From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, We should never take for granted the special time we have with those closest to us. The memories that we create during the holiday season as well as on the “normal” days that we are together stay with us much longer than we could ever imagine in that moment. It is important that we show our love and care when we spend time together so that in our absence only good will be remembered and thought upon. We should be thankful that they are in our lives and do all we can to let them know how special they are to us. Don't assume they already know that you love them, but rather say the words so that there will never be any doubt in their minds. Be encouraged to remember how fragile life really is and do not pass an opportunity to sit with those younger than you as well as those older than you to reminisce, laugh, encourage, teach and simply share your love one with another. (James 4:13-14) (Romans 12:10) (1 Peter 3:8-11) I hope this message encourages your heart to spend time with your loved ones no matter how busy life may get. The memories that will be created will be well worth any time that was sacrificed. THE STUFFING! I was about 11 when I remember the best part of Thanksgiving Day. The time was very early in the day. I called for my mother to come quickly to my bed and she lifted me into my wheelchair. Mom had already started cooking the turkey and the wonderful smell lofted into my room. This smell reminded me that I was in charge of helping mom make the delicious stuffing. She and I chopped up the nice green celery and the perfect onions. We then threw them into a hot pan with about two (maybe more!) sticks of melted butter. I could toss in some sage, parsley, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Mother had to pull the turkey out of the oven, as she had to add some hot turkey juice to “our” stuffing. I stirred the vegetables with a big wooden spoon, until they were lightly brown. Then, she poured it all into a huge blue and white bowl that was filled to the top with flavored croutons. We guessed on how many eggs, maybe at least a dozen were added. She mixed and stirred and mixed and stirred until the favorite time of the day arrived. It was time to taste. Mom gave me a spoon and took one for herself and we both dipped our spoons in. She always asked me, “What do you think it needs?” “I would say it needs just a bit more sage, a tad more butter and a lot more turkey juice. Then, we would taste it again. A little more pepper.” It went on and on until it tasted just perfect! Mom would stuff the moist dressing into the gigantic bird. She would put what was leftover, into a real dainty casserole dish. Back into the oven went our turkey with of course, the dressing. An hour before dinner was to be served she would place the stuffing casserole into the oven. I couldn't wait to eat everything -- turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish -- and especially, the remarkable dressing. The dressing was the most delicious and luscious, probably because I helped! I can still taste it today as my mouth waters. Every year at Thanksgiving that was my job -- to help make the stuffing taste great! Even when I could no longer stir, crack the eggs, cut the celery and onions, etc., my mom would always give me a taste and ask me, “What does it need?” It was a special time. Not only for Thanksgiving but a special time for my mom and me. I am thankful to her for allowing me to help make the stuffing. It was a time I'll always remember. A time I will always hold dear to my heart. By Lori Andalee Hinderer Lori says, “I'm 47 years 'young!' I have a rare form of muscular dystrophy since birth. I love to read books on tape, writing short stories, starting my book and writing in my journal. Writing I have found is rewarding. Due to the warm weather in Arizona, I moved here twelve years ago. I dedicate my story to my Mother.” You can email Lori at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Read and meditate on these scriptures: 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 John 3:16-18 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 Corinthians 12:26-28 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Matthew 25:37-40 Jesus declares “Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: GOD WON'T ASK Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem38.htm Today's Selected Testimony: RESCUED FROM DEPRESSION Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony37.htm =================================================== God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, We are to be continually grateful that we are privileged enough to have the Lord God Almighty in our lives. It is not a small thing to be called a Christian because when one calls themselves a Christian, (one who belongs to Christ) they are saying to the world that the Creator of Heaven and Earth knows them and has forever secured their Eternity. We must rejoice at the fact that God is our Father. There should never be a problem big enough to cause you to worry, murmur or complain. The Lord who hangs the Earth on nothing except His Word has promised that every need in our lives would be met. It may not be answered in ways that we imagine, but God's ways are much bigger and much more proficient than ours can ever be. Let God know that your confidence is in Him. He has never failed and has never been defeated. The Lord has your answer and all you need to do is call upon Him in faith believing and He will answer you. (Philippians 3:7-11) I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to love the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows you better than you know yourself. Trust Him with your life and more importantly trust Him with your Eternity. SUNRISE SERVICE It was dark outside as we woke up and began getting ready for church. It was exciting to get up on Easter because we were going to sunrise service. After I was ready to go, I peeked into the kitchen and there were the four coffee cups on the kitchen table awaiting our return. Each cup had a different color of liquid in it. There was red, green, yellow and blue. In a pan next to the coffee cups were the eggs that Mama had boiled the night before. It was Easter morning and part of the fun for the day was to color eggs. Mama made up her own colors with water, vinegar, and food coloring. We used a waxy crayon to write names or designs on the eggs because the dye wouldn’t stick where the wax was marked on the eggs so there was no end to the creations we could make, but first, we would go to sunrise service. We attended church regularly from the time that I could remember but Easter Sunday was different. There was something special about getting up before the sunrise. The air was crisp and as the sky slowly became a little lighter, the birds began to chirp as if to announce the forthcoming sunrise. We made our way down the gravel road to the church that was only a block from our house. As we walked, I could hear the gravel crunching beneath my feet and I tried to walk ever so carefully so I wouldn’t get dust or marks on my new white shoes that I thought were almost too pretty to wear. I was excited to get to church because my cousin, Suzanne, and I had a part in the Easter program. We had a duet to sing together. We had rehearsed the program many times and we wanted to do our best. There were more people than usual on Easter Sunday. There was an atmosphere of expectancy as people were seated and the music began to play. Suzanne and I took our places on the piano side of the church on the front pew. The pastor spoke a few words of welcome and then the program began. The choir sang “In the Garden”, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “There Is a Fountain” as narration was interspersed between songs. Everything was going just as we had practiced and then the moment came, it was the scripture that was our cue: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” As soon as the scripture was finished Suzanne and I began to sing the old spiritual, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” and I knew in my heart even as a child that in some mysterious way, I was there and that the Lord paid a debt He did not owe because I owed a debt I couldn’t pay. When our duet ended, the narrator began reading the words: “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as he said.” At the very moment that the narration ended, the choir broke into the joyful song “Christ the Lord is Risen today, Al – le – lu – ia!” Afterward, everyone began filing out of the church to leave and as I looked up, I saw that the sun had risen as it streamed through the front door. I remember running down the gravel road toward home after that sunrise service. In my excitement, I had forgotten all about being careful not to mess up my new white shoes. I wondered if the women that found the empty tomb thought about their shoes. Then I wondered what became of the no longer needed spices that they had carried to the tomb. I guessed the women probably forgot all about them because how can you think about your shoes or spices when you have just seen an earthquake, an empty tomb, and a powerful angel saying, “He is risen!” The program was over but Easter continued on that day. I went home to color Easter eggs with my brother and take turns hiding them and finding them. That was the year that Mama drew a picture of the cross and the empty tomb in the icing on a cake. She rarely had time for things like that, but it was a special day, it was Easter and the message that filled our thoughts was, “He is risen!” This Easter I will again attend sunrise service. As the sun rises in the sky, I will once more be reminded, “He is risen!” It is an awesome thought to know that the same God who created the sunrise loves us and wants to live in our hearts. May the SON rise in your heart this Easter. By Pamela Perry Blaine Read and meditate on these scriptures: Romans 5:8-11 “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 10:11-13 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Psalm 86:15-17 “But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give Thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of Thine handmaid. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because Thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today’s Selected Poem: I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem190.htm Today’s Selected Testimony: WHEN THE LORD CALLED MY NAME Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony135.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.
