my neighbor. She's a young mother raising kids on her own. She's always so nice to me. I thought a box of candy for Mother's Day..." he said, stopping suddenly as he searched his inside pocket of his sport coat. "Do you need something?" I asked. "Oh, no. Here, I think I have it right here. I always carry them with me," he said. Then pulling out a hand full of papers he shuffled through them and handed me a business card that read: "John A. Pomicter Friend to all...enemy to no one! I said a prayer today and you were the answer. Thank you!" "That's for you," he said. "Thanks for stopping to help an old man." "My friend, you helped me. I discovered that I was unhappy with the world and I was part of the problem. Now I'll be part of the solution. No more with me!" "Then this was meant to be," he said smiling. "You know God sends me gifts every day and always at least one special person. You were my gift for today! Let's go get some chocolates, my friend." Author Unknown Read and meditate on these scriptures: Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." John 13:14-17 Jesus declares "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither He that is sent greater than He that sent Him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." Isaiah 41:10-11 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish." 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: KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem120.htm Today's Selected Testimony: WHEN THE LORD CALLED MY NAME Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony135.htm ============================================= God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, We should always trust that God has our best interest in mind at all times. Whatever we go through in life, we must have faith that God is with us and is working all things for our good. We should never allow the enemy to infiltrate our thinking and make us doubt God's power to intervene. Faith must be shown with action. The Bible says faith without works is dead. Having faith also requires us to believe that we will receive what we don't presently see. The Bible declares in Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Be encouraged to trust that God will work all things for your good. Never allow yourself to murmur and complain when troubles come your way, but rather use that energy to give thanks and praise to God that He is with you. Remember, God promised that He would never leave you nor forsake you. Trust Him. (Romans 8:28) (James 2:20) (Habakkuk 3:17-19) (Hebrews 13:5-6) I hope this message inspires your heart to trust God at all times. Things may not be going perfectly in our lives, but if we trust the Lord and have faith that He is with us, All things will work out for our good. THE PEBBLES Many years ago in a small village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was an awful, mean man, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. Since the farmer was unable to pay the debt, the moneylender proposed a deal. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag. 1. If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven. 2. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven. 3. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail. They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and hurriedly put them into the bag. He then told the girl to pick a pebble from the bag. Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her? Careful analysis would produce three possibilities: 1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble. 2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat. 3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment. Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will help us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers. What would you recommend to the Girl to do? Well, here is what she did... The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. "Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked." Since the remaining pebble is black, it is reasonable to assume that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely favorable one for herself and her father. Author Unknown In the same way that this girl found a way to work things out in her favor, the Lord has ways of bringing a resolution to our situations that sometimes seem impossible. We need to trust that God thinks outside the box and His ways are much higher and better than ours can ever be. When difficult situations frustrate you and tempt you to worry, you should remember that God Almighty created the heavens and the earth and all that is within it. He has the answer to our every problem. There is nothing too hard for God. Trust Him with every area of your life and sleep soundly showing God that your confidence is in Him. (James 1:2-8) (Isaiah 55:6-9) (Jeremiah 32:17-27) Read and meditate on these scriptures: 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." 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..." Proverbs 3:5-8 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: YOU STILL HAVE HOPE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem62.htm Today's Selected Testimony: THE LORD ALWAYS PROVIDES Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony184.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.
