God'swork ministry
submitted by Dwayne Savaya

Dear Friend,

The beauty of God's creation is a wonder to behold. In the moments when we see ourselves discouraged or when we just don't feel like giving thanks, we should take a moment to look at the beauty that surrounds us. God has created many things that upon closer inspection will make us realize how Great God really is. The vastness of His Creation and the versatility of beauty that is all around us should make us focus more on how big God is and how small our problems are. We are to give praise and thanks to the Lord for giving us dominion over His creation and we are to appreciate this day that He has given us to live. Never allow yourself to become down or discouraged simply because you have trials in your path, but rather give thanks to the Lord that He is with you and has promised to meet all of your needs. (Revelation 4:11) (Psalm 8:3-6) (Psalm 145:14-19) (Philippians 4:19)

I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to appreciate and enjoy to its fullest each day that you are alive.

A DAY AT WORK

Some folks have a tendency to believe that a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. Then along comes a day like today. The two inch snow that was predicted had turned in to a six incher, and more in some of the drifts. And at 3 a.m., it made for a pretty interesting trip to work. A half-hour later, I had the windshield cleared and backed up to the door to load. By 5 a.m., the bread was loaded and ready to roll.

Everything went pretty well, considering the parking lots were far from being cleared. Everything that was taken in was either packed or dragged.

Around seven o'clock, it started getting light. I was headed down a two-lane highway, going to the country part of the route, and just starting to see the beauty of the first snowfall. Just a few more stops, then I'd turn and head north, to the top end of the route.

Just a few miles out of town, the countryside starts changing. The rolling hills and valleys are considered to be the foothills of the Ozarks. With the snowfall fresh on the landscape, it was a quite a sight. The hilltops were capped with snow, and the valleys were blanked with a deep white layer, drifting sometimes even deeper. The trees were laden with snow, their limbs drooping under the weight. As I topped the highpoint, I stopped the truck just to look out over the landscape. The winter scene spread out before me like a giant painting. With the white trees, and everything covered, and the gray sky background, it gave everything a quiet and peaceful setting.

I was surprised to see a beam of sunshine break through the clouds, and shine in to the crystals of ice and snow. The light broke into thousands of tiny rainbows from the natural prisms. A small stream wound its way down and around the hills, its crystal water bubbling over the stones and gravel, and ran by close to the road. Just down and off to the right, a deer had stopped for a drink from the stream, and was staring, unafraid.

The whole scene was like a moment suspended in time, not moving, just there to be appreciated, savored.

At that particular moment, it was easy to feel very small, almost insignificant. And I realized that all of this, no matter how large or small, is God's creation. And that nothing He created is insignificant or unimportant to Him. Everything has its space and reason for being, a purpose. Everything. A snowflake,an ice crystal, a rainbow that dances like the laughter of a child. Everything...

By Bob G. Shaw

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Psalm 8:3-6 "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet."

Jeremiah 33:2-3 "Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is His name; Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Psalm 145:14-19 "The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them."

Psalm 138:6-8 "Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands."