Life is so much more enjoyable when it is lived in peace. When we go through our days with a peace filled countenance everything will go so much smoother for us than it would otherwise. When we have a fresh song in our hearts and our mind set on Gratitude and Thanksgiving we will look past any temporary trial or challenge because we already know that the good in our life greatly outweighs any bad. The Lord's goodness towards us should be thought upon often because when we focus on our abundance we will not be lured into worrying, murmuring or complaining when a tough situation comes our way. We will in essence become unmoved because our faith in the Lord is so stabilized that nothing will be able to shake it. (Habakkuk 3:17-19) (Psalm 139:14-18)

We learn great lessons when we read and keep in remembrance the stories in the Bible. There are countless examples of resilience, faithfulness, redemption, forgiveness and Victory. Moses was a murderer, but God used him to free the children of Israel. Joseph was the youngest of his brothers and was betrayed by them, but because he stayed faithful God used him to save millions from starvation. David was a young shepherd boy, but God saw his heart and would make him King over Israel. Daniel was faithful without fear and survived the Lion’s den without a scratch on him. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down and worship a false idol and because of their faithfulness to God, they not only survived the fiery furnace, they were walking around in the midst of it. Paul was the chief persecutor of Christians, but God forgave and used Paul to change the world for Christ and even wrote most of the New Testament. These examples are given so that we may be strengthened in our own walk with the Lord. (1 Samuel 16:6-13) (Daniel 6:1-28) (Daniel 3:4-30)

Let us face each new day with Joy, with Peace, with Thanksgiving and with Gratitude knowing that our great abundance deserves to be looked upon with praise to God for His goodness, mercy and grace that surpasses all understanding. I encourage you to change your focus from worry to trust, from complaint to praise, from fear to victory knowing that just as God used men and women in the Bible to do His will, He will do the same with us when we have that same unwavering faith that nothing is impossible with God. Praise Him in everything and trust that your life can be significant when you surrender your will and allow His will to be done. (Psalm 18:1-6) (John 6:38)

I hope this message inspires and encourages your heart to keep joy and peace at the center of your heart no matter what may come your way.


WITH JOY AND THANKSGIVING

I recently got some pictures of my Aunt’s 86th birthday party. Although I haven’t been able to visit her in many years she looked as happy and beautiful as ever. Her eyes sparkled with the same youth and vitality that I remembered from our Summer visits to her home some 35 years ago. Gazing at her picture took me back in an instant to those wonderful times once again.

Her home was an eight hour drive from ours over mountainous roads so we could only visit during the Summer. When we arrived, though, we were always greeted with hugs, tears, laughter and love. The highlight of our visits was always the early Thanksgiving dinner that we shared. The dining room table would groan under the platters of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, rolls, stuffing, pumpkin pies, and ice cream. After saying grace we would all feast until we couldn’t feast anymore. My late Uncle Rich would always smile after dinner and joke that we had to visit more often because this was the only time that Aunt Charlotte ever fed him well.

In the evening I would go to bed with a full stomach and a happy heart. Sweet laughter would drift up from the front porch and into my open bedroom window while Mom, Dad, Uncle Rich, and Aunt Charlotte talked long into the night. A peaceful feeling would fill my spirit as the sounds of joy and thankfulness floated up from below to be my loving lullaby.

Those beautiful childhood memories have stayed with me to this day. They were by far the greatest gifts my Aunt Charlotte could have ever given me. They helped shape my soul and opened my heart to the love of God that was all around me. They helped me to see the kind of life that I wanted to live and share with others. I will be forever thankful to her for her wonderful lessons on living with laughter and love. I will be forever grateful to her for showing me how to go through each day with both joy and thanksgiving. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Jeremiah 33:2-3 “Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is His name; Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Psalm 23:1-4 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem155.htm 

Today’s Selected Testimony: THE REWARD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony105.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry