by Pastor Cecil | Apr 23, 2013 | Ezekiel
Ezekiel 11:19-20
Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Recently we have witnessed the heartless acts of terrorists who thought nothing of setting off blasts that killed and maimed innocent men, women and children. Following the tragic events we heard many ask how anyone could be so callous and cruel to do such an evil thing. The answer is that sin in the heart of a human being leads them to do the unthinkable.
It would be easy to become disheartened at these evil events. There are many who seem to feel that things are hopeless. That is what the enemy of our souls would like for us to think. If we were to look at things from a human point of view, it would give room for discouragement. But if we look at things spiritually we can see that these are all signs of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to welcome His church into our great reunion in the air.
For some of us it is clear that the rapture of the church may occur at any time. Praise God and even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. But it is a reality that the faithful believers have been looking for His return since he rose to be with His Father. The rapture has not occurred, but millions have been ushered into His presence the moment their eyes closed in death.
We need to take heart! Our focus of attention must never be upon the horrors perpetrated by the evil one, but on the Lord. Remember this: JESUS WINS! Never forget that dear heart. JESUS WINS. When you are disheartened and discouraged, take heart . . . JESUS WINS!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 22, 2013 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
Saturday I took a trip down memory lane. Actually it was a trip to extend birthday greetings to a dear friend, near the church I had pastored for many years. As I was driving along a route I had once traveled daily, I was struck by memories that flooded my brain.
I glanced across a field and saw an attractive house. I recall the tragedy that took place in that spot as a young girl was crushed in a construction accident. Counseling seemed to ease some of the pain, but a divorce shattered a family.
Not far away and down a lane, a family had lived. They seemed to be happy and at church or the times when we visited, all seemed to be at peace. Then the relationship between husband and wife became strained and they eventually divorced.
I was feeling the sense of helplessness after trying to save these families. It was then that I passed a home that had been under construction for many years. It was a couple I had married and they had determined to live in their trailer until they could finish their house without debt. It was now finished. Yeah!
Then I pulled into the yard of our good friends. Kids galore greeted me with hugs and smiles. It was a sweet time of sharing the victories that Jesus gives. As I left I felt the joy in knowing that we can only do our best for the Lord and look for the good things that He promises to those who love and serve Him. The devil wants me to recall the bad things, but there are many more sweet memories that I want to enjoy! That is what the Lord wants me to remember!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 19, 2013 | John
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
We have a liberal college in our community and from time to time we see bumper stickers from this group that read, World Peace. Some jokesters have made a play on this sticker by coming up with one of their own; Whirled Peas. I suppose the second sticker is much more easily achieved.
From the day that Adam and Eve sinned and were evicted from the garden there has been strife, conflicts and wars. For all of the rhetoric about attaining peace we are no closer to world peace, nor will we ever be until Jesus comes again to establish His Wonderful Peace over all the earth.
What a fantastic day it will be when there is eternal peace. The featured hymn this week from GloryScapes, is Wonderful Peace.
Wonderful Peace
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Refrain
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Refrain
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Refrain
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Refrain
To access Wonderful Peace, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/wonderfulpeace/ 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 | Apr 18, 2013 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:19-21
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Back in my high school years I worked part time at a local dairy. The dairy picked up milk from individual farms then processed it into heavy cream, whole milk, skim milk and cottage cheese.
Part of the time I worked driving a large truck that went to the farms to bring the 10 gallon cans into the plant. I can still recall those early morning hours as I was driving and seeing the sky begin to turn lighter and lighter until the sun would burst over the eastern horizon. A new day had begun!
In the darkness of this old sin-sick world, we can easily become discouraged over the lack of spirituality. Sin has always been with us, and it appears to be so prevalent that righteous living is now ridiculed as being abnormal . . . and abnormality is glorified.
I want all of us to take courage. In the darkest night we can look at the eastern horizon and see the first signs of a new day. God has never failed His people and has given us His prophetic word that the things we are now seeing are a solid indication that His coming is very near. A NEW DAY! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 17, 2013 | John
John 20:29
Jesus said to him: Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Sunday evening Joyce and I watched a Christian movie that presented a problem that many people face: How to deal with disappointment and lack of faith when your prayers do not seem to be answered.
You may have heard of foxhole faith. It was coined when a soldier huddled deep in a foxhole during severe bombardment. Men were dying all around him and the soldier tells the Lord that if He gets him out of this battle alive, he will serve Him the rest of his life.
There are similar prayers, such as praying for divine healing, landing a job, getting a passing grade on a test, or any number of things. If these prayers do not seem to be answered, it is possible for a person to doubt God and develop a bitter spirit.
Jesus calls us to look beyond the requests of this life and see the eternity waiting for all who are born again and have an eternal reward waiting. What seems so important now will fade into insignificance when we truly see the face of Jesus.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
