In life we always have two choices; we can either be thankful for all that we have or we can complain about the little that we lack. We can bless the Lord with our words of praise or we can come to Him with our complaints about what we are missing. We can follow the right path that leads to life everlasting or we can fulfill our fleshly desires that will lead to our destruction. Two choices and it is completely up to us on which one we choose. I have always been an optimist because God's goodness is too much for me to ignore. If it's raining outside, I close my eyes and smell the beautiful fragrance. If it's snowing outside, I look with wonder at the beauty of God's creation. If I receive a bad report, I think of the many times that God has been faithful to me in times past and I trust that all things will work together for my good just as they have before. (Deuteronomy 30:19) (Galatians 6:7-8) (Psalm 34:1-4)

I choose to see the good in every circumstance even though it is within my ability to focus on the bad. We have two choices. We can give God praise or we can murmur and complain. We can do something positive in the midst of our difficulty or we can have a pity party asking why me. I strongly believe that God is well pleased with us when we have a faith filled attitude trusting Him at every turn. The Lord makes our crooked paths straight when we bless His Name and choose to remember the many times that He has intervened on our behalf in times past. Let us always be mindful enough to choose the good option. Whatever it may be in whatever circumstance that we find ourselves in, let us choose to be faith filled, praise filled and trust that good will come from every negative situation that comes our way. (1 Chronicles 16:11-15) (Isaiah 42:16)

The next time you face a difficulty remember that you have two choices. You can either bless the Lord or you can complain about your plight. You can see the good or you can focus on the bad. You can be faith filled or you can be fear filled. It is within your ability on which one you choose and I pray that you will consciously choose to see the good in every situation that comes your way. You will see for yourself how God will be well pleased with you when you choose to trust in Him even when you are tempted to do otherwise. (Isaiah 43:18-21) (Psalm 138:8)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see the good in every situation that comes your way.


WHAT WE DO WITH IT

One of my neighbors used to have a beautiful tree in her front yard. Her Dad had planted it for her when it was nothing more than a twig and for years it seemed to barely grow at all. Yet, after a time it started to shoot towards the sky with amazing speed. Soon it towered above her home and blessed her with cooling shade in the Summer and glorious, golden leaves in the Fall.

When the two day blizzard from Hurricane Sandy struck our town almost 4 feet of wet, heavy snow fell on the tree’s limbs that were still full of leaves. The weight was overwhelming and split that lovely tree down the middle. It was so sad seeing half of it laying on the ground after the storm. When I talked to my neighbor later she said that the damage had been too much and that the entire tree would have to be cut down. Thankfully, she had saved a few saplings from it that she hoped to replant in the future.

Still, it was a shock to drive by her house the other day and see nothing but a stump in her front yard. I missed that tree. I missed its beauty. I missed its leaves shining in the afternoon sun. I missed seeing its limbs reach towards the heavens. I thought that the stump would be a sad reminder of its loss for a long time to come. My wonderful neighbor, though, had another plan. When I drove by her home today I saw a tiny bird feeder sitting on that stump and a colorful songbird having its dinner. It was such an affirmation of life. It was such a joy to see. I could feel my heart smile.

Life by its very nature is a mixed bag. It hands us both beauty and tragedy, love and loss, pleasure and pain. What we do with it, however, is up to us. We can let is split us in two, or we can use even its hardest times to make our souls stronger and our hearts more loving. We can spend it complaining or we can use it to help others, share God’s love, and make Heaven smile.

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

James 3:10-12 “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

James 1:2-5 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Psalm 28:6-8 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications. 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 20:6-9 “Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His Holy Heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.”

Psalm 18:30-33 “As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. 


Today's Selected Poem: WHEN JESUS LOOKS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem54.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: OUT OF DARKNESS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony103.htm

In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry