God's insight for me:
A. B. Simpson's devotional speaks about helping. Reaching out to someone in need. He states that there are several ways to do this, prayer, giving, encouraging, smiling, and also the ever slight touch of the hand. The God's Love Outreach Ministry presents many if not all of these in the many programs designed by the Spirit to reach out and touch someone. The little poem at the end of Mr. Simpson's devotional is excellent.
The Contentment devotional is an excellent explanation of how each of us should feel in doing the Lords work. The garden story was well written and relates to sometimes how we can feel that the other person has it so much better. What it all boils down to is we all have our own work to do, and no one can do it better than what God created you to do.
Max Lucado's devotional reminded me of a line in the song "If I Can Dream", that is presented to the residents in various nursing homes this month. The line states,"We can redeem our souls and fly", (I changed it to the plural for all of us). If people could just grasp and understand what God wants for each of us. Happiness. But sometimes with all the problems in this world it is hard for many of us to find, true happiness. We find someone or something is holding onto our wings making it hard to soar to the heights that God wants us to be at. I find when I keep my focus on Christ that He is the wind beneath my wings.
Wings
The burdens of life are many,
trouble and heartache has come our way.
I raised my eyes above and said,
“Lord give us wings to fly away!”
Please let my wings take me
to a place that’s safe and free.
Free from life’s constant battles
that are always all around me.
Within a few moments
I felt God’s presence oh so near.
Jesus spoke to my heart and said,
“Why is it that you fear?
If I give you wings they will lift you up
but in this world troubles will always be.
It is not the wings that will free you from them,
but the faith that you have in Me!
6/22/2010
E. P. Shagott
*************************************************
Days of Heaven Upon Earth
Devotionals by A. B. Simpson
June 21
"God hath set some in the church ... helps" (I. Cor. xii. 28).
In the apostle's lists of officers in the church the "helps" are mentioned before the "governments." By the ministry of prayer, by the ministry of giving, by the ministry of encouragement, by the shining face and mute pressure of the hand, and a little word of cheer, and by the countless ways in which we can help, or at least can keep from hindering, we can all find still the footprints of Aquila and Priscilla, if we want to follow them.
It is a great grace to be able to rejoice in another's work and pour our lives, like affluent rivers, into great streams. But God knows whence every drop has come, and in the greater day of recompense many of the helps shall have the chief reward.
Beloved, are you helping? Are you helping your pastor, your brother, your husband, your mother, your fellow-worker, and when the harvest comes shall he that soweth and he that reapeth rejoice together?
You can help by holy prayer,
Helpful love and joyful song,
O, the burdens you may bear,
O, the sorrows you may share,
O, the crowns you yet may wear,
If you help along.
*************************************************
Streams in the Desert
Devotionals by Mrs. Charles Cowman
June 22
Contentment
"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11).
Paul, denied of every comfort, wrote the above words in his dungeon. A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac; and so on all through the garden. Coming to a heart's-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. "Well, heart's-ease, I'm glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened." "No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a heart's-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart's-ease that I can."
"Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God's heritage
Can do it so well as you."
They who are God's without reserve, are in every state content; for they will only what He wills, and desire to do for Him whatever He desires them to do; they strip themselves of everything, and in this nakedness find all things restored an hundredfold.
*************************************************
He Wants You To Fly
By Max Lucado
June 22
“If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22
Don’t reduce this grand statement to the category of new cars and paychecks . . .
God wants you to fly. He wants you to fly free of yesterday’s guilt. He wants you to fly free of today’s fears. He wants you to fly free of tomorrow’s grave. Sin, fear, and death. These are the mountains he has moved. These are the prayers he will answer.
Showing posts with label Contentment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contentment. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
My Journey 6/2 - 6/8/2010
God's insight to me:
Seven days of "My Journey" and busy, busy, busy. I am amazed that in my retirement I am busier than ever before. But these last seven days left me little time to sit in front of my computer screen. It seemed that even in the mornings it was wake up then go, go, go. As I read a couple devotionals from this period of time these two stayed with me.
Max Lucado's devotional about contentment is what I can relate to my life now. Even as I am busier more now, it is a fulfilling type of busy. I have also found though the body may grow weary even doing the Lord's work the contentment over rides all the other obstacles that may occur as to what Max Lucado was referring to, "frustrations, and anxieties". It comes down to priorities and I prefer God's to mine.
Charles Stanley's devotional was a good one to follow Max Lucado's. Staying the course. There were plenty of times as my body was starting to give in, I knew, with God's strength, I could accomplish what He had given me to do for that day. Though I like to spend time in front of my computer screen it is only fruitful if He leads me to do it. Some days He is blessing me with two poems or reading His Word or listening to what He wants to speak to me about through daily devotionals. Some days like the past seven He withdraws the interest from the computer so I can go where He is leading me to go. Helping friends, church family and tending to my family needs. But rest assure one thing, my goal will always be "a wholehearted pursuit of Christ". Always remember this quote, "Seven days without Jesus will definitely make one weak!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
June 2
Contentment
By Max Lucado
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6, NKJV
In our world, contentment is a strange street vendor, roaming . . . slowly from house to house . . . offering his wares: an hour of peace, a smile of acceptance, a sigh of relief . . .
When I asked him why so few welcomed him into their homes, his answer left me convicted. “I charge a high price, you know . . . I ask people to trade in their schedules, frustrations, and anxieties . . . You’d think I’d have more buyers . . . but people seem strangely proud of their ulcers and headaches.”
*************************************************
June 3
Staying on Course by Charles Stanley
Hebrews 12:1-2
The Christian life can be likened to a race with a predetermined course and a finish line in eternity. Each believer has a personalized route specially designed by the Lord. Our goal is to stay on track and run with endurance, but the path can be discerned and negotiated only by focusing on Jesus. Because He ran the race perfectly and finished His course, He can show us the way.
As with any long-term race, the course is full of obstacles that threaten to trip or sidetrack us. Temptations lure us to what we imagine are lush green pastures, while busyness can lead us down rabbit trails that end in exhaustion. Worry and fear grab hold of our minds, and emotions take us places the Lord never intended for us to go.
Although sins present the most obvious hindrances, other obstacles and detours are subtler. Anything that takes precedence over our relationship with the Lord can send us down the wrong path. Because involvement in the daily activities of earthly life is necessary, we can easily let our families, jobs, and pleasures distract us from a wholehearted pursuit of Christ. Surprisingly, even God's blessings can become obstacles in the race if we start to pursue them more than we do the Lord.
We must remember that the goal isn't to focus on the path or to try and find our way; instead, we're to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is not only our guide but also our destination. And He will welcome us home with open arms when we finish the race and cross into eternity.
Seven days of "My Journey" and busy, busy, busy. I am amazed that in my retirement I am busier than ever before. But these last seven days left me little time to sit in front of my computer screen. It seemed that even in the mornings it was wake up then go, go, go. As I read a couple devotionals from this period of time these two stayed with me.
Max Lucado's devotional about contentment is what I can relate to my life now. Even as I am busier more now, it is a fulfilling type of busy. I have also found though the body may grow weary even doing the Lord's work the contentment over rides all the other obstacles that may occur as to what Max Lucado was referring to, "frustrations, and anxieties". It comes down to priorities and I prefer God's to mine.
Charles Stanley's devotional was a good one to follow Max Lucado's. Staying the course. There were plenty of times as my body was starting to give in, I knew, with God's strength, I could accomplish what He had given me to do for that day. Though I like to spend time in front of my computer screen it is only fruitful if He leads me to do it. Some days He is blessing me with two poems or reading His Word or listening to what He wants to speak to me about through daily devotionals. Some days like the past seven He withdraws the interest from the computer so I can go where He is leading me to go. Helping friends, church family and tending to my family needs. But rest assure one thing, my goal will always be "a wholehearted pursuit of Christ". Always remember this quote, "Seven days without Jesus will definitely make one weak!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
*************************************************
June 2
Contentment
By Max Lucado
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6, NKJV
In our world, contentment is a strange street vendor, roaming . . . slowly from house to house . . . offering his wares: an hour of peace, a smile of acceptance, a sigh of relief . . .
When I asked him why so few welcomed him into their homes, his answer left me convicted. “I charge a high price, you know . . . I ask people to trade in their schedules, frustrations, and anxieties . . . You’d think I’d have more buyers . . . but people seem strangely proud of their ulcers and headaches.”
*************************************************
June 3
Staying on Course by Charles Stanley
Hebrews 12:1-2
The Christian life can be likened to a race with a predetermined course and a finish line in eternity. Each believer has a personalized route specially designed by the Lord. Our goal is to stay on track and run with endurance, but the path can be discerned and negotiated only by focusing on Jesus. Because He ran the race perfectly and finished His course, He can show us the way.
As with any long-term race, the course is full of obstacles that threaten to trip or sidetrack us. Temptations lure us to what we imagine are lush green pastures, while busyness can lead us down rabbit trails that end in exhaustion. Worry and fear grab hold of our minds, and emotions take us places the Lord never intended for us to go.
Although sins present the most obvious hindrances, other obstacles and detours are subtler. Anything that takes precedence over our relationship with the Lord can send us down the wrong path. Because involvement in the daily activities of earthly life is necessary, we can easily let our families, jobs, and pleasures distract us from a wholehearted pursuit of Christ. Surprisingly, even God's blessings can become obstacles in the race if we start to pursue them more than we do the Lord.
We must remember that the goal isn't to focus on the path or to try and find our way; instead, we're to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is not only our guide but also our destination. And He will welcome us home with open arms when we finish the race and cross into eternity.
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