There are many moments in life when we find ourselves in a funk and we don’t know how to get out of it. What we must always remember and keep in mind is that if we focus on the right things then our mindset and attitude will follow suit. When tough times come our way and we are tempted to worry, murmur and complain about our plight, our spirit man will feel that same emotions and if we’re not careful we will find ourselves discouraged, disheartened and depressed. That should never be though. We have so much in our life to be grateful for. No matter what we may be facing we still have good that we can focus on and give God thanks for. If we are sick in our bodies, we can still be thankful that we have the love and support of our family and friends. If we are struggling financially we can focus on all that we still possess and see that the best things in life don’t cost anything. If we are lacking a spouse, we can look at the relationships that we do have and be thankful for them. (Colossians 3:1-4) (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

We can always shift our perspective to look on the bright side of things. It is within our ability to be at peace, joyful and happy with what we have in our possession right now. We don’t need to look at the Joneses and be envious of their life because the Joneses have the same struggles that we have, we just don’t know them. Instead, we should use our energy to bless our life, to give praise and thanks to God for His sustenance and provision over our life and through our eyes of faith let us see our end result being much more fruitful, encouraged, blessed and lifted up. What we expect, we draw back to ourselves, what we hope for we will receive and when we pray God’s will be done in our life we can rest assured that our latter end will be much greater, much more blessed and much more fulfilled than we could ever think or imagine for ourselves. (Isaiah 26:3-4) (Matthew 6:10-13)

I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to see that life will always bring with it different changes that are meant to make you better, wiser and stronger in the end.


THE REAL FIRST DAY OF SPRING

In the mountains where I live there are always two first days of Spring. There is the first one that shows up on the calendar in March and then there is the second one that comes later on. The second one is the real one. It is the first day when you can feel in your heart and soul that Spring has finally arrived. 

I felt that real first day of Spring recently. The sun was gently making its way across the sky and bathing the world in its golden warmth. The temperatures climbed steadily into the seventies. The breezes tickled instead of biting into my face. On the trees I could see the first buds and blossoms of the year. For the first time in months flowers were showing okay, but many times you g their heads above the ground and stretching their bodies toward the light. Sweet, loving birdsongs were serenading the world from the trees. Hikers were walking the roads and paths in t-shirts and tennis shoes. On a playground I saw a girl determinedly running with a kite behind her rising higher and higher. Near her a boy was throwing a stick again and again while a happy dog brought it back to him every time. 

As I walked through this amazing day I could feel the Springtime in my own soul awakening once again. My eyes and heart cleared and I saw this world as the beautiful and blessed place that it is. I looked around and felt my love going out to everyone I saw. I knew each one of them was a fellow Child of God put here to learn, grow, and love. I felt the love of our Heavenly Father surrounding us all and my hope was renewed that one day all of us would live as the family we are. I felt as if a day in Heaven had somehow made its way down here to Earth. 

Days like that may seem rare, but they don’t have to be. By allowing God’s love to warm our hearts and by sharing our love with the world we can make every day the first day of Spring. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Hebrews 12:2-3 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Psalm 25:1-5 “Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in Thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.”

Isaiah 45:2-3 “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”

2 Timothy 1:7-9 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: STRENGTH FOR THE DAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem167.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: FROM DRUGS TO JESUS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony122.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry