As I think back on 2009 the one thing that comes to mind is how I have been drawn to devotionals. Three gentlemen that I follow daily are A. B. Simpson, Charles Spurgeon, and Max Lucado. What I found is the Lord speaks to me through their writings. I also love to share them with others and sometimes inject my "heart print" with them.
This being the last day of 2009 I wanted to share what each of these gentlemen wrote for their devotional today and also a little description of them if you do not know who there are.
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A. B. Simpson stated this speaking about God;
"He wants us here for some higher purpose than mere existence. That purpose is nothing else than to represent Him to the world, to be the messengers of His Gospel and His will to men, and by our lives to exhibit to them the true life, and teach them how to live it themselves."
Albert Benjamin Simpson (December 15, 1843 – October 29, 1919) (A.B. Simpson) was a Canadian preacher, theologian, author, and founder of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), an evangelical Protestant denomination with an emphasis on global evangelism.
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Charles Spurgeon stated this speaking of salvation;
"Consecrate these last hours to lonely thought, and if deep repentance be bred in you, it will be well; and if it lead to a humble faith in Jesus, it will be best of all. O see to it that this year pass not away, and you an unforgiven spirit. Let not the new year’s midnight peals sound upon a joyless spirit! Now, NOW, NOW believe, and live."
Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892) was a British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers." In his lifetime, Spurgeon preached to around 10,000,000 people, often up to 10 times each week at different places. His sermons have been translated into many languages. Spurgeon was the pastor of the congregation of the New Park Street Chapel (later the Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years. He was part of several controversies with the Baptist Union of Great Britain and later had to leave that denomination. In 1857, he started a charity organization called Spurgeon's which now works globally. He also founded Spurgeon's College, which was named after him posthumously.
Spurgeon was a prolific author of many types of works including sermons, an autobiography, a commentary, books on prayer, a devotional, a magazine, poetry,,hymnist and more. Many sermons were transcribed as he spoke and were translated into many languages during his lifetime. Arguably, no other author, Christian or otherwise, has more material in print than C.H. Spurgeon.
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Max Lucado comparing us to God;
"Our moods may shift, but God’s doesn’t. Our minds may change, but God’s doesn’t. Our devotion may falter, but God’s never does. Even if we are faithless, he is faithful, for he cannot betray himself (2 Tim. 2:13). He is a sure God."
Max Lucado (born 1955) is a best-selling Christian author and minister of writing and preaching at Oak Hills Church (formerly the Oak Hills Church of Christ) in San Antonio, Texas. Lucado has written more than 50 books with 28 million copies in print, including three recipients of the Charles "Kip" Jordon Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year (Just Like Jesus, In the Grip of Grace, and When God Whispers Your Name), and has appeared regularly on several bestseller lists. After serving as the pulpit minister for 20 years, Lucado announced in early 2007 that he was stepping down due to health concerns related to atrial fibrillation. Lucado has since assumed the ministry role of writing and preaching at Oak Hills. He co-pastors the church with one of Willow Creek's former teaching pastors, Randy Frazee.
Lucado was named "America's Pastor" by Christianity Today magazine and in 2005 was named by Reader's Digest as "The Best Preacher in America." He has been featured on The Fox News Channel, NBC Nightly News, Larry King Live, and USA Today. His books are regularly on the New York Times Best Seller List. He has been featured speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast.
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As the year 2009 comes to an end I am in awe as Christ works in my life. Besides another fruitful year with the God's Love Outreach Ministry, I have also became active with Twitter, Facebook and of course Blogspot where I have composed 77 "Christ inspired" writings. I now call these writings "Heart Prints"! As Jesus speaks to my heart I want to share with others. Also how awesome it will be to leave behind, when He calls me home, that maybe a family member, friend, or anyone that the Lord directs them to read, a message from Him. So thank you Lord for touching the hearts of A. B. Simpsom, Charles Spurgeon, and Max Lucado with your love and grace. May I continue hear Your voice through them and any other that you bring to me. May You continue to us me because of my love and obedience to You to bring others to You.
What a Friend I Have In Jesus
To all my friends and family,
who think with me, Jesus is just a trend.
Please remember when I tell you
He is the beginning, not the end!
My walk will only strengthen
as each day comes and goes,
for my life is now His,
and this Jesus truly knows.
So please take time to read these emails,
that He is speaking through me to you.
For His mission for me is awesome,
and there is so much He wants me to do.
This year is almost over,
2009 is almost at its end.
If you thought I loved Him this year,
wait until next year, 2010!
E. P. Shagott
12/15/09
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
When Opportunity Knocks
Acts 20:27 For I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of God.
[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]
As I read this devotional this morning that was written many , many years ago, the word "Evangelism" comes to mind. I truly believe once we become "true believers", not the "want-to-be believers" but the believer that has given without question our hearts to Christ, we understand then why God does bring other human beings to us. He knows our "Spirit filled hearts" will be seeking others that do not, but desperately need to know and have a relationship with Him.
[It is probable that God lets every human being, that crosses our path, meet us, in order that we may have the opportunity of leaving some blessing in his path, and dropping into his heart and life some influence that will draw him nearer to God. It would be blessed, indeed, if we could meet every immortal soul, at last, that we have ever touched in the path of life, and truly say, "I am pure from the blood of all men."
Beloved, is it so? The servant that works in your household; the man that sat beside you in the train; the laborer that wrought for you, and, above all, the members of your household and family, your fellow-laborer in the shop or factory, have you done your best to lead them to Christ?
The early Christians regarded every situation as an opportunity to witness for Christ. Even when brought before kings and governors, it never occurred to them that they were to try to get free, but the Master's message to them was, "It shall turn to you for a testimony." It was simply an occasion to preach to kings and rulers, whom otherwise they could not reach.]
My friends may this coming year, 2010, we grasp each "evangelistic moment" to witness for our Lord and Savior and also to demonstrate by our daily walk with Him why the ones that don't know Him, will want to!
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]
As I read this devotional this morning that was written many , many years ago, the word "Evangelism" comes to mind. I truly believe once we become "true believers", not the "want-to-be believers" but the believer that has given without question our hearts to Christ, we understand then why God does bring other human beings to us. He knows our "Spirit filled hearts" will be seeking others that do not, but desperately need to know and have a relationship with Him.
[It is probable that God lets every human being, that crosses our path, meet us, in order that we may have the opportunity of leaving some blessing in his path, and dropping into his heart and life some influence that will draw him nearer to God. It would be blessed, indeed, if we could meet every immortal soul, at last, that we have ever touched in the path of life, and truly say, "I am pure from the blood of all men."
Beloved, is it so? The servant that works in your household; the man that sat beside you in the train; the laborer that wrought for you, and, above all, the members of your household and family, your fellow-laborer in the shop or factory, have you done your best to lead them to Christ?
The early Christians regarded every situation as an opportunity to witness for Christ. Even when brought before kings and governors, it never occurred to them that they were to try to get free, but the Master's message to them was, "It shall turn to you for a testimony." It was simply an occasion to preach to kings and rulers, whom otherwise they could not reach.]
My friends may this coming year, 2010, we grasp each "evangelistic moment" to witness for our Lord and Savior and also to demonstrate by our daily walk with Him why the ones that don't know Him, will want to!
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Monday, December 28, 2009
Earthly friend, Heavens foe!
“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”
- Matthew_10:34
[A devotional by Charles Spurgeon]
Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment! I like this last statement from Charles Spurgeon at the end of this devotional. How true it is to use the word "brief"! That is exactly what this life of ours, this earthly life is, brief. Our Christian battle for Christ to us may seem long in suffering but I can't imagine what is awaiting the non-believers. Please read as Charles Spurgeon writes in today's devotional.
[The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities.]
For a long time in my life I found it easier to lie my way out of certain situations. Isn't it strange how it always has a way to come back at you. You may be a convincing liar, but it never wins in the end. I now tell my family and friends, "I won't lie, don't ask me too!" I do not want to be in that life of darkness. Read on as Charles Spurgeon speaks of this.
[Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.]
In Matthew 10:37 (CEV) Jesus tells His disciples, "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples." As human beings we must understand that this is the true love that will sustain us until we are united with our Savior above. How important it is to remain faithful to Him. How important it is to reach out to those that do not understand this love that Jesus was asking of Simon Peter, 3 times, in John 21:15-17, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" When Simon said he did Jesus replied, "Feed My sheep!"
Each year the God's Love Outreach Ministry presents programs from the "Seeds for Christ" series. Today the Lord blessed me with this poem titled "Planting Seeds".
Planting Seeds
I am His little gardener,
whom God chose me to be.
He said, “Little gardener of Mine
go plant these love seeds for Me”
I said, “Lord where do I plant,
these seeds of Your love?”
God said, “Just listen to your heart,
as I speak to you from above.
Do not be surprised
if rejected now and then,
these seeds are the beginning
that will spiritually nourish them to the end.
So I reached deep into my heart,
and grabbed one of His special love seeds.
From my mouth they were planted as I said,
“This is from God’s love, and also they are from me!”
E. P. Shagott
12/28/09
Thank you Lord for the opportunity to "Feed Your sheep!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
- Matthew_10:34
[A devotional by Charles Spurgeon]
Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment! I like this last statement from Charles Spurgeon at the end of this devotional. How true it is to use the word "brief"! That is exactly what this life of ours, this earthly life is, brief. Our Christian battle for Christ to us may seem long in suffering but I can't imagine what is awaiting the non-believers. Please read as Charles Spurgeon writes in today's devotional.
[The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities.]
For a long time in my life I found it easier to lie my way out of certain situations. Isn't it strange how it always has a way to come back at you. You may be a convincing liar, but it never wins in the end. I now tell my family and friends, "I won't lie, don't ask me too!" I do not want to be in that life of darkness. Read on as Charles Spurgeon speaks of this.
[Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.]
In Matthew 10:37 (CEV) Jesus tells His disciples, "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples." As human beings we must understand that this is the true love that will sustain us until we are united with our Savior above. How important it is to remain faithful to Him. How important it is to reach out to those that do not understand this love that Jesus was asking of Simon Peter, 3 times, in John 21:15-17, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" When Simon said he did Jesus replied, "Feed My sheep!"
Each year the God's Love Outreach Ministry presents programs from the "Seeds for Christ" series. Today the Lord blessed me with this poem titled "Planting Seeds".
Planting Seeds
I am His little gardener,
whom God chose me to be.
He said, “Little gardener of Mine
go plant these love seeds for Me”
I said, “Lord where do I plant,
these seeds of Your love?”
God said, “Just listen to your heart,
as I speak to you from above.
Do not be surprised
if rejected now and then,
these seeds are the beginning
that will spiritually nourish them to the end.
So I reached deep into my heart,
and grabbed one of His special love seeds.
From my mouth they were planted as I said,
“This is from God’s love, and also they are from me!”
E. P. Shagott
12/28/09
Thank you Lord for the opportunity to "Feed Your sheep!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Why Are We Here?
About a month ago as I was walking from my car to church I met a neighbor who asked me this question, "Did you ever wonder why we are here and is there really a plan that God has for our lives?" To be honest our conversation didn't start out that way but in a short period of time it was asked. I told my neighbor that it took me some time to begin to understand the answer to his question. Until each of us understands, that the Creator chose us before we ever thought about Him, we will be wondering why we are here. My neighbor asked me, "Am I missing something? Is there more to life than what I have experienced so far?" Please read what was written in this devotional below.
[Today's daily devotional from www.365.org]
[The mystery of God's existence is deep, stretching from before the beginning to after the end. But our own existence makes us wonder as well. We ask, "Why are we here? What is the meaning of our being?"
Our lives find their deepest meaning when we are intimately connected to the One who made us and is making us still. Watch for God to be revealed to you, close to you, in your moments apart here today.
Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Do you have a list of friends and loved ones for whom you pray? If you are like me, most of the people on your list are experiencing some difficulty in their lives. It is good for us to pray for folks during these times, but today’s scripture reminds us that we also need to pray for people to grow in their faith and actions. The writer prays that the Colossians will be filled with wisdom and understanding, so that they may know God’s will and live accordingly.
So how do we know what God wants us to do? I like how the prophet Micah put it, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?“ This will not be easy, so the author also prays that God will provide us with the strength and endurance we need to live this kind of life with joy. Take a moment and pray for that these things for everyone on your prayer list – and for yourself!
Tracy Hartman]
This next paragraph is titled "A Conversation With God". I love how the author wonderfully states that we should ask God to fill us with wisdom, understanding, to love kindness and most important be humble with our Christian walk with Jesus. He chose us first, then waited for us to make the choice to love Him! As the title of the Christian song states, "When He Was On The Cross, I Was On His Mind!" The "I" is you and me. Note that the author left a place for us to put the names of those we want to pray for in this conversation with the Father.
[God, today you remind me that when I welcome Christ into my life, it should make a difference in how I live. I ask that you would fill me with wisdom and understanding so that I might do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Please strengthen me with your power so that I will have the patience and endurance to remain both joyful and faithful. I pray for these same qualities for (insert your own names here). Thank you for calling all of us and then equipping us to be your people in the world! Amen.]
Sometimes in the world today patience and endurance is in such short supply. I think that is why this devotional states it should be part of our conversation with God to ask for this. My friends I have found that the closer I am walking with Him, each day, I have this purpose to be happy and want to stay faithful to Him and also for everyone that is part of my life now and for those that the Lord will be bringing into my life. I pray that as you read the above prayer you will joyfully be inserting my name as part of your list, for you are all definitely on my list.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
[Today's daily devotional from www.365.org]
[The mystery of God's existence is deep, stretching from before the beginning to after the end. But our own existence makes us wonder as well. We ask, "Why are we here? What is the meaning of our being?"
Our lives find their deepest meaning when we are intimately connected to the One who made us and is making us still. Watch for God to be revealed to you, close to you, in your moments apart here today.
Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Do you have a list of friends and loved ones for whom you pray? If you are like me, most of the people on your list are experiencing some difficulty in their lives. It is good for us to pray for folks during these times, but today’s scripture reminds us that we also need to pray for people to grow in their faith and actions. The writer prays that the Colossians will be filled with wisdom and understanding, so that they may know God’s will and live accordingly.
So how do we know what God wants us to do? I like how the prophet Micah put it, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?“ This will not be easy, so the author also prays that God will provide us with the strength and endurance we need to live this kind of life with joy. Take a moment and pray for that these things for everyone on your prayer list – and for yourself!
Tracy Hartman]
This next paragraph is titled "A Conversation With God". I love how the author wonderfully states that we should ask God to fill us with wisdom, understanding, to love kindness and most important be humble with our Christian walk with Jesus. He chose us first, then waited for us to make the choice to love Him! As the title of the Christian song states, "When He Was On The Cross, I Was On His Mind!" The "I" is you and me. Note that the author left a place for us to put the names of those we want to pray for in this conversation with the Father.
[God, today you remind me that when I welcome Christ into my life, it should make a difference in how I live. I ask that you would fill me with wisdom and understanding so that I might do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Please strengthen me with your power so that I will have the patience and endurance to remain both joyful and faithful. I pray for these same qualities for (insert your own names here). Thank you for calling all of us and then equipping us to be your people in the world! Amen.]
Sometimes in the world today patience and endurance is in such short supply. I think that is why this devotional states it should be part of our conversation with God to ask for this. My friends I have found that the closer I am walking with Him, each day, I have this purpose to be happy and want to stay faithful to Him and also for everyone that is part of my life now and for those that the Lord will be bringing into my life. I pray that as you read the above prayer you will joyfully be inserting my name as part of your list, for you are all definitely on my list.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Day After Christmas
Well, another Christmas day has come and passed, number 66 for me. The presents have now been all opened, the Christmas meal has been eaten and friends and some family are back at their homes continuing on with their lives.
For so many it was just another Christmas day. A holiday that gives most people time off from their employment so they can decide how to spend their time, and money on this day. Also for many, so many, Christmas is a sad day. Loneliness due to the loss of love ones, lack of money to buy gifts for family members they love, and even lack of a place to sleep, yes, just like the Mary and Joseph on that day so long ago.
Yesterday for me I spent a lot of time thinking of Jesus and thanking Him for this special day. As I was preparing the Christmas meal, I thanked Him for the food that we were about to consume, food that would give strength to our bodies. As I embraced my family I thanked Him for the ability to show and receive love. As I watched each member of my family open their presents I thanked Him for the resources to provide for those presents and the happiness it brought into their lives, even if it may be short lived.
Also Christmas day now for me is a special day of hope. We celebrate it at the end of the year and it gives us hope going into the following year. For me I take that special day to say thanks for what He has done all year through for me. I also ask Him to use me in the coming year to be a blessing to others and to demonstrate by my life and love for Him, what it truly is to have Christ in your heart.
On Christmas day the Lord blessed me with two poems. This one is titled "What Can It Be".
What Can It Be
What is it that makes me want,
to write poems and sing to Thee?
What is that makes me long for You,
please tell me Lord, what can it be?
Why am I so consumed,
to search for You every morning, noon and night?
Please tell me Lord what more can I do,
to be more pleasing in Your sight?
What can it be that makes me want,
to reach out to You above?
With my eyes I am always looking,
with my ears, listening for Your Words of love.
I know the answer will come one day
when we stand together face to face,
then I will know and understand
when my Savior I finally embrace!
E. P. Shagott
12/25/09
May you truly understand the blessing of yesterday and may this the day after Christmas bring you closer to our Lord and Savior.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
For so many it was just another Christmas day. A holiday that gives most people time off from their employment so they can decide how to spend their time, and money on this day. Also for many, so many, Christmas is a sad day. Loneliness due to the loss of love ones, lack of money to buy gifts for family members they love, and even lack of a place to sleep, yes, just like the Mary and Joseph on that day so long ago.
Yesterday for me I spent a lot of time thinking of Jesus and thanking Him for this special day. As I was preparing the Christmas meal, I thanked Him for the food that we were about to consume, food that would give strength to our bodies. As I embraced my family I thanked Him for the ability to show and receive love. As I watched each member of my family open their presents I thanked Him for the resources to provide for those presents and the happiness it brought into their lives, even if it may be short lived.
Also Christmas day now for me is a special day of hope. We celebrate it at the end of the year and it gives us hope going into the following year. For me I take that special day to say thanks for what He has done all year through for me. I also ask Him to use me in the coming year to be a blessing to others and to demonstrate by my life and love for Him, what it truly is to have Christ in your heart.
On Christmas day the Lord blessed me with two poems. This one is titled "What Can It Be".
What Can It Be
What is it that makes me want,
to write poems and sing to Thee?
What is that makes me long for You,
please tell me Lord, what can it be?
Why am I so consumed,
to search for You every morning, noon and night?
Please tell me Lord what more can I do,
to be more pleasing in Your sight?
What can it be that makes me want,
to reach out to You above?
With my eyes I am always looking,
with my ears, listening for Your Words of love.
I know the answer will come one day
when we stand together face to face,
then I will know and understand
when my Savior I finally embrace!
E. P. Shagott
12/25/09
May you truly understand the blessing of yesterday and may this the day after Christmas bring you closer to our Lord and Savior.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas day 2009
Merry Christmas to all my family and friends.
I pray that today among all the presents, the wonderful time with family and friends, and the awesome food, that you take time to understand that it would not be possible if so many years ago a "Special" baby didn't cry. Please let us make this Christmas one that we understand, or maybe for some, begin to understand, what it is truly all about.
See, it is not about, the presents, though they bring a short lived joy. It is not about all the good food that we are blessed to have an over abundance of. No to be perfectly honest it is not even about all our beloved family and friends, that we are truly blessed with. It is all about that little baby that cried "I am here for you"!!!
I once heard a quote from a 7 year old that said, "Love is what is in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen."
That is the love of Jesus Christ who with every breath you take is is saying, "I am here for you!"
Please take time to listen.
The Baby Cried
The baby cried, and God spoke
amid the hay on the ground.
The King of Kings lay in a manger
with animals all around.
The baby cried, the Lord did speak
but not many did heard the sound.
Just Mary, Joseph and three wise men
with the animals gathered around.
The baby cried, it was the Great I Am,
and that sound you can hear today.
The Angels voices rang from Heaven,
Christ was born in Bethlehem so far away.
The baby cried, and the Savior said,
I am the Holy One,
Then God the Father spoke to all,
behold my glorious Son!
Dear friends and family please listen close
to hear this baby’s cry!
The sound of love that He did speak,
was meant for you and I!
E. P. Shagott
12/25/2009
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
I pray that today among all the presents, the wonderful time with family and friends, and the awesome food, that you take time to understand that it would not be possible if so many years ago a "Special" baby didn't cry. Please let us make this Christmas one that we understand, or maybe for some, begin to understand, what it is truly all about.
See, it is not about, the presents, though they bring a short lived joy. It is not about all the good food that we are blessed to have an over abundance of. No to be perfectly honest it is not even about all our beloved family and friends, that we are truly blessed with. It is all about that little baby that cried "I am here for you"!!!
I once heard a quote from a 7 year old that said, "Love is what is in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen."
That is the love of Jesus Christ who with every breath you take is is saying, "I am here for you!"
Please take time to listen.
The Baby Cried
The baby cried, and God spoke
amid the hay on the ground.
The King of Kings lay in a manger
with animals all around.
The baby cried, the Lord did speak
but not many did heard the sound.
Just Mary, Joseph and three wise men
with the animals gathered around.
The baby cried, it was the Great I Am,
and that sound you can hear today.
The Angels voices rang from Heaven,
Christ was born in Bethlehem so far away.
The baby cried, and the Savior said,
I am the Holy One,
Then God the Father spoke to all,
behold my glorious Son!
Dear friends and family please listen close
to hear this baby’s cry!
The sound of love that He did speak,
was meant for you and I!
E. P. Shagott
12/25/2009
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Were you paid today?
[A devotional by Charles Spurgeon]
“Call thy labourers, and give them their hire.”
- Matthew 20:8 So when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers and pay them their wage, beginning from the last to the first.
As each day goes by and I once again reach out to some one for Jesus I find myself saying again, thank You Lord for the blessings you have given me this day. In the Book of Matthew 9:37 Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. I truly thank the Father above that I am honored to be a laborer for Him. As I read Charles Spurgeon's devotional from this evening he explains as only he can of what joy and happiness doing the Lord's work. Do I have a clear conscience? Praise God yes! What a great reward there is for me as I pray for individuals who long to know Jesus.
[God is a good paymaster; he pays his servants while at work as well as when they have done it; and one of his payments is this: an easy conscience. If you have spoken faithfully of Jesus to one person, when you go to bed at night you feel happy in thinking, “I have this day discharged my conscience of that man’s blood.” There is a great comfort in doing something for Jesus. Oh, what a happiness to place jewels in his crown, and give him to see of the travail of his soul! There is also very great reward in watching the first buddings of conviction in a soul! To say of that girl in the class, “She is tender of heart, I do hope that there is the Lord’s work within.” To go home and pray over that boy, who said something in the afternoon which made you think he must know more of divine truth than you had feared! Oh, the joy of hope!]
Now as I was reading this last part of the devotional my mind thought back almost five years ago when I was asked by a woman to pray for this other woman on the other side of the room. She told me, "I think she is ready to know Jesus!" We went over to the woman and knelt down by her and after talking with her for a little while she said the sinners prayer and accepted Jesus in her heart. My friends that was truly the happiest day of my life! As soon as I got back home I called a friend to explain how awesome an experience it was. Though I never seen that woman again after that, I know one day Jesus will introduce us again.
[But as for the joy of success! it is unspeakable. This joy, overwhelming as it is, is a hungry thing-you pine for more of it. To be a soul-winner is the happiest thing in the world. With every soul you bring to Christ, you get a new heaven upon earth. But who can conceive the bliss which awaits us above! Oh, how sweet is that sentence, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!” Do you know what the joy of Christ is over a saved sinner? This is the very joy which we are to possess in heaven. Yes, when he mounts the throne, you shall mount with him. When the heavens ring with “Well done, well done,” you shall partake in the reward; you have toiled with him, you have suffered with him, you shall now reign with him; you have sown with him, you shall reap with him; your face was covered with sweat like his, and your soul was grieved for the sins of men as his soul was, now shall your face be bright with heaven’s splendour as is his countenance, and now shall your soul be filled with beatific joys even as his soul is.]
I definitely pine for more of Him!!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
“Call thy labourers, and give them their hire.”
- Matthew 20:8 So when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers and pay them their wage, beginning from the last to the first.
As each day goes by and I once again reach out to some one for Jesus I find myself saying again, thank You Lord for the blessings you have given me this day. In the Book of Matthew 9:37 Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. I truly thank the Father above that I am honored to be a laborer for Him. As I read Charles Spurgeon's devotional from this evening he explains as only he can of what joy and happiness doing the Lord's work. Do I have a clear conscience? Praise God yes! What a great reward there is for me as I pray for individuals who long to know Jesus.
[God is a good paymaster; he pays his servants while at work as well as when they have done it; and one of his payments is this: an easy conscience. If you have spoken faithfully of Jesus to one person, when you go to bed at night you feel happy in thinking, “I have this day discharged my conscience of that man’s blood.” There is a great comfort in doing something for Jesus. Oh, what a happiness to place jewels in his crown, and give him to see of the travail of his soul! There is also very great reward in watching the first buddings of conviction in a soul! To say of that girl in the class, “She is tender of heart, I do hope that there is the Lord’s work within.” To go home and pray over that boy, who said something in the afternoon which made you think he must know more of divine truth than you had feared! Oh, the joy of hope!]
Now as I was reading this last part of the devotional my mind thought back almost five years ago when I was asked by a woman to pray for this other woman on the other side of the room. She told me, "I think she is ready to know Jesus!" We went over to the woman and knelt down by her and after talking with her for a little while she said the sinners prayer and accepted Jesus in her heart. My friends that was truly the happiest day of my life! As soon as I got back home I called a friend to explain how awesome an experience it was. Though I never seen that woman again after that, I know one day Jesus will introduce us again.
[But as for the joy of success! it is unspeakable. This joy, overwhelming as it is, is a hungry thing-you pine for more of it. To be a soul-winner is the happiest thing in the world. With every soul you bring to Christ, you get a new heaven upon earth. But who can conceive the bliss which awaits us above! Oh, how sweet is that sentence, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!” Do you know what the joy of Christ is over a saved sinner? This is the very joy which we are to possess in heaven. Yes, when he mounts the throne, you shall mount with him. When the heavens ring with “Well done, well done,” you shall partake in the reward; you have toiled with him, you have suffered with him, you shall now reign with him; you have sown with him, you shall reap with him; your face was covered with sweat like his, and your soul was grieved for the sins of men as his soul was, now shall your face be bright with heaven’s splendour as is his countenance, and now shall your soul be filled with beatific joys even as his soul is.]
I definitely pine for more of Him!!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Jesus Loves Us, (Part 2)
Jesus loves me what more can I say,
He is the only way,
if you ask me how I know
please read as Spurgeon writes again below
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by Me, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture.
[A devotional by Charles Sourgeon]
[Jesus, the great I AM, is the entrance into the true church, and the way of access to God himself. He gives to the man who comes to God by him four choice privileges.
1. He shall be saved. The fugitive manslayer passed the gate of the city of refuge, and was safe. Noah entered the door of the ark, and was secure. None can be lost who take Jesus as the door of faith to their souls. Entrance through Jesus into peace is the guarantee of entrance by the same door into heaven. Jesus is the only door, an open door, a wide door, a safe door; and blessed is he who rests all his hope of admission to glory upon the crucified Redeemer.]
I am so blessed to be obedient to our Lord, for last year He brought me to a woman who was lost. She said to me, "I don't want to go to Hell!" You could see on her face that it was truly consuming her and all her other problems were petty compared to it. I asked her if she knew Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and her reply was, "I am not sure any more?" We said the sinners prayer together and today, because she believes with all her heart in that prayer, she is a different person. He can make a difference in your life too, if you let Him!
[2. He shall go in. He shall be privileged to go in among the divine family, sharing the children’s bread, and participating in all their honours and enjoyments. He shall go in to the chambers of communion, to the banquets of love, to the treasures of the covenant, to the storehouses of the promises. He shall go in unto the King of kings in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the secret of the Lord shall be with him.]
I will be entering in, will you be there with me? I pray so!
[3. He shall go out. This blessing is much forgotten. We go out into the world to labour and suffer, but what a mercy to go in the name and power of Jesus! We are called to bear witness to the truth, to cheer the disconsolate, to warn the careless, to win souls, and to glorify God; and as the angel said to Gideon, “Go in this thy might,” even thus the Lord would have us proceed as his messengers in his name and strength.]
This blessing is not forgotten by me. He is my life! I want to witness for Him, I want to bring God's love and cheer, I want to be a warning to the carless, I embrace reaching out to the lost souls, and all to bring glory to God the Father.
[4. He shall find pasture. He who knows Jesus shall never want. Going in and out shall be alike helpful to him: in fellowship with God he shall grow, and in watering others he shall be watered. Having made Jesus his all, he shall find all in Jesus. His soul shall be as a watered garden, and as a well of water whose waters fail not.]
Amen, amen, amen! Praise God my bags are packed!
Yes, Jesus love me,
yes, Jesus loves you,
yes, Jesus loves us,
Praise God this is true...
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
He is the only way,
if you ask me how I know
please read as Spurgeon writes again below
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by Me, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture.
[A devotional by Charles Sourgeon]
[Jesus, the great I AM, is the entrance into the true church, and the way of access to God himself. He gives to the man who comes to God by him four choice privileges.
1. He shall be saved. The fugitive manslayer passed the gate of the city of refuge, and was safe. Noah entered the door of the ark, and was secure. None can be lost who take Jesus as the door of faith to their souls. Entrance through Jesus into peace is the guarantee of entrance by the same door into heaven. Jesus is the only door, an open door, a wide door, a safe door; and blessed is he who rests all his hope of admission to glory upon the crucified Redeemer.]
I am so blessed to be obedient to our Lord, for last year He brought me to a woman who was lost. She said to me, "I don't want to go to Hell!" You could see on her face that it was truly consuming her and all her other problems were petty compared to it. I asked her if she knew Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and her reply was, "I am not sure any more?" We said the sinners prayer together and today, because she believes with all her heart in that prayer, she is a different person. He can make a difference in your life too, if you let Him!
[2. He shall go in. He shall be privileged to go in among the divine family, sharing the children’s bread, and participating in all their honours and enjoyments. He shall go in to the chambers of communion, to the banquets of love, to the treasures of the covenant, to the storehouses of the promises. He shall go in unto the King of kings in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the secret of the Lord shall be with him.]
I will be entering in, will you be there with me? I pray so!
[3. He shall go out. This blessing is much forgotten. We go out into the world to labour and suffer, but what a mercy to go in the name and power of Jesus! We are called to bear witness to the truth, to cheer the disconsolate, to warn the careless, to win souls, and to glorify God; and as the angel said to Gideon, “Go in this thy might,” even thus the Lord would have us proceed as his messengers in his name and strength.]
This blessing is not forgotten by me. He is my life! I want to witness for Him, I want to bring God's love and cheer, I want to be a warning to the carless, I embrace reaching out to the lost souls, and all to bring glory to God the Father.
[4. He shall find pasture. He who knows Jesus shall never want. Going in and out shall be alike helpful to him: in fellowship with God he shall grow, and in watering others he shall be watered. Having made Jesus his all, he shall find all in Jesus. His soul shall be as a watered garden, and as a well of water whose waters fail not.]
Amen, amen, amen! Praise God my bags are packed!
Yes, Jesus love me,
yes, Jesus loves you,
yes, Jesus loves us,
Praise God this is true...
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Jesus Loves Us, (Part 1)
Jesus loves me this I know
because in the Bible it tells me so,
let your heart be touched by Him,
and agree to let Him enter in.
Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves you,
Yes Jesus loves us,
Because His Word is true.
Do not doubt what Jesus says,
in His arms you will find rest,
you may ask how do I know,
just read what Spurgeon wrote below!
“I remember thee.”
- Jeremiah 2:2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, So says Jehovah, I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothals, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
[A devotional by Charles Spurgeon]
[Let us note that Christ delights to think upon his Church, and to look upon her beauty. As the bird returneth often to its nest, and as the wayfarer hastens to his home, so doth the mind continually pursue the object of its choice. We cannot look too often upon that face which we love; we desire always to have our precious things in our sight. It is even so with our Lord Jesus. From all eternity “His delights were with the sons of men”; his thoughts rolled onward to the time when his elect should be born into the world; he viewed them in the mirror of his foreknowledge. “In thy book,” he says, “all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). When the world was set upon its pillars, he was there, and he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. Many a time before his incarnation, he descended to this lower earth in the similitude of a man; on the plains of Mamre (Genesis. 18), by the brook of Jabbok (Genenis 32:24-30), beneath the walls of Jericho (Joshua 5:13), and in the fiery furnace of Babylon (Daniel 3:19, Daniel 3:25), the Son of Man visited his people. Because his soul delighted in them, he could not rest away from them, for his heart longed after them. Never were they absent from his heart, for he had written their names upon his hands, and graven them upon his side. As the breastplate containing the names of the tribes of Israel was the most brilliant ornament worn by the high priest, so the names of Christ’s elect were his most precious jewels, and glittered on his heart. We may often forget to meditate upon the perfections of our Lord, but he never ceases to remember us. Let us chide ourselves for past forgetfulness, and pray for grace ever to bear him in fondest remembrance. Lord, paint upon the eyeballs of my soul the image of thy Son.]
See, Jesus loves me,
See, Jesus loves you,
See, Jesus loves us,
because His Word is true!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
because in the Bible it tells me so,
let your heart be touched by Him,
and agree to let Him enter in.
Yes Jesus loves me,
Yes Jesus loves you,
Yes Jesus loves us,
Because His Word is true.
Do not doubt what Jesus says,
in His arms you will find rest,
you may ask how do I know,
just read what Spurgeon wrote below!
“I remember thee.”
- Jeremiah 2:2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, So says Jehovah, I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothals, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
[A devotional by Charles Spurgeon]
[Let us note that Christ delights to think upon his Church, and to look upon her beauty. As the bird returneth often to its nest, and as the wayfarer hastens to his home, so doth the mind continually pursue the object of its choice. We cannot look too often upon that face which we love; we desire always to have our precious things in our sight. It is even so with our Lord Jesus. From all eternity “His delights were with the sons of men”; his thoughts rolled onward to the time when his elect should be born into the world; he viewed them in the mirror of his foreknowledge. “In thy book,” he says, “all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). When the world was set upon its pillars, he was there, and he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. Many a time before his incarnation, he descended to this lower earth in the similitude of a man; on the plains of Mamre (Genesis. 18), by the brook of Jabbok (Genenis 32:24-30), beneath the walls of Jericho (Joshua 5:13), and in the fiery furnace of Babylon (Daniel 3:19, Daniel 3:25), the Son of Man visited his people. Because his soul delighted in them, he could not rest away from them, for his heart longed after them. Never were they absent from his heart, for he had written their names upon his hands, and graven them upon his side. As the breastplate containing the names of the tribes of Israel was the most brilliant ornament worn by the high priest, so the names of Christ’s elect were his most precious jewels, and glittered on his heart. We may often forget to meditate upon the perfections of our Lord, but he never ceases to remember us. Let us chide ourselves for past forgetfulness, and pray for grace ever to bear him in fondest remembrance. Lord, paint upon the eyeballs of my soul the image of thy Son.]
See, Jesus loves me,
See, Jesus loves you,
See, Jesus loves us,
because His Word is true!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Jesus Is My Hope
Several years ago I was asked to present a layman's sermon for our Pastor who was on vacation. The topic I spoke of was "Is there any hope? I came across a sermon that John Maxwell from California spoke on. He talked about a submarine that was sunk and what the sailors inside were asking was that question. Tonight that same question has been lingering as we are getting to the end of 2009. Problems, problems, problems.
I see it in my family, my church and the Outreach Ministry that God has called me into. I know the answer in my heart, "Christ", but what of all the many, many that don't know Him like I do? What about my neighbor that just lost their 23 year old son on Thanksgiving day? What about many of my friends that are battling some sort of disease? What about my wife's mother and father that are both in the hospital as 3000 miles away as I type this. What about the elderly that are now confined to a nursing home? What about the many people that have lost their only source of income and are finding themselves without health care? What about all those addicted to something that they can't break away from? Is there any hope? Please take time to read this lengthy yet inspiring sermon by Dr. White confirming, yes, there is hope!
----------------------------------------------------------
There Is Hope!
Revelation 1 -- 3
Some years ago a submarine was rammed by a ship off the coast of Massachusetts.
It sank immediately. The crew was trapped and death was almost certain.
Every effort to rescue the crew was futile.
A deep-sea diver, who was desperately trying to find a way to rescue the crew, heard a tapping on the steel wall of the sunken sub. He placed his helmet against the side of the vessel and heard the tapping message, which was in Morse code. The message was: "Is…there…any…hope?"
The book of Revelation is a message of hope to all Christians.
Revelation 1:5-8:
"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father
-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,
"who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (NIV)
John refers to Jesus as "firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." (Rev. 1:5)
The powerful Roman government is persecuting the church. The Book of Revelation is a message of hope to the those churches and to us today that God is still in control.
The Roman government is powerful, but God is all-powerful and He will judge Rome
for her persecution of God's people. The message of Revelations reminds us that God is in control of all history.
John writes, "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen."
Persecuted Christians needed the message that God knew about their troubles and that He had not forgotten them and He will bring their persecutors to judgment. The Book of Revelation brings the hope that they needed. Christ is with them; He is with the churches of Asia. John sees Christ among the seven candlesticks, which represent the seven churches of Asia.
Revelation 1:12-20:
"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, And among the lampstands was someone, like a son of man,
dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.' "
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.' "
(NIV)
Christ is present among the churches of Asia. He knows their struggles. He knows their weaknesses and their strengths.
The church of Ephesus had left her first love. (Rev.2:1-7) But Christ still loved them.
John sees Christ holding seven stars in His hand as He walks among the seven golden candlesticks. He knows what is going on. He cares for the church. He holds its destiny in His strong right hand. He has observed its virtues and its flaws.
He said to them:
"I know thy works and thy toil, and thy patience." This was an active and aggressive congregation as signified by its "works." "Toil" refers to the effort that produces work at the cost of pain. They worked with great difficulties. This was an active, working church. "Patience" indicated the persistence in the toil that produces work.
This tells us that they stayed even when the burden was heavy. They held on even under extreme persecution.
"Thou canst not bear evil men" tells us that they stood firm against the gnostic teachers. The church had tested them and found them to be false and rejected them. What could be wrong in this church. They carried on in the face of suffering and false teachings. They hated sin. They did not give up.
But the Lord with His piercing eyes of fire saw a great flaw in this church.
"This I have against thee -- thou hast left thy first love." They had lost their fervor and love that they had in their early experience with Christ. They were active and aggressive, but they no longer had the right motive for worship.
When love for Christ is missing, worship and working for Christ means very little.
Christ tell this church to remember, repent, and return. He tell them to remember their early love and joy in their zeal for His work. Then He calls upon them to repent of serving without love, and to return to their first state of serving Him with love.
Christ warns that if they do not return they are forfeiting their right to exist as a church. If they do not repent and return to that first love, He will remove their candlestick. The candlestick is the church. (Rev. 1:20)
He also promises them: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the garden of God." To overcome is to be victorious over the circumstances in which they live. God never fails His church in its time of need.
He will provide all our needs, and He expects us to live victoriously.
In Revelation 2:8-11 is the church at Smyrna.
This church was a church of suffering saints. Smyrna had been a prosperous city.
History tells of the persecution at Smyrna and of the martyrdom of Polycarp.
It is possible that he was pastor when this letter was written.
Only good is spoken of this church. The Lord tells them that He knows what they are going through for He is "the first and the last, who was dead and lived again."
He commends them and comforts them. He brings no complaint against them.
He knows their tribulation and their poverty. These Christians have lost all their material possessions. Yet, Christ says, "You are rich." They were rich in Christian character, but not in material possessions. God does not promise to take away their difficulties. He does warn them of even more suffering. They will be tempted by outside pressure for ten days. The "ten" was a number symbolizing extreme, complete tribulation. He promises: "Be faithful even if it means death and I will give thee the crown of life... He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.." Christ tells them that eternal life awaits them so there is no reason to fear death.
Those without Christ will die and find another "death" awaiting them; but when the believer dies he will never die -- he has eternal life.
The church at Pergamum is in Rev. 2:12-17.
Pergamum was the headquarters for emperor worship. This was the chief city of the province. The "concilia" was located here. The "concilia" was in charge of enforcing the worship of the emperor and in charge of all the matters of state religion. They were in charge of the incense offering before the image of the emperor. And they were unrelenting in their persecution of this church at Pergamum.
In verse 12 the Lord identifies Himself as the one who has "the sharp two-edged sword." This symbolized His protection in the midst of their persecution. It could also symbolize the power of discerning judgment. He comes with the sword of his mouth, and with keen and accurate judgment to deal with the false teachers.
Christ commends the church for their fidelity under such extreme difficultly. They dwell "where Satan's throne is." In 29 B.C.an altar was erected for the worship of Augustus in Pergamum. Many Christians suffered martyrdom in this city. The Christians were true to the name of Christ. The name Kurios Kaisaros (Lord Caesar) was pitted against the name Kurios Xristos (Lord Christ). This was the test of the Christian.
To acknowledge the Lord Caesar was to escape persecution. To acknowledge the Lord Christ meant persecution because they professed their loyalty to Christ. They were commended for not denying their faith in Christ. They were loyal to Christ at great risk of their lives.
But there were some in the church that were not so loyal. Heresy had entered the church. There were some in the church who were following the "teachings of Balaam."
In Numbers 23-24, we read that Balaam was gaining materially while he was setting aside his spirituality. He led in idol worship and impure living for Israel. There were some in Pergamum doing the same. They were compromising spiritually in order to further their material safety.
They were teaching evil living as a means of being friends to the Romans and as a way to escape persecution. They were following the wrong creed and living the wrong conduct. The Lord would not tolerate this.
The church is warned to repent of their leniency and toleration of these sins. If they do not eliminate this evil, the Lord will "make war against them," with the sword of His mouth.
He promises that He "will give the hidden manna" to them if they will be faithful to Him. He will provide for them. He will give them spiritual sustenance that the world cannot give or understand. He states the He "will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written." This reference was understood by them to increase their loyalty for the Lord will provide the victory.
The church at Thyatira is found in Rev. 2:18-19. They are involved with with Jezebel. We must remember the story of Jezebel from the Old Testament to understand the depth of wickedness by which they were being seduced. Jezebel was seducing Christians to eat meat offered to idols and to participate in sexual immoralities.
The church had many great qualities. Christ recognized her good deeds, her perseverance and her faith; but she was unfaithful. She was involved with Jezebel. He warns them of the consequences of continued their relationship with Jezebel. And He calls them to return to their first love.
Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but she was dead. She put on such a good show that others thought she was on fire. But she was dead.
Christ reminds them of the love of the gospel they received when they first fell in love with him, and he urges them to hear, obey and repent.
As we study these churches we learn that Christ not only speaks to those who have serious problems in their relationship with him, but He also speaks to those who have been faithful in their love and service for Him.
Revelation 3:7-13
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.
What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews
though they are not, but are liars -- I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.
I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (NIV)
The church at Philadelphia had little strength to combat the forces against her, but Christ's love for her was all she needed. Sometimes we think the world is too powerful to overcome. But we must remember Who is in charge.
Jesus is the only one capable of opening and closing doors of opportunity for us. The doors He opens no one can shut, and the doors He closes no one can open.
Then there was the church at Laodicea who had become rich and no longer needed Christ. The church at Laodicea was escaping much of the persecution because of her riches. She turned away from Christ and trusted in her riches.
She was a lukewarm church. Christ threatens to spew them out of his mouth. He warns them to repent or else.
How's your relationship with Christ? Maybe you are having trials and tribulations and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Are playing around with sin? Have you allowed your love for Christ to die? Do you feel as though there is nothing to hold on to?
The message of Revelation tells us there is hope! There is hope in Christ!
Do you want to experience of the nearness of Christ again?
Do you want to live the overcoming life?
Do you want to feel spiritually alive again?
Do you want to enjoy the blessings of God?
Then listen!
I believe that if I could place my ear against the wall of your heart, I would hear the tapping of the words, "Is there any hope?'
There is a knocking at the door of your heart. Jesus is knocking, and He is saying to you, "Open your heart -- come back to your first love, and I will give you an everlasting hope."
He wants to come in and have sweet fellowship with you. He want to flood your life with His bountiful blessings. Today with all you are facing, He wants you to know that there is hope!
"When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand."
-- Edward Mote, 1797-1874
Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White
-----------------------------------------------------
Jesus Is Hope!
Jesus is hope
when all is gone,
He is there,
when life seems wrong.
Jesus will be
what you will need,
He is the light,
when dark you see.
Jesus will take
away the pain,
and give you back
that hope again.
Is there any hope,
is what you ask?
Remember Jesus is the first,
and never the last.
So in this life
there will be pain,
I pray you understand,
In Jesus name.
12/15/09
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
I see it in my family, my church and the Outreach Ministry that God has called me into. I know the answer in my heart, "Christ", but what of all the many, many that don't know Him like I do? What about my neighbor that just lost their 23 year old son on Thanksgiving day? What about many of my friends that are battling some sort of disease? What about my wife's mother and father that are both in the hospital as 3000 miles away as I type this. What about the elderly that are now confined to a nursing home? What about the many people that have lost their only source of income and are finding themselves without health care? What about all those addicted to something that they can't break away from? Is there any hope? Please take time to read this lengthy yet inspiring sermon by Dr. White confirming, yes, there is hope!
----------------------------------------------------------
There Is Hope!
Revelation 1 -- 3
Some years ago a submarine was rammed by a ship off the coast of Massachusetts.
It sank immediately. The crew was trapped and death was almost certain.
Every effort to rescue the crew was futile.
A deep-sea diver, who was desperately trying to find a way to rescue the crew, heard a tapping on the steel wall of the sunken sub. He placed his helmet against the side of the vessel and heard the tapping message, which was in Morse code. The message was: "Is…there…any…hope?"
The book of Revelation is a message of hope to all Christians.
Revelation 1:5-8:
"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father
-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,
"who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (NIV)
John refers to Jesus as "firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." (Rev. 1:5)
The powerful Roman government is persecuting the church. The Book of Revelation is a message of hope to the those churches and to us today that God is still in control.
The Roman government is powerful, but God is all-powerful and He will judge Rome
for her persecution of God's people. The message of Revelations reminds us that God is in control of all history.
John writes, "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen."
Persecuted Christians needed the message that God knew about their troubles and that He had not forgotten them and He will bring their persecutors to judgment. The Book of Revelation brings the hope that they needed. Christ is with them; He is with the churches of Asia. John sees Christ among the seven candlesticks, which represent the seven churches of Asia.
Revelation 1:12-20:
"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, And among the lampstands was someone, like a son of man,
dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.' "
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.' "
(NIV)
Christ is present among the churches of Asia. He knows their struggles. He knows their weaknesses and their strengths.
The church of Ephesus had left her first love. (Rev.2:1-7) But Christ still loved them.
John sees Christ holding seven stars in His hand as He walks among the seven golden candlesticks. He knows what is going on. He cares for the church. He holds its destiny in His strong right hand. He has observed its virtues and its flaws.
He said to them:
"I know thy works and thy toil, and thy patience." This was an active and aggressive congregation as signified by its "works." "Toil" refers to the effort that produces work at the cost of pain. They worked with great difficulties. This was an active, working church. "Patience" indicated the persistence in the toil that produces work.
This tells us that they stayed even when the burden was heavy. They held on even under extreme persecution.
"Thou canst not bear evil men" tells us that they stood firm against the gnostic teachers. The church had tested them and found them to be false and rejected them. What could be wrong in this church. They carried on in the face of suffering and false teachings. They hated sin. They did not give up.
But the Lord with His piercing eyes of fire saw a great flaw in this church.
"This I have against thee -- thou hast left thy first love." They had lost their fervor and love that they had in their early experience with Christ. They were active and aggressive, but they no longer had the right motive for worship.
When love for Christ is missing, worship and working for Christ means very little.
Christ tell this church to remember, repent, and return. He tell them to remember their early love and joy in their zeal for His work. Then He calls upon them to repent of serving without love, and to return to their first state of serving Him with love.
Christ warns that if they do not return they are forfeiting their right to exist as a church. If they do not repent and return to that first love, He will remove their candlestick. The candlestick is the church. (Rev. 1:20)
He also promises them: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the garden of God." To overcome is to be victorious over the circumstances in which they live. God never fails His church in its time of need.
He will provide all our needs, and He expects us to live victoriously.
In Revelation 2:8-11 is the church at Smyrna.
This church was a church of suffering saints. Smyrna had been a prosperous city.
History tells of the persecution at Smyrna and of the martyrdom of Polycarp.
It is possible that he was pastor when this letter was written.
Only good is spoken of this church. The Lord tells them that He knows what they are going through for He is "the first and the last, who was dead and lived again."
He commends them and comforts them. He brings no complaint against them.
He knows their tribulation and their poverty. These Christians have lost all their material possessions. Yet, Christ says, "You are rich." They were rich in Christian character, but not in material possessions. God does not promise to take away their difficulties. He does warn them of even more suffering. They will be tempted by outside pressure for ten days. The "ten" was a number symbolizing extreme, complete tribulation. He promises: "Be faithful even if it means death and I will give thee the crown of life... He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.." Christ tells them that eternal life awaits them so there is no reason to fear death.
Those without Christ will die and find another "death" awaiting them; but when the believer dies he will never die -- he has eternal life.
The church at Pergamum is in Rev. 2:12-17.
Pergamum was the headquarters for emperor worship. This was the chief city of the province. The "concilia" was located here. The "concilia" was in charge of enforcing the worship of the emperor and in charge of all the matters of state religion. They were in charge of the incense offering before the image of the emperor. And they were unrelenting in their persecution of this church at Pergamum.
In verse 12 the Lord identifies Himself as the one who has "the sharp two-edged sword." This symbolized His protection in the midst of their persecution. It could also symbolize the power of discerning judgment. He comes with the sword of his mouth, and with keen and accurate judgment to deal with the false teachers.
Christ commends the church for their fidelity under such extreme difficultly. They dwell "where Satan's throne is." In 29 B.C.an altar was erected for the worship of Augustus in Pergamum. Many Christians suffered martyrdom in this city. The Christians were true to the name of Christ. The name Kurios Kaisaros (Lord Caesar) was pitted against the name Kurios Xristos (Lord Christ). This was the test of the Christian.
To acknowledge the Lord Caesar was to escape persecution. To acknowledge the Lord Christ meant persecution because they professed their loyalty to Christ. They were commended for not denying their faith in Christ. They were loyal to Christ at great risk of their lives.
But there were some in the church that were not so loyal. Heresy had entered the church. There were some in the church who were following the "teachings of Balaam."
In Numbers 23-24, we read that Balaam was gaining materially while he was setting aside his spirituality. He led in idol worship and impure living for Israel. There were some in Pergamum doing the same. They were compromising spiritually in order to further their material safety.
They were teaching evil living as a means of being friends to the Romans and as a way to escape persecution. They were following the wrong creed and living the wrong conduct. The Lord would not tolerate this.
The church is warned to repent of their leniency and toleration of these sins. If they do not eliminate this evil, the Lord will "make war against them," with the sword of His mouth.
He promises that He "will give the hidden manna" to them if they will be faithful to Him. He will provide for them. He will give them spiritual sustenance that the world cannot give or understand. He states the He "will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written." This reference was understood by them to increase their loyalty for the Lord will provide the victory.
The church at Thyatira is found in Rev. 2:18-19. They are involved with with Jezebel. We must remember the story of Jezebel from the Old Testament to understand the depth of wickedness by which they were being seduced. Jezebel was seducing Christians to eat meat offered to idols and to participate in sexual immoralities.
The church had many great qualities. Christ recognized her good deeds, her perseverance and her faith; but she was unfaithful. She was involved with Jezebel. He warns them of the consequences of continued their relationship with Jezebel. And He calls them to return to their first love.
Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but she was dead. She put on such a good show that others thought she was on fire. But she was dead.
Christ reminds them of the love of the gospel they received when they first fell in love with him, and he urges them to hear, obey and repent.
As we study these churches we learn that Christ not only speaks to those who have serious problems in their relationship with him, but He also speaks to those who have been faithful in their love and service for Him.
Revelation 3:7-13
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.
What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews
though they are not, but are liars -- I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.
I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (NIV)
The church at Philadelphia had little strength to combat the forces against her, but Christ's love for her was all she needed. Sometimes we think the world is too powerful to overcome. But we must remember Who is in charge.
Jesus is the only one capable of opening and closing doors of opportunity for us. The doors He opens no one can shut, and the doors He closes no one can open.
Then there was the church at Laodicea who had become rich and no longer needed Christ. The church at Laodicea was escaping much of the persecution because of her riches. She turned away from Christ and trusted in her riches.
She was a lukewarm church. Christ threatens to spew them out of his mouth. He warns them to repent or else.
How's your relationship with Christ? Maybe you are having trials and tribulations and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Are playing around with sin? Have you allowed your love for Christ to die? Do you feel as though there is nothing to hold on to?
The message of Revelation tells us there is hope! There is hope in Christ!
Do you want to experience of the nearness of Christ again?
Do you want to live the overcoming life?
Do you want to feel spiritually alive again?
Do you want to enjoy the blessings of God?
Then listen!
I believe that if I could place my ear against the wall of your heart, I would hear the tapping of the words, "Is there any hope?'
There is a knocking at the door of your heart. Jesus is knocking, and He is saying to you, "Open your heart -- come back to your first love, and I will give you an everlasting hope."
He wants to come in and have sweet fellowship with you. He want to flood your life with His bountiful blessings. Today with all you are facing, He wants you to know that there is hope!
"When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand."
-- Edward Mote, 1797-1874
Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White
-----------------------------------------------------
Jesus Is Hope!
Jesus is hope
when all is gone,
He is there,
when life seems wrong.
Jesus will be
what you will need,
He is the light,
when dark you see.
Jesus will take
away the pain,
and give you back
that hope again.
Is there any hope,
is what you ask?
Remember Jesus is the first,
and never the last.
So in this life
there will be pain,
I pray you understand,
In Jesus name.
12/15/09
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Please forgive me!
CONFESSING OUR SINS
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."-- 1John 1:8-9.
As I was reading this mornings devotional I loved how F. B. Meyers compared each of us sinners. Though you may not want to own up to it we have all missed the mark. I am always amazed that even in the house of God we find division between the "holier' and the "thous" (holier than thou). People are always being judged by their looks, education, and how they communicate. But we are all the same in God's eyes. God doesn't look at your appearance, or the number of degree's that adorn your wall, or your ability to speak and influence people. No, but the world does. God looks at each of our sinful hearts and is waiting to hear, "Father forgive me of my sins!" Please read below how Mr. Meyers speaks about this and also the importance of forgiveness.
[devotional by F.B. Meyer]
[TO SIN is to miss the mark! Such is the meaning of the original word.
When the prodigal returned, his first words were; "Father, I have missed the mark." Are we not always missing the mark, coming short? Sin is negative as well as positive. The Confession of the Church of England and the Shorter Catechism both agree in this: "We have done the things that we ought not; we have left undone the things that we ought to have done." Sin consists, not only in the positive transgression of the law of God, but in the want of conformity to His Will. It is needful to use this two-pronged fork. If a number of men are on their way to the recruiting-station and the standard is to be exactly six foot. They are all under that height, but the tallest of them glories in the fact that he is a clear two inches above the rest of his fellows. It may be so, but he will be as certainly rejected as the shortest, because even he comes below the standard. You may be better than scores of people in your circle, but you will need Christ's forgiveness and salvation equally with the worst!
In dealing with sin, therefore, there must be confession. "Do not hide, nor cloak them before the face of your Heavenly Father, but confess them with a patient, meek, and contrite heart." Do not wait for the hour of evening prayer, nor even for the opportunity of being alone, but in the busy street, in the midst of daily toil, lift up your heart to Christ if you have done wrong, and say: "I have gone astray: seek Thy servant."
It is not enough to confess to Christ, if you have sinned against another, you must first go and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your gift at the altar. Confess, and make good! It is not enough to be extraordinarily pleasant, or suggest a solarium; you must definitely ask forgiveness!
When God forgives He forgets (Isa_43:25). As David puts it, and he had reason to know, "He restoreth my soul." Remember that He delighteth in mercy. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse. Through the Sacrifice of Calvary God can be absolutely just, and at the same time the Justifier of them who believe in Jesus.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I thank Thee for Thy forgiving, pitying love. I gratefully realise that my sin cannot alter Thy love, though it may dim my enjoyment of it. But I pray Thee to set me free from the love and power of sin, that it may not intercept the light of Thy countenance. AMEN.]
For many years I worked in a factory surrounding. I picked up a new type of language that I wasn't proud of. I decided I would erase this language from my life, but in order to do that I had to immediately ask God to forgive me, verbally out loud, no matter where it happened. I remember one day I was called into my bosses office and he was not pleased with something I did. He started cursing me out and all of a sudden I began to speak back but similar to how he was talking to me. As soon as I started, I stopped, looked up and said, "Lord forgive me". The whole temperament of the meeting changed. My boss looked at me and apologised for how he was talking to me. As of this writing I do not use any type of swear language. I find it offensive to hear and also to speak.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."-- 1John 1:8-9.
As I was reading this mornings devotional I loved how F. B. Meyers compared each of us sinners. Though you may not want to own up to it we have all missed the mark. I am always amazed that even in the house of God we find division between the "holier' and the "thous" (holier than thou). People are always being judged by their looks, education, and how they communicate. But we are all the same in God's eyes. God doesn't look at your appearance, or the number of degree's that adorn your wall, or your ability to speak and influence people. No, but the world does. God looks at each of our sinful hearts and is waiting to hear, "Father forgive me of my sins!" Please read below how Mr. Meyers speaks about this and also the importance of forgiveness.
[devotional by F.B. Meyer]
[TO SIN is to miss the mark! Such is the meaning of the original word.
When the prodigal returned, his first words were; "Father, I have missed the mark." Are we not always missing the mark, coming short? Sin is negative as well as positive. The Confession of the Church of England and the Shorter Catechism both agree in this: "We have done the things that we ought not; we have left undone the things that we ought to have done." Sin consists, not only in the positive transgression of the law of God, but in the want of conformity to His Will. It is needful to use this two-pronged fork. If a number of men are on their way to the recruiting-station and the standard is to be exactly six foot. They are all under that height, but the tallest of them glories in the fact that he is a clear two inches above the rest of his fellows. It may be so, but he will be as certainly rejected as the shortest, because even he comes below the standard. You may be better than scores of people in your circle, but you will need Christ's forgiveness and salvation equally with the worst!
In dealing with sin, therefore, there must be confession. "Do not hide, nor cloak them before the face of your Heavenly Father, but confess them with a patient, meek, and contrite heart." Do not wait for the hour of evening prayer, nor even for the opportunity of being alone, but in the busy street, in the midst of daily toil, lift up your heart to Christ if you have done wrong, and say: "I have gone astray: seek Thy servant."
It is not enough to confess to Christ, if you have sinned against another, you must first go and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your gift at the altar. Confess, and make good! It is not enough to be extraordinarily pleasant, or suggest a solarium; you must definitely ask forgiveness!
When God forgives He forgets (Isa_43:25). As David puts it, and he had reason to know, "He restoreth my soul." Remember that He delighteth in mercy. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse. Through the Sacrifice of Calvary God can be absolutely just, and at the same time the Justifier of them who believe in Jesus.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I thank Thee for Thy forgiving, pitying love. I gratefully realise that my sin cannot alter Thy love, though it may dim my enjoyment of it. But I pray Thee to set me free from the love and power of sin, that it may not intercept the light of Thy countenance. AMEN.]
For many years I worked in a factory surrounding. I picked up a new type of language that I wasn't proud of. I decided I would erase this language from my life, but in order to do that I had to immediately ask God to forgive me, verbally out loud, no matter where it happened. I remember one day I was called into my bosses office and he was not pleased with something I did. He started cursing me out and all of a sudden I began to speak back but similar to how he was talking to me. As soon as I started, I stopped, looked up and said, "Lord forgive me". The whole temperament of the meeting changed. My boss looked at me and apologised for how he was talking to me. As of this writing I do not use any type of swear language. I find it offensive to hear and also to speak.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Friday, December 11, 2009
Do you believe?
“Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”
- 1Thessalonians 5:24
Devotional by [Charles Spurgeon]
As I started to read today's devotional I was thinking of titling this blog, "Everything you wanted to know about Heaven but didn't ask!" Then as I continued to read I was so touched at understanding just how blessed we are as believers. Also how important it is to spread the "Good News"!
[Heaven is a place where we shall never sin; where we shall cease our constant watch against an indefatigable enemy, because there will be no tempter to ensnare our feet. There the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Heaven is the “undefiled inheritance”; it is the land of perfect holiness, and therefore of complete security. But do not the saints even on earth sometimes taste the joys of blissful security? The doctrine of God’s word is, that all who are in union with the Lamb are safe; that all the righteous shall hold on their way; that those who have committed their souls to the keeping of Christ shall find him a faithful and immutable preserver. Sustained by such a doctrine we can enjoy security even on earth; not that high and glorious security which renders us free from every slip, but that holy security which arises from the sure promise of Jesus that none who believe in him shall ever perish, but shall be with him where he is. Believer, let us often reflect with joy on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, and honour the faithfulness of our God by a holy confidence in him.
May our God bring home to you a sense of your safety in Christ Jesus! May he assure you that your name is graven on his hand; and whisper in your ear the promise, “Fear not, I am with thee.” Look upon him, the great Surety of the covenant, as faithful and true, and, therefore, bound and engaged to present you, the weakest of the family, with all the chosen race, before the throne of God; and in such a sweet contemplation you will drink the juice of the spiced wine of the Lord’s pomegranate, and taste the dainty fruits of Paradise. You will have an antepast of the enjoyments which ravish the souls of the perfect saints above, if you can believe with unstaggering faith that “faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”]
Do you believe with "unmovable faith"? Are you in union with the Lamb? If your heart is yelling, "Yes, yes!", please look around for those who are not. How they are longing to hear Jesus whisper to them!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
- 1Thessalonians 5:24
Devotional by [Charles Spurgeon]
As I started to read today's devotional I was thinking of titling this blog, "Everything you wanted to know about Heaven but didn't ask!" Then as I continued to read I was so touched at understanding just how blessed we are as believers. Also how important it is to spread the "Good News"!
[Heaven is a place where we shall never sin; where we shall cease our constant watch against an indefatigable enemy, because there will be no tempter to ensnare our feet. There the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Heaven is the “undefiled inheritance”; it is the land of perfect holiness, and therefore of complete security. But do not the saints even on earth sometimes taste the joys of blissful security? The doctrine of God’s word is, that all who are in union with the Lamb are safe; that all the righteous shall hold on their way; that those who have committed their souls to the keeping of Christ shall find him a faithful and immutable preserver. Sustained by such a doctrine we can enjoy security even on earth; not that high and glorious security which renders us free from every slip, but that holy security which arises from the sure promise of Jesus that none who believe in him shall ever perish, but shall be with him where he is. Believer, let us often reflect with joy on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, and honour the faithfulness of our God by a holy confidence in him.
May our God bring home to you a sense of your safety in Christ Jesus! May he assure you that your name is graven on his hand; and whisper in your ear the promise, “Fear not, I am with thee.” Look upon him, the great Surety of the covenant, as faithful and true, and, therefore, bound and engaged to present you, the weakest of the family, with all the chosen race, before the throne of God; and in such a sweet contemplation you will drink the juice of the spiced wine of the Lord’s pomegranate, and taste the dainty fruits of Paradise. You will have an antepast of the enjoyments which ravish the souls of the perfect saints above, if you can believe with unstaggering faith that “faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”]
Do you believe with "unmovable faith"? Are you in union with the Lamb? If your heart is yelling, "Yes, yes!", please look around for those who are not. How they are longing to hear Jesus whisper to them!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Life's Highway
THE BROAD AND THE NARROW WAY
by [F. B. Meyer]
Matthew 7:13 Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in through it.
Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
I am always amazed as I look back on the paths that I chose in my 66+ years that I have been blessed to be on this earth. Yes, paths, for I have switched directions in the latter years. Though like many, some decisions I probably would want to take back but I chose the paths as F. B. Meyers describes in this devotional. I am amazed for the good Lord lets us decide. Also once we do it is up to us if we want to stay on that path.
[AT THE beginning of life, each soul stands before these two paths. In each of us the love of life is strong, and in each is the desire to get as much as possible out of the years which may be given. Amiel expresses this strong passion for life when he says: "A passionate wish to live, to feel, to express, stirred the depth of my heart. I was overpowered by a host of aspirations. In such a mood one would fain devour the whole world, experience everything, see everything, learn everything, tame everything, and conquer everything."
In our early years each of us wakes up to the throb of strong natural impulses, and we are tempted to argue, if God has given me these strong desires, why should they not be gratified? Why should I not throw the reins on the necks of these fiery steeds, and let them bear me whither they may? To do this, is to go through the wide gate, and to take the broad road. It is the way of society, of the majority--the "many" go in there, It is pre-eminently the way of the world, and no one who goes by this way, allowing his course to be dictated by strong natural impulses, need fear that he will be counted strange or eccentric!
It must be admitted that, in its first stages, the broad way is generally easy and rather delightful. The boat launched on the flowing stream sweeps merrily and pleasantly along the gradient of the road slopes so as to make walking easy, the sun shines, and the path is filled with bright flowers. But to a life given up to self-indulgence, there is only one end, destruction.
There is a more excellent way, but it is too narrow to admit the trailing garments of passionate desire, too narrow for pride, self-indulgence, greed, and avarice, it is the Way of the Cross, but it leads to Life! We all want to see life, and the remarkable thing is that those who expect to get most out of it by self-indulgence miss everything; whilst those who seem to curtail their lives by following Christ, win everything. Few find and enter this path, is the lament of our Lord. Let us put our hand in His, that He may lead us into the path of life, "that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
PRAYER
Dear Lord, as Enoch walked with Thee of old, so would we walk each day, choosing the narrow path; order our steps in Thy way, and graciously walk with us. AMEN.]
Praise God, I am now on the narrow path of life, a life with Him. What is most interesting is that many in my life are still walking the wider path. every now and then we kind of meet at the cross walk, but I choose to go in the direction with my Savior. Though my heart cries out for those on "destruction highway" to join me on the path of light, they must choose their life's path. All I can do is show by my example that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him!" (John 14:6)
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
by [F. B. Meyer]
Matthew 7:13 Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in through it.
Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
I am always amazed as I look back on the paths that I chose in my 66+ years that I have been blessed to be on this earth. Yes, paths, for I have switched directions in the latter years. Though like many, some decisions I probably would want to take back but I chose the paths as F. B. Meyers describes in this devotional. I am amazed for the good Lord lets us decide. Also once we do it is up to us if we want to stay on that path.
[AT THE beginning of life, each soul stands before these two paths. In each of us the love of life is strong, and in each is the desire to get as much as possible out of the years which may be given. Amiel expresses this strong passion for life when he says: "A passionate wish to live, to feel, to express, stirred the depth of my heart. I was overpowered by a host of aspirations. In such a mood one would fain devour the whole world, experience everything, see everything, learn everything, tame everything, and conquer everything."
In our early years each of us wakes up to the throb of strong natural impulses, and we are tempted to argue, if God has given me these strong desires, why should they not be gratified? Why should I not throw the reins on the necks of these fiery steeds, and let them bear me whither they may? To do this, is to go through the wide gate, and to take the broad road. It is the way of society, of the majority--the "many" go in there, It is pre-eminently the way of the world, and no one who goes by this way, allowing his course to be dictated by strong natural impulses, need fear that he will be counted strange or eccentric!
It must be admitted that, in its first stages, the broad way is generally easy and rather delightful. The boat launched on the flowing stream sweeps merrily and pleasantly along the gradient of the road slopes so as to make walking easy, the sun shines, and the path is filled with bright flowers. But to a life given up to self-indulgence, there is only one end, destruction.
There is a more excellent way, but it is too narrow to admit the trailing garments of passionate desire, too narrow for pride, self-indulgence, greed, and avarice, it is the Way of the Cross, but it leads to Life! We all want to see life, and the remarkable thing is that those who expect to get most out of it by self-indulgence miss everything; whilst those who seem to curtail their lives by following Christ, win everything. Few find and enter this path, is the lament of our Lord. Let us put our hand in His, that He may lead us into the path of life, "that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
PRAYER
Dear Lord, as Enoch walked with Thee of old, so would we walk each day, choosing the narrow path; order our steps in Thy way, and graciously walk with us. AMEN.]
Praise God, I am now on the narrow path of life, a life with Him. What is most interesting is that many in my life are still walking the wider path. every now and then we kind of meet at the cross walk, but I choose to go in the direction with my Savior. Though my heart cries out for those on "destruction highway" to join me on the path of light, they must choose their life's path. All I can do is show by my example that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him!" (John 14:6)
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Mirror, mirror on the wall!
The Mirror of Truth
[by F. B. Meyer]
James 1:23-24 For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man studying his natural face in a mirror. For he studied himself and went his way, and immediately he forgot what he was like.
Interesting as James writes about a person who is exposed to the Word of God, then does not act on it. I also love the Message translation of Matthew 5:16 14-16 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. This my friends explains the God's Love Outreach Ministry. A few months back in a program we presented a song that most adults remember from their childhood, "This Little Light of Mine." One of the lyrics states, "Hide it under a bushel, no, I'm going to let it shine!" I had a gentleman yesterday after a program say, "I love how you tied everything together and point it to God!" Yes, it is His light shining through me. We cannot, nor should not, or want not to tell someone about Christ when the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
I found this devotional by F. B. Meyer yesterday.
[THERE IS an old fable of a palace, in which one room was remarkable above all others because it was lined with glass of a special quality. Whenever a person entered whose life was inconsistent with truth, a mist blurred the surface of the mirrors so that he was unable to see himself clearly. It was when the Apostle Paul compared" his own self-centered goodness with the love and purity of Christ, he lost all hope of justifying himself, and confessed that the things which he had counted gain were only loss.
Truth and Love are indissolubly connected. Love is of God, and so is Truth. If you have the one, the other must follow. If the soul, looking into the mirror of God's Word, perceiving that there is a blur, and sets itself to remove all that has caused it; and if it continues in this attitude, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer that works, he shall be "blessed in his doing."
The blessedness of doing and becoming. It is only as we do, that we become. Even to behold Christ will not make us Christ-like in character, unless we translate into action what we have discovered in Him. The impressions made on the hearer through the ear are very vagrant, like the breeze on the water. We look at ourselves in the mirror held up before us, and straightway go off and forget what manner of persons we were. It is only as we cease to be hearers who forget, and become doers that work, that we can make any progress in the Christian life and walk.
Listen attentively to the Word of Truth, written or spoken. Be quick to notice the smallest symptom of inconsistency between your life and the perfect beauty of Jesus, and set yourself immediately to correct it. Be merciful to the failings of everyone else, but be merciless to your own. Let no fault remain uncorrected, and no call to duty unanswered. For you to live, let it be Christ. Your blessedness and happiness will come in choosing the Christ-life, in doing, and continuing to do what He would have you do.
PRAYER
Help us to cast out all those things which are contrary to Thy peace, or that are not according to Thy will, so that ours may be the quiet life of trust, and faith, and obedience, longing for Thy truth, and walking in the light thereof. AMEN.]
I will always remember about a year ago we had a guest Pastor speaking at our church, because our Pastor was on vacation. The guest Pastor came up to me and said, "I know you are good speaking in front of people, (because of my involvement with the God's Love Outreach Ministry), would lead the service up to my sermon?" Well, even though we were in a house of God, my mind went off of God to myself. Very shortly God let me know it doesn't work that way. I had trouble just getting words to come out of my mouth. Remember what the Message translation stated above, We are to be lights, bringing out Gods-colors. When you look in the mirror I pray that the reflection you see is Jesus!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
[by F. B. Meyer]
James 1:23-24 For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man studying his natural face in a mirror. For he studied himself and went his way, and immediately he forgot what he was like.
Interesting as James writes about a person who is exposed to the Word of God, then does not act on it. I also love the Message translation of Matthew 5:16 14-16 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. This my friends explains the God's Love Outreach Ministry. A few months back in a program we presented a song that most adults remember from their childhood, "This Little Light of Mine." One of the lyrics states, "Hide it under a bushel, no, I'm going to let it shine!" I had a gentleman yesterday after a program say, "I love how you tied everything together and point it to God!" Yes, it is His light shining through me. We cannot, nor should not, or want not to tell someone about Christ when the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
I found this devotional by F. B. Meyer yesterday.
[THERE IS an old fable of a palace, in which one room was remarkable above all others because it was lined with glass of a special quality. Whenever a person entered whose life was inconsistent with truth, a mist blurred the surface of the mirrors so that he was unable to see himself clearly. It was when the Apostle Paul compared" his own self-centered goodness with the love and purity of Christ, he lost all hope of justifying himself, and confessed that the things which he had counted gain were only loss.
Truth and Love are indissolubly connected. Love is of God, and so is Truth. If you have the one, the other must follow. If the soul, looking into the mirror of God's Word, perceiving that there is a blur, and sets itself to remove all that has caused it; and if it continues in this attitude, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer that works, he shall be "blessed in his doing."
The blessedness of doing and becoming. It is only as we do, that we become. Even to behold Christ will not make us Christ-like in character, unless we translate into action what we have discovered in Him. The impressions made on the hearer through the ear are very vagrant, like the breeze on the water. We look at ourselves in the mirror held up before us, and straightway go off and forget what manner of persons we were. It is only as we cease to be hearers who forget, and become doers that work, that we can make any progress in the Christian life and walk.
Listen attentively to the Word of Truth, written or spoken. Be quick to notice the smallest symptom of inconsistency between your life and the perfect beauty of Jesus, and set yourself immediately to correct it. Be merciful to the failings of everyone else, but be merciless to your own. Let no fault remain uncorrected, and no call to duty unanswered. For you to live, let it be Christ. Your blessedness and happiness will come in choosing the Christ-life, in doing, and continuing to do what He would have you do.
PRAYER
Help us to cast out all those things which are contrary to Thy peace, or that are not according to Thy will, so that ours may be the quiet life of trust, and faith, and obedience, longing for Thy truth, and walking in the light thereof. AMEN.]
I will always remember about a year ago we had a guest Pastor speaking at our church, because our Pastor was on vacation. The guest Pastor came up to me and said, "I know you are good speaking in front of people, (because of my involvement with the God's Love Outreach Ministry), would lead the service up to my sermon?" Well, even though we were in a house of God, my mind went off of God to myself. Very shortly God let me know it doesn't work that way. I had trouble just getting words to come out of my mouth. Remember what the Message translation stated above, We are to be lights, bringing out Gods-colors. When you look in the mirror I pray that the reflection you see is Jesus!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Monday, December 7, 2009
A sinner I was!
1Corinthians 1:28 and God has chosen the base things of the world, and things which are despised, and things which are not, in order to bring to nothing things that are;
What an awesome scripture that Charles Spurgeon chose to speak on. As you begin to read Spurgeon's morning devotional for this morning let his words bring your heart and mind into one accord. For sinners, we all are or were, at one point in our lives.
[Charles Spurgeon]
[Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet.]
My friends before Christ I was just like all that Charles Spurgeon wrote of. Did I do what these individuals did? No. But what we all would have in common is what we start as, "sinners!"
[It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross he transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour’s passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.]
The ending to this powerful devotional I can hear Spurgeon's plea to turn to Christ. Read slowly as he describes Jesus love for us. I also join with Charles Spurgeon and plead, "Do not turn away as though it was nothing!"
Yes, I was a sinner, but now praise God, I am a Saint!
[Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus’ tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour’s compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with him and he will bring you to his Father’s right hand in glory everlasting.]
I guess this would be a good time to revisit a blog the Lord blessed me with on September 25th of this year. http://godsloveoutreachministry.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-was.html
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
What an awesome scripture that Charles Spurgeon chose to speak on. As you begin to read Spurgeon's morning devotional for this morning let his words bring your heart and mind into one accord. For sinners, we all are or were, at one point in our lives.
[Charles Spurgeon]
[Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet.]
My friends before Christ I was just like all that Charles Spurgeon wrote of. Did I do what these individuals did? No. But what we all would have in common is what we start as, "sinners!"
[It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross he transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour’s passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.]
The ending to this powerful devotional I can hear Spurgeon's plea to turn to Christ. Read slowly as he describes Jesus love for us. I also join with Charles Spurgeon and plead, "Do not turn away as though it was nothing!"
Yes, I was a sinner, but now praise God, I am a Saint!
[Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus’ tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour’s compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with him and he will bring you to his Father’s right hand in glory everlasting.]
I guess this would be a good time to revisit a blog the Lord blessed me with on September 25th of this year. http://godsloveoutreachministry.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-was.html
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Saturday, December 5, 2009
A prelude to Christmas day and life!
"With a perfect heart to make David King" (I. Chronicles. xii. 38).
[A. B. Simpson]
["What is the supreme purpose of our life? They were all of one heart to make David king." Is this our purpose, to prepare the Bride, to prepare the world, to prepare His way? Does it dwarf and dim all other ambitions, all other cares?]
The purpose statement of our church is "Knowing Him and making Him known!" As I read the first part of Mr. Simpson's devotional for today that is what came to mind. How devoted are you to Jesus?
[Does it fill and satisfy every capacity, every power, every desire? Does it absorb every moment, every energy, every resource? Does it give direction and tone to every plan and work of life?]
Now if your life fits into that category, wow! For me all I can say is I try, Lord I am trying. I think about Him all the time.
[Does it decide for us the education of our children]
What do you teach or let teach your children? Television is gradually poisoning their minds.
[, the investment of our means]
Do you give and tithe to the Lord? It's all His and He asks for 10% to be returned to His church so His work can be accomplished.
[, the friendships and associations of life,]
This is what our Pastor has been preaching about for a few Sundays, "Fellowship"! Just as the saying goes, "You are what you eat", you also live by whom you associate with!
[the whole activity, interest and outlook of our being? Are we in it, spirit, soul and body, all we are, all we do, all we hope for--OF ONE HEART TO MAKE JESUS KING?]
Yep, that is the question. For some they are a few steps closer or miles away, than others. In twenty more days we celebrate the birth of Christ. To me this little poem below should be our cry as Christian soldiers united in the army of Jesus!
[We're going forth united
With loyal heart and hand,
To bear His royal banner
Aboard o'er every land.
From every tribe and nation
We'll haste His Bride to bring.
And Oh, with what glad welcome
We'll make our Jesus King.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
[A. B. Simpson]
["What is the supreme purpose of our life? They were all of one heart to make David king." Is this our purpose, to prepare the Bride, to prepare the world, to prepare His way? Does it dwarf and dim all other ambitions, all other cares?]
The purpose statement of our church is "Knowing Him and making Him known!" As I read the first part of Mr. Simpson's devotional for today that is what came to mind. How devoted are you to Jesus?
[Does it fill and satisfy every capacity, every power, every desire? Does it absorb every moment, every energy, every resource? Does it give direction and tone to every plan and work of life?]
Now if your life fits into that category, wow! For me all I can say is I try, Lord I am trying. I think about Him all the time.
[Does it decide for us the education of our children]
What do you teach or let teach your children? Television is gradually poisoning their minds.
[, the investment of our means]
Do you give and tithe to the Lord? It's all His and He asks for 10% to be returned to His church so His work can be accomplished.
[, the friendships and associations of life,]
This is what our Pastor has been preaching about for a few Sundays, "Fellowship"! Just as the saying goes, "You are what you eat", you also live by whom you associate with!
[the whole activity, interest and outlook of our being? Are we in it, spirit, soul and body, all we are, all we do, all we hope for--OF ONE HEART TO MAKE JESUS KING?]
Yep, that is the question. For some they are a few steps closer or miles away, than others. In twenty more days we celebrate the birth of Christ. To me this little poem below should be our cry as Christian soldiers united in the army of Jesus!
[We're going forth united
With loyal heart and hand,
To bear His royal banner
Aboard o'er every land.
From every tribe and nation
We'll haste His Bride to bring.
And Oh, with what glad welcome
We'll make our Jesus King.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Jesus is my all in all!
“Behold, all is vanity.”
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen it all, and everything is just as senseless as chasing the wind.
[Charles Spurgeon]
[Nothing can satisfy the entire man but the Lord’s love and the Lord’s own self.]
I will always remember as a young man having a conversation with my oldest brother. I felt that there was something special that I was missing in my life. Now mind you I was saved as a teenager at 15 years of age but broke away from the church after coming finishing my military service. Please read as Charles Spurgeon speaks of the wisest man Solomon, and how he finally understood everything he did was vanity. Solomon finally understood that Christ is the only "all in all!"
[Saints have tried to anchor in other roadsteads, but they have been driven out of such fatal refuges. Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all, and to do for us what we must not dare to do for ourselves. Here is his testimony in his own words: “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What! the whole of it vanity? O favoured monarch, is there nothing in all thy wealth? Nothing in that wide dominion reaching from the river even to the sea? Nothing in Palmyra’s glorious palaces? Nothing in the house of the forest of Lebanon? In all thy music and dancing, and wine and luxury, is there nothing? “Nothing,” he says, “but weariness of spirit.” This was his verdict when he had trodden the whole round of pleasure. To embrace our Lord Jesus, to dwell in his love, and be fully assured of union with him-this is all in all. Dear reader, you need not try other forms of life in order to see whether they are better than the Christian’s: if you roam the world around, you will see no sights like a sight of the Saviour’s face;]
Now read this last part of today's evening devotional as Charles Spurgeon describes if you lost everything but win Christ it is a paradise. Just as the lyrics for the song You Are My All In All states;
Your are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You like a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name
Taking my cross, my sin, my shame
Raising again I praise Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down you pick me up
When I run dry you fill my cup
You are my all in all
[If you could have all the comforts of life, if you lost your Saviour, you would be wretched; but if you win Christ, then should you rot in a dungeon, you would find it a paradise; should you live in obscurity, or die with famine, you will yet be satisfied with favour and full of the goodness of the Lord.]
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Praise Him!
Psalm 107:8 You should praise the LORD for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us.
[Charles Spurgeon]
[If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified.]
I love that first line of this evenings devotional. Charles Spurgeon really had a way with words. Now stop and think for a moment which do you do most of the day, complain or praise? If you are praising more, are you more happy? I know I am.
[Let us daily praise God for common mercies-common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear.]
For all those items Charles Spurgeon stated, items we take for granted and most of us don't even consider them blessings. No not until we lose one or all. Then its back to complaining!
[Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed.]
Yes, we deserve little but because of God's love for us, His children, we are so blessed. What do we do in return? Is there praise? Are you a one-day a week praise person? What if God blessed us according to our praises that we lift up to Him?
[But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ-our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs.]
My friends, how can we be silent? How can we not daily sing the songs of praise and not just on Sunday in the house of God. That should be the day we gather in fellowship and sing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above thee heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!"
Amen!!!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
[Charles Spurgeon]
[If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified.]
I love that first line of this evenings devotional. Charles Spurgeon really had a way with words. Now stop and think for a moment which do you do most of the day, complain or praise? If you are praising more, are you more happy? I know I am.
[Let us daily praise God for common mercies-common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear.]
For all those items Charles Spurgeon stated, items we take for granted and most of us don't even consider them blessings. No not until we lose one or all. Then its back to complaining!
[Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed.]
Yes, we deserve little but because of God's love for us, His children, we are so blessed. What do we do in return? Is there praise? Are you a one-day a week praise person? What if God blessed us according to our praises that we lift up to Him?
[But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ-our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs.]
My friends, how can we be silent? How can we not daily sing the songs of praise and not just on Sunday in the house of God. That should be the day we gather in fellowship and sing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above thee heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!"
Amen!!!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
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