by Pastor Cecil | Aug 8, 2008 | Matthew
Matthew 19:4-6
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ ”
I have learned many lessons this week. The word “corrupted” has come to mean much more than a dissipated lifestyle. I have heard people speak of having the hard drives of their computer corrupted, but now I have experienced it.
It all started last week when I was not able to access the Internet or my e-mail account. I spent several hours on the phone with my Internet company to see if they could help me with the problem.
These technicians were very kind and patient with me, but try as we might, we could not get the computer to connect with the Internet. My dear friend and our webmaster, Russ Hansen has helped by sending out as many issues as possible, for which I am grateful.
Another good friend has assisted in correcting my cranky computer, and we are almost able to function once more. It has been frustrating since the Lord has called me to this ministry and for almost eight years I have not missed sending out the messages that the Lord has laid on my heart.
I mentioned at the beginning that I have learned many lessons this week. Not only have I come to appreciate the fragile nature of our computers, but I have also come to realize just how much we need others. God has allowed me to minister to others in ways other than the Daily-E-Votional. That is God’s business, not mine!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and become a real blessing.
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 7, 2008 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 2:1-2
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others.”
There are certain people in our life that have made a significant impact. One was an old man by the name of Ernest. I say old, but that was from the point of view of a boy of four or five. In fact, he was only in his 60’s. Now that I have passed into my 70’s, that seems pretty young. He was one of those precious souls that loved the Lord from the depths of his being, and was not afraid to demonstrate it in his actions. He used an old Bible that was as worn and battered as he. The cover bore scars from excessive use.
Ernest used to sit in his old rocking chair and read his Bible. He would read silently, but his lips would move as he read verse after verse. He would sometimes hold the younger grandchildren on his lap as he read the life revealing Word of God. One could only wonder if he realized he was impacting those young lives by his quiet devotion.
There came a day in his life, when things just did not feel right. He consulted a doctor and learned that he had cancer. There were many days of pain and exhaustion. He lived at a time when medical treatment was limited, and Ernest realized that his days on this earth were very limited. He sent word to his eight children that he would like to see them all one more time. They came from Texas, California, and those who lived near him in Washington state.
In his final hours of life, he shared from his heart all that God had done for him, and how much he loved the Lord. As his children gathered around his bed in that small living room, he encouraged those of them who were not serving the Lord, to do so while there was time. For those who did know the Lord, he challenged them to be faithful in their walk. His breathing became easier, and it seemed as if the pain had been removed from his body. He raised up on his elbow and looked toward the door. These were the last words of Ernest Thompson, my grandfather; “There’s Jesus now!”
I cannot begin to count the number of times I have told the story of grandpa Thompson. I do know it is nothing as compared with the countless times I have thought of his words. It has given me a hope that there is a heaven to be gained, and a hell to be shunned. It has been a constant beacon to direct my way through the storms of life.
What about you, who have not had a “grandpa Thompson?” You are stuck with me! Stop that whimpering right now!!!! You see, I was not in that room when grandpa died. His words and the scene was related to me by my dad. I have been living the glory of grandpa Thompson’s death as a result of what my dad had seen and shared. Now, I have related it to you, it is up to you, to accept it in faith and allow it to give you a light in your darkest night.
Paul encouraged Timothy to recall those meaningful words and the actions that he had observed in Paul’s life and pass them on to the faithful who could in turn pass them from one to the other. It might be said that the Gospel was the first and greatest multilevel marketing strategy in the world. It only takes one who will duplicate himself in the lives of others, who in turn will repeat the process, until the world realizes the presence of Jesus.
None of us know for sure, where we will be when it is our time to die. We also have no idea when it will be. The only certainty, is that each of us will die unless the Lord catches up His church in the rapture. I have a driving ambition to be faithful in teaching and living as Jesus has instructed. I myself am a grandpa Thompson now.
As I mentioned earlier, I am older than my grandpa, Ernest Thompson was when he died. I have many precious spiritual children and grandchildren. I want them to see my battered Bible, and watch as I read those precious words, and also watch as I live a life that is committed and real. Regardless if I die surrounded by people, or all alone, my desire is that my last words will be; “There’s Jesus Now!”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 6, 2008 | Daniel
Daniel 6:10
“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
I have a question for us: “What do we require before we give thanks to the Lord?” Let me clarify that question. Do we need something good or pleasant to happen before we give thanks to the Lord?
Daniel was a very wise man and an old man. He was no doubt in his eighties or beyond when we read today’s Scripture. His wisdom and judgment caused the king to elevate him to a position of authority along with two others. Now the king planned to set him over the entire kingdom.
Jealousy arose in the other leaders who plotted how they could get rid of Daniel. They knew that he was so blameless and upright that they could only discredit him by something to do with his worship of his God, Yahweh.
They convinced King Darius to issue a decree that could not be altered; that no one could worship any god or man for 30 days except Darius. He must have thought Daniel was in agreement and signed the decree. By doing so, he unknowingly condemned Daniel to the lion’s den. You know that story, or you may want to read all of Daniel 6 to refresh your memory.
Here is the point I would like to make. With a visit to the lion’s den in the balance, Daniel prayed as was his usual practice. And what was his usual practice? Daniel prayed three times a day; on his knees; giving thanks to Yahweh and asking Him for help.
I want to stop right there. I could go into more detail but as you know I am having trouble with my computer and I am under a time constraint. But I want to challenge each of us with this passage:
Do you have a consistent prayer life?
How would you pray if you knew that to pray would possibly mean that your life was on the line?
Would your enemies know that the only fault they could find in you was in the way you worshiped the Lord?
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 5, 2008 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. (His thorn in the flesh). But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Did you think I made an error in spelling in the title of today’s E-Votional? I can just hear someone saying. “It should be “week-end!” Pastor Cecil really missed on that one!” Sorry, Charlie! I intended to spell it—WEAK-END.
Sometimes when we come to the end of the week, we collapse for a couple of days before returning to work on Monday morning. The activities on our days of rest are intended to refresh, restore, and prepare us for another week in the rat-race. Do we really experience rest?
Think of the number of times you could hardly wait for the week-end to end, so you could return to work and rest up. The yard work, house maintenance projects, strenuous sporting endeavors would leave you a quivering bowl of Jell-O.
Starting a new week is a wonderful time to consider the weak-end. It sounds crazy, but God delights in operating opposite to human reasoning. God does things His way and in His timing. We may never understand how or why, but simply trust Him to do what we are never capable of doing ourselves.
In Luke 6:38, Jesus taught the principle of giving to the Lord. “Give, and it shall be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Do I understand that? Absolutely not! In fact it seems just the opposite of human reasoning. But God does not do things just so I will understand them. Faith demands that I choose to believe without understanding.
In my mind, the more you keep, the more you have. But we have seen and practiced across the years, that when we give to the Lord first, money seems to come from unexpected sources.
I remember back in the 60’s, I was leading a men’s Bible study breakfast. One of the men in our group was in dire financial need. The man was on the verge of bankruptcy. I suggested that we demonstrate our love by giving a significant offering. When we passed a Bible around to place money on, several hundred dollars was raised.
The man who had the need was stunned by the love these brothers in Christ had shown to him. He said it was not enough to hardly scratch the surface of his debt, but I urged him to start giving to God and allow the Lord to work a miracle. In less than one year the man was completely out of debt!
There was a side story that took place that morning. One of the men came up to me after the meeting and said that he had a $50 bill he wanted to give. He related that it was hidden in the freezer. I guess my mouth dropped open, as he quickly explained that he had saved here and there until he was able to have a $50 bill. He had planned to have a fancy hair style done later that week.
He took the money “off ice” and gave it to the needy brother. I suddenly thought to have him pay close attention to what would happen. He had given “as unto the Lord”, and if Luke 6:38 was true, he should see results. Within two weeks, something like $200 came in from unexpected sources. Wow!
So, when we read what Paul has to say about human weakness, it again is a paradox. It is when we are weak that we become strong. The less energy, stamina, health, muscle tone, endurance, power, drive – – – whatever, the more God’s power comes into play. Do we understand it? No! Do we need to understand it? No! We only need to yield to Him.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 1, 2008 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
I once was speaking with a lady who had been going through a prolonged period of pain and suffering. I asked how she was doing? She replied with a smile that she was doing fine, and that she just had to keep reminding herself that she needed to go to the “Source,” instead of worrying about the problem.
We laughed together as she elaborated that sometimes she would spend a few days focusing on the problem, until she had to slap herself into the reality that she needed to depend upon the “Source.”
We know that our “Source” is Jesus. We know that He alone is our strength and our salvation, so why do we wait so long before calling out for His help? I guess it is our willful self wanting to do things our own way, even when our own way is what consistently gets us into trouble.
Since the time of the “fall” in the Garden of Eden, men and women have tried to do things their own way, leaving God out of the picture, and have ended up with tragic results. Following Adam and Eve, consider Cain’s killing his brother Abel; Jacob’s deceiving his brother Esau; Joseph’s brothers’ terrible act of selling him into slavery; Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. There are countless more.
God came to Abram (Abraham) as recorded in Genesis 15:1, and gave him the promise that he would be the father of a multitude, and a land as his own possession. Listen to the assurance of promise that God gave to him in this verse; “After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision; ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.'”
The Lord desires for us to be assured of His provision today, just as He did Abram in that day. When Jesus spoke the words of the Beatitudes on his Sermon on the Mount, He changed the rules for the believer.
The new covenant tells us that we are to feel blessed as we go through the times of trial and testing. We are blessed because our reward is in heaven! Yes, we may experience some limited satisfaction and joy down here, but our reward is waiting for us in heaven.
With the Lord Jesus Christ as our “Source,” we have an instantaneous provision for our every need. That “Source” enables us to turn adversity into ministry, peril into preaching and suffering into solace.
I would like to challenge you to try something daring for the Lord. The very next time (you may be in it right now) you encounter trials and tests of any sort, stop immediately and ask the Lord to take over and bring glory out of the situation. Thank Him that you can be used right where you are. Let me know when you see the miracle God will bring.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
