by Pastor Cecil | Nov 14, 2014 | John
John 14:27
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.
One of my most vivid memories growing up was time spent at Payette Lakes located in McCall, Idaho. The days may be in the eighties, but you needed a warm blanket or sleeping bag to keep warm at night. I am an early riser and even then I enjoyed waking early and walking down to the lake side and looking across to the opposite shore. Many times the water was so serene and calm that it clearly reflected the scene from the far shore—a double blessing.
In these moments of reverie I could recall the hectic activities of the previous day. There were boats, water skiers, swimmers and even a sudden storm that churned the waters and cleared off the boaters.
Life is very much like that. There are times of frantic activity that will be fun and enjoyable, but nonetheless chaotic. There are also times when gales blow in and create stormy waters. We long for peace! Is it possible in the midst of the storm? Remember that Jesus was with His disciples in a small boat on a tempestuous sea. Even these men who were professional fishermen thought they were doomed. It was when they called out to Jesus that they found perfect peace.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus promises peace for all of us. His peace is not the kind of peace the world knows. It is a peace that gives us serenity even when the world is blowing like a hurricane around us. He promises that when we come to Him, our hearts will not be troubled and we need not be afraid. That is sweet peace!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 13, 2014 | Acts
Acts 26:20
“Made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance.” (Amplified Bible)
I was saved when I was nine or ten years old. It’s been so long ago that I cannot remember my exact age. It is not essential to know my age, I just knew that I was not a Christian and the only way to become one was to confess my sins and invite Jesus into my heart.
There were about ten or fifteen other kids kneeling at that altar at the same time. The Pastor had told us to stand when we knew that Jesus had become our Savior and Lord. When I poured out my sins to the Lord and prayed for Him to come in, I knew that something had happened. I had been born again! When I stood I saw that all of the other kids were on their feet, I felt confused. But I knew what had just happened was real. I was now a born again Christian!
Did that mean that I could live any way I wanted? NO! Did it mean that I had to start the process of spiritual growth? Absolutely! Spiritual growth can never precede spiritual birth. Just as I had a lot of physical maturing ahead of me, so I had a lot of spiritual maturing to do.
There are some who have the sequence wrong. They hold to the view that we must do things to merit salvation. Not according to my Bible. Isaiah 64:6 says: “For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].” (The Amplified Bible)
That does not sound like we can do anything to be justified by our good deeds or righteous actions. Spiritual birth must precede spiritual growth. It is only then that we learn and practice what it means to be a faithful born-again believer. The right sequence!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 12, 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.
There are so many times in life when you wonder where to turn. It may be your own difficulties, or it may be what someone else is going through, but it is just beyond our human ability to come up with the answer. I want to let you in on a little secret–It isn’t necessary to have the answer, but it is to have the Savior!
The disciples who followed our Lord were human, just as we are human. They were like sheep without a shepherd. The religious leaders of their day had perverted the truth of the Word of God and now they had seen the Truth in human flesh giving them the answer they needed for the dismal future they faced: COME TO ME!
Notice the different categories of individuals that Christ called to come to Him. There were those who were weary and burdened. If you are in that condition at this moment, or if you find yourself in that condition in the future, you can be assured that you know where to go: COME UNTO ME! Those words of invitation are your answer.
Jesus told His disciples that it was the Father who enabled them to come to Him. That still applies today. If you feel a tug in your heart drawing you to: COME UNTO ME, you know it is the Holy Spirit being sent from the Father. I urge you never to resist, but rush into His arms!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 11, 2014 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:5-7
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
For several months our congregation has been studying First and Second Peter. I have prepared the following as a teaching tool for Second Peter 1:1-7. I have decided to send it out for your personal study.
PETER’S STEPS TO SPIRITAL GROWTH
FAITH THAT SEES BEYOND THE PRESENT
(THIS IS THE BASIS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH)
ADD THE FOLLOWING ATTRIBUTES:
GOODNESS
(A virtuous course of thought, feeling and action)
plus
KNOWLEDGE
(Moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living)
plus
SELF-CONTROL
(The virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)
plus
PERSEVERANCE
(Steadfastness, constancy, endurance)
plus
GODLINESS
(Reverence, respect towards God)
plus
MUTUAL AFFECTION
(The love which Christians cherish for each other)
plus
LOVE
(The nature of God is summed up in love)
As you consider these attributes that Peter lists, what would be your score? Make a start today!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 10, 2014 | James
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
In over fourteen years of sending out this Daily-E-Votional, I have not requested personal prayer. It is not that I do not believe in the power of prayer because I certainly do! There are many prayer warriors who have been called to that ministry and I applaud their faithful service.
That being said, I would like to request prayer for my wife, Joyce, and myself. Joyce has been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). It is a type of progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning, and independent function because of abnormal microscopic deposits that damage brain cells over time. She has experienced all of the symptoms.
Please pray for Joyce to be healed and for me to have strength to care for my beloved wife of 62 years.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
