by Pastor Cecil | Jul 10, 2013 | Genesis
Genesis 2:24
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
July 10, 1952 was a blistering hot day in Nampa, Idaho. I am not sure what the official high was for the day, but it was well over 100 degrees. A great day for a wedding! Actually it was! For some of you who may be mathematically challenged (I am one myself), that means we are celebrating sixty-one years of marriage today.
Our wedding day was a day that Joyce and I had been looking forward to for a long time. We had been sweethearts all through high school and had known for years that we would be married when we graduated. It was only a month after graduation that we pledged our love to each other and became ONE FLESH.
In a day when couples usually live together before marriage, we might seem old fashioned and dated. The excuse that many people give for violating the Word of God by living together is that they want to be sure that their marriage will work. The fact of the matter is that a higher percentage of these arrangements end in heartache and divorce.
God established a beautiful gift when He created the marriage union between a man and woman. This is a sacred gift and one that we need to cherish. Joyce and I have had such a fantastic life together that it is hard to explain it to others. I personally do not think that it requires a formula or prior training. It is simply becoming ONE FLESH!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 9, 2013 | 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 each of our lives who have made a significant impact. In my life it was an old man named Ernest. I say old, but that was from the point of view of a four-year-old boy. In fact, Ernest was only in his 60(s). Now that I have passed into my 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 of his Bible 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. Sometimes he would 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 when Grandpa just did not feel right. He consulted a doctor and learned that he had cancer. At that time, medical treatment for cancer was limited, so he suffered many days of pain and exhaustion. Realizing that his days on this earth were very also limited, Ernest 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 his final hours of 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 raised up on his elbow and looked toward the door. These were the last words of Ernest Thompson, my grandfather: “There is Jesus now!”
I cannot begin to count the number of times I have told the story of Grandpa Thompson. I do know it is nothing as compared with the countless times I have thought of his 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 a Grandpa Thompson? You are stuck with me! Stop that whimpering right now!!!! You see, I was not in that room when grandpa died. His words and the scene were related to me by my dad. I have been living the glory of the death of Grandpa Thompson based upon of what my dad had seen and shared. Now that I have related it to you, it is up to you to accept it in 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 know for sure where we will be when it is our time to die. We also have no idea when it will be. The only certainty is that each of us will die unless the Lord catches up His church in the rapture. I have a driving ambition to be faithful in teaching and living as Jesus has instructed. I myself am a Grandpa Thompson now.
As I mentioned earlier, I am already older than my grandpa Ernest Thompson was 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 | Jul 8, 2013 | Philippians
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
I recall hearing a seminary professor tell how easy it is to downplay the things that are meaningful or important to another person. If they have achieved some major goal in their life it is easy for us to ignore it or act as if it were insignificant.
This professor related how he would go out of his way to get excited about some accomplishment that someone shared with him. Someone had told him about some verse they had memorized and he exploded with joy and congratulations. It was just the response that person needed. It seems that others near him had always made him feel inferior and worthless. He went on to become a dynamic spiritual leader in his area.
It does not have to be spiritual accomplishments that we give praise to. We had a small man with a severe learning disorder in a church that I served as an associate pastor. The man could barely talk, but he loved to bowl. Somehow I discovered he carried a small book with his bowling scores written down. Each week I made a point of looking at his book and getting excited about his scores. They were sometimes 25 or 30, but I tried to make him feel special. It not only made Roscoe feel special, it made me feel that I had met an angel unaware.
Who do you know that needs to be lifted by your approval? What words can you speak or actions shown that will make that person feel special? Try it!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 5, 2013 | Daily-E-Votionals
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
William Walford did not allow the fact that he was blind limit his service for his Lord. He was frequently called upon to preach in a small country church. He composed the sermons in his head and quoted large portions of Scripture from memory. Some people thought he had memorized the entire Bible. He also composed verses in addition—he prayed.
In the mid 1800’s, Thomas Salmon was visiting in England and became acquainted with Pastor Walford. As they were visiting one day the blind pastor quoted a few pieces he had composed. Since he had no one to write them down he had kept them treasured in the storehouse of his mind.
One of the verses he related to Mr. Salmon was, Sweet Hour of Prayer. Mr. Salmon eagerly scribbled the words down on a scrap of paper. When he returned to New York he sent the verses to the Observer and asked if they thought them worth preserving. The Observer did think them worthy and published them on September 13, 1845. The music was added by William Bradbury in 1861.
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
‘Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!’
To access Sweet Hour of Prayer please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/sweethourofprayer 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 | Jul 4, 2013 | Philippians
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
If your kids are anything like our kids, they went through a stage of independence. They wanted to do things themselves, even when they were not able to accomplish the task they were attempting. Kids are not alone in acting independently.
I once went golfing with my father-in-law and two of his regular golfing mates. I had never been on the links before, but since I was far younger than the others, I felt that I could hold my own. I stood at the first tee and gave a mighty swing! I missed the ball completely! On the next mighty swing I struck the ball, only to have it dribble a few feet from the tee. It was a very long and humiliating day. The others enjoyed the day as I was providing them with great entertainment.
On this day, July 4th, we celebrate Independence Day. While we may rejoice in the freedoms that our forefathers fought to assure us, it is vital that we remember that we never are to live independently. WE NEED EACH OTHER!
Not only do we need each other, we must have the Lord in control of our lives. In Acts 17:28 we are reminded, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Our independent attitude ends with our total dependence on Him. HAPPY DEPENDENCE DAY!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
