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What are you going to be remembered for? What will your legacy be long
after you are gone from this Earth? These are the questions we should
ponder in our quiet time so that we can reevaluate how we are spending our
days. Are we spending them selfishly only wanting for our own gain and
benefit? Are we doing things that are helping towards others? Are we
lifting them higher, encouraging them, motivating them, affirming their
gifts and talents and showing them how special they really are? Are we
investing our time and showing our love to those who mean the most to us?
Do those that we love the most know exactly how we feel about them? Is
there a question in their mind that we need to quickly dissipate? These
are all very simple questions and if we answer them honestly, it will be
to our ultimate benefit.
Why would it be to our benefit? Because all that we have in this world is
the love that we show to someone else. Nothing else in life really
matters. Our financial status, our possession status, our social status,
etc. are all fleeting things that will have no relevance 100 years from
now, but a legacy filled with love is one that will never be forgotten or
erased. I encourage you to think on your legacy. Are there things that
you are lacking in and need to have your attention more? Do your loved
ones know exactly how much you really love them? Are you doing your best
to love your neighbor as you love yourself? Are you doing good deeds for
the stranger next to you for no apparent reason except to be a blessing in
that moment? (Romans 14:18) (1 John 4:11) (Galatians 6:10)
There is so much that we can do to make this world a better place, but we
choose not to because “we are so busy” with our own priorities and we say
that “someone else can do that in our place.” We shouldn't look for
someone else to do what we can do. We can share a smile, give a hug,
encourage someone to try again and simply be someone's “Visible Angel” for
a moment or two so that they can see that goodness abounds and that love
is alive and well in the hearts of men and women around the world. I
encourage you again to do what you have not been doing and choose to show
your love, to be a blessing and to simply treat others as you wish to be
treated. When we act in this manner, we will have no regrets when we
enter into eternity because we will have acted as Christ's ambassadors and
loved our neighbor as we love ourselves. (1 John 3:18) (1 Peter 3:8-9)
I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to make your love
known and to do good in every opportunity that comes your way.
THE BEST GIFT
The stores are going to be crowded the next few weeks. It is that time of
the year between Thanksgiving and Christmas when people go shopping for
special gifts for those they love. As I started to think back on the gifts
I have been given over the years, however, it wasn’t the ones that came
wrapped up under a tree that moved me the most. The gifts that most
touched my soul are the ones that came from the hearts of those around me.
Those special hugs my Grandma gave me as a boy that squeezed the air out
of my lungs and warmed my heart at the same time are a gift I will always
cherish. The gift of my Mom’s loving and joyous smile still lives on in my
heart and soul today. I always felt happier when I saw it. Those boyhood
touch football games my brothers and I had in the sunshine, rain, and even
the snow are a gift of fun that still makes me laugh. The countless
repairs my Dad made on my tired, old cars over the years is a gift I can
never repay. His help kept me driving and his love kept me going during
some of the toughest points in my life. Those phone calls from my Aunt
that keep me smiling for half the day are another priceless gift I still
enjoy. They always lift my spirits as high as Heaven.
The hugs, smiles, laughter and kind words that are shared with my children,
my friends and my neighbors are daily gifts that I wouldn’t trade for all
the presents in the world. The letters and cards I get from my wonderful
online friends also have a special place under the Christmas tree in my
heart. They have made my soul rich beyond compare.
All of these gifts remind me too that Love is the greatest gift of all The
love that God has for us and the love that we share with each other is
what life is all about. Love gives meaning to our days, joy to our hearts,
and wealth to our souls. It makes us brighter, the world better, and
brings God closer. May you always have the time of your life then giving
the best gift of all.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 12:10-16 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in
spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints;
given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse
not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be
of the same mind one toward another...”
1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify
one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish
you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be
at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
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.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: THE POWER OF ONE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem125.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: THE PINK BIRDS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony155.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
