The Lord has given us the gift of life, but many times we lose focus of this gift because we are bombarded with trials, tribulations and challenges that make us question why we even exist on this earth. What we must realize in these moments of doubt is that God never promised us a trouble-free life, but He did promise us solace, peace and strength when we need it the most. The Bibles declares in Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Nothing that comes our way should make us question God’s plan and purpose for our life. Jesus said in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The Lord has already gone before us and paved the way that we should walk in, but we must be obedient and heed God’s call and walk according to His statutes. When we trust the Lord’s will for our life and follow the path that He has set for us, I believe our life will be used in extraordinary ways. (Job 23:8-12) (Psalm 19:7-10)

When we simply believe the Lord and be obedient to His Word, it will be worth more in God’s sight than any sacrifice that we can think of doing for the Lord. We read this truth in 1 Samuel 15:22 “…Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” Let us be believers and not doubters, doers or the Word and not hearers only. Let us lay aside every weight that tries to take our life off track and be diligent in our commitment to the Lord. May we always recognize the Lord’s favor over our life so that we may enjoy to the best of our ability each new day that God blesses us with. When we make it our priority to follow the good Shepherd, to enjoy and relish the many blessings that He has graciously bestowed upon us, that is when we will have realized that we have received a treasure worth far more than anything this world has to offer. (James 1:19-22) (Hebrews 12:1-3)

May we each walk on the narrow path that leads to life everlasting and may we all realize our fullest potential so that when we step into eternity we will have used up every gift, talent and ability that we were entrusted with on the earth.

I hope this message encourages and challenges your heart to see how beautiful each new day that comes before you really is and make an extra effort to enjoy and make use of this beautiful day.


THE GIFT 

It was almost the middle of January and the snow had been on the ground since before Christmas. Storm after storm had hit us with no breaks in-between. Almost 6 feet of the white stuff had fallen in 6 weeks here. The bitterly cold temperatures had largely kept the snow from melting too. The arctic air had crept through the walls of my house and into my bones as well. All in all, it was the perfect recipe for a case of the Winter blahs. 

To lighten my mood then I got out my old Christmas records that I had owned since I was a boy. I turned on the old record player I had bought at a yard sale a few years ago and put the needle to the vinyl. Soon the sweet sounds of “Silver Bells”, “Silent Night”, “Joy to the World”, “Carol of the Bells”, and “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” filled the air. Even the January snow looked more beautiful with "The Christmas Song" playing in the background. 

As I sang along I could feel the loving and joyous music heat up my heart and my home. It didn’t matter that my home was no longer decorated, that there was no tree in the corner or presents under it, or that Christmas dinner had been replaced with hot dogs today. What mattered was that the gift of Christmas lived on inside of me. What mattered was that God’s Love and Oneness filled my spirit not just on December 25th, but every single day of my life. 

Don’t put the gift of Christmas up on some shelf on December 26th. Unwrap it and carry it in your heart all through the year. Its spirit will warm your Winter, brighten your Spring, make your Summer more special, and put even more Awe in your Autumn. It will remind you of God’s unconditional love for you and help you to keep your own life focused on love as well. It will allow you to live everyday from your soul. And it will even allow you to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” be it December, May, January, or June. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect; peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

Romans 5:8-10 “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Psalm 33:20-22 “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His Holy Name. Let Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: MESSAGES TO REMEMBER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem110.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD HAS A PLAN
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony169.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry