We who have received abundance from the Lord and blessings that are too 
numerous to count should always be quick to lend a helping hand towards 
our fellow man. We shouldn't be so self-involved that we turn a blind eye
to the needs of those around us, but rather we are to have compassion on 
them just as the Lord has compassion on us. The Lord is gracious and 
merciful and calls us to be the same and to carry on His example towards 
those who are hurting in this world. Never believe the lie that you can't
do anything. While it is true we cannot do everything for everyone, we can
do something for someone. (Psalm 145:8-10) (Galatians 6:2) (James 1:27)

We can be a shining beacon of light showing God's love, compassion, mercy
and forgiveness towards that one who is in need. Be encouraged to think of
someone who needs your help. It may be a family member, friend, coworker 
or a complete stranger. Find out what they are lacking and do your best 
to fill that need. It may be a simple gesture on our part, but to them it
can mean the world. Be helping and see the joy that you receive for being
that one's Angel for the day. (Matthew 5:14-16) (Philippians 2:2-3)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to intervene and be
helping whenever you see the need.


WHY NOT FOR MAN?

Where we live, on the Eastern shore of Maryland, the gentle waters run in
and out like fingers slimming at the tips. They curl into the smaller 
creeks and coves like tender palms.

The Canada geese know this place, as do the white swans and the ducks who
ride an inch above the waves of Chesapeake Bay as they skim their way into
harbor. In the autumn, by the thousands, they come home for the winter. 
The swans move toward the shores in a stately glide, their tall heads 
proud and unafraid. They lower their long necks deep into the water, where
their strong beaks dig through the river bottoms for food. And there is, 
between the arrogant swans and the prolific geese, an indifference, almost
a disdain.

Once or twice each year, snow and sleet move into the area. When this 
happens, if the river is at its narrowest, or the creek shallow, there is
a freeze which hardens the water to ice.

It was on such a morning near Oxford, Maryland, that a friend of mine 
set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which overlooked the Tred
Avon River. Across the river, beyond the dock, the snow laced the rim of 
the shore in white. For a moment she stood quietly, looking at what the 
night's storm had painted. Suddenly she leaned forward and peered close to
the frosted window.

“It really is,” she cried out loud, “there is a goose out there.”

She reached to the bookcase and pulled out a pair of binoculars. Into their
sights came the figure of a large Canada goose, very still, its wings 
folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen to the ice.

Then from the dark skies, she saw a line of swans. They moved in their own
singular formation, graceful, intrepid, and free. They crossed from the 
west of the broad creek high above the house, moving steadily to the east.

As my friend watched, the leader swung to the right, then the white string
of birds became a white circle. It floated from the top of the sky 
downward. At last, as easy as feathers coming to earth, the circle landed
on the ice. My friend was on her feet now, with one unbelieving hand 
against her mouth. As the swans surrounded the frozen goose, she feared 
what life he still had might be pecked out by those great swan bills.

Instead, amazingly instead, those bills began to work on the ice. The long
necks were lifted and curved down, again and again. It went on for a long
time. At last, the goose was rimmed by a narrow margin of ice instead of 
the entire creek. The swans rose again, following the leader, and hovered
in that circle, awaiting the results of their labors.

The goose's head lifted. Its body pulled. Then the goose was free and 
standing on the ice. He was moving his big webbed feet slowly. And the 
swans stood in the air watching. Then, as if he had cried, “I cannot fly,”
four of the swans came down around him. Their powerful beaks scraped the 
goose's wings from top to bottom, scuttled under its wings and rode up its
body, chipping off and melting the ice held in the feathers. Slowly, as if
testing, the goose spread its wings as far as they would go, brought them
together, accordion-like, and spread again.

When at last the wings reached their fullest, the four swans took off and
joined the hovering group. They resumed their eastward journey, in perfect
formation, to their secret destination.

Behind them, rising with incredible speed and joy, the goose moved into 
the sky. He followed them, flapping double time, until he caught up, until
he joined the last end of the line, like a small child at the end of a 
crack-the-whip of older boys.

My friend watched them until they disappeared over the tips of the 
farthest trees. Only then, in the dusk, which was suddenly deep, did she 
realize that tears were running down her cheeks and had been - for how 
long she didn't know.

This is a true story. It happened. I do not try to interpret it. I just 
think of it in the bad moments, and from it comes only one hopeful 
question: “If so for birds, why not for man?”

“Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2

By Helen Dowd


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

1 John 4:10-12 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved 
us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God
so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at 
any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is 
perfected in us.”

Philippians 2:3-7 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not 
every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself
of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men.”

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that
is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; 
but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure
of faith.”

John 13:12-15 “So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His
garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have
done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If
I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash
one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as
I have done to you.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: REACHING OUT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem153.htm 

Today’s Selected Testimony: WHEN OUR BOAT SANK
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony66.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry