My Journey - 5/20 - 5/23/2010

God's insight to me:

Adrian Roger's devotional speaks of what I have been telling people for many years now, since I have understood this myself, "It is all about Him!" As human beings we try to put ourselves in there somehow because of our selfish pride. A pastor many years ago stated from the pulpit, "We must put ourselves down, as we raise Jesus up!"

In Max Lucado's devotional he states "The meek are those who are willing to be used by God." Human beings I believe have a hard time thinking of themselves as meek. Especially in today's time. But if you would notice many of the true servants of God and happy and content to be doing His work in the background. With sweat pouring down their face they have a song in their hearts, "Our God is an awesome God, He reigns with power and love!"

I loved Sharles Spurgeon's devotional, "Rain without clouds,never!" How true and what an wonderful way to describe this life. Oh, we have some sunny days along the way but those dark clouds can get to us if we let them. "Black chariots of bright grace!" Wow, I never thought about my trials in life as that. When I was doing a "God's Love" program recently I met a woman who said, "My life is over. I'm just waiting to die!" I told her that, "Your life is not over but has just changed." See she has her eyes and mindset on the black chariots but should be looking for the Son to be shinning through her for He is the bright grace in our lives.

In our Sunday School we have been learning from a book named, "Experiencing God." If you want to have abundant life, you must experience Him. Probably so many that do not know Him on a personal level would ask, how? I would say the first way is to be honest with yourself and Him and ask Him to make Himself real to you. Pick up the Bible and read His Word to us. Meet with people who know Him or some that are trying to know Him, yep at church! Once you understand that Jesus is as real today as He was 2000 years ago, then He can become a part of your daily life. He is what life is all about. Just as it stated in the first devotional.

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

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5/20/2010
Jesus Only by Adrian Rogers

". . . all things were created by Him, and for Him." Colossians 1:16b

Do you want to know the meaning of everything? It is Jesus only. You may think that is an overstatement. We live in a great big universe, billions of light years in expanse, and the Bible tells us that "all things were created by Him, and for Him" (Colossians 1:16). There is nothing made that was not made by the Lord Jesus. The answer to creation is Jesus only.

People say that the world needs saving, but what the world really needs is redemption.

So where is redemption going to come from? It's not from a creed, code, or cause but from Jesus only. The entire universe, the plans of God, and the sweep of all the ages, comes down to two words - Jesus only.

When was the last time you shared your faith? Maybe today you can begin a conversation with someone about the expanse of the universe. Who knows where that spark of truth will lead?

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5/21/2010
Willing to be Used By Max Lucado

“The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11

The meek are those who are willing to be used by God. Amazed that God would save them, they are just as surprised that God could use them. They are a junior-high-school clarinet section playing with the Boston Pops. They don’t tell the maestro how to conduct; they’re just thrilled to be part of the concert.

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5/21/2010
Rain Without Clouds? Never! by Charles Spurgeon

"If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth" (Ecclesiastes 11:3).

Why, then, do we dread the clouds which now darken our sky? True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not quenched; He will shine out again before long. Meanwhile those black clouds are filled with rain; and the blacker they are, the more likely they are to yield plentiful showers. How can we have rain without clouds?

Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will. They are the black chariots of bright grace. These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be the gladder for the shower. Our God may drench us with grief, but He will not drown us with wrath; nay, He will refresh us with mercy. Our LORD's love letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes. His wagons rumble, but they are loaded with benefits. His rod blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing fruits. Let us not worry about the clouds but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.

O LORD, the clouds are the dust of Thy feet! How near Thou art in the cloudy and dark day! Love beholds Thee and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and making the little hills rejoice on every side.

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5/22-23/2010
Unshakable Faith by Dr. Charles Stanley

Daniel 1:1-20

Daniel had unshakable faith. His belief in the Lord sustained him when he was uprooted from his home, taken into captivity, and sent to a foreign country. It strengthened him as he served under four different kings and faced many challenges.

Knowing God and trusting Him are the two key elements of deep faith. Daniel, who was part of the Israelite nobility, apparently learned about the Lord from a young age. While he was in captivity, his words and actions demonstrated that he knew the Scriptures and wanted to obey God. When offered a meal that had been sacrificed to idols, he took a great risk by requesting other food. God caused the official to show favor to him (Dan. 1:5-9). Like Daniel, we are to spend our lives learning and carrying out what pleases our heavenly Father (Col. 1:10).

Not only did this young man know what the Scriptures said, but he also trusted God to do as He had promised. Every time Daniel took a stand for godliness, he was demonstrating his confidence in the Father. And his friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—had unwavering belief as well. They did not know for sure that the Lord would rescue them from the fiery furnace, but they trusted that He would do what was right (Dan. 3:16-18).

Barriers to unshakable faith include pride (I won't admit I need God's help), arrogance (I know a better way—I don't have to ask God), and self-sufficiency (I can do it myself without His help). Which of these is keeping you from becoming a person of strong faith? Confess it and turn toward the Lord.