by Pastor Cecil | Aug 10, 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.”
I previously wrote of the incident where a cell phone rang at a funeral service, just as I mentioned that we never know when the Lord will call us home. Well here is another one of those crazy situations. This time it was a wedding.
I was in my office along with the groom and best man. It was just a few minutes before the ceremony was to begin, and the groom was as nervous as a cat in a dog pound. He suddenly asked the best man, “You have her ring don’t you?” The best man acted affronted until he reached in his pocket and found only a hole. The ring was missing!
The three of us charged out of the office and started looking up and down the aisles, in the men’s dressing room and everywhere we could think it might be. We considered using someone else’s ring, but I had a different idea. I went to the front and announced that before the wedding we were going to have a treasure hunt to look for the lost ring. A short time later we heard a shout from behind the church. In the spot where the photographer had taken pictures of the wedding party was the ring. It had fallen through the hole in the best man’s pants pocket and was just waiting to be found. That wedding became a joyous celebration for everyone!
We have found a much more precious treasure than a wedding ring. We have the message of the glorious gospel of truth. In all the flurry of our day-to-day business, it is easy to lose the most valuable thing in the world—the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each one of us is capable . . . No! much more than capable . . . we are responsible to share this precious gift to the one or ones the Lord brings across our path. Have you lost something?!
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 9, 2010 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1-2
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”
I was an associate pastor in a large church, responsible in part for spiritual growth through small groups. We started a Bible Study program that emphasized “What does it say?” “What does it mean?” and “How do I apply it in my own life.”
One of our groups was led by a local bank manager. He had invited his assistant manager (who was not a Christian) to become a part of the group. About three weeks into the study of the book of Luke, he went in his manager’s office and asked how to become a Christian. He was gloriously born again!
I will never forget a statement he made to me after his conversion: “It seems like all of my life I have had this void or emptiness inside. Now with the Lord in my life that emptiness has been filled.” Wow! Wow! Wow!
It was not the knowledge gained in the study that brought him to receive Jesus it was a simple childlike faith that chose to believe what God’s Word says. Those who reject Christ and His Word also demonstrate faith—faith in the wrong thing—faith that chooses to trust in their own wisdom rather than the Bible.
All we can do is to present the truth in the power of the Holy Spirit and wait for the Lord to soften a stony heart to be receptive to the gospel. We never know when the openness will come, so we must be ready!
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 6, 2010 | Romans
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In my times of quiet meditation, I reflect on just how much God loves us. His love is especially pronounced when I realize that I am undeserving of that love. It is at this time I realize that my own children have disappointed me and hurt me, but I never stopped loving them because of what they had done. Why? Because they were my own and I would eagerly give my life for them!
L.M. Lehman penned the words to the old hymn, “The Love of God.” He shares that one day, he casually picked up a scrap of paper and while seated on a wooden crate wrote the first two verses and the chorus of the song. The lines of the third stanza were from a Jewish poem and had been found penciled on the walls of his cell.
“‘The Love of God“
The love of God is greater far,
than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
and pardoned from his sin.
Refrain: O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
the saints and angels’ song.
When years of time shall pass away,
and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
on rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
all measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
the saints’ and angels’ song.
Refrain: O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
the saints and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
and every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.
Refrain: O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
the saints and angels’ song.
To access The Love of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/theloveofgod 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 5, 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.”
It seems like more crazy things happen to me at weddings or funerals than you can imagine. One day I will tell you about the wedding ring lost just a few minutes before the ceremony was to start. I will also share about the sound man who did not know he was to play the bride’s march. Ohh boy!
Last week it was one of those “coincidences” that leave you breathless—but at the same time makes you feel that the Lord was in it. This one happened as I was drawing to the close of the memorial service of a sweet lady who attended the church I used to pastor.
I had just made a statement like this: “As we recognize the final departure of our dear Dorothy, we leave her spirit with the merciful Judge of all the universe who will do right. It is up to us who remain to receive Jesus Christ by personal invitation, for it is only in this manner that we will obtain an entrance into His kingdom. We may soon hear His call and need to be ready.”
Just at that moment someone’s cell phone rang. Not only did it ring, it was set on extra loud so everyone in the church heard it! I used it as a fantastic object lesson to emphasize how unexpectedly God’s call can be and that we must be ready when He calls.
Are you ready if He called 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 4, 2010 | Philippians
Philippians 2:9-11
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
I almost feel like I need to stand at attention. I went online and found this very official looking US Air Force officer with two stars on his shoulders. I did a double-take as I read the caption identifying him as General James E. McCarthy.
Eagerly I pulled open a file drawer and pulled out a photo of eight smiling officers. Seven of these officers (I am one by the way) have either the rank of lieutenant or captain, except our commanding officer who was a lieutenant Colonel. Sure enough, there was Captain James McCarthy, kneeling in the front row. I departed a few years later as a captain, while Jim ended his Air Force career as a general.
Do I regret it? Not on your life! Many of those I served with rose to high ranks, but the Lord had a different path for me—and I am so thankful I chose to follow Him. I would love to talk with Jim again, but I am so happy that the Lord has given me a ministry that reaches around the world.
No, I don’t have an earthly retirement plan with loads of benefits, but I have a home in glory waiting for me that outshines the sun! I pray that each of you who read this will make your own reservation in heaven by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Drop by and visit for a few thousand years. See you then!
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
