It is easy for anyone to murmur and complain about the hardships of life,
but we as believers are to look at the good in our life and not focus on 
the bad that is only temporary in nature. We are to give thanks in all 
things, not for all things. Our attitude of thanks must be consistent in
the good times as well as the hard times. The Apostle Paul declares in 
1 Timothy 6:6-8, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we 
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." We are to
be heavenly minded and have a contented heart not looking at the goods of
others, but rather appreciating what we have been given and remembering 
that God is with us at all times and will never leave our side. (1 Thes. 5:18)

I hope you are blessed and encouraged by today's message.


THE GARBAGE MAN

I had been working much too long on this job. I guess things could have 
been worse. I certainly wasn't doing hard labor. But going door to door 
asking questions as a representative of the federal government wasn't the
most satisfying position either.

It was August. It was hot. I had to wear a tie.

"Hello. My name is Bob Perks and we are doing a survey in this neighborhood..."
"I'm not interested! Good bye!"...slam, lock.

You can't imagine how many times I heard that. I finally caught on and 
began with, "Before you slam the door, I am not selling anything and I just
need to ask a few questions about yourself and the community." The young
woman inside the doorway, paused for a moment, raised her eyebrows as she
shrugged her shoulders, confused by my rude introduction.

"Sure. Come on in. Don't mind the mess. It's tough keeping up with my kids."

It was an older home in a section of the valley where people with meager 
income found affordable shelter. With the little they had, the home looked
comfortable and welcoming.

"I just need to ask a few questions about yourself and family. Although 
this may sound personal, I won't need to use your names. This information
will be used..."

She interrupted me. "Would you like a glass of cold water? You look like 
you've had a rough day."

"Why yes!" I said eagerly.

Just as she returned with the water, a man came walking in the front door.
It was her husband. "Joe, this man is here to do a survey." I stood and 
politely introduced myself.

Joe was tall and lean. His face was rough and aged looking although I 
figured he was in his early twenties. His hands were like leather. The kind
of hands you get from working hard, not pushing pencils. She leaned toward 
him and kissed him gently on the cheek. As they looked at each other you 
could see the love that held them together. She smiled and titled her head,
laying it on his shoulder. He touched her face with his hands and softly 
said, "I love you!"

They may not have had material wealth, but these two were richer than most
people I know. They had a powerful love. The kind of love that keeps your
head up when things are looking down.

"Joe works for the borough," she said.

"What do you do?" I asked.

She jumped right in not letting him answer.

"Joe collects garbage. You know I'm so proud of him."

"Honey, I'm sure the man doesn't want to hear this," said Joe.

"No, really I do," I said.

"You see Bob, Joe is the best garbage man in the borough. He can stack more
garbage on the truck than anyone else. He gets so much in one truck that
they don't have to make as many runs," she said with such passion.

"In the long run," Joe continues, "I save the borough money. Man hours are
down and the cost per truck is less." There was silence. I didn't know what
to say. I shook my head searching for the right words.

"That's incredible! Most people would gripe about a job like that. It 
certainly is a difficult one. But your attitude about it is amazing," I said.

She walked over to the shelf next to the couch. As she turned she held in
her hand a small framed paper.

"When we had our third child Joe lost his job. We were on unemployment for
a time and then eventually welfare. He couldn't find work anywhere. Then 
one day he was sent on an interview here in this community. They offered 
him the job he now holds. He came home depressed and ashamed, telling me 
this was the best he could do. It actually paid less than we got on welfare."

She paused for a moment and walked toward Joe.

"I have always been proud of him and always will be. You see I don't think
the job makes the man. I believe the man makes the job!"

"We needed to live in the borough in order to work here. So we rented this
home," Joe said. "When we moved in, this quote was hanging on the wall just
inside the front door. It has made all the difference to us, Bob. I knew 
that Joe was doing the right thing," she said as she handed me the frame.

It said: If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep the
streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or 
Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the 
hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, "Here lived a great street 
sweeper who did his job well." Martin Luther King

"I love him for who he is. But what he does he does the best. I love my 
garbage man!"

By Bob Perks


So how was your day? Did you give it your best? Or did your attitude get
the best of you?


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Hebrews 13:5-6 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Psalm 34:17-19 "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth 
them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a 
broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the 
afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Philippians 4:8-9 "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. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard,
and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

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


Today's Selected Poem: I MET MY MASTER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem136.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: JESUS STILL HEALS TODAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony35.htm


In Christ's Service, 

Dwayne Savaya 
Gods Work Ministry