From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[email protected]> God's Work Ministry E-mail
Dear Friend, We should never allow the joy that is within our hearts to subside simply because difficult situations come our way. We must continually have a praise filled attitude giving thanks to the Lord for every gift and blessing that is in our lives. We are to see our cups as half full and never as half empty. We are to focus on the bright side of things and not allow the spirit of murmuring to take root in our hearts. We have much to be thankful for. We have much to give praise for. (Habakkuk 3:17-19) Let us move forward with our lives seeing the good and not bad. Let the Lord know that you are thankful and appreciative for your life. Be specific when giving thanks to the Lord. Let God know this day that your eyes are focused on Him and not on any negative situation that has tried to steal your joy. Be encouraged to go through your day with a refreshed mindset seeing the many blessings that surround you. (Psalm 139:14-18) I hope this message ministers to your heart to never grumble or complain when the opportunity is presented. Always be quick to magnify the Lord above any negative situation because when we show that God is bigger thanour problems, they all soon seem minuscule in comparison. SHOVELING SNOW I woke up the other day to find that 10 inches of freshly fallen snow waswaiting for me outside my door. The flakes were still falling heavily too. I didn’t want my little dogs drowning in it, so I reluctantly pulled on myheavy coat and grabbed the snow shovel to make a path. I had only gotten a little done however, when the handle of my old snow shovel broke with a “snap.” Laughing and shaking my head I decided then and there to wait out the storm for awhile. It was late in the afternoon when the snow finally stopped and I trudged over to my Dad’s house to borrow his shovel and try again. By then the 10 inches of snow had turned into a foot and a half. I started out slow setting a steady pace and stopping to rest whenever my back started to ache. After a while though, the clouds finally broke and the sun peeked out to cheer me on. The work seemed a lot easier then even though it was warmer. I even sang a few Christmas carols and smiled up at God while I cleared out the drives, cleaned off the cars, and shoveled out the paths. After an hour of hard work the job was finally done. Laughing, I let the child that still lives inside of me fall back into the snow and make a snow angel for the angels in Heaven to see. It felt good walking back to my house after a job well done. It felt even better looking around at this wonderful world of white. But it felt best of all knowing that God and His angels were watching over me with a love that passes all understanding. I don’t know why life sometimes gives us Spring days and sometimes dumps a ton of snow on us. I do know however, that we can pray, laugh, love, and choose joy through it all. God loves us always. He comforts our souls and warms our hearts on the coldest Winter days. He laughs with us when our snow shovels break and smiles down on us when we make a snow angel. He is with us forever and that is the greatest gift of all. By Joseph J. Mazzella Read and meditate on these scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Psalm 3:4-8 “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: Thy blessing is upon Thy people. Selah.” Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” 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.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem54.htm Today's Selected Testimony: JESUS IS THE FAITHFUL PROVIDER Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony96.htm ==================================================== From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[email protected]> God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, We should always remember that God can do extraordinary things with the most ordinary of people. All that is required is a surrendered heart and a willing spirit. When we submit our will to the Lord and ask that His will be done in our lives, God will use us in ways that we never thought possible. He will make our life one of importance and will show many that much is possible with a surrendered heart. Be encouraged to give your life to the Lord and allow Him to use it for His eternal purposes. Be willing and obedient to the Lord and He will bless you beyond compare and use you more than you have ever thought possible. (1 Corinthians 1:25-29) (Isaiah 1:19) I hope this message encourages your heart to trust in God's wisdom. Do not become discouraged when difficult situations come before you, but rather rest in God's omnipotence knowing that He is in control of all things at all times in all places. HOW CAN YOU USE ME? “God, how can you use me in the condition I'm in?” I have asked that question more than once in my life. It was a hot summer day; I tried filling it to capacity. Despite being a young mother of four active children, I still found time that morning to take in a round of golf with the girls. The afternoon was spent with my kids at the local recreation club to which we belong. I worked at perfecting my diving skills while the kids splashed and played, soaking up the sun's penetrating rays. The late afternoon and evening, we spent at the ball field where our oldest son played Little League baseball. I noticed dizziness and a blurring of my vision but brushed it off thinking I had just over done it in the heat of the day. Over the next weeks the symptoms only worsened and I was hospitalized and given the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. That conclusion was reached over thirty years ago. I was less than happy with the verdict, but did not let it defeat me. I have never really blamed anything or anyone for the sentence that was doled out to me that day. I did question what the revenge of such a disease would mostly mean and what were my options for treatment. I then decided to live my life the best I could in spite of the likely conclusions I was apt to face. I have never been able to understand how people can blame God and turn against Him for the misfortunes that come to their lives. It's in the valleys of my life that I need God the most. He is where I draw my strength. I'm not saying I have never called out asking Him “Why?” That is only human nature and I am sure God understands our anguish; after all Jesus called out as He hung on the cross, “My God, my God, why has Thou forsaken me?” I've always taken my circumstances pretty much in stride. I've cried of course and wished things were different. I've mourned for the way things use to be, but I've gone on the best that I could, doing most of the things that I wanted using first one aide and then another. I've been down and depressed at times, I can't deny that. I've been scared to death of what tomorrow might hold and I still have those fears to this day. My biggest fear is that I may become a burden to my loved ones. I fear to some extent I already have. Being a very independent person before my illness, dependence on another has always been my biggest concern. Through the years I have had some bad times; I've seen more and more of my abilities wane from me. MS has tried to suck the very essences of who I am. I have lived with numbness for years; I have experienced blurred and double vision. Pain has been a part of my persona and medications has almost doubled my size. Medicines have weakened my bones; falls have resulted in painful breaks. My unsteady walk gave in to the use of a cane, then two canes, then a wheelchair on occasions, then to the full time use of a three wheel motorized scooter. I no longer drive a car and depend on others to take me to the places I want to go. I have been so tired and weak at times I just wanted to die. Besides physical problems I have experienced family problems, financial and business problems. Like everyone else, I have faced my share of adversities. My husband and family have always been there for me, yet they have not always understood. The doctors even do not realize the extent of difficulties and suffering MS people deal with. Through all of my hardships and trials though, there has always been someone beside me that I could count on, that is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. He knows of my afflictions, He suffered far more than I. He realizes my distress when others fail to understand, for He too was misunderstood. I have prayed for God to keep me on my feet; I didn't have to resort to my three-wheel scooter until my children were all raised, that was a blessing and an answer to prayer. I have prayed for a healing; I've prayed for the ability to rise above this disease to endure it, to witness in spite of it. I have asked Him time and time again, “How can you use me in the condition I'm in?” It was then that He directed me to this passage in the Bible: 2 Corinthians Chapter 12 verses 7 through 10 in the Living Bible, it reads: Because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me, and prick my pride. Three times I begged God to make me well again. Each time he said, No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people. Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ's power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite happy about insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong -- the less I have, the more I depend on Him. I am no saint, just ask my husband! But because of Christ in my life and His walking beside me, carrying me at times, I'm able to hold my head high and continue on. I have not always been someone God could be proud of; I've not always been proud of myself. But because of God's goodness and His love and forgiveness and His strength I can face whatever may lie before me. I pray that through the sickness I must endure and the weakness that grips me, that He may be seen in my spirit and that the love I have for Him may spill over to those my life touches. For without Him I am nothing; with Him I am everything He wants me to be. When I am weak, then He is strong; the less I have, the more I depend on Him. My prayer now is, “God, use me in whatever condition I'm in.” By Betty King Read and meditate on these scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” John 1:10-12 “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: LOOKING FOR JESUS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem131.htm Today's Selected Testimony: A NEW HEART FROM GOD Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony193.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.
