by Pastor Cecil | Dec 31, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
I am not sure how many of you have experienced looking down the barrel of a loaded gun. I had that experience only one time. When I was a police officer, four of us were chasing a deranged man with a gun. He fired one shot and grazed one officer. As we tackled him I suddenly saw his gun aimed at my forehead. The Lord had more plans for me, so we disarmed him and here I am still serving the Lord.
At least two things strike me each time I consider Psalm 23: First, the mortality rate for all humans is 100%. Isn’t that an amazing bit of truth? I am sure that you are impressed with my grasp of reality. The fact is, however, that many of us seem to forget that reality. As believers we often struggle and fight to hold onto a life that is destined for the grave.
In Ecclesiastes 3:2, Solomon says that there is a time to be born and a time to die. That fact is a certainty. Far too many Christians hold onto life as if there is no promise of everlasting life with the Lord. When those who know the Lord slip beyond this earthly tent, there is joy unspeakable and full of glory. We need to comfort ourselves with this reality.
The second thing that strikes me about Psalm 23:4 is the word shadow. As I have noted before, shadows always appear larger than the real object. Satan loves to make things appear to be huge and frightening. The promise that the Lord gives us is that He is with us. That being the case, we need not fear.
Are you experiencing fear right now? Trust Him as your personal Savior and Lord and allow Him to fight the battles for you. He is worthy of our trust! Meditate on Proverbs 3:5-6; “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
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 | Dec 30, 2010 | 2 Corinthians
II Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Most of us have had the task of cleaning things out. It may be our desk, our cupboards, a room or perhaps the garage. That is one of my biggies. The problem is that as we start the process of cleaning things out, we are convinced that we will have a use for the item . . . someday!
My precious wife, Joyce, was born with a neat streak in her. Perhaps as a punishment for this trait she married me. We have been married for 58 wonderful years, and it has been her goal in life to get me to get rid of things I do not need.
She has purchased containers of every shape and description to put my various and sundry items in. I am a good boy for a few days and then even the containers have to be organized. I think you get the point.
As we draw close to the end of 2010, it is a good time for reflection. What things have we done for the Lord this year that will count for eternity? Sometimes all of our busyness amounts to a pile of worthless projects and effort.
As we prepare for 2011, it is well to prayerfully take stock of what the Lord desires for us. As for me it is my desire to be like Jesus. 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.”
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 | Dec 29, 2010 | Romans
Romans 2:1-2
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.”
Years ago (I want to emphasize that it was a long time ago) I purchased a radar detector that was mounted on the dash of my car. It was not for ornamentation . . . it was for speeding without being caught. It shames me now to think of how I was able to justify breaking the speed limit. Again I must confess that from time to time I still find my speed over the posted limit, but back then it was an intentional thing.
I was sailing along an interstate highway in Oregon and my little device was on guard for any traffic officers. I suddenly saw one! He was not on the side of the road, but directly behind me with his lights flashing. My device had failed me! The officer chuckled when he saw it on the dash board. “You thought you were safe didn’t you?” They had devised a way to trick the radar detectors. It would have been cheaper to just drive the speed limit.
Just as there are laws that govern our conduct and safety in everyday life, so there are spiritual laws that God has established that we must never violate. The spiritual leaders in Jesus’ day were continually trying to trick Him into saying something that they could find fault with. They once asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment. His reply is just as pertinent for us today.
In Matthew 22:37-40 we see His reply: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” How’s your spiritual love 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 | Dec 28, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 19:13-14
“Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”
In a large church where I was an associate pastor, there was a precious saint who seemed so close to the Lord that we were sure they walked and talked together. (In a way they did!) One day I commented on it to him. He just smiled and said, “Son, you have no idea of the many times each day I have to go the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness.”
I once heard a Christian celebrity share something that had happened to her family. They were running late for church one week. She and her husband were screaming at the kids to get them ready. The anger and screaming continued as they drove to the church trying to get the children to be quiet and quit fighting.
They drove into the church parking lot and, as they emerged from the car, there was a dramatic transformation. There was no more anger, no screaming, no threats–just smiles. They acted like a perfect model family with no behavior problems whatsoever.
Here is the question: Who were they? Who was that man that so many of us in the church considered saint like? Who was that family that arrived at church that Sunday morning acting like they were the image of perfection?
Are you ready for the next question? Who are you really? Do you put on a false front so people will think you are more spiritual than you really are? I want to be real–warts and all. Accountability is essential and I want you to hold me to that!
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 | Dec 27, 2010 | Luke
Luke 2:2-10
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'”
I have had a favorite Bible preacher who hailed from England. His name was Major Ian Thomas. I am not sure if it was a sermon or book that he wrote that crosses my mind from time to time. The title was “A Day to Be Remembered and a Land to Be Possessed.” It dealt with the Exodus from Egypt to the promised-land.
I can still recall how he stressed that it is not enough to remember the time of day we were delivered from the bondage of sin. As wonderful as that day was and certainly a day worthy of remembering, but there is a promised possession God intends for His people to claim.
In a recent study on the life of the miraculous birth of Jesus I have been inspired by the words of Major Thomas. It has led me to a new thought. When we read in the book of Luke about the birth of Jesus there is a day to be remembered, but that is just the beginning. We have a Man (Jesus) to be possessed.
Millions around the world have just celebrated a day honoring the birth of Jesus. Oh, how sad it is that so many people remember the birth of Jesus in a manger, but fail to receive the Christ of Christmas as personal Savior. It is not enough to know “about” Jesus, we must receive Him into our hearts. It is the only way to obtain an abundant entrance into His heavenly kingdom.
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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