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This life that we have been given is the precious gift from God that is
meant to be lived and enjoyed to its fullest. We should never fall into a
routine where every day becomes a chore rather than what God wishes for us
which is to see each new day as a chance to enjoy the beauties that He has
made available to us. Many times we believe the lie of the enemy that our
Joy is waiting for us "there". "There" could mean until you get a better
job, move into a better house, the kids graduate from high school, or
whatever it may be that places a pause on your happiness. The truth is,
there is no "there happiness". It is in our own state of mind that we
decide to enjoy right now or believe the lie that our true happiness lies
in an event that is yet to take place.
I encourage you to enjoy today to its fullest and appreciate what you have
right now. The Bible declares in Psalm 118:24, "This is the day which the
LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Rejoice in this day
and if you have been praying about a certain situation, trust that God has
your best interest in mind and will work things out for you His way.
I hope today's message encourages you to not wait for the future to enjoy
your life, but rather start today and look at your life with fresh eyes.
A STORY TO LIVE BY
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted
out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is
lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite
silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an
astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first
time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She
was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we
were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for
a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever
save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special
occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed
when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an
unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California
from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about
all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the
things that she had done without realizing that they were special.
I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm
reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the
view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time
with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever
possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm
trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.
I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every
special event-such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first
camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it.
My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag
of groceries without wincing. I'm not saving my good perfume for special
parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that
function as well as my party-going friends'.
"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary.
If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it
now. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she
wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she
would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have
called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past
squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner,
her favorite food. I'm guessing-I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew
that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good Friends
whom I was going to get in touch with-someday. Angry because I hadn't
written certain letters that I intended to write-one of these days. Angry
and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much
I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save
anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.
And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is...a gift from God.
By Ann Wells
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 30:10-12 "Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be Thou my
helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off
my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may
sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks
unto Thee for ever."
James 4:13-15 "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into
such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It
is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do
this, or that."
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem65.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: MY TESTIMONY OF GRACE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony86.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
