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Text Box: Seeds of Youth                                                                  June 2008 As I was preparing for June’s programs I was thinking back to my time growing up as a pre-teen and also my teenage years. I thank my parents for the plan that they had for themselves and their three sons. Myself being the youngest. As a young child we lived on a dead-end street where not a lot of vehicles passed each day. Of course back then if you were lucky there was one car per household. We could ride our bikes up and down the street and my mother wasn’t looking out the window worrying. Today when I look out my window it is about the same as back then except most Mom’s are working and the kids are riding their bikes talking on cell phones. Also I remember my mother telling me to stay away from those funny cigarettes. She said to me, "If you ever want to try smoking, come and ask me for one!" Yea right! Mama didn’t raise any stupid kids. Though my Dad would disagree with that statement. When I got into my teenage years I was fortunate that my mother had her three son’s in church, yep Union Presbyterian here in Blasdell. I remember being in the Junior Choir under the direction of Mary Plarr. I also have fond memories of being part of the Young Peoples group similar to our Junior / Senior Youth group today that Chuck, Julie, Rick and Jean do such a great job with. Because of the Young Peoples group I asked Christ into my heart at one of the many skating parties we went to. How awesome that was. I can also remember my exposure to the "rock and roll devil music" as it was called back then. After finishing my homework I would turn on the radio and listen to WNIA (music by request). Ricky Nelson was singing "Poor Little Fool, Lonesome Town" and Elvis Presley was singing one after another #1 hits. Little Richard was belting out songs like "Lucille" and the Everly Brothers were trying to "Wake Up Little Susie!" Today when I hear a car go by with the speakers booming, it was the same back then except a lot smaller speakers. But the music was still loud for it meant something to us back then as it does to the kids today. So during the month of June when I am returning back to my youth with the Seeds of Youth music I am saying "Thank You Lord for that special time in my life!" I will also be asking His special touch on the shut-ins or others that He will be blessing through the music, poems and pictures. 1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways.                                                   1Co 13:12 Now we see only a blurred reflection in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.                                                                             1Co 13:13 Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. (INV) God’s love and mine to you all, Ed Shagott Founder and Director God’s Love Outreach Ministry Union Presbyterian Church Blasdell, NY 14219

 

Text Box: Seeds of Rest and Reflection July 2008 It is now six months into 2008 and the God’s Love Outreach Ministry is at its halfway point in its Seeds for Christ programs. During the month of July there are no programs scheduled, for this is the time taken to recharge the heart batteries that the Lord has blessed me with. So what fruits have been shown as a result of the seed planting? Well, if all goes good as of this writing the 2008 data should look like this going into August, 83 programs presented to 2533 individuals. Reflection Reflecting back I am saddened that a few of the residents that I have gotten to know are no longer with us. But I am blessed that I had the opportunity to tell them that God loves them and I love them. Just recently at Eden Heights in West Seneca a husband and wife told me to "keep spreading the Good News!" The gentleman told me boredom is their worst enemy. My friends, that is Satan’s dance floor. Just think how you feel when you are bored and feel useless. If you give him the chance he will dance all over you with that one! Also as I look back I was feeling a little discouraged when trying a few new idea’s to reach more for Christ. I tried to contact the Scouts (girl, boy, cub) to help participate with the Patriotic program. No doors opened. I tried to contact the Veterans of Foreign Wars also. Nope. I tried to enlist the help of our Presbytery in suggestions regarding CD’s and/or DVD’s, as I was being asked if I had some, and received very little response. Maybe they didn’t quite understand what this ministry is about. But what I realized was that instead of waiting on the Lord I was doing this on my own. What happened was I opened the door just a little for Satan to try and do his thing. Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve." Psalms 25:5 Lead me in Your truth, and teach me; for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day long. Rest I am always amazed that being retired I am constantly telling my family and friends I have to check my schedule. That didn’t happen when I was working. But in July it is a month to not think about a time schedule. Just concentrate on all the blessings that God is providing, not that I deserve any but because of His love, grace and mercy. During this short rest period I will be searching the Word for the messages that the Holy Spirit brings me to. God is urging me more and more at the end of the programs to speak to His wounded. Several times I have quoted John 3:16. I tell them it is most important to understand that. God’s love and mine to you all, Ed Shagott Founder and Director God’s Love Outreach Ministry Union Presbyterian Church Blasdell, NY 14219

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Seeds of Love                                                     (February 2008) The God’s Love Outreach Ministry will be beginning its 5th year starting in February. As in 2007 the yearly theme will be Seeds for Christ. How fitting that the year be started with Seeds of Love and then followed in March with Seeds of Salvation. How privileged and blessed I am to be given a ministry of seed planting. Nothing is more important than an opportunity to touch someone’s life for Christ. This year the God’s Love Outreach Ministry will be presenting, in our church sanctuary, the monthly program on the 3rd Saturday of each month (June will be on the 4th Saturday) with the exception of July. It was encouraging to see friends, neighbors and even a family member for the God’s Love Christmas program in December. The celebration of Christ’s birth gives us renewed strength and encouragement for the new year. His unselfish love sustains us through the year. Last year someone emailed me a special valentine that I share during the Seeds of Love program. How many times we all have read John 3:16 and never understood it as God’s yearly valentine for each of us.                   "For God so loVed the world                        That He gAve                              His onLy                             BegottEn                                  SoN                                               That whosoever                         Believeth In Him                            Should Not perish,                         But have Everlasting life."                                                  John 3:16 My prayer for every eye that reads this article is that they understand the importance of sharing this valentine through your own individual ministries that God has given to each of His children. This ministry was founded on this scripture;                                                                                           1 John 3:18                                                                      Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  God’s love to you all, Ed Shagott                                                                  Founder and Director                                                         God’s Love Outreach Ministry                                              Union Presbyterian Church                                               Blasdell, NY Text Box: The day the power went out in Blasdell! I woke up that morning feeling a slight chill in the air. Normally I have the thermostat turned down a ways so at first it didn’t dawn on me it would turn into a chilly day and into the evening. As I switched on and off various electrical switches I started to wake up to a different day. What we discover quickly is how attached we get to our modern day blessings. The ones we forget to look upward and say thank you Lord for the electricity that flows to the fan that blows the warm air though out the house. Seems we never forget to moan and groan when we have to write the check that pays for the electricity. After putting on several layers of clothing, then looking out the window to see if any neighbors had lights on, I began to realize it would be a different day. When I looked down at my pet I realized it made no different to him. In all honesty when the house is 68+ degrees in the winter he is probably too warm for the coat God gave him gets heavier as the days goes by. He just kept looking up at me wondering why I was acting a little different. As I thought about what I would be doing, I took some quality time with the Lord. His light filled the room so I was able to read a book that I seldom do. I know you are probably wondering if I grabbed my Bible but it has very fine print, which made it difficult, so the Lord brought me to The Inspirational Writings of Robert H. Schuller. Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do and Tough Minded Faith For Tender Minded People. Yep, all that on the front cover. This hard cover 600+ page book was given to my mother. As I started to read, a lot of one liners were jumping off the pages to me. I thought they were so good I wanted to share what I have found within the first hundred pages; God uses, life’s bruises! Play it down, pray it up! You can turn your pain into profanity or poetry! (that has been very true in my life) If it’s going to be, it’s up to me! (that could be the slogan for the God’s Love Outreach Ministry) It is amazing what God can do if we will give Him a little time to work His plan out! God’s delays are not God’s denials. I’d rather attempt something great and fail than attempt nothing and succeed! (great saying for our good, little church) I also found this poem by an unknown author; Let Go and Let God  As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God, because He was my Friend. But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own. At last I snatched them back and cried, “How can You be so slow?” “My child,” He said, “what can I do? You never did let go.”                           The second half of the book is filled with 366 statements titled Faith is, one for each day of the year. Around 8 o’clock in the evening the electricity returned. Thank You Lord for reminding me just how blessed I am. I will be using the inspirational items I found in this book during the 2008 Seeds for Christ programs that will be presented through out the year by the God’s Love Outreach Ministry. God’s love and mine to you all! Ed Shagott                                                                  Founder and Director                                                         God’s Love Outreach Ministry                                              Union Presbyterian Church                                               Blasdell, NY Text Box: Seeds of Salvation                                                       March 2008 Every Easter whether it falls in April or March I always look forward to doing this program. All the programs in the Seeds for Christ series are good but this one and December’s are the most important. Around the middle of February I was watching Joyce Meyer’s as I usually do in the morning. This one program she was talking about faith and believing. She said, "I would rather believe 95% that Christ did die for my sins than not believe at all. For if at the end I was wrong, then I would lose nothing. But in the end if I am right, which I know I am, then the non-believers lose everything!" My mind immediately thought of a few bible verses that are favorites of mine; 2Co 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight; Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It only reinforces how important the seed planting of the God’s Love Outreach Ministry is. As I thought back to when I was a teenager and how at 15 years of age at a skating rink I accepted Christ into my heart, what a seed was planted that day. I can’t remember whom the speaker was but what was most important was he/she was faithful and obedient for what God called him/her to do. I often think to myself if only someone would have taken the time to water that seed that was in me. If this Outreach Ministry is this successful in 4 years I am humbled to think what 40 additional years would produce. So if you find that God has given you a watering can, please use. I truly believe the Purpose Driven model that God has brought to our church via Pastor David is such a vessel to water those seeds that are planted in many lives daily.  In the God’s Love Seeds of Salvation program, that will be presented at our church on Saturday March 15th (hint, hint) I will share this poem that the Lord has blessed me with. It is one of five that will be shared as a seed planting venue. I truly believe it expresses Salvation in a wonderful way. I Love You, He Said I love you, He said,    as the first nail went in.   I do this for you   because of your sin.   The shame that I bear I do this for you, He said this as the mallet hit nail number two. The reason I came was so all would be free. I love you, He said as they hit nail three. He hung there for hours, then bowed His head. "My Father, why have You forsaken Me? I love You, He said!" E. P. Shagott        God’s love and mine to you all, Ed Shagott                                                                  Founder and Director                                                         God’s Love Outreach Ministry                                              Union Presbyterian Church                                               Blasdell, NY Text Box: Seeds of Fun                                                                    April 2008 One of the best pictures I have ever seen that demonstrated what I thought Heaven would be like was in an elevator at a Catholic Nursing Home. It shown three elderly gentlemen playing horseshoes with Jesus. One gentleman just pitched a shoe and Jesus was standing there waiting His turn holding His horseshoes. What was inspiring in the picture was the smiles on all the faces. Yes, Jesus was smiling too. It seemed like you just knew when it was His turn something great was going to happen! Also the picture displayed everyone having fun. As Christians if we are not displaying that this way of life is fun, why would anyone consider it? As I mentioned to several friends, I sing with a group of gentlemen named the Happy Minstrels once a month at City Mission. As one of the gentlemen stated to the 70+ homeless, that come in for a meal and place to sleep for the night, "we maybe don’t sing in tune together but we are here with you to make a joyful noise to the Lord!" As we were singing a gentleman in the front row shouted throughout the evening, "Thank you Jesus," "Praise the Lord," "Amen," "Love you Jesus!" I thought to myself, wow! If I were in that man’s shoes would I be thanking Jesus? At this point in my life I can say, yes. See Jesus was giving these men and women shelter, food, fellowship and a time to praise Him through testimonies and song. This month as I continue to plant seeds for this Outreach Ministry the music from Seeds of Fun is intended to bring a smile on someone’s face. It is God’s message of love to them where He said, in John 16:33 I have told you this so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!" (ISV) I truly believe He is telling us this present world will not change. Sin and trouble will always be here. But if you believe in Him then you will believe in His Word in Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won't be death anymore. There won't be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared." Last year I wrote this short poem for a friend of mine that was experiencing the fun being drained from their life. Seems also so fitting for the many individuals that this Outreach Ministry ministers to through God’s love. My Wish For You My wish for you is that you have a better week than last. May all the aches and pains you felt remain a part of the past. May you once again in this week find something to make you smile, if not for a very long time well, then just for a little while. For being a friend of mine I found this to be very true, that when you are feeling bad it also affects me too!      God’s love and mine to you all,       Ed Shagott Founder and Director God’s Love Outreach Ministry Union Presbyterian Church Blasdell, NY 14219 Text Box: Seeds of Patriotism                                                          May 2008 During the month of May the God’s Love Outreach Ministry is presenting the program Seeds of Patriotism from the Seeds for Christ 2008 series. As I was looking back on various stories on patriotism I came across this story by John Hagee written in 2003.  I wonder if our soldiers today believe possibly as they did at Valley Forge? I am amazed as this program is presented to many of our seniors to see how they still have the love of God and country instilled in them. Many confined to wheelchairs or clutching on to they’re walkers trying to stand when the National Anthem is played. They understand the price that was paid. Christ on the cross and the soldier’s in the battlefield. The Soldier I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded from months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from his family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war. He stands though, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this... "I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now your children graduate too illiterate to read it. "I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you stay at home because it rains. "I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you remain silent on critical issues, because it might be bad for business. "I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you, and it has stolen democracy from the people." It's the soldier not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the press. It's the soldier not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech. It's the soldier not the campus organizer who allows you to demonstrate. It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin is draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag! I love what Supreme Court chief justice, Earl Warren, said in 1954: "I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses ... Whether we look to the first Charter of Virginia ... or to the Charter of New England ... or to the Charter of Massachusetts Bay ... or to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut ... the same objective is present ... a Christian land governed by Christian principles. I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people ... I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country." On May 17th, at 8 PM the God’s Love Outreach Ministry will be presenting Seeds of Patriotism in our church sanctuary. Please come and bring a friend and or family member on this Armed Forces Day. I hope to see you there! God’s love and mine to you all, Ed Shagott Founder and Director God’s Love Outreach Ministry Union Presbyterian Church Blasdell, NY 14219 Text Box: Life Will Be Great In 2008                                 (January 2008) Someone might ask, "How do you know life will be great in 2008?" My answer is "because God is in control!" No one else can guarantee me that, not family, friends, or even our pastor. Only I know that, because Jesus is Lord of my life. See if it is not about Him, it doesn’t really matter. Without Him in your life it is all about motion. We exist by going through the motions. We fool ourselves daily thinking all is good when deep down we know it is not but cannot find the key to a happy life. Still God is always saying, "I am here!" We sit in church on Sundays but most, in all honesty, walk out as they walked in, empty. Some will say, "I asked Jesus in my heart, but where is the peace?" I truly believe as the pastor has mentioned in a sermon, it’s the Lord part that is the hardest for most to accept. Isaiah 29:13, The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me…" See the difference for me before Jesus became Lord of my life was when things were going good I kept all the credit. Now I am constantly giving it all to Him. Many, many people have seen a change in me. To be honest what they see is Him! Last year I have given my testimony so many times, to so many different individuals. When I was at Mercy Center Sister’s Convent I spoke to a Nun of how Christ has changed my life. At City Mission I told a gentleman who was still suffering from a divorce of how Christ changed my life. We were both there to sing to some 70+ that came in for food and shelter. At Father Baker Manor a gentleman who was in a wheel chair, with his wife behind him, told me how touched he was by the program. I told him that a few weeks prior God spoke to my heart and said, "Reach them for me!" The gentleman said with tears in his eyes, "you just did"! So as we start the New Year the God’s Love Outreach Ministry is excited about what God is planning for this His ministry. I know He is already speaking to the hearts of many that don’t know Him and preparing a path for me to them. I was listening to Joyce Meyers one morning and she read from Mark 8:34, Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me…" I ask for your continued prayers for this ministry. May God bless each one of you and His little white church in Blasdell. In God’s Love, Ed Shagott                                                                  Founder and Director                                                         God’s Love Outreach Ministry                                              Union Presbyterian Church                                               Blasdell, NY