God's insight to me:
I like this devotional by Charles Swindoll for it made me think of the opening line that I use for my blogs, "God's insight to me." I love his statement that "insight makes the simple profound and the difficult understandable!" I will whole hardily agree with the simple being profound for I have many times said, "Wow" after God making something open to my mind and heart. As I was reading about touch I thought of the Holy Spirit. When He is present in you this line from Charles Swindoll is so true,you experience Him, feel Him, are moved by Him, understands, is lost in Him! How true when stated we didn't "earn it or learn it or deserve it," nope it is a gift from God as Mr. Swindoll writes, "It pleased Him to make you like you are for His glory." Gifts from God. Thank You Jesus!
Gifts
Each breath I take
Each sunrise I see
Each sound I hear
Are gifts from Thee.
Everything I touch
Every step I take
More gifts for me
That my Lord did make.
A forgiving heart
A caring way
A truthful nature
Yes, more gifts each day.
Every smile I make
Every laugh in fun
Every hand I’d shake
Every friend I’ve won.
Food to eat
And water to drink
All gifts from You, Lord
Which makes me think.
The reason for all these gifts
Is now so plain to see
Because the greatest gift of all
Is just Your love for me…
E. P. Shagott
Max Lucado's devotional makes me think of a phrase I have said many times when sharing God's love or my personal testimony, "My bags are packed!" For once truthfully believe that this earthly place is not our home we then pursue in earnest what is waiting for us. If you believe in the Bible, which I do, then in the last chapter, the book of Revelation, chapter 21, verse 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is. My friends, I am ready when He is!
This last devotional made me think about the God's Love Outreach Ministry that will be starting up on August 2nd. I believe it is truly "God's Loving Outreach" that I am blessed to be chosen to be a part of. I have found this song on YouTube which is one of my favorites. It is called "There is a River" and had the privilege to sing it a couple times at City Mission with some other gentlemen. As Charles Stanley wrote. "When your soul is empty and the well runs dry, look for Jesus!" How true. Click here to listen to this song by the Gaither's.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 30
Caught, Not Taught
by Charles R. Swindoll
1 Corinthians 4
"Some things are better felt than telt," say our Scottish friends. And that is so true. Take insight, for example—that elusive weave of intuition, perception, alertness, and sensitivity. You just can't teach it. You can, however, nurture it. You can even expand it. But there's no one-two-three process that suddenly makes one insightful. Yet insight is essential in things like teaching or counseling or writing. When insight is present, those skills literally come alive. Insight makes the simple profound and the difficult understandable. Those who have it were not taught it; they caught it. From God.
Another example? Touch. We refer to a gifted musician as having the right "touch"—that sixth sense that lifts sterile black notes off white pages and transforms them into the colorful and moving strains of a masterpiece. Give some pianists the score and you get harmony and rhythm played with proper timing. Place the same piece before one with touch—and there is no comparison. One plays music. The other experiences it, feels it, is moved by it, understands, is lost in it . . . and helps us do the same.
Touch is somehow caught from God, not taught by man. Either you got it or you ain't!
These two extremes pose a practical problem, however: Either we feel deprived . . . or we get stuffy because we got it and they ain't.
Hey, let's once and for all put this frustration to bed. If you've "got it," you caught it. You didn't earn it or learn it or deserve it, nor can you preserve it. God sovereignly marked you out and equipped you with that unique ingredient to reflect His glory. That's the reason. "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"
(1 Cor. 4:7).
And what if you're among the so-called have-nots? You're gifted, but it's not one of those abilities that seem so enviable. Your particular gift or ability or capability is just as significant, just as deliberately planned by God, as any other. It pleased Him to make you like you are for His glory.
And on top of the responsibility that's yours to contribute your part, you have the added joy of receiving the benefits from those individuals uniquely gifted with things like insight and touch. Those moments come to us on rare occasions in life, not to frustrate us but to refresh us . . . like the soft rush of wind from the flapping of angels' wings.
I don't know how else to describe it. Some things are better felt than telt.
Have you been envious or jealous of another's gift? Just stop and think of what the world would have missed had you not been in it.
*************************************************
July 31
In Transit
By Max Lucado
“Our homeland is in heaven, and we are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven.” Philippians 3:20
You’ve seen people treat this world like it was a permanent home. It’s not. You seen people pour time and energy into life like it will last forever. It won’t. You’ve seen people so proud of what they have done, that they hope they will never have to leave—they will.
We all will. We are in transit.
*************************************************
July 31
God's Loving Outreach
by Charles Stanley
John 4:1-42
This story of the Lord's encounter with a Samaritan woman is a wonderful example of His loving response to hurting individuals. Jesus is always reaching out in love, even when we do not recognize His extended hand.
Although this meeting may have appeared accidental, it was really a providential appointment with the Messiah. As the woman reached the well, Jesus initiated conversation by asking for a drink of water. His direct approach surprised her and opened the door for a dialogue that would change her life forever.
Throughout the exchange, Jesus' goal was to help the woman recognize her greatest need so He could supply her with the only gift that would meet that need: salvation and the forgiveness of her sins. She had spent her life trying to find love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Christ offered her the living water of the Holy Spirit—the only thing that would quench her spiritual and emotional thirst.
Like the Samaritan woman, we can at times be so intent on getting our immediate needs met that we fail to see God's hand reaching out to us in love, offering what will truly satisfy. Only Christ can fill our empty souls for eternity and provide for our essential emotional needs now.
This world is filled with wells that promise to provide love, acceptance, and self-worth but never fully satisfy. When your soul is empty and the well runs dry, look for Jesus. He has a divine appointment scheduled with you, and He will quench your thirst with His Spirit—if you let Him.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
My Journey 7/28 -7/29/2010
God's insight to me:
Both of these devotionals deal with prayer. The first is about persistence. Keep on, keep on, as they say. Mine and your prayers will be answered. I like what Jake Kampe writes, "We don’t always completely understand God, and most likely never will." I remember one time in my life I prayed for "ten years" before my prayer was answered. It is in God's timing not mine. But my prayer was answered and I thank Him for all the one's He has answered and those He is still answering.
As I read Jake Kampe's second devotional I felt a sadness in my heart for many, many times I am asking for myself and not thinking of others. I love this statement "focuses on something greater than ourselves". That my friends is what I think Christianity is in a nutshell. Jesus many times said, "Father not My will but Thy will be done".
Here I Am Again Lord
Here I am again Lord,
praying on bended knee.
So many issues in my life
that are really bothering me.
I want to be healthier,
though I don’t eat like I should.
I want to have more money,
but wouldn’t work for it if I could.
I want to have more friends,
though I don’t talk to the ones I have.
I want my family to love me more,
but when I’m with them they make me mad.
So God I am still waiting,
for You to answer my prayer,
and if You decide not too,
well, I think it’s not very fair.
Now the moral of this poem is
unanswered prayer we’re always asking why?
See, God is waiting to bless us,
once the focus is off the “I”!
E. P. Shagott
7/29/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
7/28
From a devotional 365.org
by Jake Kampe
"And he said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him." And he answers from within, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything." I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.'"
Luke 11: 5-8
Have you prayed for something very specific, waited for God to come through, but heard only silence? You continued to pray over and over, and it seemed as if your prayers were disappearing into space with no sense that you have been answered? But you continued to pray. Each day you fell to your knees in desperation, begging God to reveal something that will let you know God was there. “Have I done something wrong?” you ask yourself. “Is it because of some sin in my life?” “Are you really there, God?”
Let’s face it, we don’t always completely understand God, and most likely never will. God's answers to prayers are usually not what we think they will be, and many times God doesn’t respond with a simple “yes” or “no.” Sometimes God’s answer is a frustrating, “Not yet.” And that is usually the last thing we want to hear, right? Waiting on God is not something that comes easy for most of us. But one thing is for sure, God never ignores our prayers. Be patient. Be persistent. Continue to pray and in the stillness of the moment, hear God whispering, “Not yet; but keep asking.”
God, I know that your answers to prayers are not always what I might expect. But I know that you hear them and answer them according to what is best for my life. Give me the strength to keep praying and the patience to wait for you to answer. Amen.
*************************************************
7/29
From a devotional 365.org
by Jake Kampe
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Luke 11:9-10
What motivates your prayers? Is it about what you can get, or what you can give? Is it for something temporary, or for something greater? Is it motivated by what will bless you, or what can be a blessing to others? Do you limit your prayers because your focus is on your world, rather than the world beyond you? Let’s say you had one wish and could ask for anything you could imagine. What would you ask for: an endless supply of your favorite drink from Starbucks, or clean water for every living person? Peace in your family, or a solution to the conflicts in the Middle East? That new job, or a cure for cancer?
Now, I’m not suggesting that God doesn’t care about our deep personal needs. God does care! But is it possible that prayer is so much more than just getting what we want? Prayer involves motivation that focuses on something greater than ourselves. It involves looking at the big picture and seeking the impossible. Think about what we have at our disposal. The God of the universe wants to give us what we ask. What might we ask for?
Both of these devotionals deal with prayer. The first is about persistence. Keep on, keep on, as they say. Mine and your prayers will be answered. I like what Jake Kampe writes, "We don’t always completely understand God, and most likely never will." I remember one time in my life I prayed for "ten years" before my prayer was answered. It is in God's timing not mine. But my prayer was answered and I thank Him for all the one's He has answered and those He is still answering.
As I read Jake Kampe's second devotional I felt a sadness in my heart for many, many times I am asking for myself and not thinking of others. I love this statement "focuses on something greater than ourselves". That my friends is what I think Christianity is in a nutshell. Jesus many times said, "Father not My will but Thy will be done".
Here I Am Again Lord
Here I am again Lord,
praying on bended knee.
So many issues in my life
that are really bothering me.
I want to be healthier,
though I don’t eat like I should.
I want to have more money,
but wouldn’t work for it if I could.
I want to have more friends,
though I don’t talk to the ones I have.
I want my family to love me more,
but when I’m with them they make me mad.
So God I am still waiting,
for You to answer my prayer,
and if You decide not too,
well, I think it’s not very fair.
Now the moral of this poem is
unanswered prayer we’re always asking why?
See, God is waiting to bless us,
once the focus is off the “I”!
E. P. Shagott
7/29/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
7/28
From a devotional 365.org
by Jake Kampe
"And he said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him." And he answers from within, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything." I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.'"
Luke 11: 5-8
Have you prayed for something very specific, waited for God to come through, but heard only silence? You continued to pray over and over, and it seemed as if your prayers were disappearing into space with no sense that you have been answered? But you continued to pray. Each day you fell to your knees in desperation, begging God to reveal something that will let you know God was there. “Have I done something wrong?” you ask yourself. “Is it because of some sin in my life?” “Are you really there, God?”
Let’s face it, we don’t always completely understand God, and most likely never will. God's answers to prayers are usually not what we think they will be, and many times God doesn’t respond with a simple “yes” or “no.” Sometimes God’s answer is a frustrating, “Not yet.” And that is usually the last thing we want to hear, right? Waiting on God is not something that comes easy for most of us. But one thing is for sure, God never ignores our prayers. Be patient. Be persistent. Continue to pray and in the stillness of the moment, hear God whispering, “Not yet; but keep asking.”
God, I know that your answers to prayers are not always what I might expect. But I know that you hear them and answer them according to what is best for my life. Give me the strength to keep praying and the patience to wait for you to answer. Amen.
*************************************************
7/29
From a devotional 365.org
by Jake Kampe
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Luke 11:9-10
What motivates your prayers? Is it about what you can get, or what you can give? Is it for something temporary, or for something greater? Is it motivated by what will bless you, or what can be a blessing to others? Do you limit your prayers because your focus is on your world, rather than the world beyond you? Let’s say you had one wish and could ask for anything you could imagine. What would you ask for: an endless supply of your favorite drink from Starbucks, or clean water for every living person? Peace in your family, or a solution to the conflicts in the Middle East? That new job, or a cure for cancer?
Now, I’m not suggesting that God doesn’t care about our deep personal needs. God does care! But is it possible that prayer is so much more than just getting what we want? Prayer involves motivation that focuses on something greater than ourselves. It involves looking at the big picture and seeking the impossible. Think about what we have at our disposal. The God of the universe wants to give us what we ask. What might we ask for?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
My Journey 7/26 - 7/27/2010
God's insight to me:
As I read the devotional Alive In Christ, I thought of what our Pastor said Sunday during our prayer time. He spoke asking for blessings for the person on the either side of us and those sitting in front and back of us in the pews. For each one has needs to be brought before God. Then our Pastor prayed for ourselves. Just as Gail Rogers wrote we rarely think of ourselves in need but we all do. She called these "ashes in our lives". These ashes she wrote were from "burned up hope", in our lives. Yes, I can relate to that, as most can. But what I can relate to now is what is written in God's Word. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV) 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. I now realize the truth in His Word where it is written in Psalms 55:22 (NIV) 22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Shortly after reading Gail Rogers devotional the Lord blessed me with this poem;
The Ashes of Life
God reached into my ashes,
and grabbed onto what was there.
It contained many of my hopes and dreams,
the remains from my anger and despair.
He held them gently in His hands
and caressed them with His tears.
He said in a loving, tender voice,
“these ashes are Mine, along with all your fears.”
Then God whispered to my heart,
listen to my Spirit and from My Word take heed.
I have everything you will ever want,
I am all you will ever need!
I lifted my eyes to Heaven,
and thanked the Father above,
for through the ashes of my life,
He created beauty all because of His love.
E. P. Shagott
7/27/10
In the devotional by Marilyn Ehle several words jumped from the page as I read. These words describe this worldly life since the fall of man; poverty, weeping, unnoticed, starving, mocked, shameful, war makers, bound, tortured! But then my eyes found this sentence, “Fix our eyes on Jesus” in the midst of stresses of daily life. What seems like upside down living results in right side up joy." Amen to that.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 26
Alive In Christ
by Gail Rodgers
Shelly loved to reach out to others. She had a heart of compassion for those in need. She rarely thought of herself as needy.
No one likes to think of herself as needy. We prefer other adjectives for ourselves, words that reflect strength or wisdom. As mentors we stand ready to help and to share from our strength and wisdom. We often see those who come to us as the needy ones. We don’t care to have “needy” beside our own name, yet we all wear that tag.
Just for a moment think about your own needs. It’s easier to think of someone else and how you can help them. But can you identify where you are needy? We can see the needs of others clearly, but can be blind to our own.
There is a tool we can use to help us see our own need. Once you have the tool in your hand you will actually be surprised that it works so well. The tool is paying attention to any conflict in your life. Conflict often reflects our unmet needs.
Think about it for a moment. Recall the last encounter you had with conflict. Most of us don’t have to dig very far into our memories. Sometimes the unmet need is basic and easy to remedy such as the need for sleep.
But often it is much deeper. The need to feel valued and heard or the need to be accepted or respected can cause conflict from a wounded heart. Control and manipulation can stem from an angry heart, rooted in a need to forgive others or oneself.
We all have ashes in our lives. A wise friend of mine has said, “Listen for the ashes in peoples lives and then pray into them.” Ashes exist where hope has burned up and need remains. Think about where conflict exists in your life and ask God to help you identify any unmet need, whether yours or someone else’s, that may exist at the root of it. Begin to pray into those needs.
The deep needs of our heart can only be adequately met by God. He is the one who promised to bring “beauty out of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3).
When you see potential conflict lurking on your horizon… stop… and use the opportunity as a tool to build into your own life or to pray into another’s. Look honestly at yourself. Grow from it in these four ways:
• Give God the opportunity to reveal to your heart any unmet need that may be at the root of this conflict. Be open to seeing your own need and be open to praying into the needs of another. It will help dissolve hostility too.
• Recognize that God is the only One who can meet all of your needs.
• Open your heart to God’s help, asking Him to be the Source you need for that unmet need in your life. Bring another Christian alongside who can pray for you in this as you move toward God’s healing and finding “beauty from ashes.”
• Walk beside another in prayer as you pray for their unmet needs. They may not be open to you but you can pray into their life, asking God to be their Source in meeting the needs of their soul.
God invites us to ask for His help in our needs.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
God promises to be the Source for all of our unmet needs.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
As we seek God in our conflicts and allow Him to reveal where we are needy, He will supply what we need and we will be equipped, in greater ways, to extend our hands to the needy in our pathway.
Allow Him to GROW you in and through the deep needs of your heart.
*************************************************
July 27
The Upside Down Life
by Marilyn Ehle
“Blessed are..” (the unlikely ones) Read: Matthew 6
Fighting an uphill battle. Going against the grain. His days are numbered.
Such phrases are usually uttered with stooped shoulders, deflated sighs and faces of resignation and yet “for the Christ follower” they can be shouts of triumph. Jesus’ own words the “blessed ones” of Matthew 6 speak of the incongruity of the Christian life:
The poverty stricken will live like kings
Weepers will know the comfort of deity
The unnoticed faithful will bask in riches
Starving souls will dine with royalty
Mocked mercy-givers will be applauded by God
The shameful majority seem to win, but the pure will gaze on holiness
War makers are rewarded now, but peacemakers will dance innocently with joy
Bound, tortured, shamed, limping unknown Christians will reign freely forever
We read that “Because (Jesus) never lost sight of where He was headed” that exhilarating finish in and with God. “He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever”. Hebrews 12:2, (the Message). That same hope is available to us as we “fix our eyes on Jesus” in the midst of stresses of daily life. What seems like upside down living results in right side up joy.
As I read the devotional Alive In Christ, I thought of what our Pastor said Sunday during our prayer time. He spoke asking for blessings for the person on the either side of us and those sitting in front and back of us in the pews. For each one has needs to be brought before God. Then our Pastor prayed for ourselves. Just as Gail Rogers wrote we rarely think of ourselves in need but we all do. She called these "ashes in our lives". These ashes she wrote were from "burned up hope", in our lives. Yes, I can relate to that, as most can. But what I can relate to now is what is written in God's Word. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV) 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. I now realize the truth in His Word where it is written in Psalms 55:22 (NIV) 22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Shortly after reading Gail Rogers devotional the Lord blessed me with this poem;
The Ashes of Life
God reached into my ashes,
and grabbed onto what was there.
It contained many of my hopes and dreams,
the remains from my anger and despair.
He held them gently in His hands
and caressed them with His tears.
He said in a loving, tender voice,
“these ashes are Mine, along with all your fears.”
Then God whispered to my heart,
listen to my Spirit and from My Word take heed.
I have everything you will ever want,
I am all you will ever need!
I lifted my eyes to Heaven,
and thanked the Father above,
for through the ashes of my life,
He created beauty all because of His love.
E. P. Shagott
7/27/10
In the devotional by Marilyn Ehle several words jumped from the page as I read. These words describe this worldly life since the fall of man; poverty, weeping, unnoticed, starving, mocked, shameful, war makers, bound, tortured! But then my eyes found this sentence, “Fix our eyes on Jesus” in the midst of stresses of daily life. What seems like upside down living results in right side up joy." Amen to that.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 26
Alive In Christ
by Gail Rodgers
Shelly loved to reach out to others. She had a heart of compassion for those in need. She rarely thought of herself as needy.
No one likes to think of herself as needy. We prefer other adjectives for ourselves, words that reflect strength or wisdom. As mentors we stand ready to help and to share from our strength and wisdom. We often see those who come to us as the needy ones. We don’t care to have “needy” beside our own name, yet we all wear that tag.
Just for a moment think about your own needs. It’s easier to think of someone else and how you can help them. But can you identify where you are needy? We can see the needs of others clearly, but can be blind to our own.
There is a tool we can use to help us see our own need. Once you have the tool in your hand you will actually be surprised that it works so well. The tool is paying attention to any conflict in your life. Conflict often reflects our unmet needs.
Think about it for a moment. Recall the last encounter you had with conflict. Most of us don’t have to dig very far into our memories. Sometimes the unmet need is basic and easy to remedy such as the need for sleep.
But often it is much deeper. The need to feel valued and heard or the need to be accepted or respected can cause conflict from a wounded heart. Control and manipulation can stem from an angry heart, rooted in a need to forgive others or oneself.
We all have ashes in our lives. A wise friend of mine has said, “Listen for the ashes in peoples lives and then pray into them.” Ashes exist where hope has burned up and need remains. Think about where conflict exists in your life and ask God to help you identify any unmet need, whether yours or someone else’s, that may exist at the root of it. Begin to pray into those needs.
The deep needs of our heart can only be adequately met by God. He is the one who promised to bring “beauty out of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3).
When you see potential conflict lurking on your horizon… stop… and use the opportunity as a tool to build into your own life or to pray into another’s. Look honestly at yourself. Grow from it in these four ways:
• Give God the opportunity to reveal to your heart any unmet need that may be at the root of this conflict. Be open to seeing your own need and be open to praying into the needs of another. It will help dissolve hostility too.
• Recognize that God is the only One who can meet all of your needs.
• Open your heart to God’s help, asking Him to be the Source you need for that unmet need in your life. Bring another Christian alongside who can pray for you in this as you move toward God’s healing and finding “beauty from ashes.”
• Walk beside another in prayer as you pray for their unmet needs. They may not be open to you but you can pray into their life, asking God to be their Source in meeting the needs of their soul.
God invites us to ask for His help in our needs.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
God promises to be the Source for all of our unmet needs.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
As we seek God in our conflicts and allow Him to reveal where we are needy, He will supply what we need and we will be equipped, in greater ways, to extend our hands to the needy in our pathway.
Allow Him to GROW you in and through the deep needs of your heart.
*************************************************
July 27
The Upside Down Life
by Marilyn Ehle
“Blessed are..” (the unlikely ones) Read: Matthew 6
Fighting an uphill battle. Going against the grain. His days are numbered.
Such phrases are usually uttered with stooped shoulders, deflated sighs and faces of resignation and yet “for the Christ follower” they can be shouts of triumph. Jesus’ own words the “blessed ones” of Matthew 6 speak of the incongruity of the Christian life:
The poverty stricken will live like kings
Weepers will know the comfort of deity
The unnoticed faithful will bask in riches
Starving souls will dine with royalty
Mocked mercy-givers will be applauded by God
The shameful majority seem to win, but the pure will gaze on holiness
War makers are rewarded now, but peacemakers will dance innocently with joy
Bound, tortured, shamed, limping unknown Christians will reign freely forever
We read that “Because (Jesus) never lost sight of where He was headed” that exhilarating finish in and with God. “He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever”. Hebrews 12:2, (the Message). That same hope is available to us as we “fix our eyes on Jesus” in the midst of stresses of daily life. What seems like upside down living results in right side up joy.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
My Journey - 7/25/2010
God's insight to me:
Joseph Charles Philpot (1802 – 1869) "My desire is to exalt the grace of God; to proclaim salvation alone through Jesus Christ; to declare the sinfulness, helplessness and hopelessness of man in a state of nature; to describe the living experience of the children of God in their trials, temptations, sorrows, consolations and blessings." - Joseph Charles Philpot
I came across this devotional by Joseph Charles Philpot. As I read this devotional I thought of the importance of spreading the gospel so that each one of us can feel and believe that God is real. Even though this devotional was written in the 1800's Mr. Philpot understood the importance of receiving Christ's testimony and telling others so that they have the opportunity to accept it also. After being blessed by this testimony the Lord inspired me with this poem.
I Can’t Do It For You
To all my friends and family
and those through my life I will meet.
I can’t do it for you,
all I can do is show you what Christ did for me
I can’t ask Jesus to love you,
for I know He already does.
I can’t guarantee that you’ll be in Heaven,
giving praise with me, to our Father God above.
Each one of us must make that decision,
if you haven’t already, I pray you do someday.
For even as Jesus disciple Thomas asked Him,
“Lord, how can we know the way? "
Jesus gave Thomas and us the answer,
and in the book of John, Chapter 14 verse 6 you will see,
Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life;
no one comes to the Father but by Me.
7/24/2010
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 25
"He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." John 3:33
We can only set to our seal that God is true in any one point of doctrine, experience, or precept when we feel an inward witness that God indeed has declared it. Thus, upon every manifestation of God's goodness to the soul, every application of Christ's blood to the conscience, and every revelation of God's distinguishing grace, it is only as we receive Christ's testimony, experience the inward approbation of it, and feel its sweetness and blessedness that we can set to our seal that God is true. This, we may be well assured, is the only way to know the power and reality of true religion, to understand the Scriptures, and enjoy a convincing testimony that God is our God, Christ our Saviour, the Holy Ghost our Teacher, heaven our eternal home, and that our soul is saved in the Lord Jesus Christ with an everlasting salvation.
And with what divine certainty can such a soul sometimes speak. Sometimes, indeed, we cannot believe anything; it seems as if there were nothing in God's word that we could set our seal to. All seems a mass of confusion, and our ignorance appears so great that we cannot set our seal to any vital truth. But when the blessed Spirit is pleased to testify of the things of God, and we, receiving the testimony of Jesus Christ, walk in the light of that testimony, then there is a holy certainty of and heavenly acquiescence with God's truth. This divine faith will bring us through all our trials and sorrows, and though we may be dragged through a very hell of temptation, yet shall we know God is true. Here, then, is the grand trial of faith; first to receive Christ's testimony, and then to hang upon that testimony, in spite of all opposition from within and without, from feeling its weight, power, and sweetness.
Joseph Charles Philpot (1802 – 1869) "My desire is to exalt the grace of God; to proclaim salvation alone through Jesus Christ; to declare the sinfulness, helplessness and hopelessness of man in a state of nature; to describe the living experience of the children of God in their trials, temptations, sorrows, consolations and blessings." - Joseph Charles Philpot
I came across this devotional by Joseph Charles Philpot. As I read this devotional I thought of the importance of spreading the gospel so that each one of us can feel and believe that God is real. Even though this devotional was written in the 1800's Mr. Philpot understood the importance of receiving Christ's testimony and telling others so that they have the opportunity to accept it also. After being blessed by this testimony the Lord inspired me with this poem.
I Can’t Do It For You
To all my friends and family
and those through my life I will meet.
I can’t do it for you,
all I can do is show you what Christ did for me
I can’t ask Jesus to love you,
for I know He already does.
I can’t guarantee that you’ll be in Heaven,
giving praise with me, to our Father God above.
Each one of us must make that decision,
if you haven’t already, I pray you do someday.
For even as Jesus disciple Thomas asked Him,
“Lord, how can we know the way? "
Jesus gave Thomas and us the answer,
and in the book of John, Chapter 14 verse 6 you will see,
Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life;
no one comes to the Father but by Me.
7/24/2010
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 25
"He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." John 3:33
We can only set to our seal that God is true in any one point of doctrine, experience, or precept when we feel an inward witness that God indeed has declared it. Thus, upon every manifestation of God's goodness to the soul, every application of Christ's blood to the conscience, and every revelation of God's distinguishing grace, it is only as we receive Christ's testimony, experience the inward approbation of it, and feel its sweetness and blessedness that we can set to our seal that God is true. This, we may be well assured, is the only way to know the power and reality of true religion, to understand the Scriptures, and enjoy a convincing testimony that God is our God, Christ our Saviour, the Holy Ghost our Teacher, heaven our eternal home, and that our soul is saved in the Lord Jesus Christ with an everlasting salvation.
And with what divine certainty can such a soul sometimes speak. Sometimes, indeed, we cannot believe anything; it seems as if there were nothing in God's word that we could set our seal to. All seems a mass of confusion, and our ignorance appears so great that we cannot set our seal to any vital truth. But when the blessed Spirit is pleased to testify of the things of God, and we, receiving the testimony of Jesus Christ, walk in the light of that testimony, then there is a holy certainty of and heavenly acquiescence with God's truth. This divine faith will bring us through all our trials and sorrows, and though we may be dragged through a very hell of temptation, yet shall we know God is true. Here, then, is the grand trial of faith; first to receive Christ's testimony, and then to hang upon that testimony, in spite of all opposition from within and without, from feeling its weight, power, and sweetness.
Friday, July 23, 2010
My Journey 7/21 - 7/24/2010
God's insight for me:
As I was reading various devotionals for my journey on these days, though they were good, I found God silent. He wasn't speaking to me or giving me His inspired poems. Today I came to this devotional by Katherine J Kehler. As she wrote about things changing all around us I thought how true. Then as I read on, God's message to me hit home. "Tell them about me!" As I go through my daily journey, though those around me can see a change from the old me, I must be more vocal for Christ! For all eyes that will read this blog please stop and ask yourself, "Is Jesus my friend?" All I can do is tell you how He changed my life. Tomorrow is Sunday. I am not sure what hymns or praise songs they will be singing but "What a friend we have in Jesus" I will be singing in my heart. Praise God!
My Eyes Gazed At The Cross
As I walked into church
and sat in my favorite pew,
my eyes gazed at the cross
and I didn't know what to do.
I envisioned Jesus nailed to it
and heard Him say to me,
"I am glad you came to my house
it is important for Me, you see!
Sometimes in your busy life
you never take time to understand.
See everything you hear, taste, touch and smell
was all created for you, by these nail pierced loving hands!
Remember Sunday is My day
to come learn, sing and give Praise.
For yes, it is I, Jesus,
that is with you each and every day.
So thank you for coming to My house,
this visit is always short and sweet.
I can't wait to thank you in person,
on the day we finally meet!"
E. P. Shagott
1/1/2007
To listen to this inspired hymn on YouTube click here.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
A feature story from "Thoughts About God" website
What a Friend we have in Jesus
by Katherine J Kehler
“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:12).
What a friend we have in Jesus! We sang that song in church yesterday. Wow, that song has meaningful words. Have you sung it recently? Just read the last two lines of the second verse:
“Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrow bear?
Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.”
What an amazing friend! He is always there for us - caring, listening, loving. He never leaves us. He is always the same and He is always there. Our Stability (the Rock)!
Everyone and everything else around us changes constantly. Our bodies change. Our locations change. The seasons change. Children come and go - friends too. Parents leave. Of course, I don’t have to tell you about changes. You are well aware.
That is why, while we were singing, What a Friend we Have in Jesus yesterday, I thought of a very sad time in our lives when our five-month old grandson died suddenly from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It was the hardest time we had ever gone through. Not only were we grieving the loss of our grandson, we watched our children (which was so much worse) go through grief.
During the time I was grieving the death of Spencer, I would often wonder what could be more painful than losing our precious grandbaby? But one day the Holy Spirit told me what could be much, much worse. He reminded me that if Jesus would leave me that would be utterly horrible - total darkness. Can you imagine?
Who would I talk to hundreds of times a day if He weren’t there? Who would I send thoughts of praise to many times a day? Where would I go in times of emergency? Where would I receive Life and Light for the day?
How glad I am that He will never leave me - or you. No matter the changes that occur during our lifetime, He does not change. He does not leave us! He is our “forever friend.” What a friend we have in Jesus!
Father, thank You for living in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that Your Word is truth - all Your promises are true. You will never leave us or forsake us. Thank You so much. Amen.
Is Jesus your friend? Would you like a personal relationship with Him?
Giving your life to Jesus is an act of faith that you can express through prayer.
Praying is simply talking to God. He knows you . What matters is the attitude of your heart, your honesty. We suggest you pray the following prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I thank you for your love and that you came into the world to die for me. I confess that I have directed my own life and that I have therefore sinned against God. I now want to put my trust in you and receive you in my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Make me the person you want me to be. I thank you that you answered my prayer and that you are now in my life. Amen."
Is it the desire of your heart to make this prayer yours?
If yes, pray now and according to his promise, Jesus Christ will come into your life.
As I was reading various devotionals for my journey on these days, though they were good, I found God silent. He wasn't speaking to me or giving me His inspired poems. Today I came to this devotional by Katherine J Kehler. As she wrote about things changing all around us I thought how true. Then as I read on, God's message to me hit home. "Tell them about me!" As I go through my daily journey, though those around me can see a change from the old me, I must be more vocal for Christ! For all eyes that will read this blog please stop and ask yourself, "Is Jesus my friend?" All I can do is tell you how He changed my life. Tomorrow is Sunday. I am not sure what hymns or praise songs they will be singing but "What a friend we have in Jesus" I will be singing in my heart. Praise God!
My Eyes Gazed At The Cross
As I walked into church
and sat in my favorite pew,
my eyes gazed at the cross
and I didn't know what to do.
I envisioned Jesus nailed to it
and heard Him say to me,
"I am glad you came to my house
it is important for Me, you see!
Sometimes in your busy life
you never take time to understand.
See everything you hear, taste, touch and smell
was all created for you, by these nail pierced loving hands!
Remember Sunday is My day
to come learn, sing and give Praise.
For yes, it is I, Jesus,
that is with you each and every day.
So thank you for coming to My house,
this visit is always short and sweet.
I can't wait to thank you in person,
on the day we finally meet!"
E. P. Shagott
1/1/2007
To listen to this inspired hymn on YouTube click here.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
A feature story from "Thoughts About God" website
What a Friend we have in Jesus
by Katherine J Kehler
“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:12).
What a friend we have in Jesus! We sang that song in church yesterday. Wow, that song has meaningful words. Have you sung it recently? Just read the last two lines of the second verse:
“Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrow bear?
Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.”
What an amazing friend! He is always there for us - caring, listening, loving. He never leaves us. He is always the same and He is always there. Our Stability (the Rock)!
Everyone and everything else around us changes constantly. Our bodies change. Our locations change. The seasons change. Children come and go - friends too. Parents leave. Of course, I don’t have to tell you about changes. You are well aware.
That is why, while we were singing, What a Friend we Have in Jesus yesterday, I thought of a very sad time in our lives when our five-month old grandson died suddenly from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It was the hardest time we had ever gone through. Not only were we grieving the loss of our grandson, we watched our children (which was so much worse) go through grief.
During the time I was grieving the death of Spencer, I would often wonder what could be more painful than losing our precious grandbaby? But one day the Holy Spirit told me what could be much, much worse. He reminded me that if Jesus would leave me that would be utterly horrible - total darkness. Can you imagine?
Who would I talk to hundreds of times a day if He weren’t there? Who would I send thoughts of praise to many times a day? Where would I go in times of emergency? Where would I receive Life and Light for the day?
How glad I am that He will never leave me - or you. No matter the changes that occur during our lifetime, He does not change. He does not leave us! He is our “forever friend.” What a friend we have in Jesus!
Father, thank You for living in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that Your Word is truth - all Your promises are true. You will never leave us or forsake us. Thank You so much. Amen.
Is Jesus your friend? Would you like a personal relationship with Him?
Giving your life to Jesus is an act of faith that you can express through prayer.
Praying is simply talking to God. He knows you . What matters is the attitude of your heart, your honesty. We suggest you pray the following prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I thank you for your love and that you came into the world to die for me. I confess that I have directed my own life and that I have therefore sinned against God. I now want to put my trust in you and receive you in my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Make me the person you want me to be. I thank you that you answered my prayer and that you are now in my life. Amen."
Is it the desire of your heart to make this prayer yours?
If yes, pray now and according to his promise, Jesus Christ will come into your life.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
My Journey 7/18 - 7/20/2010
God's insight to me:
I like the devotional by Adrian Rogers. I could just picture in my mind the devil having a yard sale. But what I couldn't understand is why he would be selling these when he freely wants to give them to each of us. As believers it has been said many times that you can not lose your salvation but the devil wants to make you ineffective to reaching others for Christ. The tools that Adrian Rogers writes about will definitely do that. Discouragement is one that we constantly battle. So many people are living a life in a depression state of mind because of a combination of one if not all of these. Stay strong in Christ my friends and remember to tell the devil as Jesus did, "get behind me satan", and also tell him to take his tools with him!
In the devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley it gives us the answer as to how to keep the devil behind us. If the devil is handing you one of his tools don't take it but grab onto one that comes from the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Those my friends are the true tools of life.
Max Lucado's devotional is an excellent description of life. In the Message translation that he used it states that "Life is a journey". When I read that I thought about the title of my blogs that the Lord blesses me with, "My Journey". What stands out most in my life now is the two words that Max Lucado used in this devotional, "love" and "choice". My friends, I choose to love God! I choose to believe that all Scripture is inspired by God. I choose to understand that it is not about me but all about Him!
Reach Into God’s Toolbox
When life’s problems get overwhelming,
and a solution you’re looking for,
reach into God’s toolbox
to solve this problem and more.
If the devil gives you heartaches,
filled with jealously, anger and hate.
Reach into God’s toolbox,
to fix the problem before it’s too late.
Grab onto the tools from the Spirit,
love, joy, peace, and patience, just to name a few.
So whatever the devil is throwing your way,
God has the right tool waiting for you.
Remember the devil wants to keep you discouraged,
thinking each day you will always lose.
God has given us victory through His Son,
all we have to do is choose!
7/20/2010
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 18
The Chief Tool of the Devil
by Adrian Rogers
"Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord…" Psalm 25:15
There's a story about the devil auctioning off his tools. He had a high price on pride, laziness, arrogance, hate, envy, and jealousy.
But there was one tool that had a sign under it that read, "Not For Sale." Someone said, "What is that tool? Why isn't it for sale?" "Well," he said, "I can't afford to get rid of that one. It's my chief tool, discouragement. With this tool, I can pry open a heart. And once I get in, I can do most anything I want."
Do you want me to tell you why you get discouraged? I'll give it to you in a nutshell - you've taken your eyes off God!
Are you discouraged? If not, praise God! Then find someone who is, so that you can give them the encouragement they need in Jesus Christ. Maybe it's your next-door neighbor. Maybe it's a co?-worker. Maybe it's your spouse.
*************************************************
July 19
Can We Trust Our Conscience?
By Dr. Charles Stanley
2 Corinthians 1:12
The conscience looks at thoughts and actions to determine if they are in line with one's principles and standards. It is important to keep our internal alarm system well maintained so it will be trustworthy.
For our moral compass to sound at the right time and for the right reason, we must:
• Accept Scripture as our standard for behavior. Second Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." If we choose to adopt our culture's values, which are often at odds with the Lord's, our conscience will be unreliable. Instead, we want our radar to alert us to the possibility of going off course.
• Align our thinking with the Lord's. Romans 12:2 says to renew our minds. It is necessary and ongoing work to combat what this unbelieving world accepts as true and right. Our alarm system should help us identify ungodly ideas.
• Apply God's Word to daily living. When our habits reflect godly values, our conscience will become more sensitive to what is right and wrong.
In addition, it is essential that we rely on the Holy Spirit for understanding. Our conscience by itself is of some value, but it becomes indispensable when accompanied by the Spirit's guidance (John 16:13).
The Scriptures teach us how to live—in our thought life, conduct, and emotions (Gal. 5:16-23). As we make our standards align more closely with the Lord's, our conscience will become increasingly trustworthy because it is based on what is important to our heavenly Father.
*************************************************
July 20
Dangerous Liberty
By Max Lucado
“Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.” 1 Peter 1:17, The Message
Each life is . . . a story to be written.
The Author starts each life story, but each life will write his or her own ending.
What a dangerous liberty. How much safer it would have been to finish the story for each Adam. To script every opinion. It would have been simpler. It would have been safer.
But it would not have been love.
Love is only love if chosen.
*************************************************
*************************************************
*************************************************
I like the devotional by Adrian Rogers. I could just picture in my mind the devil having a yard sale. But what I couldn't understand is why he would be selling these when he freely wants to give them to each of us. As believers it has been said many times that you can not lose your salvation but the devil wants to make you ineffective to reaching others for Christ. The tools that Adrian Rogers writes about will definitely do that. Discouragement is one that we constantly battle. So many people are living a life in a depression state of mind because of a combination of one if not all of these. Stay strong in Christ my friends and remember to tell the devil as Jesus did, "get behind me satan", and also tell him to take his tools with him!
In the devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley it gives us the answer as to how to keep the devil behind us. If the devil is handing you one of his tools don't take it but grab onto one that comes from the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Those my friends are the true tools of life.
Max Lucado's devotional is an excellent description of life. In the Message translation that he used it states that "Life is a journey". When I read that I thought about the title of my blogs that the Lord blesses me with, "My Journey". What stands out most in my life now is the two words that Max Lucado used in this devotional, "love" and "choice". My friends, I choose to love God! I choose to believe that all Scripture is inspired by God. I choose to understand that it is not about me but all about Him!
Reach Into God’s Toolbox
When life’s problems get overwhelming,
and a solution you’re looking for,
reach into God’s toolbox
to solve this problem and more.
If the devil gives you heartaches,
filled with jealously, anger and hate.
Reach into God’s toolbox,
to fix the problem before it’s too late.
Grab onto the tools from the Spirit,
love, joy, peace, and patience, just to name a few.
So whatever the devil is throwing your way,
God has the right tool waiting for you.
Remember the devil wants to keep you discouraged,
thinking each day you will always lose.
God has given us victory through His Son,
all we have to do is choose!
7/20/2010
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 18
The Chief Tool of the Devil
by Adrian Rogers
"Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord…" Psalm 25:15
There's a story about the devil auctioning off his tools. He had a high price on pride, laziness, arrogance, hate, envy, and jealousy.
But there was one tool that had a sign under it that read, "Not For Sale." Someone said, "What is that tool? Why isn't it for sale?" "Well," he said, "I can't afford to get rid of that one. It's my chief tool, discouragement. With this tool, I can pry open a heart. And once I get in, I can do most anything I want."
Do you want me to tell you why you get discouraged? I'll give it to you in a nutshell - you've taken your eyes off God!
Are you discouraged? If not, praise God! Then find someone who is, so that you can give them the encouragement they need in Jesus Christ. Maybe it's your next-door neighbor. Maybe it's a co?-worker. Maybe it's your spouse.
*************************************************
July 19
Can We Trust Our Conscience?
By Dr. Charles Stanley
2 Corinthians 1:12
The conscience looks at thoughts and actions to determine if they are in line with one's principles and standards. It is important to keep our internal alarm system well maintained so it will be trustworthy.
For our moral compass to sound at the right time and for the right reason, we must:
• Accept Scripture as our standard for behavior. Second Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." If we choose to adopt our culture's values, which are often at odds with the Lord's, our conscience will be unreliable. Instead, we want our radar to alert us to the possibility of going off course.
• Align our thinking with the Lord's. Romans 12:2 says to renew our minds. It is necessary and ongoing work to combat what this unbelieving world accepts as true and right. Our alarm system should help us identify ungodly ideas.
• Apply God's Word to daily living. When our habits reflect godly values, our conscience will become more sensitive to what is right and wrong.
In addition, it is essential that we rely on the Holy Spirit for understanding. Our conscience by itself is of some value, but it becomes indispensable when accompanied by the Spirit's guidance (John 16:13).
The Scriptures teach us how to live—in our thought life, conduct, and emotions (Gal. 5:16-23). As we make our standards align more closely with the Lord's, our conscience will become increasingly trustworthy because it is based on what is important to our heavenly Father.
*************************************************
July 20
Dangerous Liberty
By Max Lucado
“Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.” 1 Peter 1:17, The Message
Each life is . . . a story to be written.
The Author starts each life story, but each life will write his or her own ending.
What a dangerous liberty. How much safer it would have been to finish the story for each Adam. To script every opinion. It would have been simpler. It would have been safer.
But it would not have been love.
Love is only love if chosen.
*************************************************
*************************************************
*************************************************
Saturday, July 17, 2010
My Journey - 7/17/2010
God's insight to me:
This devotional by George H. Morrison is lengthy but very inspiring. After reading it the Lord blessed me with this poem. May both the devotional and the poem bless the eyes of the people that read it. My prayer is that each one can understand there is more to this life than what we are able to understand. Put your life in His hands!
Behold His Hands
Behold His hands so strong and true
that guide us through our day.
Hands that lift us when we fall,
and wipe our tears away.
Behold His hands of brotherhood
that reaches out to everyone.
To seek and touch each lonely soul,
ever since their lives begun.
Behold His hands of power,
that through Him keep us strong.
And by His hands that give us strength
to keep us from all wrong.
Behold His hands of tenderness,
that soothes each breaking heart.
These are the hands of God my friends,
that have been with us from the start.
Behold His hands of suffering,
that were nailed to the tree.
These are the hands of Jesus,
The Lamb of Calvary!
Behold the hands of reassurance,
that never will let us go.
Behold the hands of the Trinity,
reaching out because They love us so!
E. P. Shagott
7/17/2010
*************************************************
July 17
Hands BeautifulA George H. Morrison devotional sermon
Behold my hands--Luke 24:39
The Hand--A Symbol of the Active Life
The Bible is signally distinguished for this, that with a message from God it reaches the human heart, but not less remarkable is the attention which it directs to the human hands. In our Western speech, with its leaning toward abstraction, we speak of character and its outflow in conduct; but in the Eastern speech, which has always been pictorial, men spoke of the heart and its witness in the hands. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ....? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart." "If thy hand offend thee, cut it off." "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." And Pilate, wishing to assert his innocence in a manner which the Jews could comprehend, did not cry, "My conduct is reproachless," but in the presence of them all he washed his hands. That is the symbolism of the hand in Scripture. It is conduct incarnate, the sign of the active life. It is the organ through which is sketched, as on a screen, the thought that is singing or surging in the heart.
Behold My Hands
Now if that be true of every human hand, it will be very specially true of the hands of Christ. He is always saying to us "Behold My heart": but in the same voice He says, "Behold My hands." Could any meditation, then, be more appropriate for some quiet evening of communion on a Sabbath? Try to conceive that Christ is in your midst, that Christ on whose body and blood mystical you fed today. Try to conceive that He is standing there and saying to everyone of you, "Behold My hands." What are these hands? What do they signify? We shall run through the Gospel story that we may see.
Hands of Brotherhood
Behold His hands, then, for they are hands of brotherhood. When Jesus came into Peter's house, we read, He saw his wife's mother sick of a fever. And what did He do? He put out His hand and touched her, and she arose and ministered to them. When He was in Bethsaida they brought a blind man to Him, beseeching Him that He would heal him. And what did He do? He took the blind man by the hand, and hand in hand they left the town together. And the world will never forget that scene at Nain, when Jesus met the sad procession to the grave, and moved with compassion He put forth His hand, and touched the bier. In all these cases, and in a hundred others, what men recognized in the touch was brotherhood. Here was no cold pity, no condescension, no distance of heart from heart. Christ came alongside of suffering and sorrow, brought Himself into living and actual touch with it; and the men who were standing by, and who saw it all, said, "Behold His hands, they are the hands of brotherhood."
And always, where the Gospel is at work, it stretches out its hands in the same way. Is not this the glory of the Christian spirit that it pulsates with the sweet sense of brotherhood. The poet Crabee, talking about charity, says:
A common bounty may relieve distress,
But whom the vulgar succor they oppress.
But the Christian never lowers when he helps, for with everything he gives, he gives his hand. It is not the way of the Gospel to isolate itself, and to give cold advice and help as from a distance. It bears men's burdens, understands their need, calls the poorest, brother, and the fallen, sister. Until men feel that the hands stretched out today are the very hands that touched the bier at Nain, and they know that the hands of Christ are hands of brotherhood.
Hands of Power
Again, behold His hands, for they are hands of power. When Jesus went back the second time to Nazareth, do you remember what the villagers said about Him? What they could not fathom was how this carpenter's Son was endued with His unquestionable power. "What wisdom is this that is given Him," they said, "that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands." They had seen these hands busy at carpentering once, but now there was a power in their touch that baffled them. And then I turn to the Gospel of St. John, where our Savior Himself is speaking of His sheep; and He says, "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Behold His hands, then, for they are hands of power; they are powerful to do and powerful to keep. There have never been hands on earth like those of Jesus, so mighty in action and in guardianship.
I read the other day in some book about China a remark that had been made by a young Chinese convert. He belonged to the literary class, and had studied Confucius, and the remark he made was something of this kind. He said, "The difference between Confucius and Christ is not so much a question of morality: for I find the golden rule in the sacred books of the East, and a great deal more that Jesus might have uttered; but the difference is that once I was told what to do, but left quite helpless and powerless to do it; but now with the ideal comes the power." The hand of Confucius was a cold, dead hand; it had written the maxim--it could not inspire the man. There was no power in its touch to kindle the dark heart, to animate the will, to change the life. But in contact with Jesus it was very different--that was the meaning of this Chinese student--there was healing and there was power in His touch. What is the power that has abolished slavery? What is the power that has given us a free Scotland? What is the power that has changed ten million lives, inspired the missionary, and made the social worker? The power is the power of the touch of Jesus; it is the impress and the impact of His hand. Behold His hands, then, in the advance of Christendom. Behold His hands in the change of countless lives. Behold them in the new ideals of the multitude; in the graces and perseverance of the saint. They are not only hands of brotherhood, for their very touch has been an inspiration. Behold His hands, for they are hands of power.
Hands of Tenderness
Then again, behold His hands, for they are hands of tenderness. Of all the exquisite pictures in the Gospel I think there is none more exquisite than the scene when "the mothers of Salem their children brought to Jesus." With a mother's instinct for a Man who was really good, they wished their children to be blessed by Him. And the disciples would have kept the children off: Christ was too busy with great affairs to heed an infant. They had never guessed yet that the kingdom of heaven was mirrored for Jesus in these childish eyes. Then Jesus drew the little children to Him, and blessed them; but He did more than that. It has sunk deep into the memories of the evangelists that in blessing them He laid His hand upon them. Do not spoil the act by making it sacerdotal. Do not imagine that He was communicating grace. It was an act of the sweetest and most natural tenderness, the gentle and caressing touch of love. When He laid His hand upon the infant's head, He was laying it upon the mother's heart. Do you think these mothers ever would forget it? Some of them would see that hand again. It would be pierced then, streaming with red blood, and they would say, "Look! that hand was once laid upon my child." Behold His hands, then, they are hands of power; but the mothers could tell you that they were hands of tenderness.
Is not that one of the wonders of Christ's touch--the union of power and gentleness that marks it? It is mighty to heal, mighty to raise the dead; but a bruised reed it will not break. Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, so is He named in the Book of Revelation; but when John looked in heaven for the Lion, behold, in the midst of the throne a Lamb as it had been slain. Why is the Gospel so precious when the chair is empty and the grave is full? Can you tell me why in seasons of disappointment, in times of distress, anxiety, and sorrow, men find in the Bible their best and truest Comforter? It is not only because the hand of Jesus is powerful to console and to assuage; it is because when every other touch would pain, the touch of Jesus is exquisitely tender. Why are our Christian homes so full of gentle love, so different from the stern spirit of antiquity? There is only one answer, it is "Behold His hands": it is the touch of Christ which has achieved it. In the tender and happy grace of Christian womanhood--behold His hands. In the kindness and care that is shown to the dumb creatures--behold His hands. The very dogs, says Dr. Laws of Livingstonia, the very dogs here feel the benefits of Christianity. His touch is mighty, then, mighty to heal and save--there are those who vouch for that. But the hand that was laid so gently on the children has never been withdrawn from humanity.
Hands of Suffering
Once more, behold His hands, for they were once disfigured. Their beauty was torn away from them with wounds. They were pierced with nails, and fastened to the cross, in the hour when Jesus Christ was crucified. I have often thought that the scribes and Pharisees must have had a twice-distilled pleasure when the hands were nailed. They would say "Behold these hands that once wrought such mighty deeds; they will never trouble or vex us anymore. Look at them ragged and torn, pierced through and through." It was an exquisite morsel of revenge. These hands had played havoc with the priest's hypocrisies: they had plaited the scourge and used it in the Temple. Look at them now on the cross--what hands in the world so powerless--their little day of authority is dead.
But the strange thing is that it is the hands which were pierced that have been the mightiest power in human history. Not the hands laid upon the blind man's eyes, not the hands laid upon the children's heads, have been so mighty in the world's redemption as the hands that were marred and wounded on the cross. Is not that strange? There was a little maiden whose mother was very beautiful--she was very beautiful excepting her hands, and her hands were shrunken and shriveled and unsightly. For a long time, with the delicate reticence of girlhood, the little girl said nothing on the matter; but at last her curiosity overpowered her. "Mother," she said, "I love your beautiful face, and I love your beautiful eyes and brow and neck; but I cannot love your hands, they are so ugly." Then her mother told her the story of her hands. She said, "When you were an infant sleeping in your cradle, one night the cry of fire rang through the house. I rushed upstairs--the nursery was ablaze--but God led me right to the cradle and I saved you; but ever since then my hands have been like this." The little girl was silent for a moment. Then she said "O mother, I still love your face: but I love your hands now. best of all. "Behold His hands, for they were pierced for us!
Hands of Reassurance
Lastly, behold His hands for they are hands of reassurance. After Jesus was risen from the dead, the disciples gathered together and Thomas was with them. And Jesus appeared standing in their midst, and said to them "Peace be with you." We all know how Thomas had doubted Him. He had said, "except I see in His hand the print of the nails." Nothing would satisfy or convince that realist except the print of the nail upon the palm. And Jesus said to him, "Thomas, behold My hand; is not that the hand that was nailed upon the tree?"--which, when hearing and seeing, Thomas falls before Him crying "My Lord and my God." I ask you ever to remember, then, that the hand of Christ is a reassuring hand. When we are tempted to doubt if He still lives and reigns, to us as to Thomas He says, "Behold My hands." Much may be dark to us and much may be inexplicable; we may not fathom the mysteries of grace. We know not where Jesus is, nor can we behold Him; but like Thomas we can behold His hands. In a thousand deeds and in a thousand lives there is the unmistakable touch of the Redeemer. Does not that reassure us and kindle our faith again? Does it not inspire our hope and nerve our faint endeavor? It is the risen Savior saying, "Behold My hands"; it is our answering cry "My Lord and My God."
This devotional by George H. Morrison is lengthy but very inspiring. After reading it the Lord blessed me with this poem. May both the devotional and the poem bless the eyes of the people that read it. My prayer is that each one can understand there is more to this life than what we are able to understand. Put your life in His hands!
Behold His Hands
Behold His hands so strong and true
that guide us through our day.
Hands that lift us when we fall,
and wipe our tears away.
Behold His hands of brotherhood
that reaches out to everyone.
To seek and touch each lonely soul,
ever since their lives begun.
Behold His hands of power,
that through Him keep us strong.
And by His hands that give us strength
to keep us from all wrong.
Behold His hands of tenderness,
that soothes each breaking heart.
These are the hands of God my friends,
that have been with us from the start.
Behold His hands of suffering,
that were nailed to the tree.
These are the hands of Jesus,
The Lamb of Calvary!
Behold the hands of reassurance,
that never will let us go.
Behold the hands of the Trinity,
reaching out because They love us so!
E. P. Shagott
7/17/2010
*************************************************
July 17
Hands BeautifulA George H. Morrison devotional sermon
Behold my hands--Luke 24:39
The Hand--A Symbol of the Active Life
The Bible is signally distinguished for this, that with a message from God it reaches the human heart, but not less remarkable is the attention which it directs to the human hands. In our Western speech, with its leaning toward abstraction, we speak of character and its outflow in conduct; but in the Eastern speech, which has always been pictorial, men spoke of the heart and its witness in the hands. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ....? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart." "If thy hand offend thee, cut it off." "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." And Pilate, wishing to assert his innocence in a manner which the Jews could comprehend, did not cry, "My conduct is reproachless," but in the presence of them all he washed his hands. That is the symbolism of the hand in Scripture. It is conduct incarnate, the sign of the active life. It is the organ through which is sketched, as on a screen, the thought that is singing or surging in the heart.
Behold My Hands
Now if that be true of every human hand, it will be very specially true of the hands of Christ. He is always saying to us "Behold My heart": but in the same voice He says, "Behold My hands." Could any meditation, then, be more appropriate for some quiet evening of communion on a Sabbath? Try to conceive that Christ is in your midst, that Christ on whose body and blood mystical you fed today. Try to conceive that He is standing there and saying to everyone of you, "Behold My hands." What are these hands? What do they signify? We shall run through the Gospel story that we may see.
Hands of Brotherhood
Behold His hands, then, for they are hands of brotherhood. When Jesus came into Peter's house, we read, He saw his wife's mother sick of a fever. And what did He do? He put out His hand and touched her, and she arose and ministered to them. When He was in Bethsaida they brought a blind man to Him, beseeching Him that He would heal him. And what did He do? He took the blind man by the hand, and hand in hand they left the town together. And the world will never forget that scene at Nain, when Jesus met the sad procession to the grave, and moved with compassion He put forth His hand, and touched the bier. In all these cases, and in a hundred others, what men recognized in the touch was brotherhood. Here was no cold pity, no condescension, no distance of heart from heart. Christ came alongside of suffering and sorrow, brought Himself into living and actual touch with it; and the men who were standing by, and who saw it all, said, "Behold His hands, they are the hands of brotherhood."
And always, where the Gospel is at work, it stretches out its hands in the same way. Is not this the glory of the Christian spirit that it pulsates with the sweet sense of brotherhood. The poet Crabee, talking about charity, says:
A common bounty may relieve distress,
But whom the vulgar succor they oppress.
But the Christian never lowers when he helps, for with everything he gives, he gives his hand. It is not the way of the Gospel to isolate itself, and to give cold advice and help as from a distance. It bears men's burdens, understands their need, calls the poorest, brother, and the fallen, sister. Until men feel that the hands stretched out today are the very hands that touched the bier at Nain, and they know that the hands of Christ are hands of brotherhood.
Hands of Power
Again, behold His hands, for they are hands of power. When Jesus went back the second time to Nazareth, do you remember what the villagers said about Him? What they could not fathom was how this carpenter's Son was endued with His unquestionable power. "What wisdom is this that is given Him," they said, "that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands." They had seen these hands busy at carpentering once, but now there was a power in their touch that baffled them. And then I turn to the Gospel of St. John, where our Savior Himself is speaking of His sheep; and He says, "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Behold His hands, then, for they are hands of power; they are powerful to do and powerful to keep. There have never been hands on earth like those of Jesus, so mighty in action and in guardianship.
I read the other day in some book about China a remark that had been made by a young Chinese convert. He belonged to the literary class, and had studied Confucius, and the remark he made was something of this kind. He said, "The difference between Confucius and Christ is not so much a question of morality: for I find the golden rule in the sacred books of the East, and a great deal more that Jesus might have uttered; but the difference is that once I was told what to do, but left quite helpless and powerless to do it; but now with the ideal comes the power." The hand of Confucius was a cold, dead hand; it had written the maxim--it could not inspire the man. There was no power in its touch to kindle the dark heart, to animate the will, to change the life. But in contact with Jesus it was very different--that was the meaning of this Chinese student--there was healing and there was power in His touch. What is the power that has abolished slavery? What is the power that has given us a free Scotland? What is the power that has changed ten million lives, inspired the missionary, and made the social worker? The power is the power of the touch of Jesus; it is the impress and the impact of His hand. Behold His hands, then, in the advance of Christendom. Behold His hands in the change of countless lives. Behold them in the new ideals of the multitude; in the graces and perseverance of the saint. They are not only hands of brotherhood, for their very touch has been an inspiration. Behold His hands, for they are hands of power.
Hands of Tenderness
Then again, behold His hands, for they are hands of tenderness. Of all the exquisite pictures in the Gospel I think there is none more exquisite than the scene when "the mothers of Salem their children brought to Jesus." With a mother's instinct for a Man who was really good, they wished their children to be blessed by Him. And the disciples would have kept the children off: Christ was too busy with great affairs to heed an infant. They had never guessed yet that the kingdom of heaven was mirrored for Jesus in these childish eyes. Then Jesus drew the little children to Him, and blessed them; but He did more than that. It has sunk deep into the memories of the evangelists that in blessing them He laid His hand upon them. Do not spoil the act by making it sacerdotal. Do not imagine that He was communicating grace. It was an act of the sweetest and most natural tenderness, the gentle and caressing touch of love. When He laid His hand upon the infant's head, He was laying it upon the mother's heart. Do you think these mothers ever would forget it? Some of them would see that hand again. It would be pierced then, streaming with red blood, and they would say, "Look! that hand was once laid upon my child." Behold His hands, then, they are hands of power; but the mothers could tell you that they were hands of tenderness.
Is not that one of the wonders of Christ's touch--the union of power and gentleness that marks it? It is mighty to heal, mighty to raise the dead; but a bruised reed it will not break. Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, so is He named in the Book of Revelation; but when John looked in heaven for the Lion, behold, in the midst of the throne a Lamb as it had been slain. Why is the Gospel so precious when the chair is empty and the grave is full? Can you tell me why in seasons of disappointment, in times of distress, anxiety, and sorrow, men find in the Bible their best and truest Comforter? It is not only because the hand of Jesus is powerful to console and to assuage; it is because when every other touch would pain, the touch of Jesus is exquisitely tender. Why are our Christian homes so full of gentle love, so different from the stern spirit of antiquity? There is only one answer, it is "Behold His hands": it is the touch of Christ which has achieved it. In the tender and happy grace of Christian womanhood--behold His hands. In the kindness and care that is shown to the dumb creatures--behold His hands. The very dogs, says Dr. Laws of Livingstonia, the very dogs here feel the benefits of Christianity. His touch is mighty, then, mighty to heal and save--there are those who vouch for that. But the hand that was laid so gently on the children has never been withdrawn from humanity.
Hands of Suffering
Once more, behold His hands, for they were once disfigured. Their beauty was torn away from them with wounds. They were pierced with nails, and fastened to the cross, in the hour when Jesus Christ was crucified. I have often thought that the scribes and Pharisees must have had a twice-distilled pleasure when the hands were nailed. They would say "Behold these hands that once wrought such mighty deeds; they will never trouble or vex us anymore. Look at them ragged and torn, pierced through and through." It was an exquisite morsel of revenge. These hands had played havoc with the priest's hypocrisies: they had plaited the scourge and used it in the Temple. Look at them now on the cross--what hands in the world so powerless--their little day of authority is dead.
But the strange thing is that it is the hands which were pierced that have been the mightiest power in human history. Not the hands laid upon the blind man's eyes, not the hands laid upon the children's heads, have been so mighty in the world's redemption as the hands that were marred and wounded on the cross. Is not that strange? There was a little maiden whose mother was very beautiful--she was very beautiful excepting her hands, and her hands were shrunken and shriveled and unsightly. For a long time, with the delicate reticence of girlhood, the little girl said nothing on the matter; but at last her curiosity overpowered her. "Mother," she said, "I love your beautiful face, and I love your beautiful eyes and brow and neck; but I cannot love your hands, they are so ugly." Then her mother told her the story of her hands. She said, "When you were an infant sleeping in your cradle, one night the cry of fire rang through the house. I rushed upstairs--the nursery was ablaze--but God led me right to the cradle and I saved you; but ever since then my hands have been like this." The little girl was silent for a moment. Then she said "O mother, I still love your face: but I love your hands now. best of all. "Behold His hands, for they were pierced for us!
Hands of Reassurance
Lastly, behold His hands for they are hands of reassurance. After Jesus was risen from the dead, the disciples gathered together and Thomas was with them. And Jesus appeared standing in their midst, and said to them "Peace be with you." We all know how Thomas had doubted Him. He had said, "except I see in His hand the print of the nails." Nothing would satisfy or convince that realist except the print of the nail upon the palm. And Jesus said to him, "Thomas, behold My hand; is not that the hand that was nailed upon the tree?"--which, when hearing and seeing, Thomas falls before Him crying "My Lord and my God." I ask you ever to remember, then, that the hand of Christ is a reassuring hand. When we are tempted to doubt if He still lives and reigns, to us as to Thomas He says, "Behold My hands." Much may be dark to us and much may be inexplicable; we may not fathom the mysteries of grace. We know not where Jesus is, nor can we behold Him; but like Thomas we can behold His hands. In a thousand deeds and in a thousand lives there is the unmistakable touch of the Redeemer. Does not that reassure us and kindle our faith again? Does it not inspire our hope and nerve our faint endeavor? It is the risen Savior saying, "Behold My hands"; it is our answering cry "My Lord and My God."
Friday, July 16, 2010
My Journey 7/15 - 7/16/2010
God's insight to me:
As I was reading the devotional by A. B. Simpson the song, "You Are My All in All", came to mind. We sang this last Sunday in church. Click here to listen to on YouTube. This song is an inspiration to sing in God's church on a Sunday morning, expressing how each of us there feel. Well, I hope everyone there feels that way. I love how A. B. Simpson writes, "Moment by moment we may now take Him as our grace and strength, our faith and love, our victory and joy, our all in all."
The Streams in the Desert devotional has a wonderful poem by George MacDonald. The devotional and the poem both speak of God's leading. I have often used the quote, "A lot of people want to serve God, but only as adviser's!", in some of the God's Love Outreach Ministry programs. When God speaks to our hearts and asks us to do something for Him we always want to but, do it our way in our time.
I love Max Lucado's devotional. From it the Lord blessed me with this poem today. Always remember that Christ is our bridge to the Father. His love for us bridges the Father's love to us. Thank You Jesus!
The Bridge
I came upon a bridge today,
that separated someone from me.
Neither one wanted to cross,
so together we could be.
The bridge seemed so very long,
we were both unsure what we’d find.
On either side would there be, friend or foe?
Would their hearts be cruel or kind?
At first we both were hesitant,
leery to take the first step.
Then Jesus said, “Remember my commandments,
the ones you both said you kept?
Love your neighbor as yourself
is important as can be.
Love is the bridge that connects each heart,
and it all began at Calvary.
E. P. Shagott
7/16/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 15
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
A devotional by A. B. Simpson
"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" (Song of Solomon vi. 3).
If I am the Lord's then the Lord is mine. If Christ owns me I own Him. And so faith must reach out and claim its full inheritance and begin to use its great resources. Moment by moment we may now take Him as our grace and strength, our faith and love, our victory and joy, our all in all.
And as we thus claim Him we will find His grace sufficient for us, and begin to learn that giving all is just receiving all. Yes, consecration is getting Him fully instead of our own miserable life.
There are, indeed, two sides of it. There are two persons in the consecration. One of them is the dear Lord Himself.
"And for their sakes," He says, "I consecrate Myself that they also might be consecrated through the truth." The moment we consecrate ourselves to Him He consecrates Himself to us, and henceforth, the whole strength of His life and love and everlasting power is dedicated to keep and complete our consecration, and to make the very best and most of our consecrated life.
Who would not give himself to such a Saviour? Surely we will to-day, first give ourselves and then give Him each moment as it comes, to be filled and used.
*************************************************
July 16
Streams in the Desert
a devotional by Mrs. Charles Cowman Devotional
Who is Leading?
"O Lord , I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23).
"Lead me in a plain path" (Ps. 27:14).
Many people want to direct God, instead of
resigning themselves to be directed by Him; to
show Him a way, instead of passively following
where He leads. --Madame Guyon
I said: "Let me walk in the field";
God said: 'Nay, walk in the town";
I said: "There are no flowers there";
He said: "No flowers, but a crown."
I said: "But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din";
But He wept as He sent me back,
"There is more," He said, "there is sin
I said: "But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun";
He answered: "Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone."
I said: "I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say";
He answered me, "Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they."
I pleaded for time to be given;
He said: "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have, followed the steps of your Guide."
I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said: "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"
Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light Divine,
The path I had feared to see.
--George MacDonald
*************************************************
July 16
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
a devotional by A. B. Simpson
"As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God" (Ps. xlii. 1).
First in order to a consecrated life there must be a sense of need, the need of purity, of power, and of a greater nearness to the Lord. There often comes in Christian life a second conviction.
It is not now a sense of guilt and God's wrath so much as of the power and evil of inward sin, and the unsatisfactoriness of the life the soul is living. It usually comes from the deeper revelation of God's truth, from more spiritual teaching, from definite examples and testimonies of this life in others, and often from an experience of deep trial, conflict and temptation in which the soul has found its attainments and resources inadequate for the real issues and needs of life.
The first result is often a deep discouragement and even despair, but the valley of Achor is the door of hope, and the seventh chapter of Romans with its bitter cry, "O wretched man that I am," is the gateway to the eighth with its shout of triumph, "The Spirit of life in Christ hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
*************************************************
July 16
The Bridge of Friendship
By Max Lucado
“Unfriendly people are selfish.” Proverbs 18:1
We’re in a fast-moving, fast-paced society. We need to build bridges between our hearts and those of people who need a friend—and allow Jesus to cross that bridge of friendship and walk into their lives . . .
Whether or not you are friendly could determine whether or not someone hears about Jesus.
As I was reading the devotional by A. B. Simpson the song, "You Are My All in All", came to mind. We sang this last Sunday in church. Click here to listen to on YouTube. This song is an inspiration to sing in God's church on a Sunday morning, expressing how each of us there feel. Well, I hope everyone there feels that way. I love how A. B. Simpson writes, "Moment by moment we may now take Him as our grace and strength, our faith and love, our victory and joy, our all in all."
The Streams in the Desert devotional has a wonderful poem by George MacDonald. The devotional and the poem both speak of God's leading. I have often used the quote, "A lot of people want to serve God, but only as adviser's!", in some of the God's Love Outreach Ministry programs. When God speaks to our hearts and asks us to do something for Him we always want to but, do it our way in our time.
I love Max Lucado's devotional. From it the Lord blessed me with this poem today. Always remember that Christ is our bridge to the Father. His love for us bridges the Father's love to us. Thank You Jesus!
The Bridge
I came upon a bridge today,
that separated someone from me.
Neither one wanted to cross,
so together we could be.
The bridge seemed so very long,
we were both unsure what we’d find.
On either side would there be, friend or foe?
Would their hearts be cruel or kind?
At first we both were hesitant,
leery to take the first step.
Then Jesus said, “Remember my commandments,
the ones you both said you kept?
Love your neighbor as yourself
is important as can be.
Love is the bridge that connects each heart,
and it all began at Calvary.
E. P. Shagott
7/16/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 15
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
A devotional by A. B. Simpson
"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" (Song of Solomon vi. 3).
If I am the Lord's then the Lord is mine. If Christ owns me I own Him. And so faith must reach out and claim its full inheritance and begin to use its great resources. Moment by moment we may now take Him as our grace and strength, our faith and love, our victory and joy, our all in all.
And as we thus claim Him we will find His grace sufficient for us, and begin to learn that giving all is just receiving all. Yes, consecration is getting Him fully instead of our own miserable life.
There are, indeed, two sides of it. There are two persons in the consecration. One of them is the dear Lord Himself.
"And for their sakes," He says, "I consecrate Myself that they also might be consecrated through the truth." The moment we consecrate ourselves to Him He consecrates Himself to us, and henceforth, the whole strength of His life and love and everlasting power is dedicated to keep and complete our consecration, and to make the very best and most of our consecrated life.
Who would not give himself to such a Saviour? Surely we will to-day, first give ourselves and then give Him each moment as it comes, to be filled and used.
*************************************************
July 16
Streams in the Desert
a devotional by Mrs. Charles Cowman Devotional
Who is Leading?
"O Lord , I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23).
"Lead me in a plain path" (Ps. 27:14).
Many people want to direct God, instead of
resigning themselves to be directed by Him; to
show Him a way, instead of passively following
where He leads. --Madame Guyon
I said: "Let me walk in the field";
God said: 'Nay, walk in the town";
I said: "There are no flowers there";
He said: "No flowers, but a crown."
I said: "But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din";
But He wept as He sent me back,
"There is more," He said, "there is sin
I said: "But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun";
He answered: "Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone."
I said: "I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say";
He answered me, "Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they."
I pleaded for time to be given;
He said: "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have, followed the steps of your Guide."
I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said: "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"
Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light Divine,
The path I had feared to see.
--George MacDonald
*************************************************
July 16
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
a devotional by A. B. Simpson
"As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God" (Ps. xlii. 1).
First in order to a consecrated life there must be a sense of need, the need of purity, of power, and of a greater nearness to the Lord. There often comes in Christian life a second conviction.
It is not now a sense of guilt and God's wrath so much as of the power and evil of inward sin, and the unsatisfactoriness of the life the soul is living. It usually comes from the deeper revelation of God's truth, from more spiritual teaching, from definite examples and testimonies of this life in others, and often from an experience of deep trial, conflict and temptation in which the soul has found its attainments and resources inadequate for the real issues and needs of life.
The first result is often a deep discouragement and even despair, but the valley of Achor is the door of hope, and the seventh chapter of Romans with its bitter cry, "O wretched man that I am," is the gateway to the eighth with its shout of triumph, "The Spirit of life in Christ hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
*************************************************
July 16
The Bridge of Friendship
By Max Lucado
“Unfriendly people are selfish.” Proverbs 18:1
We’re in a fast-moving, fast-paced society. We need to build bridges between our hearts and those of people who need a friend—and allow Jesus to cross that bridge of friendship and walk into their lives . . .
Whether or not you are friendly could determine whether or not someone hears about Jesus.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
My Journey 7/13 - 7/14/2010
God's insight to me:
I like this devotional by A. B. Simpson for it states what is most important for a Christian walk. As a pastor of mine once said, "We must learn to put ourselves down as we lift Jesus up!" Self-forgetting is an interesting way of putting it. We live today in a very "me" orientated world. If "we" don't get what "we" want "we" try to make someone else feel "our" pain. May we strive to follow Christ's example so as the author writes, "so shall we find our highest joy, divine love, the more blessed "to give" than "to receive."
This devotional by Charles Spurgeon ties in well with A. B. Simposn's devotional. For if we are to be "self-forgetting" that would leave us defenseless. If we are not looking out for ourselves then who will? Well, I thought Charles Spurgeon answered that very well, God. These two lines in Spurgeon's devotional I thought were awesome, "Oh, that we could in all things live by faith, then should we be delivered in all time of danger! No one ever did trust in the LORD in vain, and no one ever shall."
The devotional Pure Gold speaks of trials. So many people, are being tested daily through these trials. To me life is a learning experience and God permits us to go through these trials so we can be stronger from them. I always like the saying, "If it was easy anybody could do it!" Also what is amazing is when we are experiencing one of many life's trials, you think that only you are having problems today. But what we don't realize is our neighbors, friends and so many people we don't know is having a worse day than we are. So don't despair and look for the lesson to be learned from your trials. Also remember God is using our life trials to draw us closer to Him.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 13
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
a devotional by A. B. Simpson
"Even Christ pleased not Himself" (Rom. xv. 3).
Let this be a day of self-forgetting ministry for Christ and others. Let us not once think of being ministered unto, but say ever with Him: "I am among you as He that doth serve." Let us not drag our burdens through the day, but drop all our loads of care and be free to carry His yoke and His burden.
Let us make the happy exchange, giving ours and taking His. Let the covenant be: "Thou shalt abide for Me, I also for thee." So shall we lose our heaviest load--ourselves--and so shall we find our highest joy, divine love, the more blessed "to give" than "to receive." Let us do good to all men as we have opportunity.
Let us lose no opportunity of blessing, and let us study ingenious ways of service and usefulness. Especially let us seek to win souls.
The Days of Heaven are busy days,
They serve continually,
So spent for Thee and Thine, our days,
As the Days of Heaven would be.
The Days of Heaven are loving days,
As one they all agree,
So linked in loving unity
May our days as Heaven be.
*************************************************
July 13
Implicit Trust
by Charles Spurgeon
"For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 39:18).
Behold the protecting power of trust in God. The great men of Jerusalem fell by the sword, but poor Ebed-melech was secure, for his confidence was in Jehovah. Where else should a man trust but in his Maker? We are foolish when we prefer the creature to the Creator. Oh, that we could in all things live by faith, then should we be delivered in all time of danger! No one ever did trust in the LORD in vain, and no one ever shall.
The LORD saith, "I will surely deliver thee," Mark the divine "surely." Whatever else may be uncertain, God's care of believers is sure. God Himself is the guardian of the gracious, Under His sacred wing there is safety even when every danger is abroad. Can we accept this promise as sure? Then in our present emergency we shall find that it stands fast. We hope to be delivered because we have friends, or because we are prudent, or because we can see hopeful signs; but none of these things are one-half so good as God's simple "because thou hast put thy trust in me." Dear reader, try this way, and, trying it, you will keep to it all your life. It is as sweet as it is sure.
*************************************************
July 14
Pure Gold
by Katherine Kehler
“These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of His return” 1 Peter 1:7
I have to admit I love jewelry - gold, silver, diamonds and gems of all kinds. I don’t know why I like them. Maybe because they sparkle and shine brightly when the light catches them - maybe because they are valuable. I am pleased that in heaven we will be surrounded with gold, sapphires, rubies and pearls.
Last night, while in the bathtub, I was reading and meditating on the above verse. We have gone through some major trials this past year and it felt like we were being tried in the test tube of fiery trials.
The Bible tells us that our faith is more valuable than pure gold. He is willing to put us through trials so we will be strong and pure. The impurities are burned out of our hearts so that we reflect Him who is glorious.
Recently my husband and I discussed whether or not we are different as a result of the months of testing. We agreed that we are more joyful. We are also more tender and in love with Christ and each other. Christ has become more real to us. And that is a good thing.
Would we have chosen these trials? No. Are we thankful for what He has done and is still doing in our lives? Absolutely.
How about you? If you are going through a time of testing right now, don’t despair. God is purifying you so you will reflect on Him more. And that is a good thing.
Father, purify our hearts. Make us wholly Yours. May our lives reflect Your radiance wherever we go. Amen.
I like this devotional by A. B. Simpson for it states what is most important for a Christian walk. As a pastor of mine once said, "We must learn to put ourselves down as we lift Jesus up!" Self-forgetting is an interesting way of putting it. We live today in a very "me" orientated world. If "we" don't get what "we" want "we" try to make someone else feel "our" pain. May we strive to follow Christ's example so as the author writes, "so shall we find our highest joy, divine love, the more blessed "to give" than "to receive."
This devotional by Charles Spurgeon ties in well with A. B. Simposn's devotional. For if we are to be "self-forgetting" that would leave us defenseless. If we are not looking out for ourselves then who will? Well, I thought Charles Spurgeon answered that very well, God. These two lines in Spurgeon's devotional I thought were awesome, "Oh, that we could in all things live by faith, then should we be delivered in all time of danger! No one ever did trust in the LORD in vain, and no one ever shall."
The devotional Pure Gold speaks of trials. So many people, are being tested daily through these trials. To me life is a learning experience and God permits us to go through these trials so we can be stronger from them. I always like the saying, "If it was easy anybody could do it!" Also what is amazing is when we are experiencing one of many life's trials, you think that only you are having problems today. But what we don't realize is our neighbors, friends and so many people we don't know is having a worse day than we are. So don't despair and look for the lesson to be learned from your trials. Also remember God is using our life trials to draw us closer to Him.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 13
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
a devotional by A. B. Simpson
"Even Christ pleased not Himself" (Rom. xv. 3).
Let this be a day of self-forgetting ministry for Christ and others. Let us not once think of being ministered unto, but say ever with Him: "I am among you as He that doth serve." Let us not drag our burdens through the day, but drop all our loads of care and be free to carry His yoke and His burden.
Let us make the happy exchange, giving ours and taking His. Let the covenant be: "Thou shalt abide for Me, I also for thee." So shall we lose our heaviest load--ourselves--and so shall we find our highest joy, divine love, the more blessed "to give" than "to receive." Let us do good to all men as we have opportunity.
Let us lose no opportunity of blessing, and let us study ingenious ways of service and usefulness. Especially let us seek to win souls.
The Days of Heaven are busy days,
They serve continually,
So spent for Thee and Thine, our days,
As the Days of Heaven would be.
The Days of Heaven are loving days,
As one they all agree,
So linked in loving unity
May our days as Heaven be.
*************************************************
July 13
Implicit Trust
by Charles Spurgeon
"For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 39:18).
Behold the protecting power of trust in God. The great men of Jerusalem fell by the sword, but poor Ebed-melech was secure, for his confidence was in Jehovah. Where else should a man trust but in his Maker? We are foolish when we prefer the creature to the Creator. Oh, that we could in all things live by faith, then should we be delivered in all time of danger! No one ever did trust in the LORD in vain, and no one ever shall.
The LORD saith, "I will surely deliver thee," Mark the divine "surely." Whatever else may be uncertain, God's care of believers is sure. God Himself is the guardian of the gracious, Under His sacred wing there is safety even when every danger is abroad. Can we accept this promise as sure? Then in our present emergency we shall find that it stands fast. We hope to be delivered because we have friends, or because we are prudent, or because we can see hopeful signs; but none of these things are one-half so good as God's simple "because thou hast put thy trust in me." Dear reader, try this way, and, trying it, you will keep to it all your life. It is as sweet as it is sure.
*************************************************
July 14
Pure Gold
by Katherine Kehler
“These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of His return” 1 Peter 1:7
I have to admit I love jewelry - gold, silver, diamonds and gems of all kinds. I don’t know why I like them. Maybe because they sparkle and shine brightly when the light catches them - maybe because they are valuable. I am pleased that in heaven we will be surrounded with gold, sapphires, rubies and pearls.
Last night, while in the bathtub, I was reading and meditating on the above verse. We have gone through some major trials this past year and it felt like we were being tried in the test tube of fiery trials.
The Bible tells us that our faith is more valuable than pure gold. He is willing to put us through trials so we will be strong and pure. The impurities are burned out of our hearts so that we reflect Him who is glorious.
Recently my husband and I discussed whether or not we are different as a result of the months of testing. We agreed that we are more joyful. We are also more tender and in love with Christ and each other. Christ has become more real to us. And that is a good thing.
Would we have chosen these trials? No. Are we thankful for what He has done and is still doing in our lives? Absolutely.
How about you? If you are going through a time of testing right now, don’t despair. God is purifying you so you will reflect on Him more. And that is a good thing.
Father, purify our hearts. Make us wholly Yours. May our lives reflect Your radiance wherever we go. Amen.
Monday, July 12, 2010
My Journey 7/10 - 7/12/2010
God's insight to me:
Max Lucado's devotional goes very well with Chuck Swindolls. Both speak of the heart. As I was reading Max Lucado's the words "if only" came to mind. If you are a Christian just stop for a moment and think if all the non-believers had Christ in their hearts for one day. Wow! I can only speak for myself but if they feel like I do they would not want to go back to the old life.
I remember the radio just as Chuck Swindoll describes it in his devotional. Last month as I was presenting the Seeds of Youth program I mentioned, it just as he was describing it, to the various shut-ins that the God's Love Outreach Ministry ministers to. I wonder how the kids today could ever envision being without a TV, but I remember it. I love how this devotional mentions the heart. To me it is the most important organ in the body. As Chuck Swindoll wrote about, we don't know what is on the heart of each person. A lot of times I am asked, "how are you doing"?, and I reply "good", when in fact I am having some trouble in my life. Many Christians in church on Sunday may seem to be like they are worshiping God, but their minds are truly not on Him but their own problems. The church is a good place to be when that is happening. But just like Mr. Swindoll points out God is very aware of our heart's situation. This is a poem the Lord blessed me with back in February of 2008;
The Heart
The heart is very interesting
its job is so immense,
for it to fail is not an option
through days that are intense.
It also holds emotions
those good and also that are bad.
It has to work so much harder
on the days we feel very mad.
Of all the places in us
that God chose from above,
He chose the heart for His Spirit to live
and work through Christ’s precious love.
So when you’re feeling troubled
in your heart His Spirit seek,
and listen very carefully
to the Word that He does speak.
But if we do not listen
from the heart what the Spirit has to say,
we find the heart gets very exhausted
just to make it through the day.
E. P. Shagott
2/9/2008
As I read A. B. Simpson's devotional the Lord touched my heart with turning it into a daily prayer. How awesome it turned out. After reading it, you may want to also use it to begin your day;
My Daily Prayer
May this day we be with You Lord. May we seek it’s plan and direction from You. May we take Your highest thought and will for us in it. May we always look to You for our desires, ideals, expectations in it. May You be our Guide and Way. May we always be thinking of You as our Personal Guide of every moment, on whom we constantly depend to lead our every step.
May You Lord also be the sufficiency and strength of all the day. Let us never forget the secret: "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Let us have You Lord in us to do the works, and let us every moment fall back on You, both to will and do in us of Your good pleasure.
Let our holiness be "the law of the spirit of Your life." Let our health be the "Your life manifest in our mortal flesh." Let our faith be "the faith of the Son of God who loved us." Let our peace and joy be Your peace and joy. And let our service be not our works, but of Your grace within us.
Jesus we pray this in Your precious name,
Amen
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 10
A New Heart
By Max Lucado
“You were taught to be made new in your hearts, to become a new person.” Ephesians 4:23
What if, for one day and one night, Jesus lives your life with his heart? Your heart gets the day off, and your life is led by the heart of the Christ. His priorities govern your actions. His passions drive your decisions. His love directs your behavior . . .
Would people notice a change? Would you still do what you had planned to do for the next twenty-four hours?
*************************************************
July 11
Devotional by A. B. Simpson
"For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13).
A day with Jesus. Let us seek its plan and direction from Him. Let us take His highest thought and will for us in it. Let us look to Him for our desires, ideals, expectations in it. Then shall it bring to us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. Let Him be our Guide and Way. Let us not so much be thinking even of His plan and way as of Him as the Personal Guide of every moment, on whom we constantly depend to lead our every step.
Let Him also be the sufficiency and strength of all the day. Let us never forget the secret: "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Let us have Jesus Christ Himself in us to do the works, and let us every moment fall back on Him, both to will and do in us of His good pleasure.
Let our holiness be "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus." Let our health be the "life of Jesus manifest in our mortal flesh." Let our faith be "the faith of the Son of God who loved us." Let our peace and joy be His peace and joy. And let our service be not our works, but the grace of Christ within us.
*************************************************
July 11-12
Who, Indeed, Knows?
by Charles R. Swindoll
Psalm 139
I grew up in the heyday of radio. (Fact is, I didn't even see a television set until I was a teenager.) If we got our homework done, we could listen to various weeknight radio shows. Remember that spooky line the announcer always gave just before The Shadow came on: "Who knows what evil l-l-lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" Then there would be a blood-curdling laugh, which faded away into the distance. I always liked all the lights on when we listened to that program.
Many years have passed since those simple and innocent days of my childhood, but that single line remains a haunting question to this day: Who, indeed, knows what wickedness lurks in the hearts of men and women?
We think we do. But how wrong we usually are. The heart houses secrets we can never see. People are awfully good at cover-up. Smiling masks often camouflage breaking hearts. About the time we think we've got somebody figured out, we're stunned to discover how much was hidden from view. Lurking in many a life is pain beyond belief.
In our world of superficial talk and casual relationships, it is easy to forget that a smile doesn't necessarily mean "I'm happy" and the courteous answer "I'm fine" may not be at all truthful. Just because it's Christmas, we can't assume everybody's merry. Even the closest family members can be blindly unaware of each other's pain.
I'm not suggesting that everyone is an emotional time bomb or that masks are worn by all who seem to be enjoying life. But I've lived long enough to know that many a heart hides agony while the face reflects ecstasy.
There is Someone, however, who fully knows what lurks in our hearts. And knowing, He never laughs mockingly and fades away. He never shrugs and walks away. Instead, He understands completely and stays near.
Who, indeed, knows? Our God, alone, knows. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and forgives all our transgressions. To Him there are no secret struggles or silent cries. He hears. He sees. He stays near. He accepts us and loves us unconditionally. He is "the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort."
He who loves us most knows us best. He who knows us best cares the most.
Max Lucado's devotional goes very well with Chuck Swindolls. Both speak of the heart. As I was reading Max Lucado's the words "if only" came to mind. If you are a Christian just stop for a moment and think if all the non-believers had Christ in their hearts for one day. Wow! I can only speak for myself but if they feel like I do they would not want to go back to the old life.
I remember the radio just as Chuck Swindoll describes it in his devotional. Last month as I was presenting the Seeds of Youth program I mentioned, it just as he was describing it, to the various shut-ins that the God's Love Outreach Ministry ministers to. I wonder how the kids today could ever envision being without a TV, but I remember it. I love how this devotional mentions the heart. To me it is the most important organ in the body. As Chuck Swindoll wrote about, we don't know what is on the heart of each person. A lot of times I am asked, "how are you doing"?, and I reply "good", when in fact I am having some trouble in my life. Many Christians in church on Sunday may seem to be like they are worshiping God, but their minds are truly not on Him but their own problems. The church is a good place to be when that is happening. But just like Mr. Swindoll points out God is very aware of our heart's situation. This is a poem the Lord blessed me with back in February of 2008;
The Heart
The heart is very interesting
its job is so immense,
for it to fail is not an option
through days that are intense.
It also holds emotions
those good and also that are bad.
It has to work so much harder
on the days we feel very mad.
Of all the places in us
that God chose from above,
He chose the heart for His Spirit to live
and work through Christ’s precious love.
So when you’re feeling troubled
in your heart His Spirit seek,
and listen very carefully
to the Word that He does speak.
But if we do not listen
from the heart what the Spirit has to say,
we find the heart gets very exhausted
just to make it through the day.
E. P. Shagott
2/9/2008
As I read A. B. Simpson's devotional the Lord touched my heart with turning it into a daily prayer. How awesome it turned out. After reading it, you may want to also use it to begin your day;
My Daily Prayer
May this day we be with You Lord. May we seek it’s plan and direction from You. May we take Your highest thought and will for us in it. May we always look to You for our desires, ideals, expectations in it. May You be our Guide and Way. May we always be thinking of You as our Personal Guide of every moment, on whom we constantly depend to lead our every step.
May You Lord also be the sufficiency and strength of all the day. Let us never forget the secret: "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Let us have You Lord in us to do the works, and let us every moment fall back on You, both to will and do in us of Your good pleasure.
Let our holiness be "the law of the spirit of Your life." Let our health be the "Your life manifest in our mortal flesh." Let our faith be "the faith of the Son of God who loved us." Let our peace and joy be Your peace and joy. And let our service be not our works, but of Your grace within us.
Jesus we pray this in Your precious name,
Amen
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 10
A New Heart
By Max Lucado
“You were taught to be made new in your hearts, to become a new person.” Ephesians 4:23
What if, for one day and one night, Jesus lives your life with his heart? Your heart gets the day off, and your life is led by the heart of the Christ. His priorities govern your actions. His passions drive your decisions. His love directs your behavior . . .
Would people notice a change? Would you still do what you had planned to do for the next twenty-four hours?
*************************************************
July 11
Devotional by A. B. Simpson
"For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13).
A day with Jesus. Let us seek its plan and direction from Him. Let us take His highest thought and will for us in it. Let us look to Him for our desires, ideals, expectations in it. Then shall it bring to us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. Let Him be our Guide and Way. Let us not so much be thinking even of His plan and way as of Him as the Personal Guide of every moment, on whom we constantly depend to lead our every step.
Let Him also be the sufficiency and strength of all the day. Let us never forget the secret: "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Let us have Jesus Christ Himself in us to do the works, and let us every moment fall back on Him, both to will and do in us of His good pleasure.
Let our holiness be "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus." Let our health be the "life of Jesus manifest in our mortal flesh." Let our faith be "the faith of the Son of God who loved us." Let our peace and joy be His peace and joy. And let our service be not our works, but the grace of Christ within us.
*************************************************
July 11-12
Who, Indeed, Knows?
by Charles R. Swindoll
Psalm 139
I grew up in the heyday of radio. (Fact is, I didn't even see a television set until I was a teenager.) If we got our homework done, we could listen to various weeknight radio shows. Remember that spooky line the announcer always gave just before The Shadow came on: "Who knows what evil l-l-lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" Then there would be a blood-curdling laugh, which faded away into the distance. I always liked all the lights on when we listened to that program.
Many years have passed since those simple and innocent days of my childhood, but that single line remains a haunting question to this day: Who, indeed, knows what wickedness lurks in the hearts of men and women?
We think we do. But how wrong we usually are. The heart houses secrets we can never see. People are awfully good at cover-up. Smiling masks often camouflage breaking hearts. About the time we think we've got somebody figured out, we're stunned to discover how much was hidden from view. Lurking in many a life is pain beyond belief.
In our world of superficial talk and casual relationships, it is easy to forget that a smile doesn't necessarily mean "I'm happy" and the courteous answer "I'm fine" may not be at all truthful. Just because it's Christmas, we can't assume everybody's merry. Even the closest family members can be blindly unaware of each other's pain.
I'm not suggesting that everyone is an emotional time bomb or that masks are worn by all who seem to be enjoying life. But I've lived long enough to know that many a heart hides agony while the face reflects ecstasy.
There is Someone, however, who fully knows what lurks in our hearts. And knowing, He never laughs mockingly and fades away. He never shrugs and walks away. Instead, He understands completely and stays near.
Who, indeed, knows? Our God, alone, knows. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and forgives all our transgressions. To Him there are no secret struggles or silent cries. He hears. He sees. He stays near. He accepts us and loves us unconditionally. He is "the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort."
He who loves us most knows us best. He who knows us best cares the most.
Friday, July 9, 2010
My Journey 7/9/2010
God's insight to me:
Todays devotional was very moving for me. I am always praying for peace, in my family lives, my friends lives and even in my life. As I read Chuck Swindoll's devotional I thought, "Now here is a great servant to the Lord and look what he is experiencing". A word that stood out was "anger" in what he was experiencing. I remember reading the scripture verse, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools. I read this just prior to reading Mr. Swindoll's devotional. Then I thought is the Bible calling a great preacher like Chuck Swindoll a fool? Then as I read further in his devotional he states how he tried everything he could, reading God's Word and also spending time in prayer but nothing helped. I thought to myself, if a man of God like Chuck Swindoll can go through times without peace in his life, what about those that maybe are not walking closely with the Lord as him, or maybe doesn't know the Lord at all? Wow! Well, the answer for me I understand is what Charles Spurgeon wrote, "The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble." I also loved this quote of Spurgeon's, "Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are." As for me I love how it is written in God's Word, 1Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was toward me has not been without fruit, but I labored more abundantly than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
The Rivers of Grief
The rivers of grief can run so deep,
it’s waters are so icy cold.
We wait and wait for relief,
and for some comfort to behold.
Hour by hour, day by day,
when will our sorrows end?
Grief’s currents are so very strong,
not giving way for family or friends.
Then within all my struggles,
God’s voice became so crystal clear.
He said, “Do not be discouraged child of Mine,
but look for a lesson to be learned here.
See grief will come and grief will go,
it’s all just a matter of time.
Look for the wisdom that lies within,
remember it’s not in your time but Mine.”
E. P. Shagott
7/10/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 9
Deep Grief
by Charles R. Swindoll
1 Corinthians 10:11-13
The past couple of weeks have been some of the toughest of my life. My emotions have spanned the spectrum: shock, sorrow, horror, intense anger, disillusionment, disappointment, and utter bewilderment. I have prayed—without much benefit. I have read the Scriptures from the Psalms and Proverbs to the words of Jesus and various sections of the letters from Paul, Peter, James—without much peace.
I feel like Job, who admitted, "If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me? . . . He has exhausted me. . . . My spirit is broken" (Job 16:6-7; 17:1).
It occurred to me around 4:20 this morning that perhaps the late, great Spurgeon might have understood my grief better than any other when he wrote over a century ago in his Lectures to My Students, in a chapter entitled "The Minister's Fainting Fits":
Who can bear the weight of souls without sometimes sinking to the dust? . . . To see the hopeful turn aside, the godly grow cold, professors [and pastors] abusing their privileges, and sinners waxing more bold in sin---are not these sights enough to crush us to the earth? . . .
The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble. Count it no strange thing, but a part of ordinary ministerial experience. . . . Live by the day, by the hour. . . . Be not surprised when men fail you; it is a failing world. . . . Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are.
No longer should we be saying that "perilous times will come." They have arrived, fellow pilgrim; they are now. And we must face them head-on, doing whatever is necessary to stand firm.
As Carl Henry wrote so eloquently in Twilight of a Great Civilization:
We may even now live in the half generation before all hell breaks loose, and if its fury is contained we will be remembered, if we are remembered at all, as those who used their hands and hearts and minds and very bodies to plug the dikes against impending doom.
The secret of standing in treacherous times is being willing to "take heed"
lest we also fall.
Todays devotional was very moving for me. I am always praying for peace, in my family lives, my friends lives and even in my life. As I read Chuck Swindoll's devotional I thought, "Now here is a great servant to the Lord and look what he is experiencing". A word that stood out was "anger" in what he was experiencing. I remember reading the scripture verse, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry; for anger rests in the bosom of fools. I read this just prior to reading Mr. Swindoll's devotional. Then I thought is the Bible calling a great preacher like Chuck Swindoll a fool? Then as I read further in his devotional he states how he tried everything he could, reading God's Word and also spending time in prayer but nothing helped. I thought to myself, if a man of God like Chuck Swindoll can go through times without peace in his life, what about those that maybe are not walking closely with the Lord as him, or maybe doesn't know the Lord at all? Wow! Well, the answer for me I understand is what Charles Spurgeon wrote, "The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble." I also loved this quote of Spurgeon's, "Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are." As for me I love how it is written in God's Word, 1Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was toward me has not been without fruit, but I labored more abundantly than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
The Rivers of Grief
The rivers of grief can run so deep,
it’s waters are so icy cold.
We wait and wait for relief,
and for some comfort to behold.
Hour by hour, day by day,
when will our sorrows end?
Grief’s currents are so very strong,
not giving way for family or friends.
Then within all my struggles,
God’s voice became so crystal clear.
He said, “Do not be discouraged child of Mine,
but look for a lesson to be learned here.
See grief will come and grief will go,
it’s all just a matter of time.
Look for the wisdom that lies within,
remember it’s not in your time but Mine.”
E. P. Shagott
7/10/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 9
Deep Grief
by Charles R. Swindoll
1 Corinthians 10:11-13
The past couple of weeks have been some of the toughest of my life. My emotions have spanned the spectrum: shock, sorrow, horror, intense anger, disillusionment, disappointment, and utter bewilderment. I have prayed—without much benefit. I have read the Scriptures from the Psalms and Proverbs to the words of Jesus and various sections of the letters from Paul, Peter, James—without much peace.
I feel like Job, who admitted, "If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me? . . . He has exhausted me. . . . My spirit is broken" (Job 16:6-7; 17:1).
It occurred to me around 4:20 this morning that perhaps the late, great Spurgeon might have understood my grief better than any other when he wrote over a century ago in his Lectures to My Students, in a chapter entitled "The Minister's Fainting Fits":
Who can bear the weight of souls without sometimes sinking to the dust? . . . To see the hopeful turn aside, the godly grow cold, professors [and pastors] abusing their privileges, and sinners waxing more bold in sin---are not these sights enough to crush us to the earth? . . .
The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble. Count it no strange thing, but a part of ordinary ministerial experience. . . . Live by the day, by the hour. . . . Be not surprised when men fail you; it is a failing world. . . . Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are.
No longer should we be saying that "perilous times will come." They have arrived, fellow pilgrim; they are now. And we must face them head-on, doing whatever is necessary to stand firm.
As Carl Henry wrote so eloquently in Twilight of a Great Civilization:
We may even now live in the half generation before all hell breaks loose, and if its fury is contained we will be remembered, if we are remembered at all, as those who used their hands and hearts and minds and very bodies to plug the dikes against impending doom.
The secret of standing in treacherous times is being willing to "take heed"
lest we also fall.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
My Journey 7/8/2010
God's insight to me:
As I was reading Adrian Roger's devotional this morning I thought of trying to write a poem to God using a letter from the alphabet to give praise and also a way for me to describe Him. Of course the challenge came with using "x". I loved the story about the violinist named Fritz Kreisler. Reading this devotional made me think how awesome it is as Jesus is strumming the strings of my heart. Just as the lyrics from the song, "Here I Am to Worship" states, Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that Your my God!
Amen, yes You are!
An Alphabetic Poem To God
An Abundant life for us You give,
with all the Beauty that there is.
Always Caring for each of us,
as a Father Devoted to His kids.
Everlasting home You prepare for us,
because You’re Forgiving of our sins.
A gift because of Your Grace,
Your our Healer and our friend.
Always Interested in all we do,
Jealous if another god we chose.
Kindness You always pour out to us,
Loving no matter what we do.
A Mighty God You definitely are,
Never far and always Near.
Over and over forgiving us,
with a love so righteous and Pure.
You never Question what we do,
just Reassuring us along the way.
Staying close by our sides,
showering us with Tender mercies everyday.
The Ultimate price You did pay,
With a Value that stirs within.
You are truly the Worthy One,
that X-ed out all our sin.
Praise to You Heavenly Father,
may our hearts always Yearning to be,
sharing our love and Zeal,
with You throughout eternity!
E. P. Shagott
7/8/2010
This devotional by Kenneth Copeland has in it something that I have told many times to God's wounded in various nursing homes, "I love you and God loves you." Can you just imagine how those words touch a person who may be thinking, all is lost, no one cares, I'm all alone? God's love means, Jesus is there to show them the way, He cares for you, He will never leave you nor forsake you. How strong is God's love? Click on this link to learn more about Nicky Cruz that David Wilkerson wrote about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicky_Cruz
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 8
He Alone Is Worthy
by Adrian Rogers
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12
There's an interesting story about how a gifted violinist named Fritz Kreisler acquired a Stradivarius violin.
Kreisler heard about the violin owned by an old Englishman and offered to buy it, but the old man said it wasn't for sale. One day Kreisler ventured to the old man's house and said, "If I can't buy it, may I touch it?" The old Englishman invited him in and even allowed him to begin making music with it. Great tears welled up in the old Englishman's eyes, and he said, "It is not for sale, but it is yours. You are the Master and alone are worthy of it!"
That is what worship is all about. God is the Master, and He alone is worthy.
Starting with the letter "A," and going through the alphabet, find something to praise Him for with each letter. Praise Him for all that He is, has been, and will be!
*************************************************
Protected by Love
by Kenneth Copeland
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.
– Matthew 5:44-45
Love your enemies...turn the other cheek...to most people that sounds like a pretty weak way to handle somebody who's causing them trouble. But, the truth is, it's the most powerful way there is. It's the way Jesus did it-- and His way never fails.
Do you remember when Jesus went back to Nazareth and the religious folks were angry with Him and wanted to push Him off a cliff? What happened? He just walked right past them, and no one could lay a finger on Him. Another time they decided to stone Him, and He didn't retaliate that time either. He just walked off. No one could touch Him.
When Jesus walked through that crowd, He wasn't afraid. He knew they couldn't hurt Him because He was walking in the love of God.
When Jesus said to turn the other cheek, He didn't mean for you to stand there and have your brains beaten out. He meant for you to stand there in love and in faith believing that the protecting power of God that accompanies that love would keep you safe. He meant for a man to swing at you and not be able to hit you!
The story of Nicky Cruz as recorded in David Wilkerson's book, The Cross and the Switchblade, is a perfect example of that. Nicky was reputed to be the most ruthless gang leader of his time. Yet, when David Wilkerson stood in front of him, telling him about Jesus, Nicky was totally unable to hurt him. He thrust his knife at David several times. But every time he did, David just said, "Nicky, you can cut me into a thousand pieces and every piece will still say, 'I love you and God loves you.'" Because of love, Nicky couldn't get his knife close enough to David to hurt him. A supernatural force always stopped it short.
"But I don't have that kind of love!"
Yes, you do. Romans 5:5 tells us that the love of God is shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is make the decision to be motivated by that love rather than your own human feelings.
My friend, love never fails! You don't have to be afraid of failure anymore. In fact, you don't have to be afraid of anything. If you're walking in the love of God, you're living the most powerful kind of life there is.
As I was reading Adrian Roger's devotional this morning I thought of trying to write a poem to God using a letter from the alphabet to give praise and also a way for me to describe Him. Of course the challenge came with using "x". I loved the story about the violinist named Fritz Kreisler. Reading this devotional made me think how awesome it is as Jesus is strumming the strings of my heart. Just as the lyrics from the song, "Here I Am to Worship" states, Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that Your my God!
Amen, yes You are!
An Alphabetic Poem To God
An Abundant life for us You give,
with all the Beauty that there is.
Always Caring for each of us,
as a Father Devoted to His kids.
Everlasting home You prepare for us,
because You’re Forgiving of our sins.
A gift because of Your Grace,
Your our Healer and our friend.
Always Interested in all we do,
Jealous if another god we chose.
Kindness You always pour out to us,
Loving no matter what we do.
A Mighty God You definitely are,
Never far and always Near.
Over and over forgiving us,
with a love so righteous and Pure.
You never Question what we do,
just Reassuring us along the way.
Staying close by our sides,
showering us with Tender mercies everyday.
The Ultimate price You did pay,
With a Value that stirs within.
You are truly the Worthy One,
that X-ed out all our sin.
Praise to You Heavenly Father,
may our hearts always Yearning to be,
sharing our love and Zeal,
with You throughout eternity!
E. P. Shagott
7/8/2010
This devotional by Kenneth Copeland has in it something that I have told many times to God's wounded in various nursing homes, "I love you and God loves you." Can you just imagine how those words touch a person who may be thinking, all is lost, no one cares, I'm all alone? God's love means, Jesus is there to show them the way, He cares for you, He will never leave you nor forsake you. How strong is God's love? Click on this link to learn more about Nicky Cruz that David Wilkerson wrote about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicky_Cruz
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 8
He Alone Is Worthy
by Adrian Rogers
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12
There's an interesting story about how a gifted violinist named Fritz Kreisler acquired a Stradivarius violin.
Kreisler heard about the violin owned by an old Englishman and offered to buy it, but the old man said it wasn't for sale. One day Kreisler ventured to the old man's house and said, "If I can't buy it, may I touch it?" The old Englishman invited him in and even allowed him to begin making music with it. Great tears welled up in the old Englishman's eyes, and he said, "It is not for sale, but it is yours. You are the Master and alone are worthy of it!"
That is what worship is all about. God is the Master, and He alone is worthy.
Starting with the letter "A," and going through the alphabet, find something to praise Him for with each letter. Praise Him for all that He is, has been, and will be!
*************************************************
Protected by Love
by Kenneth Copeland
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.
– Matthew 5:44-45
Love your enemies...turn the other cheek...to most people that sounds like a pretty weak way to handle somebody who's causing them trouble. But, the truth is, it's the most powerful way there is. It's the way Jesus did it-- and His way never fails.
Do you remember when Jesus went back to Nazareth and the religious folks were angry with Him and wanted to push Him off a cliff? What happened? He just walked right past them, and no one could lay a finger on Him. Another time they decided to stone Him, and He didn't retaliate that time either. He just walked off. No one could touch Him.
When Jesus walked through that crowd, He wasn't afraid. He knew they couldn't hurt Him because He was walking in the love of God.
When Jesus said to turn the other cheek, He didn't mean for you to stand there and have your brains beaten out. He meant for you to stand there in love and in faith believing that the protecting power of God that accompanies that love would keep you safe. He meant for a man to swing at you and not be able to hit you!
The story of Nicky Cruz as recorded in David Wilkerson's book, The Cross and the Switchblade, is a perfect example of that. Nicky was reputed to be the most ruthless gang leader of his time. Yet, when David Wilkerson stood in front of him, telling him about Jesus, Nicky was totally unable to hurt him. He thrust his knife at David several times. But every time he did, David just said, "Nicky, you can cut me into a thousand pieces and every piece will still say, 'I love you and God loves you.'" Because of love, Nicky couldn't get his knife close enough to David to hurt him. A supernatural force always stopped it short.
"But I don't have that kind of love!"
Yes, you do. Romans 5:5 tells us that the love of God is shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is make the decision to be motivated by that love rather than your own human feelings.
My friend, love never fails! You don't have to be afraid of failure anymore. In fact, you don't have to be afraid of anything. If you're walking in the love of God, you're living the most powerful kind of life there is.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
My Journey 7/7/2010
God's insight to me:
Who would of thought that as I was reading this devotional that is really about "choices", not food. Many, many years ago God opened my eyes to that word, "choice". It is what life is all about, worldly and spiritual. Ever since the Garden of Eden each breath is about what we choose. When God created man He wanted him to freely fellowship and worship his Creator. Then came the fall of man, he chose to make that decision. But God did not give up on us. God had another plan to bring us back to a fellowship with Him. Still a choice we have to make. The choice is "Jesus"! So here we are today making choices as believers and non-believers. The non-believers choose the worldly food to feed them. It is saturated with sin. There is no growth process with that nourishment. But what this devotional speaks of is how important it is for the believers to always choose the right choices, for we know what the menu is all about. Eternal life. Abundant life. A righteous life in Christ Jesus, that brings us to a fellowship with the Father.
The Eyes of the World
The eyes of the world are upon us,
as we go about our day.
The eyes of the world are upon us,
watching what we choose to do today.
What we show to everyone around us,
demonstrates what we truly believe.
The eyes of the world are watching,
and God is also watching you and me.
Be careful of the choices you make,
please think before you speak.
Remember what Jesus said,
“What you do to someone you are also doing to Me”
So as you go throughout your daily journey,
be careful what you do and say.
It can make the difference in someone’s life,
if they see Jesus in you today!
E. P. Shagott
7/7/2010
*************************************************
July 7, 2010
Daily Disciples Devotional
Today’s Thoughts: The Real Food
But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:8-9
How often do you think about food? What types of cravings do you get for your favorite foods? Midnight snacks and mad dashes through our favorite drive-thrus are part of our lives and culture. Hunger is a drive necessary to sustain life while appetite is a desire to satisfy our cravings for food. Food is a necessity to our physical bodies and to enjoy good food is one of our greatest pleasures. However, even with all its necessity, this earthly food has no value to us spiritually.
If Paul is saying that what we eat, or do not eat, has no effect on our relationship with God, then why can we not eat whatever, drink whatever and be merry? One reason is because the choices that we make impact others. We must realize that our actions are being watched by others and that we have a responsibility as Christians to set godly examples for others. God does care about the behaviors and attitudes we exhibit that affect those around us.
There are numerous examples of this behavior in our churches today. Movies and television choices can influence our families and friends. What kind of example do we set for those in and out of the church? Would seeing certain movies stumble others? What about drinking alcohol? Many Christians have no problem with limited alcohol consumption. But, would it not influence the Christian who feels that this type of drinking, without exception, is wrong? Some might argue that the Christian church in general stumbles non-believers, because much of our behavior is not just in the world, it is of the world.
Food is not the real issue, but it is certainly representative of how our behaviors as Christians can greatly affect those around us, even if there is technically “nothing wrong” with certain activities. Jesus gave His life for us so that we can have the real food—the bread of life. If we follow Him, our choices in this world will bring glory and honor to His name while also setting the right example for others. We should pray not to get hung up on things of no value spiritually but to get caught up in the Spirit of God so that we may be a blessing to others, not a stumbling block.
Who would of thought that as I was reading this devotional that is really about "choices", not food. Many, many years ago God opened my eyes to that word, "choice". It is what life is all about, worldly and spiritual. Ever since the Garden of Eden each breath is about what we choose. When God created man He wanted him to freely fellowship and worship his Creator. Then came the fall of man, he chose to make that decision. But God did not give up on us. God had another plan to bring us back to a fellowship with Him. Still a choice we have to make. The choice is "Jesus"! So here we are today making choices as believers and non-believers. The non-believers choose the worldly food to feed them. It is saturated with sin. There is no growth process with that nourishment. But what this devotional speaks of is how important it is for the believers to always choose the right choices, for we know what the menu is all about. Eternal life. Abundant life. A righteous life in Christ Jesus, that brings us to a fellowship with the Father.
The Eyes of the World
The eyes of the world are upon us,
as we go about our day.
The eyes of the world are upon us,
watching what we choose to do today.
What we show to everyone around us,
demonstrates what we truly believe.
The eyes of the world are watching,
and God is also watching you and me.
Be careful of the choices you make,
please think before you speak.
Remember what Jesus said,
“What you do to someone you are also doing to Me”
So as you go throughout your daily journey,
be careful what you do and say.
It can make the difference in someone’s life,
if they see Jesus in you today!
E. P. Shagott
7/7/2010
*************************************************
July 7, 2010
Daily Disciples Devotional
Today’s Thoughts: The Real Food
But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:8-9
How often do you think about food? What types of cravings do you get for your favorite foods? Midnight snacks and mad dashes through our favorite drive-thrus are part of our lives and culture. Hunger is a drive necessary to sustain life while appetite is a desire to satisfy our cravings for food. Food is a necessity to our physical bodies and to enjoy good food is one of our greatest pleasures. However, even with all its necessity, this earthly food has no value to us spiritually.
If Paul is saying that what we eat, or do not eat, has no effect on our relationship with God, then why can we not eat whatever, drink whatever and be merry? One reason is because the choices that we make impact others. We must realize that our actions are being watched by others and that we have a responsibility as Christians to set godly examples for others. God does care about the behaviors and attitudes we exhibit that affect those around us.
There are numerous examples of this behavior in our churches today. Movies and television choices can influence our families and friends. What kind of example do we set for those in and out of the church? Would seeing certain movies stumble others? What about drinking alcohol? Many Christians have no problem with limited alcohol consumption. But, would it not influence the Christian who feels that this type of drinking, without exception, is wrong? Some might argue that the Christian church in general stumbles non-believers, because much of our behavior is not just in the world, it is of the world.
Food is not the real issue, but it is certainly representative of how our behaviors as Christians can greatly affect those around us, even if there is technically “nothing wrong” with certain activities. Jesus gave His life for us so that we can have the real food—the bread of life. If we follow Him, our choices in this world will bring glory and honor to His name while also setting the right example for others. We should pray not to get hung up on things of no value spiritually but to get caught up in the Spirit of God so that we may be a blessing to others, not a stumbling block.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
My Journey 7/6/2010
God's insight to me:
As I was reading my devotionals for today this one from Adrian Rogers really touched my heart. For the past several days, yes several days, we have been blessed with sun filled mornings and afternoons. Sometimes living near Buffalo, New York we don't get a lot of them. Adrian Roger's devotional spoke about light, but a more wonderful one than we are blessed in our cloudless days. God's Light! The awesome wonder of the Son's Light! Even as the sunshine lifts our spirits, sometime short lived though, the Light of Christ's countenance is everlasting. May this poem that the Lord blessed me with today and Adrian Roger's devotional be the "Light" to guide you each and everyday.
The Son’s Light
Don’t walk in darkness,
when His light is always there.
Let Jesus brighten your day,
and take away your despair.
Don’t let the worries of today,
keep dark clouds all around.
Step out into the Son’s light,
and see all His beauty to be found.
Don’t listen to the worldly lies,
that bombard us everyday.
Let the Father, Spirit and the Son’s light,
shine through you today.
Do trust in the Heavenly Father,
as you go throughout your day.
Believe in His Word and be blessed,
and let His Son, light your way.
E. P. Shagott
7/6/2010
*************************************************
July 6
The Light of God's Countenance
"Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us." Psalm 4:6
How easy it is to be deceived when we are not walking in the light of God's Word.
Charles Lindbergh tells about the time he was flying in a dense fog over Newfoundland. He noticed moisture beginning to freeze on the wings of his plane and thought, "This great adventure is going to come to an untimely end. What shall I do?"
Then he had a moment of inspiration. He pulled his plane up and out of the fog and burst into the dazzling sunlight.
Have you ever felt like you were living in a fog? Friend, He has a word of encouragement for you. You can get near to the heart of God today. His light can shine even in the darkest corner of your heart.
· Ask God to shine His light into the darkness of your heart.
· Ask Him to reveal your doubts and fears.
· Ask Him to reveal your sin that lies covetously in your heart.
Then get ready for a blessing. Draw up close, because when you repent, He'll reach in with healing forgiveness.
As I was reading my devotionals for today this one from Adrian Rogers really touched my heart. For the past several days, yes several days, we have been blessed with sun filled mornings and afternoons. Sometimes living near Buffalo, New York we don't get a lot of them. Adrian Roger's devotional spoke about light, but a more wonderful one than we are blessed in our cloudless days. God's Light! The awesome wonder of the Son's Light! Even as the sunshine lifts our spirits, sometime short lived though, the Light of Christ's countenance is everlasting. May this poem that the Lord blessed me with today and Adrian Roger's devotional be the "Light" to guide you each and everyday.
The Son’s Light
Don’t walk in darkness,
when His light is always there.
Let Jesus brighten your day,
and take away your despair.
Don’t let the worries of today,
keep dark clouds all around.
Step out into the Son’s light,
and see all His beauty to be found.
Don’t listen to the worldly lies,
that bombard us everyday.
Let the Father, Spirit and the Son’s light,
shine through you today.
Do trust in the Heavenly Father,
as you go throughout your day.
Believe in His Word and be blessed,
and let His Son, light your way.
E. P. Shagott
7/6/2010
*************************************************
July 6
The Light of God's Countenance
"Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us." Psalm 4:6
How easy it is to be deceived when we are not walking in the light of God's Word.
Charles Lindbergh tells about the time he was flying in a dense fog over Newfoundland. He noticed moisture beginning to freeze on the wings of his plane and thought, "This great adventure is going to come to an untimely end. What shall I do?"
Then he had a moment of inspiration. He pulled his plane up and out of the fog and burst into the dazzling sunlight.
Have you ever felt like you were living in a fog? Friend, He has a word of encouragement for you. You can get near to the heart of God today. His light can shine even in the darkest corner of your heart.
· Ask God to shine His light into the darkness of your heart.
· Ask Him to reveal your doubts and fears.
· Ask Him to reveal your sin that lies covetously in your heart.
Then get ready for a blessing. Draw up close, because when you repent, He'll reach in with healing forgiveness.
Monday, July 5, 2010
My Journey 7/5/2010
God's insight to me:
The Test
My heart is at unrest,
day after day,
as I go through this life,
trying to find a better way.
What can be found,
to give me the peace,
to satisfy my heart,
that beats within me?
Each day is a struggle,
as we travel life’s way.
Just another daily test,
then from His Word, I read today,
In Luke chapter 1, verse 79, to give light to those
who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Jesus gave me the answer to life’s test.
See, it doesn’t matter,
what life throws your way,
what is most important of all,
Is that Christ is the center of our day!
E. P. Shagott
7/5/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 5
Don't Think Like the World
by Kenneth Copeland
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
– 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
If you think like the world thinks, eventually you will act like the world acts. Unrestrained thoughts produce unrestrained actions. So control your thoughts by bringing them into obedience to the Scriptures.
Program your mind with the Word of God. The Word is spirit and it is life. When your mind is totally saturated with the Word of God, your will becomes strong to exercise authority to overcome every ungodly thought and evil habit.
Don't let Satan deceive you into sacrificing the glory of God in your life for a few moments of self-indulgence and sin. Restrain your thought life. Meditate the Word instead of selfish, carnal thoughts. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.
*************************************************
July 5
A Nation Gone Astray
by Dr. Charles Stanley
Isaiah 59
The principle of sowing and reaping applies not only to individuals but also to nations. A country that ignores or rejects God and His Word will suffer the consequences of that choice. Though Israel had once honored the Lord, it went astray during the days of the prophet Isaiah and suffered the dire results of turning from the heavenly Father.
When a nation begins ignoring biblical commands and principles, truth becomes relative as false philosophies and "liberated thinking" take root. Leaders tend to consider themselves advanced and intellectual, but in reality, if they are separated from God, their thinking is foolish and their understanding darkened (Eph. 4:17-18).
A society always behaves according to its belief system, so the inevitable result of skewed thinking is sin. Once sin becomes acceptable in the eyes of the people, sensuality and self-gratification dominate as restraint is lifted. The baser nature of man emerges in the form of immorality, greed, and violence. Injustice reaches its peak when laws permit the killing of the most helpless and innocent of all its citizens—unborn children. Even if the majority of citizens disapprove of the injustice and immorality, unless they act, that nation will continue its downward spiral into depravity.
Our ultimate hope, of course, is in our coming King who will reign on earth with righteousness and justice. But the church must still awaken to its responsibility to be salt and light in a depraved world. Each generation is called to be alert and active during its appointed time on this earth.
*************************************************
July 5
From Streams in the Desert devotional
The Power of Silence
"Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10).
There is for the heart that will cease from itself, "the peace of God that passeth all understanding," a "quietness and confidence" which is the source of all strength, a sweet peace "which nothing can offend," a deep rest which the world can neither give nor take away. There is in the deepest center of the soul a chamber of peace where God dwells, and where, if we will only enter in and hush every other sound, we can hear His still, small voice.
"All-loving Father, sometimes we have walked under starless skies that dripped darkness like drenching rain. We despaired of starshine or moonlight or sunrise. The sullen blackness gloomed above us as if it would last forever. And out of the dark there spoke no soothing voice to mend our broken hearts. We would gladly have welcomed some wild thunder peal to break the torturing stillness of that over-brooding night.
But Thy winsome whisper of eternal love spoke more sweetly to our bruised and bleeding souls than any winds that breathe across Aeolian harps. It was Thy 'still small voice' that spoke to us. We were listening and we heard. We looked and saw Thy face radiant with the light of love. And when we heard Thy voice and saw Thy face, new life came back to us as life comes back to withered blooms that drink the summer rain."
The Test
My heart is at unrest,
day after day,
as I go through this life,
trying to find a better way.
What can be found,
to give me the peace,
to satisfy my heart,
that beats within me?
Each day is a struggle,
as we travel life’s way.
Just another daily test,
then from His Word, I read today,
In Luke chapter 1, verse 79, to give light to those
who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Jesus gave me the answer to life’s test.
See, it doesn’t matter,
what life throws your way,
what is most important of all,
Is that Christ is the center of our day!
E. P. Shagott
7/5/2010
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 5
Don't Think Like the World
by Kenneth Copeland
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
– 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
If you think like the world thinks, eventually you will act like the world acts. Unrestrained thoughts produce unrestrained actions. So control your thoughts by bringing them into obedience to the Scriptures.
Program your mind with the Word of God. The Word is spirit and it is life. When your mind is totally saturated with the Word of God, your will becomes strong to exercise authority to overcome every ungodly thought and evil habit.
Don't let Satan deceive you into sacrificing the glory of God in your life for a few moments of self-indulgence and sin. Restrain your thought life. Meditate the Word instead of selfish, carnal thoughts. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.
*************************************************
July 5
A Nation Gone Astray
by Dr. Charles Stanley
Isaiah 59
The principle of sowing and reaping applies not only to individuals but also to nations. A country that ignores or rejects God and His Word will suffer the consequences of that choice. Though Israel had once honored the Lord, it went astray during the days of the prophet Isaiah and suffered the dire results of turning from the heavenly Father.
When a nation begins ignoring biblical commands and principles, truth becomes relative as false philosophies and "liberated thinking" take root. Leaders tend to consider themselves advanced and intellectual, but in reality, if they are separated from God, their thinking is foolish and their understanding darkened (Eph. 4:17-18).
A society always behaves according to its belief system, so the inevitable result of skewed thinking is sin. Once sin becomes acceptable in the eyes of the people, sensuality and self-gratification dominate as restraint is lifted. The baser nature of man emerges in the form of immorality, greed, and violence. Injustice reaches its peak when laws permit the killing of the most helpless and innocent of all its citizens—unborn children. Even if the majority of citizens disapprove of the injustice and immorality, unless they act, that nation will continue its downward spiral into depravity.
Our ultimate hope, of course, is in our coming King who will reign on earth with righteousness and justice. But the church must still awaken to its responsibility to be salt and light in a depraved world. Each generation is called to be alert and active during its appointed time on this earth.
*************************************************
July 5
From Streams in the Desert devotional
The Power of Silence
"Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10).
There is for the heart that will cease from itself, "the peace of God that passeth all understanding," a "quietness and confidence" which is the source of all strength, a sweet peace "which nothing can offend," a deep rest which the world can neither give nor take away. There is in the deepest center of the soul a chamber of peace where God dwells, and where, if we will only enter in and hush every other sound, we can hear His still, small voice.
"All-loving Father, sometimes we have walked under starless skies that dripped darkness like drenching rain. We despaired of starshine or moonlight or sunrise. The sullen blackness gloomed above us as if it would last forever. And out of the dark there spoke no soothing voice to mend our broken hearts. We would gladly have welcomed some wild thunder peal to break the torturing stillness of that over-brooding night.
But Thy winsome whisper of eternal love spoke more sweetly to our bruised and bleeding souls than any winds that breathe across Aeolian harps. It was Thy 'still small voice' that spoke to us. We were listening and we heard. We looked and saw Thy face radiant with the light of love. And when we heard Thy voice and saw Thy face, new life came back to us as life comes back to withered blooms that drink the summer rain."
My Journey 7/4/2010
God's insight to me:
A fitting poem for the Fourth of July. I was blessed with this poem shortly after September 11th.
Perfect World
I tried to envision a perfect world
Where everyone would be free
A world without suffering and pain
Where all lived in harmony.
A world without bitterness
A world without shame
A world without differences
A world without blame.
Never having to say you're sorry
For you never did any wrong
A world filled with laughter
A world filled with song.
Could there ever be such a place?
Yes, for it is in God's plan
We would all be their now
If not for the fall of man.
So people don't get discouraged
Remember to think before you do
Until we get to our "Perfect World"
This one will have to do.
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
To our Sovereign Nation
I pledge
(because I owe)
alegiance
(loyalty, duty, all that I am, all that I have)
to the Flag
(everlasting symbol of our great nation)
of the United States of America,
(50 separate and distinct states woven together by common thread our Constitution)
and to the Republic
(a representative form of government which recognizes, respects and upholds the individual sovereignty of each of its separate entities)
for which it stands,
(towering, protectively, over all who know its presence)
one nation
(bonded together for the common good of its citizens)
under God,
(without whom all would surely perish)
indivisible,
(incapable of being torn asunder from without or from within)
with liberty
(the guaranteed freedom to strive to be whatever you wish to be)
and justice
(a representative form of government which recognizes, respects and upholds the individual sovereignty of each of its separate entities)
for all.
(every citizen of every description whether naturalized or natural born)
*************************************************
To Our Sovereign Savior
I pledge
allegiance
to the Christian flag,
and to the Savior,
for whose kingdom stands.
One Savior,
crucified,
risen and coming again,
with life
and liberty
for all who believe.
A fitting poem for the Fourth of July. I was blessed with this poem shortly after September 11th.
Perfect World
I tried to envision a perfect world
Where everyone would be free
A world without suffering and pain
Where all lived in harmony.
A world without bitterness
A world without shame
A world without differences
A world without blame.
Never having to say you're sorry
For you never did any wrong
A world filled with laughter
A world filled with song.
Could there ever be such a place?
Yes, for it is in God's plan
We would all be their now
If not for the fall of man.
So people don't get discouraged
Remember to think before you do
Until we get to our "Perfect World"
This one will have to do.
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
To our Sovereign Nation
I pledge
(because I owe)
alegiance
(loyalty, duty, all that I am, all that I have)
to the Flag
(everlasting symbol of our great nation)
of the United States of America,
(50 separate and distinct states woven together by common thread our Constitution)
and to the Republic
(a representative form of government which recognizes, respects and upholds the individual sovereignty of each of its separate entities)
for which it stands,
(towering, protectively, over all who know its presence)
one nation
(bonded together for the common good of its citizens)
under God,
(without whom all would surely perish)
indivisible,
(incapable of being torn asunder from without or from within)
with liberty
(the guaranteed freedom to strive to be whatever you wish to be)
and justice
(a representative form of government which recognizes, respects and upholds the individual sovereignty of each of its separate entities)
for all.
(every citizen of every description whether naturalized or natural born)
*************************************************
To Our Sovereign Savior
I pledge
allegiance
to the Christian flag,
and to the Savior,
for whose kingdom stands.
One Savior,
crucified,
risen and coming again,
with life
and liberty
for all who believe.
My Journey 7/2 - 7/3
God's insight to me:
The devotionals that I share with God's insight to me for these three days are all from the same devotional, Daily Disciples Devotionals.
The Promise of God devotional speaks of peace, everyday peace. In the Bible verse quoted, that is God's promise to us. As I was reading this devotional my thought went to so many that can not find His peace. So many living with a temporary peace that is chosen with our worldly eyes and ears. I believe what has truly invaded our lives is the world of communication to us, advertisement. Slowly but surely we are being programed to live a worldly life. We end up thinking it is our choice but it is not, we are being conditioned to want something or believe we need something by constant advertisement. I thought to myself, "why would they want to do this to us?" The answer for me is two fold, money and control. And as they are succeeding in doing this, only if we let them, we remain without the peace that we seek in our hearts. So what is the answer? For me and a lot of true Christians, "Jesus!" I have found my worldly wants are diminishing and my hunger for Christ is increasing. In place of TV, newspapers and Internet garbage, have been with His Word, devotionals, and Christian fellowship. My way of life now! His peace is with me.
The devotional named "Step into New Land" brought back a memory of what the author wrote about in our "Experiencing God" Sunday school material. The author wrote to "watch where God is working in your life and meet Him there." What I like about what the devotional stated, "Some did and some did not." They call that "choice". Abram did not hesitate. He did as the Lord asked Him to do. My thoughts went to Jesus when prior to His death He made a choice, the Fathers will, as I found in The Message translation, Mark 14:36 (The Message) 35-36Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: "Papa, Father, you can—can't you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?" Isn't it amazing that even as Jesus was asking His disciples, "come and follow Me", He already knew what was waiting for Him, "the Cross!" The disciples had to decide to give up everything for the sake of the Gospel message and the love they had for Jesus, just as Jesus gave up everything for the love of the Father and His love for us.
This is an early poem that the Lord blessed me with about 10 years ago.
Comfort Zone
Many, many years ago
while growing up at home,
times seemed happier then,
for I was in my comfort zone.
On most Sundays I would go to church,
to sing, and learn and pray.
As a youth I would listen to our leaders
and try to learn from what they had to say.
The message was the same back then,
as it is today,
believe in Jesus Christ our Lord,
for He is the only way.
He was nailed to a cross and crucified,
this man without sin,
He died because He loved us
and so that eternity we could spend with Him.
So in this troubled world,
fear not, for you are not alone.
Open your heart to Jesus my friend,
for He is our comfort zone.
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 2
Daily Disciples Devotional
Today's Thoughts: The Promise of God
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Today, everyone is looking for peace. We want our desires fulfilled and we think that will bring us happiness. We hear promises of fulfillment on radios, see promises on billboards, become a part of them through television and after hearing these promises enough times, we sing about them and make daily choices because of them. What is the primary message that these slogans promote? The answer, "We've got what you need." Promises, promises! Promises of a fulfilled life, an improved life, a happier life and a more peaceful life suggest that this life is attainable through the things of this world. Commercials promise that you can "have it your way," "we do it all for you," "you asked for it, you got it," and "you deserve it." But can these promises really be true? And will these products bring us the peace we are all seeking?
Because of the inability to have these promises truly fulfilled from the world, it then seems hard to believe that all the promises from the Lord will come true. Unlike the promises of the world that are conditioned upon our spending money and time to benefit from their product, Jesus has given us the promises of God, which are free. The Lord does require something from us: our trust, belief and obedience. And in return He promises peace to His people. Our attitudes, goals and desires should not depend on the promises of the world, but on the promises of the Word. It's that peace that makes us different and gives us something that others want. That peace will affect the way we live in our actions, behaviors and attitudes. Acts 10:36 says, "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." Jesus promises us peace, not from this world, but from Him. His promises are not empty slogans but a way of life: for He is the way, the truth and the life.
Do you need to experience His peace today? If so, begin by asking Jesus to fill you with His loving peace. His promises will never fail you.
*************************************************
July 3
Daily Disciples Devotional
Today's Thoughts: Step into New Land
Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. Genesis 12:1-5
The Lord called Abram out. He told him to leave his country, not just his home, but his country. God told Abram to leave his family and head towards a new land. Can we begin to imagine how Abram must have felt? I wonder if his family thought he was crazy. Let's see now—you are going to leave your home, family, country and head to a land that you have not seen yet? Abram did leave his home and country behind and went as the Lord directed him. Abram was a man of great faith. He believed in the promises of God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.
In the New Testament, Jesus told his disciples a similar message when he said, "Follow Me." To follow Jesus meant leaving everything else behind, including homes and families. Some did and some did not. The same is true today. How many of us are truly willing to forsake all for the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do we really have to go to such extremes in this day and age? In our hearts, we must answer those questions. Despite our behaviors and outward appearances, God knows our hearts. If we are willing to surrender all to Jesus, the Lord will do the rest.
Think upon these verses today. Maybe God has a new land that awaits you. Without a doubt, God has blessings planned for your life, planned from before you were born. Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone? If so, this could be the step that changes your life in amazing ways.
*************************************************
The devotionals that I share with God's insight to me for these three days are all from the same devotional, Daily Disciples Devotionals.
The Promise of God devotional speaks of peace, everyday peace. In the Bible verse quoted, that is God's promise to us. As I was reading this devotional my thought went to so many that can not find His peace. So many living with a temporary peace that is chosen with our worldly eyes and ears. I believe what has truly invaded our lives is the world of communication to us, advertisement. Slowly but surely we are being programed to live a worldly life. We end up thinking it is our choice but it is not, we are being conditioned to want something or believe we need something by constant advertisement. I thought to myself, "why would they want to do this to us?" The answer for me is two fold, money and control. And as they are succeeding in doing this, only if we let them, we remain without the peace that we seek in our hearts. So what is the answer? For me and a lot of true Christians, "Jesus!" I have found my worldly wants are diminishing and my hunger for Christ is increasing. In place of TV, newspapers and Internet garbage, have been with His Word, devotionals, and Christian fellowship. My way of life now! His peace is with me.
The devotional named "Step into New Land" brought back a memory of what the author wrote about in our "Experiencing God" Sunday school material. The author wrote to "watch where God is working in your life and meet Him there." What I like about what the devotional stated, "Some did and some did not." They call that "choice". Abram did not hesitate. He did as the Lord asked Him to do. My thoughts went to Jesus when prior to His death He made a choice, the Fathers will, as I found in The Message translation, Mark 14:36 (The Message) 35-36Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: "Papa, Father, you can—can't you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?" Isn't it amazing that even as Jesus was asking His disciples, "come and follow Me", He already knew what was waiting for Him, "the Cross!" The disciples had to decide to give up everything for the sake of the Gospel message and the love they had for Jesus, just as Jesus gave up everything for the love of the Father and His love for us.
This is an early poem that the Lord blessed me with about 10 years ago.
Comfort Zone
Many, many years ago
while growing up at home,
times seemed happier then,
for I was in my comfort zone.
On most Sundays I would go to church,
to sing, and learn and pray.
As a youth I would listen to our leaders
and try to learn from what they had to say.
The message was the same back then,
as it is today,
believe in Jesus Christ our Lord,
for He is the only way.
He was nailed to a cross and crucified,
this man without sin,
He died because He loved us
and so that eternity we could spend with Him.
So in this troubled world,
fear not, for you are not alone.
Open your heart to Jesus my friend,
for He is our comfort zone.
E. P. Shagott
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
July 2
Daily Disciples Devotional
Today's Thoughts: The Promise of God
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Today, everyone is looking for peace. We want our desires fulfilled and we think that will bring us happiness. We hear promises of fulfillment on radios, see promises on billboards, become a part of them through television and after hearing these promises enough times, we sing about them and make daily choices because of them. What is the primary message that these slogans promote? The answer, "We've got what you need." Promises, promises! Promises of a fulfilled life, an improved life, a happier life and a more peaceful life suggest that this life is attainable through the things of this world. Commercials promise that you can "have it your way," "we do it all for you," "you asked for it, you got it," and "you deserve it." But can these promises really be true? And will these products bring us the peace we are all seeking?
Because of the inability to have these promises truly fulfilled from the world, it then seems hard to believe that all the promises from the Lord will come true. Unlike the promises of the world that are conditioned upon our spending money and time to benefit from their product, Jesus has given us the promises of God, which are free. The Lord does require something from us: our trust, belief and obedience. And in return He promises peace to His people. Our attitudes, goals and desires should not depend on the promises of the world, but on the promises of the Word. It's that peace that makes us different and gives us something that others want. That peace will affect the way we live in our actions, behaviors and attitudes. Acts 10:36 says, "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." Jesus promises us peace, not from this world, but from Him. His promises are not empty slogans but a way of life: for He is the way, the truth and the life.
Do you need to experience His peace today? If so, begin by asking Jesus to fill you with His loving peace. His promises will never fail you.
*************************************************
July 3
Daily Disciples Devotional
Today's Thoughts: Step into New Land
Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. Genesis 12:1-5
The Lord called Abram out. He told him to leave his country, not just his home, but his country. God told Abram to leave his family and head towards a new land. Can we begin to imagine how Abram must have felt? I wonder if his family thought he was crazy. Let's see now—you are going to leave your home, family, country and head to a land that you have not seen yet? Abram did leave his home and country behind and went as the Lord directed him. Abram was a man of great faith. He believed in the promises of God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.
In the New Testament, Jesus told his disciples a similar message when he said, "Follow Me." To follow Jesus meant leaving everything else behind, including homes and families. Some did and some did not. The same is true today. How many of us are truly willing to forsake all for the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do we really have to go to such extremes in this day and age? In our hearts, we must answer those questions. Despite our behaviors and outward appearances, God knows our hearts. If we are willing to surrender all to Jesus, the Lord will do the rest.
Think upon these verses today. Maybe God has a new land that awaits you. Without a doubt, God has blessings planned for your life, planned from before you were born. Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone? If so, this could be the step that changes your life in amazing ways.
*************************************************
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