The experiences of life; the good the bad, the joy the sorrow, the pleasures and the pains are what make life meaningful. If we traveled through life on flowery beds of ease we would not develop a strong character, an empathetic heart and a willingness to be there for our fellow man in their time of need. When we face the tough times and come through them better, wiser and stronger than we were before we will have received the foreknowledge to know that someone else going through a similar trial can also persevere and come through it better just like we did. That is why life’s experiences are so important. We become more thankful after the storm has passed, we become more appreciative after we receive the victory and our resolve becomes as hard as steel after we overcome that trial or challenge that seemed so overwhelming. It is for this reason that we should not dread the difficult times of life because in the end they will teach us lessons that we could not have learned otherwise and in learning those lessons we become better and more equipped to handle the tougher challenges that are sure to come. (2 Corinthians 4:14-18) (Job 23:8-12)

Someone once said when you know better you do better and in knowing to do better we can help someone else not make the same mistakes that we made in times past. Our wisdom imparted into the life of another is sure to keep them from the pain that we experienced so that they may through our simple life’s example stand on our shoulders and reach even greater Heights. When we share that kind of unmerited love and kindness our life’s example will live on in their hearts far longer than we can ever think or imagine for ourselves. We can attest to this fact ourselves by remembering the kindness of someone else imparted into our life. Knowing how grateful we are to have received such love and kindness we can confidently do the same for someone else in their time of need. (Galatians 6:10) (Luke 6:31)

Be encouraged to change your mindset when going through the trials, challenges and storms of life. Don’t murmur and complain, don’t have a pity party and think the weight of the world is coming down on your shoulders, but with faith filled confidence believe that every obstacle in your path is there to make you better than you were before. Use the tough times to build your character, to strengthen your resolve and to remind you that tough times will not last, but tough people will endure and triumph in the end. May we have that mindset of victory at all times even when the sun isn’t shining and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel knowing that our victory lay just ahead if we only continue on a little bit longer. (1 Corinthians 9:24) (Proverbs 3:1-12)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to face the tough times head on knowing that in the end you will become better because of them.


THESE THINGS I WISH FOR YOU

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse.

For my grandchildren, I'd like better. I'd really like for them to know about hand-me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meatloaf sandwiches. I really would.

My cherished grandson, I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. I hope you have a job by then. It will be good if at least one time you can see a baby calf born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a Disney movie and your little brother wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride I hope your driver doesn't have to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use those newfangled computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get razzed by your friends when you have your first crush on a girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what Ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. I hope you get sick when someone blows cigar smoke in your face. I don't care if you try beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you drugs, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your grandpa and go fishing with your uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and the joy of holidays. I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through a neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a plaster of Paris mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you -- tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness.

By Paul Harvey


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Job 23:8-12 “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, His way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Philippians 2:14-16 “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; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

1 Peter 3:10-12 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: EVEN IF
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem108.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: TAKING A GOOD LOOK
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony189.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry