My Journey 8/11 - 8/13/2010

God's insight to me:

Three excellent articles from Daily Disciples devotionals. In the first one I can relate to what the author wrote about. Though it took me over 5 years to understand that the Lord called me into a ministry for Him, it is tough work. Being human we want to do what we want to do, not what God is asking us to do. It is sometimes easy to get discouraged and weary but the author stated two things to stay focused on; be faithful and realize we can't do it on our own. We are dependent daily on Christ!

As I read this second devotional my mind thought of the many in this world that don't know Christ. What I have found is from the time I open my eyes, till I close them in sleep, I can not make it in this world without Jesus. As our Pastor has said many times, "He is as close to you as you let Him be!" During this month presenting the "Seeds of Grace" program for the God's Love Outreach Ministry there is a song titled "Thank You for Your Grace". One line in the song states "You came into my life and made me new. A broken man discarded and hopeless." As I sing the lyrics I am saying to myself, "How true" Interesting is the fact that I was saved as a teenager 15 years of age, but I didn't realize what it was to be "new" until I walked through this worldly life for 40 years. I didn't understand what the scripture verse that the author stated meant, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5. Everything you will ever need is in that verse. I do pray that for every set of eyes that read this insight understand that. If not I pray that "today is the day" that you can.

In the third devotional this sentence that the author wrote is very true, "we do not always appreciate the work of God because of the hardness of our own hearts." There is a saying I once read, "Many want to serve God but only as advisers!" I think also that is how many of us want to have a relationship with Him. Another couple great sentences in this devotional are "Jesus does not need us to do anything. He wants us to come to Him, listen to Him and enjoy His fellowship. God does not want our actions; He wants our hearts. When our hearts align with His, our actions will follow to please Him!" Amen to that.

I Want To

I don't have to but I want to,
give Him praise everyday.
I don't have to but I want to,
let Him be my light and guide today.

I don't have to but I want to,
listen to His Spirit as He speaks.
I don't have to but I want to,
tell others about Him that I meet.

I don't have to but I want to,
please Him in all I do.
I don't have to but I want to,
reach out to others that need Him too.

I want to, not that I have to,
love Him with all my heart.
I want to, not that I have to,
because He loved me first from the start!

E. P. Shagott

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

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8/11

Ministry
A devotional from Daily Disciples

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:1

Ministry is an interesting word. What defines a ministry? Is it a job in a church, a job outside of a church, or is everything in the Christian life somehow a form of "ministry"? Regardless of where or how ministry is conducted, one thing is true---it is a tough job. If we are not careful, we can become very weary and discouraged in doing the work of the ministry.

I have noticed in my own experience that I need to be reminded repeatedly that God does the work. I just need to be faithful to do what He has asked of me today, depending on Him for everything. Somewhere during the busyness, I can forget what dependency feels like and try to make sense of ministry in my own flesh instead of relying on His Spirit. A good saying is "Where God's finger points, there God's hand will make a way."

For those of you who are serving in a ministerial role, pray for the Lord to give you verses to anchor your ministry goals. While reading the scriptures, look for a verse that expresses how you feel or what your heart's desire is. Keep searching the scriptures and praying until you find at least one verse or one story that you can pray back and meditate on. Those verses will give you the strength to get through the trials as well as the focus to finish what you started. God will bring to your remembrance the scripture throughout the days ahead when the times get difficult. God wants us to count the cost and be responsible in whatever service we do but God takes us as His responsibility to get us through. And remember, we are all dealing with the same thoughts and struggles. You are not alone when serving the Lord.

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8/12

Today is The Day
A devotional from Daily Disciples

O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works. Psalm 86:7-8

Several months ago, I wrote the following letter to my sister. She had written to me with questions about the Lord. Where is He when she is hurting so much? I was reminded of this letter as my sisters and mother were visiting with me last week. We each described our hurts and struggles. There was comfort in being together, but the greatest comfort is in knowing the Lord. The words still hold true and, maybe today, you are in the same place or know someone who is struggling with the same issues. We pray that these words minister to your heart…

Jesus has been waiting for you your whole life. He knows exactly where you are and how you feel. He knows what it is to suffer and hurt. Hebrews 4:15 says that we have a great High Priest who understands our sufferings and pain because He, Himself, endured so much more. Our only hope is Jesus. He is the only one who can heal you. And He will heal you...that is why He died. He had to die or we would all be lost. His Holy Spirit is now moving on your heart, which is why you are asking these questions. Your questions are really directed towards Him. All He wants from you is your heart, nothing more. All you have to do is let Him in...you will have no peace until you do. The Bible has your answers but you will not understand what the Bible says until you have been saved by the very blood that was shed when Jesus died. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

He loves you and He wants you to be His child. You are precious in His sight. The Lord will give you answers but you must go through His Son, Jesus. John 14:6 says "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." So many people refuse to accept this truth but it is the truth. Jesus is the only way. I am going to give you the prayer to ask Him into your heart...pray it in your heart....

Dear Lord, I thank You for Jesus, whom You sent to the cross to die for me. I know, Lord, that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins. Please cleanse me of them all and make me new today. Jesus, I ask that You come into my heart and save me. Please heal me and make me whole. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may understand Your word and live a new life in You. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for loving me. Help me to live for You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

It is that simple. All of the rest will come. You have a whole life ahead that God wants to use for His purposes. The enemy has held you down too long. The victory begins today in Jesus. God has a plan for your life. It is never too late.

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8/13

Knowing Christ
From Daily Disciples devotional

But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. John 9:18

To open the eyes of the blind was a clear sign that Jesus was the Messiah. The religious leaders knew that no one could open the eyes of the blind. However, they did not believe that the man had really received his sight until his parents confirmed the fact that he had been born blind. Even after speaking to his parents, the Jews still did not want to believe that Jesus healed his sight.

Today, Jesus is still performing miracles as He gently touches us and others. He is still answering prayers and working among us on a daily basis. Nevertheless, like the Pharisees, we do not always appreciate the work of God because of the hardness of our own hearts. We personally want to tell God what He can and cannot do. We want to challenge the miracles and call them "coincidences" or deny that a miracle happened at all. We talk Christianity and try to exclude the "Christ."

I had a man say to me once that he tried that Christianity stuff and it did not work. He went on to tell me that he read the Bible, prayed and did good works within the church but it was only a phase. I then asked him the following questions: "Have you ever gotten down on your knees, begging God to cleanse you from your sins? Have you ever told the Lord that you only desired to live for Him, to serve Him and to follow Him wherever He wanted? Have you ever had such a hunger and thirst to read His words that He placed within His book just to get to know Him better? Did you ever want Jesus more than you wanted anything else and desired to please Him in everything you did?" He clearly and quickly answered, "NO." And I said, "Then don't think that you ever came to know Jesus, and without Jesus, there is no Christianity." Christianity without Christ is just a lot of wasted time and effort, doing some good things that do not really matter. Jesus does not need us to do anything. He wants us to come to Him, listen to Him and enjoy His fellowship.

There are many reasons why we may want to be religious. God does not want our actions; He wants our hearts. When our hearts align with His, our actions will follow to please Him. No one has to pretend or try to act like a Christian. As you believe in Him, He will change you. Pray that your heart will stay soft to recognize the works of God in your life. Pray that the miracles of Jesus make a difference in your day and affect the lives of others. Pray that you see Him moving in you, touching you and healing you from the depths of your heart today. Jesus wants to gently and quietly love on you. God does not need you to play Christianity. God wants you to know Christ.