by Pastor Cecil | Aug 17, 2010 | Matthew
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The title “Papa Can Fits It” may appear to be a grammatical error. While that may be so, it is intentional. Let me explain. Our oldest grandson spent a lot of time with my dad. In fact he was like his shadow. Many hours Zane watched as his “Papa” would repair everything from cars to tangled necklace strands.
To Zane the words “fix” and “fits” sounded the same so it was always “fits.” The bottom line as far as Zane (and the rest of us) was concerned was that Papa was a remarkable man with the unique ability to see a problem and know how to repair it.
My precious Dad went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 14, 1982. It was his coronation day. He had repaired his last broken item. With all of his talents for fixing things that were broken, there was only one way he could “fits” our broken hearts. It was by his radiant testimony that Jesus was his Lord and that he was ready to meet Him.
I have often wondered if those around me feel that Papa Cecil can “fits” it? I know I can’t, but I serve a Lord who can. All I need to do is point them to the One who is the Great Fixer. He can even mend broken lives.
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 | Aug 16, 2010 | Luke
Luke 12:15
“Then He said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ ”
When I was a kid we lived in a small house that was built in 1928. By the way, I was born in 1934, so you can get some idea about the age of the house. It had a living room, dining room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, a bath (which we added since it originally was equipped with a path to an outhouse) and a screened in porch. My folks purchased it for less than five thousand dollars.
I just went on line and guess what?! That same house is now for sale for $208,000. I almost dropped my teeth when I saw the price! We were very content in that little house on Park Street, unlike modern families that feel they need expansive room.
There were five of us who lived in the house on Park Street— my dad, my mom, my brother, me – – – – and the Lord. The Lord was always part and parcel of our family. Perhaps that is why we never felt cramped or deprived. It was a place that was always home and we felt wealthy.
There was a wringer wash machine on the screened porch where mom did the laundry and a clothesline in the yard where she hung wet clothes to dry. We never had much of this world’s goods, but oh, how wealthy we were. We had a family that loved one another and when we gathered to listen to dad read from God’s Word and pray, we were richer than many who had far more.
God has called us to find our wealth in Him. Whether we live in a tenement, a tent, a ten bedroom house, it really does not matter. True wealth, the wealth that will last for eternity is to have Jesus a part of the family. Invite Him in today.
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 | Aug 13, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
The origins behind the gospel song, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” are really unknown. It first appeared back in the “All Night Gospels Sings” in the south. One thing is certain—it has been a hit with many well known artists including Tennessee Ernie Ford and Elvis Presley.
In today’s Scripture we can almost picture the psalmist, David, sitting on a hillside watching his sheep while he played on his harp and sang about the nearness of God, even during times of peril.
We may not be in a life threatening situation, as David often found himself, but we still need a closer walk with the Lord so we will be able to have His protection when danger is near.
“Just a Closer Walk With Thee“
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long, as I walk,
let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er,
to Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
To access Just a Closer Walk With Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/justacloserwalkwiththee 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 | Aug 12, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death”
It was just after midnight on a spring day back in 1954. I was working nights as a jet mechanic in the USAF in Rapid City, South Dakota. For those of you who do not recall the ancient of days when the USAF used F-84 aircraft, the wings were straight, not swept back. On the tip of each wing was a 225 gallon fuel tank.
We were ordered to bring one of the F-84 jets from the flight-line into the hangar for periodic maintenance. There were two of us assigned to bring the fighter jet into the hangar. I was in the cockpit to apply the brakes and the other airman was driving the tow vehicle. The procedure for towing planes was that all battery power had to be disconnected.
We had just started toward the hangar when I saw car lights approaching at a rapid rate of speed. Automatically I tried to turn on the landing lights, but of course there were none since the battery was disconnected. The driver on the tow vehicle flashed his lights on and off but the car kept coming. It was a helpless feeling to know an accident was about to happen and yet could do nothing about it.
The driver was a young pilot in our squadron who should not have been driving on the ramp area. He saw the left landing gear and swerved to miss it, but the large wing tank sliced into the top of his new car between the driver and passenger. He roared out his anger at me for not letting him know we were there. I was a lowly enlisted man and he was a “mighty” officer. He wanted me to know that I was in big trouble!
It is interesting that the next day it was the officer who was in serious trouble and we “lowly” enlisted men were commended for following correct procedure. In like manner we encounter self-opinionated people in our life that reject the claims of the Gospel and no matter how much we “flash our warning lights” they ignore and belittle us. The only thing we can do is keep on doing what we are instructed to do and hope we can save some from destruction.
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 | Aug 11, 2010 | Revelation
Revelation 3:3
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
One Sunday my wife and I were traveling to southern California on I-5. We had planned to stop at some church for worship, but as time slipped away we knew that we would be late for any service where we stopped . . . but at least we would be in time for the message.
Sure enough, when we did arrive at a church, a soprano was wailing (sorry) through a special number in song. Mercifully she concluded and the pastor eagerly walked to the pulpit with a huge smile on his face. As I recall he said something like this: “Today we are blessed to have a special message by a Gideon Bible representative, so we will turn the service over to him.”
I think you know what is coming, don’t you?
He stared directly at me, as did about every eye in the church. I didn’t dare move a muscle, but stared back at the pastor. His smile faded and was replaced by a look of utter panic as he said, “Um, er, ah, I guess we do not have a Gideon representative with us after all.”
Folks, I want to say that he must not have been a Boy Scout in his youth, for he was not prepared. I wonder how many of us would be prepared to share something meaningful from God’s Word in such a situation. One more penetrating question . . . If Jesus were to call you home to be with Him right now, would you be prepared to give Him an answer for your life? Something to think about!
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
