We should always take life one day at a time and not allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed with the pressures and stresses that try their best to steal our joy and peace and tempt us to worry about tomorrow. What we must always remember and keep in mind is that God is faithful to those who put their trust in Him. When we proclaim that our eyes are focused on the Lord, then our heart will never lose its peace because our faith is not focused on what is seen, but it is focused on the unseen which is more real than we can think or imagine. My recipe for peace is a daily confession proclaiming to the Lord that all things will work together for our good in the end because we love Him and we are called according to His purposes. (2 Kings 6:15-17) (Romans 8:28)

I encourage you to have a lighthearted attitude every day of your life. Don't allow the temporary trials, setbacks or detours to make you lose your peace or tempt you to murmur and complain. Rather, focus on the goodness of the Lord and remember the many blessings that He has bestowed upon your life. Also remember the many times that you have overcome in times past and know that you will overcome any present trials just the same. Give God praise while you are in the midst of the storm acknowledging God's faithfulness, God's mercy and God's love that reaches from everlasting to everlasting. (Matthew 6:25-34) (Luke 12:32) (Isaiah 26:3-4)

I believe when we have an attitude of Praise and Thanksgiving, we will lead an extraordinary life because our spirits are not downtrodden, but they are lifted up, focused and thankful for the goodness of the Lord. Rejoice in God's love and have an attitude of praise all the days of your life and when you do, you will find your days much more blessed and favored than they ever would be otherwise. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) (Psalm 34:1-10) (Philippians 4:4-7)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to have a peace filled countenance no matter what may come your way.


CANDLES ON A CAKE

I have a birthday coming up soon, but I decided not to put any candles on my cake this year. I thought that 46 of them might ruin the icing or set off the smoke alarm. The funny thing, though, is that when I looked in the mirror this morning I didn’t see a middle-aged man looking back at me. Sure there was gray in the hair and wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. The skin wasn’t as smooth and the hair wasn’t as thick either, except in the ears. Yet, when I saw his smile and the twinkle in his eyes I felt as vital and alive as I ever had. I saw the young, loving spirit living inside this aging body and knew that is who I really am. 

I remembered too one of the quotes on a beautiful plaque that my daughter gave me as an early birthday present. It was by Edward Bulwer Lytton and it said: “It is not by the gray of the hair that one knows the age of the heart.”

It is such an amazing thing that we can grow younger on the inside while we grow older on the outside. Some of the most loving, joyous, and vital people I know live inside ancient bodies that have seen far better days. These people live from the soul. They love from the heart. They have an enthusiasm for life that is contagious. They smile often, laugh a lot, and take life one day at a time. On the inside they are far younger than I could ever hope to be. They remind me that old bodies don’t always make for old hearts. 

I hope then that when your own birthday comes around that your heart will feel as young as ever. I hope that you will remember that you are not numbers on a calendar or candles on a cake. You are instead a being of light and a Child of God. You are an eternal, loving soul. You are a forever young spirit. Your body may age, weaken, and eventually die, but you never will. May you live all of your days with love, laughter, light, and joy. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 40:1-4 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

Psalm 37:23-27 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: A STRONG WOMAN...
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem115.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: WHEN OUR BOAT SANK
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony66.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry