by Pastor Cecil | Feb 21, 2017 | Isaiah
Isaiah 64:4
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
Eye witness reports are often very suspect. Perhaps the two most famous (or infamous) sightings are Bigfoot and UFO’s. It does little to confirm that they really exist simply on the basis of so-called personal observations.
A few years ago I was watching a documentary on human behavior as it relates to pre-conceived suggestions. A group of participants were gathered to observe potential aliens from outer space. The test was conducted near Roswell, New Mexico, where the first reports of strange appearances took place.
The participants were told to carefully record everything they personally observed and describe it in detail. The path was so designed that they would have no visual clues. While on the tour they were subjected to strange and eerie sounds. At the end of the test almost all of the participants described in detail what they had seen. Remember, they had actually seen nothing!
God has chosen to reveal His will and way to us through His Spirit. We can truthfully say we have “seen” Him because we walk and talk with Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 20, 2017 | 1 Kings
1 Kings 19:12
“And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
It was over 70 years ago that an evangelist came to our church in Camas, Washington, to hold a revival. His name was Uncle Bud Robinson. There is only one story that he shared that has remained with me through the years.
Uncle Bud told of receiving a special gift of cash while holding services in another town. He was very pleased with the unexpected windfall and began to plan how he was going to use the money. At that moment, however, Uncle Bud felt the Lord impress upon him that it was not his to spend, but he was to carry it with him and give it to someone of God’s choosing.
Months later Uncle Bud was conducting services in another large city. Throughout the week he felt the Lord impressing upon him that this was the time to deliver the money to the person intended.
It was the final night of the revival and many had come forward to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The service ended and everyone had left the building, but the Lord had still not revealed to Uncle Bud to whom he should give the money. Now only he and the Pastor remained to straighten up the hymnals and put the sanctuary back in order.
Suddenly the door to the sanctuary swung open and the church organist came in, explaining that she had forgotten her sweater. In that split second it was as though the Lord tapped Uncle Bud on the shoulder and whispered in his ear, “She’s the one!”
Uncle Bud greeted her and said he thought she needed more than her sweater. He handed her the money that had been in his safekeeping. The young woman began to sob. She related that she lived across town and that night only had enough money for a bus ticket to the service. She planned to walk back home, which was through a dangerous part of the city, especially at night.
God had provided for her over and abundantly months in advance. She only had to have the faith to travel knowing she had no provision to get back home. Uncle Bud only had to listen to the still, small voice of the Lord telling Him to deliver the money when directed.
I want to be that sensitive to the voice of the Lord so that I will be ready to do His will when He directs. It requires quietness and paying attention to His voice. I pledge to spend more quiet time listening and then responding when He leads.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 17, 2017 | James
James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
As I write the words of this Daily-E-Votional it is the 35th anniversary of my dad’s death. He was a true man of God and there was an authenticity about his walk with the Lord. He loved his family, but even more so he loved his God.
I cherished every moment I spent with my dad. He was an encourager and was always there to insure that I was striving to be the man God wanted me to be. He stressed that after he was gone I would hold fast to the gospel and point people in the direction of the cross. I yearn for the day when I will see my dad once again, but even more so I yearn for the day I will meet my Savior face to face.
In the early years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the U.S. that claimed many lives. In 1903 Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In Cleland’s hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the house.
If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that each of us do at some time in our life), let these words bring that quiet assurance we need.
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod 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
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 16, 2017 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
One summer when I was a young boy, we were challenged to memorize key verses in Scripture. One of those verses was Isaiah 41:10. I cannot begin to tell you how many times across the years this verse has been with me.
In today’s world of GPS (Global Positioning System) technology, there is a voice that gives instructions of where to turn and how far to go before giving the next instruction of where to turn and how far to go. I have known drivers that turn their GPS off just to silence that voice.
I come from a day and age where we learned to read maps. When I worked as a milk man it was necessary to use a code to tell how many intersections to cross, when to turn left or right and which house was to receive the home delivery (I am a very old man!).
God gives us assurance that His voice will always strengthen, help, and uphold us as we obediently follow His word and His way. All we need to do is to … FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS! Do not silence His voice.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 15, 2017 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I once held the position of Deputy Director of the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. We were tasked with the responsibility of allocating Federal and State funds to upgrade the Criminal Justice System.
Various jurisdictions had to apply for the grant, but before they were approved to receive the funds they had to submit a plan as to how the upgrade would improve the efficiency of their operation. In a manner of speaking, we wanted to bless them by providing the money to accomplish an objective they could not attain without it.
Unfortunately there were some groups who failed to see that our objective was to help them. They seemed to think that we were stepping on their toes by demanding that they follow their own guidelines.
In the spiritual realm we sometimes overlook the fact that God has plans for us that are for our own good and His glory. It is vital that we slow down and spend time alone with the Lord to discover the precious plans He has to bring us peace, a future, and a hope.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
