by Pastor Cecil | May 31, 2012 | John
John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Several years ago I read a brief biographical sketch about the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. He was the President at the close of the Civil War and a very interesting man. Let me give you just a few glimpses into what he was like. Grant graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point. His roommate at the Academy, Fred Dent, said that in all the time they roomed together, Ulysses never used vulgarity or profanity. Wow!
Fred spoke highly of Ulysses to his sister, Julia, and finally introduced them in 1844. Ulysses fell in love with Julia and began to court her. It is told that his proposal was somewhat unusual. They were crossing a stream and he told Julia to cling to him and he would see that they made it safely across.
When they reached the other side, Ulysses told Julia if she would cling to him the rest of their life, he would like for her to become his wife. SHE CLUNG! We are told that they were one of the most loving couples ever to occupy the White House. They insisted on being together on every occasion. They held hands and always enjoyed their times together. Their children reported that there was never any animosity between them.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people see us as walking so close to God that it is as though we are holding hands? I do not desire for that to sound sacrilegious or flippant, but as an example of our love for the One who died in order that we might be as little children walking hand in hand with our Lord, in confidence, trust, and total dependence.
Blessings dear hearts. Cling to God, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 30, 2012 | John
John 12:24
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
When I was stationed at a remote radar site on the northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada, I listened to sermon tapes of some of the great men of God. One of my favorite ministers was Major Ian Thomas, and one of his messages was based on today’s Scripture which dealt with our calling to die to self in order to live for the Lord.
One particular statement by Major Thomas has remained with me for over 40 years, and I have not been the only one impacted by the illustration he gave concerning our Lord and our response to Him: The life that He lived qualified Him for the death that He died—and the death that He died qualifies us for the life that we live.
It was a sinless life that Jesus lived in order to be the perfect and blameless Lamb of God that was slain in order to pay the price for our salvation. We may think of salvation as being a free gift of God, but the cost to the Son of God was His life. He died that we might live for Him.
This is where we need to open our minds to understand that we must die to our self-serving nature. Only as we die to our own self-centered agenda will we be able to experience what His will is for our life. Like the Apostle Paul we need to grasp the reality that we live for Christ and our death is not something to be dreaded, but the reward for all who have experienced the new birth. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 29, 2012 | John
John 14:5-6
Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Joyce and I recently attended a 60th anniversary celebration for a local business. When many businesses are having serious problems and some are even closing their doors, it is fantastic to honor one such as this that not only has survived, but is honoring God in their business practices.
We were notified a few days later that we had won a door prize. It was a GPS system that you place on your automobile dashboard and it gives you directions to your destination. All you have to do is enter the location where you are headed and it tells you how to get there. Even if you do not enter a destination, it provides a map showing where you presently are, what streets you are near and the direction you are heading.
Stop and think about that for just a few minutes . . . In today’s Scripture, Jesus had just given His disciples an encouraging word about Him going to prepare a place for them and then coming again to be with Him. Thomas gives an honest response in what all of the disciples were thinking. They had no idea where He was going, so it just did not seem possible to know the way.
That is when Jesus told them that He was the Way. Guess that another way of expressing it is that, He is our spiritual GPS. His Word gives us a description of our destination as well as the route for us to take in order to reach it.
The problem is that when we fail to consult our spiritual GPS we take wrong turns and find ourselves in places we never wanted to be. Just remember at all times that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. We can trust Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 28, 2012 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 32:1-2
Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass.
Stop for just a moment and remember the days which are now past. In one sense we can never re-live our yesterdays, but we can certainly learn from them. The date of May 28, 2012 is the day that has been chosen as Memorial Day here in the United States.
Having spent over twelve years in the military service, I know what it is like to lose comrades in arms. I vividly recall one Air Force pilot that was an instructor when I was in Officer Training School. He was enthusiastic and full of real life stories about his experiences in the cockpit of a jet aircraft. A few months after I had graduated, the word was received that he had been killed in combat.
This holiday has been established to honor the service men and women of all wars. It has been expanded as a time to remember all those loved ones who have died. As we drive through many cemeteries on this day, we see more flowers and flags than at any other time of year.
Memorial Day is a day to remember. It is a day of solemn contemplation about what has gone before us. I like to think of the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made in order to give us salvation and a new birth. Some have called salvation a free gift from God. It is that indeed, but it cost Jesus His life. He died that we might have life abundant and free. As with any other gift, it must be received. It is not something we can earn. We either accept it or refuse it. There is no better day that we can appreciate God’s wonderful gift than on this day!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 25, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 5:24
“Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
The featured gospel song this week is; Just A Closer Walk With Thee. It is a well-known song, but even though it is popular and has been recorded by many famous singers, it is not known who wrote it or even when it was written. It was first heard back in the 1930’s. No matter who wrote it or when it was written, it is great!
Young love is grand! In the long ago days of our youth, Joyce and I were too young for cars and bikes were not cool, so we walked. On our first date we walked to a gathering about two miles from her house. It seemed as if it were only a few blocks because of our love for each other.
The first time I held her hand my heart almost beat out of my chest. As we grew older it was always a joy to walk side by side. It has always been better to walk beside each other than to walk with anyone else. We love each other! I feel the same way about my walk with the Lord. The longer I walk with Him, the more I feel His love enfolding me. I eagerly desire a closer walk.
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long, as I walk,
let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er,
to Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
To access Just a Closer Walk With Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/justacloserwalkwiththee/ 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
