From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[email protected]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, It is important in life that we believe in ourselves and in the abilities that God has placed within each of us. It is easy for us to doubt our talents, gifts and God-given abilities when discouraging situations come before us, but in these times of testing we must stand strong and believe that the same God who has brought us this far will be faithful to also bring us through any trial or hardship that has tried to discourage our hearts. Many of us can testify to the fact that it is always darkest before the dawn and the trials that are overcome are soon overshadowed by the joy and peace that fills our hearts. (1 Corinthians 10:13) (Job 8:7) We must remember that no trial is strong enough to grasp us out of God's Mighty Hand and we should be confident to face every challenge with a renewed determination knowing that victory is promised to those who believe in God’s everlasting promise. Do not allow yourself to be stagnant any longer when it comes to fulfilling your life's purpose. Move forward in confidence knowing that the same God who has given you life will be faithful to make it one of importance and relevance to your generation. I hope this message encourages your heart to meet every challenge with confidence. Do not give in to fear or even contemplate defeat. Stand strong and rest in the strength of the Lord. TAKE THE PLUNGE “Watch me dive off the high board, Dad,” my ten-year-old son called out. I looked up to the ten-foot-high diving board and waited as he stood at the edge, stooped over, arms extended. He had jumped off the high board many times before, but now his nerve seemed to falter as he contemplated streaking through the air headfirst. The swimming pool was vacated, so he could take his time. “You can do it, Robby,” I encouraged. But he couldn't. Not that evening. For 20 minutes he attempted to muster the courage to make the plunge, and he finally gave up when the pool closed for the night. “I feel disappointed in myself,” Robby said on the way home. “I feel terrible. I know I can do it, though. I know I can.” He persuaded me to take him swimming again the next evening. Like the night before, we happened to be the only swimmers. “I'm going to do it this time," he said emphatically. "Watch me!” He climbed the ladder and walked to the end of the board as I watched. Again I encouraged him. Again he hesitated. As the previous night, his nerve failed. It seemed that he would never conquer his fear and leap. The lifeguards on duty helped me cheer him on. “You can do it, Robby,” we all exhorted. “Just do it! Don't think about it. Just do it!” For 30 minutes we encouraged him. For 30 minutes he started and stopped, he leaned and straightened and fought the fear that held him back. And then it happened. He extended his arms, bent over the edge and fell headfirst into the water! He emerged to the sounds of laughter and congratulations. He did it! He finally did it! And before he went home, he did it three more times. Robby learned something about facing his fear that evening. But he learned something else, too. He learned that some things can't be done with less than full commitment. A chasm cannot be leaped in two small jumps and a dive cannot be made a little at a time. Sometimes you just have to do it. By Steve Goodier Read and meditate on these scriptures: Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 40:1-4 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust...” Psalm 28:6-8 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.” Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today’s Selected Poem: FAILURE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem24.htm Today’s Selected Testimony: THOUGH THE SAIL HAS BEEN TORN... Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony42.htm ========================================================== God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, We should always be quick to forget our past failures because they can hinder us from reaching forth towards our future successes. Dwelling in the past doesn't serve any meaningful purpose when it comes to reaching forth towards new goals and aspirations for life. We must look through our eyes of faith and call those things that are not as though they were. We must envision a bright, blessed, prosperous and a whole life that we wish to walk into soon one day. It makes no sense to hope for victory, but speak forth words of pessimism, difficulty and complaint. We must proclaim with our mouth the blessings of the Lord and call into being the positive things that we don't see right now. Just as God spoke the world into existence, so it is with us as His children. We don't have the same creative power, but we are created in the image of God and have been given the command to call things that are not as though they were. (Romans 4:17) Be encouraged to bless your life with your words, your thoughts and your dreams. See good things ahead of your life. Do not murmur or complain when times get tough. Let your faith remain steadfast in the Lord knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Dream bigger dreams than you have ever thought before. When we do this, God becomes proud of His children because they are showing Him that we trust and believe that God can do all things. (Proverbs 23:7) (Hebrews 13:5) (Psalm 46:1-3) (Romans 4:3) I hope this message encourages and challenges your heart to no longer dwell on the past, but rather look forward towards a positive future knowing that good things will come to those who believe. LETTING GO OF SUCCESS I want to make the most of every day. And like most people, I've discovered that the best way to do it is to let go of past failures. But that's not all. One can never fully enjoy today while dwelling too much on past successes, either. People never succeed while resting comfortably on their laurels. As Ivern Ball has said, “The past should be a springboard, not a hammock.” The fact is, sometimes our successes hold us back more than our failures! I once heard a story about the actor Clark Gable. A friend paid Gable a visit one afternoon at the actor's home. She brought along her small son, who amused himself by playing with toy cars on the floor. He pretended he was racing those cars around a great track, which in reality was an imaginary circle around a golden statuette. The small statue the boy played with was actually the Oscar Clark Gable won for his performance in the 1934 movie It Happened One Night. When his mother told him the time had come to leave, the little boy asked the actor, “Can I have this?” pointing to the Oscar. “Sure,” he smiled. “It's yours.” The horrified mother objected. “Put that back immediately!” Giving the child the golden statue, Clark Gable said, “Having the Oscar around doesn't mean anything to me; earning it does.” The actor seemed to know that past success could be a comfortable hammock upon which he may be tempted to rest, rather than a springboard launching him to the next level. Biblical wisdom says, “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.” You may have learned to let go of past failures and mistakes in order to free the present. But will you loosen your grip on past successes and achievements in order to free the future? Will your past be a springboard or a restful hammock? “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past,” said Thomas Jefferson. I agree. After all, the future, not the past, is where the rest of your life will be lived. By Steve Goodier Read and meditate on these scriptures: Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 8:3-6 “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.” 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.” James 1:2-5 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today’s Selected Poem: GOD IS ALREADY THERE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem107.htm Today’s Selected Testimony: KEN POLLY'S TESTIMONY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony166.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.
