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We should never allow the negativity of this world to impact our life where
our viewpoint becomes equal to what the world says. The Lord who created
us has declared that in the world we will have tribulation, but then He
went on to reaffirm for us to keep our Joy because He has overcome the
world for us. The Lord Jesus who died on the cross for our sins defeated
death, hell and the grave and now He has become the saving strength of His
anointed. We have been made righteous before God the Father not because of
anything that we did, but because of what the Lord Jesus accomplished on
the Cross of Calvary. (John 16:33) (Psalm 28:6-9) (Romans 5:19-21)
Rest in the Lord's finished work and be encouraged that no matter what may
come before you in life, you have the Risen Savior on your side ready to
lift you up where nothing can come near unto you to harm you. Praise God
for such love and commitment. (John 19:30) (Psalm 91:11) (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
I hope today's message encourages your heart to see the good in life and
not the bad because the good will always fill your heart with a joy and
peace that is unspeakable.
MY GIFT FOR TODAY
“Can something be both a beginning and an end at the very same time?” she
asked me.
“Yes!” I said. “It is what I call the 'Renewal Cycle.'”
I'll be the first to admit that there are days when I struggle for a story
to share with you. It's not that the world has not provided one. Every
second of my life I am inspired by the everyday miracles that occur right
before my eyes.
But the stories I search for three times each week need to be the ones I am
supposed to write, not the ones that I'd like to write.
You see, every time I write or speak to an audience I do it with one person
in mind. I don't even know who it is. I have come to accept that with each
message I fulfill a purpose, a mission for someone. Often times a few. God
sends me many people. But always one gift.
Now don't think for a moment that I'm so gifted that God has ordained me
His messenger. The fact is we all serve that purpose. We serve as examples
to everyone we meet. Even those whom we never meet but have observed us
from afar.
I jokingly tell people if you feel you have no purpose in life, you can
always serve as a bad example. That in fact, was my purpose most of my life.
But today my mission was clear. This wonderful woman was teetering on the
edge of making a decision about her life. What she accepted right now as
fact could very well set the pace for all the choices she made in the future.
It was the first day of Spring, a time of renewal and a return to life for
all the beauty of the world that lay dormant in the season of Winter.
But as the sun shone brightly on this incredible day a dark shadow
encroached on her spirit, nearly blocking the light of hope that was meant
to be present. She was told by her doctor that she had a tumor that needed
to be removed.
“How odd,” she said. “It's such a beautiful day and I am feeling so rotten.”
“Can something be both a beginning and an end at the very same time?” she
asked me.
“My friend, that's what endings are for. The end is where we begin,” I said.
“Look at this day. The winter has ended and Spring takes its place. So this
day served two purposes,” I continued. “It is a day of marked contrasts in
my own life. In fact, it's so complex that I could very well despise this day.”
“Who could hate the first day of Spring?” she asked.
“It was five years ago today that my son Keith was operated on. While
everyone was heralding the first day of Spring, we sat waiting for a
surgeon to walk through the door and confirm my son's cancer. It all took
place at the Hershey Medical Center. Ironically it is located across the
street from a huge family amusement park. From where I stood looking out
the window, I could see the famous Hershey's Kissing Tower. I can't tell
you how many times our family rode to the top of that tower when Keith was
just a young child. When you reach the highest point it turns to offer a
spectacular view of the park and yes that hospital, that window that I was
now looking through,” I said.
Pausing for a moment, as the event played out in my mind, the woman sat
quietly.
“Suddenly the door from the surgical area swung open. There were many
families awaiting word of their loved one. All eyes turned toward the
volunteer who called out the family name.
Perks?
The surgeon approached and cleverly danced around the word we did not want
to hear until he quietly said, 'Keith's tumor was cancerous,' I told her. I
am always on the verge of tears whenever I talk about that moment. Writing
this is no different.
Right then and there, it all ended. The ending was the removal of the
tumor. In that same moment was the beginning of the battle to save his
life. The day itself was the ending of a time of death in the world and a
celebration of new life,” I said.
“Your son?” she cautiously asked me.
“He's alive and well. In fact, we just celebrated four years cancer free.”
“So you are faced with the very same challenge. If you choose to see this
as a turning point, rather than an end, your outlook toward the future will
be a positive one,” I said.
“But this is so overwhelming!” she said.
“Please, follow me,” I told her.
I walked outside and knelt down near the front entrance to the building.
“See this little flower? It has pushed its way back to life. It has
struggled to come to the surface and reclaim the power of the sunlight.
See all of these dead leaves? That's what remains of the old life. But it
serves a purpose. These leaves will wither and mix with the soil to provide
nutrients, food for growth. They represent the experiences we have in our
life. We learn from them so that, as we choose to begin our life renewed,
we benefit from them growing even stronger,” I said.
“It is the 'Renewal Cycle'. The cycle of life that helps us to start over,”
I said.
“So like that flower I need to push my way back to life,” she said.
It was a turning point. That statement was now hanging out there waiting
to be accepted by her as fact. Then she would move on. Her spirit needed
it. Her life depended on it.
I encouraged her acceptance of it by saying...“Oh, yes. By the way. People
need to reclaim the power of the light, too. To do that you need to
remember the Source of that Light”
“Do you do this with everyone?” she asked.
“No, my friend. You were my gift for today.”
By Bob Perks
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 28:6-9 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my
supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in
Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my
song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving
strength of His anointed. Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance:
feed them also, and lift them up for ever.”
Romans 8:31-32 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him
up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
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.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem183.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: JACK GALLAGHER'S TESTIMONY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony158.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
