by Pastor Cecil | May 31, 2010 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. It is a special day for me for at least two reasons. May 31st is the birthday of our grandson, Jeremiah. In addition to my remembrances of his birthday, I honor an unknown man of courage and devotion. Let me tell you about it.
As a young lieutenant in the US Air Force, I was assigned to a processing squadron in San Antonio, Texas. A chief Master Sergeant, Reuben Luna, worked in our section and became a close friend. He received orders transferring him to Saigon. He was afraid and we prayed for his safety in his move to a very troubled area.
A few months after he left, I received a call from him. He had just returned to the States and was in the hospital. He cried as he told me what had happened. A few days after his arrival in Saigon, he decided to go to a movie a short distance from his room.
The movie had just started when someone shouted, BOMB!” Most of the men fell to the floor as best they could. But there was a true, but unknown hero (at least to me) who did not fall away from the bomb. In a split second this young Marine officer realized there was only one way to contain some of the effects of the blast. He threw himself over the devise and was blown to bits.
Even his heroic act could not save all of the people in the room. Many died and some like Sgt. Luna were wounded, but it was estimated that his action saved many lives that horrible day.
On this day of remembrance I like to think about what I am willing to give my life for. It occurs to me that anything worth dying for is worth living for. Christ died for me and all who come to Him in faith believing. I want to die to self and allow Him to live through me. Join me!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | May 28, 2010 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
I suppose many of us have heard humorous stories about someone approaching the gates of heaven and being required to prove that their actions on earth merited entry into God’s heavenly kingdom. Beep! Wrong answer!
A person may do amazingly good works here on earth and still miss heaven. It is not what we do for God that determines where we will spend eternity—it is what He has done for us. When we repent of our sins and accept Him as Savior and Lord then—and only then—is our name is written down in glory.
The writer of this week’s hymn, Charlotte Elliot, was offended when someone asked her if she were a Christian. She told him to mind his own business. Later as she was contemplating his question, she began to wonder what it took to become a Christian. She called him and he explained to her the plan of salvation which she accepted. It was then that she wrote this hymn, “Just As I Am.”
“Just As I Am“
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
To access Just As I Am, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/justasiam 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
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | May 27, 2010 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
I wonder why we recall the things we do. There was an event that took place almost fifty years ago. I cannot remember the name of the pastor or his wife, but I remember that they were both gracious and loving to all they met.
We had been invited to their home for a meal and the crowning touch was one of the wife’s homemade pies. As I recall it was a cream pie in a graham cracker crust. It looked so good that we could hardly wait to taste it.
The wife was stunned when she tried to cut the pie. For some reason the crust was so hard she could hardly cut it. She did not want to serve it, but we begged her to bring it on. She almost had to saw each piece out. We laughed as we crunched our way through. The filling was delightfully ― but, oh, that crust!
Sometimes we question why our earthen vessels are so crunchy and hard. When we do, we need to remind ourselves that it is not our crunchy crusts that matter, but the Jesus inside of us. He is the One who is sweeter than honey!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | May 26, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
I was stopped at a traffic light in the downtown area last week. As I looked ahead of me I saw that the traffic lights were at different sequences. Some were red, some green and there was the short pause when the lights were amber before changing from green to red. (Aren’t you impressed with my great power of observation?)
It reminded me once again of our walk with the Lord. Over the years I have been asked by people how to know how to follow the Lord? We can dedicate ourselves to follow closely to the Lord, but how do we know what His will is for our life?
My response to those who seek the Lord’s plan for their life is to sincerely desire to discover and follow His plan. Let me repeat that: It is to sincerely desire to discover and follow God’s plan and purpose for our life.
This to me is where the traffic light illustration comes into play. When we pray and let the Lord know we are serious about following Him, look for the lights! If we get a green light―go forward until we see and amber or red light. Amber does not mean step on the gas before the light changes―it means slow down and be prepared to stop. Red means stop everything and go to the Lord in prayer to determine what comes next.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | May 25, 2010 | Philippians
Philippians 4:12-13
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
I wish you could have known my grandma Shubert. She was what might be called a pioneer woman. She and grandpa were farmers out on the Oklahoma panhandle during the dustbowl days. While others quit and moved on to greener pastures, they fought the elements and made a success of their farm.
Both she and grandpa lived into their 90’s and remained active until they went to be with the Lord. After many years on the farm, they passed the load on to one of their sons and moved into town.
It was a small house in Guymon, Oklahoma, but one filled with love. One of the most remarkable things about that tiny house was the small kitchen. It seemed to be more like a closet than a kitchen. But man, could grandma turn out the meals from that tiny space. I never heard her once complain about the size or inconvenience. She just dug in and produced culinary masterpieces.
I fear that many of us complain about the lack of ability, training or opportunity to accomplish the work of the Lord. Spiritually we may have a tiny kitchen, but with the help of the Lord, we can produce what He desires. Are we willing or will we choose to gripe about what is keeping us back?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
