"Strengthened with all might unto all patience" (Col. i. 11).
Just a couple days ago I was presenting a God's Love program "Seeds of Love" from the "Seeds for Christ" series at Father Baker Manor. After the program was over and I was visiting with the residents I came to this younger woman, younger than me for sure, who is confined to a bed chair. Her body has given up on her. My friends as I was reading the devotional by A. B. Simpson and also the poem by Eben E. Rexford below I was pondering on the words "patience and long-suffering." This young woman and so many others of "God's Wounded", I pray they can understand their long-suffering that they are enduring on this earth. Interesting as A. B. Simpson writes about it as a earthly lesson to be learned, for it will not be in Heaven. Through this young woman's anguish she gave me a big smile that made my day.
[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]
[The apostle prays for the Colossians, that they may be "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." It is one thing to endure and show the strain on every muscle of your face, and seem to say with every wrinkle, "Why does not somebody sympathize with me?" It is another to endure the cross, "despising the shame" for the joy set before us.
There are some trees in the garden of the Lord which "shall not see when heat cometh"; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, nor cease from yielding fruit. Let us set our faces toward the sunrising and use the clouds that come, to make rainbows. Not much longer shall we have the glorious opportunity to rejoice in tribulation, and learn patience. In heaven we shall have nothing to teach long-suffering. If we do not learn it here, we shall be without our brightest crown forever, and wish ourselves back for a little while, in the very circumstances of which we are now trying so hard to get rid.]
*************************************************
[From a devotional by Mrs. Charles Cowman - Streams in the Desert]
[Last night I heard a robin singing in the rain,
And the raindrop's patter made a sweet refrain,
Making all the sweeter the music of the strain.
So, I thought, when trouble comes, as trouble will,
Why should I stop singing? Just beyond the hill
It may be that sunshine floods the green world still.
He who faces the trouble with a heart of cheer
Makes the burden lighter. If there falls a tear,
Sweeter is the cadence in the song we hear.
I have learned your lesson, bird with dappled wing,
Listening to your music with its lilt of spring
When the storm-cloud darkens, then's the TIME to sing.
--Eben E. Rexford]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Being Humble, Are You?
“In the face of unjust criticism we can become bitter or better; upset or understanding; hostile or humble; furious or forgiving”
William Arthur Ward
(American dedicated scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher)
“The more a person analyzes his inner self, the more insignificant he seems to himself. This is the first lesson of wisdom. Let us be humble, and we will become wise. Let us know our weakness, and it will give us power.”
William Ellery Channing
(American moralist, Unitarian Clergyman and Author, 1780-1842)
“My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.”
Robert E. Lee
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein
(German born American Physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955)
“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.”
C.S. Lewis
(British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)
“Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
(Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. 1910-1997)
“The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.”
James Matthew Barrie
(Scottish Dramatist and Novelist best known as the creator of Peter Pan, 1860-1937)
“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.”
Benjamin Franklin
(American Statesman, Scientist, Philosopher, Printer, Writer and Inventor. 1706-1790)
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Norman Vincent Peale
(American Protestant Clergyman and Writer, 1898-1993)
“Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.”
Blaise Pascal
(French Mathematician, Philosopher and Physicist, 1623-1662)
“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
John Wooden
(American , b.1910)
“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.”
Douglas MacArthur
(American General who commanded the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II, 1880-1964)
“Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
(American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)
“Don't be humble. You aren't that great.”
Golda Meir
(Israeli Founder and Prime Minister. 1898-1978)
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble
[James 4:6]”
Being Humble
I am a humbled person,
when my eyes are on someone, but not me.
I am humbled in the presence
of someone longing to be free.
I am so very humble,
when I see the hurting and the lost.
I am also humble
in the presence of Jesus and the Cross.
See, the reason this makes me humble,
is because God opened my eyes to see.
If not for His love and grace,
there never would be a me.
It is nothing I ever did,
or could ever hope to do.
It is because He looked down from above
and said, “I love you!”
E. P. Shagott
2/8/10
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
William Arthur Ward
(American dedicated scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher)
“The more a person analyzes his inner self, the more insignificant he seems to himself. This is the first lesson of wisdom. Let us be humble, and we will become wise. Let us know our weakness, and it will give us power.”
William Ellery Channing
(American moralist, Unitarian Clergyman and Author, 1780-1842)
“My chief concern is to try to be an humble, earnest Christian.”
Robert E. Lee
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
Albert Einstein
(German born American Physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955)
“The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not.”
C.S. Lewis
(British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)
“Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
(Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. 1910-1997)
“The praise that comes from love does not make us vain, but more humble.”
James Matthew Barrie
(Scottish Dramatist and Novelist best known as the creator of Peter Pan, 1860-1937)
“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.”
Benjamin Franklin
(American Statesman, Scientist, Philosopher, Printer, Writer and Inventor. 1706-1790)
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
Norman Vincent Peale
(American Protestant Clergyman and Writer, 1898-1993)
“Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.”
Blaise Pascal
(French Mathematician, Philosopher and Physicist, 1623-1662)
“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
John Wooden
(American , b.1910)
“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.”
Douglas MacArthur
(American General who commanded the Southwest Pacific Theatre in World War II, 1880-1964)
“Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
(American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)
“Don't be humble. You aren't that great.”
Golda Meir
(Israeli Founder and Prime Minister. 1898-1978)
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble
[James 4:6]”
Being Humble
I am a humbled person,
when my eyes are on someone, but not me.
I am humbled in the presence
of someone longing to be free.
I am so very humble,
when I see the hurting and the lost.
I am also humble
in the presence of Jesus and the Cross.
See, the reason this makes me humble,
is because God opened my eyes to see.
If not for His love and grace,
there never would be a me.
It is nothing I ever did,
or could ever hope to do.
It is because He looked down from above
and said, “I love you!”
E. P. Shagott
2/8/10
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Nothing is small to God!
How often we get thinking that what we do in life has no significance. Well, to God it means everything. To us we compare ourselves to the worldly eyes. If we are not what we perceive as important daily work like, doctors, lawyers, high elected officers, actors, and a lot more, we think we are no-body's. Not to God for sure. To God all work is a Divine Calling. As you read this devotional the important link to all is that we "abide in God" for that is what it is all about. Whatever you are doing today, tomorrow and until Christ comes, and He is coming again, may it to bring honor and glory to Him!
[A devotional by F. B. Meyer]
FAITHFULNESS IN DAILY LIFE
"With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men."-- Eph_6:7.
[THE COMMON drudgery of daily life can be a Divine Calling. We often speak of a young man as "being called to the Ministry"; but it is as fitting to speak of a carpenter being called to the bench, the blacksmith to the forge, and the shoemaker to his last. "Brethren," said the Apostle, "let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God."
Remember that your life has been appointed by God's wise providence. God as much sent Joseph to the drudgery and discipline of the prison as to the glory and responsibility of the palace. Nothing happens to us which is not included in His plan for us; and the incidents which seem most tiresome are often contrived to give us opportunities to become nobler, stronger characters.
We are called to be faithful in performing our assigned duties. Not brilliance, not success, not notoriety which attracts the world's notice, but the regular, quiet, and careful performance of trivial and common duties; faithfulness in that which is least is as great an attainment in God's sight as in the greatest.
In every piece of honest work, however irksome, laborious, and commonplace, we are fellow-workers with God. We must help God to give men their daily bread. It is for Him to cause the growth of the corn, but man must reap and thresh, grind out the flour, make and distribute the bread. The tailor is God's fellow-workman, helping Him to clothe the bodies which He has made to need garments of various textures. The builder co-operates with God in housing His children. The merchant helps to bring the products of the East to refresh and enrich the toiling masses of the West. God uses man in a thousand ways to serve the children of men.
Take up your work, then, you who seem to be the nobodies, the drudges, the maid-of-all-work, the clerk, or shop assistant. Do it with a brave heart, looking up to Him who for many "years toiled at the carpenter's bench. Amid the many scenes and actions of life, set the Lord always before your face. Do all as in His presence, and to win His smile; and be sure to cultivate a spirit of love to God and man. Look out for opportunities of cheering your fellow-workers. Do not murmur or grumble, but let your heart rise from your toil to God your Maker, Saviour, and Friend. So the lowliest service will glisten, as grass-blades do when sun and dewdrops garnish them.
PRAYER
Be not far from me, O Lord, this day; and through all its hours may I be found doing those things which are well-pleasing in Thy sight. AMEN.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
[A devotional by F. B. Meyer]
FAITHFULNESS IN DAILY LIFE
"With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men."-- Eph_6:7.
[THE COMMON drudgery of daily life can be a Divine Calling. We often speak of a young man as "being called to the Ministry"; but it is as fitting to speak of a carpenter being called to the bench, the blacksmith to the forge, and the shoemaker to his last. "Brethren," said the Apostle, "let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God."
Remember that your life has been appointed by God's wise providence. God as much sent Joseph to the drudgery and discipline of the prison as to the glory and responsibility of the palace. Nothing happens to us which is not included in His plan for us; and the incidents which seem most tiresome are often contrived to give us opportunities to become nobler, stronger characters.
We are called to be faithful in performing our assigned duties. Not brilliance, not success, not notoriety which attracts the world's notice, but the regular, quiet, and careful performance of trivial and common duties; faithfulness in that which is least is as great an attainment in God's sight as in the greatest.
In every piece of honest work, however irksome, laborious, and commonplace, we are fellow-workers with God. We must help God to give men their daily bread. It is for Him to cause the growth of the corn, but man must reap and thresh, grind out the flour, make and distribute the bread. The tailor is God's fellow-workman, helping Him to clothe the bodies which He has made to need garments of various textures. The builder co-operates with God in housing His children. The merchant helps to bring the products of the East to refresh and enrich the toiling masses of the West. God uses man in a thousand ways to serve the children of men.
Take up your work, then, you who seem to be the nobodies, the drudges, the maid-of-all-work, the clerk, or shop assistant. Do it with a brave heart, looking up to Him who for many "years toiled at the carpenter's bench. Amid the many scenes and actions of life, set the Lord always before your face. Do all as in His presence, and to win His smile; and be sure to cultivate a spirit of love to God and man. Look out for opportunities of cheering your fellow-workers. Do not murmur or grumble, but let your heart rise from your toil to God your Maker, Saviour, and Friend. So the lowliest service will glisten, as grass-blades do when sun and dewdrops garnish them.
PRAYER
Be not far from me, O Lord, this day; and through all its hours may I be found doing those things which are well-pleasing in Thy sight. AMEN.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Saturday, February 6, 2010
100 and counting!
As I was thinking what to share for this 100th "Heart Print", I came to these two devotionals for today. When the Lord started me on this venture of sharing my love for Him and my thoughts I had no idea how I was going to be blessed by doing this. Not to mention the one or many that He will bless along the way through my obedience. This first devotional by A. B. Simpson speaks of "others". Get our minds off ourselves and pray, reach out to others. The awesome thing in doing this, in a sincere manner, is how your own blessings increase.
In the second devotional, by Mrs. Charles Cowman - Streams in the Desert, is about "God's wonderful grace!" In this devotional the person spoke of the loss of a child, how even this member of the clergy's trial of that loss, the Lord reached to his soul.
The poem at the end by Annie Johnson Flint is awesome. My prayer is that you can be touched as I was by these inspirational writings, truly that were touched by God!
**************************************************
"Praying always for all saints" (Eph. vi. 18).
[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]
[One good counsel will suffice just now. Stop praying so much for yourself; begin to ask unselfish things, and see if God won't give you faith. See how much easier it will be to believe for another than for your own petty self. Try the effect of praying for the world, for definite things, for difficult things, for glorious things, for things that will honor Christ and save mankind, and after you have received a few wonderful answers to prayer in this direction, see if you won't feel stronger to touch your own little burden with a Divine faith, and then go back again to the high place of unselfish prayer for others.
Have you ever learned the beautiful art of letting God take care of you, and giving all your thought and strength to pray for others and for the kingdom of God? It will relieve you of a thousand cares. It will lift you up into a noble and lofty sphere, and teach you to live and love like God. Lord save us from our selfish prayers and give us the faith that worketh by love, and the heart of Christ for a perishing world.]
*************************************************
[A devotional by Mrs. Charles Cowman - Streams in the Desert]
It Is Sufficient
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9).
[It had pleased God to remove my youngest child under circumstances of peculiar trial and pain; and as I had just laid my little one's body in the churchyard, on return home, I felt it my duty to preach to my people on the meaning of trial.
Finding that this text was in the lesson for the following Sabbath, I chose it as my Master's message to them and myself; but on trying to prepare the notes, I found that in honesty I could not say that the words were true; and therefore I knelt down and asked God to let His grace be sufficient for me. While I was thus pleading, I opened my eyes and saw a framed illuminated text, which my mother had given me only a few days before, and which I had told my servant to place upon the wall during my absence at the holiday resort where my little one was taken away from us.
I did not notice the words on returning to my house; but as I looked up and wiped my eyes, the words met my gaze, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
The "is" was picked out in bright green while the "My" and the "thee" were painted in another color.
In one moment the message came straight to my soul, as a rebuke for offering such a prayer as, "Lord, let Thy grace be sufficient for me"; for the answer was almost as an audible voice, "How dare you ask that which is?" God cannot make it any more sufficient than He has made it; get up and believe it, and you will find it true, because the Lord says it in the simplest way: "My grace is (not shall be or may be) sufficient for thee."
"My," "is," and "thee" were from that moment, I hope, indelibly fixed upon my heart; and I (thank God) have been trying to live in the reality of the message from that day forward to the present time.
The lesson that came to me, and which I seek to convey to others, is, Never turn God's facts into hopes, or prayers, but simply use them as realities, and you will find them powerful as you believe them.--Prebendary H. W. Webb Peploe
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
--Annie Johnson Flint]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
In the second devotional, by Mrs. Charles Cowman - Streams in the Desert, is about "God's wonderful grace!" In this devotional the person spoke of the loss of a child, how even this member of the clergy's trial of that loss, the Lord reached to his soul.
The poem at the end by Annie Johnson Flint is awesome. My prayer is that you can be touched as I was by these inspirational writings, truly that were touched by God!
**************************************************
"Praying always for all saints" (Eph. vi. 18).
[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]
[One good counsel will suffice just now. Stop praying so much for yourself; begin to ask unselfish things, and see if God won't give you faith. See how much easier it will be to believe for another than for your own petty self. Try the effect of praying for the world, for definite things, for difficult things, for glorious things, for things that will honor Christ and save mankind, and after you have received a few wonderful answers to prayer in this direction, see if you won't feel stronger to touch your own little burden with a Divine faith, and then go back again to the high place of unselfish prayer for others.
Have you ever learned the beautiful art of letting God take care of you, and giving all your thought and strength to pray for others and for the kingdom of God? It will relieve you of a thousand cares. It will lift you up into a noble and lofty sphere, and teach you to live and love like God. Lord save us from our selfish prayers and give us the faith that worketh by love, and the heart of Christ for a perishing world.]
*************************************************
[A devotional by Mrs. Charles Cowman - Streams in the Desert]
It Is Sufficient
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9).
[It had pleased God to remove my youngest child under circumstances of peculiar trial and pain; and as I had just laid my little one's body in the churchyard, on return home, I felt it my duty to preach to my people on the meaning of trial.
Finding that this text was in the lesson for the following Sabbath, I chose it as my Master's message to them and myself; but on trying to prepare the notes, I found that in honesty I could not say that the words were true; and therefore I knelt down and asked God to let His grace be sufficient for me. While I was thus pleading, I opened my eyes and saw a framed illuminated text, which my mother had given me only a few days before, and which I had told my servant to place upon the wall during my absence at the holiday resort where my little one was taken away from us.
I did not notice the words on returning to my house; but as I looked up and wiped my eyes, the words met my gaze, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
The "is" was picked out in bright green while the "My" and the "thee" were painted in another color.
In one moment the message came straight to my soul, as a rebuke for offering such a prayer as, "Lord, let Thy grace be sufficient for me"; for the answer was almost as an audible voice, "How dare you ask that which is?" God cannot make it any more sufficient than He has made it; get up and believe it, and you will find it true, because the Lord says it in the simplest way: "My grace is (not shall be or may be) sufficient for thee."
"My," "is," and "thee" were from that moment, I hope, indelibly fixed upon my heart; and I (thank God) have been trying to live in the reality of the message from that day forward to the present time.
The lesson that came to me, and which I seek to convey to others, is, Never turn God's facts into hopes, or prayers, but simply use them as realities, and you will find them powerful as you believe them.--Prebendary H. W. Webb Peploe
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
--Annie Johnson Flint]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Friday, February 5, 2010
Did you hear Him?
“At that time Jesus answered.”
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes.
A good devotional about being in constant communication with God. I must admit I do have regular conversation with Him in my daily life. Of course I am praising Him always, for I now realize just how important it is to not only be asking for daily blessings but having the God of the creation interested and in love with me. Wow! How awesome is that. Do you have a conversation with God? Do you hear the whispers of His love? My friends there is nothing sweeter than that!
[An evening devotional by A. B. Simpson]
[This is a singular way in which to commence a verse-”At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will not perceive that any person had asked him a question, or that he was in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, “Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father.” When a man answers, he answers a person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ? his Father. Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that Jesus had constant fellowship with his Father, and that God spake into his heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance singular enough to be recorded. It was the habit and life of Jesus to talk with God. Even as Jesus was, in this world, so are we; let us therefore learn the lesson which this simple statement concerning him teaches us. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer him, and though the world wotteth not to whom we speak, may we be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear, which our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes with joy. God has spoken to us, let us speak to God-either to set our seal that God is true and faithful to his promise, or to confess the sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the mercy which God’s providence has given, or to express assent to the great truths which God the Holy Ghost has opened to our understanding. What a privilege is intimate communion with the Father of our spirits! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest friend intermeddleth not. If we would hear the whispers of God’s love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to his voice. This very evening may our hearts be in such a state, that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, may be prepared at once to answer him.]
Whispers of Love
God whispered in my ear today,
and the sweetest sound it was.
He said, “I love you child of Mine”,
as the angels sang above.
Sweet words of love, oh so true,
that just melted in my heart.
He whispered, “I am always here for you,
for you were special from the start.”
Then He whispered, “I have whatever you need,
for with my love you never will lack.
All I ever wanted My child,
is that you love Me back.”
I felt a warm feeling
as His whispers warmed my soul.
I said, “Lord, You are my life now,
because I love You so!
E. P. Shagott
2/5/10
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes.
A good devotional about being in constant communication with God. I must admit I do have regular conversation with Him in my daily life. Of course I am praising Him always, for I now realize just how important it is to not only be asking for daily blessings but having the God of the creation interested and in love with me. Wow! How awesome is that. Do you have a conversation with God? Do you hear the whispers of His love? My friends there is nothing sweeter than that!
[An evening devotional by A. B. Simpson]
[This is a singular way in which to commence a verse-”At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will not perceive that any person had asked him a question, or that he was in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, “Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father.” When a man answers, he answers a person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ? his Father. Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that Jesus had constant fellowship with his Father, and that God spake into his heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance singular enough to be recorded. It was the habit and life of Jesus to talk with God. Even as Jesus was, in this world, so are we; let us therefore learn the lesson which this simple statement concerning him teaches us. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer him, and though the world wotteth not to whom we speak, may we be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear, which our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes with joy. God has spoken to us, let us speak to God-either to set our seal that God is true and faithful to his promise, or to confess the sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the mercy which God’s providence has given, or to express assent to the great truths which God the Holy Ghost has opened to our understanding. What a privilege is intimate communion with the Father of our spirits! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest friend intermeddleth not. If we would hear the whispers of God’s love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to his voice. This very evening may our hearts be in such a state, that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, may be prepared at once to answer him.]
Whispers of Love
God whispered in my ear today,
and the sweetest sound it was.
He said, “I love you child of Mine”,
as the angels sang above.
Sweet words of love, oh so true,
that just melted in my heart.
He whispered, “I am always here for you,
for you were special from the start.”
Then He whispered, “I have whatever you need,
for with my love you never will lack.
All I ever wanted My child,
is that you love Me back.”
I felt a warm feeling
as His whispers warmed my soul.
I said, “Lord, You are my life now,
because I love You so!
E. P. Shagott
2/5/10
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Modern Day Disciple’s
Matthew 4:18 And walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea. For they were fishermen.
Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:20 And they immediately left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:21 And going on from there, he saw another two brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And He called them;
Matthew 4:22 and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Matthew 8:21 And another of His disciples said to him, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.
Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and let the dead bury their dead.
Matthew 8:23 And He entering into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matthew 8:24 And behold, a great tempest arose in the sea, so much so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Matthew 8:25 And His disciples came to Him and awakened Him, saying, Lord, save us! We perish!
Matthew 8:26 And He said to them, Why are you afraid, little-faiths? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:27 But the men marveled, saying, What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax-office. And He said to him, Follow Me! And he arose and followed Him.
As I was reading today’s devotional by A. B. Simpson, the Lord touched my heart with this subject. As I researched the Scriptures all Jesus had to do was say, “Follow Me” and they did. What if Jesus came to you this very moment and said, “come and follow me”, would you put down your cell phone, leave your Ipod behind, all your Facebook friends, and even your beloved family, to follow Him? Could you give up your career that you have been slaving away at? If you read the Scripture, they all did.
Did all these men have great faith? It didn’t sound like it in Matthew 8:26. His disciples had Jesus in the boat with them and were afraid. My friends, Jesus is calling out to you every minute and saying, “Come and follow Me!” You have something the disciples didn’t have, “the Bible.” From Genesis’s 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, it is all there for you.
Every moment Jesus is with you and He wants you to be with Him.
"He went out, not knowing whither He went" (Heb. xi. 8).
[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]
[It is faith without sight. When we can see, it is not faith but reasoning. In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of faith. We saw no path upon the sea nor sign of the shore. And yet day by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea; and when we came within twenty miles of land we knew where we were as exactly as if we had seen it all three thousand miles ahead.
How had we measured and marked our course? Day by day our captain had taken his instruments, and looking up to the sky had fixed his course by the sun. He was sailing by the heavenly, not the earthly lights. So faith looks up and sails on, by God's great Sun, not seeing one shore line or earthly lighthouse or path upon the way. Often its steps seem to lead into utter uncertainty, and even darkness and disaster. But He opens the way, and often makes such midnight hours the very gates of day. Let us go forth this day, not knowing but trusting.]
Modern Day Disciple
I am a modern day disciple,
for Jesus has chosen me.
Ever since my very first breath,
He has been waiting patiently you see.
Jesus said, “Do you really love Me?
Would you give up everything you love?
Can you leave it all behind because I asked you to?
Giving praise to the Father above!
Can you love your fellow man,
more than he does of you?
Are you willing to lose it all,
just because I asked you to?”
I said, “Lord You know my heart,
with You I long to be.
Thank You for always asking,
“modern day disciple, Come and follow Me”
E. P. Shagott
2/3/10
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:20 And they immediately left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:21 And going on from there, he saw another two brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And He called them;
Matthew 4:22 and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Matthew 8:21 And another of His disciples said to him, Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.
Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and let the dead bury their dead.
Matthew 8:23 And He entering into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matthew 8:24 And behold, a great tempest arose in the sea, so much so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Matthew 8:25 And His disciples came to Him and awakened Him, saying, Lord, save us! We perish!
Matthew 8:26 And He said to them, Why are you afraid, little-faiths? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:27 But the men marveled, saying, What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax-office. And He said to him, Follow Me! And he arose and followed Him.
As I was reading today’s devotional by A. B. Simpson, the Lord touched my heart with this subject. As I researched the Scriptures all Jesus had to do was say, “Follow Me” and they did. What if Jesus came to you this very moment and said, “come and follow me”, would you put down your cell phone, leave your Ipod behind, all your Facebook friends, and even your beloved family, to follow Him? Could you give up your career that you have been slaving away at? If you read the Scripture, they all did.
Did all these men have great faith? It didn’t sound like it in Matthew 8:26. His disciples had Jesus in the boat with them and were afraid. My friends, Jesus is calling out to you every minute and saying, “Come and follow Me!” You have something the disciples didn’t have, “the Bible.” From Genesis’s 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, it is all there for you.
Every moment Jesus is with you and He wants you to be with Him.
"He went out, not knowing whither He went" (Heb. xi. 8).
[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]
[It is faith without sight. When we can see, it is not faith but reasoning. In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of faith. We saw no path upon the sea nor sign of the shore. And yet day by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea; and when we came within twenty miles of land we knew where we were as exactly as if we had seen it all three thousand miles ahead.
How had we measured and marked our course? Day by day our captain had taken his instruments, and looking up to the sky had fixed his course by the sun. He was sailing by the heavenly, not the earthly lights. So faith looks up and sails on, by God's great Sun, not seeing one shore line or earthly lighthouse or path upon the way. Often its steps seem to lead into utter uncertainty, and even darkness and disaster. But He opens the way, and often makes such midnight hours the very gates of day. Let us go forth this day, not knowing but trusting.]
Modern Day Disciple
I am a modern day disciple,
for Jesus has chosen me.
Ever since my very first breath,
He has been waiting patiently you see.
Jesus said, “Do you really love Me?
Would you give up everything you love?
Can you leave it all behind because I asked you to?
Giving praise to the Father above!
Can you love your fellow man,
more than he does of you?
Are you willing to lose it all,
just because I asked you to?”
I said, “Lord You know my heart,
with You I long to be.
Thank You for always asking,
“modern day disciple, Come and follow Me”
E. P. Shagott
2/3/10
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
If we let Him!
Mrs. Charles Cowman Devotional - Streams in the Desert
Our Great Opportunities
"Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the day of trouble?" (Job 38:22-23).
A very good devotional to start the month of February. It is really a good devotional for any day because each day has it's own trials. What I like about this devotional is they call each "difficult situation as one of God's chosen ways of proving to us His love"! I don't believe that God gives us these trials, allows them maybe, but He always will make good of a bad situation if we let Him. If we let Him!
[Our trials are great opportunities. Too often we look on them as great obstacles. It would be a haven of rest and an inspiration of unspeakable power if each of us would henceforth recognize every difficult situation as one of God's chosen ways of proving to us His love and look around for the signals of His glorious manifestations; then, indeed, would every cloud become a rainbow, and every mountain a path of ascension and a scene of transfiguration.
If we will look back upon the past, many of us will find that the very time our Heavenly Father has chosen to do the kindest things for us, and given us the richest blessings, has been the time we were strained and shut in on every side. God's jewels are often sent us in rough packages and by dark liveried servants, but within we find the very treasures of the King's palace and the Bridegroom's love. --A. B. Simpson
Trust Him in the dark, honor Him with unwavering confidence even in the midst of mysterious dispensations, and the recompense of such faith will be like the moulting of the eagle's plumes, which was said to give them a new lease of youth and strength. J. R. Macduff
"If we could see beyond today
As God can see;
If all the clouds should roll away,
The shadows flee;
O'er present griefs we would not fret.
Each sorrow we would soon forget,
For many joys are waiting yet
For you and me.
"If we could know beyond today
As God doth know,
Why dearest treasures pass away
And tears must flow;
And why the darkness leads to light,
Why dreary paths will soon grow bright;
Some day life's wrongs will be made right,
Faith tells us so.
"'If we could see, if we could know,'
We often say,
But God in love a veil doth throw
Across our way;
We cannot see what lies before,
And so we cling to Him the more,
He leads us till this life is o'er;
Trust and obey."]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Our Great Opportunities
"Hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the day of trouble?" (Job 38:22-23).
A very good devotional to start the month of February. It is really a good devotional for any day because each day has it's own trials. What I like about this devotional is they call each "difficult situation as one of God's chosen ways of proving to us His love"! I don't believe that God gives us these trials, allows them maybe, but He always will make good of a bad situation if we let Him. If we let Him!
[Our trials are great opportunities. Too often we look on them as great obstacles. It would be a haven of rest and an inspiration of unspeakable power if each of us would henceforth recognize every difficult situation as one of God's chosen ways of proving to us His love and look around for the signals of His glorious manifestations; then, indeed, would every cloud become a rainbow, and every mountain a path of ascension and a scene of transfiguration.
If we will look back upon the past, many of us will find that the very time our Heavenly Father has chosen to do the kindest things for us, and given us the richest blessings, has been the time we were strained and shut in on every side. God's jewels are often sent us in rough packages and by dark liveried servants, but within we find the very treasures of the King's palace and the Bridegroom's love. --A. B. Simpson
Trust Him in the dark, honor Him with unwavering confidence even in the midst of mysterious dispensations, and the recompense of such faith will be like the moulting of the eagle's plumes, which was said to give them a new lease of youth and strength. J. R. Macduff
"If we could see beyond today
As God can see;
If all the clouds should roll away,
The shadows flee;
O'er present griefs we would not fret.
Each sorrow we would soon forget,
For many joys are waiting yet
For you and me.
"If we could know beyond today
As God doth know,
Why dearest treasures pass away
And tears must flow;
And why the darkness leads to light,
Why dreary paths will soon grow bright;
Some day life's wrongs will be made right,
Faith tells us so.
"'If we could see, if we could know,'
We often say,
But God in love a veil doth throw
Across our way;
We cannot see what lies before,
And so we cling to Him the more,
He leads us till this life is o'er;
Trust and obey."]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
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