|
When tough times come our way, we should be quick to remember our blessings
and see how favored we truly are. It’s easy to forget the simple blessings
when we focus more on the hardships, but if we change our thinking we will
soon find that we are the lucky ones even in the midst of our problems.
How do we find out if we are blessed? The answer is simple. Can you see?
Can you walk? Does your heart function normally? Do you have a job to
support yourself? Are your children healthy? The list of blessings is
innumerable. We just have to focus more on the good things in our life to
realize this truth. Encourage yourself to focus on your blessings at all
times and you’ll soon find that your troubles are minuscule by comparison.
I hope this message both encourages and inspires your heart to see the many
blessings that are in your life.
FIRST LIGHT
Back when us kids were small, there was a little kid two houses down that
was blind. Smart little guy too. He could read Braille, I think, at a
sixth grade level, and he was only six or seven. The way he ran, played and
spoke to you it would be difficult to tell he was blind from a distance.
His eyes looked normal except for the slight cloud or film that seemed to
be in their depths.
In the early fifties, there was some kind of new eye surgeries that became
available to a few who might benefit. The parents looked into it and
discovered there was one that the doctors’ thought may give him a chance
at some level of eyesight. They knew not what it would be, but they were
pretty sure it would be better than complete blindness, which he suffered
at the time.
Investigating further they discovered the cost, a staggering sum would be
an understatement. Insurance at the time wouldn't cover it for some reason
I don't remember. The people at church, the whole neighborhood, well, the
whole community found out about it after awhile and some started little
things to raise money. Gloria, the little crippled girl who owned Shep The
Wonder Dog who pulled her around in a carriage her dad had made, started a
lemonade stand in front of her house to help. Several of us started a
neighborhood vegetable stand selling things from our gardens. They even
had rummage sales and lawns were being mowed that didn't need it. Special
collections were being taken up in church for the fund and all of it was
going into the fund for his operation. Our efforts even made the newspaper.
The family was contacted and it seems that a hospital out of town and some
doctors agreed to do it for what was in the fund at the end of that summer.
They were gone a few days somewhere to get it done and when they returned
his whole head was bandaged and he had to be kept inside and quiet for
thirty days.
It was a cool, crisp fall evening when it was time to unwrap the bandages.
The room had to be darkened. We neighbors were all gathered on their patio
barbequing and had brought all kinds of things to go with it while waiting
for the event. Their house was dark and it had gotten so clear with no moon
it was eerie. The stars seemed to be flashing like a circus. I went inside
to see how things were going just as they opened the Venetian blinds a
little for him to have his first glimpse of the world. Across the street a
neighbor’s lights were on. He asked what it was and was told the neighbors
were home because their lights were on. He had never experienced seeing
lights before.
His parents gently led him out onto the patio where we were all gathered
watching in anticipation of his first visions. He looked around at all of
us who he recognized by our voices, but had never seen. Then he looked up
into the sky and exclaimed, “Look daddy, God's home, His lights are on.”
There was not a dry eye among us.
By Mark Crider
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 145:14-19 “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those
that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them
their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the
desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and
Holy in all His works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him,
to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that
fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for
thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I
am weak, then am I strong.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall
fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there
shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy
in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make
my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places...”
1 Peter 5:10-11 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make
you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion
for ever and ever. Amen.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: THE BRIGHTEST STAR
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem101.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: WHO WILL DELIVER ME?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony112.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
