The greatest thing that anyone should ever hope to be remembered for when their time on Earth comes to an end is the love they showed to their fellow man. Love can be expressed in so many ways. It can be in the form of encouraging someone who is doubting their abilities, it can be in affirming someone who is doubting their future because of their troubled past, it can be in inspiring someone to see how special they are and how they can apply their unique gifts, talents and abilities to elevate their life higher than it is right now. It costs us nothing to show love, but the impact that is made is immeasurable. The Lord Jesus talked about loving one another over and over again because He knows that love covers faults, love elevates, love looks past someone’s past and love that is given to another is never in vain. The apostle Paul talks about love as we read in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (John 13:12-17) (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

We are also forewarned that living selfishly will only be to our detriment in the end as we read in Galatians 6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Be encouraged to take it upon yourself to be a world changer by following the command of the Lord to love your neighbor as yourself and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It is known as ‘The Golden Rule’, but that rule was first commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the example in which mankind strives to emulate. As our life’s Leader, Master, Lord and Savior let us do all that we can to make Him proud so that when we see Jesus face-to-face on that Glorious Day we will be proud of how we led our life. (1 John 4:7-13) (Luke 6:31)

I hope this message inspires and encourages your heart to do your best to spread love and joy to everyone you come in contact with so that your life’s legacy may be an eternal one.


THE SECRET INGREDIENT

My Italian Grandmother’s spaghetti sauce was a wonder to behold. After church on Sundays our family would always gather around for a huge dinner that was more a feast than a meal. For hours the smell of the simmering sauce would fill the house and I would breathe in deep with delight. My Nana would slowly cook Italian sausages, meatballs, potatoes, and pieces of chicken in it too. Then she would boil enough spaghetti to feed a small army and slice the loaves of Italian bread she had baked earlier. When I finally sat down at the table I could feel my taste buds jumping for joy in my mouth. By the time dinner was done both my stomach and my heart would be full of happiness.

For years I tried to duplicate my Nana’s recipe, but was never able to get it exactly right. I would always measure out just the right amounts of garlic, parsley, bay leaves, salt, sugar, pepper, and olive oil to add to the tomato sauce. I would simmer it slowly and stir it with care, but it never came out as good as hers. Finally one day it dawned on me that I was missing the secret ingredient that made hers so special: LOVE. You see, Nana always served her spaghetti with a big smile, a gentle hug, and the loving words: “Mangia! Mangia!” Which means “Eat! Eat!” I could always taste her love for us in every bite.

Love is the secret ingredient in life too. The more you love the more your life will taste like joy. The more love you give to others the more your days will become a feast of happiness that never ends. The more love you share the more you become like the greatest chef of all: God.

I think that I will try my hand at making Nana’s sauce again this week. It may never taste as good as hers, but cooking it will bring back the memories of her love and laughter. And while I am slowly stirring it I may even feel her and God smiling down on me from Heaven.

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”

1 John 3:16-19 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”

Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus declares “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “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. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”

1 John 4:10-12 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: BRIGHTEN YOUR CORNER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem71.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: THE SPARROW
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony56.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry