From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, It is important for us to remember that there is only one way for us to be made right with God Almighty. It can never be done by doing righteous acts or deeds or simply by being a good person. All of this is very well and fine, but God’s standard for salvation is far more demanding. It requires a sacrifice of epic proportions; one we could never have imagined. We were not good enough to save ourselves and the biggest and grandest of our sacrifices would not even have come close. God knew this from the beginning and in His infinite wisdom, love and mercy; He gave Himself to be our sacrifice. (Galatians 3:20-29) (1 Timothy 2:5-6) (Acts 4:12) The Creator decreed that He would die for His creation. Our salvation is undeserved, yet thankfully still exists to all who recognize their sin and more importantly see their need for The Savior, Jesus Christ. Never believe the lie that you are self-sufficient and good enough to make heaven. That lie comes straight from the depths of hell encouraging you to believe that you are okay. None of us are okay unless we are washed in the Blood of the Lamb Who cleanses us of our unrighteousness and makes us clean forevermore. (Romans 5:6-11) (Galatians 4:4-7) (1 Peter 1:16-23) I hope this message challenges your heart to see that you need Jesus Christ to save your eternal soul. We can never be good enough to meet God's standard, but thankfully He knew this and made a way for us to call Him our Heavenly Father. THE AFFLUENT POOR You cannot save yourself. Not through the right rituals. Not through the right doctrine. Not through the right devotion. Not through the right goose bumps. Jesus is crystal clear. It is impossible for human beings to save themselves. Jesus doesn't say improbable. He doesn't say unlikely. He doesn't even say it will be tough. He says it is impossible to save yourself. No chance. No way. No loopholes. No hope. Impossible. It's impossible to swim the Pacific. It's impossible to go to the moon on the tail of a kite. You can't climb Mount Everest with a picnic basket and a walking stick. And unless somebody does something, you don't have a chance of going to heaven. Does that strike you as cold? All your life you've been rewarded according to your performance. You get grades according to your study. You get commendations according to your success. You get money in response to your work. That's why the rich young ruler thought heaven was just a payment away. It only made sense. You work hard, you pay your dues, and “zap”? your account is credited as paid in full. Jesus says, “No way.” What you want costs far more than what you can pay. You don't need a system, you need a Savior. You don't need a resume, you need a Redeemer. For “what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). You see, it wasn't the money that hindered the rich man; it was the self-sufficiency. It wasn't the possessions; it was the pomp. It wasn't the big bucks; it was the big head. “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). It's not just the rich who have difficulty. So do the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, the religious. So do you if you think your piety or power qualifies you as a kingdom candidate. You don't impress the officials at NASA with a paper airplane. You don't boast about your crayon sketches in the presence of Picasso. You don't claim equality with Einstein because you can write “H2O.” And you don't boast about your goodness in the presence of the Perfect. By Max Lucado Read and meditate on these scriptures: Revelation 3:20 Jesus declares, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:3-5 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:7-10 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” All scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: FAITHFUL IS HE WHO HAS PROMISED Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem70.htm Today's Selected Testimony: GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony1.htm ================================================== God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, It is important for us to be quick to forgive those who have done something wrong against us because the Lord has declared that if we do not forgive others their trespasses, He would not forgive us of our trespasses. We should never allow ourselves to hold a grudge deep in our hearts refusing to forgive those who have wronged us. We must be quick to forgive because harboring unforgiveness in our hearts can be compared to drinking poison and hoping the other person dies from that poison. We hurt ourselves more than anyone else when we refuse to forgive those who have hurt or done something wrong against us. (Matthew 6:14-15) (Mark 11:25-26) (Romans 12:18-21) Concerning how often we should forgive, the Bible declares in Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Just as we have received grace and mercy in times that we have fallen short, we must also extend the same mercy to those who have sinned against us. Be encouraged to have a forgiving heart knowing that you will benefit far more by forgiving than you ever can by holding a grudge in your heart. (Colossians 3:12-15) I hope this message ministers to your heart to be quick to forgive no matter the pain or heartache that you suffered. Someone once said, To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you. BOUND TO FORGIVE Writer Norman Cousins said that life is an adventure in forgiveness. I think Fr. Lawrence Martin Jenco would agree. In 1984, Fr. Jenco traveled to Beirut, dedicated to help the poorest of the poor. On January 8, 1985, he was kidnapped by Shiite Muslim extremists and held hostage for 564 days. He endured imprisonment, beatings, illness and heartbreaking periods of sorrow and loneliness. Several years after his release, he wrote a book (BOUND TO FORGIVE, Ave Maria Press, 1995) about his experiences in captivity and, more importantly, about the power of love and forgiveness. Fr. Jenco tells about being taped like a mummy from his ankles to the top of his head each time he was transported from one place to another. He described being forced to breathe only from his nose as his mouth was stuffed with a cloth and taped shut. He tells of times when his captors said they were going to kill him and he waited for the bullet to go through his head. Other times he was dressed up and told he was going home, only to have his spirits dashed when he was later informed they were teasing. He remembers being chained hand and foot, donning a plastic bag on his head, and left in a two-foot by six-foot closet. And he remembers his stench when he was denied washing for over four months. He was later asked what lesson those of us who haven't been in such a position can learn from his experience and apply to our daily living. He said, “Just look at the madness that goes on in the world today. We lug our hates and our bigotry and prejudices from generation to generation and we pass [them] on...We [must] stop and look at each other and say, 'I am so sorry for the hurt I caused you. I ask your forgiveness.' And then [we must] extend forgiveness and...receive forgiveness. Somewhere along the line we are going to have to do that. We're all bound to forgive.” Fr. Jenco has forgiven and can attest to the power of forgiveness. And though our hurt may not be the same as his, it is no less real. We, too, are “bound” to forgive. For when we covenant with life to earnestly forgive whatever hurts come our way, we see amazing results. We find inner peace and, often, improved physical health as well. As Dr. O. A. Battista says, “One of the most lasting pleasures you can experience is the feeling that comes over you when you genuinely forgive an enemy -- whether he knows it or not.” I've come to realize that genuine forgiveness is crucial if any of us will find peace. Whether or not it restores a broken relationship, it sets our own hearts free. Those who will be bound by the promise to sincerely forgive, will be freed from the bonds of the past. Those are Fr. Jenco's words: “We're all bound to forgive.” And those who are bound to forgive are bound to be happy. By Steve Goodier http://www.jencofoundation.org/father-jenco-story.html Read and meditate on these scriptures: Matthew 5:43-45 Jesus says, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Colossians 3:12-15 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: HOPE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem31.htm Today's Selected Testimony: TESTIMONY OF GOD'S LOVE Click here to read --- http://www.godswork.org/testimony150.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
