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The love, joy and happiness that we have in our hearts should never be
dependent upon what we have in our pockets. Many times we base our moods
on what we are holding physically. If we have enough money this week,
then we are more susceptible to being in a better mood or if we had a good
time yesterday, then we find ourselves complaining less. That should not
be because our mood should be steady and constant because we have the Joy
of the Lord in our hearts. He is our portion of all good things and the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit should keep our mood constant and filled
with good, encouraging and overcoming thoughts of victory. Yes, it is
normal to have moments of struggle, doubt and a sense of questioning, but
when those moments come, we can answer them by saying we are not moved by
what we see, but rather we are moved by the Word of God which says all
things will work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
call according to His purposes. (Nehemiah 8:10) (Romans 8:28) (Isaiah 26:3)
No matter what may come our way, we can have peace in our hearts because
God is still able to bring the answers to our hearts desires. He is able
to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or even think. Let
us remain steadfast in Him and keep our love, joy and happiness knowing
that all of these will remain with us if we only keep our eyes focused
upon the Lord. (Ephesians 3:20) (Psalm 89:1-2) (Isaiah 12:2-6)
I hope this message challenges your heart to see that it is not always in
receiving that we are blessed, but many times it is when we freely give of
ourselves that we receive the biggest blessing.
A GIFT OF LOVE
I have always loved Nativity scenes ever since I was a boy. I remember
growing up seeing the great care my Grandma always took unwrapping ours.
She would gently lift each ceramic statue out of the box and lovingly
arrange them in the tiny, wooden barn. The baby Jesus was always the last
one lifted out and she would always smile before placing Him in the manger.
It was at another manger too that I saw the most beautiful picture of the
real meaning of Christmas. This was years ago when public Nativity scenes
were everywhere at Christmastime. It was before the fear of offending
others made most of them sadly disappear from parks and town squares. I
remember taking a moment to look at one of these public Nativity scenes
during a cold, December day. A snow was gently falling on each of the
statues and even in the manger.
About this time a mother walked up with her young son. The boy couldn’t
have been more than three years old. As they too stopped to stare at the
beautiful sight the little boy removed his scarf and walked over to the
Nativity. Then he folded it and placed it over the manger. He smiled as he
walked back and said, “Baby Jesus looked cold.” I thought that his mother
would make him go back and retrieve the scarf, but thankfully she was made
of wiser stuff than me at that time. She just smiled, wiped away a tear,
and kissed her son on top of his head. Then leaving his gift of love, they
slowly walked down the snow covered street together while the boy happily
sang all the words he knew to “Silent Night.”
It took a lot of years for me to grow as wise as that child, but when I
did I realized that Christmas truly is about Love. It is about a love that
is both joyfully shared and unconditional. It is about a love that
sacrifices, cares, and gives. It is about loving each other just as much
as God loves us at Christmastime and always.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
James 1:2-5 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
2 Corinthians 4:15-17 “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant
grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the
inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but
for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith
the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will
hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search
for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD...”
Psalm 37:23-25 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He
delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am
old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: I WILL PAINT YOU A RAINBOW
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem7.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: JESUS IS THE FAITHFUL PROVIDER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony96.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
