We should always remember that God can do extraordinary things with the 
most ordinary of people. All that is required is a surrendered heart and
a willing spirit. When we submit our will to the Lord and ask that His 
will be done in our lives, God will use us in ways that we never thought 
possible. He will make our life one of importance and will show many that
much is possible with a surrendered heart. Be encouraged to give your life
to the Lord and allow Him to use it for His eternal purposes. Be willing
and obedient to the Lord and He will bless you beyond compare and use you
more than you have ever thought possible. (1 Corinthians 1:25-29) (Isaiah 1:19)

I hope this message encourages your heart to trust in God's wisdom. Do 
not become discouraged when difficult situations come before you, but 
rather rest in God's omnipotence knowing that He is in control of all 
things at all times in all places.


HOW CAN YOU USE ME?

“God, how can you use me in the condition I'm in?” I have asked that 
question more than once in my life.

It was a hot summer day; I tried filling it to capacity. Despite being a 
young mother of four active children, I still found time that morning to 
take in a round of golf with the girls. The afternoon was spent with my 
kids at the local recreation club to which we belong. I worked at 
perfecting my diving skills while the kids splashed and played, soaking up
the sun's penetrating rays. The late afternoon and evening, we spent at 
the ball field where our oldest son played Little League baseball.

I noticed dizziness and a blurring of my vision but brushed it off thinking
I had just over done it in the heat of the day. Over the next weeks the 
symptoms only worsened and I was hospitalized and given the diagnosis of 
Multiple Sclerosis.

That conclusion was reached over thirty years ago. I was less than happy 
with the verdict, but did not let it defeat me. I have never really blamed
anything or anyone for the sentence that was doled out to me that day. I 
did question what the revenge of such a disease would mostly mean and what
were my options for treatment. I then decided to live my life the best I 
could in spite of the likely conclusions I was apt to face.

I have never been able to understand how people can blame God and turn 
against Him for the misfortunes that come to their lives. It's in the 
valleys of my life that I need God the most. He is where I draw my 
strength. I'm not saying I have never called out asking Him “Why?” That is
only human nature and I am sure God understands our anguish; after all 
Jesus called out as He hung on the cross, “My God, my God, why has Thou 
forsaken me?”

I've always taken my circumstances pretty much in stride. I've cried of 
course and wished things were different. I've mourned for the way things 
use to be, but I've gone on the best that I could, doing most of the things
that I wanted using first one aide and then another. I've been down and 
depressed at times, I can't deny that. I've been scared to death of what 
tomorrow might hold and I still have those fears to this day. My biggest 
fear is that I may become a burden to my loved ones. I fear to some extent
I already have. Being a very independent person before my illness, 
dependence on another has always been my biggest concern.

Through the years I have had some bad times; I've seen more and more of my
abilities wane from me. MS has tried to suck the very essences of who I 
am. I have lived with numbness for years; I have experienced blurred and 
double vision. Pain has been a part of my persona and medications has 
almost doubled my size. Medicines have weakened my bones; falls have 
resulted in painful breaks. My unsteady walk gave in to the use of a cane,
then two canes, then a wheelchair on occasions, then to the full time use
of a three wheel motorized scooter. I no longer drive a car and depend on
others to take me to the places I want to go. I have been so tired and 
weak at times I just wanted to die. Besides physical problems I have 
experienced family problems, financial and business problems. Like 
everyone else, I have faced my share of adversities.

My husband and family have always been there for me, yet they have not 
always understood. The doctors even do not realize the extent of 
difficulties and suffering MS people deal with. Through all of my 
hardships and trials though, there has always been someone beside me that
I could count on, that is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. He knows of my
afflictions, He suffered far more than I. He realizes my distress when 
others fail to understand, for He too was misunderstood.

I have prayed for God to keep me on my feet; I didn't have to resort to my
three-wheel scooter until my children were all raised, that was a blessing
and an answer to prayer. I have prayed for a healing; I've prayed for the
ability to rise above this disease to endure it, to witness in spite of it.
I have asked Him time and time again, “How can you use me in the condition 
I'm in?” It was then that He directed me to this passage in the Bible:

2 Corinthians Chapter 12 verses 7 through 10 in the Living Bible, it 
reads: Because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid
I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which 
has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother 
me, and prick my pride. Three times I begged God to make me well again.

Each time he said, No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power 
shows up best in weak people. Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am;
I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ's power, instead of 
showing off my own power and abilities. Since I know it is all for 
Christ's good, I am quite happy about insults, hardships, persecutions and 
difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong -- the less I have, the 
more I depend on Him. 

I am no saint, just ask my husband! But because of Christ in my life and 
His walking beside me, carrying me at times, I'm able to hold my head high
and continue on. I have not always been someone God could be proud of; 
I've not always been proud of myself. But because of God's goodness and 
His love and forgiveness and His strength I can face whatever may lie 
before me. I pray that through the sickness I must endure and the weakness
that grips me, that He may be seen in my spirit and that the love I have 
for Him may spill over to those my life touches. For without Him I am 
nothing; with Him I am everything He wants me to be. When I am weak, then
He is strong; the less I have, the more I depend on Him. My prayer now is,
“God, use me in whatever condition I'm in.”

By Betty King


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; 
we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast 
down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the 
Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

John 1:10-12 “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the 
world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. 
But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of 
God, even to them that believe on His Name.”

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.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today's Selected Poem: LOOKING FOR JESUS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem131.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: A NEW HEART FROM GOD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony193.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry