by Pastor Cecil | Mar 24, 2011 | 1 Thessalonians
I Thessalonians 5:23-24
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
I still am shaking my head about a fantastic thing that has happened in the past 24 hours. Last night I noticed an envelope stuck alongside a paper holder and could not believe my eyes when I saw it was from Roy and Jean Becker—friends I knew over 40 years ago while I was stationed in St. Anthony, Newfoundland. I thought their letter, written in 1974, had been lost.
As I read the letter I was humbled by one paragraph: “We have so many happy memories of you, Cecil. A few months ago, I wrote out in detail, all of the events that led to ‘How God Found Me.’ I listed your friendship as a contributing fact toward motivating me to live a Christ-like life.’”
Through a quick white page search I discovered Roy and Jean are now living in Colorado. I called this morning and what a joyous reunion we had on the phone.
But that was nothing compared to the joyous times we will experience when we are all gathered in glory. And that, my precious friends, is good news here and good news awaiting us when we all get to heaven!
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 | Mar 23, 2011 | Luke
Luke 12:18-19
“So he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ ”
Since I have an astigmatism that can only be corrected with glasses, I have had to wear them most of my life (a long, long time). Over the years I have heard people talk about being near sighted. I once worked for a near-sighted Probate Court Judge whose vision was great while reading or seeing close up.
He was telling a group of us about being fitted for glasses when he was in his 20’s—it was almost a shock to his senses that he could actually read house numbers from the street! He had no idea that this was what people with normal eyesight were able to see.
Isn’t it tragic that most people on the face of the earth are near sighted? They see only those things that are part of the here and now, but fail to perceive that the here and now is but a wisp compared to the vast reality of eternity.
Satan has blinded the eyes of the unregenerate so that they refuse to consider that eternity is merely a heartbeat away. The things of this life will quickly be gone and only those who have received Jesus Christ by personal invitation will enter into the home Christ has prepared for those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Are you near sighted or far sighted?
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 | Mar 22, 2011 | Mark
Mark 13:30-31
“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Last week Joyce had dental surgery to remove a molar and wisdom teeth. My responsibility was to sit in the waiting room and drive her home when the surgery was completed. I passed the time reading a book on my Kindle Reader.
About twenty minutes into my wait, a young woman entered the office and checked in with the receptionist. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her since she was wearing tattered denims with holes in the knees and thighs. Just kidding — since I have now been informed by our granddaughter and grandson that holes in your jeans is the modern style and to wear new ones would mark you as some sort of fashion dinosaur. (Some people think I am anyway!)
As I write this I wonder just how soon this fad will last. It is entirely possible that it has already been replaced by some other fashion trend before you even have a chance to read these words.
I am glad there are some things that never change. In spite of attacks from inside and outside the established church, the truth of God’s Word remains steadfast. The tides of opinion may ebb to and fro, but God’s Word is the same yesterday, today and forever. There is no way we can replace the careful searching of the Scriptures to discover truth that will never change. Test all things by His precious Word!
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 | Mar 21, 2011 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11
“Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.” (Amplified Bible)
When I was a boy I recall memorizing the “Beatitudes” found in Matthew 5:1-12. Over the years I read them or recited them, but one day I heard a teaching that this was Jesus teaching about our “attitudes” and they were what we should “be.”
It was not until I read this passage in the Amplified Bible that I gained new insight. The Amplified Bible gives new meaning by adding “- – – regardless of your outward conditions.”
Wow! That must have had a tremendous impact on those who were gathered there on a hillside to hear Jesus. I am sure that most of them were experiencing trials and tribulations far beyond anything we have ever faced. Now Jesus teaches that they were blessed no matter what circumstances arise.
What Jesus taught on that Galilean hillside so long ago still apply for us in our day and age. We are blessed by God’s great grace at all times and in every storm that may blow into our life. We need to be people of praise that thank Him for all things and then seek to discover what He wants to teach us by the circumstance.
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 | Mar 18, 2011 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 3:15
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
Yesterday I shared the good news that our beloved brother, Nathan Bouren is back home from his deployment in Qatar. I wanted to share more of his testimony today in place of the hymn that I usually share on Friday’s.
“Last Friday was a bittersweet departure as I said goodbye to Mom. We had a precious time together my last night in the Middle East as we spent time laughing and crying with her co-worker, Neal, and the TCNs she supervises. Two situations stand out in my mind from this last evening in Qatar. First, I struck up a conversation with one of the TCNs from Nepal. He is a 45-year-old married man with five children. His youngest is a six-year-old daughter and this man has only seen her four times in her life. It was heart-wrenching to learn that almost all of these TCNs work for 2-year contracts and only get one 30-day vacation to be with their family. That’s right, 30 days off in TWO YEARS! It sure puts my deployment and separation into perspective. Many of them will do this for 20 or more years, so they don’t ever really get to know their children. This situation is necessary because there are nearly 2 billion people (you read that correctly, it is billion with a “B”) in India and there are simply not enough jobs in the country. This mandates that these people work in other countries, often for very low wages ($400/week in this case), just to support their families. It doesn’t help that they have five or more children either. I ask that you join me in praying for these men and that God would use Mom and Neal to share the love of Christ with them while they are enduring these difficult separations from their families.”
“The second situation happened just before I departed. I was sitting with Mom in the media center where the troops can use phones and computers to communicate with their families. The place was packed and Neal walked in to say goodbye. He asked if I would pray with him. Mom and I are never shy about praying in public, and I was so blessed that Neal would ask for me to pray with him in public one last time. I stood up right there in the middle of the media center and prayed with my brother, Neal. What a perfect farewell to my brother as we further solidified the bond we have developed these past several weeks. I look forward to continuing a long distance friendship with Neal as we embark on a growing relationship with the Lord. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)”
As I read Kevin’s message I became more and more aware that there are those around us who need to hear the Word of God. There are also believers who need to be encouraged as we pray that they may be used. USE 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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