My Journey - 5/11/2010

God's insight to me:

As I was reading each of these devotionals a phrase came to mind that I have said many times, "It is not about us, but all about Him!" The poem from Streams in the Desert states "Only He whose wounded heart was broken with the bitter cross and thorny crown", Max Lucado writes God is Everywhere, Adrian Rogers wrote "Blessed Is the Man That Trusts in the Lord", Cheryl Davis writes about "God's Voice". Skip Moen and D. Phil writes about "what we do we should do it all for Him!", and of course one of my favorite Charles Spurgeon's devotional for morning and evening speaks about Him! In this devotional Charles Spurgeon calls God, the "One". Yes He is!

Each time I write about my journey, it is a journey with Him. Together through this life. Second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour for when you yield your life to Him, His life is your life. The devotional titled "I’m Gonna’ Let It Shine" I think was very well written. I have learned in ministry we must "always keep our eyes focused on Him", for as Christ works through you everything you do is magnified. It must always be done to His glory. To God be the glory, not mine. As I was doing a God's Love program yesterday, a woman said to me, "I could listen to you sing all the time." I looked her in the eyes and said, "You are not hearing me but Jesus singing to you!"

He Is the One

Jesus is the One,
that my life is all about.
With Him in my life,
it’s free from uncertainty and doubt.

I listen to Him speak,
from His Spirit in my heart.
He is the One who cared for me,
right from the very start.

He is the One,
that brightens up my day.
He grabs hold and steadies me,
as I travel along life’s way.

Yes, He is the One,
no other can compare.
It is no wonder why,
with others I want Him to share.

My life is now His,
justified through the Father’s Son.
No longer separated because of sin,
but now joined together as One!

E. P. Shagott
5/12/10

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

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Mrs. Charles Cowman Devotional - Streams in the Desert

"When across the heart deep waves of sorrow
Break, as on a dry and barren shore;
When hope glistens with no bright tomorrow,
And the storm seems sweeping evermore;

"When the cup of every earthly gladness
Bears no taste of the life-giving stream;
And high hopes, as though to mock our sadness,
Fade and die as in some fitful dream,

"Who shall hush the weary spirit's chiding?
Who the aching void within shall fill?
Who shall whisper of a peace abiding,
And each surging billow calmly still?

"Only He whose wounded heart was broken
With the bitter cross and thorny crown;
Whose dear love glad words of Joy had spoken,
Who His life for us laid meekly down.

"Blessed Healer, all our burdens lighten;
Give us peace, Thine own sweet peace, we pray!
Keep us near Thee till the morn shall brighten,
And all the mists and shadows flee away!"

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God is Everywhere By Max Lucado

“Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Psalm 139:7-8, NIV

Our asking “Where is God?” is like a fish asking “Where is water?” or a bird asking “Where is air?” God is everywhere! Equally present in Peking and Peoria. As active in the lives of Icelanders as in the lives of Texans.

We cannot find a place where God is not.

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Blessed Is the Man That Trusts in the Lord by Adrian Rogers

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Psalm 34:8

The Lord Jesus Christ gives us beatitudes - attitudes that ought to be. They are not platitudes. They are attitudes that deal with Christian character.

Your reputation is what others think about you, but character is what God knows about you.

The Beatitudes do not say, "Blessed are what you have," or "Blessed are what you do," but "Blessed are what you are." Most of the people in the world are doing what? They are seeking happiness. If you seek happiness you'll never find it. But if you get right with God, blessedness will find you.

Have you been finding your self-worth in what you have or what you do? Confess it before the Lord and meditate on the attitudes you ought to have in Matthew 5:3-11.

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A devotional from 365.org

Have you ever heard God speak? I mean, seriously. I’m talking about hearing an audible voice. Honestly, I cannot say that I have ever heard God in that way. But in many other ways, I have learned to recognize a loving Voice along my journey of faith. Sometimes I hear this Voice in friends and loved ones who give guidance and support. Other times I have heard the Voice in books and authors whose words challenge my way of thinking and change my perspective.
Quite often, I hear this Voice in sermons, clearly echoing God’s call to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry and care for the poor. In pulsing rhythms, soaring melodies and quiet tunes, I also hear the Voice. And what the Voice seems to be saying most often is, in some form or fashion: do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

What do you hear the Voice saying to you today?

Cheryl Davis

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I’m Gonna’ Let It Shine
May 11th, 2010 by Skip Moen, D. Phil.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of other people so that they will notice you. Otherwise you cannot expect any reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1 (translation R. T. France)

Practice Your Righteousness – If you grew up anywhere near Baptists, you probably remember the children’s Sunday school song, “This Little Light of Mine.” The intention behind the song is good. God’s character must shine through our lives if we are to be effective change-agents for the Kingdom. But if we are supposed to be salt and light, why does Yeshua caution His disciples not to practice righteousness in front of others? You might respond, “Well, He is really talking about pride. We should do God’s will without displaying it.” You would be right, if that’s what this verse means. Unfortunately, the English doesn’t capture the Hebrew idiom here. Once we understand the idiom, we will have a greater insight into Yeshua’s warning.

The Greek verb eleemosunen encompasses the entire English phrase, “practice your righteousness.” But this is really a Jewish idiom, not an exhortation toward personal ethics. The idiom is about acts of charity. In other words, practicing righteousness is a shorthand way of recalling the three required acts of religious observance – charity, prayer and fasting. Yeshua is not telling His disciples to avoid these things. He is telling them that their motivation for doing them is not to be governed by public display. This is about the manner and motive, not about the act itself. So, Yeshua is really saying, “Pray, fast and give without the intention to be recognized for what you are doing.” Does this mean that we are to pray, fast and give entirely in secret. Yes, if that’s what it takes to keep our egos down. But no, not if we have already settled the issue of recognition. Do everything for the audience of One. Let Him be glorified – and the rest of it will work itself out without another thought.

Are we to pray, fast and give with a reward in mind? Yes, we are. But the reward that we have in mind is not celebrity status as a great religious person. The reward is to hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into your master’s joy.”

Notice that Yeshua assumes that His disciples will perform these Jewish religious rites. Not once does He suggest they are no longer required. Prayer, fasting and charity are essential for growth in godliness. Why? Because they put aside our agendas and focus our actions on God’s agenda. Just doing them brings us closer to Him. The issue that Yeshua addresses is why we do them, not if we do them.

Do you want to increase your righteousness today? Do you want to do those things that emulate God’s character and draw you closer to Him? Then pray, fast and give. It actually doesn’t matter how you feel about praying, fasting and giving. Do them no matter how you feel about doing them. Just remember to clear the motivation issue first. Do them for Him – and the rest will be easy.

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May 11 devotional by Charles Spurgeon

Morning

“I am with you alway.”
- Mat_28:20
It is well there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us. It is well there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life. O my soul, set not thine affections upon rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures, but set thine heart upon him who abides for ever faithful to thee. Build not thine house upon the moving quicksands of a deceitful world, but found thy hopes upon this rock, which, amid descending rain and roaring floods, shall stand immovably secure. My soul, I charge thee, lay up thy treasure in the only secure cabinet; store thy jewels where thou canst never lose them. Put thine all in Christ; set all thine affections on his person, all thy hope in his merit, all thy trust in his efficacious blood, all thy joy in his presence, and so thou mayest laugh at loss, and defy destruction. Remember that all the flowers in the world’s garden fade by turns, and the day cometh when nothing will be left but the black, cold earth. Death’s black extinguisher must soon put out thy candle. Oh! how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone! The dark flood must soon roll between thee and all thou hast; then wed thine heart to him who will never leave thee; trust thyself with him who will go with thee through the black and surging current of death’s stream, and who will land thee safely on the celestial shore, and make thee sit with him in heavenly places for ever. Go, sorrowing son of affliction, tell thy secrets to the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother. Trust all thy concerns with him who never can be taken from thee, who will never leave thee, and who will never let thee leave him, even “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.” “Lo, I am with you alway,” is enough for my soul to live upon, let who will forsake me.

Evening

“Only be thou strong and very courageous.”
- Jos_1:7
Our God’s tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king’s court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful and fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon spreads amongst the Lord’s flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your courage is kept up Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you: but cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, “be thou strong, and very courageous.”

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