What would you answer? ~ January 29th, 2022
One of my favorite scriptures is below. I often put my name where Simon Peter's is. So in this blog I thought a question for all of us would be. "what would each of us answer?"
John 21:15-17
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
I found this, part of a sermon from Charles Spurgeon, an interesting read regarding the above scriptures. Please take some time to read and ponder. A DISCREET ANSWER.
Jesus asked him, in the first place, whether he loved Him better than others. Simon would not say that: he had once been proud and thought he was better than the other disciples. There is no loving heart that will think it loves better than the least of God's children. But Peter answered not as to the quantity but as to the quality of his love. Some of us would have answered foolishly. We should have said, "Lord, I have preached for Thee so many times; I have distributed to the poor; Thou hast given me grace to walk humbly, faithfully, and honestly, and therefore, Lord, I think I can say, I love Thee." We should have brought forward our good works as being the evidences of our love. That would have been a very good answer if we had been questioned by our fellow-man, but it would be foolish for us to tell the Master that. The Master might have said to Peter, had he appealed to his works, "I did not ask thee what are the evidences of thy love, I asked the fact of it." Very likely some would have said, "Love Thee, Lord? Why, my heart is all on fire towards Thee; I feel as if I could go to prison and to death for Thee!" But that would have been very foolish, because although we may often rejoice in our own feelings, it would not do to plead them with our Lord. In such manner Peter had spoken before; but a sorry mess he made of it. But no, Peter was wise; he did not bring forward his feelings nor his evidences. But, as though he shall say, "Lord, I appeal to Thine Omniscience: Thou knowest that I love Thee." Now, could we give such an answer? There is a test. If thou art a hypocrite, thou mightest say, "Lord, my minister, the deacons, the members, my friends think I love Thee, for they often hear me talk about Thee." But thou couldst not say, "Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee"; thine own heart is witness that thy secret works belie thy confession, for thou art without prayer in secret; thou art niggardly in giving to the cause of Christ; thou art an angry, petulant creature, &c. But thou, O sincere Christian, thou canst answer with holy fear and gracious confidence. Such a question was never lint to Judas. The response is recorded for thee, "Lord, Thou knowest," &c.
C. H. Spurgeon
Well, for sure Jesus is asking us each minute, "lovest thou Me?" To be honest from what we see in today's world it doesn't show. But again like Peter stated "Lord, thou knowest all things"! See, our walk should resemble or talk. For sure as it is stated in James 2:20, But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? It is because we love the Lord that we "want" to take care of His lambs and His sheep!
Jesus saith to Edward Paul, Edward son of Steven and Anna, lovest thou me more than these? Edward saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
My friends, what I believe it all comes down to is "The Heart". It always seems that the mind and the heart are in a battle to dictate what we each should believe. Always remember that God choose the heart for the Holy Spirit to reside.
God's love and grace to you all!
If that isn't love? ~ January 21st, 2022
I came upon this small posting on Facebook this morning. Then the song which I will share at the end of this blog came to mind. My friends, I truly believe so many just miss, and here is the key word, the "simplicity" of the gospel and God's love for us all.
“How does the thief on the cross fit into your theology? No baptism, no communion, no confirmation, no speaking in tongues, no mission trip, no volunteerism, and no church clothes. He couldn’t even bend his knees to pray. He didn’t say the sinner's prayer and among other things, he was a thief. Jesus didn’t take away his pain, heal his body, or smite the scoffers. Yet it was a thief who walked into heaven the same hour as Jesus simply by believing. He had nothing more to offer other than his belief that Jesus was who he said he was. No spin from brilliant theologians. No ego or arrogance. No Shiny lights, skinny jeans, or crafty words. No haze machine, donuts, or coffee in the entrance. Just a naked dying man on a cross unable to even fold his hands to pray.”
I read this today and was reminded of the simplicity of the Gospel.
For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believed in him would not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
I did a search and found this about both thieves one on each side of Jesus;
In the Gospel of Luke, we are told that during Our Blessed Lord’s crucifixion, there were two other men suffering the same death, one to either side of Him. The one to Christ’s right has become known as the “Good Thief,” while the one to His left is referred to as the “Unrepentant Thief.”
While the Gospels do not mention specific names, tradition tells us the Good Thief was named Saint Dismas, and the Unrepentant Thief, Gestas.
While both men were suffering the same gruesome execution and were both in the presence of Christ, their reactions to their situation are quite different. Gestas reviles Our Lord and says, “Are You not the Messiah? Save Yourself and us.” (Lk. 23:39) Gestas asks to come down from his cross.
But Dismas does not ask to be taken down. Dismas rebukes Gestas and proclaims Christ’s innocence, and in one of the most startling and beautiful moments of the Gospel, does not ask to be taken down from his sure and painful death. He asks, instead, to be taken up with Christ, saying “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Lk 23:42). Jesus replies to Saint Dismas saying, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
"If That Isn't Love"
Now for sure that is a good song to close with but I also thought of this song by Randy Travis, "Three Wooden Crosses". The story is about 4 people on a bus and 3 die when the bus is hit by an eighteen wheeler. I pray you listen closely to the lyrics. It also speaks volumes about God's love.
God's love and grace to you all!
Dream keeper! ~ January 16th, 2022
In the book of Genesis, chapter 40, verses 1 through 8, it speaks of Joseph who trusted in the Lord no matter what he went through. He was called upon to interpret dreams. When thinking about dreams I also wake up wondering what my dream was about.
1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.
2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could dream and have it come true. Well, Joseph knew that the One that interprets is truly God, the giver of all. When we completely rely on Him all our dreams becomes His dreams and they truly will become true.
Get Up And Rest
“Get up and rest,” is what God says, “get up and wait on Me.
Be prepared for the work ahead with rested eyes you may see.
Get up and rest, do not start out a journey on your own.
Be quiet and still, waiting till you hear directions from My Throne.
Get up and rest, for strength you’ll need to fight what comes your way.
The enemy is strong, the battle is long and is for sure to come today.
Get up and rest and be assured, in Me a victor you will be.”
Wait on Me, oh child of Mine, get up, rest and see.
E. P. Shagott
4/5/2011
This is a song that Elvis Presley sang, many dreams ago, titled "If I Can Dream". As the song states at the end, "please let my dream come true, right now!"
Oh, yeah!
God's love and grace to you all!
One day at a time! ~ January 15th, 2022
I saw this article posted on Facebook that was written by CS Lewis in 1948. Very applicable to today I believe. I find myself like maybe many other seniors born in the 1940's or previous saying, "I wish we could go back to the good ole days!" Hmm, even when you think about it many of the good ole days were similar like today's time. Read what Mr. Lewis wrote 5 years after I was born.
“How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of chronic pain, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.’
In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways.
It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.
The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about death. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”
Now here is a poem I was blessed with many years ago titled "Going Back"! I would share it with residents in nursing homes when I would present the musical program "Forever Young" with music from the 50's and 60's.
Going Back
Every breath we take is from the present thanks to God it does not lack. But every now and then there are times I wished I could go back!
Back to friends and family and times that made me smile. Back to places I liked to visit oh yes, just for a little while.
Back to times when I felt at peace and also not so old. Back to see love ones that are gone, the ones we no longer can hold.
But we know this wish can never be and God also knew from the start. So in each child of His, He gave them a special heart.
A heart that will always hold memories with space that will never lack. All because of His love for us, He gave us a way to go back!
E. P. Shagott
To be honest my friends, I would not want to go back but I am so grateful for that time to be born and each day after that the Good Lord blessed me with. See, I believe what ever evil comes my way as Mr. Lewis stated, when it comes finds me, "doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep". Well, not bathing the children anymore!
I also believe with all my heart, that as the song states and is confirmed in the Bible, there is another "Home" waiting for each of us! Nothing to worry about there. Or last breath here will be our first one there. Until then I will live one day at a time.
God's love and grace to you all!
I gave my all! ~ January 11th, 2022
Many, many years ago, I said to God, “take control of my life!” See, I was serious for I knew whatever I was doing wasn’t what my life was created for. Let me tell you, when you get serious with God, He gets serious with you.
So what did God want me to do? Well, as the saying goes, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called!” I did not have many talents but God did bless me with some computer skills. He had me use those skills to reach out to over 50,000 people in nursing homes and various other facilities. What computer knowledge I was blessed to use at my employment, I was richly blessed and able to retire at 60 years of age.
Now besides using these skills to create musical program presentations, I have presented over 1850 prior to the pandemic starting, He also has me “singing”! Not bad for an introvert, huh? Of course not only did God just have me doing that, He also inspired me with over 700 poems of which I self published 3 poetry books.
With even all that God still did not say, “Rest”. No, He also had me create a website where His music presentations and poems are available for all to be blessed by. I do pray if you are reading this you take the time to check out what He has done and still is doing in my life.
I titled this Heart blog “I gave my all”, which truly I have and am still doing. I will until He calls me “HOME”. This song (#51) on the song video page, we should all can ask, “What If I Gave All”?
God's love and grace to you all!
Why I do what I do! ~ January 9th, 2022
Well, I just finished changing 4 web pages on God’s web site which has 104 music videos. I was prompted to have where anyone can click on the song video name and it will take you to that video. Time wise it took me 3 days, on and off. Here is a picture of one of the pages.
(here is the link to this page https://www.glowny.org/copy-of-god-s-message-1-thru-25-for )
Now I thought for this Heart blog I would explain why I do what I do. The best way I thought of doing that is with what I have been so blessed with, poetry! Oh, I have been blessed with many other “God given” talents but poetry, well, over 700 of them I believe speaks volumes. Really it is God speaking volumes to whomever the Holy Spirit directs to see or listen too.
Ok, so this is:
Why Do I Do It
I am a servant of the Lord,
that is truly what I want to be.
Everything I do is for Him
and nothing is done for me.
Everything I need or will ever want,
He supplies all for me.
So why should I worry about this,
He takes care of everything, you see.
All I do is what He wants,
touching others just like Him,
once you get your eyes off yourself,
well, that’s when life truly begins.
So if you wonder, “Why do I do it?”
I hope you can tell by my grin,
I do because He loves me,
I do it because I love Him!
E. P. Shagott
2/23/2011
See, it all started when I said:
Use Me Lord
Here I am, Lord,
ready to do Your will.
Use me, Lord, use me,
quietly, patiently, I am waiting till.
Use my feet to take me
to where Your service will be.
Use my hands, Lord,
reaching out to those in need.
Use my eyes, Lord,
let them search through Your Word.
Use my ears, Lord,
to listen carefully so You can be heard.
Use my mouth, Lord,
that from it Your Spirit can speak.
Use my heart, Lord,
because of You is why it beats.
Use me, Lord, use me,
each day that on this earth I may live.
Use me, Lord, use me,
for my life to You I give.
E. P. Shagott
2/2/2011
For sure one day I will completely understand;
When It Is All Said And Done
When it is all said and done
and my life on earth is through,
my greatest achievement on this earth
is Lord, that I spoke of You.
When it is all said and done
and no more that my eyes will see,
my greatest joy will be
that You walked with me.
When it is all said and done
and at Your throne I bow in love,
my greatest wish would be,
to see friends and family gathered with me above.
But that is a decision that must be made,
separately by each and everyone.
We will not know for sure until
when it is all said and done.
E. P. Shagott
2/24/2011
Here is the song video from that page. Be blessed!
God's love and grace to you all!
Words! ~ January 6th, 2022
I read a posting on the importance of the words we speak and thought it would be an important Heart blog.
How easy it is when words leave our mouths. A lot of times without thinking before hand. Maybe that is why many people use curse words so easily. Not much thought there. In Matthew Chapter 12 it speaks of words. Yes, I believe we will be accountable for every word spoken.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
It is so important that we speak word that will lift people up not tear them down. That we talk and demonstrate love, just like Jesus always did. To be able to speak like this we must have the heart of Christ in us. It then will be the Holy Spirit speaking for us.
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." -James 3:9-10
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD.”
Speak To Them For Me
The Lord touched my heart and said,
“You heard my voice because of your love,
so speak to them for Me,
tell them what I am saying from above.
Tell them from My Word
and through poems and songs.
Speak to them for Me,
each day as you go along.
To those that will listen,
My love will shine through.
Speak to them for Me,
this is what I am asking of you.
Give words of encouragement
to those that are in need,
one day all will hear Me as you do,
if only they will truly believe!”
Then, within the moment
I knew what I had to do,
Keep speaking His words of love
before my life was through.
I hear Him because I want to,
that is why it is plain to see.
I will obey what He asked,
when He said, “Speak to them for Me!”
E. P. Shagott
2/5/2011
God's love and grace to you all!
My Father's house! ~ January 4th, 2022
As I was listening to the song “Somewhere”, I thought how it truly fits in with my life today. In the book of John chapter 14 the words of Jesus states it so well.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
When I sing this song I change the lyrics toward the end. Yep, "read His Word and you're halfway there, Ask Him in your heart and He will take you there!" How true it is and fitting for what I believe. Thank you Lord that all your children will be with You, someday (only the Father knows), somehow (believers in Jesus), somewhere, “Heaven”!
Well, here we are starting a New Year. I recently was inspired with a new poem titled "The Door". I often wonder how long the good Lord will keep blessing me with them. I am still saving them for possibly a 4th book, if that's what He wants. What it all comes down too is the message. Songs, poems, encouraging words, etc. All from Him for you. Knock, knock!
The Door
I heard someone knocking
on my front door.
Who would be coming to see me?
Not many came knocking before.
I don’t know many people,
and family, well, they just walk on in.
I pray it would be good news,
long time since I heard some, it’s been.
Then all of a sudden in the Bible,
my mind thought of, Revelation 3:20.
It states “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:”
Hmm, it could be Jesus looking for me.
Well, if Jesus knocked on your door
stop and think what you would do.
See, He will only come in when asked,
yep, that is strictly up to you!
For me I said many years ago,
“Lord, please come in and be with me!”
See, I knew that knock on my door
was the only way to be free!
E. P. Shagott
1/1/2022
God's love and grace to you all!
Decisions, decisions! ~ January 1st, 2022
TOO, TOO, LATE to PRAY in HELL !
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Luke 16:19-31 KJV
A story of two men, two journeys, and two destinations. the rich man seemed to have everything. The beggar was suffering daily, looking for even the crumbs that fell from the rich mans plate. If you think about it very similar to today in some cases. The story stated that each went to a different destination after they died. It also states that the rich man understanding his fate was concerned for his family. Now the rich man thought if someone came back from the dead and spoke to his family they would not end up where he was. They would choose differently. And here I believe comes and important part of the story; "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
I was blessed with this poem titled "Choose". See, I truly believe this life is all about preparing us for the next. It will all come down to our decision. You may be living a life today as the "rich man, with everything" or the "beggar, suffering each day" but what truly is important is the next life and the choice you make in this one.
My prayer for 2022 is we all can take time to "Behold", God's love!
God's love and grace to you all!
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