What we should always remember and keep in mind is that life is a journey which will have its ups and downs, it's good days and bad days, it's laughter's and its tears. We shouldn't allow ourselves to get down and discouraged when we face the tough times because the tough times are promised to come, but because they do, they help to teach us the lessons that we could have never learned otherwise. The tough times strengthen our resolve, they equip us with wisdom and understanding and they prepare us for greater challenges that will come later in life. If we went through life on flowery beds of ease, we would never know how to be overcomers when trials or tribulations come our way. That is why I greatly believe that we should confidently face every challenge that life throws at us and be open to becoming better, wiser and stronger through the lessons that we learn when we overcome that obstacle. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10) (John 16:33)

We always have a choice in how we see the trying times. We can call ourselves victims or we can see ourselves as Victors because of our determination to overcome. We can become bitter or we can allow our unwavering resolve to lead us to our triumph and see ourselves as becoming better than we were before. For me it has never been a question. I always choose praise over worry, thanksgiving over murmuring and prayer over uncertainty. The Lord who has never left my side in times past has promised to make me the head and not the tail, the lender and not the borrower and that I would be above only and not beneath. I am one to believe God because He has never failed me before and from what I read in Scripture, He has also never failed anyone else who has put their trust and faith in God Almighty. (Hebrews 4:14-16) (Psalm 28:6-8)

I encourage you to adopt a mentality of trust no matter what may come your way. Trust that God has your best interest in mind. Trust that you will become better after the trial that you are facing than you were before it came your way. Trust that your future is much brighter and blessed than you can believe or see right now. Trust also that God's love for you reaches beyond even your greatest imagination and know that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Face each new day with a quiet confidence that all will be well with you even if all doesn't look well right now. That is what faith is all about; believing for what we can't see right now will one day be visible to us. (Philippians 1:6) (Hebrews 11:1)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to allow every experience in life to make you better than you were before. Don't allow the tough times to beat you down, but rather allow them to raise you up higher than you were before them.


THE GREAT ACORN WAR

The first school I ever attended sat halfway up the side of a hill. Along the ridge right above it were several matronly Oak trees and down at the bottom of the hill was the playground with seesaws and swing sets. Every afternoon at recess most of the boys and girls would make a mad dash down the hill to be the first on the swings and seesaws. A group of us boys, however, found another great toy to play with, the acorns from the Oak trees. Thus began the Great Acorn War. 

For several days we divided into armies, gathered our acorns, and spent recess throwing them at each other. It was great fun until you got hit. One day I found myself trapped behind a tree with the other army all around me. I said a quick prayer to God to please not let me get hit and then made a break for it. Dozens of expertly thrown acorns stung into my face, head, arms, and back. I ran as fast as I could all the way back into the school. The next day I decided the swings might be more fun and left the warfare to others. Soon after that one of the teachers saw the acorn fighters in action and put a stop to the Great Acorn War once and for all. 

That was one of the first times I remember asking God for something and it was also one of the first times I remember Him saying No! It took me many years to finally see that sometimes what we think is best for us really isn’t and that God’s wisdom is far greater than ours. 

Since then I have had a lot of my prayers answered and the answer hasn’t always been yes. I asked God to cure my boys of their Autism but God showed me instead how to look beyond their handicaps and see their loving souls shining through. I asked God for an easy life, but God gave me a challenging one to grow my character and learn the importance of love. I asked God for the ability to help others and heard Him say in my heart, “You are finally getting it!” May God then always give you what you need even if it isn’t always what you want. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 56:9-11 “When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise His word: in the LORD will I praise His word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”

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.”

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.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: PRAISE HIM
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem34.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: FROM DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony89.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry