by Pastor Cecil | Oct 19, 2011 | Acts
Acts 10:37-38
You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.
Gadarenes! (You won’t find that word in the dictionary!) That is what we used to call people who hopped from one church to another. Always searching for the perfect church but not finding it. It reminds me of an old folk story. It seems that there was a family who had moved from their home to resettle in a dryer climate. They had no idea just where to settle so they kept asking questions along the way. They came to one town and, as they filled up their car with gas, they asked one of the residents what the town was like.
The resident in turn asked what their previous community was like. The husband was quick to point out all of the flaws in his previous town and the miserable people who lived there. The man told him that this town was much the same way and he would find the same type of miserable people here. The traveler thanked him and drove off.
A few days later another family stopped and asked the same question. This time the travelers told the man how wonderful their previous town was. The only reason they were leaving was because of the wife’s health. The town resident proudly told him what a wonderful town it was and the people were just like the ones they had left behind. They quickly made plans to settle there.
Someone had overheard both conversations and asked the resident if he was not being two-faced in what he had told the families. The man replied that he was not. Wisely he said that what people saw in others was much what they would always see wherever they would go. We can go about seeing the good or seeing the bad. What are you seeing?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
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by Pastor Cecil | Sep 20, 2011 | Acts
Acts 2:40-41
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Have you ever felt that you have failed the Lord in sharing the wonderful gospel message with the lost? I know I have gone through that valley of despair when I have missed golden opportunities.
I once met with a former classmate of mine. He was a successful businessman but this day he was very despondent. He told me that one of his closest friends had been the head football coach at their high school. He had been meeting with the coach once a week for a few years to talk football and drink coffee. He had intended to share the gospel with him, but kept putting it off.
A week or so before I met with my friend, he had received a call from the coach’s wife telling him that her husband had been rushed to the hospital with a heart attack. By the time my former classmate arrived at the hospital, he had died. My friend was crushed and ashamed of himself.
The apostle Peter had been as close to the Lord Jesus as anyone on this earth. He had every intention of defending his Lord, even if it meant losing his own life. In spite of his resolve he denied the Lord three times. But that was not the end of the story. In today’s Scripture we hear how Peter proclaimed the gospel message in such power of the Spirit that three thousand souls were saved in a single day. I thank God we serve a God who gives us a second chance, and a third chance and . . . . Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.comPlease feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 15, 2011 | Acts
Acts 2:40-41
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
This afternoon we were thrilled to have a visit from our newest great-granddaughter. She is only five days old but here she was bringing her parents along with her. I am sure you believe that she had the idea and ability to do this by herself. Hee! Hee!
In a few weeks we will have an extra special blessing when three of our grandchildren will be visiting, and we will be able to see all four of our great-grandchildren together. This will be extra special since one family lives in Austin, Texas, one in Berlin, Germany, and one about two hours north of us. What a joyful gathering we are anticipating.
As I was thinking about how our family is growing, it led me to think about the growth of the church of Jesus Christ. It may be only a few huddled together in a mud hut or it may be thousands gathered in a magnificent place of worship—but His family is growing.
I recently read an e-mail message reporting that a new believer had been beheaded for becoming a Christian. As I reflected on this report I thought of how across the ages, there have been many who have been willing to lay down their lives rather than turn their backs on the Lord Jesus who laid down His life for each of us. My prayer is that all true members of the family of God will be willing to die rather that recant. If Jesus is worth living for, He is worth dying for. Even so come quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.comPlease feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 14, 2011 | Acts
Acts 18:26
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Have you ever met the Yesbuts? It is not a family that lives down the block or the next street over. As a matter of fact this is not a family at all. It is a defense that many people have used to reject the truth that has been presented. Excuse me—I have made a terrible mistake (intentional, by the way). We need to have a space in the name; it should be read: Yes, but.
Now I am sure that you have come into contact with this defensive maneuver. The truth is presented as clearly as possible and it is hoped that the person or persons listening will receive it. But instead, there is this look of desperation in their eyes and you hear those words that are so frustrating, “Yes…but…”
It is so sad that even when the blessed Holy Spirit speaks to a person they often rely on “yes…but…” to justify their reason for not yielding. God is never impressed with our feeble excuses for rejecting His appeal for us to become obedient to His direction.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you right now? Is God saying there must be a change in your life? Are others seeing inconsistencies in your life that you refuse to acknowledge? Are you willing to surrender your will to His will?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.comPlease feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 31, 2011 | Acts
Acts 17:11
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
Back in the dark ages when I was a Juvenile Probation Officer, juvenile cases were under the jurisdiction of the Probate Court. The work of handling juvenile offenders was just one additional function. The primary work of the court was to handle the final disposition of a deceased person’s estate.
At that time there was no such thing as computers and spell checkers on the old electric typewriters. That’s right—we were advanced and had electric typewriters, not those old manual contraptions!
After receiving and processing the many documents in these cases, two people would proof each document. It was usually Ruby and LaRue. I can still hear the drone of one reading while the other followed along on the court document. Now Ruby was getting up there in years and it was not uncommon to see her head drop down and her eyes close. So LaRue had to insure that she was awake while they were proofing the text at hand.
I fear that many Christians today are like little Ruby. Their eyes grow heavy and heads droop as they are lulled into a stupor by the word of some ministers who twist the Word of God out of context in order to support their own agenda. It is our responsibility to always be alert to check what they say with what the Bible says. If it is wrong, run, don’t walk, away from the false teacher. Proof is essential!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 13, 2011 | Acts
Acts 20:28-30
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
My heart was crushed recently when I heard of things that had happened in a local church that so disturbed a family, that the husband (who was suspicious anyway) said; “I do not want anything more to do with Christians!” I know his reaction was wrong, but what about the one or ones who had created the injury?
The unfolding of this latest incident has prompted me to devote this entire week toward looking at the church of Jesus Christ. What is the church and what is not the church? I think it is safe to say that it will stretch me greatly as I present this material.
Let me pose this question for all of us to consider: “What do you think the church is?” In the next few issues of the Daily-E-Votional, I would like for us to consider just what makes up a church.
I think it is important for us to consider human nature. (That’s a depressing subject isn’t it)? Think of a huge company with 10,000 employees. Imagine that for years this company has been recognized for friendliness and going out of the way to be helpful. Now one of the 10,000 employees insults a customer. (I hope you see what’s coming next!) Immediately this customer complains how terrible the company treats people. That is what often happens in the body of Christ. One person out of 10,000 (or whatever number) does something ungodly and suddenly all Christians are criticized. In the next few days we will look to see what God desires the true church to be.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
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