by Pastor Cecil | Feb 14, 2019 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
You may have heard the story of the young man who was composing a love note to his sweetheart. He vowed that he would climb the highest mountain, swim the widest river, and fight the most ferocious beast to prove his love for her. At the bottom of the note he added a P.S. “I will come and see you Sunday if it does not rain.” Oops!
I once heard my dear friend, Pastor Chuck Higgins, preach from this passage in 1 Corinthians. He started out by simply reading the familiar verses. He then read it a second time and replaced the word love with the name Jesus. It fit perfectly. But Pastor Higgins was not finished.
He read it a third time and replaced the word love with the name Charles E. Higgins. We all laughed nervously as we realized that it would be difficult to live up to the scriptures’ description of love. But he was still not finished. He asked each of us to silently read the passage and replace the word love with our own name. It became strangely silent in that room.
I would like to challenge you to read this passage and insert your own name. From this moment on try to make the description fit the way you live your life.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 13, 2019 | Luke
Luke 16:10
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”
In yesterday’s Daily-E-Votional I talked about the old time “chuck wagon” and the cook’s responsibilities of preparing meals, cleaning, mending, and a host of other tasks that made him the most valued member of the cattle drive. One of his most vital tasks each night was to locate the Pole Star and point the wagon tongue in its direction.
Before I retire each night I go to the front door and gaze into the skies. Even here in the State of Washington, I can usually locate the Pole Star. The other stars change position during the night and throughout the year, but the good ole Pole Star is always in the same position.
It would be ridiculous for me to suggest that people will know the right direction by looking to see where our tongue is pointed, but you may make a connection. Luke 6:45 says: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” People at least should get good directions by our talk and our walk.
Let me close by sharing what the apostle Paul shared with the church at Philippi. Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” That is the right star to point to for those around you. Where are you pointing?
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 12, 2019 | Luke
Luke 16:10
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
I enjoy cooking in cast iron utensils. Just about every time I use a skillet or Dutch oven, I think about the old chuck wagons that became the nerve center of every cattle drive that traveled across the plains states in the early days.
The cook who operated the chuck wagon was not on the lowest rung of the ladder. Actually, he was the highest paid man on the cattle drives and had total authority over his domain. Before retiring each night, he would point the tongue of his wagon toward the North Star. This would give the drive master the direction he needed to keep on course.
The cook would arise about 3:00 a.m. each morning to get his sourdough biscuits rising, the coffee brewing and bacon frying. He operated on less sleep than the rest of the men, so his job was not an enviable position. His rattling pans were the alarm clock for the rest of the hands to get ready for the day. He was often called upon to settle disputes among the cowboys.
God has called some to be a “cook” to those we serve. Many times it means that we must go without sleep and work harder than others that we lead. Our reward will not come until the “drive” is completed, and we hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful Cook!”
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 11, 2019 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 26:16
“But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.”
You may have noticed that many characters in the Bible started out as God’s heroes, but they ended up as zeroes because of their pride. Unfortunately, Uzziah was also a part of that group.
As long as he sought the Lord, Uzziah was able to subdue his enemies and be God’s man in leading Judah to subdue her enemies. Somewhere along the line he began to think that it was his own ability that brought victory. That is always the beginning of the end for anyone.
Uzziah did not become full of pride until he had become powerful. His success caused him to take his eyes off the Lord and credit himself. Sadly, we will never know all that Uzziah could have accomplished if he had remained dependent upon the Lord. He blew it!
So what was Uzziah’s sin? He presumed on God’s holiness. What does that mean? It means that he felt that he was above God’s Word and that he was exempt from what it demanded. Doing things his way, not God’s way, doomed him to a life of humiliation and separation—FROM PRIDE TO PITY.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 8, 2019 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out. To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird, he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them. That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the firestorm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
