by Pastor Cecil | Jan 14, 2015 | Acts
Acts 7:5-56
“But he, (Stephen) being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’”
The year was 1954 and I was stationed in the United States Air Force in Rapid City, South Dakota. While there we attended a small church along with just a handful of people. The pastor and his wife had three children, one of which was a developmentally disabled boy named Chucky. Chucky had all the features of Downs Syndrome. He spoke only with guttural tones and with great difficulty.
Chucky was the happiest when he would slip past the one who was assigned to sit with him and go up on the platform and sit in a chair next to his dad. I can still picture scenes of him sitting or standing by his dad with his song book upside down, pretending that he knew what the words meant, and making his singing sounds. His dad would look down at him with a pleasant smile that seemed to say, “I love you and I am here for you.”
At a family camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota there was a special healing service on the final day of the camp. Our pastor and his wife brought little Chucky forward for prayer. As the people prayed there was a feeling that healing had taken place, and everyone left certain that word would soon be received of a supernatural healing. But in just a few short days, Chucky died. The speaker at that camp sent a telegram to the grieving parents rejoicing that Chucky had been “healed perfectly.”
This world is not our home. No matter how long we live, we are here to love Him and serve Him. AFTER I WROTE THIS, AT 8:45 THIS MORNING, OUR PRECIOUS JOYCE RECEIVED HER PERFECT HEALING!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 13, 2014 | Acts
Acts 26:20
“Made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance.” (Amplified Bible)
I was saved when I was nine or ten years old. It’s been so long ago that I cannot remember my exact age. It is not essential to know my age, I just knew that I was not a Christian and the only way to become one was to confess my sins and invite Jesus into my heart.
There were about ten or fifteen other kids kneeling at that altar at the same time. The Pastor had told us to stand when we knew that Jesus had become our Savior and Lord. When I poured out my sins to the Lord and prayed for Him to come in, I knew that something had happened. I had been born again! When I stood I saw that all of the other kids were on their feet, I felt confused. But I knew what had just happened was real. I was now a born again Christian!
Did that mean that I could live any way I wanted? NO! Did it mean that I had to start the process of spiritual growth? Absolutely! Spiritual growth can never precede spiritual birth. Just as I had a lot of physical maturing ahead of me, so I had a lot of spiritual maturing to do.
There are some who have the sequence wrong. They hold to the view that we must do things to merit salvation. Not according to my Bible. Isaiah 64:6 says: “For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].” (The Amplified Bible)
That does not sound like we can do anything to be justified by our good deeds or righteous actions. Spiritual birth must precede spiritual growth. It is only then that we learn and practice what it means to be a faithful born-again believer. The right sequence!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 18, 2014 | Acts
Acts 26:20
But made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance. (The Amplified Bible)
I was saved when I was nine or ten years old — so long ago now that I cannot remember my exact age. It is not essential to know my age, I just knew that I was not a Christian and the only way to become one was to confess my sins and invite Jesus into my heart.
There were about ten or fifteen other kids kneeling at that altar at the same time. The Pastor had told us to stand when we knew that Jesus had become our Savior and Lord. When I poured out my sins to the Lord and prayed for Him to come in, I knew that something had happened. When I stood and saw that all of the other kids were on their feet, I felt confused. But I knew what had just happened was real. I was now born again!
Did that mean that I could live any way I wanted? NO! Did it mean that I had to begin the process of spiritual growth? Absolutely! Spiritual growth can never precede spiritual birth. Just as I had a lot of physical maturing ahead of me, I also had a lot of spiritual maturing to do.
There are some who have the sequence wrong. They hold to the view that we must do works to merit our salvation. Beep! Not according to my Bible. Isaiah 64:6 says: “For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].” (The Amplified Bible)
That does not sound like we can do anything to be justified by our good deeds or righteous actions. Spiritual birth must precede spiritual growth. It is only then that we begin to learn and practice what it means to be a faithful born-again believer. The right sequence!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 10, 2014 | Acts
Acts 8:34-35
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
I am 80 and therefore enjoy a lifetime of memories—many of which I share with you in the Daily-E-Votionals. I still remember the good old days of radio when our imaginations provided the scenes depicted by sounds. The world had just passed through the great depression and many families were still experiencing hard times.
As a boy we lived near the Pacific Coast and were always on alert for a possible enemy invasion. There were blackouts, rationing and stars in windows to signify that a son or daughter was in the service or had died in the war. It was a time when we sometimes felt a dark cloud over our heads.
In this dismal hour of uncertainty it was a comfort to tune in to the broadcast of Gabriel Heatter, and hear him bring hope to our nation; “There’s good news tonight!” That was the opening statement of this radio broadcaster back in the dark days of WWII. In the time of darkness and doubt, he gave hope and encouragement.
In today’s Scripture, a eunuch from Ethiopia was discouraged by his inability to understand a passage of Scripture from Isaiah 53. It was into this scene that Philip arrived and told him the good news about Jesus.
With every dismal and depressing circumstance in our life, we need to hear words of hope from God’s Word; “Ahhhhhh, my friends! There’s good news tonight!” Jesus is the good news, and we need to be the ones who hear that good news and also to bring the good news to others.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 26, 2014 | Acts
Acts 6:3-4
So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.’ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.
Yesterday I wrote about a young Amish school teacher who was attending a meeting for school teachers. One of the speakers mentioned that he wanted to be remembered as a person who was here and willing to help. It was refreshing reading about a teacher’s meeting for Christian teachers.
Here is another statement that caught my attention: “When we serve our fellow men we are serving God. The moment we use our position of authority to demand obedience we have stopped fearing God.” That is a wonderful reminder for all of us.
As we read today’s Scripture we find that Stephen was chosen to wait on the tables. He was a servant! There were six other men chosen, but Stephen was not just a servant, but in verse 8 we read more about him. Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. He went beyond the required tasks of a servant and did his duties as unto the Lord.
Here is the question for us all. Do we have the heart of a servant to such a degree that we serve others as our spiritual act of ministry? That is my desire.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 15, 2014 | Acts
Acts 8:34-35
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
If ever we need good news, it is in these days. Today is tax day here in the US, and that is certainly not something to cheer about. I have just turned 80 and therefore enjoy a lifetime of memories—many of which I share with you in the Daily-E-Votionals. I still remember the good old days of radio when our imaginations provided the scenes depicted by sounds.
As a boy we lived near the Pacific Coast and were always on alert for a possible invasion. There were blackouts, rationing and stars in windows to signify that a son or daughter was in the service or had died in the war.
The world had just passed through the great depression and many families were still experiencing hard times. It was a time when we needed to hear words of hope and encouragement. Gabriel Heatter was a news commentator and his report each evening; “Good evening, everyone—there is good news tonight.” Good news was needed back then and it is still needed today.
In today’s Scripture a eunuch from Ethiopia was discouraged by his inability to understand a passage of Scripture from Isaiah 53. It was into this scene that Philip arrived and told him the good news about Jesus.
With every dismal and depressing circumstance in our life we need to hear words of hope from God’s Word; “Ahhhhhh, my friends! There’s good news tonight!” Jesus is the good news and we need to be the ones who hear that good news and also to bring the good news to others.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
