My Journey - 5/10/2010

God's insight to me:

As I read the devotional from Streams in the Desert I thought of the many storms in my life, past, present and I know future. Like the flower I was also beaten down at times. Of course when this happens we all look for relief quickly. When we are going through the storm it appears that all we can do is sit there and take it, not knowing when it will pass or even will it pass. But as being a Christian and loving my Lord with all my heart, mind and soul, I know it will and I am not going through it alone. His Son-light is making me stronger from the storm. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me!"

Max Lucado's devotional made me smile. See, I am just an ordinary person, like everyone else. He has used me to touch the hearts of so many, all because of my love for Him.

Reading Adrian Roger's devotional touched me deeply. I understand exactly what he wrote about for I have never been more happier in my life now that through the Grace of God and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on the cross, I am now a sinner made righteous saved by Grace.

In Charles Stanley's devotional it brought back the memory when I first heard God's call to me. A teenager at the age of 15 years. But what was lacking for me at that time was the spiritual guidance and teaching's needed to help in my walk with Christ. So for almost 39+ years my journey was still seeking the Savior that was with me all the time.

Cheryl Davis's writing about Winter is truly how I feel in my senior years living in Buffalo, New York area. I search the sky like most for a glimpse of sunshine. The winter wind goes right through me no matter how many articles of clothing I am wearing. But like it has been written before, there is a season for everything. What winter does now for me is make me appreciate the Spring, Summer and Fall that much more.

As I read the devotional by Rick Warren I can relate for I have been experiencing pain and frustration which is a part of this life. I once received an email from a friend that on the bottom of it stated, "Be kind to those you meet today, for you do not know what they are going through today." How true, we don't but God does! Amen to that.

God’s Replacement Policy I thought was a good devotional. My friends once you give Him control,this is a choice that must be made, that Policy becomes an Eternal Policy. It was paid in full by Jesus on Calvary. "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do!"

The Son asked the Father
the Father agreed
now my friends
it's up to you and me!

From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott

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Seek Communion from Mrs. Charles Cowman Devotional - Streams in the Desert

"They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine" (Hosea 14:7).

The day closed with heavy showers. The plants in my garden were beaten down before the pelting storm, and I saw one flower that I had admired for its beauty and loved for its fragrance exposed to the pitiless storm. The flower fell, shut up its petals, dropped its head; and I saw that all its glory was gone. "I must wait till next year," I said, "before I see that beautiful thing again."

That night passed, and morning came; the sun shone again, and the morning brought strength to the flower. The light looked at it, and the flower looked at the light. There was contact and communion, and power passed into the flower. It held up its head, opened its petals, regained its glory, and seemed fairer than before. I wonder how it took place--this feeble thing coming into contact with the strong thing, and gaining strength!

I cannot tell how it is that I should be able to receive into my being a power to do and to bear by communion with God, but I know It is a fact.

Are you in peril through some crushing, heavy trial? Seek this communion with Christ, and you will receive strength and be able to conquer. "I will strengthen thee."

YESTERDAY'S GRIEF

The rain that fell a-yesterday is ruby on the roses,
Silver on the poplar leaf, and gold on willow stem;
The grief that chanced a-yesterday is silence that incloses
Holy loves when time and change shall never trouble them.

The rain that fell a-yesterday makes all the hillsides glisten,
Coral on the laurel and beryl on the grass;
The grief that chanced a-yesterday has taught the soul to listen
For whispers of eternity in all the winds that pass.

O faint-of-heart, storm-beaten, this rain will gleam tomorrow,
Flame within the columbine and jewels on the thorn,
Heaven in the forget-me-not; though sorrow now be sorrow,
Yet sorrow shall be, beauty in the magic of the morn.
--Katherine Lee Bates

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Five Stones By Max Lucado
“David took [the armor] all off. He took his stick in his hand and chose five smooth stones from a stream.” 1 Samuel 17:39-40

The king tried to give David some equipment. “What do you want, boy? Shield? Sword? . . .”

David had something else in mind. Five smooth stones and an ordinary leather sling.

The soldiers gasped. Saul sighed. Goliath jeered. David swung. And God made his point. “Anyone who underestimates what God can do with the ordinary has rocks in his head.”

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Happiness, the By-Product of Righteousness by Adrian Rogers

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6

Happiness is something you stumble over on your way to serving Jesus. When you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, happiness is the by-product of righteousness. People who are trying to be happy are focusing their energy at the wrong target. If you will seek after righteousness, then you will be happy.

What you need is to drink of the Spirit.

It is to feed on the Word of God.

The deepest need of your heart will be met only in Jesus.

Ask the Lord to fill you with His presence, to fulfill the deepest need of your heart in Him and Him alone. Now trust Him to do it.

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May 10 by Dr. Charles Stanley

The Call of God
1 Samuel 3:2-18

As a young child, Samuel lived in the temple with his mentor, Eli the priest. One night, the boy heard his name called, so he ran to ask Eli what he wanted. The priest, however, hadn't spoken, so he sent the child back to bed. This happened two more times before Eli realized that the Lord was the one calling the boy. Then he instructed Samuel to respond by asking the Lord what He wanted.

Almighty God still speaks to us today. The first time we "hear" Him is when He calls us to salvation. The Holy Spirit makes us aware that something is missing in our life, and then He points us to Jesus Christ as the answer.

Without the Savior, we are lost and hopeless. Everyone is born with a sinful nature that's "bent" away from God. The Father, who's holy and perfect, cannot be in the presence of unholiness. Therefore, the penalty for sin is death—eternal separation from Him. But God loves us, so to correct that situation, Jesus came to earth, lived the perfect life, and died as a substitute for mankind. He took the penalty for our wrong.

Salvation is the greatest gift. To receive it, all we have to do is trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Then, He abides with us and continues to speak, guiding gently and encouraging us toward righteousness.

Have you felt God speaking to you? If so, don't delay. Ask Him to forgive your sin; then accept Christ's substitutionary sacrifice on your behalf, and choose to follow Him. Share your decision with a pastor or trusted Christian friend so that you can have guidance on this beautiful new journey.

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From a 365.org daily devotional

What a dark, dreary period this past winter was! It seemed even bleaker than usual. Record snowfall accumulated in many parts of the country. I am always keenly aware of the deepening darkness as winter approaches. The days drag on with familiar grayness, the nights long and cold. My spirit seems to sag as I long for that first hint of spring.

Then one day, without fanfare, but typical of God’s beauty and simplicity, I notice a bird’s clear and melodic song. Colorful crocuses push their way through the soil; the sunshine that seemed so elusive bathes the earth in warmth and light. This awakening takes place year after year, though I sometimes miss its significance. When I pay attention, I learn things in the darkness of winter that help me in the light of spring and summer, for it is in the darkness that I become more aware of the light.

Mary Fahy says it this way: “You have survived the winter because you are, and were, and always will be very much loved. For that small, deep place within you that remained unfrozen and open to Mystery, that is where I have made my dwelling."

Cheryl Davis
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God Knows Your Feelings and Frustrations
May 10th, 2010 by Rick Warren

"You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears." Psalm 56:6 (Good News)

"God sees the hurt in your heart like nobody else can."

You may think, "Nobody knows what I'm going through, nobody feels the pain I'm experiencing."

But God knows!

He knows your feelings and frustrations. He's seen the crisis in your soul. There's no hurt that goes unnoticed by God. Psalm 56:6 says, "You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears." (Good News)

Often when we're hurting, we feel very isolated and lonely. Maybe there's been a death in the family, a divorce, maybe we've gotten fired, and we start to think, "Nobody understands the way I feel; nobody can tell the way I feel; nobody feels the pain."

But God knows, and "The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him." Psalms 103:13,(NLT)

God not only sees, He cares!

He knows the causes, the reasons, the things that brought you to this point. He understands because he made you, and he sees the hurt in your heart like nobody else can.

Because God knows our frustrations and despair, we can give those feelings to God: "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." 1 Peter 5:7, (NLT) Cast them all permanently on God, once and for all, and then, don't take them back.


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God’s Replacement Policy
May 10th, 2010 by Marilyn Ehle

“I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart…” Ezekiel 11:19 (New Living Translation)

After much research into which was most recommended, I purchased a small toaster oven. It cost a bit more than others, but was manufactured by a respected company and came with what I thought was an ironclad guarantee. It worked well for months. And then one day, the small door wouldn’t completely close. I gave it a forceful push and the door slipped into place. A few days later, however, the door again gaped open. This time nothing I did solved the problem. Perhaps a screw was loose in the door?

In our town is a small shop that specializes in the repair of such appliances so I shook out the crumbs, polished the surface and placed the oven in my car. My trusty repairman sadly shook his head when I explained the problem. “I’m sorry, but the manufacturer has made this oven in such a way that the door cannot be removed. You will have to send it back to the factory.”

“What about the replacement guarantee?” I asked. “Oh, that guarantee is very limited. It doesn’t apply to the door.”

God’s guarantees are not limited. He promises to replace our stony, stubborn hearts with those that are tender and responsive. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!”


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