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Even though we have faced difficult and dreadful times in the past, we
should not allow that to keep us stagnant in life not moving forward in
pursuing the goals, dreams and desires that were in our hearts in the
beginning. We must realize that today is a new day with new possibilities
where anything will be possible. We must believe in ourselves in this
present time not thinking of the past because that will keep us from
focusing on and believing in our future. Never think it is too late for
you to start anew because God says in Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember ye not the
former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new
thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a
way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Romans 8:35-39)
God is able to do a new thing even if we have fallen short or failed a
thousand times before. Trust the Lord to lead you to victory even if you
are feeling defeated today. Confess with your mouth that God will do a new
thing with your life and believe in your heart that change is coming.
Always remember that you and God are a majority and nothing shall be
impossible to those who believe. (Ezekiel 37:1-10) (Romans 4:17-22)
I hope this message greatly ministers to your heart to believe in yourself
again no matter the shortfalls, tragedies or failures. God can do a new
thing with you. Simply believe Him and allow the Lord to work in your life.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VOICE
“Would you be kind enough to read something for me?” asked the old man, as
we hid beneath the overpass.
Slowly shaking my seven-year-old head yes, I watched as he reached down and
began rummaging through his dirty old knapsack. I stood, silently watching
as the elderly hobo began to remove various items from the brown gunny sack
he carried over his shoulder.
“Here it is sonny,” he yelled out with excitement, as he held out both his
shaking hands.
“What is that thing? I ain't never seen no kind of paper card thing like
that before and it's got a stamp on it. It is like a letter?” I inquired.
“It's called a post card.”
I reached out, took the dirty wrinkled postcard from his hand and I
carefully looked at both sides. Taking my time, I inspected every inch of
this strange new item. “Nov 27, 1951” was stamped on the back, covering
part of the writing.
Once again, having run away from the orphanage, I had very little choice
but to live beneath the railroad overpass. The word about the orphanage was
that this was where an abundance of food could always be found. There was a
never-ending flow of hobos almost on an hourly basis.
“Can you please read that to me?”
“Your kinda old mister, don't you know how to read nothin'?”
Slowly, the old man lowered his eyes to the ground and hung his head. He
folded his hands in front of his body and he just stood there, not saying a
word.
“I'm sorry if I said something wrong,” I mumbled. Raising the card, I began
to read the large print,
“Carl, Glad You Made It To America. I Know You Will Be A Success In Such A
Wonderful Place. Love Mimi.”
“Who's Mini?” I asked the man.
“She's my sister. She lives in Paris.”
“I know where that is. It's over the ocean.”
Shaking his head back and forth, I watched as tears slowly rolled down the
old man's dirty cheeks.
“Thank you for the beans mister. It sure was good of you to share,” I said,
as I held the post card out toward him.
Reaching out, he took the dirty card and began stuffing it into his torn
wool over shirt pocket.
“I can teach you the ABCs, real fast, so you can read all by yourself, if
you want.”
Shaking his head no, he turned and walked back over to the large fire
barrel and began to warm his hands.
The orphanage matrons had always told me that I was “not the brightest bulb
on the tree.” But even considering that, I knew when someone wanted or did
not want to talk. Keeping my mouth shut, I walked over to the rusty
fifty-five gallon drum and just stood there, not saying a word.
Several minutes later, the old man began to sing.
It was one of the most beautiful voices I had ever heard. I had listened to
many people sing on the little black and white Zenith television at the
orphanage, but nothing I had ever heard was as beautiful as the voice
coming from the old man.
Hearing something behind me, I turned around and saw two railroad guards,
blackjacks in hand, running toward us. All at once they suddenly stopped
and began to listen to the singing. I could tell that they too were amazed
by such a wonderful and joyous sound. It was like nothing I had ever heard
before.
I stood waiting for the men to begin beating the two of us for hiding
beneath the overpass. For almost a minute or two the two guards did not
move a muscle. One of the men tapped his blackjack on the stomach of the
other guard and motioned with his head, in a backwards direction. The two
of them turned and began walking away, heading back toward the railroad yard.
When the old man stopped singing, I looked over at him and said, “You
really need to be on television mister. Really you do.”
“I'll never sing to the public again,” he replied.
“Why not?”
“I was forced to sing for the Germans and I'll never do that again.”
As he spoke, he began to remove his wool shirt. Laying it on the ground, he
rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm. Tattooed on his arm was a long
line of somewhat faded numbers.
“Why would you put something like that on your arm? Everyone else I know
puts a picture.”
Once again, tears began to roll down the old man's cheeks. He reached over,
picked up his over-shirt and stuffed it into his gunny-sack. Throwing it
over his shoulder he began walking down the railroad tracks.
For ten minutes I stood watching as the old man, with the most beautiful
voice, disappeared into the distance.
By Roger Dean Kiser
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be
not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.”
Psalm 28:6-8 “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.”
Psalm 31:2-5 “Bow down Thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be Thou my
strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For Thou art my rock and
my fortress; therefore for Thy Name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me
out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for Thou art my
strength. Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O
LORD God of truth.”
Psalm 37:23-25 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He
delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am
old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: OUR MASTER CAN
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem126.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: OUT OF DARKNESS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony103.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
