Another Year Come and Gone

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