by Pastor Cecil | May 10, 2013 | Daily-E-Votionals
Proverbs 31:30-31
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
On this date, when I was just two months old, a significant birth took place about a thousand miles away from our home in Camas, Washington. In Sparta, Michigan, a mother gave birth to a bouncing baby girl that she named Joyce Elaine. This precious life was to become my dearest friend and beloved wife just eighteen years later.
Yes, we were only eighteen years old when we were married on July 10, 1952. For those of you trying to mentally calculate, it was almost sixty-one years ago. In all these years, I have discovered that (aside from my personal salvation) God had entrusted to me the most precious gift that could be given to any man.
My dear wife and closest friend has taught me so much about loving and caring for others. She has the gentle and quiet spirit that we find described in Proverbs 31. She has been given the spiritual gift of mercy and is very sensitive to the feelings and needs of those around her.
Across the 79 years of my life I have received many gifts—some large and some small. Some have been gag gifts and some have been thoughtful gifts. But of all the gifts I have ever received, God gave me the greatest when He gave me my Joyce. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR WIFE!!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 9, 2013 | Daily-E-Votionals
Philippians 2:19, 22
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
When I mention that thoughts are critical, I do not mean to imply that it is just being critical of others, but that our thought life has a bearing on what we will become. A friend has been taking a class and sent me some of the thoughts that were shared in the class sessions. It reminded me once again of the importance of what we put into our minds.
- WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS . . . THEY BECOME YOUR WORDS
- WATCH YOUR WORDS . . . THEY BECOME YOUR ACTIONS
- WATCH YOUR ACTIONS . . . THEY BECOME YOUR HABITS
- WATCH YOUR HABITS . . . THEY BECOME YOUR CHARACTER
As I read these words, it is clear that our thought life controls the type of character we will develop. Questionable thoughts will start us down the wrong path and ultimately lead to doubtful character. Good and noble thoughts, based upon the Word of God, will begin the process of developing a Christ-like character. Spend time reading and meditating on the Word of God. It will set the tone of your thought life and ultimately you will achieve a character that is pleasing to the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 8, 2013 | Philippians
Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Modern counselors seem to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to assist their clients in finding self esteem. These counselors feel that when one thinks well about himself then all of their other problems will be resolved. That is the human view of being well adjusted. The problem is that it seldom has the desired effect . . . usually it is just the opposite.
In reading through the Word of God, I discover that God is not interested in how wonderful we think we are. As a matter of fact the more time we spend trying to improve our own self image, the more sessions with the counselor are required.
The answer is for us to see things as God sees them. Our view of what amounts to good and noble is different than the way the Lord views them. We think we will achieve status and acclaim by being better than everybody else. God sees things differently.
God is far more concerned about us giving freely of ourselves to others. It is not the praise that we receive, but the service to others that we perform that He delights in observing. My personal desire is to give freely of all that I am to each and every person I meet. I certainly am not there yet, but it is my goal.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 7, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1, 5a
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Who satisfies your mouth with good things.
I seem to remember a commercial from many years ago (with my memory I can’t be sure of too many things) about satisfaction. It was a coffee: Good to the last drop—it satisfies! Does that ring a bell for some of you?
Many products or programs claim to bring lasting satisfaction. Usually the satisfaction they claim can only be achieved by investing in what they are selling. Big, happy smiles displayed on labels, billboards, fliers, or on television prove that this or that product will satisfy.
Perhaps there are things that will bring temporary satisfaction, but will it last? When your throat is parched after working for hours in the sun, a drink of cool water will satisfy you, but for how long? How long will it be before you are headed for the water faucet once more?
That is what the Psalmist was trying to describe in this Scripture. We need to look to the Lord for the things He gives that will bring eternal satisfaction—not selfish needs to be squandered on ourselves, but spiritual needs to make us effective in the works of the Lord regardless of our age. He promises that our youth will be renewed like an eagle. To me that means He gives us strength for doing what He calls us to do. Are you soaring yet? It starts by praising Him for everything!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 6, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Sometimes we struggle over the trials and tribulations of our life, trying to make sense of why things happen the way they do. If God is great and mighty, and He is, why do we have to endure such tests to our faith? The answer is to be found in our restricted vision.
I recall traveling by helicopter to a missile site in central Missouri. I had traveled the route many times by car and knew that there were places that were steep and winding that required slow travel, especially when being stuck behind a slow moving truck. They were clearly marked with no passing signs.
On this day I observed a truck being followed by a passenger car. I knew that it would be miles before the car could safely pass the slower vehicle, but he was stuck! I thought of what it would be like if I could have communication with the driver in the car and tell him when it was safe to pass or to watch out for an on-coming vehicle. I could not do so, so the driver had to wait until he could see the road for himself.
Paul expresses the concept of waiting patiently in the Lord in 1 Corinthians 13:12. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. Until that day, we, along with Paul must trust in the Lord with all our heart, rather than depending on our limited understanding.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
