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874th -- Looks Can Be Deceiving

  

There are many instances in life when we become dissatisfied with where we
are and we wish we had the ideal life of those whom we perceive are
perfect. What we must realize is that nobody in this world has the 
perfect life. Everyone is promised ups and downs, victories and defeats,
good days and yes many bad days. Going through these stages of life merely
show that we are human and not exempt to the feelings of living and being
alive in this day. The Bible tells us by having food and clothing we 
should be content with our life. Having these simple necessities should 
cause us to be thankful, but many times when we look at what our neighbor
possesses, we become envious and want what they have. Without realizing 
it, we are actually breaking one of the 10 Commandments which tells us to
not covet thy neighbor’s goods. We should be satisfied with who we are 
and trust that God is able to bring the same good our way as He has for 
those around us. (Job 23:10) (1 Timothy 6:6-8) (Exodus 20:17) (2 Cor. 9:8)

Be encouraged to appreciate the blessings in your own life and do not 
worry about what everyone else has. Be thankful for your abundance and 
even if you don't feel it right now, know that you are highly blessed and
highly favored. Having what everyone else has does nothing to bring joy,
but having a heart that is perfect towards God makes you the wealthiest 
person in this world. Give the Lord thanks for your own life and let God
know that you are trusting Him to meet every need in your life. By being
confident in God, you are showing your faith and trust that all will be well.

I hope this message encourages and challenges your heart to be thankful for
all that you possess. Don't wish that you had someone else's life because
their life may be much more difficult than you can ever imagine.


LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

Most teens can't wait to learn to drive.

Not so with me. Driving made me nervous. I didn't get a license until I 
turned 24 years old.

As a result, when I first married, we only had one car and car pooled to 
work. My husband's hours were different from mine by one hour. I worked 
earlier. So he dropped me off and went to the diner to drink coffee until
work time.

Then, in the afternoons, I leisurely walked the three miles to his work 
place where I waited in his car, reading a book.

One day while waiting for him, I noticed the most beautiful Cadillac pull
in the lot. It was powder blue and sleek looking. The kind of car you 
dream about. I was busily admiring the car, when I noticed the driver. 
Honestly, she was probably the prettiest woman I had ever seen off the 
movie screen.

She pulled into the spot beside our car and it was all I could do not to 
stare. There was a striking resemblance to Liz Taylor. Jet black hair and
alabaster skin. Our eyes made contact and she smiled at me. Her eyes were
as blue as the sea, and teeth like an even row of pearls. She was wearing
a light blue shirt that just matched her car. Peeking through her long, 
softly curled hair I could see gold hoop earrings. They had to be gold to
shine like that.

A couple of minutes later, a nice looking man came out the building, 
entered her car, leaned over and kissed her and she drove away.

Sitting there in my jeans, shirt and hair in a pony tail, I wanted to cry.
How could some people have it all?

Maybe I would have forgotten about her, but the following week, I saw her
again. Then it became almost routine to see her about once a week. She 
seemed friendly and always waved, flashing a big smile. My envy lingered 
long after she drove away.

Many nights when sleep evaded me, I would think about the beautiful lady.
I wondered if she and her husband ate out, and where they dined, and what
she was wearing. I wanted her to get out of the car and let me see her 
full length. Did she wear really high heeled shoes and pants, or a skirt.

I would get my answers in a couple of weeks.

Sitting in our usual parking lot, I was holding my book, watching her over
the top of it. She was waiting and when her husband came to the car, she 
called to him. They spoke a few words and he opened the car door for her 
to step out. He took her arm and helped her out of the car. I could see 
very well as she moved to get out. She was wearing a skirt.

She haltingly walked around to the passenger side very slowly, leaning on
a walking cane. Sitting sideways in the car, she lifted one leg with her 
hands and then the other one. The beautiful lady had a prosthesis on the 
left leg and a brace on the right leg.

I couldn't watch them drive away as the tears were blinding me.

For weeks I had envied this woman and her way of life, while I had been 
able to walk three miles to our car!

When my husband arrived and found me crying, he immediately asked what was
wrong. Through my tears, I told him about the beautiful lady. He said he 
knew her husband and also knew the story. The beautiful lady and her 
parents were in a car that either stalled or got caught on the railroad 
tracks and was hit by a train. Both parents were killed and she was 
severely injured. She was only 12 years old.

The railroad made a large settlement with her because the crossing had no
signals. He explained her car was specially built for her needs as well as
the home.

I prayed for forgiveness all the way home. The lady I thought had 
everything didn't. I thanked God over and over for my legs, arms and 
sight, and for teaching me a lesson early on in life.

When you meet a person who seems to be much better off than you, don't be
fooled. I would not have traded places with the beautiful lady for 
anything -- I still had my parents, and the ability to walk, run or dance
through life. Wonderful things money can't buy.

By Clara Wersterfer


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Romans 12:15-18 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that
weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but 
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of
all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with
all men.”

2 Timothy 2:22-24 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, 
faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender
strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto
all men, apt to teach, patient.”

Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He
shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 37:3-5 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the 
land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and
He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”

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


Today's Selected Poem: THE PROMISE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem182.htm

Today's Selected Testimony: SAND OR GRAVEL?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony101.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry

 
 

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