by Pastor Cecil | Nov 16, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”
Sometimes it seems as if we are surrounded with negative and plain old mean people. It seems as if they delight in the most enjoyable and spiritually rewarding times a drudge. For years I have used the illustration of a pastor who had such a man like this in his congregation. He repeatedly drove the pastor to his knees.
One day a young believer asked the pastor if there was some ministry he could do that would make the load a little easier for the pastor. The pastor asked him to pray specifically for the man, Mr. Scrooge. The young believer began to pray in earnest for Mr. Scrooge. His prayer went something like this, “Lord, sweeten Mr. Scrooge up or take him to heaven.” He prayed this same prayer morning, noon and night.
One Wednesday evening the church had gathered for the mid week prayer service. The pastor called on the young believer to lead the group in prayer. Without realizing it he prayed his standard prayer for Mr. Scrooge. The problem was that now Mr. Scrooge was in the pew directly behind him. When he prayed, “Lord, sweeten Mr. Scrooge up or take him to heaven,” Mr. Scrooge blurted out, “I ain’t going!”
Sadly people like Mr. Scrooge are the examples people think of when they think of Christians. My prayer is that we may all have such a sweet spirit that it will become contagious. That the beauty of Jesus may be seen in and through 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 15, 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.”
Our dear friend, Sally Graham strikes again. She forwarded the following piece that someone had sent along to her. More Christians need to apply this to their own life!
Law of the Garbage Truck
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean—he was really friendly. So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck.’
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally.
Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so . . . Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t.
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a garbage-free day!
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 12, 2010 | John
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
We hear of wars and rumors of wars. It seems that every day there is more chaos and strife in this old sin sick world. In recent days there have been bombings in Iraq to kill Christian worshipers.
The words of today’s Scripture come from the lips of our precious Jesus. He foresaw a time when true believers would pay for their faith by their own blood. We do not relish that thought, but at the same time we are given words that bring peace even in the midst of our ordeals.
The United Nations was established back in 1945, following World War II to insure there would be peace in our world. It has not worked. Even member nations of this body become engaged in warfare with each other. For all of the rhetoric about attaining peace we are no closer to world peace, nor will we ever be until Jesus comes again to establish His wonderful peace over all the earth.
What a fantastic day it will be when there is eternal peace. Today’s featured hymn from GloryScapes™, is Wonderful Peace.
“Wonderful Peace“
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain:
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll! Refrain:
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul! Refrain:
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be: Refrain:
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime! Refrain:
To access Wonderful Peace, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/wonderfulpeace 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 11, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 139:1-4
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.”
During my Air Force career I had one assignment as a Missile Launch Control Officer in Missouri. Some of the missile launch complexes were up to 100 miles from our base. It was a long drive by car so we were sometimes transported by helicopter.
I love to ride in helicopters as they are low enough and slow enough to get a clear picture of what is going on below you. It was especially interesting to notice hills or blind curves with traffic approaching. I thought how interesting it would be if we had contact with the driver of a vehicle below and be able to warn of oncoming traffic that was over a hill or around a curve.
Repeatedly in the Bible we are told that the Lord knows our way and desires to lead us in the way we should go. If that is the case (and it is) why do we so often demand to do things our way?
I must confess that over the years I have not feasted upon the Word of God the way I should—even though I have absolute confidence that it reveals God’s plan and purpose for my life. I have made a new covenant to spend more time searching His Word than ever before. Do you know what I am finding? He knows what is over the next hill and around the next curve. I hereby turn over the control of my life to Him. Lead on, Lord Jesus!
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 10, 2010 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
As A Christian counselor I have attended many conferences and training sessions. At one of these meetings I heard a speaker tell of a marital counseling session with a couple who were having problems. The wife sobbed, “My husband never tells me he loves me anymore.”
The counselor asked the man if he had any response to that. The husband set his jaw and replied, “I told that woman I loved her when I married her 34 years ago. I have not retracted that statement, it is still in effect!”
Beep! That was the wrong answer, husband. What was said 34 years ago or even 34 days ago does not mean that you should not repeat them over and over again. It grieves me that a husband who is commanded to love his wife in the same way that Christ loves His church, feels it is not necessary to tell her he loves her as well as demonstrating his love for her.
We need to speak words of love and blessing to those around us. Not only that, we need to show it by our actions. We can do that by developing a habit of blessing and love toward the Lord.
PRAISE YOU DEAR LORD! I LOVE YOU! I COVENANT TO SHOW MY LOVE FOR YOU BY MY ACTIONS TOWARD YOU AND OTHERS!
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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