by Pastor Cecil | Nov 9, 2010 | Acts
Acts 1:8
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
What service do police officers perform when they are on patrol? The answer is that they observe anything that is contrary to the safety of the citizens of their jurisdiction. In the long and dark night hours this can become very monotonous.
When I was a police officer in Nampa, Idaho, we had a strong wind storm strike our area during the night. When day broke we were able to see some of the damage that the storm had caused.
I was patrolling a residential neighborhood when I saw that a huge cottonwood tree had blown over on a house, crushing a bedroom. Immediately I called for anyone in the house to answer. As a last resort I kicked in the back door to investigate the portion of the house that had been crushed. There was still creaking and settling and I knew that I was in some danger myself inside the weakened house.
I had just finished checking everything when a neighbor came in and informed me that the family was not at home at the time the tree blew over. It was a huge relief to know that they were all safe and sound.
All around us are families and individuals who are in danger of being crushed by the storms of life. I often wonder if I am as concerned about their rescue from eternal danger as I was about that family after the storm. It gives new meaning to giving my life for others. “Lord, let me live my life as Your faithful servant!”
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 8, 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.”
Joyce and I have had the blessing of knowing many servants of the Lord who have served as foreign missionaries. As they have shared some of their experiences I could detect a thrill as they shared great hardship in reaching lost souls with the gospel of Christ. I have to confess that I have never felt the Lord calling me in that field of ministry.
Many years ago I recall a missionary who had just returned after ministering four years in Swaziland, Africa. He had a full schedule of speaking engagements during the year of furlough while he was home. His schedule was interrupted by an intense pain in his side. He was rushed to the hospital where the doctor discovered that his appendix had ruptured.
He was silently questioning God about this interruption of his schedule when the Lord seemed to speak to him about a need in the bed next to him. The Lord helped him to see that he now had a new mission field and it was in the bed next to him.
His roommate was not a Christian and like it or not, he was now exposed to the reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He overheard the prayers and testimonies between the missionary and his visitors. In just a few days he prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. God had used this faithful missionary to touch a man who otherwise may never have come to faith.
As I recall this incident from so long ago, I am reminded that both of these men have died. I can just imagine them rejoicing in paradise over the rupture of an appendix to bring new life!
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 5, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 104:1
“Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.”
Robert Grant lived from 1779 to 1838. Robert was elected to Parliament and was also appointed governor of Bombay. A medical college in India was named in his honor. He was knighted and became “Sir” Robert Grant.
In spite of the earthly recognition which he received, Sir Robert was very much aware that there was the true King that surpassed all human kings. In verse five he describes this King of kings as; “Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.”
“O Worship the King“
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space,
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old;
Established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.
Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
O measureless might! Ineffable love!
While angels delight to worship Thee above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.
To access O Worship the King, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/oworshiptheking 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 4, 2010 | Luke
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
In the 70’s—Wow! That seems like such a long time ago—I was leading a men’s early-morning Bible class. One of the men in the group had shared how financially desperate things were for his family. He did not know how much longer they would be able to survive without taking drastic measures.
It struck me that we needed to go beyond prayer and respond to his need in a physical way. I took all of the money I had out of my wallet and laid it on the table. The 20 or 30 men present did the same. It was incredible how brothers in Christ responded to the financial need of one of our own.
After the meeting a young man approached me and was looking crest-fallen. He said that he only had enough money to pay for his breakfast and was not able to give as the others had given. He went on to say that he had been saving a $50.00 bill for a special purpose. It was hidden in the freezer at home, and wanted me to deliver it to our needy brother.
I suggested that he take the money and deliver it himself. I was prompted to add one other thing. I asked him to take careful note of any unexpected money that he would receive in the next few weeks. It was only a short time later that he had a huge grin and said that the total was over $250.00.
We should never give with a selfish motive to receive, but at the same time we should always be aware of all of the blessings the Lord brings into our lives when we respond with a giver’s heart. I assure you that it will surprise you what the Lord will do.
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 3, 2010 | Mark
Mark 10:20-21
“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.”
Things have really changed over the years. When I attended college I signed up for a full load of eighteen credit hours. I was married at the time and had to work to support the family. In the fifties and sixties, the common work week was 48 hours. That’s right folks, six eight hour days per week. I am exhausted recalling it!
One of the college classes I was signed up for was debate. It sounded a lot easier than calculus or physics, so it appealed to me. I learned that in debates there is always an affirmative and a negative side. You had to be prepared to switch sides in any sort of competition.
Our college had a competition with two other schools in the area and another hard working married man was assigned with me. We were team four, which meant we were rated as the poorest of our teams. (I would agree with that!)
Our first debate was with the number four team from another college. Amazingly we won. Our second debate was with the top rated team in the competition. They had charts, graphs, photos and everything imaginable to support their position. Being on the negative side, I knew we were outclassed. I whispered to my partner to start smirking. Every point they made, we tried to turn into a joke and belittled their contention. Incredibly we won! I have no idea what the judges were thinking! We were the only team from our school to win both debates.
Here is the application I want to make. Do not be deterred when there are negative people who belittle or scorn your stand for Jesus Christ. We need heroes of the faith who are willing to be treated with contempt, yet with unyielding faith in Jesus who loved us enough to come into the world and die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Now that is the Affirmative side!
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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