by Pastor Cecil | Nov 23, 2016 | 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 shall direct your paths.”
Over the years my precious wife, Joyce, became more and more terrified at driving a car. The worse fear she had was driving on the freeway. To her that was a one way path to destruction.
One day she took the car to get groceries. For some reason she chose to go to a store where she had not shopped before. After returning to the car with the groceries, she became turned around and suddenly she saw signs indicating that the freeway was just ahead.
I received her panic call for help; “Cec! I don’t know what to do. I am heading for the freeway!” After she told me her location I was able to give her direction of how to get back on the street leading to home.
Sometimes we find ourselves heading for the freeway of life and we know that it will be disaster if we continue on in the direction we are heading. What to do about it?
Three steps:
(1) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
(2) “Lean not on your own understanding.”
(3) “In all your ways acknowledge Him.” Follow those steps and He will get us home.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 22, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
In my book, “Life Is A Blast,” I recall a cow our family owned when I was a boy. Her name was Blossom and she was a gentle creature. I was too young to milk her, but I enjoyed spending time with her.
One of the things that I found fascinating about Blossom was the way she chewed the cud. She would chew and chew her hay then swallow it. After a short time there would be a rumble and she would burp up some of the partially digested hay. It is the way with cows to process their food in order to internalize it.
It is interesting that the word (meditate) in the original Hebrew is the word, hagah. It means to rumble or growl but also to muse or think deeply. In my mind as we read these two verses that begin the Book of Psalms, we are called to bring the words up over and over again until they become part of our being.
Here is the vital question—are we spending the time God wants us to spend in allowing His Word to dwell in us completely? Do we appropriate the deep meaning of the word to make our life complete? Let us chew the cud of God’s Word!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
P.S. – You can also find previous Daily-E-Votionals to help you in your walk with the Lord at: www.Daily-E-Votional.com. Please invite your friends and family to subscribe.
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 21, 2016 | John
John 17:16-17
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
Recently I have been recalling some of the incidents that occurred when I was a Juvenile Probation Officer “a lifetime” ago. One incident that stands out was the arrest of a 14-year-old boy for a rather serious offense. The parents were easily manipulated by their son, which led to his being out of control.
At the court hearing the Judge asked the mother to explain what steps were being taken in the home to control their son. The mother had a speech impediment that became more pronounced when she was nervous. For several minutes she spoke but no one could understand what she was saying. Finally the judge stopped her and asked her husband to tell him what his wife had said. The husband proudly proclaimed, “What my wife said was the truth!” He then sat down. The Judge had to call for a recess to get his laughter under control.
As born-again Believers we are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom. How do we know that God is real and that we can know what He says to us? It is only from His Word. We must never rely on dreams or visions; it is only the Word of God that will sanctify us and make us honorable vessels.
If you are seeking a closer walk with God and to know what is true, pick up your Bible and spend time alone with the Source of Truth. He will open your eyes of understanding as you open your heart to Him.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This week’s hymn was written over 300 years ago by Isaac Watts. It would be impossible to fully know the number of lives it has touched since he wrote it. One of those lives was the blind hymn writer, Fanny J. Crosby. In the autumn of 1850 revival meetings were being held in the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church in New York City.
Fanny and some of her friends attended each night and she craved for spiritual joy, but could not find it. On the evening of November 20, 1850, it seemed to her that the light must indeed come then or never. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing this hymn. When they sang “Here Lord, I give myself away,” her soul was flooded with a celestial light. She realized what her problem had been. She realized that she had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.
At the Cross
1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head, For sinners such as I?
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
2. Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
3. Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creature’s sin.
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
4. But drops of grief can ne’er repay, The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’Tis all that I can do.
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
Are you like Fanny Crosby—looking for joy to fill your soul? Her answer is our answer— Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’Tis all that I can do.
Enjoy this free inspirational video of, “At the Cross” by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/atthecross/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 17, 2016 | Proverbs
Proverbs 19:16
“He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.”
When I was a Juvenile Probation Officer I frequently counseled my probationers to be careful about their actions. Just as frequently, it seemed they ignored my warnings and became careless in their behavior. The result often led to their re-arrest only to find themselves back in Juvenile Court once again.
We have often heard the expression “haste makes waste.” It is true. It is also true that being careless leads to waste and chaos. It may not be one’s intention to do something wrong, but careless behavior has consequences.
Many commitments have been made to serve the Lord with all of one’s heart, mind, and soul. Commitment is a good starting point, but it is just that. It must be followed up with positive and continuous steps of action.
Have you made promises and then allowed the things of the world to slip in and cause you to become careless? Has your careless disregard of spiritual matters led to problems in your relationships with God and other people? Make a new commitment to the Lord and commit to yourself to not become careless.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
