by Pastor Cecil | Mar 17, 2009 | Daily-E-Votionals
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
Moses was in the midst of his “upper desert discourse” as some have called it when he pronounces these words. The book of Deuteronomy is a vivid recounting to the people of all that the Lord had done for them in the days of aimless wandering for the past 40 years.
As they stood there listening to this powerful man of God who delivered God’s word to them, they must have been in awe. Over the 40 years the generation of the fighting men who had refused to trust God and possess the “promised land” had died. Only Joshua and Caleb—who had returned with a good report—remained alive to cross over and possess what they had seen 40 years earlier.
Think of all of the miracles that the people witnessed in their deliverance from Egypt. You wonder how they could ever turn their back on God. One of the great miracles that we often overlook is the condition of their attire. After forty years walking in the desert sand, neither their sandals nor their clothing had worn out. How long does the life stay in your clothing and shoes?!
Moses challenges the people to accept the life and blessings that the Lord offers. It was a choice that they needed to make—God’s way or the way of death. It seems impossible that they would choose the way that leads to death, but they did.
We are offered the same option. In Christ we have life and blessings. But there are so many who refuse to go God’s way and instead continue along the path that leads to death. Here is the way Paul sums it up in Romans 6:22-23: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I urge you—choose life!!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 16, 2009 | Revelation
Revelation 21:3-4
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'”
Where are you hurting right now? It may be a physical, emotional, financial or even a spiritual pain, but I would hazard a guess that you have some sort of pain that is causing you distress. I only hope that you are not a pain!
I am not a baby when it comes to having a dentist work on my teeth. In fact I seldom have him use Novocain before drilling on a cavity. But there was an exception I can recall. While on a trip I developed a terrible pain in my jaw. I went to my dentist as soon as I returned home.
As I sat in the examining chair the dentist used his mirror as a diagnostic tool. He would tap on a tooth and ask if it hurt. Time after time I would say, “No” until he came to the infected tooth. When he tapped it I almost came out of the chair. He smiled in delight and said, “I think we found it!” I simply mumbled something—let’s just say—a little less enthusiastic.
The mirror of God’s Word is something like the dentist’s mirror. It can reveal hidden recesses of decay and infection. A small tap on the affected area may produce pain and reaction, but it is all for our good.
After a drilling procedure to reveal the root canal that is infected, the dentist is able to treat it and bring relief. In like manner it is necessary for the Lord to drill deep into the root of our condition in order to heal and restore.
What does that mean to us spiritually? I think it means that Romans 8:28 applies in our life at all times: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been (the) called according to His purpose.”
Do you belong to Him? Do you love Him? Do you fully believe that God has a plan and purpose for your life? (I pray that you answered “yes” to each of those questions.) If so, you need to trust in Him—even in the midst of your pain.
Instead of trying to squirm out of our painful situation—we need to praise Him for being with us during this time and bringing glory out of the gory!
Blessings dear hearts!
– – – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 13, 2009 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3-4
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.”
As we come to the close of the week, we are aware of turmoil and chaos in our old sin sick world. Shootings, bombings, plague and disasters on every hand become so common that it is easy to allow them to rob us of the peace that Jesus gives.
There is a beautiful hymn that I want to share with you this week. It is not one of the better known hymns, but the words are magnificent and comforting. I hope those of you who are able, will listen and watch.
TO YOU BEFORE THE CLOSE OF DAY
To You before the close of day,
Creator of all things,
we pray that in Your constant clemency
our guard and keeper You would be.
Save us from troubled, restless sleep,
from all ill dreams Your children keep;
so calm our minds that fears may cease
and rested bodies wake in peace.
A healthy life we ask of You,
the fire of love in us renew,
and when the dawn’s new light will bring
Your praise and glory we will sing.
Almighty Father, hear our cry
through Jesus Christ, our Lord most high,
whom with the Spirit we adore
forever and forever more.
To access To You Before Close of Day, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/toyoubeforethecloseofday in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 12, 2009 | Ephesians
Ephesians 4:19
“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.”
It is frightening to observe the way our entire society has become desensitized. Things that only a short time ago would have shocked and astounded people are accepted as the norm.
Repeatedly police investigators are confronted with murder scenes of abject violence and mayhem. When the offender is apprehended and finally confesses, his defense can often be: “He did not show me respect so he deserved to die.”
Music that glorifies premarital sex is common and barely raises an eyebrow. I am told that certain songs even encourage rape and violence.
We have winked at perversions until those who engage in such relationships flaunt their sin with impunity and demand to have rights previously reserved for a husband and wife.
Unborn babies have been slaughtered because they would inconvenience the mother. In this regard, a late term baby may be aborted with no repercussion—yet if the mother is murdered and her unborn child also dies, the murderer is charged with two counts of murder. Hello! Is something missing here?
My prayer is that we will be increasingly sensitive to the sinful things around us. May we continually be asking ourselves: “What would Jesus do in this situation?” I pray that we will have the courage to live by God’s righteous standards.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2009 | Psalm
Psalm 57:7-11
“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth.”
Just because a person has a radiant testimony does not insure a steadfast walk with the Lord. I have known some yo-yo Christians. Do you know what I mean? They are on fire for the Lord one time and cold as a cucumber the next. If I can see that spiritual instability, I can assure you that non-Christians will see it.
Having spent many years in the criminal justice field as well as a military career, I have heard the comments of the world crowd. Believe me they did not candy coat their feelings! Hypocritical (or on and off Christians) were called names I do not intend to mention.
The problem with yo-yo Christians is that they make witnessing difficult for the faithful Christian. That is why it sometimes is essential to spend years of steadfast living before certain non-Christians will be willing to listen to the gospel message.
Steadfast! The Hebrew word is Niphal. It means: to be set up, be established, be fixed, to be firmly established, be stable, be secure, be enduring, securely determined, to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast in the (moral sense).
Does that describe you? Would you describe yourself as a steadfast Christian or a yo-yo Christian? If you desire to have a steadfast walk with the Lord, start right now by making a covenant to be faithful and true to the Lord in all that you do.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
