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We should never allow what is going on around us externally to affect how
we feel internally. Many times we allow the negativity of this world to
impact how we see, feel and act towards life. What we must quickly realize
is that it is within our own self control to handle how we see life. It
is within our power to be thankful, to be appreciative and to enjoy life
to the best of our ability. We must remember that Joy comes from within.
If we are not joyful and happy from the inside out, then nothing on the
outside will fill us with joy and happiness on the inside. We must be
content with where we are now and focus on the many blessings that we
possess. There are too many moments when we focus on what we're missing
instead of being grateful and appreciative for all that we possess. A
grateful heart will be a contented heart.
When we look at our glass as half full we will be focusing on how fortunate
we are instead of murmuring and complaining about our many problems.
Whatever we magnify in our minds will take root in our hearts. When we
only look at the trials, the setbacks, the discouragements and the
letdowns, our mind will be poisoned and our heart will soon be cankered.
Instead we should say loudly from within our being “This is the day the
Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I will bless His Name
and with my whole heart I will proclaim the goodness of the Lord.” We
must have the correct picture in our minds and focus on the right things.
The Lord will allow us to have exactly what we seek. What we focus on, we
attract. We must remember this simple truth. So why focus on the wrong
things? If we know they are detrimental to our well-being, why allow them
to poison our present and our future? Instead we should boldly, consciously
and unashamedly focus on our many blessings. Be thankful for your spouse,
your children, your health, your home, your eyes, your ears, your feet,
your hands and anything else that has been a positive in your life. Doing
the right thing is easy when we focus on it. We must be determined and
when we are, we will be successful. I pray that you receive this word of
encouragement to bless your life and be appreciative for all that you have in it.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to focus on the
right things even in the midst of a trying time. By focusing on your
blessings, your trials will diminish in comparison.
THE LIGHT TO COME
It was the darkest time of the year, the last few weeks before the Winter
Solstice. The long, black nights seemed to go on forever. When the sun did
rise it would race across the sky and set again before you even had a
chance to enjoy it. The cloudy days were the worst of all. Then even the
few hours of sunlight were covered in gray.
I felt my energy ebb during these days. It was tougher to get out of bed
in the morning and harder to get everything done during the day. The
darkness made my body feel tired and lowered my normally good spirits. I
definitely wasn’t looking forward to the 3 long months of Winter that lay ahead.
To fight off these Winter blues I decided to do all I could to nurture my
own inner light. I prayed often and asked God’s love to fill my heart and
soul. I sang along to the Christmas carols playing on my record player. I
read uplifting books. I laughed with my children and played with my dogs.
I walked outside during the short, sunny hours and breathed in the cold,
frosty air. I crunched through the snow, smiled towards the sky, and
thanked my Heavenly Father for all the blessings He had given me in this
life. Doing these things rekindled the embers in my soul and turned them
into a roaring fire once again. I knew that Spring was 3 months away, but
I knew too that each day would bring more light both in the sky and inside of me.
As these months of Winter go by don’t just bide your time waiting for the
greater light to come. Instead brighten the light and love that glows deep
within you. Then let it out, let it shine, and share it with the world.
And remember too that the greatest light to come won’t be on the first day
of Spring or the first day of Summer. It will be when we enter into the
glorious light of Heaven and the loving arms of God.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
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 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.”
Romans 8:16-18 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be
also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us.”
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 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: WHAT YOU WILL BE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem178.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: FATHER KNOWS BEST
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony109.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
