by Pastor Cecil | Jun 9, 2010 | Acts
Acts 16:25-26
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”
As a Juvenile Probation Officer, I experienced many incidents. One stands out clearly in my mind. I was leaving my office at the close of the day when I heard a wail. Not only a wail, but one calling my name: “Mr. Thompson, I want to go home! Please let me go home!” I looked up and realized it was coming from the County Juvenile Detention cell.
The young man who was calling to me had been arrested by the police for about the tenth time. Time after time the Judge had warned him that his conduct had to change, but each time he was released he would get in more trouble and once more find himself in jail. Now he was wailing away to be released.
I called up to him that the judge had left for the day and that the earliest he could be considered for release would be the next day. I had to leave him crying out for release, even when he knew that there was no way out.
Many people find themselves in prisons of their own making. Others are victims of the offense of someone else―regardless, they feel trapped without hope of release. Are you there? It is when we are in these situations that we need to remember that the apostles went through the same ordeals―probably much worse. As we read in today’s Scripture, Paul’s reaction to being beaten and thrown into prison was to praise. Try praising God from your own prison!
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 8, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 19:14
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
I felt like I had been struck with a heavy blow! The woman sitting across from me had asked for an appointment and what she said changed my view of our church Prayer Chain. “I am the woman!” I tried to not act as confused as I was and asked her to explain. “Don’t you have a Prayer Chain at your church, and aren’t you praying about the affair one of your former members is having with me?”
It was the first I had heard of the matter and asked her to explain. She related that the word had come to her that some of the churches in our community had been told of the so-called affair and their Prayer Chains were praying against the evil woman. There was no affair and she wanted me to know that there was no such thing was going on.
Wow! I immediately called the Captain of our Prayer Chain and she assured me that nothing of the sort was happening. From that moment on we established a rigid policy that we would never accept prayer requests without careful examination and following biblical patterns of dealing with sinful actions.
I came to realize that we can spiritualize gossip by simply saying that we are concerned and want to pray about a matter. Gossip is gossip whether it is in a coffee shop or a cathedral–a staff room or a sanctuary. Our words should always be pure and holy in order to be able to give a good report whenever possible. By the way, that woman went away from our meeting with a thankful heart that our church had not drug her name through the mud!
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 7, 2010 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 11:13-14
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
I have to confess that back when I was a police officer, our patrol cars were much different than modern day patrol officers’ experience. For one thing we had analog radios. I really am not sure what that means, but during certain times of the year and when conditions were right, we had radio skips.
Let me explain that I was serving in Nampa, Idaho. Each car had a numeric designation and when a call came into the Control Center our car number was called to respond to the call. It is hard to believe, but the patrol cars in Lakeland, Florida―thousands of miles away had exactly the same numbers for their patrol cars. Some calls were very confusing, but when a call came to check out an alligator in someone’s yard we figured it was a Florida call and not one of ours.
Perhaps you can guess where I am going with this illustration from a spiritual point of view. There are many religious sounding voices out there that appear to be one thing, but a closer examination will show that they are not in accordance with God’s Word.
To determine if something is spiritually true or not, we must inquire of the Lord and seek to discover from the Bible what is true and what is false. Dare I say it―there are some so-called Bible study groups that are nothing but gossip sessions and/or spending time reading what someone else has to say about a spiritual issue. Be suspicious! Be very suspicious! You may be receiving a call from the wrong “dispatcher”!
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 4, 2010 | Titus
Titus 3:3-5
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
Joyce and I are not rich by any means, but compared to others we are prosperous. That being the case, I feel that God has given us the privilege and burden to keep our eyes open to observe needs around us. One of the greatest pleasures is to see a young family with a need and then do something about it.
It is always better if you can do it without being seen, but sometimes it cannot be done covertly. A few months ago I noticed a young mother with several kids in her car filling up at the pump just ahead of me. She stopped the pump almost as soon as she started, and I realized it was financial. Being rather bold, I stepped up to her pump, zipped my card through the sensor and told her to finish filling her tank. There were tears in her eyes as she thanked me. We had been there and knew a little bit of what she was experiencing!
The greatest payment in our behalf is the gift of eternal life that was given us through the terrible cost of a heavenly Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who went to the cross voluntarily because He knew we would never be able to pay the cost.
“Jesus Paid It All“
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I,
whereby Thy grace to claim
I will wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
To access Jesus Paid It All, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuspaiditall 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 3, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 22:22
“I will declare Your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise You.”
Over the years of my walk with the Lord, I have heard many expressions of praise. Some of them were directed directly to the Lord, but I fear, unfortunately, that some were for show.
In one church that we attended, there was a lady who remained silent most services, but when a visiting minister came to the church, she would put on quite a show of praising and waving her handkerchief. It was so apparent that we all knew when she was going to put on her display.
In contrast was our visit to the Billy Graham School of Evangelism. There was an elderly pastor in attendance who had a spirit that impressed all of us. When he was moved by a song or some truth that was being presented, he would shout; “My! My! My!” His sincere expression was a sheer delight.
At the concluding session he was called upon to come forward to pronounce the closing benediction. It was a blessed and sweet prayer that revealed that he was talking directly to his Savior. As he concluded, the several hundred pastors, wives and staff members reverberated; “MY! MY! MY!”
I am sure that by this time the dear saint is with his Lord. I look forward to meeting him once more in glory and as we view the sights of heaven we will say together; “MY! MY! MY!” Will you join us?
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
