by Pastor Cecil | Jul 23, 2010 | 2 Timothy
II Timothy 2:1-2
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
Have you ever been approached by someone and offered an opportunity of a lifetime? All you had to do was sign-up under them, purchase a pre-determined amount of product or service and then start signing up others under you.
It works! Well, most of the time it does. Years ago, Joyce and I became involved in a self-defense product similar to pepper spray. Before long we had thousands of people who had signed up directly under us or at least in our personal down-line. It was going smoothly until the president of the company was found guilty of financial impropriety. (He cheated!)
From time to time there is a charge from authorities that a company is operating a pyramid scheme as opposed to a multi-level format. I am not enough of a legal mind to clarify the issue, but from what I have been told it is this: “You must market a legitimate product at a reasonable price in order to be a multi-level and not pyramid.”
All of that background to get to the point of our calling to engage in a multi-level ministry. Jesus gave His great Commission for His disciples to go into the entire world. How can we do that? I think Jesus gave us the answer. He had three disciples who were the closest to Him, then came the other nine. Do you get the picture? After His resurrection, His disciples created their own group who formed their own group and so on.
We have the most valuable “product” in the world — eternal salvation. In order to pass the word along we need to tell an intimate group and challenge them to tell others. Think about it, if I disciple three to disciple three, in just eight levels we could reach over 4,000 souls for Christ.
The key is to get started. You may try it by trying to get three people to subscribe to the Daily-E-Votional. Then you could discuss the material and go far beyond what I have had the time to present in a condensed format. Will you go into all the world?
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 | Jul 22, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 29:3
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.”
Living in the State of Washington has many advantages. Yes, we have rain, but we also have lakes, rivers, inland waters and the ocean. I will never call myself a fisherman, but I know what it feels like to catch a large halibut or two. I will not go too far into a fish story except the one that follows.
Three of us were on a small boat in the San Juan Islands, fishing for King Salmon. It was a beautiful day and we really did not mind that we had caught nothing. I happened to look ahead of the boat about 200 yards (182 meters). It looked like we were being approached by a group of submarines.
It was actually a pod of killer whales. From the shore or in pictures they may not look too large, but when you are in a small boat and they are headed straight for you, they suddenly seem larger than life. We knew the adults were about 25-30 feet long and averaged about eighteen thousand pounds.
The huge dorsal fins would submerge and then surface with a “Whooshing” sound as they breathed. They did not deviate from their course and we were in their path. About fifteen or twenty yards they all went under water—they passed under our boat! It was a breathtaking moment until they surfaced on the other side. Whew!
There are times in life when things are out of our control. The difficult times can be due to our own unwise decisions, but just as likely we can just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is then that we place our trust in the Lord and have a “whale of a time” praising 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 | Jul 21, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 20:24
“A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?”
After my brother’s funeral, I was visiting with friends and family members. One of our friends had been a high ranking Air Force officer. Joyce and I visited a few times in their home when I was a Second Lieutenant, stationed at a nearby base.
As we visited after the service, he asked if I had retired. I told him I had not stayed in that long since I was assigned to Strategic Missile duty and 90% of the career oriented officers in that field did not remain on active duty.
When I mentioned this, he asked why I had not contacted him. He said that he had been in a position to have me assigned to the area of my choosing. (Now I discover this interesting bit of information!)
As I have thought over our conversation it has come to my attention that the Lord was in control. Each and every step I have taken has been directed by the Lord. If it had been the Lord’s will for me to use this man to orchestrate my transfer, he would have come to mind and I would have called him immediately.
I can honestly say that it is my desire to live by 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.” Wow! What a way to live!
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 | Jul 20, 2010 | Luke
Luke 15:20
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
A young mother of two girls came to my office with an unusual request. She said she needed counsel on how to advise a young woman who had a problem. Here is the story as she related it to me.
“When she was a little girl, day after day, this woman heard her father and mother yelling and arguing with each other. She was especially close to her father and did not want to have him hurt. One morning he wrapped her in his arms and said he would not be coming back. She cried and begged him to stay, but she watched as he walked out of her life.”
“My friend never heard from her father again. She married and had children of her own, but never heard from her father, that is until now. He just called her and asked if he could see her again?”
The young mother across the desk from me asked, “How shall I advise her?” In an instant the Holy Spirit revealed something to me and I said, “It’s you, isn’t it?” She burst into tears as she told me her story of missing this father for so many years and now he wanted to see her again.
I counseled her to open her heart to him and allow him to receive forgiveness and love from a little girl who had grown into a wonderful young mother. I am happy to say that she did and the homecoming was every bit as joyous as the reception the Prodigal Son experienced in today’s passage.
Is there someone on your life who needs to be forgiven? Remember it is not necessary for them to deserve to be forgiven before we forgive them.
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 | Jul 19, 2010 | Hebrews
Hebrews 13:1-2
“Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
One of those inspirational testimonies that I have heard about concerned a Scot Evangelist and Missionary named James Alexander Stewart. I read many of his writings and felt like I came to know him.
One of the most thrilling accounts of the way the Lord cared for him was an event at the outbreak of WWII. James was in Berlin for services when word was given that in all likelihood British citizens would soon be arrested.
There was only one train scheduled to leave Berlin before the edict was given and tickets were not to be had. It appeared that James would be trapped under Hitler’s terrible regime.
The Lord prompted James to pack his luggage and go to the station prepared to get on the train. He went and stood on the platform with others who had tickets. Down the concourse walked a tall, distinguished looking man whom he had never seen before. He stood in front of James and said; “James Alexander Stewart—your ticket.” James never saw the man again and could only presume that it was one of God’s special messengers.
Today’s Scripture clearly teaches that angels can and do appear. At times they come to bring deliverance, at other times they confirm God’s plan and purpose for our life. The important thing is to treat everyone with honor and respect. You never know when the person next to you (or in the car ahead of you) may be an angel. That could improve your driving, right!
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
