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We are a blessed people! We have been given more than we need or deserve,
but many times we lose perspective of how much we have and instead we focus
on the little that we lack. Instead of giving thanks and praise to God for
blessing us, for favoring us and for giving us the abundance that is in our
lives, we choose to murmur and complain about the temporary trial, the
discouraging situation or the challenging obstacle that is in our path.
What we must always remember and keep in mind is that murmurers don't
please God. Constantly complaining about all that is wrong in our lives
brings a curse with it which will keep us from having the true joy, peace
and contentment that God wishes for us to have.
(1 Corinthians 10:10) (Philippians 2:14-15)
Deuteronomy 30:19 declares “I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and
cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” We
have a choice on how we see our life. We can look at all of the positives
and give thanks and praise to God or we can look at the few negatives and
choose to murmur and complain about how tough our life is. I have found
that a grateful heart will be a contented heart and will overcome an
obstacle much quicker and easier than choosing to murmur, complain and
worry about that problem. When we act out our faith and show our
confidence is in God's ability, He will show up on our behalf and meet our
needs in ways that we never thought of or imagined before.
(Psalm 34:1-10) (Daniel 3:25)
We are to boast in God's abundance and we should proclaim with our words
that we are a blessed people, we are highly favored and meant to overcome,
to triumph, to succeed and rise above every challenge, every obstacle and
every mountain that we come across. See your glass as half-full. See the
blessings that abound in your life. If you are able to read this message,
count yourself blessed because there are almost 1 Billion people who can't
read. Think on all that you possess and be grateful for what you have.
Give thanks to the Lord for your family, your friends, your job, your home,
your health and anything else that you can think of and with your whole
heart give God praise for the abundance that is in your life.
(Psalm 111:1-5) (Joel 2:12-13)
I encourage you to see with refreshed eyes how fortunate you really are.
Count your blessings and not your problems because the good in your life
greatly outweighs the bad. Keep an attitude of gratitude and you will see
your life change in the most positive of ways.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to be thankful for
the simple things in your life and know that the greatest blessings are the
simple ones that you rarely think about.
BREAD, WATER AND LOVE
I was hungry! My stomach ached as I opened and shut the kitchen cabinets.
Every single one of them was empty. Mechanical breakdowns at the sawmill I
was working at had caused the hours I worked to be cut back a lot that
month. I was due to pick up my next paycheck the following day and that
would buy my young family another week’s worth of food. I just wasn’t sure,
however, if we would be eating until then.
I opened the last cabinet and smiled with relief. There was a box of
macaroni and cheese left for dinner that night and a little cereal left
for my children’s breakfast the next morning. “At least my kids wouldn’t
be hungry”, I thought. Another pain from my empty stomach sent me over to
the breadbox. I opened it and saw two slices of bread left. I went to the
refrigerator and glanced inside. It was empty except for a little milk for
breakfast and a jar of jelly with less than a spoonful left in it. I
grabbed the jelly and put the bread in the toaster. Spreading the jelly
thinly I was able to cover both slices. Then I poured a glass of cold water
and sat down by the window.
As I slowly ate my toast I watched the butterflies floating above the
dandelions in my back yard. Seeing them having their own flower feast made
me smile and feel at peace again. As I relaxed my little dog walked into
the room and licked my hand. I laughed, fed him the last bite of my toast
and then petted his head. At that moment love and happiness filled my
heart and I thanked God once again for giving me all I needed for the day.
Thinking of that time again makes me realize what really is essential in
this life. We all want so much when in truth we need so little in order to
be happy. A little bread, a little water, and the love of our Heavenly
Father is all we need to choose love and to have joy. Sometimes it takes
not having anything to make you see that you really have everything.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Matthew 12:37 Jesus declares “But I say unto you, That every idle word that
men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
condemned.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be
not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.”
Psalm 28:6-8 “Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my
supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in
Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my
song will I praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving
strength of His anointed.”
Psalm 23:1-4 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to
lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He
restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His
name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they
comfort me.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem67.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: STEPHANIE'S TESTIMONY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony188.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
