From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, We should always have our hearts open to the Lord allowing Him to use us for His Eternal purposes. When we seek the Lord in prayer asking Him to take control of our lives and use us to make a difference in this world, we should not underestimate how powerful this simple prayer really is. The Lord is able to do extraordinary things with the most ordinary of people. All that is required is a surrendered heart and a willing spirit. We simply need to obey what God says and follow through with where He is leading us. When we say yes to God and follow His lead, our life will never be the same. (Isaiah 6:8) (2 Corinthians 4:7) (Joshua 1:8-9) We will impact more people for the good than we ever thought possible and multitudes of lives will be affected because of our obedience to the Lord. My life and this ministry can attest to that fact. You, our reader can testify for yourself if you have benefited from this work. Now imagine your life doing the same for others. Imagine how many can benefit from your life and from the gifts that you have to offer that God has instilled within your heart. (Matthew 10:19-20) (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) (Romans 12:4-8) Never believe the lie that you are not special enough. The breath that you are breathing is a witness that you are here for a reason. Trust the Lord and offer to serve Him with all your might. Surrender your life and let God lead it. You will be blessed knowing how so many are being made better because of what you have done and are still doing. (Jeremiah 1:5-8) I hope this message challenges and inspires your heart to see how one life can make a difference to so many others. Believe in yourself as God believes in you and take the first step in allowing the Lord to work through you. FRANK RIDDICK’S BICYCLES Clinton, KY -- When Frank Riddick was growing up on a farm in western Tennessee, having a bicycle seemed as remote a possibility as owning a new car. One of six children, he always had plenty to eat and wear, but there wasn't much left for luxuries. Remembering those childhood longings, two years ago he decided to provide bicycles to youngsters whose families couldn't afford to buy them one for Christmas. To initiate the effort, he turned to the county mission house. Supported by various churches, the Clinton-based ministry provides food and clothing to low-income residents of the area. In October, he posted a sign there reading, “If your child doesn't have a bike and wants one, see me or Lula Bell (The director).” “I gave a few bikes away and told children if it broke down or they had a flat to call me,” said Riddick, who retired from farming in 1995. “I didn't dream anything like this would happen.” What happened is a Christmas tale to touch the hardest of Scrooges. After buying 40 new bicycles and placing a classified ad seeking used ones, word quickly circulated. Donations of bikes started pouring in to his farm three miles north of town. To date he has given away nearly 200 bicycles and has 100 more in his workshop. Each carries a license plate reading, “Jesus Loves You.” But he didn't stop with free bikes. Riddick gave the children his heart. Although he had built a 1.5-acre playground on his farm for his grandchildren, three of the five now live out of state. After getting acquainted with youngsters in the community, he invited them out to the homemade attraction. It includes a cable ride the length of a football field, with capacity for four riders; a 50-foot-high tree swing and a 61-foot slide. The latter is more than four times the length of conventional slides. Among other features is a merry-go-round-like device that holds three small children. A group of high school seniors took pictures of the cable ride for their photo albums and some children have said they enjoy it as much as the Old Opryland Amusement Park. “It's a joy to know the Lord had in mind for these needy kids to come out,” he said. “A lot of these children I'm dealing with are below poverty level. They live in bad environments, some are mistreated and, without the mission house, most would be without clothes.” “I'm sure every community has children like this, but I didn't know how bad it was until I started doing this,” he noted. Riddick's involvement also led him to buy a 15-passenger van. Though he uses it to shuttle children to Team Kid, he primarily got it to bring them to the playground. Looking back, the member of First Baptist Church of Clinton appreciates how God spared his life three times. In the past decade he survived a bout with kidney cancer, getting electrocuted by a 7,200-volt power line, and a brain tumor that doctors thought was cancerous but turned out to be benign. Still, he doesn't want any acclaim for what he does, saying the Glory belongs to God. “I cannot say I had a vision to do this,” he said. “I had a longing in my heart. I constantly feel a need to help the needy in our community. I can look back and see how everything happening was directed by God. I just didn't have enough spiritual knowledge to know it.” >From the Western Recorder Read and meditate on these scriptures: Luke 6:30-33 Jesus declares “Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.” Galatians 6:1-4 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 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: THE RIGHT WORDS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem173.htm Today's Selected Testimony: THE PRAYER OF AN ATHEIST Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony25.htm =================================================== God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, No matter the trials that come our way, we should make up our minds that today we will have a great day. It is completely within our control how we see life. We can either have a pessimistic point of view seeing only the problems, trials and hardships in our path or we can trust in the Lord and see through our eyes of faith the goodness, joy, peace and love that is promised to come. Let us always look at our glass as half full rather than half empty. Be thankful for the gifts in your life rather than murmuring or complaining about the trials. Believe that God has not left your side and know that He wishes for you to rest in Him. When Jesus was crucified on the Cross, He said “It Is Finished.” Everything that was required for us to have peace in this present time was bought for us over 2000 years ago on the Cross of Calvary. (Psalm 118:24) (Galatians 3:13-14) The Lord Jesus Christ shed His Blood for our salvation so that in the fullness of time, we might become the righteousness of God. What joy there is in knowing that this life is not the end of the picture. It is simply a forethought when compared to the forever of Eternity. Be encouraged to rejoice in this day. You have much to be thankful for. See each new day with renewed eyes knowing that the greatness of that day relies solely on how you see and address it. (Galatians 4:4-6) (Hebrews 13:5-6) I hope this message encourages your heart to strive to have a Great Day every day. We each have the ability to bless the Lord for His bounties and rejoice in this day that He has given us. GREAT DAY I had a great day today. It was a day full of “quantity” rather than quality time with my children. We started by taking a long drive down the old, back roads here in the mountains of my home with the music playing and our voices joining in. As we drove along we saw deer in the meadows and hundreds of butterflies flying gently from flower to flower. Later, we stopped for a picnic near a playground. We ate, laughed, talked, and played. We also sat quietly for a time sharing big hugs and warm smiles. It was a day of wonderful happiness for us all. It was at the end of the day, however, when I was thanking God for the specialness of it all that I noticed that my face was hurting. The muscles above my cheekbones were sore and achy. It was then that I saw just how “great” this day had been. My face was sore because I had spent almost the whole day laughing, smiling, and singing. This made me laugh and smile through the achiness and thank God even more. I plan on having many more great days too full of love and oneness with God. Not only is it good for the soul, it’s also a great way to get your face in shape. We all should strive to make everyday a “great” day. God loves us and wants us to live and to love each day of our lives. We are meant to choose love and we are meant to share love, great day after great day. We should not rest on our past either, but live fully today. After all, one of the greatest joys in life lies not in cherishing happy memories but rather in creating new ones. The wonderful speaker and author Mark Victor Hansen says that “We can live in a state of joy, bliss, and ecstasy if we choose. We’re meant to live a spirited, spiritual life.” I hope that you have a great day today then. I hope that you have a great day tomorrow too even if it does make your face hurt. Great days lead to a wonderful life and a wonderful life leads to a Heavenly afterlife. By Joseph J. Mazzella Read and meditate on these scriptures: Psalm 9:1-2 “I will praise Thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O thou most High.” Psalm 37:1-5 “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 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.” Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.” 2 Corinthians 4:14-17 “Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today’s Selected Poem: GOD'S PROMISE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem18.htm Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD PROTECTED ME Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony149.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.
