Many times in life we get discouraged because we think we are not capable
of making a difference in life. We need to remember that in our own
strength we will only get minimal results, but with the guidance and
inspiration of the Lord, we will always get extraordinary results. Never
get discouraged when the world tries to make you feel unworthy, but rather
rejoice and know that God is able to do great things with your life if
only you submit to Him and let God lead the way.

This is a true story that has been passed around many times since it was
first written in 1912. I hope you will be encouraged by this message that
shows what God can do with a pure and surrendered heart.


GOD AND 57 CENTS

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been
turned away because it was too crowded. "I can't go to Sunday school," she
sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt, appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and,
taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the
Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that
night thinking of the children who had no place to learn about Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement
buildings and the parents called for the kind-hearted pastor who had
befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor
little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found that
seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57
cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting that read, "This is to
help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday
School." For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would
do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he
told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his
deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story doesn't end there! A newspaper learned of the story and
published it. A realtor who read it offered them a parcel of land worth
many thousands. When told that the church could not pay that amount, he
offered it for a total of 57 cents. Church members made large donations.
Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift
had increased to $250,000.00--A huge sum for that time (near the turn of
the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you're in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church,
with a seating capacity of 3,300, and Temple University, where hundreds of
students are trained.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School
building that houses hundreds of Sunday scholars, so that no child in the
area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet
face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such
remarkable history.

Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell,
author of the book, Acres of Diamonds.

Goes to show what God can do with unselfish love for others and 57 cents.

Author Unknown


We don't always understand why bad things happen to good people just like
in this story, but we need to remember that God is the One who sees the
big picture. He sometimes accomplishes the goal at hand in different ways
than we would do it. Just because God does it differently in ways that we
do not always understand, I want you to be confident and know that God is
in control and will always bring good out of the bad that we see.

Remember what God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For My thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts." Also we need to keep in mind what
Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

Encourage yourself today in the Lord and know that God is able to do
amazing things with your life if only you submit to Him and ask that He
would lead the way. God may not do things the way you imagined, but rest
assured His ways are always bigger and better than our ways. (Proverbs 3:5-6)


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 37:3-5 "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the
land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and
He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."

Job 13:15-18 "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will
maintain mine own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation: for an
hypocrite shall not come before Him. Hear diligently my speech, and my
declaration with your ears. Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know
that I shall be justified."

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to
come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

All scriptures can be found in the King James Version.


In Christ Service,

Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry