“INTO THY HANDS!”

by Pastor Cecil | May 23, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals

Luke 23:44-46

“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last.”

A young boy was setting out on a great adventure. People all around his area had been talking about a man who taught with great authority and performed many miracles. The name, Jesus, was on every tongue in the small village where he lived and now many were going to hear Him.

The lad’s mother was not able to go along, but she prepared a small lunch for her son—five barley loaves and two small fish. It was not much, but she hoped it would suffice until he returned home that evening.

A huge throng of people were hurrying out to see Jesus, who had gone far out to a deserted area. They were all thrilled by the many miracles that Jesus performed and the words that He spoke. The hours fled swiftly by and stomachs began to growl with hunger.

The disciples of Jesus began to circulate through the crowd, looking for something. One of them, Andrew, stopped by the boy and asked him what he had in his bag? He merely nodded when the boy said it was his lunch and showed him his five rolls and two salted fish.

Jesus wanted to test His disciples, so He asked them where they could buy food for so such a large crowd? Philip had made a mental calculation and concluded that it would cost a great deal. In John 6:7 he answered the Lord, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

The disciples reported that there was absolutely no food nearby, even if they had the money to buy it. It was then that Andrew reported his discovery. In John 6:8-9 we read, “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’ “

I think you know the rest of the story. Jesus took the small lunch from the boy’s hands, gave thanks to His Father in heaven for it and fed five thousand. Not only that—but there were twelve baskets full of “fish and chips” remaining. Imagine the mother’s shock when her son returned with more food than he left with—and a full tummy to boot!

When the boy committed his food into the hands of the Master, he was a witness to the power of God to control his meager provisions. What was intended as a lunch for a small boy became a feast for thousands!

In today’s Scripture from Luke 23, Jesus committed Himself into the hands of His Father. He who knew no sin became sin for us in order that we may receive the miracle of eternal life. By His yielding Himself, His death gave life to all who will come to Him in faith believing.

Our new life in Christ is no more merited by our actions than the boy’s small lunch was sufficient to feed the crowd. Jesus is the One who does the miracles in our life. Our part is just to give ourselves into His hands. Never feel that it is not enough—He will multiply and bless!

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing. 

— Pastor Cecil

“GOD’S SAFE PLACE!”

by Pastor Cecil | May 22, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals

Psalm 91:1-2

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ “

I just want to share a brief thought with you for today. It is a suggestion that these daily messages become your “secret place.” It seems like we all need a place where we can go to restore our minds, and hearts, out of the prying eyes of people around us.

Many of you have written to me, sharing your questions, hurts and disappointments. In some instances, the people who have been indifferent to your pain are the very ones who should have responded to your need. It saddens me when I read of the trials you are experiencing, but I am so pleased to try to share godly counsel, and to act as a sounding board.

You know that I strive to make the Daily-E-Votionals as simple and digestible as possible. I personally do not believe that God designed His Word for only those with a doctor’s degree in theology. Jesus was a carpenter. He called fishermen, a tax collector, and such like to be His disciples. Even women with sordid backgrounds were freed from their life of sin and followed along, when possible.

My desire is to be as understandable as possible. For those of you who have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, I want to be able to explain the plan of salvation to you, in terms that a child could understand.

For those of you who have turned your back on God and are not walking with Him right now, I would love to be the door that leads you back into fellowship. I will try to listen to your questions and show you God’s answers to those questions.

For those of you who feel that there is no hope, that life is just not worth the effort, that you are no good and have no ability, I want to light a fire within you to get on God’s fast-track to victory and purpose.

This is your safe place, your secret place, your shelter from the storms of life. You can rely on this E-Votional Pastor to listen, pray, and respond honestly and according to God’s Word.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.

— Pastor Cecil

“GOD CARES FOR SPARROWS!”

by Pastor Cecil | May 21, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals

Psalm 84:1-3

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.”

I woke a little after six this morning and started my typical day’s routine. I read a few Scriptures and then waded through almost 100 e-mail messages that had been received since late last night. I prayed for many of the requests from all over the globe and then began to read some of the attachments.

One in particular (I will share it below) struck close to home and brought tears to my eyes. I immediately thought of my dear friend, Charles Sutton, who lost his wife several weeks ago. I was about to send it on to him when I realized that he was the one who had forwarded it on to me. I pray that it will bless you as much as it did me. Blessings, Charles!

THE SONG THAT SILENCED THE CAPPUCCINO MACHINE

By John Thomas Oaks

It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks’ shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square. Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it’s enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.

For a musician, it’s the most lucrative Starbucks’ location in the world, I’m told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing.

It was a fun, low-pressure gig – I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the ’40s to the ’90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, ‘If You Don’t Know Me by Now,’ I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me. ‘I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?’ she asked.

‘No,’ I replied. ‘We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?’ To my delight, she accepted my invitation.

‘You choose,’ I said. ‘What are you in the mood to sing?’

‘Well… Do you know any hymns?’ Hymns? This woman didn’t know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look.

‘Name one.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. There are so many good ones. You pick one.’

‘Okay,’ I replied. ‘How about ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’?’ My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, ‘Yeah. Let’s do that one.’

She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing.

Why should I be discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.

I sing because I’m happy;
I sing because I’m free.
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, ‘Oh, y’all go back to your coffee! I didn’t come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin’ to drink, just like you!’ But the ovation continued. I embraced my new friend.

‘You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!’

‘Well, it’s funny that you picked that particular hymn,’ she said.

‘Why is that?’

‘Well …’ she hesitated again, ‘that was my daughter’s favorite song.’

‘Really!’ I exclaimed.

‘Yes,’ she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual. ‘She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week.’

I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. ‘Are you going to be okay?’

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. ‘I’m gonna be okay. I’ve just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything’s gonna be just fine.’ She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.

Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it.

God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it’s no stretch for me to imagine that He could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting Him and singing His songs, everything’s gonna be okay.

The next time you feel like GOD can’t use you, just remember…

Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced–more than once, Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer… AND, Lazarus was dead!

No more excuses now! God can use us to our full potential. Besides we aren’t the message, we are just the messenger.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.

— Pastor Cecil

“PRAYER!”

by Pastor Cecil | May 19, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals

Matthew 6:5-6

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Do you ever wonder if you are praying in the correct manner or for the correct thing? That was a question that Jesus’ disciples were concerned with.

It reminds me of a humorous story about a man who met a bear in the deep woods. He tried to run from the bear, but tripped and fell. As he lay on the ground waiting for the inevitable, he saw that the bear was kneeling in prayer. He was overjoyed that this was a Christian bear—that is until he heard the bear’s prayer: “Thank you Lord, for providing this food I am about to eat!”

Last week I received a wonderful look at The Lord’s Prayer from Barbara Nell in South Africa. I wrote and asked permission to use it, and she graciously said yes, but said that it was written by the famous author, Anonymous. Thank you Anonymous!

The Lord’s Prayer:

I cannot pray “OUR,” if my faith has no room for others and their need.

I cannot pray “FATHER,” if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.

I cannot pray “WHO ART IN HEAVEN,” if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot pray “HALLOWED BE THY NAME,” if I am not striving for God’s help to be holy.

I cannot pray “THY KINGDOM COME,” if I am unwilling to accept God’s rule in my life.

I cannot pray “THY WILL BE DONE,” if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot pray “IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN,” unless I am truly ready to give myself to God’s service here and now.

I cannot pray “GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD,” without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.

I cannot pray “FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US,” if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot pray “LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,” if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot pray “DELIVER US FROM EVIL,” if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.

I cannot pray “THINE IS THE KINGDOM,” if I am unwilling to obey the King.

I cannot pray “THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY,” if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.I cannot pray “FOREVER AND EVER,” if I am too anxious about each day’s affairs.

I cannot pray “AMEN,” unless I honestly say “Not MY will, but THY will be done,” so let it be.

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.

— Pastor Cecil