by Pastor Cecil | Mar 10, 2009 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Sometimes, when life is hectic and demanding, we feel like we would like some “alone” time. Have you ever felt that way? For several years, Public Television has chronicled the story of Dick Proenneke, who lived alone in the wilderness for over thirty years.
I have to confess that I love watching this program over and over again. It is not that I would like to be alone like Dick, but to see the creative manner in which he used the resources around him to survive.
In addition to being impressed by Dick’s resourcefulness, I also became aware of something else—he was not totally isolated. There was a bush pilot who made trips into Dick’s remote cabin to bring supplies and mail. I can only imagine the joy he must have felt in receiving mail from his family in California.
We do not have to be isolated in a wilderness like Dick Proenneke to feel alone. We can feel alone even when we are surrounded by a multitude of people. Just look at a picture of people walking down the street of a large city. One person in that huge crowd may feel more alone than actually being alone in the wilderness.
Regardless of where we might be or who might be around us, according to our Scripture for today, we are never alone. Not only is the Lord with us at all times, but He has promised to give us strength and to uphold us with His righteous right hand. Our part is to trust in Him with all our heart. Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 9, 2009 | Romans
Romans 12:9-11
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
I am scared silly by what I observe in the modern church world. Fundamentals are being sacrificed for the sake of fads. The Gospel is being replaced by gadgets. Spirituality is being traded for superficiality. Discipleship is being bartered for dependency.
This new wave of Christianity calls for little or no commitment except sending money with the selfish motive of getting good things in return. Entire groups of churches have adopted the premise that their own decisions hold priority over the infallible Word of God.
I am here to say that if the Bible says something is a sin—it’s a sin. No amount of ecclesiastical mumbo jumbo can replace what God has spoken. Now we are being subjected to efforts to form a one-world church. The book of Revelation will open your eyes to the pitfall such an organization presents.
So what are we to do—individually—as well as collectively? PRAY! Not in pride but in humility. 2 Chronicles 7:14 should be constantly before us: “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Let’s obey God. Though none go with us let us follow Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 6, 2009 | Galatians
Galatians 6:14
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Fanny J. Crosby was a blind poetess who produced thousands of hymns. Many of her poems were set to music by William Doane. One day he had composed a score of music and asked her to set words to his music.
After listening to the music, she immediately felt the words flow from her very heart. She had no idea how many would be blessed by the words of the hymn that we know as “Near the Cross.”
Years after the hymn had been published and sang in church after church, there was a tragic accident in New York City. A young boy was struck by a rail car and rushed to an emergency hospital. He asked the nurses if he could sing. As his words grew fainter and fainter, the staff was moved to tears by his song:
Jesus, keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Refrain
In the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river.
2
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star
sheds its beams around me.
3
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o’er me.
4
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand
just beyond the river.
To enjoy this week’s GloryScapes inspirational video Near the Cross please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/nearthecross 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 5, 2009 | James
James 3:17-18
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
Attending grades 6 through 12 on a Christian college campus was an education in itself. I later graduated from that same college (now a university), but I think I learned as much by observing the students as I learned from my professors.
I must confess that there were times when I struggled academically, but I was able to squeak by and even attain a Masters of Arts degree in Sociology. (This proves that miracles still happen!)
Most of my real education was gained through my parents. They were raised on the Oklahoma panhandle and endured the rigors of much of the dust bowl years. Families had a tough time back then and an eighth grade education was considered to be the norm.
The wisdom that both of my parents possessed, was not something that can be taught in a classroom. They reasoned things out and became practical in ways that many in our modern day world lack.
One of the things they engendered in me was a love of people. Since money was always scarce we needed to make our own brand of entertainment. One of the most enjoyable things we did as a family was to drive the mile into town, park the car and watch people. It is amazing what you can learn about human nature by simply observing people.
In yesterday’s Daily-E-Votional I made a mess of relating a humorous story. What can I say? Some people can tell a joke and some people can’t! Anyway, I mentioned something about how differently waiters behaved when they left the dining area and entered the kitchen.
In graduate school I read a book by Erving Goffman called, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. One summer he observed waiters at a prestigious hotel and the difference in their behavior as they served guests and how they reacted with the kitchen staff. There was a world of difference and not for the better!
In today’s Scripture, James defines heavenly wisdom—the kind of wisdom that we need to pursue. Consider the adjectives James uses: Pure; Peace-loving; Considerate; Submissive; Full of Mercy and Good Fruit; Impartial and Sincere.
That is the wisdom that the believer should be striving to attain. Students often carry study notes with them to prepare for an up-coming test. Wouldn’t it be a great idea for each of us to write the adjectives down and make a concerted effort to gain heavenly wisdom? I have just written mine down—please join me.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 4, 2009 | Malachi
Malachi 3:5
“So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.”
The story is told of a couple who had just been married. When they arrived at their hotel room on their wedding night, the bride proceeded to prepare herself for her new husband. She removed her wig and placed it on the table. This was followed by her false teeth, which she placed in a jar and set on the table. Next she popped out a glass eye and that went into another jar and, you guessed it, she placed it on the table.
The husband could contain himself no longer. Realizing there was more of his wife on the table than in the bed, He rushed across the room and knelt down beside the table and said: “I love you with all my heart!” What a stupid story! But it points out a reality of the way people are prone to defraud others.
In marriage, business or even in our churches we are in danger of being defrauded. It is the presenting of self in a manner that is not true. It is like the waiters in a fine hotel dining room. In the dining room they are polished, polite and proper— but as they pass through swinging doors into the kitchen area they become pouty, paltry and a pain.
I have come to realize that there is a critical need for spiritual discernment. Just because we are told something does not mean that it is true. How sad that we have been subjected to ministers who should devote themselves to preach the pure Word of God, but then evidence is discovered to prove that greed and avarice is more their goal than being faithful to Christ.
So what do we do to prevent being deceived and defrauded? Slow down and pray! Examine our own hearts to determine if there is sin that needs to be confessed or changes that need to be made. Ask God to reveal His Word—His will—His way! Wait patiently on Him.
I feel that Solomon provides a pattern that each of us needs to follow on a consistent basis. It is found in Proverbs 3:5-6: “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.”
My prayer is that each of us will memorize and meditate on these words on a daily basis. It is only in this manner that we will come under His protection and guidance.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
