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We should live our life with purpose and have a deep and assured knowing
that we are meant to achieve greatness with our life. We must always
remember and keep in mind that God does not create anything without a plan
and purpose behind it. We must believe in ourselves as God believes in us
and when we do nothing shall be impossible to us. It is easy to tell
someone that they are meant to achieve great things in life, but if they
don't believe it for themselves then the victory has already been taken
away from them. We must see our life as meaningful and full of potential.
We must let go of our past failures, setbacks and shortfalls and know that
a new beginning is always available with God.
(Jeremiah 1:4-5) (Psalm 139:14-18) (Matthew 17:20)
For me it has never been difficult to believe that greatness was within me.
Confidence in myself was never lacking, but when I became paralyzed in a
boating accident in 1996, all my confidence and assurance of greatness was
taken away in a split second. My secured and sure future was completely
changed in that moment and all I knew soon after that accident was
uncertainty. I became uncertain of my ability and of my future. I didn't
know how my life would be beneficial to myself and to others. Thankfully
all of that changed when Jesus entered into my life. Hope was restored.
Confidence was returned. My future was eternally secured and a gift of
encouragement was imparted into my life that was to be used to encourage
and inspire others around the world to believe in themselves again as God
believes in them. (John 15:5) (Isaiah 40:28-31)
We must nurture a belief that we are not our past. We are not defined by
our failures and setbacks. We can however use our past for our benefit
today and in our tomorrow's to come. The lessons we learned that made us
better, wiser and stronger serve a purpose to not repeat the past, but
become better because of it. What I have learned about overcoming is that
just as a plant needs water to survive so to our life needs to receive
nourishment. We must have a deep knowing that we are worthy and well able
to make a difference in our own life and in the lives of others.
(2 Corinthians 5:17) (Jeremiah 1:6-9) (Ezekiel 18:30-32)
No matter what you have gone through; no matter your failures or setbacks,
no matter your trials and tribulations, you can rise up again. You can
make a difference in this world. You can teach what you have learned, you
can encourage others in their discouragement, you can inspire someone else
to know that a new beginning is always possible with God. Using your life
to make a difference in the lives of others will leave a legacy that will
live on long after you are gone. Believe in yourself. Nurture the gifts
within you. Try again even if you don't feel like it. When you do you
will see your life reach heights you never thought possible. I know this
truth because I try my best to do it each and every day.
(Ezekiel 11:19-20) (Psalm 103:10-14)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to love yourself and
know that your life can be made beneficial to you and to those around you.
THE ARBOR
Behind an apartment at the edge of town stands an arbor. Six feet high, it
was designed and built to support climbing plants, and it has been put to
good use. The residents have planted climbing roses at the base of the
arbor posts, and then added trellises to help the roses climb to the top.
Beneath the arbor are shrubs, flowering bushes, and statuary. Hanging from
the rungs at the top are bird-feeders. The arbor is beautiful to see, and
undoubtedly a source of great pleasure to its owners.
Nearby sits a second arbor. Almost identical to the first, it stands stark,
bare, and unused. Its sole adornment is a fading, yellow thermometer,
nailed to one of the posts. With nothing to cover it, the wood appears much
older and more weathered. A monument to futility and unrealized purpose,
the second arbor stands stark, bare, and wasted.
Your life stands like an arbor, a gift from God, waiting to be used. You
can choose to complain that your arbor is too short, or too weathered, or
not as nice as somebody else's, or you can start planting. God is not
going to judge you on whether your life flowered as beautifully as someone
else's. But God will judge you on whether you used what he gave you or not.
Beethoven could have complained that his hearing was worse than others,
and excused himself from even trying. He chose to plant instead, and in
the process, revolutionized music.
The famous physicist Steven Hawking could have complained that few other
people have to cope with a debilitating illness like his. Instead, he chose
to plant, and revolutionized the science of physics.
For every arbor larger than yours, I can show you one that is smaller or
more dilapidated or more limited. The choice is yours: complain, or start
planting.
Your life is God's gift to you. What you make of it is your gift to God.
By Mark Phillips
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek Him.”
Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My
commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and
apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge,
and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver,
and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the
fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth
wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
Matthew 18:1-4 “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child
unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto
you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not
enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself
as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send,
and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
1 Chronicles 28:20 “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of
good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even
my God, will be with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until
thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem172.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: JESUS MY DELIVERER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony136.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
