by Pastor Cecil | Feb 15, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 199:105-106
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow Your righteous laws.
Back in the good old days I was serving as a jet mechanic with the US Air Force in South Dakota. From time to time it was necessary to work through the night hours. On one particular night we had to bring one of the fighter aircraft from the ramp into the hangar. It was a distance of about four city blocks.
The procedure for such moves was to disconnect the batteries in the aircraft (that would be important later on). Two of us went to bring the plane in. I was riding in the cockpit to use the brakes while the other mechanic operated the tow tractor.
We had just started the move when we saw the lights of a car coming toward us. I tried to turn the lights on to alert the driver of our presence, but of course there was no power and thus no lights. The tow tractor driver flashed his lights, but the car kept speeding toward us.
There was a sickening crash as the car struck the fuel pod located on the tip of the wing. The driver was one of the young pilots and was driving far too recklessly toward the alert hangar where he was on duty. Since we were just lowly enlisted men he gave us a piece of his mind that he couldn’t afford to give. His threats ended quickly the next day when he was called before the Commanding Officer and received discipline.
There are many times when we have been given warnings that danger lies ahead. The darkness of this world has blinded us. My prayer is that God will light our life and that we will follow only as far as His light shines.
Blessings dear hearts. Wait for the Lord to light your path and above all, be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 14, 2012 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
February 14th is celebrated as Valentine’s Day. It is the day that florists, jewelers and chocolatiers look forward to. It is often the one and only time during the year that love is shown by husband and wife. To me that seems shallow and empty. I would much rather demonstrate love by action each and every day than giving a gift on one day.
My precious bride and I have been married almost 58 years. She is the gift of God to me and I delight in showing my love for her in sacrificial ways each and every day. Joyce is not as strong as she once was (who is?) and it is my joy and delight to assume many of the tasks that she once was able to do. If I did these tasks with a grumbling attitude it would be the opposite of love. I will let you in on a little secret. We are more in love now than when we first met as young teens.
So how does Joyce show her pure love for me? By acknowledging the things I do and making by me feel like the most important person in her life. We can hardly bear being apart even for a few hours when I have some ministry to perform.
Jesus demonstrated His pure love for us by giving His very life for us. It is not the things that we do for Him that gives us entry into the heaven He has planned for us. It is accepting the blood that He shed on Calvary. His pure love was so great that it covers all our sins as we confess our need and accept His precious gift of eternal life. Praise the Lord for that wonderful gift of eternal life!
Blessings dear hearts. Give obediently to the Lord, be willing to make the Lord’s deliveries when asked and above all, be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 13, 2012 | Exodus
Exodus 32:8
They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
We seldom hear teaching or preaching on backsliding these days. There is much emphasis on the power of all that is positive and futuristic, but little about what we have abandoned. One of the most disturbing things I encounter is to see slumbering embers in the spiritual lives of people that once burned fervently for the Lord. Lord forgive us of becoming lukewarm!
Every time I read the Exodus account of God’s miraculous deliverance of His people from the bondage of slavery, I wonder how they could have turned their back on God. Think about it: They observed all of the first born sons of Egypt die in one night but none of theirs. The Egyptians gave them gold, silver jewels and virtually all of their wealth. They saw a pillar of fire at night and cloud by day that both led and protected them. They saw the Red Sea part and give them passage yet destroyed their pursuers.
I could go on and on about incredible miracles, but the sad thing is that the people backslid. They lost their first love. We can read about this in the Bible, but it happens today as well. We see God gloriously transform a sin wracked sinner into a heaven bound saint, but then the things of this world begin to pull and tug and that saint becomes a backslider. Are you one? If so I implore you to recommit your life to Christ.
Blessings dear hearts. Give obediently to the Lord, be willing to make the Lord’s deliveries when asked and above all, be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 10, 2012 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:24
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
There are many reasons for giving to the work of the Lord. The first and foremost reason is that it is mandated in Scripture. We also find that a giving heart is one of the most effective means of doing the work of the Lord.
I am not sure about you, but I have had friends turn their back on me at the time I needed them most. One of the greatest lessons I have learned as a follower of Jesus Christ is that when all others fail us, there is one source of strength and solace that has never failed nor ever will fail.
My grandpa Thompson had experienced many trials in his life. His sweet spirit was evident to all and he was a true giver. In spite of his faithful service to the Lord, he suffered terribly in his last days. You would think that God would show more kindness to him. HE DID! You see, the stuff or ease of this world is not the most precious. Grandpa was able to witness more to his children at his death in a glorious way.
As his children gathered around his bed, he gave his testimony about how God had been so faithful to him. When he finished, he looked toward the front door of His humble cottage and breathed these words: “Well, there’s Jesus now!”
‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word. Just to rest upon His promise. Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.
How I love to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing blood. Just in simple faith to trust me, ‘neath the healing cleansing flood.
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.
Yes, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, and from sin and self to cease. Now from Jesus simply taking, life and rest and joy and peace.
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him, precious Jesus, Savior, friend; and I know that He is with me, He’ll be with me to the end.
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.
To access ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/tissosweet/ 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
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 9, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 43:10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
When I was a boy our family attended the Church of the Nazarene in Camas, Washington. I was fascinated by an evangelist who held a revival service at the church. His name was Uncle Bud Robinson.
I do not remember anything he said, but I do vividly recall something he did. As the offering plate was being passed, Uncle Bud removed a dollar bill from his wallet. As the plate came to him he kissed the bill, placed it in the plate and then waved goodbye to it. What a character!
One time Uncle Bud was given a $20.00 bill. He thanked the Lord for it, but the Lord spoke very clearly to him that it was not his, but he was to give it to someone that would be revealed to him. Sometime later he was holding a meeting in Detroit, Michigan. The Lord made it very clear that he was to give it to someone at this meeting.
All week long Uncle Bud waited for some sign about the recipient. The last night of the revival came and several came forward, but no indication about who was to receive the money. The pianist left and it was just he and the pastor. They were ready to turn out the lights and leave when the pianist returned saying that she had left her sweater.
Uncle Bud’s heart began to burn and he knew this was the one who was to receive the $20.00. She began to sob when he gave her the money. She lived quite some distance from the church and only had enough money for bus fare to get to the church. She was terrified since she would be walking back home through a dangerous part of the city to reach her home. Uncle Bud had been God’s delivery boy. That is true giving!
Blessings dear hearts. Give obediently to the Lord, be willing to make the Lord’s deliveries when asked and above all, be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
