“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people ... Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”
- Lev_19:16, Lev_19:17
This is a great devotional for all to read and understand. I read this just before going to church this morning. As always Charles Spurgeon was right on. So much damage is done in this life just by the tongue alone. Sometimes we don't even understand the consequence but the damage is done. Even in the house of God so many of His children, and even some of His soon to be children (non-believers).
I will always remember an commercial on TV about kids in a lunchroom. They started talking about what one brought for lunch and by the time it got around the long table it ended up as a boy having his first chest hair!
In the devotional below Charles Spurgeon states even if what we say is true we are forbidden to say it. May we each ask our Father to help us in this manner and also ask for His forgiveness for all the times we have spoken against or about someone else.
[Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond-SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.
The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God’s blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in his warning given to Peter, the prayer with which he preceded it, and the gentle way in which he bore with Peter’s boastful denial that he needed such a caution.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
He is the reason!
This poem has been getting a lot of circulation via email. So far I have received it 6 times. It was very well stated and I pray all who read it would agree.
**
******
******
**
**
**
*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,not Happy Holiday !*
Christ is The Reason, for the Christ-mas Season!
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,not Happy Holiday !*
Christ is The Reason, for the Christ-mas Season!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Forgive as He has forgiven us!
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,
- Ephesians 1:7
Today, the day after Thanksgiving, I have just finished posting our church newsletter on our church website. In this December newsletter I posted an article by John William Smith titled "The Gift of Forgiveness" that I found on a Christian website. If you would like to read this article you can read it by clicking on this link that will take you to it www.upc4god.org/Board/INDEX2.PHP . Also this evenings devotional by Charles Spurgeon talked about forgiveness. Even a few days ago when I was talking with a church family member the word "forgiveness" came up again. The Lord is really trying to tell me, or maybe someone through me, about forgiveness.
[Could there be a sweeter word in any language than that word “forgiveness,” when it sounds in a guilty sinner’s ear, like the silver notes of jubilee to the captive Israelite? Blessed, for ever blessed be that dear star of pardon which shines into the condemned cell, and gives the perishing a gleam of hope amid the midnight of despair! Can it be possible that sin, such sin as mine, can be forgiven, forgiven altogether, and for ever? Hell is my portion as a sinner-there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon me-can the load of guilt be uplifted, the crimson stain removed? Can the adamantine stones of my prison-house ever be loosed from their mortices, or the doors be lifted from their hinges? Jesus tells me that I may yet be clear. For ever blessed be the revelation of atoning love which not only tells me that pardon is possible, but that it is secured to all who rest in Jesus. I have believed in the appointed propitiation, even Jesus crucified, and therefore my sins are at this moment, and for ever, forgiven by virtue of his substitutionary pains and death.]
That is such an important paragraph that God shared with us through Charles Spurgeon. So many walk each day with the burden of something we did or said that consumes us to an extent that it becomes the driven force in our lives. Read further what Charles Spurgeon states about forgiveness.
[What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all her powers to him who of his own unpurchased love became my surety, and wrought out for me redemption through his blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive for ever! Here is a constellation of wonders; and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which pardon was sealed home to me, I am in a maze of wondering worshipping affection. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the Incarnate God, through whom I am this night a pardoned soul.]
In the Bible Jesus tells us this about forgiveness; Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; Matthew 6:15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Forgiveness is a very serious and necessary ingredient in our lives. Though non-believers may not understand but as believers we all should fully listen to the Word of our Lord and Savior and be thankful everyday that as Charles Spurgeon states, "we are pardoned souls!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
- Ephesians 1:7
Today, the day after Thanksgiving, I have just finished posting our church newsletter on our church website. In this December newsletter I posted an article by John William Smith titled "The Gift of Forgiveness" that I found on a Christian website. If you would like to read this article you can read it by clicking on this link that will take you to it www.upc4god.org/Board/INDEX2.PHP . Also this evenings devotional by Charles Spurgeon talked about forgiveness. Even a few days ago when I was talking with a church family member the word "forgiveness" came up again. The Lord is really trying to tell me, or maybe someone through me, about forgiveness.
[Could there be a sweeter word in any language than that word “forgiveness,” when it sounds in a guilty sinner’s ear, like the silver notes of jubilee to the captive Israelite? Blessed, for ever blessed be that dear star of pardon which shines into the condemned cell, and gives the perishing a gleam of hope amid the midnight of despair! Can it be possible that sin, such sin as mine, can be forgiven, forgiven altogether, and for ever? Hell is my portion as a sinner-there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon me-can the load of guilt be uplifted, the crimson stain removed? Can the adamantine stones of my prison-house ever be loosed from their mortices, or the doors be lifted from their hinges? Jesus tells me that I may yet be clear. For ever blessed be the revelation of atoning love which not only tells me that pardon is possible, but that it is secured to all who rest in Jesus. I have believed in the appointed propitiation, even Jesus crucified, and therefore my sins are at this moment, and for ever, forgiven by virtue of his substitutionary pains and death.]
That is such an important paragraph that God shared with us through Charles Spurgeon. So many walk each day with the burden of something we did or said that consumes us to an extent that it becomes the driven force in our lives. Read further what Charles Spurgeon states about forgiveness.
[What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all her powers to him who of his own unpurchased love became my surety, and wrought out for me redemption through his blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive for ever! Here is a constellation of wonders; and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which pardon was sealed home to me, I am in a maze of wondering worshipping affection. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the Incarnate God, through whom I am this night a pardoned soul.]
In the Bible Jesus tells us this about forgiveness; Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; Matthew 6:15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Forgiveness is a very serious and necessary ingredient in our lives. Though non-believers may not understand but as believers we all should fully listen to the Word of our Lord and Savior and be thankful everyday that as Charles Spurgeon states, "we are pardoned souls!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A Simple Lesson from Jesus
Silent Fellowship with the Father
November 25th, 2009 Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
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.(MKJV)
I am always searching for devotionals that will inspire myself and also others that might read the blogs that the Lord has blessed me to write. As I was reading this one, I found myself again thanking God that through Jesus I can walk, talk and have a personal fellowship with Him.
[This is a very particular, and peculiar, way to start a verse: “At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will notice that no one asked Him a question. He wasn't 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 the 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 spoke into His heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance of enough importance 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. So let’s learn the lesson this simple statement teaches us about Him. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer Him, and though the world will not know whom we’re speaking to, we will be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear. Our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes His voice 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 humble acceptance of the great truths which God the Holy Spirit has opened to our understanding.
What a privilege it is to have intimate communion with the Father! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even our nearest friends cannot share. If we want to hear the whispers of God’s love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to His voice. Today, may our hearts be in such a state that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, are be prepared at once to answer Him.
Question: Are you often in “intimate communion” with God? Would you like to be?]
Please take time to read that last paragraph, slowly. These are the words that came to life as I read it; "privilege", "intimate communion", "joy", "whispers of God’s love", "like Jesus!" Through the God's Love Outreach Ministry I have meet several Christians that tell me the same thing, "I don't know how I could get through the day without God!"
Now reread that question again!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
November 25th, 2009 Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
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.(MKJV)
I am always searching for devotionals that will inspire myself and also others that might read the blogs that the Lord has blessed me to write. As I was reading this one, I found myself again thanking God that through Jesus I can walk, talk and have a personal fellowship with Him.
[This is a very particular, and peculiar, way to start a verse: “At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will notice that no one asked Him a question. He wasn't 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 the 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 spoke into His heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance of enough importance 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. So let’s learn the lesson this simple statement teaches us about Him. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer Him, and though the world will not know whom we’re speaking to, we will be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear. Our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes His voice 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 humble acceptance of the great truths which God the Holy Spirit has opened to our understanding.
What a privilege it is to have intimate communion with the Father! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even our nearest friends cannot share. If we want to hear the whispers of God’s love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to His voice. Today, may our hearts be in such a state that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, are be prepared at once to answer Him.
Question: Are you often in “intimate communion” with God? Would you like to be?]
Please take time to read that last paragraph, slowly. These are the words that came to life as I read it; "privilege", "intimate communion", "joy", "whispers of God’s love", "like Jesus!" Through the God's Love Outreach Ministry I have meet several Christians that tell me the same thing, "I don't know how I could get through the day without God!"
Now reread that question again!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Monday, November 23, 2009
God in me!
“Fellowship with him.”
- 1John 1:6 If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
I have said it many of times that Christ has changed my life. Some of the people I have said this to I know understand what this means for He has changed their lives also. This morning devotional by Charles Spurgeon has a wonderful way of explaining this meaning.
[When we were united by faith to Christ, we were brought into such complete fellowship with him, that we were made one with him, and his interests and ours became mutual and identical.]
I loved that sentence for the worldly, sinful occurrences in our lives, which are many does not have any interest to us. Why would they, do they for Him? 1John 5:3 We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow.
[We have fellowship with Christ in his love. What he loves we love. He loves the saints-so do we. He loves sinners-so do we. He loves the poor perishing race of man, and pants to see earth’s deserts transformed into the garden of the Lord-so do we.]
Every time I am ministering through a God's Love Outreach Ministry program I tell everyone that God loves them and I love them. Because of Christ's love for me and Him living in me I can make that statement. Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; Mark 12:30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment. Mark 12:31 And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
[We have fellowship with him in his desires. He desires the glory of God-we also labour for the same. He desires that the saints may be with him where he is-we desire to be with him there too. He desires to drive out sin-behold we fight under his banner. He desires that his Father’s name may be loved and adored by all his creatures-we pray daily, “Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven.”]
In this paragraph the word "desires" repeatedly is used. When you truly give your life to Jesus the understanding becomes more real. The dictionary explains it as 1) to long or hope for ; exhibit or feel desire for 2) to express a wish for. All the month of November in the Seeds of Thanks program I sing The Lord's Prayer. It is one of the slowest versions I have ever heard and you truly can take the time to understand that prayer. "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the Glory, forever! Amen
[We have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings. We are not nailed to the cross, nor do we die a cruel death, but when he is reproached, we are reproached; and a very sweet thing it is to be blamed for his sake, to be despised for following the Master, to have the world against us. The disciple should not be above his Lord. In our measure we commune with him in his labours, ministering to men by the word of truth and by deeds of love. Our meat and our drink, like his, is to do the will of him who hath sent us and to finish his work.]
How personal now it is when I hear someone use the Lords name in vain. I am always saying, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they are saying."
[We have also fellowship with Christ in his joys. We are happy in his happiness, we rejoice in his exaltation. Have you ever tasted that joy, believer? There is no purer or more thrilling delight to be known this side heaven than that of having Christ’s joy fulfilled in us, that our joy may be full. His glory awaits us to complete our fellowship, for his Church shall sit with him upon his throne, as his well-beloved bride and queen.]
My friends I have known this joy that Charles Spurgeon speaks of. The same joy I am feeling "this side of Heaven", can only be magnified when I do see Jesus face to face. As in the song "My One Desire", "my one desire to know You in the fullness of Your grace, to hear well done my precious one, when we meet face to face!" Wow!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
- 1John 1:6 If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
I have said it many of times that Christ has changed my life. Some of the people I have said this to I know understand what this means for He has changed their lives also. This morning devotional by Charles Spurgeon has a wonderful way of explaining this meaning.
[When we were united by faith to Christ, we were brought into such complete fellowship with him, that we were made one with him, and his interests and ours became mutual and identical.]
I loved that sentence for the worldly, sinful occurrences in our lives, which are many does not have any interest to us. Why would they, do they for Him? 1John 5:3 We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow.
[We have fellowship with Christ in his love. What he loves we love. He loves the saints-so do we. He loves sinners-so do we. He loves the poor perishing race of man, and pants to see earth’s deserts transformed into the garden of the Lord-so do we.]
Every time I am ministering through a God's Love Outreach Ministry program I tell everyone that God loves them and I love them. Because of Christ's love for me and Him living in me I can make that statement. Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; Mark 12:30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment. Mark 12:31 And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
[We have fellowship with him in his desires. He desires the glory of God-we also labour for the same. He desires that the saints may be with him where he is-we desire to be with him there too. He desires to drive out sin-behold we fight under his banner. He desires that his Father’s name may be loved and adored by all his creatures-we pray daily, “Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven.”]
In this paragraph the word "desires" repeatedly is used. When you truly give your life to Jesus the understanding becomes more real. The dictionary explains it as 1) to long or hope for ; exhibit or feel desire for 2) to express a wish for. All the month of November in the Seeds of Thanks program I sing The Lord's Prayer. It is one of the slowest versions I have ever heard and you truly can take the time to understand that prayer. "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the Glory, forever! Amen
[We have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings. We are not nailed to the cross, nor do we die a cruel death, but when he is reproached, we are reproached; and a very sweet thing it is to be blamed for his sake, to be despised for following the Master, to have the world against us. The disciple should not be above his Lord. In our measure we commune with him in his labours, ministering to men by the word of truth and by deeds of love. Our meat and our drink, like his, is to do the will of him who hath sent us and to finish his work.]
How personal now it is when I hear someone use the Lords name in vain. I am always saying, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they are saying."
[We have also fellowship with Christ in his joys. We are happy in his happiness, we rejoice in his exaltation. Have you ever tasted that joy, believer? There is no purer or more thrilling delight to be known this side heaven than that of having Christ’s joy fulfilled in us, that our joy may be full. His glory awaits us to complete our fellowship, for his Church shall sit with him upon his throne, as his well-beloved bride and queen.]
My friends I have known this joy that Charles Spurgeon speaks of. The same joy I am feeling "this side of Heaven", can only be magnified when I do see Jesus face to face. As in the song "My One Desire", "my one desire to know You in the fullness of Your grace, to hear well done my precious one, when we meet face to face!" Wow!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Spirit in me!
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit.”
- Ephesians 4:30 Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.
This morning devotional reminds us of the work of the Spirit that lives in us once the prayer of salvation is said in earnest and truth. The Holy Spirit can only do what we yield for Him to do. How empty our prayers are with out his interpretation to the Father. After reading Charles Spurgeon's devotional below I have put a poem the Lord blessed me with several years ago that speaks of the Trinity. I love these verses in the book of Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 8:27 And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except he worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Do you desire to speak for Jesus-how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue? Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master’s cause? You cannot without the Spirit-”Without me ye can do nothing.” O branch of the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God, thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives thee through his Spirit! Then let us not grieve him or provoke him to anger by our sin. Let us not quench him in one of his faintest motions in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring his blessing. Let us do him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from him, and then depending alone upon him, having this for our prayer, “Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts.”]
Jesus Came to My House
Jesus came to my house
He knocked and said, "Hi, there's three!
My Father, Me the Son and the Holy Spirit"
Yes, it was, the Trinity you see.
They came because they knew they were welcomed
and here peace and love was found.
But they were unsure of the other homes,
close by in our hometown.
Jesus said, "You see your neighbors everyday.
Did you ever mention Me?
Did you ever tell them about anyone of Us?
Did you ever mention the Trinity?"
Jesus said, "Which house should we go to next?
Can you tell Us where We should go?
There are so many homes We want to visit,
and tell them We love them so!"
I said, "Lord I am so ashamed,
for it is with only other Christians do I speak.
For I am always unsure what to say,
to all the non-believers, the sick and the weak.
They All smiled and touched my hand
and said, "Well, It is time that We should go."
But the Holy Spirit said, "I will stay here with you,
because you love Us so!"
He said to God the Father and Jesus His beloved Son,
"I will stay here in this house to help guide others along.
Yes, I will stay in this house,
for it is here that I belong!
I will choose the words to say,
for non-believers we will seek
We will minister to the sick,
and give strength to the weak.
And one day We will all be together again,
when our work here on earth is done,
singing praises to God the Father
and Jesus, His beloved Son!"
E. P. Shagott
7/20/2007
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
- Ephesians 4:30 Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.
This morning devotional reminds us of the work of the Spirit that lives in us once the prayer of salvation is said in earnest and truth. The Holy Spirit can only do what we yield for Him to do. How empty our prayers are with out his interpretation to the Father. After reading Charles Spurgeon's devotional below I have put a poem the Lord blessed me with several years ago that speaks of the Trinity. I love these verses in the book of Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 8:27 And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except he worketh in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Do you desire to speak for Jesus-how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue? Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master’s cause? You cannot without the Spirit-”Without me ye can do nothing.” O branch of the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God, thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives thee through his Spirit! Then let us not grieve him or provoke him to anger by our sin. Let us not quench him in one of his faintest motions in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring his blessing. Let us do him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from him, and then depending alone upon him, having this for our prayer, “Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts.”]
Jesus Came to My House
Jesus came to my house
He knocked and said, "Hi, there's three!
My Father, Me the Son and the Holy Spirit"
Yes, it was, the Trinity you see.
They came because they knew they were welcomed
and here peace and love was found.
But they were unsure of the other homes,
close by in our hometown.
Jesus said, "You see your neighbors everyday.
Did you ever mention Me?
Did you ever tell them about anyone of Us?
Did you ever mention the Trinity?"
Jesus said, "Which house should we go to next?
Can you tell Us where We should go?
There are so many homes We want to visit,
and tell them We love them so!"
I said, "Lord I am so ashamed,
for it is with only other Christians do I speak.
For I am always unsure what to say,
to all the non-believers, the sick and the weak.
They All smiled and touched my hand
and said, "Well, It is time that We should go."
But the Holy Spirit said, "I will stay here with you,
because you love Us so!"
He said to God the Father and Jesus His beloved Son,
"I will stay here in this house to help guide others along.
Yes, I will stay in this house,
for it is here that I belong!
I will choose the words to say,
for non-believers we will seek
We will minister to the sick,
and give strength to the weak.
And one day We will all be together again,
when our work here on earth is done,
singing praises to God the Father
and Jesus, His beloved Son!"
E. P. Shagott
7/20/2007
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Friday, November 20, 2009
Seek Him first!
“O that I knew where I might find him!”
Job 23:3 If I knew where to find God, I would go there
So many people in this world, yes including me at times, cry out for our afflictions to end. It appears that it is one thing upon another. Trial after trial. When we read about Job in the Bible he lost everything. Read how Charles Spurgeon writes about this.
[In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer is not “O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!” nor even “O that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!” but the first and uppermost cry is, “O that I knew where I might find HIM, who is my God! that I might come even to his seat!” God’s children run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. “He that hath made his refuge God,” might serve as the title of a true believer.]
What I have found in my daily walk with Christ is I am doing one of these two things daily. Sometimes maybe just one. Either I am crying out to God for something, or I am giving Him praise for everything. Job was crying out, "Where is my God?" I have learned like Job, that God is always right there, right on time.
[A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job’s desire to commune with God was intensified by the failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, “O that I knew where I might find my God!” Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth’s hives, where we find no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize God’s presence with us. Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for his dear sake.]
I liked Charles Spurgeon's message in this last paragraph. All too often when facing a crisis all we know or want is for it to stop. Charles Spurgeon stated to use Job as our example. "Seek to realize God's presence in us first!" I am amazed when I see Christians, true Christians, that when faced with a problem they are praising God for all His goodness. As we keep our eyes on Him our problems don't seem as large as once we thought they were.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Job 23:3 If I knew where to find God, I would go there
So many people in this world, yes including me at times, cry out for our afflictions to end. It appears that it is one thing upon another. Trial after trial. When we read about Job in the Bible he lost everything. Read how Charles Spurgeon writes about this.
[In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer is not “O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!” nor even “O that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!” but the first and uppermost cry is, “O that I knew where I might find HIM, who is my God! that I might come even to his seat!” God’s children run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. “He that hath made his refuge God,” might serve as the title of a true believer.]
What I have found in my daily walk with Christ is I am doing one of these two things daily. Sometimes maybe just one. Either I am crying out to God for something, or I am giving Him praise for everything. Job was crying out, "Where is my God?" I have learned like Job, that God is always right there, right on time.
[A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job’s desire to commune with God was intensified by the failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, “O that I knew where I might find my God!” Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth’s hives, where we find no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize God’s presence with us. Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a willing heart for his dear sake.]
I liked Charles Spurgeon's message in this last paragraph. All too often when facing a crisis all we know or want is for it to stop. Charles Spurgeon stated to use Job as our example. "Seek to realize God's presence in us first!" I am amazed when I see Christians, true Christians, that when faced with a problem they are praising God for all His goodness. As we keep our eyes on Him our problems don't seem as large as once we thought they were.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
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