My Journey 5/17/2010

God's insight to me:

As I read A. B. Simpson's devotional I couldn't agree more. He called Jesus living in our lives a secret power, but not to the Christian He is living in. Christ in me! My life and His as one! I did a program for the God's Love Outreach Ministry at a convent yesterday. One of the Sister's that I was talking with asked me how can I do what I do and so wonderfully. I told her, "Sister you should know!" It is Him in me for sure.

A simple devotional by Max Lucado. So many times in my life I have said, "I can't go on!" But what I have discovered since I gave control to Christ I haven't said that lately. He never gives up!

As I was reading Adrian Roger's devotional it brought back a memory of a friend of mine Don Killingbeck. Every Easter from the time I met him at church he would send me an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper that he printed out with the words "The King is Coming!" At the end of Adrian Roger's devotional he asks the question "What if He came this very hour?" I tell everyone I meet, "My bags are packed"! As the lyrics say in the song "The King Is Coming", "Praise God He's coming for me!" I pray you too.

Charles Stanley's devotional about Paul was wonderfully written. I liked how Dr. Stanley showed the comparison from back then in Biblical times to today. Affliction is as real today as it was back then. Pain is pain. Suffering is suffering, and temptation is temptation. Satan is the same back then as he is today. The wonderful truth is Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His Word was left so we know we are joint heirs in His Kingdom. It is written He will never leave us nor forsake us. That is why Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Praise God!

From the Marks of Integrity by Charles R. Swindoll devotional as I was reading what he listed I found myself smiling for I see these in me and I believe others do to. Also you can see this in most Christians. I use the word most for we are all in different walks with Christ. How is your walk with Him?

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

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Days of Heaven Upon Earth a devotional by A. B. Simpson
May 17

"To him that overcometh, will I give" (Rev. ii. 17).

A precious secret of Christian life is to have Jesus dwelling within the heart and conquering things that we never could overcome. It is the only secret of power in your life and mine, beloved.

Men cannot understand it, nor will the world believe it; but it is true, that God will come to dwell within us, and be the power, and the purity, and the victory, and the joy of our life.

It is no longer now, "What is the best that I can do?" but the question is, "What is the best that Christ can do?" It enables us to say, with Paul, in that beautiful passage in Philippians, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound, everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me."

With this knowledge I go forth to meet my testings, and the secret stands me good. It keeps me pure and sweet, as I could never keep myself. Christ has met the adversary and defeated him for me. Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ.

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God Never Gives Up
By Max Lucado
“He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us.” Micah 7:18-19, NKJV
When Joseph was dropped into a pit by his own brothers, God didn’t give up.
When Moses said, “Here I am, send Aaron,” God didn’t give up . . .
When Peter worshiped Him at the supper and cursed Him at the fire, He didn’t give up.
God never gives up.

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MAY 17
The Greatest Event of All Ages by Adrian Rogers

". . . and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful." Revelation 17:14

The Second Coming of Jesus is going to be the greatest event of all of the ages. It is one of the grand theological truths taught in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
· The New Birth is vitally important, but it is mentioned only nine times in the New Testament.
· Baptism is vitally important, but it is mentioned only 20 times in the New Testament.
· Repentance is mentioned only 70 times in the Bible, as important and needful as that is.
· But the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned in God's Word at least 380 times.

One out of every 25 verses points with an eager finger to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How are you getting ready for His Second Coming? What if He came this very hour?

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May 17
The Affliction of Paul by Charles Stanley
2 Corinthians 1:8-11

It's easy to assume that problems in biblical days looked totally different from those facing us today. So you might wonder what a first-century missionary can teach us about triumphing over adversity.

Though Paul's culture was quite different from ours, some things remain the same—like temptation, hardship, persecution, and sin. Satan never changes either. Therefore, when the apostle wrote of being burdened beyond his strength, he had experience to back up his words.

Paul "despaired of life," but he trusted in a God who raises the dead. In other words, he believed the Lord would sustain him during that season of conflict. How could he be certain? Paul learned to trust the Lord during affliction in the same way that we d he was thrown into high-pressure situations with impossible odds and yet saw God triumph. We understand divine power when we reach the limits of our own strength and feel God's supernatural energy kick in.

Divine strength is more than adequate to overcome worldly hardships, satanic temptations, and consequences of sin. That isn't to say believers can avoid all sorrow and pain. Rather, we have the promise that God will meet our needs in every heartache and trial (Phil. 4:19). Our faith grows stronger when we trust Him in times of affliction.

God's strength is available to all believers who confess their weakness and inadequacy. Sometimes a troubled soul has only enough stamina left to admit, "Father, I absolutely cannot. If You don't, it is simply not going to happen." In effect, we throw ourselves upon God and wait for Him to keep His promise.

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Marks of Integrity by Charles R. Swindoll

1 Corinthians 11:28, 31

Thanks to the Word of God, we can list several marks of integrity that God would have us appropriate into our lives. Do you have these marks of integrity?

•An excellent attitude
•Faithfulness and diligence at work
•Personal purity of the highest caliber
•Consistency in your walk with God
You have the scalpel in your hand. Self-examination is up to you. It is not only a good idea, it's a biblical imperative.

A reminder: Only you can do the surgery on your soul, only you. No one else can know the truth. You can cover up, twist the facts in your mind, rationalize, and ignore . . . and no one will know the difference—no one except you. But if you really want to strengthen your grip on integrity, you will come to terms with the whole truth, regardless of the consequences.

Read the Book of Daniel to see the biblical picture of integrity. Daniel refused to compromise and consequently was thrown into the lions' den. Look what God did. He honored Daniel's faithfulness. He'll do the same for you.

Sometimes when you exhibit real, unvarnished integrity, you get dumped into the lions' den. Remember, God's there, too!


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