by Pastor Cecil | Nov 23, 2010 | Acts
Acts 11:25-26
“Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
On Saturday I conducted a funeral service in the small community of Oakville. I was fascinated by signs proudly supporting their teams—“Home of the Acorns!” (Oakville – Acorns – got it?) I had to chuckle as I thought of the name of the teams from the town in which I was born—Camas, Washington. It was a paper mill town and the name of our team was (are you ready for this?) “The Camas Papermakers.”
Today’s Scripture is one of those unique passages that may be easily passed by without stopping for a closer examination. It involves Barnabas and the year he spent teaching Saul (later known as Paul) and the church at Antioch for one whole year. We read that it was here that the disciples were first called Christians.
Why were these believers called “Christians?” The answer is that they had opened their heart to Him and were His true followers. They were identified by the One whom they trusted for their eternal salvation.
Has anyone called you a “Christian” lately? Do they see in you a walk that shows that you really are one who belongs to Jesus Christ? I do not want to be known as an “Acorn,” “Papermaker,” “Seahawk,” “Lion” or whatever else—I want to be known to the world as a sold out, genuine, 100% Christian! How about you?
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.
.
.
.
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 22, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 103:15-16
“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”
Several years ago Joyce and I were visiting a church where I had once served as the Pastor of Discipleship. One of the pastors I had served with gave us a copy of their most recent photo directory. I had forgotten it until a few days ago when our daughter-in-law mentioned the death of a person we had known. As Joyce and I talked about him, she remembered the directory. Oh, the directory!
I went through the directory first and then it was her turn. “How could people let themselves get so old looking in the years since I served in the church?” One person or couple after another stunned us by the way they had—-shall we say, “matured.” Okay, let’s face it, they got old.
I am sure the maturing process was not noticeable to those who had been there the whole time, but for us having not been around for some thirty years, it was a blow. In that same period of time, Joyce and I have not aged a bit. Cough! Cough!
Let’s face it, the aging process begins at birth and continues until we breathe our last breath here on earth. Praise God that is not the end of the matter. For those of us who have been born again and have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, our next breath will be celestial and we live eternally.
It is sad that so many devote so much effort in an attempt to look as young as possible instead of focusing on the things that are eternal. Through all of my sags and wrinkles I want to prepare for my eternal home. How about you?
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.
.
.
.
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 19, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 143:5-6
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah”
When I was away from my wife and family for an entire year’s assignment with the US Air Force, I ached to be reunited. Joyce and I had been friends and sweethearts since the 9th grade and separation was almost intolerable.
When I would receive a letter from her I would read it and picture her in my mind’s eye as she wrote the words. Just the very thought of her made me eager to be back with her once more.
Over the years I have come to love the precious Word of God. The more I read it the more I long to be with the Lord. I think of what joy will flood my very being when I meet my Savior face to face. I think that must have been in the mind of Bernard of Clairvaux during the dark ages when he penned the words of today’s hymn.
“Jesus the Very Thought of Thee“
Jesus! the very thought of Thee
with sweetness fills my breast:
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
and in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
nor can the mem’ry find
A sweeter sound than Jesus name,
the Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who ask, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue nor pen can show,
The love of Jesus, what it is,
none but His loved ones know.
Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
as Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
and through eternity.
O Jesus, light of all below,
thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
and all we can desire.
Jesus, may all confess Thy name,
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
to seek Thee more and more.
Abide with us, and let Thy light shine,
Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
and joy to all impart.
To access Jesus The Very Thought of Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesustheverythoughtofthee 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.
.
.
.
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2010 | 2 Corinthians
II Corinthians 4:7-10
“But we have this treasure (the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ) in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”
I can recall many times as I have counseled individuals that there is a recurrent theme: “I deserve . . .” Many modern self-help gurus peddle a doctrine of thinking of yourself rather than others. It usually takes concerted effort to get rid of this “Me first” attitude so that we can begin to look for what is “God’s first” for us.
There is no question about the reality that we live in a self-centered world. Not only that, our modern age is the personification of self-centeredness. It seems that everyone’s favorite melody is “Me! Me! Me!” We are led to believe that we deserve better than we possess. Do we really?
As committed believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, what should be our attitude concerning the situation we find ourselves in? Here is Pastor Cecil’s unadulterated outlook on life. It will cost you nothing (in monetary terms), but it will mean total commitment to the Lord. Are you ready? Read today’s Scripture one more time before you take this step. Do you see yourself there? Let God use you!
MAKE A SOLEMN COVENANT WITH THE LORD TO USE YOUR PRESENT CONDITION TO SERVE HIM TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
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.
.
.
.
.
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 17, 2010 | Philippians
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
When I was in high school I had a part-time job working for a large dairy. One of the more enjoyable things I had to do was drive large milk trucks to transport milk from various farms to our processing plant. The enjoyable part was being out in the country. The negative part was lifting heavy ten gallon milk cans into the truck.
One of my first requirements on this job was to learn how to use the rear view mirrors on each side of the truck. Any driver that was not keenly aware of what was behind or alongside would quickly have an accident. Since those happy days of youth I have spent almost as much attention to my mirrors as what is ahead.
I have ridden with drivers who do not know how to use their rear view or side view mirrors. They turn completely around to look behind them, which of course means they lose sight of what is ahead. They scare the living daylights out of me!
Spiritually we need to have just as much sensitivity to our surroundings. If there is a threat from any direction we need to know how to react in an appropriate manner. God is never pleased with an indifferent attitude on the part of His children. That does not mean that we are to be fraidy cats, but to be wise and discerning in order to know how to react, then press ahead!
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.
.
.
.
.
