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We who are alive this day have much to be grateful for. The Lord who has
given us breath and life commands that we use all that we’ve been given to
glorify the Lord and live our life pleasingly to Him. We should never
allow the enemy to steal our joy where we lose our peace and go through
life unmotivated and discouraged. We have the God of the universe cheering
us on towards victory because He knows of the power that stands behind us.
Let us make God proud and gird ourselves up confidently knowing that we are
mighty through Christ and victory belongs to God’s people. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
I hope this message encourages your heart to appreciate your life and enjoy
every moment to the best of your ability.
I HUGGED LIFE TODAY
It was time to break free. I needed to run away and this seasonal change
here in Pennsylvania, offered the best place to go. It's time for the
Bloomsburg Fair. I don't know if you can call it running away since it is
only an hour away from my home. But once I cross through “Gate 5” and
enter the fair grounds; I cross over into another world.
The loudspeaker offers background music barely audible over the sounds of
people talking, carnival game hucksters and food venders vying for your
attention. I belong here. I don't know if I have it in my blood or not,
but I always wanted to have a small food stand and travel in my off season
from fair to fair selling goodies. Perhaps one day. It certainly isn't a
priority in my life. Perhaps it should be.
After I'm there a while I need to get away to a quiet spot on the fair
grounds. Most of the time I can find that any where the farm animals are
kept. They need the quiet. Milk production goes down in the dairy barns I
am told if there is too much ruckus. So I go there to find peace with the
cows, goats, horses, pigs and yes, the turkeys. Some would think I would
be very much at home with the turkeys. You'd think being this close to
“Thanksgiving” they'd be a little on edge, but they are not.
It was in the dairy barn where I found my oasis this time. I so admire the
young folks who tend to farm animals. I think they have a greater
appreciation for life. They participate in it firsthand. I've watched a
young boy help bring a calf into the world and I have seen a young girl
walk her prize cow through the line of animals for sale, knowing that her
job is done and it's time for it to leave home. It must be difficult.
My favorite scene is to come across a young person lying in the hay asleep
among the cows that have settled down for a rest. There, with their heads
nestled in a small soft spot along side their favorite cow, I have seen
them in a much deserved sleep. Perhaps better at rest there than in their
own bed.
I had the pleasure of speaking with a young teenage farm girl at rest today.
“You look so comfortable,” I said to her.
“Oh I am,” she said. “Life makes it comfortable for me.”
“You mean being a farm girl?”
“No, Life! That's the name of my cow,” she said smiling as she stroked the
cow’s side.
“I thought they called cows 'Betsy' and 'Elsie.' Why did you call her 'Life'?”
“I discovered life again here. It was the only sensible name that came to
mind,” she said. “I had been raised in the big city and really hated it.
Then we moved to the country. Kinda running away from it all. I think my
parents called it a mid-life crisis,” she said laughing.
“Boy, I can relate to that. I've been in one since birth,” I said.
“It was on the farm that I learned to love life again. I was there when
'Life' was born. It was so exciting. My whole outlook on the world changed.
So I named her 'Life.' Now I can say I really love 'Life,'” she said.
“How incredible. You know I write stories and I am always trying to get
people to embrace life. To wake up each day expecting the best from it.
But they all too often go to bed with so much bad stuff in their soul and
on their mind that they wake up miserable and expect it to only get worse
from there. All too often it does, just because that's all they choose to
see in that otherwise perfectly beautiful day,” I told her.
“That's too bad. They need to see a cow born, a chicken hatch. I guess they
need to wake up early and hug Life!” she said laughing.
“When was the last time you hugged Life?” she asked me.
“I am sorry to say even I have had trouble doing that lately,” I said.
“Come here!” she said.
Then standing up and stepping aside she said “Go ahead...hug Life!”
I paused for a moment and dropping all thoughts of looking silly, I did. I
hugged a cow.
I hugged life today, did you?
By Bob Perks
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and
be glad in it.”
Psalm 23:1-4 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to
lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He
restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His
name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they
comfort me.”
Isaiah 41:9-10 “Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and
called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my
servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I
am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee;
yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My
righteousness.”
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: TEN RULES FOR A HAPPY DAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem133.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: HOLLI HESS'S TESTIMONY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony143.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
