My Journey 9/25 - 9/27/2010

God's insight to me:

Interesting journey for these three days. I must admit I didn't read very many devotionals for my mind was on other things. But what I want you all to know is I spent many, many hours with the Lord. See, I was about to experience hurt, of which I haven't felt in a long time. This hurt is from a broken heart. Our God knows just what you need, when you need it. He knows that it is due too the hurt that draws you closer too Him. Does He knows how much you hurt? Sure, but He also knows how much you can bear and He cherishes every minute we are with Him.

My dog Buddy had been with me for close to 14 years. I took him to the vet on Friday morning because he wasn't eating and began sleeping all the time. His legs were getting weaker. Now with Buddy being a senior dog (approx. 96 years in human time, so they say), some of these symptoms were a little common, but I knew something was happening. After drawing blood it was determined that he was into kidney failure. The vet told me to give him just boiled chicken and rice to eat, but Buddy wanted nothing. He told me to call him Monday morning if he wasn't doing any better.

Sunday I went to church, as I always do. Of course I did a lot of praying during Bible Study and also during the service. What I was looking for was for God's help and direction to get me through this time. I felt kind of selfish because I was praying more for my needs than Buddy's. Could of God healed him? Sure, He is God. But what I was asking more was for comfort for Buddy and peace for me. I must admit I did think about staying home on Sunday, but God told me, my house is for the hurting too. Oh, He wants our praise, but He wants our needs. Myself being in a fragile state because of a weekend of worry, I was afraid I would lose it sometime in the morning. Well, I was right. I was doing well until we got to the praise song, "All Is Well", which is one of my favorites. I started off good until I got to this part in the song:

All my changes come from Him
he who never changes
I'm held firm in the grasp
of the Rock of all the changes

All is well with my soul
He is God in Control
I know not all His plans
but I know I'm in His hands

Ok, this is where I lost it. I felt His Spirit grab my heart and not let go. With tears streaming down my face, I just praised Him!!! I am so glad I went to church for the answer was there.

I want to share a poem with you that the Lord blessed me with at 3:30 AM Monday morning. The reason for the poem was that I knew what the morning would bring and I didn’t want it to come. I had to put my dog down this afternoon. But what the Lord told me was I was letting my circumstances over run my focus. After writing the poem I understood what He meant. I am blessed He chooses me to speak to each of you.

This might be a message from Him that you will want to read from time to time and share with so many others that “Do not want tomorrow to come!”

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Tomorrow

I did not want tomorrow to come,
for I knew the pain would be so great.
But then I thought of Jesus’ last night,
and the pain He endured for my sake.

I did not want tomorrow to come,
for it would be filled with anxiety and fear.
But then I thought of how my Savior must of felt,
knowing it had to come, so He could draw me near.

I did not want tomorrow to come,
I just wanted to run someplace and hide.
But then I felt the presence of the Father,
almost like He was right here at my side.

His Spirit spoke within my heart and said,
“Tomorrow must come, that’s the way it must be.
You will never face another tomorrow alone,
we will face it together, you, the Holy Spirit, Jesus and Me!”

E. P. Shagott
9/27/2010


So morning had come. Very little had changed with my Buddy, so I called the vet and I decided it was time to say good-bye. The answer you hear from others that have gone through it, never changes. It is a hard thing to do. My journey with Buddy has come to an end, but I am closer to the Lord more than ever before.

Psalms 38:21 Forsake me not, O Jehovah; O my God, be not far from me.

He wasn't. Praise Him!

My Buddy
(12/25/1996 – 9/27/2010)

I lost a special friend today,
my heart was broke in two.
A special friend that was sent from God,
special, because no other would do.

Everything about him,
just fit me to a tee.
Ten pounds of love and obedience,
that was made just for me.

Oh, I know cute friends like him,
will probably come and then have to go.
But this one was oh so special,
that’s why I loved him so.

So now I have just the memories,
praise to God, they will get me through.
How awesome a God He is,
for He knew only “my Buddy” would do!

E. P. Shagott
9/27/2010

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