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1257th -- Significant Living

  

I am a firm believer that every person that is alive on this earth is well able to live a significant life. What I mean by significant is that your life will make an impact upon this world that will be remembered far longer than you may ever think or imagine for yourself. Each new day that I see, I remind myself that I have another opportunity to leave a mark upon the hearts and minds of those whom I am fortunate enough to cross paths with. How easy is it? Easier than you may think. When we interact with others, we have the chance to brighten their day, encourage their hearts, to show them how special they really are when they don't see it for themselves. How you might ask? By simply taking an interest in them. By giving them an unexpected compliment, by seeing something special in them that they don't see themselves and showing it to them anew. 

When the Lord Jesus gave us the command to love your neighbor as you love yourself, He is telling us to show people the same love that we want, to give others the same level of respect and honor that we desire and to simply be the light and hope to our fellow man that we would want for ourselves in our time of need. What is life if it is only lived for ourselves? Who will be the benefactor when we breathe our last breath? It will be a life lived in vain. Every achievement, every possession, every gain will have been for naught. A selfish existence is truly a lonely existence. Nobody becomes better when we want only for ourselves, nobody rises higher when we only aim to please ourselves, but when we do as the Bible says and esteem others higher than ourselves, we lift up the whole world when we lift up that one soul. (Matthew 22:39) (Philippians 2:3)

If you have been living selfishly, I challenge you to change. Make your life impactful upon this earth. Make your existence significant upon this earth. Do for others what you would want to be done for you in your time of need. Lift others up, share a kind word, laugh, smile, hug, encourage, affirm, inspire, and most importantly give of yourself for the betterment of that one. Don't look for a reward, don't have a motive, don't expect anything in return, but simply allow love to shine forth from your heart towards their heart. Teddy Roosevelt once said “Do what you can...where you are...with what you have!” (Luke 6:31-36)

Always remember and keep in mind that a love filled existence is one that will never die. You will live on in the hearts and minds of those whom you were fortunate enough to touch and the gifts that you imparted to them will also continue on through the ripples that they create. I always say let us be ripple starter's that will continue to make a difference in this world long after we are gone from it. Because of our initiation of good works an untold number of people will become better because of it. Keep this in mind the next time you are debating the start of a simple ripple. (Romans 12:9-10)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see that you are one who is well able to make a difference in this world.


SIGNIFICANT LIVING

I heard someone say, “Forget love...I'd rather fall in chocolate.” I guess I've never liked chocolate that much. It was author Linda Grayson who said, “There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” Sorry. You can leave the chocolate out of my friendships. I'm just not a great fan. I know…what kind of monster dislikes chocolate? Well, you're looking at one, I suppose.

But I am passionate about some things. I love music – don't think I would want to live without it. And I care quite a bit about some big things, like living my life fully and helping others to do the same. I care about the welfare of people and building a world where people matter. All people, not just some. I believe it is important to care deeply about a few things that matter.

Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel says this about the importance of caring:

“The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.”

And what's the opposite of indifference? It is concern. It's caring.

I think most people want to make a difference, even in a small way. They want their lives to count for something. But it can never happen until they care about something bigger than themselves. Something that really matters.

American president Teddy Roosevelt knew about passionate living. He never did anything in a small way. Several years after serving two terms as president, he decided to run again. The early part of his campaign consisted of traveling by train from one state to another to stump.

Roosevelt reached Chicago on October 13, 1912 from Iowa. His throat was so sore from speaking that it had been necessary to cancel previous addresses in Indiana and Wisconsin. But this time he insisted on making a speech the next day in Milwaukee, no matter how he felt.

As he left his hotel to go to the hall where a crowd was already gathered, Roosevelt was shot in the right breast in an assassination attempt. He did not know the extent of the injury – it might have been fatal as far as he knew – but he insisted on speaking to the crowd before allowing his gunshot wound to be treated. He told them that he would make this speech or die. He had something to say and there was no canceling.

Visibly pallid and sporting a bright red stain on his chest, he began in a low tone. “I am going to ask you to be very quiet and please excuse me from making a long speech,” he said. "I'll do the best I can, but there is a bullet in my body.” He went on to minimize the injury and told his audience that he had a message to deliver and would speak as long as his life held out. Then he said, “It matters little about me, but it matters about the cause we fight for.”

Causes do matter. And the world is changed by people who care deeply about causes – about things that matter. We don't have to be particularly smart or talented. We don't need a lot of money or education. All we really need is to be passionate about something important; something bigger than ourselves. And it's that commitment to a worthwhile cause that changes the world.

I know – not all of us are interested in changing the world. That's okay. But any life will be significant when we expend energy and passion on important matters.

And at the end of the day, I'm sure it's okay to save a little passion for chocolate, too.

By Steve Goodier


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Matthew 5:43-45 Jesus declares
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

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...”

John 13:12-15 “So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them,
Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: REACHING OUT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem153.htm 

Today’s Selected Testimony: MY LIFE CHANGE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony164.htm

In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry

 
 

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