by Pastor Cecil | Nov 30, 2010 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Back in high school I experienced more than one incident of rejection. Our high school was on a college campus and one benefit was that, at times, we were able to participate in some of the college activities.
One day I received a call from the director of a play that was going to be presented. I was told that they wanted me to play a part in the production. My little teen heart was thrilled as I entered rehearsal hall. Then came the bomb, “Oh, it was not you we were thinking about—it was your cousin. Can you have him come in?” As I recall they did not use him for the part either, so I guess we both suffered a sort of rejection.
Across the centuries since Jesus commissioned His church to go forward and make disciples of all nations, many believers have suffered rejection in the form of every type of persecution and even death.
One of the first apostles to suffer martyrdom was James, son of Zebedee. It is related that he stood brave and strong at his trial without wavering. The soldier who guarded him was so moved that He accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. When the time came for James to be beheaded, the soldier knelt beside him and also was beheaded.
I want that steadfastness in my own life. My desire is to walk so closely to the Lord that even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will have no fear.
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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Nov 29, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
A delightfully humiliating story was related by the former pastor of Pensacola Christian College Campus Church. It seems that one summer he was a cabin supervisor for preteen boys. He had sternly warned the boys that once the lights were out and curfew had sounded, he wanted them to be quiet and not cause any sort of disturbance.
I cannot remember if it was that first night or a few nights later that he saw a light being shined on the ceiling of the cabin. He got out of his bunk and demanded to know who had the flashlight. The boys were quiet and even with a mini sermon on honesty there was no confession. As a matter of fact he had no sooner returned to his bunk when the light appeared again. As soon as it reappeared the boys snickered and were all now well aware of it.
He was more than a little disturbed that one of these boys was challenging his authority and creating an issue. He warned them that the boy who was doing this would be in danger of being sent home. As he was getting back into his own bunk he happened to notice that the area light outside the cabin reflected off his wristwatch and onto the ceiling. It was him. He was the guilty party all along.
He apologized to his boys and used his embarrassing discovery as a lesson for the need to examine ourselves closely. It is very revealing what the Holy Spirit will show us about our condition when we are willing to be taught. Teach me Lord!
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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Nov 26, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 33:1
“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.”
What a wonderful woman. She stood less than 5 feet tall and weighed less than 100 pounds. Because of mistreatment for an eye infection when she was only a few months old, she spent the rest of her 95 years blind.
Her name was Fanny J. Crosby. This tiny dynamo wrote over 8,000 poems and hymns during her lifetime. She composed her poems and hymns entirely in her mind and then dictated them to someone else. She was said to work mentally on as many as twelve hymns at once before dictating them all out.
Fanny felt that it was God’s special gift that she should be blind all of her life and she thanked Him for that gift. She once remarked; “When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!” In 1896 she wrote this week’s hymn selection.
“Praise Him! Praise Him!“
1. Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children,
in His arms He carries them all day long:
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise him! Praise him ever in joyful song!
2. Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins he suffered, and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
love unbounded, wonderful deep and strong:
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!
3. Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
power and glory unto the Lord belong.
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!
To access Praise Him, Praise Him, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/praisehimpraisehim 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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Nov 25, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 100:4-5
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”
Many years ago we became friends with a talented man. He could craft almost any wooden object. We lived in two houses that he had built and were always in awe of the details he included in his homes.
We were attending a social event at the church that included a silent auction. I am not sure how it was conducted, but as I recall you would walk around the room and write down what you pay for the craft someone had created.
Our friend had created a pepper grinder and salt shaker from some rare wood. I made a ridiculously low bid, thinking I would never get it. As we spoke with the man and his wife after the auction we learned that my bid would not even pay for the materials, to say nothing of the hours he had spent shaping it.
From that day I made a point to praise him for his work and the great enjoyment it brought to our family. I could see that our appreciation meant more to him than if he had received a huge bid at the auction.
It is the time of year to give thanks to the Lord. Not just in vague generalities, but making a special effort to consider all of the things the Lord has done for us. Let’s make an effort to thank Him each and every day for loving the likes of 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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Nov 24, 2010 | Titus
Titus 3:3
“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”
One of the first things a police officer learns is that inebriated people can be counted on to do two things. First they always say that they have only had two drinks. (It may actually have been seven or eight, but to an officer it is only two).
The second thing is that they do the unexpected. One night I was on patrol about 1:30 in the morning when a man waved frantically for me to stop. He jumped in on the passenger side and suddenly realized I was a uniformed police officer. His reaction was tragically humorous: “Oh, I thought this was a taxi!” I told him it was and that I was taking him to his hotel room for a few hours. When he sobered up he did not recall anything of the incident.
It is not necessary to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs to lose control of our faculties. The enemy of our souls sends delusions and temptations to lead us away from the Lord. In fact Satan can sugar coat these temptations so that they appear to be righteous or spiritual.
The only way we can stay close to the Lord and know the way He has prepared for us is to spend time in His Word. The way we can detect the false is to spend quality time with the truth. How are you spending your time?
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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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