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We should always be quick to lend a helping hand towards those who are in
need and do all that we can to improve their life. We will soon find that
the blessings that we intended to bestow upon them will in effect be
returned to us and make our life better than it was before. That's how the
Lord works. We will reap exactly what we sow. Whether we sow financially,
spiritually, emotionally or personally, we will receive a just reward for
the seeds that were planted into the lives of others. Never think of
holding back what you possess simply because you think you will lose it.
We can never lose what we give to the Lord. That is the opposite of how
God works. He will take our best gifts and return them to us multiplied
many times over. Be encouraged to have a giving attitude in your daily
life. You will be blessing your own life as well as helping someone else
to become better. (Romans 12:9-21) (James 1:27) (1 John 4:7-13) (Proverbs 4:1-13)
I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to be quick to bless
someone else in need. You will find that it is by giving that we receive
and it is by blessing others that we become blessed.
THERE’S MORE TO LIFE
Here's a story about something I learned during my teaching days for
Medicine Hat College. It seems so often when we go to teach somebody
something, things get turned around and the lesson becomes ours. When I
was challenged to teach a blind singer to dance, I had no idea I would
become the learner.
I was a dance teacher for a local college and had been learning a series
of new dances to introduce into the communities in the area. My friend and
I decided it would be fun to practice to a live band at a lounge. We
didn't know we'd been the topic of interest where the band was concerned
until they approached us during one of their breaks. Admiring our footwork,
they asked if we could spend time with the three female singers in the
group and teach them some of our steps. It was felt the steps would enhance
their singing routines. Thinking it would be a fun morning and give us more
practice we agreed to meet at their motel the following day.
My friend was interested in working with two of the singers and suggested
that I work with the third singer, Gail. The challenge for me would be to
accurately describe each move for Gail. She had the greater challenge, to
process, interpret and simulate. Being blind, Gail had never seen us dance
but she exuded confidence. She also trusted her fellow singers that the
steps would be fun and a great addition to their act.
I went from feeling sympathy for Gail to admiring her. She was able to
accomplish all that her sighted colleagues had in the same amount of time.
She was an amazing woman and the session with Gail taught me more than I
realized.
A few weeks later, while I was teaching a group of adults a country western
Line Dance I noticed that most of them spent a lot of time looking at my
feet, or the feet of someone in front of them. I wanted them to feel
confident on the dance floor, but I could see that they were relying too
heavily on others. A memory of Gail came to mind and as I thought of her,
I realized she had learned so quickly because she did not use her eyes.
The message went from her brain straight to her muscles.
I told the group about Gail and suggested we try something new; to pretend
we couldn't see. We went over the steps a few times and I matched each
combination of moves with a trigger word or phrase. Then we focused on a
spot on the wall, never looking down and went through the dance again
using only the trigger words to remind our brains of what we wished our
feet to do. Invariably and with unbelievable consistency the students
learned the dance quicker than usual.
I never saw Gail again yet her dance lessons taught me something I would
use again and again over the years. The lesson eventually helped hundreds
of students to learn better and to thereby feel more confidence.
Without Gail, I doubt that I would have discovered a new method for
teaching dance. Her attitude showed me that we should not be afraid of the
things we cannot see and do not know. Gail didn't see herself as
courageous, learning to dance in spite of blindness; no instead she
accepted new challenges as an opportunity to taste more life. Gail laughed
at her mistakes. She lived in the moment.
By Ellie Braun-Haley
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 4:20-21 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love
God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he
who loveth God love his brother also.”
Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus declares “Ye are the light of the world. A city that
is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are
in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Romans 13:10-14 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is
the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high
time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we
believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast
off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us
walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the
lusts thereof.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: MORE THAN ENOUGH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem108.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: HEATHER'S TESTIMONY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony124.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
