We should always strive to live our life with purpose. Living with purpose means that we know that we have a mission to accomplish. Every person's purpose or mission is different depending on the gifts, talents and abilities that God has given to them. One person's purpose will not be another's and that is why we should never try to live someone else's purpose. We must strive to be the best that we can be and do all that we can to bring our life's purpose to fruition. How do we know what our purpose is? I believe the answer is simple. What are you extraordinarily good at doing that takes little or no effort? What are you able to do exceptionally well? The answer is as vast as the imagination. It may be a teacher, a fixer, a helper, a leader, a motivator, an encourager and the list goes on. The job at hand isn't the question, but our willingness to pursue our life's purpose should be the focus of our attention. (Proverbs 4:10-13) (Psalm 147:3-11)
When we stand before God on our Judgment Day will we be proud of how we spent our days on the earth? Were we used to our fullest ability or potential? Did every ounce of usefulness get used from our life? For me, I hope the answer will be yes to every one of these questions. I want to be used up so that there is not one iota of gifting or ability that wasn't utilized to the fullest in hopes of helping others to become better than they were before. That is what our prayers should be for all of our lives! We should pray that God uses us in ways that we have never thought of or imagined before. Living a life with purpose is a life well lived. When we do all that we can with what we have been given, we will be proud of how we spent our short time on this earth.
Let this simple message be a motivator for you to use your life for your betterment and for the betterment of those around you. Live with purpose. Do something that will change this world for the better. It may be simple or it may be complex, but it still should be pursued until it has been fulfilled and accomplished. What we must always remember and keep in mind is that God will never give us more than we can handle. If it is in our path then that means that we are well equipped to handle it. Be encouraged to believe that your life is significant in the eyes of the Lord and know that He wishes to use you to make a difference that will never be forgotten or erased. The only question is are you willing to follow where He leads? I pray that you will be. (Isaiah 54:10) (Isaiah 43:18-19)
–Dwayne
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Appreciating The Blessings In Our Lives
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.
–Dwayne
My New Book: Messages Of Hope: Words of Encouragement That Will Inspire, Lift Up, Challenge and Edify Your Spirit available on Amazon.
Click here to get your copy http://amzn.to/133gc7k
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.
–Dwayne
My New Book: Messages Of Hope: Words of Encouragement That Will Inspire, Lift Up, Challenge and Edify Your Spirit available on Amazon.
Click here to get your copy http://amzn.to/133gc7k
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Continuing On No Matter The Obstacles
There are many people in this world who feel like giving up because of the trials and challenges in their path that seem too difficult to overcome. They feel as if they have endured enough and they just can't take it anymore. What they fail to realize is that with our own strength we can accomplish nothing, but with God's strengthening nothing shall be impossible to us. When we take our eyes off of our own ability and focus more on God's ability, we will be encouraged to try again knowing that God favors those who trust in Him and He will make victory their own. The key however is within our hands; we must dig our heels in and refuse to give up or give in no matter how discouraged we may feel and no matter how high the mountain before us seems to be. (Isaiah 40:28-31) (Mark 10:27) (Luke 1:37)
The apostle Paul knows about weakness. He knows about enduring pain. At one point he asked the Lord three different times to take a thorn from his flesh and God answered Paul and said “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” At God's response, Paul rejoiced and said “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” God's answer of grace and strength meant more to Paul than his own healing. We should take comfort in knowing that God will be just as faithful to us in our tribulations. And that is why we must never give up. We must continue on in faith knowing that our victory surely lays ahead. (2 Corinthians 12:8-11) (2 Corinthians 11:22-33)
When Paul came to the end of his life he said in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul didn't say I quit the race or I got tired and will continue the race another time. He said I finished the race. He stayed faithful despite the beatings he took, the ridicule he endured and the suffering that he went through to preach Christ. He stayed faithful despite all the discouragements and because he did, we now call him a giant in the faith. We learn from his writings that take up half of the New Testament. We are encouraged and inspired by the testimony that he has left us and I pray that we learn to be as faithful to the Lord even in the midst of our raging storms just as the apostle Paul was. (Job 13:15)
No matter what we may go through, we can stand up again, we can try again, we can continue on no matter how bleak the situation may seem. Giving up should never be a part of our mentality or our vocabulary. We who have entrusted our life to the Lord know that a new beginning is possible with Him and God will be faithful to strengthen us, to encourage us and to equip us with all that we need to finish the race just like Paul did. No matter how hard the storms are raging, matter how tough the battle may seem, be encouraged to continue on and fight the good fight of faith. The Lord who hasn't left you in times past won't leave you now. Stay faithful to Him and know that God will never leave you nor forsake you. (Mark 13:13) (Philippians 2:13-16)
–Dwayne
My New Book: Messages Of Hope: Words of Encouragement That Will Inspire, Lift Up, Challenge and Edify Your Spirit available on Amazon.
Click here to get your copy http://amzn.to/133gc7k
The apostle Paul knows about weakness. He knows about enduring pain. At one point he asked the Lord three different times to take a thorn from his flesh and God answered Paul and said “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” At God's response, Paul rejoiced and said “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” God's answer of grace and strength meant more to Paul than his own healing. We should take comfort in knowing that God will be just as faithful to us in our tribulations. And that is why we must never give up. We must continue on in faith knowing that our victory surely lays ahead. (2 Corinthians 12:8-11) (2 Corinthians 11:22-33)
When Paul came to the end of his life he said in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul didn't say I quit the race or I got tired and will continue the race another time. He said I finished the race. He stayed faithful despite the beatings he took, the ridicule he endured and the suffering that he went through to preach Christ. He stayed faithful despite all the discouragements and because he did, we now call him a giant in the faith. We learn from his writings that take up half of the New Testament. We are encouraged and inspired by the testimony that he has left us and I pray that we learn to be as faithful to the Lord even in the midst of our raging storms just as the apostle Paul was. (Job 13:15)
No matter what we may go through, we can stand up again, we can try again, we can continue on no matter how bleak the situation may seem. Giving up should never be a part of our mentality or our vocabulary. We who have entrusted our life to the Lord know that a new beginning is possible with Him and God will be faithful to strengthen us, to encourage us and to equip us with all that we need to finish the race just like Paul did. No matter how hard the storms are raging, matter how tough the battle may seem, be encouraged to continue on and fight the good fight of faith. The Lord who hasn't left you in times past won't leave you now. Stay faithful to Him and know that God will never leave you nor forsake you. (Mark 13:13) (Philippians 2:13-16)
–Dwayne
My New Book: Messages Of Hope: Words of Encouragement That Will Inspire, Lift Up, Challenge and Edify Your Spirit available on Amazon.
Click here to get your copy http://amzn.to/133gc7k
Monday, June 10, 2013
Believe In Yourself Again
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)
–Dwayne
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)
–Dwayne
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Message On God's Faithfulness
The Lord is good and His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. God is always with us and will meet our every need according to His promise. God never promised we wouldn't have troubles, but He did promise that He would see us through every trial and tribulation. In Psalm 23:4 the Bible declares "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." We have to get our mind made up that no problem will overtake us, but in the name of Jesus we will walk through every problem and situation that may come our way. Thank God that even though we have problems, God will see us through each and everyone of them.
I was reading the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3 and was very encouraged by the how faithful God is to those who put their complete trust in Him. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held onto their faith in God and wouldn't bow down to worship the golden image, King Nebuchadnezzar threw all three of them into a fiery furnace heated up 7 times more than normal because he was so enraged they wouldn't bow down to his golden god (Daniel 3:19-20). The guards that bound them with ropes died when they got close to the furnace because the fire was so hot. God could have sent some angels to rescue them, but Jesus Himself came to their aid. Jesus loosed the ropes and they were walking around in that furnace that had to be at least 1000 degrees (Daniel 3:25). When the three came forth from the fire, there was not one hair of their head singed, nor the smell of smoke on them (Daniel 3:27).
Whatever problem that you are going through, it's not as bad as that fiery furnace so be encouraged and know that if Jesus saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego than He will meet every need that you have. I encourage you to hold on to your faith in the Lord and He will be faithful to get you out of the worst fire where there will not even be the smell of smoke on you (Daniel 3:27).
Many people face trials and tribulation and feel like giving up but the Bible declares in Psalm 30:5 "…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." I encourage you hold onto God's promise and never give up. Joy will come in the morning. Whatever problem that may seem hopeless and unsolvable; give it to God and see His miracle working power take place. Never give up the dreams and aspirations you have because things don't go as planned. Have faith in the one who made the Heavens and the Earth, the one who calls the stars by name (Psalm 147:4). Jesus is His name and will be with you in whatever situation your facing. Simply call upon Him and ask for it.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 8:31-32 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Psalm 30:2-4 "O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
Psalm 121 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version.
I do give God all the Glory, Honor and Praise for these messages. It is by His spirit that we are blessed and encouraged and so to Him belongs all the credit. Amen.
–Dwayne
I was reading the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3 and was very encouraged by the how faithful God is to those who put their complete trust in Him. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego held onto their faith in God and wouldn't bow down to worship the golden image, King Nebuchadnezzar threw all three of them into a fiery furnace heated up 7 times more than normal because he was so enraged they wouldn't bow down to his golden god (Daniel 3:19-20). The guards that bound them with ropes died when they got close to the furnace because the fire was so hot. God could have sent some angels to rescue them, but Jesus Himself came to their aid. Jesus loosed the ropes and they were walking around in that furnace that had to be at least 1000 degrees (Daniel 3:25). When the three came forth from the fire, there was not one hair of their head singed, nor the smell of smoke on them (Daniel 3:27).
Whatever problem that you are going through, it's not as bad as that fiery furnace so be encouraged and know that if Jesus saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego than He will meet every need that you have. I encourage you to hold on to your faith in the Lord and He will be faithful to get you out of the worst fire where there will not even be the smell of smoke on you (Daniel 3:27).
Many people face trials and tribulation and feel like giving up but the Bible declares in Psalm 30:5 "…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." I encourage you hold onto God's promise and never give up. Joy will come in the morning. Whatever problem that may seem hopeless and unsolvable; give it to God and see His miracle working power take place. Never give up the dreams and aspirations you have because things don't go as planned. Have faith in the one who made the Heavens and the Earth, the one who calls the stars by name (Psalm 147:4). Jesus is His name and will be with you in whatever situation your facing. Simply call upon Him and ask for it.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 8:31-32 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Psalm 30:2-4 "O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
Psalm 121 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version.
I do give God all the Glory, Honor and Praise for these messages. It is by His spirit that we are blessed and encouraged and so to Him belongs all the credit. Amen.
–Dwayne
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Message On The Power Of Words
I have been praying about what message to write and I felt the Lord impressing upon my heart to write a message concerning the words that we speak out of our mouth. Many times we say things without first thinking about them and pay a price for doing so. We need to remember that the words that we say out of our mouths do take on a life of themselves and can either bless or curse us. I hope you'll be challenged by this message that will show you from God's Word how to be careful of the words that you speak and show you to only speak positive and overcoming words of Victory.
The Bible declares in Proverbs 6:2, "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth..." The word snared is defined in the dictionary as, "Something that serves to entangle the unwary." Many times we get caught unaware and speak things in haste that we soon regret. It is very important that we remember and always keep in mind that our words have great power to either create or destroy. We are created in the image of God and just as He has created all things by speaking them into existence, so it is with us because we are an extension of Him. (James 3:10) (John 1:1-4) (Genesis 1:26)
When we feel down and discouraged and articulate our feelings with our words, then we are giving life to that negative situation to continue on in making us feel like defeated persons. The Bible says let the weak Say they are strong. We are not to give in to negative situations by speaking words of defeat, but rather we are to prophesy the situation to be the best it can be even in the midst of the storm. Darkness must dispense once Light has entered into a room and it is the same thing concerning a negative situation, which is overcome by positive and overcoming words of authority. (Ezekiel 37:4-10) (Joel 3:10) (1 John 2:14-17) (Revelation 12:11)
The Bible tells us that our tongue even though is a small member of our whole body, has the power to direct where our life will take us, as the Bible illustrates in James 3:4-5, "A tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do..." When we lose control of our tongue and don't choose our words wisely, then our life is going to be affected and taken off course, just as a ship is steered off course by the controlling of the helm wheel. (Proverbs 18:21)
God tells us that He lays before us life and death, blessing and cursing, and He tells us to choose life. It is all up to us if we become the people God wants us to be because He has given us a free will to either obey His word and live an abundant and overcoming life, or do things our way and simply exist in a life of mediocrity. (Deuteronomy 30:19) (Proverbs 3:5-12)
The Lord has given many warnings throughout the Bible that tells us our words play a very important part of our life. Jesus declares in Matthew 12:37, "By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned." God has not hidden His commandments from us, but has made them clearly known throughout His Word because God's love is that great and He does not want us to fall into the traps of the enemy. We are to be alert and recognize the tricks of the devil and overcome them with the authoritative words of our mouth. (Psalm 119:11-12) (Proverbs 6:20-23)
Just because we have made mistakes in the past does not mean that it is too late to start afresh. Our God freely offers second chances to those who have made mistakes. We should always be confident and know that Christ is able to cleanse our past and create within us a new heart and life that is completely the opposite of the life that we once lived in darkness. I encourage you to call upon Him today if you are having trouble controlling your words and ask the Lord to create within you a new heart where negativity will cease to exist. God is able to change you in ways you never thought possible, so never get discouraged in calling on the name of the Lord. (Isaiah 1:18) (2 Corinthians 5:17) (Isaiah 55:6-7)
The next time you are tempted to speak negative words against someone else or even against a situation in your life, I challenge you to remember what the Bible says concerning the tongue and know that your words have great power to bless or curse, to renew a friendship or destroy a friendship. Your words can heal your situation or make it much worse. The choice is up to us on how we handle every situation in our lives. Let us handle them God's way and control the negative words that we are tempted to say when things are not going as planned. Only then will we be the people God wishes for His children to be and receive the blessings of obeying His Word. (Joshua 1:8) (Proverbs 15:1) (Isaiah 1:19-20)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Proverbs 15:1-4 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Matthew 12:35-37 Jesus declares, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
James 3:10-12 “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
Proverbs 18:4-7 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.”
All scriptures can be found in the New King James Version.
–Dwayne
The Bible declares in Proverbs 6:2, "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth..." The word snared is defined in the dictionary as, "Something that serves to entangle the unwary." Many times we get caught unaware and speak things in haste that we soon regret. It is very important that we remember and always keep in mind that our words have great power to either create or destroy. We are created in the image of God and just as He has created all things by speaking them into existence, so it is with us because we are an extension of Him. (James 3:10) (John 1:1-4) (Genesis 1:26)
When we feel down and discouraged and articulate our feelings with our words, then we are giving life to that negative situation to continue on in making us feel like defeated persons. The Bible says let the weak Say they are strong. We are not to give in to negative situations by speaking words of defeat, but rather we are to prophesy the situation to be the best it can be even in the midst of the storm. Darkness must dispense once Light has entered into a room and it is the same thing concerning a negative situation, which is overcome by positive and overcoming words of authority. (Ezekiel 37:4-10) (Joel 3:10) (1 John 2:14-17) (Revelation 12:11)
The Bible tells us that our tongue even though is a small member of our whole body, has the power to direct where our life will take us, as the Bible illustrates in James 3:4-5, "A tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do..." When we lose control of our tongue and don't choose our words wisely, then our life is going to be affected and taken off course, just as a ship is steered off course by the controlling of the helm wheel. (Proverbs 18:21)
God tells us that He lays before us life and death, blessing and cursing, and He tells us to choose life. It is all up to us if we become the people God wants us to be because He has given us a free will to either obey His word and live an abundant and overcoming life, or do things our way and simply exist in a life of mediocrity. (Deuteronomy 30:19) (Proverbs 3:5-12)
The Lord has given many warnings throughout the Bible that tells us our words play a very important part of our life. Jesus declares in Matthew 12:37, "By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned." God has not hidden His commandments from us, but has made them clearly known throughout His Word because God's love is that great and He does not want us to fall into the traps of the enemy. We are to be alert and recognize the tricks of the devil and overcome them with the authoritative words of our mouth. (Psalm 119:11-12) (Proverbs 6:20-23)
Just because we have made mistakes in the past does not mean that it is too late to start afresh. Our God freely offers second chances to those who have made mistakes. We should always be confident and know that Christ is able to cleanse our past and create within us a new heart and life that is completely the opposite of the life that we once lived in darkness. I encourage you to call upon Him today if you are having trouble controlling your words and ask the Lord to create within you a new heart where negativity will cease to exist. God is able to change you in ways you never thought possible, so never get discouraged in calling on the name of the Lord. (Isaiah 1:18) (2 Corinthians 5:17) (Isaiah 55:6-7)
The next time you are tempted to speak negative words against someone else or even against a situation in your life, I challenge you to remember what the Bible says concerning the tongue and know that your words have great power to bless or curse, to renew a friendship or destroy a friendship. Your words can heal your situation or make it much worse. The choice is up to us on how we handle every situation in our lives. Let us handle them God's way and control the negative words that we are tempted to say when things are not going as planned. Only then will we be the people God wishes for His children to be and receive the blessings of obeying His Word. (Joshua 1:8) (Proverbs 15:1) (Isaiah 1:19-20)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Proverbs 15:1-4 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Matthew 12:35-37 Jesus declares, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
James 3:10-12 “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
Proverbs 18:4-7 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.”
All scriptures can be found in the New King James Version.
–Dwayne
Friday, August 24, 2012
The Shortness Of Time
We should always keep in the back of our minds the brevity of life. Life itself is so very fragile. We never know when our time on Earth will come to an end. We never know when our loved ones will be taken away from us or when we will be taken away from them and that is all the more reason that we should appreciate, relish and make positive and effective use of the time that we do have with one another. We should never take our loved ones for granted and forget the blessing of having their presence in our life. Simply imagining not having them around us should cause us to be thankful that we do have them in our life. Sometimes we get angry, upset or irritated with those that we love the most and instead of quickly mending fences and becoming one again, we allow that strife to bring division, discord and disconnection. We shouldn't allow our humanly squabbles to make us forget the love that we share. We should be quick to appreciate the fragility of time and become one again with those who mean so much to us.
Be encouraged to see that time on Earth is very limited when compared to the forever of Eternity. We only have a short time to love, laugh and be merry with one another so let us use that time to our benefit and recognize how much we have to be thankful for. Without our family and friends life would be meaningless. The love that we hold with one another is greater than the greatest of riches. Our relationships are priceless gifts that need to be nurtured, cherished and upheld. We must invest wisely in the lives of those who mean the most to us and recognize that just as we would like for them to be there for us, we must be there for them just the same. We can't be selfish in our relationships. We can't dictate how or when we'll spend time together. It has to be on equal ground and we must be there for them just as they are there for us.
I encourage you again to think on the shortness of time. Think on your loved ones and if there is anything lacking do all that you can to fill that need. I firmly believe that love implied is not the same as love shown. Speak your love, show your love and make sure that the recipient knows exactly how you feel about them. Recognize how much you would miss them if they were gone from your life and do all that you can to show your appreciation that they are still here for you. I believe that recognizing our blessings is just as important as having our blessings.
–Dwayne
Be encouraged to see that time on Earth is very limited when compared to the forever of Eternity. We only have a short time to love, laugh and be merry with one another so let us use that time to our benefit and recognize how much we have to be thankful for. Without our family and friends life would be meaningless. The love that we hold with one another is greater than the greatest of riches. Our relationships are priceless gifts that need to be nurtured, cherished and upheld. We must invest wisely in the lives of those who mean the most to us and recognize that just as we would like for them to be there for us, we must be there for them just the same. We can't be selfish in our relationships. We can't dictate how or when we'll spend time together. It has to be on equal ground and we must be there for them just as they are there for us.
I encourage you again to think on the shortness of time. Think on your loved ones and if there is anything lacking do all that you can to fill that need. I firmly believe that love implied is not the same as love shown. Speak your love, show your love and make sure that the recipient knows exactly how you feel about them. Recognize how much you would miss them if they were gone from your life and do all that you can to show your appreciation that they are still here for you. I believe that recognizing our blessings is just as important as having our blessings.
–Dwayne
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sin -- The Hard Master
It's amazing to me how people refuse to come to God. They would rather take pleasures in alcohol, in drugs, in sexual perversions. What they fail to realize is that sin is pleasurable for a season, but it is also a hard master. It will take from you all that you hold dear and leave you with nothing. But on the other side of sin, we have the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus died for us so that we might be forgiven, redeemed and made righteous before God the Father. His plan for us is to be with Him in fellowship, in communion, in oneness. He wishes to give us all that we lack and all that He wants in return is our love and devotion to Him. It is easy to love God once you to experience the peace that He gives. Peace that surpasses all understanding, Peace in the midst of struggles, Peace in the midst of heartache. Such peace can never be found in the perversions of this world.
If you have fallen away from the Lord and have given in to these "pleasures", I want you to know that your ending will not be a pleasurable one. Every sin, every perversion, every lustful act will require judgment by a just Judge and He will give every person exactly what they deserve. It will not be a matter of good works outweighing the bad, but rather judgment that is just and right for all that we have done wrong in our earthly vessels. The Bible declares in James 1:13–15 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
It is to your own detriment if you continue in the path of sin. So why let it? Why let sin keep you from the goodness of God? He wishes to forgive you, to redeem you and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. It is a free gift given to all mankind and all one has to do is simply accept it for themselves. Repent my friend if you need to and know that God offers you forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ. The past can be washed away and your future can be forever secured, but you have to take the first step in calling upon the Lord. I pray that you will make that courageous step if you need to.
–Dwayne Savaya
If you have fallen away from the Lord and have given in to these "pleasures", I want you to know that your ending will not be a pleasurable one. Every sin, every perversion, every lustful act will require judgment by a just Judge and He will give every person exactly what they deserve. It will not be a matter of good works outweighing the bad, but rather judgment that is just and right for all that we have done wrong in our earthly vessels. The Bible declares in James 1:13–15 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
It is to your own detriment if you continue in the path of sin. So why let it? Why let sin keep you from the goodness of God? He wishes to forgive you, to redeem you and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. It is a free gift given to all mankind and all one has to do is simply accept it for themselves. Repent my friend if you need to and know that God offers you forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ. The past can be washed away and your future can be forever secured, but you have to take the first step in calling upon the Lord. I pray that you will make that courageous step if you need to.
–Dwayne Savaya
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Message On Recognizing Those Who've Helped Us
It is important that we remember and recognize those who have helped us and been there for us in times past. There are many people that we've come across during our lifetime that have done so much to teach us, encourage us, inspire us, lift us up and let us know how special we are and how much we have to offer this world. Those who have given of themselves selflessly deserve our recognition for all that they have done for us. By giving people the praise and credit that they deserve, we are encouraging their hearts to know that they made a difference and with our thanks we are showing them our appreciation and gratitude for helping to make us better, wiser and stronger than we were before.
Just as we would like to be thanked for being helpful, let us remember those who have done so much for us and give them the attention they deserve. It may be a teacher, a co-worker, a relative, a spouse or a friend. When we know in our hearts that they made a difference in our lives, we should take the initiative and show our thankfulness. Giving thanks can be done in many ways. We can buy them a gift, treat them to lunch, write a heartfelt letter or we can sit down with them and share point by point what they did to bless our life. You may not think doing this is a big deal or that you don't have enough time to do it, but I encourage you to see the importance of giving credit to those who were there for you when you needed them.
I can remember doing this not too long ago to a friend of mine who was there for me during a difficult time in my life. She didn't know it at the time, but she helped to encourage, inspire and lift me up when I needed it the most. That was nearly 15 years ago and as I was remembering her kindness not too long ago, I thought it would be good to let her know how much I appreciate her kindness. I wrote her a short letter, maybe three paragraphs writing in detail what she did for me and how much I appreciated her kindness.
I thanked her and told her that I would never forget her. My recognition of her selflessness was a very simple thing to do, but it meant so much to her. She responded very modestly thanking me and telling me how touched she was by the letter and she ended the letter by saying "As you will not forget me, I will not forget you..." I know my heart was happy for recognizing her kindness and thanking her for it and I know that others will be just as touched and encouraged when you tell them the difference they have made in your life.
Be encouraged to think on the many people who have made a difference in your life and make an extra effort to show your gratitude and appreciation. It may take you a little time, but it will be the best investment of time that you can make.
-Dwayne
Just as we would like to be thanked for being helpful, let us remember those who have done so much for us and give them the attention they deserve. It may be a teacher, a co-worker, a relative, a spouse or a friend. When we know in our hearts that they made a difference in our lives, we should take the initiative and show our thankfulness. Giving thanks can be done in many ways. We can buy them a gift, treat them to lunch, write a heartfelt letter or we can sit down with them and share point by point what they did to bless our life. You may not think doing this is a big deal or that you don't have enough time to do it, but I encourage you to see the importance of giving credit to those who were there for you when you needed them.
I can remember doing this not too long ago to a friend of mine who was there for me during a difficult time in my life. She didn't know it at the time, but she helped to encourage, inspire and lift me up when I needed it the most. That was nearly 15 years ago and as I was remembering her kindness not too long ago, I thought it would be good to let her know how much I appreciate her kindness. I wrote her a short letter, maybe three paragraphs writing in detail what she did for me and how much I appreciated her kindness.
I thanked her and told her that I would never forget her. My recognition of her selflessness was a very simple thing to do, but it meant so much to her. She responded very modestly thanking me and telling me how touched she was by the letter and she ended the letter by saying "As you will not forget me, I will not forget you..." I know my heart was happy for recognizing her kindness and thanking her for it and I know that others will be just as touched and encouraged when you tell them the difference they have made in your life.
Be encouraged to think on the many people who have made a difference in your life and make an extra effort to show your gratitude and appreciation. It may take you a little time, but it will be the best investment of time that you can make.
-Dwayne
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
My First Blog
I've never had a blog before. This is my first one and this is my first posting. I hope to use it often to write things that I'm thinking, things that I'm feeling, and general inspiration that comes to my mind.
That wasn't too hard. I hope to update this blog often.
Thanks for visiting.
Dwayne
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