No matter how old or young we may be we should always have a youthful countenance beaming from within our being. The Lord is too good for us to forget His mercy and grace that has sustained us for our entire life meeting our needs, keeping us in peace and showing us that our life is held securely in the palms of His hands. Many times when the storms of life rage around us we are tempted to worry, murmur and complain about the negative obstacles in our path, but when we remember how big our God is and recall the many times that He has delivered us in times past that is when our hearts will be calmed and our minds will be at rest. What we have to remember is that God never said we won’t have trials and tribulations, but He did say be of good cheer in the midst of trouble because He has already overcome the world for us. When we have that kind of promise it will be easy to stay joyful because the victory is promised to us. We don’t have to fear the unknown or worry about what’s next because the Bible says God declares the end from the beginning. Our victory has been promised, but we need to stand in the promise believing God’s Word, trusting in His plan for our life and then fulfilling that plan by becoming all that God has created us to be. (John 16:33) (Isaiah 46:9-10)

My best encouragement to anyone is to stay young at heart. Staying young at heart means to have the innocence and joy of a child who doesn’t judge another unjustly, who loves all who comes before them, who laughs at the simplest of pleasures and who enjoys each new day that comes before them. I believe that is why Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4 “...Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” God wishes to show Himself strong on behalf of those who humble themselves. The Bible declares in 1 Peter 5:5 “… Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” May we always recognize that in our own strength we can accomplish very little, but when we heed to the Lord and follow His plan for our life, I believe we will accomplish much more, much quicker in ways that we never thought or imagined would be possible. That is my hope for my life and for every believer who humble themselves before the Lord trusting that all will be well with them all the days of their life. (Philippians 2:13-15) (Job 23:10-11)

I hope this message inspires and encourages you to stay youthful in heart, humble in spirit and trusting in the Lord knowing that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly before Him.


AN OLD PAIR OF SHOES

I woke up with a stiff and sore back this morning. This was not unusual since my back has given me problems for years now, but today no amount of stretching or moving would loosen it up. Still, I had 5 dogs waiting patiently by the door to go out for their morning walk, so I slowly bent down, put on their leashes, and started to pull my shoes on. When I did, though, I saw that my shoes like my body were showing signs of wear. A split along the seam of a sole let me know that it wouldn’t be too long before I would have to replace this pair. I only wished I could replace my back along with them.

Later after walking the dogs, watching the sunrise, eating breakfast, and talking with God I was feeling a lot better on the inside. My back pain had faded too and my smile had returned. It was then that I remembered a letter a friend had sent me recently. Inside of it she had pasted a delightful picture of an old, worn-out pair of work boots sitting on the ground by a porch. Their leather was cracked, their soles were spilt, and their laces were worn, but they still looked great because inside of them someone had planted a beautiful bunch of Impatiens. The flowers had grown tall and strong in spite of their curious container. This picture reminded me again that while my body may feel like a worn out pair of shoes at times, inside of it was a soul that continued to grow everyday in love, joy, peace, happiness, goodness, and oneness with God.

At some point in your life you need to decide who you really are. Are you the body that grows older everyday or are you the soul within it that remains forever young? One day the loving spirit within you will have to step out of its worn out pair of shoes and walk on without them. May it walk lightly along the path of love until it reaches its Heavenly Home. And may it bless everyone it meets along the way.

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

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.”

Psalm 20:6-7 “Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Psalm 103:10-12 “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.”

Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: MY VERY BEST GIFT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem166.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD IS FAITHFUL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony118.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry