by Pastor Cecil | Jan 24, 2014 | Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Years ago I heard a minister tell of an incident in a hospital elevator where he had just come from visiting a very ill patient. A young man overheard him speak about eternity and, perhaps wanting to mock his view, asked the minister where eternity was. The minister told the boy to place his hand on his chest to feel the beat of his heart. “Young man, eternity is one heartbeat away!” That may answer where eternity is or at least how close we are to it, but just how long is eternity?
Our daughter was in the hospital near death. One afternoon as the two of us spoke quietly, she said she felt she was cheated out of half of her life. She went on to say that Grandpa was 74 when he died and here she was just 35.
That evening as I drove into the garage I noticed that the car had been bringing in sand. I took out a sheet of typing paper and swept up some of the sand. I then sat at the kitchen table and counted out 74 grains. Some were larger than others, but all of them were quite small. I placed the 74 grains of sand in a tiny sample perfume bottle.
The next day as I entered her room I placed the bottle on her bed. When she asked what it was I told her it was Grandpa. I asked her to imagine the earth being nothing but fine sand. Each grain represented one year of eternity. The 74 grains in the bottle represented Grandpa’s life. Compared to the entire globe of sand it was nothing. Whether a person’s life lasted long or short, compared to eternity it was nothing.
It is what we do with the years we are given that matters. We can choose to confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior or we can continue our own willful way and suffer the dreadful consequences prepared for the lost.
I pray that the video that accompanies today’s Daily-E-Votional will assist you in making the right choice. Please feel free to share it with others while there is still time.
To view the video The Sands of Eternity, go to www.PastorCecil.com.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 23, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 119:103-105
How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
As I write this, we are under a temperature inversion for our area. Just what is a temperature inversion? I am not a meteorologist, but as I understand it, it is when the temperature is warmer at higher elevations than it is on the ground. This produces air stagnation and often very foggy conditions.
Years ago, when we were living in Idaho, Joyce and I were on our way to call on a couple who lived on the edge of town. The closer we got to their house, the denser the fog. It became so thick that I had to use the edge of the road to see where I was going. Fortunately, I had been to the house before and, by following the posted signs, we safely arrived at the destination.
I see a striking parallel with the phenomenon of temperature inversion to our walk with the Lord. Naturally, it is warmer the higher we ascend to the heart of God. The lower we descend into our own sinful ways, the more we experience a spiritual inversion. The path is blurred and we grope in the fog of our own self will.
I am not sure what the weather is like in your area, but I pray that your spiritual life may be free of any sort of inversion. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you and lead you to His perfect day!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 22, 2014 | Matthew
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Sometimes we seem to have the idea that we are the ones who control our own destiny. In some sense this may be true, but it usually leads to catastrophe. Regardless of what the positive thinkers may teach, we will always fall short if we rely only on our own resources.
It is easier to say that we allow God to control our life than to act upon it. We have the best intentions of allowing the Lord to open doors and move mountains. Then we open our eyes to the fact that we have taken over the operation and have not consulted Him.
The way God communicates with us is primarily through His Word. Those who try to rely on visions or signs are easy prey to the enemy. They are also apt to lead the immature believers to follow them instead of seeking answers from the Lord Himself.
One passage has become a constant guide in my personal walk with the Lord. It is found in Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 21, 2014 | John
John 4:34-36
‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.’
It must have been 50+ years ago, while visiting friends in Oklahoma City, that I watched a pastor being interviewed by the local television station. The reporter was asking the pastor about his day-to-day activities in addition to his Sunday preaching responsibilities.
I am not sure how the question arose, but in some way the reporter asked the pastor about his vacations. After all of these years, I can still vividly recall the pastor telling the reporter that he did not take vacations. He shared that his enjoyment in the ministry was such that he never felt the need to get away from it.
At the time, I found it hard to believe what that pastor said those many years ago. But as I look back over the years of my ministry, I have come full circle. I can honestly report that it has been so long since I took a vacation that I cannot remember when it was. Not only that, I feel more energized than when I used to take vacations.
I feel that the secret is resting constantly in Him, and allowing Him to do His work through me. I in no way feel the need to get away . . . only to get closer to Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 20, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.
Over the years I have had the privilege of experiencing a variety of professions. One of the most enjoyable was working as a County Juvenile Officer. I had come into the position directly from serving as a city police officer, so I was well acquainted with the patrol officers who worked the night shift.
Frequently, I rode around with one of the officers as he made his rounds and, from time to time, would spot a juvenile who was part of my caseload. I would note the time, location, and who else was present. Many times, the probationer was on a court-ordered curfew.
The next time that individual came in to report, I would ask if they were adhering to their curfew. The response was usually that they were. Then I would then ask about the day and time I had observed them. The look of astonishment was priceless. I would then proceed to take the necessary action that was merited. It wasn’t long before the probationers felt like I was everywhere, and they had better keep on the straight and narrow.
In today’s Scripture we see that the Lord is everywhere, and He knows all about us. There are no time-outs when it comes to living for the Lord. He knows each and everything about us. That is not a bad thing, but a constant reminder that He is always there when we call. Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
