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When times are at their toughest for those around us, it is then that we
have the greatest opportunity to show our love, compassion and care for our
fellow man. We can say we love God and love our neighbor as our self, but
when it comes time for action, what are we really doing? Are we showing
our love? Are we proving that we care for the well-being of others? We
must be their hands and feet when they have no might and do for them what
they can't do for themselves. That is how we show our love. We do all
that we can in the name of love and when we do, those simple acts of
kindness will never be forgotten. We who have received much from the Lord
have a much bigger requirement to use what we have been entrusted with.
The Lord doesn't give us blessings so that we can keep them all to
ourselves, but He entrusts us with them so they'll be used for the
betterment of others as well. (Matthew 22:37-39) (Luke 12:48)
The Lord says “freely you have received, freely give.” The Lord doesn't
say freely you have received now save everything you have. We must give
away what we have so that the spirit of greed never takes hold of our
heart. When our hearts are open towards others, God's heart will continue
to be open towards us. The Bible says “I have never seen the righteous
forsaken nor his seed begging for bread.” We will not be forsaken and our
children will not be forsaken. Our seed will be blessed as much as we will
be blessed. The Lord not only blesses the giver, but He also blesses his
seed. That's how big God is in giving, so let us follow in His footsteps
and bless others in their time of need. Not only will we be intervening on
their behalf, but we will also be blessings our own future by being what
God commands, a cheerful giver. (Matthew 10:8) (Psalm 37:25) (2 Corinthians 9:7)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to be helpful and
giving whatever you see the opportunity. Giving is your chance to be
blessed and to become a blessing.
BAD WEATHER AND GOOD HEARTS
It is amazing how even the worst times can be used by our loving God to
bring out the best in us. I saw ample evidence of this recently when a
fast moving Winter storm dumped an incredible two and a half feet of snow
here. Cars were buried, businesses and schools were closed, roads were
impassible, people were stranded, and tree limbs were snapped taking down
power lines with them. A state of emergency was declared and it looked
like the bad weather had beaten us all down forever. In the mist of all
this misery though, the best in everyone emerged.
We slowly came out of our houses, grabbed our snow shovels, and went to
work. We started by shoveling out our driveways and cars. We greeted
neighbors doing the same. Then we started helping each other whenever we
could. Snow blowers were shared. Paths were dug out so little dogs could
have a place to walk. Anyone with an extra snow plow attached it to their
truck and cleared side drives while the state workers cleared the main
roads. People who still had electricity thanked God for it and then went
out to help those who had lost theirs.
Electric line workers were tireless in their efforts to restore as many
homes' power as quickly as possible and every person whose home was lit
back up smiled with a new appreciation for the energy they once took for
granted. Families gathered around stoves, hugged each other in blankets,
and looked out on the majestic mountains covered in snow. Then when the
warm sun returned after days of cold, they greeted it like a long lost
friend. They watched the beautiful sunrise too like it was for the very
first time.
All of this gave me a new respect for all the tough times and bad weather
I had faced in my own life. I see now that God is always with us in our
Winter nights as well as our Summer days. I see too that our love and joy
sometimes grow warmest when life is at its coldest.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 4:7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not
knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God
toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through Him. 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.”
Romans 12:9-10 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is
evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”
1 Peter 3:8-11 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for
evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye
are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will
love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his
lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him
seek peace, and ensue it.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: HOPE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem31.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: TESTIMONY OF GOD'S LOVE
Click here to read --- http://www.godswork.org/testimony150.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
