My Journey 6/17- 6/20/2010

God's insight to me:

As I was reading Max Lucado's devotional my eyes stayed on four words "one realizes his despair". In this worldly life we fight just the thought of despair. No one wants it in their lives. So if we are constantly not trying to think about it then maybe we won't try to realize it is there. And then as Max Lucado wrote it will be harder to accept God's free gift of grace.

I think a lot of Christians can relate to what Adrian Rogers wrote about in his devotional. I think of the term "dry spell" when not feeling God's presence. But we must always remember God's timing is not our timing. His words to Joshua is the same for us today. Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.

Dr. Charles Stanley also wrote about gifts from God. But what we ask for we don't necessarily get for the Father knows what we need. I like how Dr. Stanley wrote about God's gifts as "intangible qualities of a Christlike character". How awesome that is. That is what the Father wants for us, to be like His Son and He gives us trials for just that reason. Also the phrase "Lack of understanding" is so true. So many of us just don't understand. The answer is in His Word. B-basic, I-instructions, B-before, L-leaving, E-earth. BIBLE.

Yesterday was Father's Day. 6/20/2010. I went to church to praise my Heavenly Father, then spent much of the day reflecting back on my earthly Dad. I went out to his grave site where his earthly remains rests next to my moms. As I looked down at the grave stone it is engraved with the year he passed on, 1989. Wow, that was over twenty years ago. In my mind I can picture him laughing when winning a card game from my mother. Like it was yesterday. I can see him working in the garden to provide fresh food for his family. I could also picture his face when angry with myself or my brothers. It was a look that made me feel, "Boy I am in trouble now!" I can still picture him crying, being so proud of us when we received a reward from school or something like that. But what is one of my best pictures in my mind was when I read what was written in one of my mom's bible, "Steve gave his heart to the Lord today". That my friends means we will be together again. This is a poem I wrote to my dad on a Father's Day, after he passed away.

For My Dad

I wrote this poem for you Dad,
on this day that’s devoted to you.
It's just a simple poem of thanks
for all you tried to do.

Not all things I agreed with,
and some I questioned why?
But one thing is for sure Dad,
you were always the best in my eyes.

Now that you're no longer with me
there's a spot in my heart left bare.
A place that can never be filled again,
it's for you and no other can share.

I have only the memories left now,
so I guess they will have to do,
for the one thing time can never erase,
is the love I have for you.

Your son,
Ed

From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
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June 17
To Be Saved By Grace
By Max Lucado

“God gives us a free gift—life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

One of the hardest things to do is to be saved by grace. There’s something in us that reacts to God’s free gift. We have some weird compulsion to create laws, systems, and regulations that will make us “worthy” of our gift.

Why do we do that? The only reason I can figure is pride. To accept grace means to accept its necessity, and most folks don’t like to do that. To accept grace also means that one realizes his despair, and most people aren’t too keen on doing that either.
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June 17

God Has Not Forgotten You
by Adrian Rogers

"And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday." Psalm 37:6

One preacher was in a church where he felt God had led him. But nothing seemed to be working out, so he wanted to go to another church.

He told a friend, "I know where God put me, and I know God put me here, but I just wonder if He remembers where He put me."

Yes, God remembers! He has not forgotten. He is never late. Don't rush God. Don't think He has abandoned you because your prayers are not answered. He will turn your midnight into a sunrise and your mourning into dancing.

Read Psalm 37:4-7 and rejoice in the hope of God's providence and provision in your life.

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June 18
The Father's Good Gifts
by Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 7:7-11

Today's passage contains one of God's most generous assurances to us. Not only are we granted permission to come to Him with our requests, but He also promises to answer our prayers. However, you may be thinking, If this is true, why hasn't He given me what I asked?

Verses 9-11 hold the key to understanding this passage: "What man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? . . . If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Think in terms of parenting. A child may want the latest video game, but his parent knows that a different gift would be better for him. In the same way, the God who made us is more keenly aware of our needs than we are (Matt. 10:30).

Because of spiritual immaturity or the limitations of our humanity, we may ask for what we perceive as good and necessary, when it isn't truly in our best interest. But our loving Father gives what He knows is more beneficial. Many of His gifts are the intangible qualities of a Christlike character, which develops through trials and testing. We may feel He's given us a snake instead of a fish, but the problem is with our lack of understanding, not with God's goodness.

When it seems that the Lord isn't answering your requests, remember that He's a loving Father, and consider what good gifts He is giving instead. Although it may take years to gain an adequate perspective, in time you'll say, "Lord, You were right. Thank You for giving me exactly what I needed."

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June 19

A Sound Heart
By Charles Stanley

"Let my heart be sound in Thy Statues: that I be not ashamed" (Psalm 119:80).

We may regard this inspired prayer as containing within itself the assurance that those who keep close to the Word of God shall never have cause to be ashamed of doing so.

See, the prayer is for soundness of heart. A sound creed is good, a sound judgment concerning it is better, but a sound heart toward the truth is best of all. We must love the truth, feel the truth, and obey the truth, otherwise we are not truly sound in God's statutes. Are there many in these evil days who are sound? Oh, that the writer and the reader may be two of this sort!

Many will be ashamed in the last great day, when all disputes will be decided. Then they will see the folly of their inventions and be filled with remorse because of their proud infidelity and willful defiance of the LORD; but he who believed what the LORD taught and did what the LORD commanded will stand forth justified in what he did. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun. Men much slandered and abused shall find their shame turned into glory in that day.

Let us pray the prayer of our text, and we may be sure that its promise will be fulfilled to us. If the LORD makes us sound, He will keep us safe.