There are many people in this world who wish to walk on the path that is straight and narrow which leads to life everlasting, but because of our fallen nature we are easily gone astray desiring to fulfill the lusts of the flesh rather than crucifying the flesh with all of its earthly desires and following after God instead. What we quickly realize after the fun has been had and the pleasures have been “fulfilled” is that the same empty feeling that we had in our hearts before still remains. The amazing thing about God however is that His mercy and grace reaches beyond our finite thinking and as bad as we see ourselves for falling short time and again, God in His infinite love still says “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” We cannot find peace in a possession, we cannot find lasting joy and contentment in someone or something else because true fulfillment, lasting peace and unending joy only comes when God enters into our hearts. (Isaiah 53:6) (Matthew 11:28-30) (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Always remember and keep in mind that our past doesn’t matter, our shortfalls aren’t enough to dissuade God’s love, and when we in simple humility call upon and ask the Lord Jesus to be the leader of our lives a great exchange takes place. We give up our sinful nature and we receive His divine nature. The Bible declares in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” God wishes to redeem those who feel unredeemable and show mercy to those who feel undeserving of mercy. We read in Isaiah 44:22 “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Our salvation was forever secured with the precious blood of Jesus and the Bible says whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. All are welcomed to receive this free gift, but we must all upon the Lord asking for it and receiving it by faith trusting that our eternity will be forever secured not because we are righteous, but because the Lord Jesus is righteous enough for us all. (Galatians 3:13-14) (2 Peter 1:3-5)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see that just because we fall away at one time or another does not mean that we can’t return to the Lord again and receive His mercy and grace.


THE PRODIGAL CAT

My prodigal cat has returned! I found her meowing pitifully on my back porch yesterday after a week of living on the wild side. I was pretty sure that sooner or later the cold, November weather here would make her come home. Right now she is sitting on my lap while I type this, skinnier but wiser, gently rubbing her head on my arm and purring joyfully. 

We first rescued our prodigal cat, Honey several years ago when she jumped into our open car without being invited. It appears Honey was on the run from several bigger and meaner cats at the time and was happy to find a pair of protective arms to rest in. The tiny calico soon made herself right at home too. Adjusting to an indoor life didn’t seem to bother her at all. She was always first cat in the house to the bowl at feeding time and she loved to nap all day on the nearest available lap. 

She nuzzled and purred with the best of them too and was loved by all of us. This last year, however, Honey’s wilder nature seemed to be calling to her. Several times she snuck outside on us only to return back after realizing just how tough life is out there. I am hoping that this latest outdoor romp is her last and that she finally realizes that struggling to survive in the wild just can’t compare to napping on her Dad’s lap. 

My cat, however, isn’t the only one who has made this mistake. I think most of us are prodigal children at some point in our lives. Just as in Jesus’ Parable we wander away from our Heavenly Father and waste our days on wild living and foolish pursuits. Soon we find ourselves miserable, alone, and just struggling to survive. We return home to our Father broken, repentant, and hungry for His love again. Thankfully, God is always ready to forgive us and welcome us back into His loving arms once more. There is no better or more joyous place to be either, because it is the one place where we truly belong. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Romans 10:9-13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Psalm 103:8-13 “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.”

Luke 15:7 Jesus declares “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: ALWAYS THERE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem149.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: JESUS IS ENOUGH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony197.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry