There are many people in this world who wish they could go through life on flowery beds of ease; never facing any difficulties, trials or challenges. What those people fail to recognize is that the difficult times are what give us wisdom, strength, fortitude, understanding and knowledge to becoming better, rising above and excelling in the areas that we had previously no experience with. When we overcome the difficult challenge, we learn from that challenge and in learning we can help someone else who may be going through a similar trial or challenge in their life. Someone who has beaten cancer has gone through a terrible ordeal, but now having come through it, they can use their terrible experience in encouraging another who may be going through the same thing in their life. When we grasp this truth that all things will work together for our good we won’t murmur and complain when we go through the storms of life because we will already have the foreknowledge that this experience will be to our benefit and our betterment in the end. (John 16:33) (Romans 8:28)

My best encouragement to anyone is to enjoy the journey of their life. Take one day at a time and use that day to its fullest potential. Get from it every laughter, every joy, every peace, every strengthening and every bit of wisdom that it offers you so that tomorrow you can use what you learned to better your life and the lives of those around you. Never see your glass as half empty thinking about the negative report, the uncertain future or whatever else that may be waning on your heart and mind, but rather use that energy to praise God, to thank Him for His provision and sustenance and to proclaim that your trust is not in man to meet your needs, but your trust is in the Lord God Almighty who existed before time was and will exist forevermore. God is worthy of our faithfulness and we should trust that our life is held securely in the palms of His Hands. (Hebrews 13:5-6) (Job 38:4-41)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to nurture every area of your life knowing that in due time you will prosper and become all that God has created you to be.


BEHOLD, A FLOWER IS COMING!

“For nearly a decade we've had that small pond in our yard. We've had fish in it, plants in it and I almost fell in it once. But I've never been able to grow flowers in it,” I said in frustration.

I stopped by a local garden shop to talk to one of the experts about why I can't get our flowering pond plants to flower.

“Every year I try a new one hoping that this will be the year. My sister-in-law has beautiful flowers popping up from the lily pads in her pond. I think my fish are laughing at me,” I said to the young man.

“Well, you've answered one question for me. If you have fish in there you need to be careful. Adding fertilizer for the plants won't necessarily be good for the fish,” he said. “Are the plants spreading like they should?”

“Yes, in fact they spread too much. I actually have to remove some leaves.”

“How big is this pond?”

“Oh, about five feet by three.”

"That's not a pond, it a bird bath!" he said joking.

“I know. But we love it anyway.”

“What else do you have growing in it?”

“Some tall plant this year that is supposed to grow a gladiola-like flower on it.”

“Is that growing?”

“Yes, it just keeps growing these big leaves. I thought at first I bought a palm tree. I bet if I bought one more I could tie a hammock in-between. Okay, it's not that big,” I said. “But every time a new shoot comes up we think ‘could this be the flower?’ Then more leaves drop down.”

“Wait for a moment while I go get Bill. Maybe he can help.”

I stood nearby their display pond. It had at least a dozen beautiful lilies growing out of the water along with some smaller bush type plants along the water's edge. They had flowers, too.

“You know it just needs time,” a voice said softly.

I looked around and couldn't see anyone. I thought I was having a heat stroke. Then just on the other side of the bushes near the pond, this wonderful looking older woman standing no taller than 4'10", came walking out.

“Oh, there you are. I thought I was hearing voices,” I said.

“They need time. Everyone of those shoots has potential. It's like life. You take time to nurture every part of your life and you never know what part is going to go into full bloom,” she said.

“That's true. I never thought of it that way.”

“How many times did you try something that didn't work out the way you wanted it to, but you discovered something else of value?”

“I'm in the business I'm in because of that. I never thought I'd be doing what I'm doing now. I started off wanting to be something else.”

“So keep on nurturing all that you have and stand back in anticipation of beautiful things popping up. Yes, there will be some weeds mixed in. Be grateful for the weeds. They help you to appreciate the flowers more. But don't ever just focus on one part. You are one spirit with many parts. In order to find the flower you need to treat the whole growth.”

The young man returned. “Sir, Bill's not here today. He'll be in tomorrow if you'd like to come back.”

“My friend, I think I found the solution.”

“Excellent, what's wrong with them?”

“I need to appreciate the leaves more,” I said.

Upon my return home I walked out by the pond and took a second look at those plants. There springing up from the water was a whole bunch of potential. That evening Marianne and I sat on our deck and talked for about an hour. I told her we need to love the plants more and appreciate the beauty of their leaves.

“So, you're saying we won't have flowers again this year!” she said with a smile.

“Well, let's be grateful for how tall this one grew. It has potential,” I said.

When we came out to feed the fish this morning one of the tallest, tightly wrapped shoots started to open. Behold, a flower is coming!

By Bob Perks


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”

Psalm 37:3-6 “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. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”

Jeremiah 33:2-3 “Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is His name; Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: HARD TIMES
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem69.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: HE HAS A PURPOSE FOR US
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony153.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry