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There are moments in life when we feel like giving up on ourselves and on
God. Because of circumstances that we don't fully understand, we allow
those negative feelings to impact our emotions and more importantly our
core beliefs. What we must remember is that the Lord's faithfulness is
the only constant that is guaranteed to us. Everything else in life can
be called unpredictable, but God's faithfulness to those who put their
trust in Him is a promise we can trust and believe in at all times. There
are many scriptures that emphasize God's love for us, but one of my
favorites is found in Isaiah 49:15-16 which says “Can a woman forget her
sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven
thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.”
The Lord's love for us is pure and without motive wishing for our best
interest and a strong and victorious ending. Be encouraged to rededicate
your life to Him if you need to and know that by placing God first in your
life, you will be prioritizing correctly what is most important in life.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see how
important it is to place God first in our lives. When He is at the center
of our being, nothing can come our way to shake our faith or make us
question our existence.
THE VALENTINE'S DAY BALLOON
This Valentine's Day my wife and I will celebrate eleven years of a
rock-steady relationship. It was on that particular day eleven years ago
that I asked her to “go steady” with me. Later that year (November) we
were married. We will be celebrating eleven wonderful years of a faithful
relationship, and we also celebrate the releasing of our eleventh balloon.
Let me explain; eleven years ago we had been dating only a few weeks when
Valentine's Day was approaching. I bought flowers and a beautiful card for
her; she bought a rose and a huge helium-filled balloon for me.
We both drove to Kroger's and met in the parking lot. I'll never forget
being totally mesmerized by her infectious smile as I watched her get out
of her car. She walked over to me and handed me the rose and balloon,
except I thought the balloon string was tied to the rose, and she thought
that I had a hold of the string and the rose. We both stood and watched
helplessly as the balloon flew slowly out of sight. Jewell began to cry;
she thought that it was a disaster to lose the balloon like that. It was
at that moment that I asked her to “go steady” with me and to be mine and
only mine; fortunately for me she said yes.
Every Valentine's Day since, we have bought a balloon and made our way to
a public area to release it into the sky. With this tradition we have been
able to turn tragedy into something memorable: what was originally thought
of as a blunder now is celebrated as a special moment.
We have been very dedicated to our balloon-releasing ceremonies. We have
released balloons from different states, and at times have been so busy
that we were forced to make a special effort in order to even continue the
tradition. In 1999, balloon number seven was released in the middle of a
hectic week of packing as we were moving from one city to another. Balloon
number six was the very first to be released outside of the state of West
Virginia, and on February 13th 1996, my wife's father passed away after
only one week in the hospital; the next day we tearfully released balloon
number four.
We have been through quite a bit in the short time we have spent together.
After all this time I now realize that I love her more today than I did
eleven years ago. I love my wife more than I love myself; as a matter of
fact, I would gladly lay down my life for her if necessary. However, the
interesting thing to note is she is not number one on my priority list,
and thankfully nor am I on hers. God comes first in our lives, then and
only then, our respective spouse.
C. S. Lewis was quoted once as saying, “When I have learnt to love God
better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better
than I do now. In so far as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the
expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in
which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all. When first things are
put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.” Because God is
prioritized at the number-one slot in my life, I am able to love my wife
even more so than had I prioritized her first.
Helium balloons rise because of displacement. Helium is lighter than air,
and because it displaces air, it causes it to rise. Also, air is lighter
than water, and because it displaces water, it causes it to rise. In the
same sense, the more we displace earthly things which keep us grounded or
tied down, the closer we can get to God. In other words, the more sin we
displace or keep out of our lives, the higher the spiritual levels we are
able to attain in God. When we are able to do this, it is as if we are
actually sending a Valentine balloon to God.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” Remember, when it comes to God's love, you can rest
assured knowing there are no strings attached.
By Mike Colllins
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 119:10-16 “With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not
wander from Thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O LORD: teach me Thy
statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. I
have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I
will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will
delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18 “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.”
Psalm 8:3-6 “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon
and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful
of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him
a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put
all things under his feet.”
Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the
waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the
swelling thereof. Selah.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: WHAT IS FAITH?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem118.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: WHAT A MIRACLE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony54.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
