We should always see ourselves as special, unique and equipped to make a difference in this world that will be impactful upon our fellow man to help make them better, wiser and stronger than they are right now. So many times people face trials, challenges and setbacks and because of these struggles they believe the lie that their life isn’t viable to be used to make a difference in this world. In reality, that is the exact opposite of the truth. The more we struggled, the more we fell short, the more challenges that were in our path is what makes us that much more able to make a difference because we can use what we have learned in the difficult times to help others not make the same mistakes as well as to give them hope and encouragement if they have fallen short to know that a new beginning is always possible with God. The Lord loves to use our scars as testimonies of triumph. We don’t have to be ashamed of our past because if God has forgiven us, cleansed us and redeemed us, then we can boldly share our stories of struggle to encourage, lift up and motivate others who have not risen up yet as they should have, but hopefully will after they hear our story. (Romans 8:31-39) (Hebrews 6:9-14)

The apostle Paul before his conversion was the chief persecutor of Christians. Who would have thought that God would use this adversary to believers to one day change this world for Christ and preach to Jew and Gentile alike that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and it is only through Him that we can receive salvation and eternal life. God used Paul’s past as a persecutor to be a living witness of the changes that God made in his own heart so that he could better preach to those who were lost or saw themselves as self-righteous to show them that a better way was available to them and just as he had been changed through the power of God, so too others could be changed just the same. (Acts 26:1-32) (Acts 2:21)

My friend don’t discount your life because of your past, but with boldness and confidence dare to make your life significant upon this Earth by using your hard earned lessons to your advantage and be a living witness towards your fellow man showing that we can all rise up again, we can stand taller and we can reach farther, not because we are able, but because God is merciful and gracious and wishes for all to realize their destiny and stand in who God created them to be. (Isaiah 43:18-19) (Psalm 103:8-14)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to believe in yourself as God believes in you and do all that you can to use your life’s testimony to make this world a better place.


REAL HEROES

I never got to be the hometown high school football hero. It was always a dream of mine when I was a boy. I really didn’t want to be the star of the team. I just wanted to be the kid that came off the bench and made the one big play that wins the game. It was not to be, however. In spite of running, lifting weights, staying in shape, and always trying my best, my football career never made it beyond Junior Varsity. I guess God wanted me to learn early on that real heroes aren’t just found on the football field. They are found everywhere. 

It took me a while but thankfully I finally did learn this lesson. I now know that real heroes aren’t the athletes or celebrities you see on television. They are the people who live everyday with courage, strength, faith, and love. My three children are all heroes. My two boys deal with the challenges of Autism everyday but still make this world a happier place for others with their sweet laughter and gentle love. My oldest son is only the water boy for his football team, yet his contagious joy inspires the players more than a star quarterback ever could. My daughter is about to graduate high school, but already has the wisdom, kindness, and love of one beyond her years. She is going to make a difference in this world even if she doesn’t realize it yet. 

My children aren’t the only real heroes I know either. I have seen heroes in all walks of life. The single parent raising 4 little children on her own is a hero. The terminal patient spending the last years of her life loving, helping, and bringing joy to others is a hero. The volunteers who spend weekends and vacations helping the poor, sick, and needy are heroes. Every loving soul who makes this world a better place is a hero to God. 

God wants you to be a real hero too, not on the football field, but on the field of life and not in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of Heaven. Open your heart then and let your hero out. 

By Joseph J. Mazzella


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Galatians 6:1-4 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”

Romans 15:1-4 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Hebrews 13:1-3 “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”

Philippians 2:3-7 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: THE POWER OF WORDS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem40.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: BUT, GOD STEPPED IN
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony45.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry