We should always believe for a better and brighter tomorrow. So many times people who are going through trials and tribulations can’t look past their current situation and see the brightness of their tomorrows. They foolishly choose to murmur and complain and have a pity party instead of seeing themselves as victors and not victims. What we should always realize about life is that there will be valleys and there will be mountaintops; one day we may be below and one day we may be above, but if we have faith in God and trust in His provision and sustenance then we can face every obstacle with a quiet confidence knowing that we will triumph over this trial and in the end we will become better because of it. Our mindset and focus must always be on what is still ahead of us and not on what is behind us. We can’t move forward in life looking backwards because that will hinder our steps towards our victory. The apostle Paul declares in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) (Isaiah 26:3)

When we make up our minds that we will not be moved no matter how strong the storms are raging and no matter how bleak the report may be I believe that unwavering faith will move mountains on our behalf. It will never be in our own strength that we are successful because it is the Lord who gives us the wisdom, the ability and the strength to overcome the discouragements and disappointments of life and come out of them better, wiser and stronger than we were before. May we always remember and keep in mind that our life’s testimony is speaking on our behalf to the visible and the invisible. How we act with one another speaks directly to our character and by our actions we will either please the Lord or shame the Lord. My hope for each of us is to always be a shining Beacon of hope and light that will lead people to the Lord because of our example of faithfulness to Him. (Psalm 121:1-8) (Matthew 5:16)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to look past any temporary discouragements and focus more on triumphing over every challenge that comes your way.


EVERYTHING BEGINS WITH A KNOT

I'm not a very crafty person. I want to be. I mean it's not that I want to make napkin holders, or Styrofoam wreaths.

I want to paint. I bought all the stuff I need, but I haven't started. I even have a video called, “How to get started.”

I need one that says “how to get started to get started.”

I do spend time in craft stores. Mostly the big chain stores where they mark everything up and then give you a big discount, bringing the cost down to where it should be before discounts.

Anyway, it was there that I learned a big lesson.

Sitting in the aisle near the yarn was an older woman. Apparently she lives there because her name was painted on the back of the wooden rocking chair.

I pretended to be shopping for something nearby because I wanted to hear what she was saying to a lady who joined her. I guess she was there to teach.

“No! That's not how I showed you!” she scolded.

The woman she was teaching giggled nervously.

She wasn't being mean. I believe she was related to my sixth grade teacher who would throw a chalk eraser across the room to hit a kid in the head who fell asleep.

It was her “teaching style.” Now teachers just need to be psychologists, parents, guards and babysitters. The world's so much better now.

Anyway, the woman finally got nerve enough to leave.

“Okay, I got it. I'll be back tomorrow to buy the things I need,” she said.

“Will you remember what I told you?” the teacher asked.

“Yes.”

“What's the most important thing?” she quizzed her.

She paused too long to answer. I believe a second went by.

I leaned in to pick up on this. I mean, if ever I decided to take up knitting, I would need to know “The most important thing.”

But what she said triggered an entirely different response in me.

Ready?

“Everything begins with a knot!” she said.

Then holding both her index fingers up she added, “Two soldiers!”

The student ran off.

I quickly turned away when she glanced at me. I was having sixth grade flashbacks.

Still, I smiled. I loved what I heard.

It registered in my mind like this...Everything begins with a “NOT.”

Everything I want to change has to begin with a “not.”

“I'm NOT going to quit!”

“I'm NOT going to complain, I'm going to do something about it.”

“I'm not going to win if I don't lose once in awhile.”

“I'm not going to succeed unless I keep trying.”

“I'm not going to lose weight until I gain good eating habits.”

A long time ago I learned another “Not.” I kept hearing from people about the many ways they tried to accomplish something without succeeding.

I began asking them, “What is it you're NOT willing to do?”

The answer to most failed attempts lies not in what you are doing, but in what you are NOT willing to do.

If self employment requires commitment 24/7 but you want a 40 hour a week job, You are NOT willing to do what it takes.

If reaching your goal means you will fail several times first and you give up after one or two tries, then you are not willing to persevere.

Stop looking at what you do and ask what you are NOT willing to do.

Everything begins with a “Not!”

By Bob Perks


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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.”

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.”

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.”

Psalm 37:23-26 “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.”

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: THE PROMISE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem182.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony27.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry