My Journey - 5/31/2010

God's insight to me:

"The beloved before itself!" If you can grasp that then you can understand "The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier." Oh how He loves you and me.

In the devotional Remembering God's Priority it is state "they have missed the point". How many times we have, we are, and probably we still will. We are torn between two kingdoms. Well, I have made my stand. It started when I said, "Lord take control". Like the song, "Jesus take the wheel". Like the quotation states, "If God is your co-pilot, switch seats!" Father, if I get off track, please give me the necessary adjustments so I can stay focused on Your Heavenly destination. Thank You Jesus for showing me the way to the Father and also Your Holy Spirit to guide me home.

This last devotional is a little lengthy but necessary for so many to read. I have a friend that I met, through God's leading, on the Internet. As I was reading this devotional, "The Thrill of Victory", I thought about my friend Bob Bennett. He has dedicated his life to telling all that will listen to him about how through Jesus Christ he has victory (success, conquest) over depression. You can read more from his website http://www.victoryoverdepression.wordpress.com. When you read Bob's testimony you can feel the love for Christ coming through. Bob understands the victory was won over 2000 years on Calvary, when Jesus said, "It is finished"! That translates to "we are the victor's through Jesus". My Brother in Christ, Bob Bennett claims his victory, as each of us should, through the blood of Jesus. Are you looking for a victory today? I started claiming mine when I gave Him control to do so.

This past couple days I have been talking with several people that their lives is one battle after another. The Lord blessed me with this poem that I wrote for a friend of mine titled "When Life Keeps Giving You Lemons";

When life keeps giving you lemons
there is one thing you must do,
find a sweet friend that will
bring some sugar to you.

Squeeze all the lemons,
then do the same to your friend.
Take the sugar you are given,
and let the process begin.

Just because you keep getting lemons
does not mean all is lost.
God is probably just giving you,
another one of life’s bridges to cross.

So take all the ingredients
that life sends your way,
praise God that He gives them to you,
and make yourself some lemonade!

E. P. Shagott
5/30/2010

From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
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May 31
God So Loved Us
By Max Lucado

“If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11, NKJV

Jesus humbled himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping in the straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier.

Why? Because that’s what love does. It puts the beloved before itself.

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May 31
Remembering God's Priority
Numbers 15:37-41

At times, people will say, "I've made Jesus a part of my life." But this statement reveals that they have missed the point. The truth is, Jesus can never be simply a part of life; at salvation, Jesus becomes our life—everything revolves around Him, because He is the central focus.

For the believer, the essence of living is to walk in childlike obedience to Christ. That means we express His righteous life simply by faith; to do this, we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit for enablement and divine grace for forgiveness when we stumble. And stumbling will occur because we live amidst two kingdoms that are in constant conflict. On the one hand, there's the pull of the world, and on the other, the pull of God. In other words, Satan throws temptations our way, but from our Father comes the appeal of holiness, peace, and joy in Christ.

That's why Jesus taught, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The way to do this is by opening God's Word daily and letting Him use Scripture to flush from our minds anything that doesn't fit with His priority (Rom. 12:2). We are also to remind ourselves frequently of His commands and His greatness (Ps. 105:4-5; Num. 15:37-41).

The battle is ongoing. And it rages not just in the realms of education, science, politics, and finances but also within every human heart. Since there's no way to make it in life without Christ, it's critical that we keep God's priority as our own and make continual course corrections to stay on track.

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May 31

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 13-14; John 12:1-26
Today's Thoughts: The Thrill of Victory

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 1 John 5:4
Did you know that this word "victory" is used only six times in the New Testament? The Greek word for victory is "nike" and it means "a conquest" or "means of success." For many of us, the word Nike refers to the mega-sporting enterprise that sells shoes and clothing. Victory has been skewed by society standards to now mean something of extraordinary achievements. But Jesus would come and tell us to just have faith, for through faith we will be victorious.

How many of us as Christians today have victory in our lives? How awesome to experience the thrill of victory! But far too often we face the agony of defeat. Jesus did not come to earth, give His life, and leave us His Holy Spirit, just so we could enter heaven. Yes, He came to give us eternal life if we believe in Him, but He wants us to experience heaven on earth—today. Heaven on earth in this day and age? Is such a thought really possible?

Today's verse tells us that "whatever is born of God overcomes the world." If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you have been born of God and are His child. To even accept Jesus indicates a position of faith on your part, for "by grace you are saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). But real victory does not stop here, it begins here. Faith must be grown, matured and developed by the tests and trials of life. One reason prayer is so important is that our faith is increased every time we see God answer our prayers. And we must plant His word on our hearts and in our minds, for "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Christians who have weak prayer lives and no time in God's Word will face the agony of defeat more than the thrill of victory. But Christians who pray, who read the Bible, and who seek the Lord with all their heart will have victory simply because of their faith. Just remember, however, that victory in Jesus is not always defined the same as victory in the world.

Does your life reflect more victories or more defeats? Where do you spend your time and what are you seeking after? Start today by asking the Lord to increase your faith. Start praying for God's help. Confess and repent from any worldly desires that steal your time and attention away from the Lord. Begin reading His Word and praying for more understanding of how to apply it in your life. At some point, we must decide which way we want to live; and then start acting on the faith given to us through Jesus. Then, and only then, will we have victory.