by Pastor Cecil | Jun 30, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 89:47-48
“Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility You have created all men! What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave.”
A few days ago I was traveling down the freeway, a few miles from home. I was following the car ahead of me at a safe distance. All of the traffic was moving at generally the same speed and there was no threat of mishap.
I noticed in my rearview mirror a car approaching rapidly. There was a truck in the lane next to me about 50 feet ahead of me. I thought that he would have to slow down and wait for a chance to merge into my lane. Wrong! He suddenly swerved in front of me, missing me by only a few feet. (That really gets your adrenaline flowing!)
As I watched this car pull the same maneuver in and out of traffic ahead of me, I was aware of an interesting thing—he was not gaining ground! As recklessly as he was driving he hardly gained any ground at all. As I came to my exit, here he was just ahead of me. Wheeee!
Sometimes we feel as if we have to fly through life at a breakneck pace. Instead of resting in the loving care of or dear Savior, we try to do things ourselves. Like that reckless driver we hurdle through life thinking that our actions will get us ahead and gain favor with God. It is not what we do for Him that counts, but what He has done for us! Thank you Jesus!
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 | Jun 29, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”
Many have asked me how I develop the Daily-E-Votionals day after day. It has been several years now and well over 2500 issues. To tell you the truth I have no idea myself. I always pray and ask the Lord to give me wisdom about what to write. The Lord seems to impress upon me that it is none of my business, just write what comes into my heart
because He has it designed for somebody.
After writing that, I must share my frustration over the past several days. For some unknown reason, I have been unable to send out my messages. I have spent hours on the phone with my Internet provider and they have been equally baffled.
In this time of frustration I have been reminded that there are many of you who are facing far more frustrating issues than not being able to send out messages. I know that God’s Word is faithful and true.
My peace of mind is not dependent upon things working as I would like. It is based upon being steadfast and trusting in the Lord. I still have no idea how this e-mail problem will be resolved, but that is not my problem-it is God’s. He knows better than the Internet provider
what is needed. I will rest in Him!
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 | Jun 28, 2010 | 2 Timothy
II Timothy 4:3
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
As I read this passage I want to cry out, “Yes, Paul, the time has come and we are there!” Let me illustrate. Wednesday Joyce and I were eating lunch when I received a call from a local funeral home. A family was there and I was requested to get there immediately.
When I was introduced to two members of the family, they informed me that they did not want a service that was “too” religious. I thought to myself; “Hello! I am a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and you want a non-religious service? Wow!!”
They reluctantly provided the necessary information so I could conduct the service. I closed our meeting with a word of prayer for the family during this time of loss. Later I received a call that the family had found another minister who was not too religious to do the service.
I should not be shocked at all by this turn of events. We are surrounded by a society that, at best, wants to give an appearance of spirituality. I shudder to think about what will happen when the non-religious—religious people of the world stand before the Judge of all the universe to give an account of their deeds done in the flesh.
I only know this; I will remain steadfast and true to God’s Word and will speak only what matches His divine will for all men. I will be God’s man!
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 | Jun 25, 2010 | Matthew
Matthew 27:41-42
“In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save Himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.'”
Elizabeth Cecilia Douglas Clephane was a ray of sunshine to the people in the small Scottish village of Melrose where she lived. Not only was she a poetess, but she spent much of her time serving the poor and needy of her area. She only lived to the age of 39, but her years of ministry touched many. Here is one of her hymns.
“Beneath the Cross of Jesus“
Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land.
A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat
And the burden of the day.
Upon the cross of Jesus mine eyes at times can see
The very dying form of One who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart with tears two wonders I confess:
The wonders of redeeming love
And my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place,
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face.
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self, my only shame, my glory all the cross.
O safe and happy shelter, o refuge tried and sweet,
O trysting place where heaven’s love And heaven’s justice meet!
As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was giv’n,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me, A ladder up to heav’n.
To access Beneath the Cross of Jesus, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/beneaththecrossofjesus2 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 | Jun 24, 2010 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 32:17
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.”
You may have heard the expression, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!” I feel that describes me at times. You may have noticed that I sent out Monday’s Daily-E-Votional twice instead of Tuesday’s. I was reminded of the oversight and sent the correct issue out later. SORRY!
I have come to realize that some of these blunders work out for God’s pleasure. It really is not up to me when and how someone may read an issue, and the Lord makes good using His timing instead of mine. In response to “Fiery Furnace Faith,” I received this response. I will quote only a portion of it.
“I made one of those ‘fiery furnace prayers’ back in 1981 when I was laying in a hospital bed paralyzed after back surgery. The difference was that this may sound weird but it is the honest truth, I made a phone call that night to a place called “Dial a Prayer.” It took years of being with the Lord before I realized what actually happened. When I called the number (I still remember it!) this soft gentle deep male voice started with “You’ve cried out many times, but this time is different. You need a personal relationship with me, the Lord Jesus Christ.” He went on to explain how to do that and then led me through a sinner’s prayer. I remember that voice to this day. After I prayed a peace came over me, a freedom swept through me, and for the first time in 30 years of life I had a purpose! I left a message on the answering machine saying who I was, where I was (room number and all) thanking this “pastor” for such a powerful message. Growing up in church I never heard of a “personal relationship” with Jesus. The next day the “pastor” was so curious he came in to see me. I have seen some scared people in my life but this guy was terrified! He literally plastered himself up against the wall with his hands at his sides holding on to the wall! I proceeded to tell him what I heard. He told me it wasn’t his message. I of course said, “Oh yes it is! Here, I’ll dial it again and you listen!” He said, “No you listen!” I did and what I heard was some ridiculous generic prayer babble. I told him “You changed it!” He said, “No I don’t do that until Wed. and today is Tuesday.” I proceeded to tell him what I heard which only made him turn more pale and plaster tighter to the wall. When I was finished he literally RAN out of the room, later he was arrested for running “Dial a Porn.” So when people ask who led me in the sinner’s prayer I say, “The Holy Spirit.” I know now that God intercepted that phone call and spoke directly to me.”
That was no accident my dear friend. The Lord has a way of doing abundantly above all that we ask or think. Thanks for permission to use this, Kathy.
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
