From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gods Work Ministry Inspirational and Encouragement E-Mail
Dear Friend, There are many instances in life when we focus more on what we don't have rather than seeing the blessings of what we do have. The provision of God is promised and as His children we are to rest in the Lord's ability to meet our every need. We are to be thankful for all that we have and keep in mind that there are others around the world who are much less fortunate than we are right now. (Hebrews 10:22-24) (Psalm 37:23-25) (Luke 12:25-34) There are many people who adopt the 'Missing Teeth' analogy. If you asked them how many bad teeth they had, they could answer you in an instant, but if you asked how many good teeth they had, their answer wouldn't come as quickly. The reason for this is because people are quick to focus on the negative instead of looking at the good that greatly outweighs any bad that has come their way. The Bible tells us to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Even in the tough times, we are to put our faith forward and portray the attitude of praise and thanksgiving and see the good and not the bad. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) (Psalm 118:24) (Isaiah 61:3) I hope this message ministers to your heart to think more on the blessings that abound in your life rather than focusing on the small things that do not come close in comparison. 40 THINGS I'll be turning 40 soon! I am so excited by this prospect that I'm planning this big theme party! The theme will be "I've never...." While explaining this to a friend of mine, I laughingly gave the example of "I've never had a baby shower, so someone would have to bring a baby gift. Then I'll donate it to the nursery at the church." I was smiling through this little explanation, until I saw the look on her face. With tears in her eyes she said, "That's so sad"! Well, there was a time when I felt that way too. Finding out in my 20's that I couldn't have children was devastating. I immediately left the child care field and went to work building cables for the B-1 Bomber! The physical, repetitive labor was very good for me. Towards the end of the three years, I found that I was just borrowing my co-workers' children to do things with. My first and only love was the children. I had a lot of time to think about all of the things I had been cheated out of. I would never hold a new born baby in my arms. I would never rock my baby to sleep. I would never get to sing lullabies. I would never get to watch my child leave for their first day of school. I would never get to be the tooth fairy! I would never get to talk about boys, or proms, or pimples! Yes, I felt that I was going to get cheated out of a lot. I would never get a Mother's Day Card! I'm not sure when it all changed. I don't think there was one specific moment when I realized that I had more children than any mother could possibly ever have! And, that's the answer I gave to my friend. Smiling, I explained that as long as I work in the nursery, I will have babies to rock and sing to. As long as I am a Head Start teacher, I will have first days of school. Working with the youth will give me plenty of experience with teenagers. Carissa lost her first tooth at my house and no one was ever a better Tooth Fairy. I hosted an exchange student from Germany last year and got to shop for prom dresses. I even cried when she gave me a locket with her picture in it, engraved with one simple word on the front, "Mom". I still have it and wear it, and I also have the Mother's Day card she gave me. All treasures. My babies are now growing up and having babies. Soon I'll get to have "Nana" experiences. It doesn't matter that we don't share the same genes. What we do share is a lot of love. Truth is, I'm having a hard time finding 40 things I've never done. It's hard to find them when you're happy, productive and living your dream! Corrina, also known as Miss Cory, is a Heartwarmer Gem, and teaches at the Choctaw Indian Program in Southeast Oklahoma, designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities. By Corrina Hyde As children of the Most High God, we are to remember that God is on our side and our attitude should reflect Whom we belong to. We should never murmur and complain about our inadequacies, but rather we are to turn our face and faith to the God who forgave us, cleansed us and made us new creatures in Christ Jesus. The Lord will be with you to sustain you and give you the strength to continue on. Trust Him and know that All Is Well. Read and meditate on these scriptures: Isaiah 61:3 "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified." Hebrews 10:22-24 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." Psalm 37:23-25 "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." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: I REFUSE TO BE DISCOURAGED Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem25.htm Today's Selected Testimony: I'M AN OVERCOMER Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony76.htm ==================================================== From: "Dwayne Savaya" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Gods Work Ministry Inspirational and Encouragement E-Mail Dear Friend, This is a great story that encouraged me to always share an encouraging word with those who are down or discouraged because I may be the only one in their path with the ability to do so. I hope you receive the same encouragement to minister and be a blessing to those in need around you. THE 23RD PSALM One Friday at the end of a particularly hard and stressful week, a coworker came to me and wanted to talk. She said she just felt "blah" for the past several weeks. "It is very difficult to care about anything anymore," she related. Little did she know that I was somewhere beyond that same point. Three months prior, our family had lost a close friend named Zella. She was related to both sides of my family in various, too complicated to tell ways, and was like a sparkling extra grandmother to my children. Zella had a wonderful, hearty laugh combined with a glimmer in her eyes. But I found myself beside her bed in an intensive care unit, holding her hand while her children took a break. A surgery the day before had revealed a huge mass involving most of her abdominal organs. There was nothing to be done. As she and her family hovered in that no-mans-land between hope and reality, I wanted to impart to her that God cared for her. I asked if she would like a prayer. She nodded yes. I had intended to recite the 23rd Psalm, but realized I could not -- I was totally blank! I was able to stumble through one prayer, The Lords Prayer. As I sat beside her, a faint sparkle returned to her eyes along with a weak smile. I knew that in normal times Zella and I would be laughing, in a kind way, about my awkwardness at that moment, and how I had botched the prayer. But these were not normal times, and she slipped into unconsciousness the next day and died several days later. The 23rd Psalm is familiar to those of us from the Judeo-Christian tradition. It begins with "The Lord is my shepherd..." and is perhaps the most recited Biblical verse. I would wager everyone from that background could think of someone they love or loved very much to whom this verse was important. It is common at funerals, and in times of danger and stress. I made a renewed pledge to memorize it and tried for weeks. I printed it out in a large font and tried to memorize it while driving each day to work. But it just could not stick in my memory. I became increasingly annoyed and with disgust set the prayer aside. Many extra hours at work, the everyday stress of raising children, helping aged relatives and an overly busy life lead to a slow, darkening spiral that I hardly noticed. Over the weeks I became unfocused, and increasingly felt ineffectual in many aspects of my life. So there I was, with my coworker -- a woman who needed reassurance, who needed support, who needed motivation. And I was not sure I had any of those things to give. Without great enthusiasm I started one of my standard pep talks. "You know, JoAnn, it isn't the job that you do that is important, it is how you do your job..." It sounded incredibly trite as I said it. I encouraged her to care, because with caring comes hope. And where there is hope, there is always a future -- a better day. I threw in an impromptu example of how easy it was not to care. I said, "If you saw a piece of trash in the hallway, it would be easy not to pick it up, after all, 'it is not my job.' But how much better it is to care. How much more positive it would be to pick up the trash. By thinking positively, you helped a coworker in a small way, and you helped yourself." I was not sure it was a convincing speech for JoAnn and I was certain it didn't convince me. I felt even more tired, more spent. It was like what little bit of hope, if any, which had been given to JoAnn was drained from me, leaving me with none. I gathered my coat, and walked head bowed and disheartened down the hall. As I turned down a hallway, I passed a small rectangular piece of paper on the floor. I just kept walking. I walked about six paces beyond the paper, and was musing about the irony of the example I had just given my coworker, but I didn't really want to stop, let alone turn, retrace my steps, and pick up the trash. But I did stop, and stood still for a moment -- debating. Sighing, I turned back to the paper. It was plain white and about 1-1/2 inches wide and 4 inches long. As I picked it up, I realized it was a bookmark and when I turned it over, in small print this is what was on the other side: The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me: Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That was a pivotal point for me. It broke my mood, and for some odd reason, or perhaps some not so odd reason, I was able to memorize the 23rd Psalm easily after that day. Every day we are presented with opportunities, some large, some small, to move forward in life's journey. I can tell you many times when opportunity knocks at our door; we don't open it to see what is there. Many times when a gift is placed at our feet, we don't stop and stoop to pick it up. But I've learned we should. Author Unknown Read and meditate on these scriptures: Galatians 6:9-10 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Hebrews 13:1-3 "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." Isaiah 40:29-31 "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today's Selected Poem: ALONE NO MORE Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem68.htm Today's Selected Testimony: GOD SAVED MY FAMILY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony178.htm In Christ's Service, Dwayne Savaya Gods 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 by ordering Voice Messages. Each volume contains 15 messages that can be heard and enjoyed anywhere a CD player is available. 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