by Pastor Cecil | Aug 17, 2011 | John
John 14:5-6
“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
One time when I was a city Police Officer in Nampa, Idaho, I was contacted by someone who had just arrived in town and could not find the address they were looking for. I tried to give them directions and even wrote the directions on a slip of paper, but I could tell that they were still very hesitant. So I told them to just follow me and I would lead them to where they wanted to go.
It sounded easy, but it turned out to be difficult. Even though I was driving below the posted speed limit, the driver behind me kept falling behind. When we came to a traffic light he would inevitably doddle along and get stopped while I had already gone through. This meant that I had to wait for the light to change before he once again was directly behind me. I was frustrated and I am sure that he was also.
Jesus wants us to follow Him! Only He knows the way and He has written the directions in His Holy Word. But let’s face it—we are just not too good at following instructions. It is then that Jesus tells us to follow Him.
One of the most meaningful books that I have read was In His Steps by Charles Sheldon. Many of you may have read it or at least have been impacted by the concept that he presented. The concept—What would Jesus do? Before acting or reacting, the characters in the book made a covenant to live their life with a constant question before them: What would Jesus do? That is the way I want to live! Will you join me?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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 Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 16, 2011 | Philippians
Philippians 3:7-8
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”
Back in the 1970’s I was employed by the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission as the Corrections Specialist. Our agency included specialists from police courts as well as my field of Corrections.
The Director of our agency was a man who seemed proud of his Viking heritage and would have been right at home wearing the metal helmet with horns. He was a large and very vocal man who often made rash decisions and created complications that required a considerable amount of unnecessary work for the various specialists to correct. We would often voice our displeasure to each other in the employee’s lunchroom.
One day as I was praying, the Lord began to convict me of my sin of gossip. I knew I had to make it right, so I walked into the Director’s office and shut the door. I sat across the desk from him and confessed that I had not been a faithful employee. I told him what I had been guilty of doing and asked him to please forgive me. I added that from that moment on I would not talk with others but would come directly to him if there was something I felt was wrong.
A few weeks later the Director and I traveled to San Francisco for a Corrections conference. As we were getting out of the car to go inside and register, he informed me that he was naming me Deputy Director of the Agency. My confession was what swayed him. I had not lost, but gained by going God’s way.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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. Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 15, 2011 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
Last week I was walking down to the exercise room for my daily workout. It was shortly after 5:00 a.m. and all was quiet except for the sound from the freeway about a mile away. The sound from traffic on the freeway was a steady hum until I heard a huge, BAM!! I immediately knew what had happened.
Several years ago Joyce and I were traveling to Idaho. We were traveling through a canyon whose walls rose high on each side. We were just passing an 18 wheeler when there was a huge BAM! As I looked in the rear view mirror I could see shreds of the truck’s tire that had exploded. Wow! I was thankful that we had made it past the truck before the tire had exploded.
As I walked on toward the clubhouse in the early morning hours I began to think about how quickly things happen. There is no way of knowing when a tire will explode or other accidents will occur. In the same way we have no idea when the Lord will call us home.
I was concluding a funeral service last year. As I was closing my remarks I challenged the congregation to be prepared to meet the Lord at any time. I added that we never know when the Lord will call. Unexpectedly someone’s cell phone rang. It gave me a perfect illustration of how suddenly we may be ushered into the Lord’s presence. We must be ready when He calls.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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 Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 12, 2011 | Romans
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
A few nights ago I seemed to be singing that old favorite hymn, “Living For Jesus” all night long. In the morning as I was doing my exercises and the time flashed by as I meditated on the words and inspiration behind the song. Thomas Chisolm, who wrote the words, desired honesty to God’s Word be of prime importance to him.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus Who died in my place, Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call, Follow His leading and give Him my all.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus, wherever I am, Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss, Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while, My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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. Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 11, 2011 | James
James 4:8-10
“Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Back in the 60’s I was serving as a Minuteman Missile Combat Crew Commander in Missouri. One Sunday our family was attending a church service and heard a man proudly offer a substantial gift for a special missionary project. He seemed so sincere and open that I was impressed.
After a few months of attending that church I happened to mention to the pastor about the generous nature of this man. It was then that I learned that he was not a regular tither or giver. The only time he contributed financially was when he could announce it to the congregation. The man was filled with pride.
Pride is an insidious thing and a quality that God despises. Unfortunately there are many proud people who are to be found in our churches, or at least claiming to be true believers. In today’s Scripture we see what God thinks about pride.
When we come to God, we are to come with a broken and contrite spirit. We are told to make a move toward God and He will immediately draw near to us. It is then that we are to cleanse ourselves and focus our attention on Him. As we do, He will lift us up to be His radiant and faithful servants. Lord, give us a servant spirit!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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 Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
