There are many people in this world who go through great heartache and trouble and they find it hard to see past their present circumstances. What we should always remember and keep in mind is that we can focus on the good and be thankful or we can focus on the bad and find things to murmur and complain about. If we choose to murmur and complain about our plight how will our negative words help our situation become better? The truth is it won’t because negativity draws negativity and our situation will become worse because of our wrong mindset. For me it has always been easy to be thankful for the good instead of complaining about the bad because it reminds me of how fortunate I really am. When I bring into remembrance the many times that God intervened at just the right time I Praise His Name because I know my situation could be a lot worse if it wasn’t for God’s continued provision and sustenance. That is why I have such a cheerful countenance at all times because if my faith and trust is in the Lord then what do I have to worry or complain about? (Psalm 103:1-5) (Proverbs 3:1-6)

My best encouragement to anyone is to reevaluate your life and see the blessings that you have not seen before. Focus on the good in your life; think about your family and friends that love you, that are there for you and that think the world of you. Be thankful for your health, your spouse, your children, your job, your finances and anything else that you can think of that puts a smile on your face and gladness in your heart. We have to be purposeful with our thanksgiving and gratitude. We have to remember the many times that we overcame the trial, that we triumphed over the challenge and remind ourselves that we came out better, wiser and stronger after the challenge than we were before it. In the Bible Job suffered more than you and I can ever fully comprehend, but in Job 23:10-12 Job said “But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, His way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips...” Job stayed faithful to the Lord despite his circumstances and in the end God gave Job double of all that he had lost before. (Isaiah 26:3-4) (Job 42:10-17)

May we all have that same attitude of praise and thanksgiving while we are in the midst of the storm so that God can see and will be proud of our faithfulness and reward us in like manner. I encourage you again to look past your present circumstances. See the good that will be coming your way and give God thanks for it. Stay in a mindset of gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation and you will soon find every crooked path made straight and every dark tunnel be filled with light. (Psalm 20:6-9)

I hope this message inspires and encourages your heart to always see your glass as half-full focusing on the good in your life.


DISGUISED BLESSINGS

There is a place where modern technological conveniences go to die, my place.

During the past week alone we have sent our van's fuel pump to the automotive afterlife, our washing machine to laundry Valhalla and our home computer through those big Windows in the sky.

They join the lifeless metallic bodies of our dishwasher, our microwave oven and our food processor, all of which have given up the electronic ghost during the last few months. If there were laws against appliance abuse, I'd be public enemy number one. Thankfully, we do better with living things -- not counting household plants, flowers, grass and tomatoes.

Our five children somehow manage to survive -- even thrive -- despite all the bad feng shui and negative karma. They are all healthy, happy and well-adjusted, give or take the occasional drama major. And that, after all, is what really matters.

At least, that's what my wife Anita said.

“This is just stuff,” she said soothingly, reassuringly, as I wrote out a check to cover the installation of the new fuel pump.

“Yes it is,” I said, my fingers still trembling. “Very expensive stuff. Do you realize that this fuel pump is costing me more than the first car I bought?”

She smiled playfully. “What a blessing!” she said. I looked at her curiously.

“Blessing?” I asked. “We just spent an entire freelance check on a fuel pump, and you think it's a blessing?”

“Uh-huh,” she said. “What a blessing that we had the money to cover it!” She had a valid point -- as usual. But I couldn't let her win this easily.

“What about losing the washing machine at the same time?” I asked. “Was that a blessing, too?”

“Sure,” she said. “My brother feels good about letting us use his machine, and I'm able to spend a little more time with him and his family while I wash our clothes at his house. And I'm really going to appreciate our new washer when we get it.” She was good. No question about it.

Twenty-three years of living with me had given her plenty of experience at searching for silver linings. But I knew I had her with the last one.

“And what about our computer melt-down?” “I asked. “What's the blessing in that?”

A worried look crossed her face. This was tough, no question about it. It's like they say: everyone makes mistakes, but it takes a computer to really foul things up. Then, suddenly, she brightened.

“You're not staying up so late working on the computer,” she said, “so you're getting a lot more sleep! That's a good thing, isn't it?”

She had me there. I had actually noticed how much better I had been feeling the past few days, and had already attributed it to getting more sleep.

“OK, I give up -- you win!” I said. “But how do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“You know -- what you're doing,” I said. “Finding the blessing in the curse.”

“Oh, that,” she said. “It isn't hard, really. The blessing is always there -- somewhere. You just have to look for it. Sometimes you have to look pretty hard. But it's there.”

By Joseph B. Walker


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

James 1:2-5 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Psalm 20:6-9 “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. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.”

Psalm 37:23-26 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: THE PROMISE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem182.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony27.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry