by Pastor Cecil | Oct 10, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Back when I was a police officer we had a strong windstorm rip through our city. I was patrolling the area where most of the damage had been done and saw a heart stopping sight. A huge tree had blown over and crushed a house. It was still dark and I could only use my flashlight to search the damage.
As I went to the rear of the house I saw through the window that the tree had smashed into the bedroom area. I could only make out the smashed bedframe and crushed mattress. It was impossible to see from the window if anyone was under the fallen tree.
I knocked repeatedly and finally had to force my way into the house. I am happy to report that no one had been at home when the tree fell. It was only the house that had been damaged and my forced entrance had added a little to the overall damage to the home. They owners later thanked me for caring enough to enter and place my own life in jeopardy to search for survivors.
Sometimes we feel that we do more harm than good in searching for the spiritual condition of those we come in contact with. We should always be extremely prayerful that we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when we share and witness. Tragedies may be used by the Holy Spirit to prepare the most hardened heart for salvation. It still is essential to follow the leading of the Spirit.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 9, 2012 | Proverbs
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Last week I received the following message from Bill Mormile, one of our long time subscribers who lives in Florida. With his permission I send it along to you.
The Home Run of Eternal Life
As each one of us stand in the batter’s box, we search for “The Way” to hit the “Home Run of Eternal Life”. When the fast pitch of this life is thrown our way, we take a swing, the ball is struck, and we head down life’s base path towards 1st.
At 1st base you will find a church home. Here you will fellowship with other base runners and learn about His ministry. At this place you will worship the Lord and feel His grace and forgiveness. You make the turn and quickly head towards 2nd.
You cannot hit the “Home Run of Eternal Life” without tagging 2nd base — it is impossible. By tagging 2nd base, you accept Jesus as your life long Shepherd, your friend, and your Savior. If you miss 2nd base, you will be called “out” at home — even though you may have tagged all the other bases. After firmly tagging 2nd (without any doubt) you quickly scamper down the base path towards 3rd.
At 3rd base you will spend a life time pleasing the One who awaits you at home plate by spreading His word, helping others, and participating in His ministry —- collecting RBI’s you might say.
Finally, you head down life’s last base path towards home plate. There at home, with arms wide open, stands the Almighty Umpire of the universe. The angels of heaven and all of those who have hit the home run before you are standing on their feet cheering and causing a roar like none other heard before.
And now — only a few feet from home plate, you are totally exhausted, completely out of breath, and looking directly into the eyes of the Almighty Umpire — who in all of time has never made a wrong call. Your foot hits home plate and you stumble forward into His open arms. And then He thunders with a loud voice that shakes both heaven and earth —————– “SAFE”——- “SAFE” He yells. You’re safe!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 8, 2012 | Acts
Acts 2:25b-26
I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
I hope! I hope! I hope! How many times have we heard people (or ourselves) use that phrase concerning something we want very badly. As a young boy I used to say that under my breath when sides were being chosen for some type of game. I really knew that I would be at the bottom of the list, so my hope was not based upon an expectation of being selected.
I remember when I was a freshman in high school, my best friend Jerry and I made the football team. We were arguably the worse players on the team, but at least we were on the team and could travel with the rest of the team.
There was one game that has been burned vividly in my memory. Our team was playing a team from a town that was a logging town. Their players were bigger and better than our team. One by one our players were injured and had to leave the game. Jerry and I were sitting at the end of the bench saying; “I hope! I hope! I hope that we are not called by the coach to enter the game. We will be killed!” Our prayers were answered and the game ended before we were called upon.
Listen carefully! The hope that we have in Christ is a certain hope. In the Greek is the word elpis. In the spiritual sense it means to have joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. Now I like that! It is not an empty hungering for something that is unlikely to occur. It is the confidence that we can rejoice knowing that what is coming is going to be beyond our wildest expectation
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 5, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 9:16
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.
Years ago my wife Joyce and I were once driving along the beautiful Columbia River gorge in Oregon. A rain shower had recently swept across the area, and now bright sunlight flooded the area. As we drove, a rainbow kept pace beside the car. I know it was just a refraction of the sunlight, but what an awe inspiring sight.
There are two requirements to produce a rainbow, rain and sun. Without rain there could be no rainbow. Without sun there would be no rainbow. In the rainy times of our life, God’s tender care for us brings His rainbow of blessing. God’s covenant of love did not say that we would be free of rain, but He is always with us in the storms of life.
Back in 1879 Rev. J. K. Alwood was equally moved as he observed a rainbow in the western sky late one evening as he was traveling home. When he arrived at his home, he immediately composed the hymn for this week; The Unclouded Day.
The Unclouded Day
O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
O they tell me of that land far away;
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance thru the unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of the King in His beauty there,
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold,
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me that he smiles on His children there,
And his smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again,
In that lovely land of unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video The Unclouded Day, from GloryScapes™ Christian Hymns.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
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PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
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by Pastor Cecil | Oct 4, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 61:3-4
For You have been a shelter for me,a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
My wife Joyce and I love to cook so it is natural that we enjoy cooking programs. Our Public TV station carries one of our favorite cooking programs. It is called Cooks Country Test Kitchen. One of the delightful things about their programs is the introduction. A church bell peals out the old hymn, Safe Am I.
It has been years since we sang this in our churches, and I had a difficult time finding the words, but after I did extensive search I found the words: “Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand; Shelter’d o’er, shelter’d o’er, with His love for evermore; No ill can harm me, No foe alarm me; For He keeps both day and night, Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand.”
As I think about the concept of being safe in God’s hand, it occurs to me that we often get the wrong idea. We are prone to think that because we are Christians and living for the Lord, everything is going to be peaches and cream. The fact of the matter is that God’s servants have gone through terrible periods of suffering.
Does that mean that we are not sheltered in His hand? Not in the least! The shelter that is essential is the certainty of our eternity with the Lord. We may experience pain and suffering this side of glory, but the shelter He promises is eternal. I am eagerly waiting for that wonderful day when we are with the Lord of our life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
