by Pastor Cecil | Aug 31, 2015 | James
James 5:16b
“. . . The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
We got a call today from Pastor Cecil’s daughter that Cecil was in the hospital because of dizzyness, but in spite of this he wanted to be sure the Daily-E-Votional got out on schedule. So, here it is.
When he got to the hospital they determined he most likely has some internal bleeding. They gave him two units of blood and scheduled him for an endoscopy today.
When we called Cecil at the hospital he was waiting for the endoscopy so they could determine where the bleeding was coming from. So, please pray for Cecil at this time that the doctors and all involved will find the cause of the bleeding and that God would heal him directly or through their help.
Pastor Cecil has a great sense of humor and when I asked him what he wanted me to say in this E-Votiional, he said, “Tell them I’ve got mental dysfunction.”
Thanks for lifting Pastor Cecil up in prayer at this time.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Russ Hansen for Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 27, 2015 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14-15
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”
I recently received an email advertisement for sleep masks and earplugs. It sounded intriguing especially if you are working night shift. Back in my college days we had three kids and I was working full-time from 11 o’clock in the evening till 7 o’clock in the morning. Try as she might, Joyce could not always keep the kids silent. A sleep mask and ear plugs might have helped, but it was not to be.
I am sure you realize that there is a strong spiritual application. The majority of people go through life with sleep masks and earplugs to block out anything that has spiritual significance.
The sleep masks and earplugs may often be identified by activities, studies, infatuations, alcohol, drugs, and on and on the list may go. If you have ever spent any amount of time in the company of unsaved people you will hear them mock anything that has to do with eternal values. They often make statements to indicate that they live a good life and that should qualify them for heaven.
According to Scripture we know that is not the case. When we try to tell them they are deaf and blind. But never give up! There may be a brief moment when they are open to hear and believe. Our job is to be ready when they’re open to hear and see.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 25, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 16:24-25
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
This afternoon I had made a trip to the post office and was on my way home when I noticed a young woman slouched over speaking into a cell phone. That was not what got my attention. My eyes were drawn to the sign she was leaning against which read; DEAD END STREET.
Wow! That hit me like a ton of bricks. How many times do we see people around us who are on a dead-end street. We can come to many dead-end streets in our life when we fail to take the action that is necessary. Even though it says dead-end street many times people fail to ignore the warning and come to a sudden stop at the end. At that time it’s either turnaround or crash.
The words of Solomon in today’s Scripture are profound and true. We may listen to the sweet enticement to seek the pleasures of sin, but to do so inevitably leads us into a dead-end street. Many lives, families, and ministries have gone down that dead-end street. Sad! Sad! The bitter wail!
So mentioned earlier, there is an option. If we find ourselves on a one-way street we need to immediately make a U-turn. In Scripture we find that U-turn described by one word . . . REPENTANCE! If you’re on a dead-end street, repent as soon as possible. As a teen we had an expression; “TURN DON’T BURN!”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 24, 2015 | Esther
Esther 4:14
“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
There are times in our life when we are faced with the challenge of faith. Things seem to be stacked against us and without the strength of the Lord, we will fail. In both the Old and New Testament we see common ordinary people whom God chose to do mighty things for Him. Sometimes those things are dangerous!
Esther faced one of these fearful times when Mordecai instructed her to go directly to the king and plead for the lives of all the Jews who were to be annihilated in less than a year. She knew that appearing before the king without being summoned was suicide. But she chose to utter those faithful words, “If I perish, I perish!”
Mordecai also exhibited faith. He knew that God was going to come to the aid of His people. If the source of rescue did not come from Esther, it would come from some other source.
Faith has its rewards! Not only were the people saved from the slaughter that the wicked Haman had planned, but Esther was given his property and Mordecai was promoted to Prime Minister, second only to the king. VICTORY!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 21, 2015 | Isaiah
Isaiah 53:12
“Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”
Several years ago I received an e-mail from one of our subscribers who passed on some information that I found interesting and inspirational. It has to do with the town of Reed City, Michigan. I visited Reed City’s website and discovered that there is a museum called the “Old Rugged Cross Museum.”
The Old Rugged Cross Historical Museum is an outgrowth of a memorial cross erected and dedicated on September 14, 1954, north of Reed City, Michigan, near the Home of Rev. and Mrs. George Bennard. Rev. Bennard was the author of the well-loved hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” written in 1913.
Back in 1913, Salvation Army Officer, George Bennard passed through a trying experience. This experience caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and, in particular, what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of by entering into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. While contemplating on these truths, Bennard was convinced that the cross was not just a religious symbol, but rather the very heart of the gospel. He penned the words of this beloved hymn.
Bennard spent the last years of his life by the side of the road, a few miles north of Reed City, Michigan. At the age of 85, on October 9, 1968, he passed away. Near this home there still stands a twelve foot high cross with the words The Old Rugged Cross – Home of George Bennard, composer of this beloved hymn.
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
In that old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To access The Old Rugged Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross/ in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
