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830th -- A Gift Of Giving

  

It is easy to become discouraged when we think only on our problems, but 
if we change our thought process and instead use that time to see what 
others are going through, we will quickly find how blessed we are and how
much we have to be thankful for. It is only in looking at those who are
less fortunate than we are that we can see that our situation is not worth
complaining about when compared to the plight of others who are in much 
more need than we can possibly be. It is also in helping those who are 
less fortunate that our blessings become greatly visible. Sometimes we 
don't realize how much we have until we look at those who don't have the 
simplest of things. (Philippians 2:2-7) (Matthew 6:19-21)

When we share with others what we have freely been given whether it be in
words, acts or deeds, we will be doing our share in making this world a 
brighter place as well as helping ourselves to see how much we have to be
thankful for. Be encouraged to be a giver in life. When times are tough
and the enemy is trying his best to discourage your heart, it is at that 
time that you take action and be a blessing in someone else's life. When
you help someone else elevate, God will take you to heights you've never 
reached before. (Matthew 10:8) (Matthew 5:16)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to not focus on 
your negative situation, but rather use that energy in a positive manner 
to bless the life of someone else who is in a worse situation than you are.


A GIFT OF GIVING

Looking forward to Christmas 1995, to me, described a paradox. How can 
one enjoy Christmas when their loving spouse recently passed away from 
cancer, and yet Christmas is a time for celebration...

I had a friend, recently divorced, who was going through his first 
Christmas without his children that he loved so dearly. I called my friend
and invited him over to my house for Christmas. He didn't seem overly 
thrilled, but had nothing else to do. I did the same for another divorced 
person who had a day without family or friends. I told them to dress nice 
but withheld my plans from them.

The three of us, at my house, made Christmas canes from pipe cleaners, and
after an hour I told my friends to get in my van, as I had a surprise for
them.

So off we went.

First stop, a nursing home, left few dry eyes. We visited the ones who 
had no company, prayed with them and left them little Christmas canes and
some candy. One lady, feeling really bad, asked us to pray for her. So we
prayed with our hands on her body, and we felt a Power hard to describe.

Second stop, Presbyterian hospital...cancer wing. First you need to 
understand how hospitals work with the sick. If possible, patients are 
sent home for the holidays. The ones remaining in the hospital live too 
far, are too ill, or have no support from family or friends. About 1/2 of
the cancer wing was deserted.

We visited the staff and gave them candy and our little Christmas canes, 
then we visited the dying and ill. How can one describe being humbled? 
The patients asked for our prayers. We visited with every patient in the
wing. We left the patients with a smile. When we left the hospital, we 
had nothing else left to give, but we received much. Our emotions were 
drained, we were exhausted, in tears but felt elevated to a 'high' 
impossible to describe. We all thought “But for the grace of God...”

Last stop. We visited my wife's grave, decorated it, placed candles and 
sang Silent Night. Our voices were quivering because we found Christmas 
that day. We gave all we had to give, and it cost us about five hours of
our time and about two dollars in pipe cleaners and candy. I said a silent
prayer of thanks to my wife for teaching me to give.

May we, in this crazy but special time of year learn from the Teacher of 
teachers, Giving is better than receiving.

By B.J. Cassady


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Galatians 6:2-4 “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.”

Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken 
spirit drieth the bones.”

1 John 4:20-21 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love
God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, That he
who loveth God love his brother also.”

Romans 13:10-14 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is 
the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high
time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we 
believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast
off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us
walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in 
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the 
Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the 
lusts thereof.”

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


Today’s Selected Poem: MORE THAN ENOUGH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem108.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: HEATHER'S TESTIMONY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony124.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry

 
 

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