My Journey - 5/30/2010

God's insight to me:

May 30th is a day I will always remember for it was the day I lost my mom, my best friend. Max Lucado's devotional especially the bible verse explains how I got through that day and every day after that. It was six years after my mom's passing that I gave Christ control of my life. On May 30th, 1991 Jesus was definitely walking with me that day, even though I didn't realize it. Yesterday I was talking with a woman that every aspect of her life was challenging. Any of my problems seemed small in nature compared to hers. She is a strong woman and I pray she knows Jesus like I do for He will get her to brighter days. He is the Son-light!

Interesting how the Lord is speaking to me today through these devotionals. Adrian Rogers devotional speaks about the Son-light. No matter what you are going through, or will go through, Jesus has conquered those storms before you. The beginning of John 16:33 states "In this life you will have trials and tribulation", yep, problems will come your way, but fear not, they are under Jesus feet. Praise God!

Charles Spurgeon's devotional seems also to fit together with today's devotional. I love the wording, "the eyes of The faith", Christ's eyes. "Nevertheless - hereafter", what a daily chant that should be for us all. Someone today, somewhere in this world will need to be saying and understanding this. Thank You Jesus for Your holy foresight that through Your sufferings we can lift up ours to You!

Today's insight will begin and end with Max Lucado. This last devotional is lengthy but very rewarding once read. I smiled when I came to this statement, "Old age has sucked their oxygen". Getting older, ministering to the elderly, I can understand that statement. As I read this devotional my mine thought of the elderly in church that has fought the early battles. My friends May 31st is Memorial Day. Please keep in mind someone has fought for you, someone has sacrificed everything for you, and they didn't know you. Jesus Christ sacrificed everything for us, and He knew us before we were born. Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you;

I want to close with this poem the Lord just blessed me with;

Think About Me

Please think about me today
for I gave everything for you.
Even though I didn’t know,
who you were or what you do.

I gave all I had,
because it had to be done.
Someone must pay the sacrifice,
to save each and every one.

Please don’t take for granted,
that your life will always be.
Someone has to fight for that,
Yes, someone just like me.

So take a little time today,
to just pause and give some thought,
for all the ones who paid the price,
and also thank Jesus for the Cross!

E. P. Shagott
5/30/10

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

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May 30
He Knows Your Name
By Max Lucado

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13, NKJV

Relax. You have a friend in high places. Does the child of Arnold Schwarzenegger worry about tight pickle-jar lids? Does the son of Nike founder Phil Knight sweat a broken shoestring? . . .

No. Nor should you. The universe’s Commander in Chief knows your name. He has walked your streets.

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MAY 30
He Has Overcome the World
by Adrian Rogers

"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you. His power is ever-present in your life as His child.

If I could have been there in the days of His flesh, I would have wanted to see Him walk across the sea and calm the waves. I can just see that kingly form with the wind in His hair, putting His foot steps on the sea, His garments billowing back. Smiling at the storm.

When the disciples saw Him walking on the water what was their biggest problem? The water. Jesus in essence was saying, "What looks like is going to be over your head, is already under My feet."

What are some problems that are drowning you in fear, in discouragement, in sadness today? Give them to Jesus. Remember what is over your head is under His feet.

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May 30
Holy Foresight
by Charles Spurgeon

"Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven" (Matthew 26:64).

Ah, LORD, Thou wast in Thy lowest state when before Thy persecutors Thou wast made to stand like a criminal! Yet the eyes of Thy faith could see beyond Thy present humiliation into Thy future glory. What words are these, "Nevertheless - hereafter!" I would imitate Thy holy foresight, and in the midst of poverty, or sickness, or slander, I also would say, "Nevertheless - hereafter." Instead of weakness, Thou hast all power; instead of shame, all glory; instead of derision, all worship, Thy cross has not dimmed the splendor of Thy crown, neither has the spittle marred the beauty of Thy face. Say, rather, Thou are the more exalted and honored because of Thy sufferings.

So, LORD, I also would take courage from the "hereafter." I would forget the present tribulation in the future triumph. Help thou me by directing me into Thy Father's love and into Thine own patience, so that when I am derided for Thy name I may not be staggered but think more and more of the hereafter, and, therefore, all the less of today. I shall be with Thee soon and behold Thy glory. Wherefore, I am not ashamed but say in my inmost soul, "Nevertheless - hereafter."

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Tender Words to the Tired Heart
May 30th, 2010 by Max Lucado

Brook Besor. Don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of the place. Most haven’t, but more need to. The Brook Besor narrative deserves shelf space in the library of the worn-out. It speaks tender words to the tired heart.

The story emerges from the ruins of Ziklag. David and his six hundred soldiers return from the Philistine war front to find utter devastation. A raiding band of Amalekites had swept down on the village, looted it, and taken the women and children hostage. The sorrow of the men mutates into anger, not against the Amalekites, but against David. After all, hadn’t he led them into battle? Hadn’t he left the women and children unprotected? Isn’t he to blame? Then he needs to die. So they start grabbing stones.

This could be his worst hour.

But he makes it one of his best.

David redirects the men’s anger toward the enemy. They set out in pursuit of the Amalekites. Keep the men’s weariness in mind. They still bear the trail dust of a long campaign and haven’t entirely extinguished their anger at David. They don’t know the Amalekites’ hideout, and, if not for the sake of their loved ones, they might give up.

Indeed, two hundred do. The army reaches a brook called Besor, and they dismount. Soldiers wade in the creek and splash water on their faces, sink tired toes in cool mud, and stretch out on the grass. Hearing the command to move on, two hundred choose to rest. “You go on without us,” they say.

How tired does a person have to be to abandon the hunt for his own family?

The church has its quorum of such folks. Good people. Godly people. Only hours or years ago they marched with deep resolve. But now fatigue consumes them. They’re exhausted. So beat-up and worn down that they can’t summon the strength to save their own flesh and blood. Old age has sucked their oxygen. Or maybe it was a deflating string of defeats. Divorce can leave you at the brook. Addiction can as well. Whatever the reason, the church has its share of people who just sit and rest.

And the church must decide. What do we do with the Brook Besor people? Berate them? Shame them? Give them a rest but measure the minutes? Or do we do what David did? David let them stay.

He and the remaining four hundred fighters resume the chase.

David and his men swoop down upon the enemy like hawks on rats. Every Israelite woman and child is rescued. Every Amalekite either bites the dust or hits the trail, leaving precious plunder behind. David goes from scapegoat to hero, and the whooping and hollering begin.

And what about the two hundred men who had rested?

You might feel the way some of David’s men felt: “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children” (1 Samuel 30:22).

A Molotov cocktail of emotions is stirred, lit, and handed to David. Here’s how he defuses it: “Don’t do that after what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and given us the enemy who attacked us. Who will listen to what you say? The share will be the same for the one who stayed with the supplies as for the one who went into battle. All will share alike.” (30:23–24 NCV)

Note David’s words: they “stayed with the supplies,” as if this had been their job. They hadn’t asked to guard supplies; they wanted to rest. But David dignifies their decision to stay.

David did many mighty deeds in his life. He did many foolish deeds in his life. But perhaps the noblest was this rarely discussed deed: he honored the tired soldiers at Brook Besor.

Someday somebody will read what David did and name their church the Congregation at Brook Besor. Isn’t that what the church is intended to be? A place for soldiers to recover their strength?

If you are listed among them, here is what you need to know: it’s okay to rest. Jesus is your David. He fights when you cannot. He goes where you cannot. He’s not angry if you sit. Did he not invite, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest” (Mark 6:31 MSG)?

Brook Besor blesses rest.

Brook Besor also cautions against arrogance. David knew the victory was a gift. Let’s remember the same. Salvation comes like the Egyptian in the desert, a delightful surprise on the path. Unearned. Undeserved. Who are the strong to criticize the tired?

Are you weary? Catch your breath. We need your strength.

Are you strong? Reserve passing judgment on the tired. Odds are, you’ll need to plop down yourself. And when you do, Brook Besor is a good story to know.