My Journey 6/30/2010

God's insight to me:

As I was preparing today's journey this first one by A. B. Simpson was so fitting to start off with. This will be my 151st blog I have written and you may ask yourself, "Why is he doing this?" A. B. Simpson had the answer it is what I prefer. I chose because of my love for Christ to reach out to anyone who will take the time to read these writings. With today's technology it is another way of fulfilling the great commission, Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation. Also as I advance in years it will leave a footprint behind of what I have became, 2Corinthians 5:17 So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The fiery furnace devotional refers also to choice like the previous devotional. I think of this sometimes as "the line drawn in the sand". Each one of us must make our stand. What do you prefer? The pleasures and temporary rewards of this world or the rewards in Heaven. You choose in your heart and God is very aware of what you choose. Believe me if you choose the world He will give it to you but remember it is written 2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. And the earth and the works in it will be burned up. Sometimes this worldly life comes with many disappointments but through them it just shows how great our God is. This is an awesome statement, "If there is a great trial in your life today, do not own it as a defeat, but continue, by faith, to claim the victory through Him who is able to make you more than conqueror, and a glorious victory will soon be apparent." Choose to continue by faith!

Max Lucado's devotional is asking each one of us, "What is the state of your heart?" Are you seeking self-pity or seeking Christ, drinking human misery or tasting God’s mercy. Though Max Lucado may be asking the question, God already knows the answer.

Yesterday I did the last two programs for the God's Love Outreach Ministry, "Seeds of Youth". As I was reading the last devotional from 365.org, I was recalling how the program started. With the music "Lost in the 50's Tonight" playing in the background, I spoke and shown pictures from almost 60 years ago. Who would of thought we would have a phone in out pockets? What ever happened to whitewall tires? As the pictures were being shown, preparing the residents for the type of music that followed I noticed it brought back many memories to them. The music from back then had a message for many people. The message of love, hope, caring and being free. What most of the residents told me all this month is they do not understand the words in today's songs. They don't listen to the music today for they can't understand the message. My friends the message of Christ will never change. It's the sweetest music I have ever heard. No matter what your age or where you are at the Spirit will make it real to you, if you choose to want to hear it!

God Is Waiting For You To Choose

Do not think that God is waiting,
to see what you are going to do.
He already knows your heart,
and everything there is about you

He is not waiting for you
to do some kindly deed,
For He knows what is in your heart,
and exactly what you want to do indeed.

God is not waiting on you,
to once in a while sing His praise,
for God already has all the answers
as we live through out our days.

What God is waiting for,
is for you to make that choice,
to surrender your life totally to Him,
and you listen carefully to His Spirits voice.

So as each day quickly goes by,
you may have lost another time,
to choose to start a new life in Christ,
for I chose and He is the best friend of mine!

E. P. Shagott
6/30/2010


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

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June 30
Days of Heaven Upon Earth Devotionals
by A. B. Simpson

"Therefore, choose" (Deut. xxx. 19).

Men are choosing every day the spiritual or earthly. And as we choose we are taking our place unconsciously with the friends of Christ, or the world. It is not merely what ye say, it is what we prefer.

When Solomon made his great choice at Gibeon, God said to him, "Because this was in thine heart to ask wisdom, therefore will I give it unto thee, and all else besides that thou didst not choose." It was not merely that he said it because it was right to say, and would please God if he said it.

But it was the thing his heart preferred, and God saw it in his heart and gave it to him with all besides that he had not chosen. What are we choosing, beloved? It is our choice that settles our destiny.

It is not how we feel, but how we purpose. Have we chosen the good part? Have we said, "Whatever else I am or have, let me be God's child, let me have His favor and blessing, let me please Him?" Or have we said, "I must have this thing, and then I will see about religion." Alas, God has seen what was in thine heart, and perhaps He has already said, "They have their reward."

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June 30
Streams in the Desert Bevotionals
by Mrs. Charles Cowman

The Fiery Furnace

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:14).

God gets His greatest victories out of apparent defeats. Very often the enemy seems to triumph for a little, and God lets it be so; but then He comes in and upsets all the work of the enemy, overthrows the apparent victory, and as the Bible says, "turns the way of the wicked upside down." Thus He gives a great deal larger victory than we would have known if He had not allowed the enemy, seemingly, to triumph in the first place.

The story of the three Hebrew children being cast into the fiery furnace is a familiar one. Here was an apparent victory for the enemy. It looked as if the servants of the living God were going to have a terrible defeat. We have all been in places where it seemed as though we were defeated, and the enemy rejoiced. We can imagine what a complete defeat this looked to be. They fell down into the flames, and their enemies watched them to see them burn up in that awful fire, but were greatly astonished to see them walking around in the fire enjoying themselves. Nebuchadnezzar told them to "come forth out of the midst of the fire." Not even a hair was singed, nor was the smell of fire on their garments, "because there is no other god that can deliver after this sort."

This apparent defeat resulted in a marvelous victory.

Suppose that these three men had lost their faith and courage, and had complained, saying, "Why did not God keep us out of the furnace!" They would have been burned, and God would not have been glorified. If there is a great trial in your life today, do not own it as a defeat, but continue, by faith, to claim the victory through Him who is able to make you more than conqueror, and a glorious victory will soon be apparent. Let us learn that in all the hard places God brings us into, He is making opportunities for us to exercise such faith in Him as will bring about blessed results and greatly glorify His name. --Life of Praise

"Defeat may serve as well as victory To shake the soul and let the glory out. When the great oak is straining in the wind, The boughs drink in new beauty, and the trunk Sends down a deeper root on the windward side. Only the soul that knows the mighty grief Can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come To stretch out spaces in the heart for joy."

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June 30
The State of Your Heart
By Max Lucado

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart.” Luke 6:45, NIV

When you are offered a morsel of gossip marinated in slander, do you turn it down or pass it on? That depends on the state of your heart . . .

The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink human misery or taste God’s mercy.

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June 30

Daily Devotional's from 365.org

Ever notice how discontented we can become when something new comes along? Think about cell phones. Some people I know desperately want an iPhone. They crave more “apps” and view their current phone as if it were two cans attached with a string.

We’re free to complain. Choosing to be grateful that we even have a cell phone in our pocket remains another option. Living by the Spirit frees us up. We can see possibilities beyond our circumstances. Our desires and feelings take a backseat to considering what God might want for us.

Living by our feelings enslaves us to the whim of every impulse and urge. Contentment, gratitude, peace, and generosity slip through our fingers like grains of sand at the beach. Impatience, selfishness, anger, and anxiety take root in our words and actions before we know it. After offering us a well-intentioned word of warning, Paul might want to know, “Can you hear me now?” Our lives will reflect our answer. Choose freedom.

Brian Abel