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We should always have our hearts open to the Lord allowing Him to use us
for His Eternal purposes. When we seek the Lord in prayer asking Him to
take control of our lives and use us to make a difference in this world,
we should not underestimate how powerful this simple prayer really is. The
Lord is able to do extraordinary things with the most ordinary of people.
All that is required is a surrendered heart and a willing spirit. We
simply need to obey what God says and follow through with where He is
leading us. When we say yes to God and follow His lead, our life will
never be the same. (Isaiah 6:8) (2 Corinthians 4:7) (Joshua 1:8-9)
We will impact more people for the good than we ever thought possible and
multitudes of lives will be affected because of our obedience to the
Lord. My life and this ministry can attest to that fact. You, our reader
can testify for yourself if you have benefited from this work. Now imagine
your life doing the same for others. Imagine how many can benefit from
your life and from the gifts that you have to offer that God has instilled
within your heart. (Matthew 10:19-20) (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) (Romans 12:4-8)
Never believe the lie that you are not special enough. The breath that
you are breathing is a witness that you are here for a reason. Trust the
Lord and offer to serve Him with all your might. Surrender your life and
let God lead it. You will be blessed knowing how so many are being made
better because of what you have done and are still doing. (Jeremiah 1:5-8)
I hope this message challenges and inspires your heart to see how one life
can make a difference to so many others. Believe in yourself as God
believes in you and take the first step in allowing the Lord to work
through you.
FRANK RIDDICK’S BICYCLES
Clinton, KY -- When Frank Riddick was growing up on a farm in western
Tennessee, having a bicycle seemed as remote a possibility as owning a new
car. One of six children, he always had plenty to eat and wear, but there
wasn't much left for luxuries.
Remembering those childhood longings, two years ago he decided to provide
bicycles to youngsters whose families couldn't afford to buy them one for
Christmas.
To initiate the effort, he turned to the county mission house. Supported
by various churches, the Clinton-based ministry provides food and clothing
to low-income residents of the area.
In October, he posted a sign there reading, “If your child doesn't have a
bike and wants one, see me or Lula Bell (The director).”
“I gave a few bikes away and told children if it broke down or they had a
flat to call me,” said Riddick, who retired from farming in 1995. “I didn't
dream anything like this would happen.”
What happened is a Christmas tale to touch the hardest of Scrooges. After
buying 40 new bicycles and placing a classified ad seeking used ones, word
quickly circulated. Donations of bikes started pouring in to his farm
three miles north of town.
To date he has given away nearly 200 bicycles and has 100 more in his
workshop. Each carries a license plate reading, “Jesus Loves You.”
But he didn't stop with free bikes. Riddick gave the children his heart.
Although he had built a 1.5-acre playground on his farm for his
grandchildren, three of the five now live out of state. After getting
acquainted with youngsters in the community, he invited them out to the
homemade attraction.
It includes a cable ride the length of a football field, with capacity for
four riders; a 50-foot-high tree swing and a 61-foot slide. The latter is
more than four times the length of conventional slides.
Among other features is a merry-go-round-like device that holds three
small children. A group of high school seniors took pictures of the cable
ride for their photo albums and some children have said they enjoy it as
much as the Old Opryland Amusement Park.
“It's a joy to know the Lord had in mind for these needy kids to come out,”
he said. “A lot of these children I'm dealing with are below poverty level.
They live in bad environments, some are mistreated and, without the mission
house, most would be without clothes.”
“I'm sure every community has children like this, but I didn't know how bad
it was until I started doing this,” he noted.
Riddick's involvement also led him to buy a 15-passenger van. Though he
uses it to shuttle children to Team Kid, he primarily got it to bring them
to the playground.
Looking back, the member of First Baptist Church of Clinton appreciates
how God spared his life three times. In the past decade he survived a bout
with kidney cancer, getting electrocuted by a 7,200-volt power line, and a
brain tumor that doctors thought was cancerous but turned out to be benign.
Still, he doesn't want any acclaim for what he does, saying the Glory
belongs to God.
“I cannot say I had a vision to do this,” he said. “I had a longing in my
heart. I constantly feel a need to help the needy in our community. I can
look back and see how everything happening was directed by God. I just
didn't have enough spiritual knowledge to know it.”
From the Western Recorder
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Luke 6:30-33 Jesus declares “Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of
him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men
should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which
love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for
sinners also do even the same.”
Galatians 6:1-4 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so
fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work,
and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in 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: THE RIGHT WORDS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem173.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: THE PRAYER OF AN ATHEIST
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony25.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
