I am a firm believer in enjoying each new day to its fullest. No matter
what I may be going through on any particular day, I choose to see the
good, I choose to stay in peace and I choose to give thanks and praise to
the Lord for every gift and blessing that He has so graciously bestowed
upon my life. It is in how we see our life and in how we treat a
difficult situation that will dictate the level of peace that we will have
in our hearts. Knowing that God is faithful to His Word, we should live
our life in that same confidence that nothing can come our way without God
already knowing about it and making provision for it. The Bible declares
in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he
who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of
those who diligently seek Him.”
Be encouraged to hold on to your peace no matter how hard it is trying to
be stolen from you. Choose to look at the good. Give thanks to the Lord
for your abundance. Think on those who are less fortunate than you and
give praise and thanks to the Lord that the burden you carry is so small
by comparison. When we have an attitude of praise, everything will look
sunny. We won't look at the rain pouring down, but we will wait for the
sun to come soon after that will wipe all the rain away. A simple quote
says “It is always darkest before the dawn.” We should remember this truth
the next time we face a difficult situation. Let us remind ourselves that
good days are coming again. Let us choose to look at the beauty of God's
creation and remember that if God takes care of all of these, then He will
surely take care of our small problem just the same.
(Psalm 69:30-34) (Psalm 145:14-19)
I encourage you again to count your blessings and not your problems. Look
at the good that surrounds you. Choose to bless God for His favor over
your life. Confess with your mouth that your hope and trust is in the
Lord because I can testify that He is good even when troubles abound and
miseries seem to have no end. God is still good; His mercy and grace is
there to envelop us and whisper in our ears All Is Well My Child.
(Philippians 2:14) (Psalm 34:1)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to stay in peace no
matter what may come your way.
SUNRISE IN A CEMETERY
One of the best things about Wintertime is that you can sleep in and still
be up in time to watch the sunrise. That is just what I did this morning.
I stood outside in the cold, quiet, and peaceful air and watched the beauty
of God’s creation appear over the mountaintops. It was such a glorious
sight. I stood there and saw the red clouds change to pink then purple and
then yellow. I looked down on the snowy ground and watched it sparkle
with joy in the morning sun. I breathed in deep and smiled. I could feel
the love of God all around me and even though it was way below freezing I
still felt warm inside.
The writer Robert Fulghum once quoted a great piece of advice given to a
friend of his. It was to “Spend one hour some Sunday watching the sunrise
while walking in a cemetery.” Since I have a cemetery next to my backyard
I decided to follow this advice myself today. Watching the sunshine
glistening off the gravestones quickly put everything in perspective for
me. I realized that like my quiet neighbors one day my body was going to
be in the ground somewhere and that this beautiful world was going to keep
going right on without me. I saw too that if I was going to live then I
needed to live now and that if I was going to love then I needed to love today.
God only gives us so many days here on Earth. It is up to us to make them
count. Don’t wait until you are six feet underground to watch the sun come
up. Get out there and watch the sunrise today. Don’t wait until you are on
your deathbed to tell people how much you love them. Tell them today.
Don’t wait until you can no longer lift your arms to hug someone. Hug them
today. Don’t wait in a box until six people carry you out in a box. Break
out of your box today. Don’t keep waiting for the world to change until
you are no longer a part of it. Change your world today. Choose love, share
joy, and help God to make this world a better place today and forever.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Psalm 103:10-12 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so
great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from
the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”
1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
Psalm 16:8-11 “I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my
right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory
rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my
soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of Joy; at
Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken
spirit drieth the bones.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: THE CHOICES WE MAKE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem139.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: TAKING A GOOD LOOK
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony189.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |