by Pastor Cecil | May 10, 2012 | Proverbs
Proverbs 31:29-31
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Please indulge me while I take this opportunity to tell you about my wife. She is perhaps the truest and most unassuming person I have ever met. Joyce was a gift from the Lord to make my life complete and worthwhile.
From the first moment I saw her some 64 years ago my heart was never the same. She captured it and me along with it. In almost sixty years of marriage, she has brought out the best qualities in me and has made me know a contentment that I wish every married couple could enjoy.
As you look at the date of this Daily-E-Votional, May 10th, Joyce will be celebrating her birthday. Because of the proximity of the dates, she sometimes celebrates Mother’s Day and her birthday on the same day. That is wonderful since she is the most noble example of a mother imaginable.
Joyce is very quiet and serene. That is just the opposite of me. She brings balance and peace to the storms of life. She has the wonderful gift of sensing needs in others that I am unaware of. She has touched countless lives with her gentle spirit of hers. With a smile, she has given hope. Her ministry of sending a card and note at the right moment has ministered more than my sermons ever could.
I pray that those of you who have the gift of mercy may recognize that you are of great value. Allow the Holy Spirit to prompt you to touch those who are in need of your gentle touch. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JOYCE!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 9, 2012 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 2:1-2
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others.
There are certain people in our life that have made a significant impact. One was an old man by the name of Ernest. I say old, but that was from the point of view of a boy of four or five. In fact, he was only in his 60’s. Now that I have passed into my late 70’s, that seems pretty young. He was one of those precious souls that loved the Lord from the depths of his being, and was not afraid to demonstrate it in his actions. He used an old Bible that was as worn and battered as he. The cover bore scars from excessive use.
Ernest used to sit in his old rocking chair and read his Bible. He would read silently, but his lips would move as he read verse after verse. He would sometimes hold the younger grandchildren on his lap as he read the life revealing Word of God. One could only wonder if he realized he was impacting those young lives by his quiet devotion.
There came a day in his life, when things just did not feel right. He consulted a doctor and learned that he had cancer. There were many days of pain and exhaustion. He lived at a time when medical treatment was limited, and Ernest realized that his days on this earth were very limited. He sent word to his eight children that he would like to see them all one more time. They came from Texas, California, and those who lived near him in Washington State.
In the final hours of his life he shared from his heart all that God had done for him, and how much he loved the Lord. As his children gathered around his bed in that small living room, he encouraged those of them who were not serving the Lord, to do so while there was time. For those who did know the Lord, he challenged them to be faithful in their walk. His breathing became easier, and it seemed as if the pain had been removed from his body. He sat up and looked toward the door and spoke these last precious words: “There is Jesus now!”
I cannot begin to count the number of times I have told the story of Grandpa Thompson. It is nothing compared to the countless times I have thought of these words. It has given me a hope that there is a heaven to be gained and a hell to be shunned. It has been a constant beacon to direct my way through the storms of life.
What about you who have not had such an example? I was not in that room when grandpa died. His words and the scene, was related to me by my dad. I have been living the glory of Grandpa Thompson’s death from what my dad had seen and heard. I pray that it may inspire you to accept it by faith and allow it to give you a light in your darkest night.
Paul encouraged Timothy to recall those meaningful words and the actions that he had observed in Paul’s life and pass them on to the faithful who could in turn pass them from one to the other. It might be said that the Gospel was the first and greatest multilevel marketing strategy in the world. It only takes one who will duplicate himself in the lives of others, who in turn will repeat the process, until the world realizes the presence of Jesus.
None of us knows for sure where and when we will die. The only certainty is that each of us will die, unless the Lord raptures His church. I have a driving ambition to be faithful in teaching and living as Jesus has instructed. As I mentioned earlier, I am older than my grandpa, Ernest Thompson when he died. I have many precious spiritual children and grandchildren. I want them to see my battered Bible, and watch as I read those precious words, and also watch as I live a life that is committed and real. Regardless if I die surrounded by people, or all alone, my desire is that my last words will be; THERE IS JESUS NOW!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 8, 2012 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I once knew a lady who spent a great deal of effort in trying to get unbelievers to act like believers. The result of her efforts? She was exhausted by her fruitless attempts and created such animosity among the unsaved that they became resistant to the Gospel.
In reading today’s Scripture, I immediately notice something in the first few words. God is speaking to His own people about their own need of being revived. Why is it so important for us to grasp who the Lord is speaking to? It is because we are the ones who need to be revived. The unsaved need to be . . . vived! I know there is no such word, but I hope you understand my meaning. They need to experience salvation. We believers are the ones who need reviving!
When we pray for the Lord to heal our land, there must be a revival of the people of God. We believers need to fall in humility on our face and cry out to the Lord to forgive us for losing our first love—the love of Christ.
We must demonstrate our humility by confessing that we have strayed from God’s way and have gone our own willful way by loose living and indifference to the things of God. May God hear our prayers and bring life through faith in Jesus Christ to those who are spiritually dead.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 7, 2012 | John
John 6:32-33
Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
I have always wanted to be a chuck wagon cook. It was Texas rancher, Charles Goodnight who first introduced the concept of the chuck wagon in the 1860’s. It was used to tend to the needs of the cowboys who drove the cattle from the home ranch to market. The wagon contained food, water and assorted supplies needed for the long journey.
The cook or cookie, as he was called, was second in authority to the trail boss. He served as cook, seamstress, doctor, dentist and navigator for the herd. He was the navigator in that he would always point the tongue of the wagon toward the North Star each night. The trail boss would then be able to head out in the right direction the next morning.
The chuck wagon cook was second in authority of the cattle drive, but he was the one who served the needs of the riders. He prepared meals with limited supplies, sewed torn clothing, and tended to wounds of various sorts. I am told he was the first to rise in the morning and the last to retire at night. In addition he had to move his wagon each day to keep pace with the herd.
As a pastor I like to think of myself as “cookie” of God’s spiritual chuck wagon. I try to rustle up spiritual food and prepare it in a way that is appetizing as well as nutritious. Each day I try to insure that the tongue of the wagon is headed toward the Lord so we will head in the right direction. I pray that will do a good job.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 4, 2012 | Daily-E-Votionals
Psalm 31:2-3
“Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.”
My wife Joyce and I have had more than a few fiery trials in our life. We have been forced to our knees and cried out to Him to support us. When it seemed that we could not go on, the Lord has always been faithful and our Firm Foundation.
This week’s hymn was the favorite hymn of Andrew Jackson’s wife, Rachel. He requested that it be played for him in the final hours of his life. It was also a favorite of General Robert E. Lee. It was sung at the funerals of American presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.
On Christmas Eve, 1898, an entire corps of the United States Army was camped on the hills near Havana, Cuba. Almost as a man they spontaneously took up this sacred tune and words. In times of trial and danger it is essential to have a firm foundation in the Lord upon which to stand.
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
To access How Firm a Foundation, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Hymn Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/howfirmafoundation/ 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
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. You can also find a Kindle version at Amazon.com.
