There are many people in this world who are only interested in themselves. Their only focus is on what they can gain to better their own life giving little or no attention to what they can do to help lift up their fellow man. They don't look for the best interest of their neighbor, they don't wish to lend a helping hand to help others rise higher and be a blessing in any simple way. It is a sad thing because this life no matter how long we may live in it is temporary and it cannot compare to the forever of eternity that is soon to come for each of us. That is why I hold the strong belief to build up my treasures in heaven and not focus so much on what I possess on this earth. (Matthew 19:16-26) (Matthew 6:19-33)

Since heaven is going to be my eternal home, I would rather spend my time following the command of the Lord Jesus who said it is better to give than it is to receive, it is better to esteem others higher than ourselves, it is good to love your neighbor as you love yourself. I greatly believe that it is a life well spent when it is spent helping others to become their absolute best. When I think of selflessness, Mother Theresa comes to my mind. She is one who gave all that she possessed to help those in need around her. She didn't give some, she didn't give most, she gave her all, and the love that she showed to every person who crossed her path felt like the love of God coming through her simple vessel. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

That is what each of us should strive to do. Love without motive, love without condition, welcome in all the hurting, encourage all the downtrodden, affirm all the self doubters, and simply be the catalyst in which a positive and lasting change can happen because you took the time to care for that one who crossed your path. I often ask myself “What will I gain by being selfless?” I will gain a treasure that cannot compare to anything that this world has to offer. As any believer I will hope to hear those words “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” That is all I strive for, that is all I wish for and that is all I hope for. Being of use to build up, to lift up, to encourage, to inspire, to affirm is to change this world and make it a better world. (Luke 6:30-36) (Matthew 25:21)

May we each continually ask ourselves, “What can I do to be a blessing to someone else?” When we take the time to be doers of the Word as the Bible says and not hearers only, we will make an impact that will never be forgotten or erased. May we each do a little every day until the full impact of the whole of us will be felt by all. That is my prayer for us. (James 1:22)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to think about how you may be a blessing to someone that crosses your path.


AUTUMN OF OUR LIVES

I love Autumn here in the mountains of West Virginia. The cool air and the hum of the heater in the morning soon gives way to the warm breezes flowing through the window fans in the afternoon. The delightful smell of dry leaves fills the air and in the evening I can sometimes catch glimpses of the deer feeding on the fallen apples from the apple tree in our backyard. The sound of happy children riding their bikes makes a sweet music for the ears as they play away the evening hours until darkness arrives. All of this wonderful joy takes place too under the brilliance of the mountains themselves. This time of the year they look like they were painted by Heaven’s hand. Bit by bit the leaves on the trees transform into glorious gold's, radiant reds, and outrageous oranges. Beautiful burgundies and browns soon appear too, as well as yellows that shine like the sun itself. This time of the year always gives me a hint of what Paradise itself must be like. 

It really amazes me then that the phrase “the Autumn of our lives” is always said with such fear. The very mention of it stirs up images of aging, illness, and approaching death. I guess so many are afraid of that last leaf falling that they fail to see the beautiful Spring that awaits them. 

I think the Autumn of your life should instead be embraced with joy. It should be the peak of a beautiful, colorful, and well-lived life. It should be full of choosing love, sharing happiness, and helping others. It should be filled with making yourself a better person and the world a better place. It should be overflowing with peace, understanding, and oneness with God. 

May the Autumn of your life then shine as brightly as the leaves on these mountains. May you live simply, love deeply, and grow daily. May your last days be your best days. And may you walk through the fallen leaves knowing that the journey leads not to death but to eternal life. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Ephesians 4:29-32 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

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.”

Philippians 2:13-15 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

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 WORDS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem40.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: HE WANTED ME
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony88.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry