My Journey 9/20 - 9/22/2010

God's insight to me:

The first two devotionals by Max Lucado speak of seeing. When we walk by faith we look through the eyes of our heart. There is a song that we sing in church sometimes where the lyrics state, "Open the eyes of my heart Lord, that I may see You!" Even if we look through our fleshly eyes we can only see the worldly things. Once we process that through our heart the Spirit shows us what we should be seeing at all times. A caring Father, a loving Son and a devoted Spirit. So my friends, "What do you see?"

This last devotional by J. C. Philpot reminds me of that part of the Lord's Prayer, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." So how can that be? Heaven awaits each of God's children, how can Heaven be here now? J. C. Philpot explains it well in his last sentence, "the very kingdom of God set up in the heart." So many lost souls as Mr. Philpot writes about, looking for relief. I can understand just what he meant by that for I was one of them. Though I was saved at 15 years of age, my relief did not come until 40+ years later. I discovered I could not find His peace until I "surrendered" my soul to Him. It is His, you know. As I was thinking about this I can't imagine how anyone could not want His peace. If I feel this peace now just think what Heaven must be like. What about the non-believers? What will it be like when they hear those words as written in Matthew 25:41 Then He also shall say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.

Your Soul Belongs To Him

As you travel through your day,
though sad or with a grin,
always remember that the soul you carry,
will always belong to Him.

It was created when you were,
for a journey that will never end.
Though your body will age and crumble,
your soul does not, my friend.

God’s purpose for your soul is simple,
to once again return to Him,
but you have to make the choice,
to be an enemy or be a friend.

So please don’t wait another minute,
your soul is what’s at stake,
if you don’t choose in God,
then it’s all for the devil to take!

E. P. Shagott
9/22/2010

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

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9/20

Come and See
By Max Lucado

“Can anything good from Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and see.” John 1:46

Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Come and see.

See Wilberforce fighting to free slaves in England . . .

Journey into the jungles and hear the drums beating in praise . . .

Venture into the gulags and dungeons of the world and hear the songs of the saved refusing to be silent.

Come and see.

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9/21

Which Do You See?
By Max Lucado

“The Lord will be your confidence.” Proverbs 3:26 NKJV

The temple builders and the Savior seekers. You’ll find them both in the same church, on the same pew – at times, even in the same suit. One sees the structure and says, “What a great church.” The other sees the Savior and says, “What a great Christ!”

Which do you see?

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9/22

Daily Portions
A devotional by J. C. Philpot

"The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." 1 Corinthians 4:20

It is through the word of God in the hands of the Spirit, that this kingdom is set up in the soul. All God's people are agreed on this point, that they have no more religion than they have inward power. And all the living family are sighing, each according to his measure and season, after the manifestation of this divine power in their souls. Those that are under the law, and toiling under heavy burdens, are sighing after relief, and for that relief to come in divine power--power that shall cast all their sins into the depth of the sea. Those who having tasted that the Lord is gracious have lost their first love, are at times breathing out their inmost desire after power to revive their souls. Those who are beset with powerful temptations, and struggling, often ineffectually, with base lusts, are crying after power to deliver their feet from the fowler's snares. Those who are hard, need power to soften; those who are doubting and fearing, need power to give them faith; the backsliding need power to return, and the sinking need power to swim. By power I understand something solid, real, substantial, heavenly, supernatural. How do we measure the capabilities of a steam engine? We say that it has so many horse-power. But who in his senses would construct a steam engine of two hundred horse-power to break sticks and pick up straws? We measure power by its effects. We proportion the one to the other. Now the Holy Ghost, the God of all power and might, would not put forth his mighty and efficacious hand to break sticks and pick up straws in the soul. No. His work is worthy of a God; a "work of faith with power," because springing from a God of power. The God of Israel is not a Baal that is sleeping and needs to be awakened, or gone a journey and therefore too far off to come when needed, but "a very present help in time of trouble." By this secret power false hopes are swept away, rotten props removed, creature righteousness brought to an end, and the soul is helped and enabled to lean upon the Lord. This power is not noise and rant; but the still, small voice of Jesus in the soul. The people of God want no outward voice, but they are seeking after that secret voice of atoning blood in their conscience, that speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. The inward whisper of heavenly love sounding in their soul--not the earthquake of terror, not the fire of divine wrath, but the still, small voice of pardon and peace--makes them bow themselves before the Lord, and wrap their faces in their mantle. The Queen of England need not shout aloud in her palace, to give her commands effect. Where the word of a king is, there is power, whether from an earthly monarch or from the King of Zion. We want therefore no noise, bustle, and excitement, no raving and ranting about religion; but we want inward feeling, the very kingdom of God set up in the heart.