Gods Work Ministry Inspirational and Encouragement E-Mail Dear Friend, It is important that we live an honest life before God and man. There are many instances in life when we are tempted to lie, cheat or steal. It is in these moments that our true character shows itself. As children of the Most High God, we are never to give in to the enemy's temptations of being dishonest, taking something that isn't ours or simply doing something that we know in our heart of hearts isn't right. God calls us the Children of Light and as such we are to light a path before all men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. I pray that you will be strengthened to resist the enemy's temptations if you are having trouble in these areas of morals and integrity. (Acts 24:16) (Matt. 5:14-16) (James 4:7-8) This is a good story that shows how doing the right thing in front of our children helps to shape their character for the future. I pray this message ministers to your heart to always do the right thing in the midst of temptation and to keep your morals strong no matter how hard the enemy is trying to lure you off track. CATCH OF A LIFETIME There was once an 11-year-old who went fishing every chance he got from the dock at his family's cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire lake. On the day before bass season opened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, catching sunfish and perch with worms. Then he tied on a small silver lure and practiced casting. The lure struck the water and caused colored ripples in the sunset, then silver ripples as the moon rose over the lake. When his pole doubled over, he knew something huge was on the other end. His father watched with admiration as the boy skillfully worked the fish alongside the dock. Finally he very gingerly lifted the exhausted fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass. The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish, gills playing back and forth in the moonlight. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 p.m. -- two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy. �You'll have to put it back, son,� he said. �Dad!� cried the boy. �There will be other fish,� said his father. �Not as big as this one,� cried the boy. He looked around the lake. No other fishermen or boats were anywhere around in the moonlight. He looked again at his father. Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could tell by the clarity of his father's voice that the decision was not negotiable. He slowly worked the hook out of the lip of the huge bass, and lowered it into the black water. The creature swished its powerful body and disappeared. The boy suspected that he would never again see such a great fish. That was 34 years ago. Today the boy is a successful architect in New York City. His father's cabin is still there on the lake. He takes his own son and daughters fishing from the same dock. And he was right. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the one he landed that night long ago. But he does see that same fish...again and again...every time he comes up against a question of ethics. For, as his father taught him, ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. It is only the practice of ethics that is difficult. Author Unknown The Bible declares in Proverbs 22:6, �Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.� We have a responsibility as parents and guardians over our children and it is our job to point them in the right direction. We each have the ability to teach right from wrong and with the way morality is going these days, it is imperative that we lead by example. (Proverbs 16:17) (Proverbs 28:7) I encourage you to be an example and always try to do the right things in open and in secret. Live a life of integrity and ask the Lord to help and strengthen you to make the right decisions when temptations arise. God promises that He will always make a way of escape when temptations come our way, so let us show ourselves strong and determined to live righteously before the Lord. (Matthew 6:1-4) (1 Corinthians 10:13) Read and meditate on these scriptures: Psalm 18:20-24 �The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also upright before Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyesight.� Proverbs 11:3-6 �The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.� Proverbs 4:23-27 �Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.� All scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible. Today�s Selected Poem: I TAUGHT MY CHILD� Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem154.htm Today�s Selected Testimony: THE WORD OF MY TESTIMONY Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony57.htm In Christ�s Service, Dwayne Savaya Gods Work Ministry Please feel free to visit the Website to read more Encouraging and Inspirational stories, poems and testimonies. Our E-mail Archives are available as well to read the messages that have been sent in the past. You can also send Free E-cards to friends and loved ones with the many choices available. You are also welcome to post your prayer requests in our Prayer Forum. All this and more available at --- http://www.Godswork.org You can also send prayer requests to --- Prayer@... Add your E-mail address if you'd like correspondence with the prayer partners. To Subscribe or Unsubscribe from the Encouragement mail, send an E-mail to - Mailingsd17@... with the appropriate heading. 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