My Journey - 7/1/2010

God's insight to me:

Gloria Copeland's devotional speaks of I believe many Christians fear, being imperfect. With Christ living in us we still stumble or stray off His desire for us. But what is described in this devotional is the use of the word perfect. "Devoted to God". My friends I am that for sure. There are still so many today that just have not come to believe in Christ. The Lord blessed me with this poem about that;

How Do I Believe

How do I believe someone asked,
in a God I can not see?
How can I be sure,
that God really loves me?

How can I know,
when in trouble He is really there?
How can I be rest assured,
that God really cares?

Well, for me the answer is simple,
all you have to do is open your eyes.
Look all around and see,
where all His beauty lies.

Open up His Word,
that hasn’t changed since day one.
Listen to all His praises,
from hymns that are being sung.

Then ask any believer,
that loves Him with all their heart.
They truly understand there is a God,
who loved us from the start.

E. P. Shagott
7/1/2010

"God With Us" is an awesome devotional. When the God's Love Outreach Ministry is presenting programs to shut-ins at various nursing homes, I tell the residents that God is and always will be with them. I have quoted this verse many times in programs, Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. Many of the residents find that they are feeling alone and family and friends have forgotten them. It is so important that they feel God's love more now than ever in their lives to give them comfort and reassurance that He is always with them.

Dr. Charles Stanley's devotional is a wonderful devotional for today's times. Always remember the God of the mountain is also the God of the valley's. I will always remember my dad back in the 60's saying, "this world is going to the dogs!" Well, I thought back then everything was going good. Remember that statement was said by a man who went through the depression. The main theme of Dr. Stanley's devotional is "it's all in God's plan". I believe that for sure. He is God! He controls everything for His purpose. I want to share with you the 2nd poem that God blessed me for today;

To All My Family and Friends

I am sorry to all my family and friends,
for I can not wait on you.
With so much little time left,
there is so much I have to do.

My life is not mine any more,
it was freely given to Him.
A choice that I had to make,
so He could work from within.

My prayer is for each of you,
to know Him like I do.
To understand before time runs out,
just what Jesus did for you.

Each minute is so valuable,
to reach out and touch His lost,
so they can understand as I do
the importance of the Cross.

So lead me Lord to the ones,
that still don’t understand.
Many, many still have to choose,
it’s not about theirs, but your plan.

E. P. Shagott
7/1/2010

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

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July 1, 2010

Later is Here!
by Gloria Copeland

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household?
– Matthew 24:45

The Word tells us that God shows Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are "perfect" toward Him (2 Chron.16:9). That word "perfect" doesn't mean that we have to do everything just right and live without making a mistake. Thank God, we don't have to do that. It means "devoted"--a heart consecrated, dedicated, loyal and faithful to God.

The mistakes we make will not stop God from working in our lives. Only our lack of faithfulness can do that.

Who is faithful? The one who spends his time doing what God has called him to do. Or as Jesus put it, the one who takes up his cross and follows Him. The one who denies his fleshly desires and spends his life on the things God desires him to do.

Maybe God has been urging you to spend more time in His Word and in prayer or dealing with you about ministering more to the people around you. He may be calling you to pray for the sick or to teach the Word. But you're busy, so you glide on with good intentions and tell God you'll do it later. Well, later is here!

Decide today that you are going to be the faithful and wise servant. Find out what is stealing your time from the Lord. Serve His interests instead of your own.

Do you want to be a ruler in the household of God? Do you want Him to show Himself strong for you? Then take up Jesus' thoughts today. Take up His purposes and His plans. Now is the time to be faithful!

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July 1

God with Us
from Faith's Checkbook Devotionals

"God shall be with you" (Genesis 48:21).

Good old Jacob could no more be with Joseph, for his hour had come to die: but he left his son without anxiety, for he said with confidence, "God shall be with you." When our dearest relations or our most helpful friends are called home by death, we must console ourselves with the reflection that the LORD is not departed from us but lives for us and abides with us forever.

If God be with us, we are in ennobling company, even though we are poor and despised. If God be with us, we have all-sufficient strength, for nothing can be too hard for the LORD. If God be with us, we are always safe, for none can harm those who walk under His shadow. Oh, what a joy we have here! Not only is God with us, but He will be with us. With us as individuals; with us as families; with us as churches. Is not the very name of Jesus, Immanuel -- God with us? Is not this the best of all, that God is with us? Let us be bravely diligent and joyously hopeful. Our cause must prosper, the truth must win, for the LORD is with those who are with Him.
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July 1

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
by Dr. Charles Stanley

Daniel 2:20-22

How many of us have listened to the global or national news and wondered, What in the world is going on? Without a firm foundation of biblical truth, we can easily be overcome with fear and despair. Despite the upheaval in political and financial realms, Christians can find peace in the knowledge that our God is sovereign over every nation and ruler on earth.

Though the future of a nation appears to be in the hands of its rulers and lawmakers, an omnipotent hand is orchestrating a good and glorious plan: the Lord is the one who "removes kings and establishes kings" (v. 20). Ultimately, every governmental leader is put into office, not by voters, political campaigns, or personal abilities, but by the hand of God.

Nothing that the Lord does is carried out in isolation. He's working all things according to His divine plan. We tend to think that a ruler has to be righteous for God to use Him, but Proverbs 21:1 tells us that the Lord can direct the heart of any national leader wherever He wishes. In fact, He describes two pagan kings—Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus—as "My servant" (Jer. 25:9) and "My shepherd" (Isa. 44:28). Unbeknownst to them, God guided their paths to fulfill His purposes for Israel.

When the news threatens to dislodge your peace or cause despair, remember who holds the nations in His hand. God's plans for this world are moving along according to His divine purposes, and no unrighteous ruler can thwart Him. Just keep singing, "He's got the whole world in His hands."