by Pastor Cecil | Aug 13, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Proverbs 3:5-8
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
“If”! Such a tiny little word, yet one which holds so much meaning. It is a conditional word that often implies being a little reluctant to respond until certain conditions are met. I will do this or that “if” you meet my expectations, demands or in some way make me feel comfortable.
It is a sad commentary that we often bargain with God by attaching an “if” to our obedience. In doing so, we place ourselves in a position of control. Instead of saying, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done”, as Jesus prayed in the garden, but our telling God what to do and when to do it.
Just recently someone forwarded the following inspirational piece. It explains a little of the reason for God’s actions and reveals why we do not always see His hand at work in our life.
GOD SAID…
- If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I’m a Healer?
- If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I’m a Deliverer?
- If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?
- If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I’m a Comforter?
- If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I’m forgiving?
- If you knew it all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?
- If you were never in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?
- If you never were broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?
- If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them?
- If you never had any suffering, then how would you know what Jesus went through?
- If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?
- If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?
- If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?
- If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on Me?
- If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for?
THANK YOU, GOD! HELP ME TO REMEMBER!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing.
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 10, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Romans 1:18-20
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Do you remember the little breath candies called “Sen Sen”? I am sure that many of you are too young to recall. As a boy in Camas, Washington, I remember a man named Vanoy Croswell. The reason I remember him is that he always carried a little envelope of Sen Sen, which were tiny licorice squares. (I just did a search on the Internet and have discovered that they are still available).
Before and after church, kids would make a bee line for Vanoy to get one or two Sen Sen squares. In my childish mind, I always thought of Sin Sin, instead of Sen Sen. Even at a tender age I knew that there were things I was not suppose to do, but I did them anyway. It was sin then and doing what I know to do today is also sin.
Listen to this quote from John Wesley. “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the Kingdom of God on earth.”
God hates sin and the effect it has on the people He has created. Two nights ago I had a call from a dear friend who shared a few notes he had made from Sunday’s sermon at their church. They had a guest speaker who shared these three points concerning sin: 1. Sin will take you farther than you want to go. 2. Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay. 3. Sin will cost you more than you want to pay.
It is so easy to allow sin to make inroads into our life. Here are two critical questions: In what way have you allowed sin to slip into your life? How do you deal with sin in your life? Be honest and answer yourself only after doing much careful consideration.
In Psalm 119, David asks a question about how a young man can be pure. It is intended for each of us, even if we are not young men. Read what he writes in verses 9-12; “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Praise be to You, O LORD; teach me Your decrees.” Isn’t it strange that many people talk about how much the love the Lord, yet neglect spending time in His Word or speaking with Him in prayer?
Question: When we stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account for everything done in the flesh, how do you think the Lord will feel about how we responded to the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin? Is it getting a little warm in here do you think?
There is so much written in God’s Word about sin that it is difficult to overlook it. We read these powerful words in Hebrews 5:12-13, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Thank God we have a loving heavenly Father who has provided His Son, Jesus, who alone can deal with our sin. I John 1:8-9, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” There is the reality and the answer.
In these passages, we are reminded that it is the Lord who is able to have dominion and power of our strongest opponent–sin. He wants us to remain very close to Him and allow Him to do the work that needs to be done in dealing with sin. Remember what the pastor said last Sunday; 1. Sin will take you farther than you want to go. 2. Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay. 3. Sin will cost you more than you want to pay.
We need to deal with our sin before God. We must insure that we stand close beside Him and pour out our heart as we see the sin in our life. He is eager to forgive with His strong right hand and the right arm of His righteousness!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing.
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 9, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even the youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
If you have been reading the Daily-E-Votionals very long, you will recall that I am fascinated by eagles. I enjoy searching the sky for them and watching as they soar majestically with seemingly very little effort. I recall hearing an illustration about eagles that was so good I would like to share it with you.
It seems that a turkey farmer came across the egg of an unknown wild bird. He placed it among the eggs of one of his turkey hens. He reasoned that it would not hurt, and it would be fun to see what kind of egg he had found. The days passed as she incubated her clutch.
When the eggs hatched, he was amused to find that it was an eagle’s egg. The baby eagle imprinted on the mother hen and began to act as all of the other baby turkeys were acting. It cheeped and pecked around on the ground, trying its best to behave as the other turkeys.
The farmer always was amused to watch his misfit eagle fluttering and fussing in the pen with the other turkeys. One day a friend of his who was a naturalist, saw the turkey/eagle in the pen. He asked the farmer if he could have the bird and try some experiments. The farmer agreed.
The naturalist took the young bird and held it in front of him. He spoke sternly and said, “Look at me! You are not a turkey, you are an eagle. You are supposed to soar high in the heavens!” With that, he held the eagle high above his head and let it go.
The turkey/eagle squawked and fluttered down to the bottom of the pen. The man retrieved the bird, gave it another motivational message. This time he took it up into the highest point in the barn. When he let it go, the young bird screamed out in terror as it once again careened down and landed in a heap on a pile of hay.
This naturalist was not one to give up easily. He loaded the turkey/eagle in his car and drove to a nearby high mountain, all the while giving the bird his most eloquent motivation message. He finally found the perfect spot at the edge of a very high cliff.
Just before he released the bird, an eagle circled overhead. It was calling out to the world in his eagle language. The mixed up turkey/eagle raised his head and watched the majestic eagle soaring in wide circles. As the naturalist threw the mixed up bird into the abyss, it spread his wings and began to soar. With very little effort he flew off toward the other eagle and was not seen again.
It takes very little effort to imagine a conversation between the two eagles. The eagle who had been raised in the wild may have asked, “What took you so long to rise up and soar with the rest of us eagles?” The reply is a show stopper; “It’s hard to soar with the eagles when you have been living with a bunch of turkeys!”
That was fun! But there is a point here. God created us to have fellowship with Him and to soar over the mundane things of life. Unfortunately, many have been pecking around in the garbage heap of life instead of rising on God’s currents of blessing and grace.
Isaiah gives us the formula to soar with the Lord. Do you see what it is? “- – but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” It is when we place our hope in the Lord that we begin to soar. Our strength will return, weariness will pass away, and we will realize the purpose God has for us.
I invite you to join with me as we spread out our spiritual wings, catch the breeze of the Holy Spirit and feel our strength begin to revive us and lift us into the heavens.
Blessings dear hearts. Soar with God today and be a blessing.
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 8, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
What a blessing it is that God has made His Word and His message so simple that even small kids can understand it. At the same time, it is so profound that brilliant minds can study it for a lifetime and still barely scratch the surface.
I feel that one of the most important things students of the Bible can do is to keep the Bible simple and attainable to everyone. We often feel that simplicity in presenting the gospel message only applies to children. I agree that we need to keep it simple for children, but we also need to keep the message simple for adults.
I was sent this article some time back, and was struck by the need to maintain a childlike faith and trust in God and His Word. By the way, it is good for the young ones also.
I once read about a local church which held a Vacation Bible School for senior citizens. As you may recall, at the Vacation Bible Schools for kids, they teach them special songs to sing during the VBS program for their families at the end of the week. The Pastor passed out a song sheet for the seniors to learn new words to “Jesus Loves Me”. It may be well for all of us “Seniors” to memorize the words:
Jesus loves me, this I know
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim
Still He bids me trust in him.
(Chorus) YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES. JESUS LOVES ME THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow.
With my hand in His I’ll go
On through life, let come what may,
He’ll be there to lead the way.
(Chorus) YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He’s begun
Let me serve Christ with a smile.
Go with other’s the extra mile
(Chorus) YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song,
Telling me in words so clear,
“Have no fear, for I am near.”
(Chorus) YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
When my work on earth is done,
And life’s vic’tries have been won
He will take me home above,
Then I’ll understand His love
(Chorus) YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say
That I love Him every day.
Yes, I love Jesus, I tell Him when I pray.
(Chorus) YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today (in childlike faith) and be a blessing.
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 7, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Psalm 51:10-12
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Last week I mentioned an incident from my childhood while attending church. As a matter of fact it is amazing how often my mind goes back to those long ago days. In some instances I can recall the names of the people in our small church, and in others I can only recall their faces or behavior.
There was one woman who sat across the church from where we usually sat. When the opportunity came for people to share a testimony, she would always be one of those who shared. The problem was that she was a pickle-puss. By that I mean a dill pickle-puss.
Not only did her face look like she had been baptized in vinegar, but her actions were just as sour as her facial expressions. Most of us kids did not like to be around her since she would snarl at us about something. I have no idea what had happened to make her so bitter, but she exuded it.
Across the years I have met more people like her. The tragic thing is that unsaved people often get the idea that this is what all Christians are like. They conclude that to be a Christian means that you have to lack of joy and enjoyment.
Is it possible for a born again Christian to have such joy and happiness within that it oozes to the surface? The answer is a resounding, YES! Not only is it possible for we Christians to have joy within, it is vital. Without the sincere inner joy of soul there is hopelessness. In Proverbs 29:18 we read, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.”
In today’s Scripture we read a prayer of David after being confronted by Nathan the prophet about his sin with Bathsheba. I read in David’s prayer a desire to return to the joy of his salvation which had disappeared when he had allowed sin to reign in his life.
It tells me that God’s gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, brings joy. We can call it–SALVATION JOY! It is that inexpressible lift of spirit in knowing that our sins have been forgiven and that we have been given the precious gift of eternal life.
Sin robs us of our joy and makes us miserable inside and outside. The way we can find that joy once again is to pray as David prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
As we sincerely pray that prayer, we can be assured that the Lord will hear and draw us close to His heart. The closer we come to God, the greater our joy. Let me close with an old hymn that contained these words, “It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the truth has never yet been told!” That’s the joy I want!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing.
– – – Pastor Cecil
