by Pastor Cecil | May 14, 2019 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:2
“But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
I have noticed a recent increase in the number of so-called brilliant people who are led to believe in ghosts and supernatural things. These are often the same people who laugh and scorn at the truth of the gospel message.
It is frustrating that so many are blinded by the devil and fail to respond to the pure message of hope and salvation. These souls have been so deceived that they believe the lies told by others who have also been deceived.
Way back in 1940 there was a movie called Pal Joey. A song written for that movie was called Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. Recently I heard the tune and it made me think of the way many people are led down the wide and destructive path that leads to an eternity in a devil’s hell.
There is hope, my dear friend. While it is true that the god of this world does indeed blind the eyes of those who choose to walk away from the one true God…there is deliverance. The only hope for a lost and dying world that has been bewitched by Satan is the powerful and life-giving message of salvation. Tell the world that there is hope and try as best you can to break their bondage of sin.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 7, 2019 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:7
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”
In our Scripture for today, Paul shares that he was given a thorn in the flesh. I have heard some who have tried to guess what that thorn was. If it was important we would have been told. By his not naming the thorn we are better able to relate to the thorn that we may have in our own life. I guess you might say; “The type of thorn does not matter—any old thorn will do! The important thing is not the thorn but the Christ who uses the thorn.”
This is why it is so essential that we spend much time in prayer, asking God how we should pray. We are too guilty of telling God what to do, instead of listening for His voice. Once Paul learned the secret of the thorn, he could see that the Lord’s strength and power was made perfect in his weakness.
We may strive to be perfect and have it all put together, but remember the secret of the thorn. It is in our weakness that the Lord’s strength is demonstrated. Paul was so excited about this discovery that he began to delight in his weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. Why? Because it was then that Christ could be seen more clearly. It is not a call to a persecution complex. It is presenting of our body to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him as our normal act of worship.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 27, 2019 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:10
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Back in the 1970’s I seemed to have it made. I was Deputy Director of the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. The position paid well and I was offered a similar position with a Federal agency. But God had other plans for me.
I felt God’s call and took a part-time position with my home church. The pay was less and the hours longer, but it was God’s call and I could only obey. Since that time I have felt weak and inadequate, but it is in those times that I have most felt the power of God. It was not what I did, but what God did through me.
There came a time in my life when I felt that retirement was something to look forward to. I actually passed retirement age many years ago and now I am busier and my ministry is more fruitful than when I was young and strong.
Why is that? I think the answer is that it is not my strength or ability, but God flowing through me. The less I am able to do, the more He is able to do through me. “Do you feel me?”
If you feel too weak or too inadequate to do work for the Lord—start praising the Lord. That is when His power and glory can be displayed. It is when we are weak that His strength is revealed! Thank God for the difficulties and watch Him work!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 5, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”
Television has never been known for presenting the sterling virtue of honesty. As a matter of fact, it just seems to get worse and worse. In the past few years there has been an increase in “reality” shows. In addition to the numerous times the censors have to bleep the language of those being filmed, there is also a lack of authenticity.
When I was in graduate school I studied the Presentation of Self In Everyday Life by Erving Goffman. It was interesting to learn that people do not respond in a natural way when they are being watched by an audience.
When people have a television camera stuck in their face they will either put on a show (which most do) or close down and fail to act naturally. It is my humble conclusion that most of the reality shows are…make believe!
The tragedy is that many Christians also live a rigged reality life. They behave in a manner that seems right on the outside, but inside they are completely different. It should come as no surprise that the Lord knows our innermost thoughts and feelings. The real ones! My appeal to each and every one of us is to be honest and do not live a life that is characterized as MAKE BELIEVE!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 4, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:6
“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.”
We never know how close we are to eternity! In 1953 I had completed basic training in California. Approximately fifty of us new Airmen were being flown to Amarillo, Texas in an outdated military transport plane left over from World War II.
One of the flight crew notified us that we would be making a stop in New Mexico. Just as we landed, one of the two propellers stopped. We were stranded there for several hours while the necessary repairs were made. One of the mechanics happened to mention that it was fortunate we were near the airbase when the trouble hit. Yikes!
Thinking about it now, I realize that we could very easily have crashed and I would have been ushered into eternity! I have had other close calls that reveal to me that we are just a heartbeat from eternity!
I want to live in such a way that others will see Christ in me. Not only did Paul express his commitment to live only for Christ, he demonstrated it by the way he lived. If ever there was an example of a sold-out Christian life, it was the apostle Paul. Let me close for today with Paul’s statement in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 13, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.”
Life never stays the same. That can either be for the good or for the bad. If we are growing and maturing in the Lord, it is good. If we are sinking into the mire of sin and degradation, it is bad. Which direction are you heading?
I served as Pastor of the Summit Lake Community Church, in Olympia, Washington, after over 15 years of ministry. When I resigned to devote full time to the Daily-E-Votional, I had no idea of it growing into a worldwide ministry. You who read this are a part of this unique, cyberspace congregation
I view this new area of ministry as God’s plan and provision. You are welcome to be a part. The signs are all around us that the coming of the Lord is near. My desire is to keep on keeping on as the Lord gives me the strength.
Ask the Lord to show you what you can do to be more productive in allowing His power and strength to flow through you to others. The time is short and what we do for the Lord needs to be accomplished now! Be that new creature for Christ!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
