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The Lord has instilled great dreams and aspirations within each of our
hearts that are meant to be realized and fulfilled. Our life is proof
positive that we each have a purpose that we are to pursue wholeheartedly
with the mindset that nothing but absolute victory will be acceptable.
Many times we do believe to reach forth for our dreams, but trials and
tribulations sometimes break our concentration and keep us stagnant rather
than moving forward towards victory. The Lord tells us in Jeremiah 29:11,
“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.” Be encouraged to
run your race with a renewed determination knowing that God is cheering you
on and has given you the tools needed to accomplish that which is within
your heart. (Psalm 91:2-4) (Psalm 138:8) (John 15:7) (Hebrews 12:1-3)
I hope today's message encourages your heart to never give up accomplishing
and fulfilling your dreams. With God by your side, all things are possible.
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
A man was strolling along the beach one day when he spotted a bottle washed
up on the shore. He went over and picked it up, and noticed a message in
the bottle. He popped the cork out and inside was a weathered treasure map
indicating that there was buried treasure to be found in the shallow waters
below. But the man thought it was a hoax, so he slipped the map back in and
threw the bottle back into the ocean...
A little later, another man was walking along the beach and the bottle had
washed upon the shore. He too picked up the bottle, popped out the cork,
and found the treasure map. This man, however, was curious enough to wade
into the water and hoped it was buried shallow enough to find. But once
the cold ocean waters reached up to his thighs, he decided to quit. "This
is not worth it!" he thought to himself. So he scrambled back to shore and
chucked the bottle back into the ocean...
A third man was walking by the beach and noticed the bottle washed upon
the shore. He went over, opened the bottle and found the map. The map
looked authentic enough, and promised great treasure. So he got himself
a small raft and set out into the ocean to claim the treasure. He rowed
out far enough into the ocean where the “X” on the map was and to his
surprise, he saw the glint of something shining in the waters below. He
dove into the ocean and swam towards the shining object below.
He could see that there was something that looked like a treasure chest,
but he couldn't quite reach it and the deeper he went, the greater the cold
and pressure on his body and his mind. “I am about to lose my breath, and
the longer I take, my raft might be swept away!” he thought. So the man
decided to give up the hunt so he would ensure his own life and safety.
When he reached the shore once more, he took the bottle from the raft and
tossed it back into the ocean...
Finally, one more man was walking along the beach. He noticed the bottle,
went over, popped it open, and was excited to find a map promising great
treasure. He noticed someone had left a raft by the water's edge, so he
took it and paddled out. He too, got far enough to where the “X” marks the
spot, and squinted into the waters and saw the shadow and glint of the
treasure below. He took a deep breath and plunged into the waters. Like the
man before him, the cold, darkness and pressure upon his senses increased
as he got closer.
He also realized that if he kept swimming, that he might lose his breath,
the raft, and even his own life! But this treasure could be worth all the
risk and he persisted. Just as he was about to give up, he grabbed the long
chain that was binding the chest and pulled it up along with himself back
to the surface. He broke the surface of the water gasping and exhausted but
with the treasure chest safely in his grasp. He paddled back to the shore,
opened up the treasure chest and found what the map had promised -- Gold,
and Precious Diamonds and Jewels that would make him secure for the rest
of his life.
Author Unknown
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Psalm 37:4-7 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the
desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him;
and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness
as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait
patiently for Him...”
Psalm 40:1-4 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me,
and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of
the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And
He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall
see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that
maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn
aside to lies.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 “...Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before
us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied
and faint in your minds.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: SPIRITUAL VITAMINS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem132.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: JESUS SAVES ALCOHOLIC UNCLE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony58.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
