|
I am a firm believer in having a countenance of Peace and Joy at all times.
No matter what is going on all around me, my demeanor stays unchanged.
Unfortunately, that is not how many people carry themselves in this world.
You can see the worries of the world written all over their face and if you
dared to ask them “How are you doing?”, you will receive an answer filled
with all of the negative thoughts and emotions that have infiltrated their
being. What we must do for ourselves is not allow what is going on in the
world all around us to enter into us. We can't allow the negativity of
this world to change our viewpoint of it. The God of the universe is on
our side helping us to fight our battles. Our report is good, positive,
uplifted and blessed. We are the children of the Most High God and there
is nothing that should cause us to worry, murmur or complain. Our ending
will not be a bad one as the world would want us to believe because our
Lord and Redeemer has us securely in the palms of His hands and nothing
can take us out of it. (Psalm 28:6-8) (John 16:33)
Be encouraged to think on the many blessings that you have received
throughout your life. Remember how fortunate you have been and how many
times you have been delivered at just the right moment. Remembering the
many good times that we've had throughout our life helps us to stay at
peace and reminds us that no matter what comes our way, it will be used
for our benefit in the end. We must remind ourselves that the Lord is
good, that His mercies endure forever and that His love is without end.
We are fortunate because God's goodness isn't dependent upon our goodness.
He is faithful even when we fail and His forgiveness towards us is never-
ending. We simply must come before Him in humility confessing our sins
and shortfalls and ask for forgiveness. When we humble ourselves before
the Lord, He will lift us up. He will make us better in the end than we
ever were in the beginning.
No matter what comes your way, remember your blessings, remember God's
goodness, remember the many times that He has delivered you in times
past. Keep a countenance of peace no matter what comes your way and you
will find every negative situation resolved in ways that you can't even
think or imagine. I encourage you to continually trust the Lord and know
that He will be with you all the days of your life. Trust Him because He
loves you.
I hope this message encourages and challenges your heart to see that it is
within your ability to be at Peace in the Lord and have a Joyful outlook
on life.
PACKING YOUR SUITCASE
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that, “Though we travel the world to find the
beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” When I first read
that, it’s truth and wisdom found a home in my heart. Since then I have
always done my best to carry the beautiful with me wherever I may travel.
Since then I have always strived to pack the suitcase of my soul as full
as possible with the most beautiful memories, thoughts, and feelings that
I can.
Here are just a few of the things I have packed over the years. Each one
of them has made my travels a little more beautiful. The sight of the
clouds turning pink, purple and yellow during a mountain sunrise. The
sound of my children’s laughter. The smell of my Nana’s home cooked
spaghetti sauce on a Sunday afternoon after Church. The taste of cold
water from a pure, mountain stream. The feeling of a hug given in love.
The sight of my daughter’s dog wiggling with delight when she comes home
from school. The joy of singing along with an uplifting song. The pleasure
of watching a butterfly feed on the flowers I planted in the Spring.
The peace that comes from breathing in deep the fresh air right after a
Summer rain. The bliss of saying, “I love You God” and then hearing God’s
gentle voice say in my heart, “I love you too My Child”. The glorious
knowledge that love, laughter, joy, and oneness with God are choices that
we can make every day of our lives. The Heavenly happiness that comes when
I share all my love, all my learning, and all that I am with everyone I can.
You don’t have to travel the world to find the beautiful. As Emerson said
it is right there inside of you. Pack the suitcase of your own soul well.
Fill it with all the beauty this world, this life, your spirit, and Heaven
above has to offer. Then you will carry the beautiful with you always and
you will forever share it with all of your fellow travelers.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 28:7-8 “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.”
Psalm 119:10-16 “With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not
wander from Thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O LORD: teach me Thy
statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. I
have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I
will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will
delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.”
Psalm 86:2-7 “Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy
servant that trusteth in Thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry
unto Thee daily. Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord,
do I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and
plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Give ear, O LORD,
unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of
my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.”
Psalm 34:4-8 “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from
all my fears. They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces
were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved
him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about
them that fear Him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is
good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: HE GATHERS EVERY TEAR
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem98.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: HOW TO NOT STAY DEFEATED
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony146.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
