From: Dwayne Savaya [mailto:godswork...@hotmail.com]
God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, We should never underestimate the power of our kind words. Whether we realize it or not the things we say to others does resonate in their hearts and can encourage them to see how valuable they are and how much they have to offer. Many times people face difficulties that seem overwhelming and they believe the lie that they can't overcome for one reason or another. That is all the more reason that we should invest in their lives with our positive and affirming words reminding them of their unique abilities, gifts and talents that no one else possesses. Just as we sometimes forget how special we are, we should remember to remind others of how special they are. We are to lift one another up in the difficult times, bearing one another's burdens and simply be there to show that we care for their well-being. True love as God wishes for us to have is to love our neighbor as ourselves without motive, without pretense and without judgment. Be encouraged to take the initiative to say a kind word to those around you. Notice something that they do well and compliment them on it. Be sensitive in your judgment. Don't criticize too harshly. Our words penetrate deeply whether in giving compliments or in giving criticism. Those in need of our praise may have already suffered greatly by the hands of others and they don't need our condemnation as well. As Christ's ambassadors let us lift up, encourage, strengthen and motivate all those whom we are lucky enough to cross paths with. Let us leave a legacy of blessing in the lives of others so that their life may reach its full potential. We can live on forever in the hearts of those whom we have helped to make better. Let us strive to change lives for the better each day that God has given us on this Earth. That is my prayer. I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to bless those around you with every opportunity that you have. Change the life of someone else by speaking life giving, life affirming words of faith, love and praise. A LOVING THOUGHT George Macdonald wrote that "If instead of a gem or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give." I can remember one of the first loving thoughts that was cast into my own heart and the angel who placed it there. I was a young boy and my parents, brothers, and I were spending the afternoon at the home of a family friend. This friend was the hymn leader at our church as well as the music teacher at my grade school. I remember I used to sit and listen to her play songs on her guitar for hours at a time. On this day my dad was outside once again working his mechanic magic for her ailing, old car. My mom was setting up a picnic for everyone and my brothers were in the yard playing. I was inside talking with our friend and listening to her sweet music. I don't remember exactly what we were talking about, but I do remember at one point her saying, "Joe, for someone so young you already understand a lot about life." That loving thought made a home in my heart that day. Before it I never cared much about understanding life, but just as a seed grows into a flower those kind words by that caring angel awakened a desire in me to understand as much as I could about life and living. It helped me start a journey that is still going on today. That gem of an idea that I could really understand what life was all about and that I could live my life as it was meant to be lived shined in my soul and kept me searching, learning, and growing. That loving thought led me through pain, sorrow, and back home to God again. It led me to writing, sharing, and who I am today. It led me to the knowledge that God is love, that life is joy, and that we are all here to love and help each other. I hope you cast the gift of a few loving thoughts yourself today then. Why let the angels have all the fun? By Joseph J. Mazzella Read and meditate on these scriptures: Ephesians 4:29-32 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Galatians 6:2-4 "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." Romans 15:1-4 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: I'M JUST TOO BUSY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem150.htm Today's Selected Testimony: THE PINK BIRDS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony155.htm ========================================= From: Dwayne Savaya [mailto:godswork...@hotmail.com] God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, There are many moments in life when we are tempted to worry and fear what the future holds. Whether we receive a bad report about our health, our job or our finances, we should address it with faith and confidence. We shouldn't become hysterical and allow fear to take root in our hearts because the Lord who has created all things is still in control of our lives. Those who depend on Him already know that God sees the end result of the path that they're still traveling on. Nothing can take God by surprise and if we who depend on Him act in a manner that is less than trusting than how can we expect God to faithfully meet our needs? What we must remember is that faith is our greatest asset and that's the only thing that pleases God. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God because he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Isaiah 26:3) (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is what we hold on to until the answer comes. The word faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 like this "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." When we pray in faith and ask God to meet our needs, we should not stop asking until that need has been met. That is when faith manifests itself. The Lord Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock. I believe the Lord wants us to pray in triplicate because He doesn't want us to give up when the answer doesn't come immediately or as we had hoped it would. (Luke 11:9-13) We must remember that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent which means He is all powerful and knows all things at all times in all places. There is nothing too hard for the Lord, but we must trust Him and have faith that our needs will be met. Be encouraged to trust the Lord with your life. He loves you more than you'll ever know and wishes to lead your life on to the best path. When we depend on Him, our hearts can rest confidently because the Lord will never fail His beloved child. (Jeremiah 31:3) I hope this message encourages your heart to trust the Lord in every area of your life. He is the solid Rock who will never fail or forsake us. LAYING AWAKE AT NIGHT I was a young boy reading a book on the floor of our living room. A few feet away a fire was blazing inside our old coal stove. Its warmth filled the room. Still, my Dad looked chilled and weak as he sat in his chair under a blanket. Times were tough financially so a few weeks earlier he had taken a higher paying job in an underground coal mine. He had started work with high hopes of bringing in more money for his family. He had also started the job, however, with a case of the flu. Working in the cold, damp mine had quickly turned it into pneumonia and he had been forced to quit and go back to his old job as a mechanic. My Mom walked into the room and told me to put up the book because it was time for bed. I saw the worried look on her face when she looked at my Dad. For days he had come home coughing because he couldn't afford to miss any more work. Putting in full days working on cars while fighting the infection had left him pale and thin. I walked into my bedroom next to the living room while my Mom gave Dad some soup and straightened his blanket. For a long time I lay awake scared while I listened to the voices drifting in from the living room. I wondered if my Dad would ever be well again. Then I heard something I hadn't heard in a while: laughter. Its sweet sound floated on the air. First my Mom's, then my Grandma's, and finally my Dad's happy laughter filled my ears. I noticed too that for the first time in weeks my Dad wasn't coughing. At that moment I felt safe, happy, and loved. I knew that my family was going to be alright and that we were rich in everything that mattered. I said "Thank You" to God for making my Daddy well and then fell blissfully asleep, wrapped in the love that binds us all together. It is that love which is the real wealth of this world. May your life always be rich in it. By Joseph J. Mazzella Read and meditate on these scriptures: Psalm 20:6-9 "Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His Holy Heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call." Psalm 145:14-19 "The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and Holy in all His works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them." Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places..." 1 Peter 5:10-11 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: THE BRIGHTEST STAR Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem101.htm Today's Selected Testimony: WHO WILL DELIVER ME? Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony112.htm =========================================== From: Dwayne Savaya [godswork...@hotmail.com] God's Work Ministry E-mail Dear Friend, It is easy to murmur and complain when tough times come our way, but if we change our mindset and keep our eyes focused on the Lord, then we will remain confident in His ability to deliver us no matter what comes our way. Our job as believers in the Lord is to remain in confidence and trust that God will meet our every need no matter how bleak the situation may seem to our natural eyes. The Lord is able to bring answers in ways that we can't even think or imagine. The Lord does the impossible on a daily basis and throughout Scripture we see how He delivered all those who kept steadfast in their faith. Another thing we must keep in mind is that the Lord brings peace to those who depend on Him. Ever since I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, God has been faithful to lead my life on to the best path and every need has been met. The Lord will be faithful to those who simply put their trust in Him. (Daniel 6:16-23) We must remember that God is faithful, God is trustworthy, God is loving and God is merciful. In Him is perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. He will perfect that which concerns us. If it is meant for our good, then it will be given to us so that our joy might be full. Be encouraged to trust and depend on the Lord all the days of your life. He will never leave you nor forsake you. The Lord is the strong tower that we can run to and have all our needs met. Trust Him and you will find yourself blessed beyond measure. (Daniel 3:12-27) I hope this message inspires your heart to call upon the Lord and allow Him to be the leader of your life. The Lord wishes to bless us, be with us and commune with us as His children. Call upon Him and let Him lead you all the days of your life. HE WASN'T CURED, BUT HE WAS HEALED Tony Compolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Compolo prayed boldly for the man's healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man's wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Compolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been eradicated! But before he could think much about it she said, "He died." Compolo felt terrible. But she continued, "Don't feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He knew he was going to be dead in a short period of time, and he hated God. He was 58 years old, and he wanted to see his children and grandchildren grow up. He was angry that this all-powerful God didn't take away his sickness and heal him. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him. It was an awful thing to be in his presence." But the lady told Compolo, "After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him. Tony, the last three days have been the best days of our lives. We've sung. We've laughed. We've read Scripture. We prayed. Oh, they've been wonderful days. And I called to thank you for laying your hands on him and praying for healing." And then she said something incredibly profound. She said, "He wasn't cured, but he was healed." Author Unknown Read and meditate on these scriptures: Psalm 18:1-3 "I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies." John 14:27 Jesus declares "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Psalm 34:17-19 "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." Psalm 37:23-26 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed." Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places..." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: THROUGH THE STORMS Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem9.htm Today's Selected Testimony: ONE IN A MILLION Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony47.htm
