by Pastor Cecil | Mar 28, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Psalm 139:1-6
“O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in-behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”
The Book of Psalms has a very special place in my heart. This is especially the case since the evening of July 11, 1991. Our daughter, Brenda Joy, was very near death. I sat at her bedside with an open Bible. I read to her Psalm after Psalm. She was in and out of consciousness. Each time her eyes flickered open, she said: “Oh, I like that one. Please read another Psalm, Dad.” Of course I did, even though my heart was being crushed as I watched my precious daughter come closer and closer to the end of this life.
I read Psalm 23, then continued with 37, 103 and 139. These four Psalms still captivate me. Each of the four, in it’s own special way, tells of God’s special concern and protection for us. Each has a section or sections which tell of our responsibility and other sections which give us the promise of God in reaction to our obedience.
As I write this, I am 74 years of age. It seems impossible, since I still think of myself as just a young lad in so many ways. All of the hopes and dreams are still there, and it seems impossible that life has moved as quickly as it has. I think that has positive benefits as well as the obviously negative ones. It means that I am constantly learning, searching and trying to grow in spiritual wisdom. I want to just share what I feel in regard to this powerful Psalm that never ceases to amaze me.
The first thing or things that I notice are the actions of the Lord. I am going to use a little of my own paraphrasing. Here is what I see the Lord doing: He Searches us; He knows us; He perceives our thoughts; He discerns our activities; He is familiar with all of our ways; He knows what we are going to say before we speak; He has laid his hand upon us.
Spend a little time meditating about all that this means to us. There is nothing that we can hide from God! It is possible to fool those around us, even those who are closest to us, but we can never fool God. We might not know what we are going to say before we speak, but God knows exactly what we are going to say. We might think we are getting away with the places we go and the things we do, but remember that God is aware of all of our actions.
We are living in a day of unbelievable technology. I marvel at our ability to use Google Earth and be able to view virtually any place on earth orbiting space vehicles pointed back toward earth. Most of the time they use a wide angle lens that shows a wide panorama of the earth. At times, however, the camera is able to focus in and it shows much greater detail. I have even been able to identify a bird bath in our side yard from hundreds of miles in space.
The term, “big brother”, has been used in connection with governmental agencies as they engage in surveillance. We need to know that the Lord knows us more intimately than any spy organization ever could. But in spite of knowing all about us, the Lord places His hand upon us. He is always there to guide us—to let us feel that we are not alone—to reveal His great salvation that is by grace, through faith in Him alone.
This reality of the nature of God is not to make us feel that He is there as a threat, but as the Mighty God, who knows what we are like, inside and out, loves us enough to send His One and Only Son to die on the cross for us. It is a thought provoking image of Him on the cross – looking across the centuries knowing every thought and feeling we
possess and loving us to death—His death—but rising from the grave in order that we might be raised with Him. Praise God for His great love!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 27, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
A pastor stepped into the sanctuary and heard a woman wailing out tones that would almost peel the paint off the wall. She paused and looked at the pastor with a broad smile. She asked: “Pastor, do you like good music?” Without thinking he responded: “Yes, as a matter of fact I do; but you go right on singing anyway!”
I can relate to that joke since I lack musical ability, but I do love music. There is a song that is a favorite of mine: “I Heard Footsteps Standing in the Shadows and a Hand Reaching Out to Tell Me He Was There.” As I listen to this song I am aware of the reality that the Lord is always with His children.
Across the years I have experienced many stressful situations only to look back and realize that the Lord was there all the time. Not only was He there, but He had permitted me to be there in order to be His servant. In 1991, our daughter was in the critical care unit at the University of Washington. One evening our daughter’s nurse, who knew that I was a minister, asked if I could speak to the woman in the next room.
As I entered I found her sobbing uncontrollably. She had been airlifted to the hospital from Alaska and had no one near her during this critical time in her life. I was able to speak to her about the Lord and how He never leaves us alone, but is always there beside us. As I prayed with her I felt the presence of the Lord standing in the shadows.
When our granddaughter was a sophomore in college, she called one night to say she had a doctor’s appointment here in Olympia. Joyce and I jumped at the chance to meet her for lunch. I decided to go into the doctor’s office to see if she had arrived. She was there and was still waiting to see the doctor.
We sat and visited for a few minutes. Without thinking about it, I took some money out of my pocket and gave it to her. She acted like I had struck her. “Papa”, she said, “When I left Kirkland, I only had a dollar bill in my billfold. I prayed and said ‘Lord, You are going to need to take care of me.’ Now you give me this money!” Folks, once again, I heard the sound of footsteps standing in the shadows!
Years ago there was a beloved evangelist who was lovingly known as Uncle Bud Robinson. He traveled all over the country preaching with a voice that stuttered and stammered, but he powerfully proclaimed the Word of God. I recall a story that Uncle Bud told about sitting down to eat at someone’s house. It was a custom in that home to wash the dishes then put them back on the table upside down, silverware in place and then cover it with a tablecloth. When he turned his plate over, there was a $20 bill.
He was overjoyed, but it seemed as if the Lord told him to just carry it with him until he was told to deliver it. Some time later he was conducting a service in Detroit, Michigan. During the day it seemed as if the Lord told him that he would be delivering the money that evening. He watched, waited, then watched and waited some more. Finally all had gone except Uncle Bud and the pastor.
The pastor started turning off the lights and the two of them started for the door. Just then a young woman came in through the doors. She was the organist who had played for the full week of meetings. She said she had come back because she had forgotten her sweater. In his spirit, Uncle Bud knew she was the one. He said, “S-s-s-sister, I i-i-i-think you n-n-n-need something else.”
When he gave her the money she began to sob with joy and relief. She shared with the two men that she only had enough money to pay for the bus fare to get to the service that night and had planned to walk home over 5 miles away through a bad part of town. When I read that story I heard footsteps walking in the shadows.
I just want to share with all of you that my greatest desire is to be one who will carry what God gives me to carry, and deliver it to the one or ones He directs me to. I want to hear footsteps standing in the shadows and a hand reaching out to tell me He is there!
My prayer is that one of these Daily E-Votionals will contain a message you need to hear for that particular time in your life. I urge you to seek the face of God and sense Him in the shadows of your life. He cares for you, and you are never alone. He really is there, standing in the shadows of your life!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 26, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Psalm 141:3-4
“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evil doers; let me not eat of their delicacies.”
I recall hearing the story of a traveling evangelist who was holding a meeting in a church he had never visited before. He had never met the pastor of the church until just before the opening service. As they sat together singing one of the hymns of the church, the evangelist saw a very ugly woman in the third row. He leaned over to the pastor and asked; “Who is that ugly woman in the third row?” The pastor replied, “That, sir is my wife.” Trying to recover from this sticky situation, the evangelist said, “No, pastor, not her, the one sitting next to her.” The pastor looked back with a scowl and said, “That, sir is my daughter!” Have you ever had days like that? What can you say after the words have done their damage?
I am sure that I have shared with you about the Judge I worked for as a county Probation Officer, back in the 1950’s, when I was working on my college degree. He was a page out of history—a bow tie, white hair and a wit that kept attorneys always on their toes. His name was Ben Riordan, and he taught me so many practical things about life that I recall them even to this day.
He was very much aware of the dangers and evils of the tongue. I am sure he didn’t invent the phrase (well, perhaps he did invent it): “You can remain silent and look stupid, or you can open your mouth and remove all doubt.” He did come up with this phrase: “That fellow is so foolish, that when he speaks, he subtracts from the sum total of human intelligence.” I counted it one of my greatest honors to be able to go into his chambers during the recess of court cases and hear his wisdom and understanding of the law and of human nature. His memory lives in my heart!
One of the classes I took in college was debate. We learned how to make cases, establish proofs and to refute the opposition in their arguments. Our College Debate Squad was made up of four, two person teams. There were two of us, myself and Orville Hailey, who were married and working full-time, while also attending college classes. We had a big match with a neighboring college. The teams were ranked by their coaches from 1-4 with the best being number one and Orville and I being number four. Get the picture? Each team had to argue one debate on the negative side and one on the positive side.
Our first debate pitted Orville and I against the number four team from the other school, in which we argued on the positive side. To our surprise we won! But then our second match was against their number one team and we knew we were in for trouble. We scoffed at their arguments and drew them into arguments that caused them to defeat themselves. We used very few of our own arguments, but turned their words back on them. We won again!!
It was eight or nine years after the debate and I was employed by the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. I was interviewing an attorney to possibly work for us. As I looked at his credentials, I saw that he had graduated from the school we had debated. I asked if he had been on the debate team. He suddenly recognized the rascal who had won the debate! We laughed, and became dear friends after he came to work for us.
During a terrible, depressing time in his life when he shut out everyone for quite awhile, I was the only one he would talk with. I can still recall driving him around for several hours. We were both very silent. It was more of a time for presence than for words. He slouched down in an attitude of despair. The few words that I spoke were words the Lord had sifted, and they were not my words but His. They were words of healing.
I am happy to report that he made it through that dark period of his life. That was over thirty years ago. Not long ago we spoke on the phone and I found that, with the Lord’s help, his life has been restored. The tongue is a terrible weapon. It is the revealer of the heart and those hidden motives that lurk out of the sight of others. In a previous chapter, Psalm 139:4, we read: “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.” It is understood then why the Psalmist is here asking the Lord to set a watch over his tongue. We say things so quickly and after we try to take the words back, the damage has already been done.
There is a point I want to make in all of this relating of personal experiences. It relates to our Scripture for today. I feel that the Psalmist uttered his prayer for the Lord to set a guard on his mouth early in the morning to guide him through the day. It was a commitment on his part and it needs to be a commitment on our part to allow the Lord to sift those thought process that lead to speech and allow us to speak words that will build up and encourage, rather than tear down.
We all need to discover that we can be God’s instruments by learning to speak words of peace, joy, love and encouragement.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 25, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Psalm 119:11-16
“I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Praise be to You, O LORD; teach me Your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.”
One of the most precious possessions that our dear daughter left behind when she died in 1991, was her marked up Bible. She had notes and underlined passages which indicated that she had spent countless hours reading and studying it. It was a joy to pass it on to our granddaughter as a memory of her mother.
I hate to admit it, but I usually sneak a look at the Bibles people carry. You know that when a Bible is new it has a gold or silver finish on the edges. Try as you might there is only one way to keep those edges pristine—seldom open it. If you use it for any time at all, it will lose its gleam and have the beautiful look of a loved possession.
Over the years I have been thrilled to hear the testimonies from some of the Gideon Bible meetings. People have come to the Lord by reading a Bible, perhaps placed in a hotel room or another location. God’s Word is truly the power of God that leads to salvation.
My dear brother-in-the-Lord, Kenny McClinton, was a violent man and a leader of a violent political group. He was confined to prison and even there created such havoc that he was remanded to solitary confinement over fifteen times. During his times in solitary confinement in the punishment cells – the floor was black, the walls stark white, the cell bare, and a neon light burned continuously – there was absolutely no means of mental stimulation, so to relieve his utter boredom, Kenny decided to start reading the rather decrepit looking prison issue of the King James Version of the Bible. Here are Kenny’s own words about what happened:
“I found I quite enjoyed all the stories in the early chapters of the Bible. I could closely relate to the whole tribal attitudes and nomadic experiences; the wars; the plots; the political intrigue. I could understand King David’s skullduggery when he arranged for a man to be killed, after sleeping with his wife and making her pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11:) “I could understand the mighty Samson as he fought the Philistine oppressors and eventually pulled down the Dagon Temple upon them, killing thousands of his enemies. That’s what I wanted to do with mine!”
As the months passed in solitary confinement on the Loyalist Blanket Protest, Kenny reached the New Testament in his Bible readings and there in those priceless pages of God’s Word, he experienced the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and “…things were never quite the same after that…”
Describing his experience he said:
“What could not be achieved by prison bars, batons, concrete and solitary confinement, was quickly achieved by the matchless love of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was nobody to talk at length with me about God; nobody to fully explain the way to become a Christian – no books, no tracts, no strains of ‘Oh Lamb of God I come’ during a Gospel Mission. There was only my black burden of sin and guilt and shame – and that old black book of books, the Bible.”
Looking back, Kenny remembers his first realization that he was a “…filthy, Hell-deserving sinner…”, but the Bible pointed him to the righteous Jesus Christ who had suffered and died and rose again from the dead in order to offer sinners His forgiveness. (Matthew 11:28-30)
As he read on, he became aware of a tremendous Spiritual battle that was going on for his soul between Satan and the Lord God. On August 12th, 1979, he recalls falling down on his knees in cell 9, H Block 6 of the Maze Prison. He cried out to God in repentance – asked for forgiveness and faith to believe and be saved – and, praise God, he trusted in Christ Jesus and he was saved! (Psalm 51) (Luke 19:10)
He had read that one of the conditions of becoming a true Christian was an open, public, confession with his mouth, as well as a genuine belief in his heart. (Romans 10:9)
Therefore, after rising from his knees in that solitary cell, he called for a ‘meeting’ in the usual manner. All the Loyalist Blanket Protesters came up to their cell doors to hear what he had to say; expecting some political poem or some morale booster. Instead, he announced,
‘Today I have taken the most important step of my life. I have renounced violence. I have repented of my sins. I have asked Jesus Christ into my life, and to save me – and I believe He has saved me. From this day forth I cease to be a Military Commander of the U.F.F. and wish only to be a mere volunteer in the army of the Lord Jesus Christ. I will seek to serve Him to the best of my ability. I just wanted you men to know this.’ “
Today I count Kenny as a dear friend and spiritual brother. At the present time he is on a mission trip to India. I have prayed for him to have boldness as he proclaims the message of salvation to those who are lost. It is all because God’s Word lives in his heart.
I want to live in God’s Word until God’s Word is living in me! Where is God’s Word in your life?
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 24, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Matthew 28:18b-20
“…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
During His earthly ministry, Jesus told parables about servants who were unfaithful to their master. It is one thing to read these parables, but how often do we apply the teachings and principles to our own life? In other words, would we be considered faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ?
The area of discipleship is often talked about, but all too often neglected. We go to seminars to learn about it, and then return home to do nothing about it. We hear sermons on the necessity of being true disciples and teaching discipleship, but after saying our Amens! Shaking hands with the preacher, we do little about it.
The disciples of Jesus had been under His ministry for about three years. Except for a few rare instances, He had done the ministry while they observed. But now He had been crucified and resurrected and was about to leave them to carry out God’s plan and purpose.
In today’s Scripture we have what is known as the “Great Commission!” It is the MARCHING ORDERS for the army of the Lord. That is us! It is all too easy to be content with watching and listening, but fail to accept the order to make disciples.
Becoming disciplers is best described as spiritual parenting. I have learned that discipleship becomes meaningful if it is done without appearing preachy, stilted or pompous. I guess if I tried to act pompous I would quickly blow it. I would probably grin and have chives stuck between my teeth. I just have to be me!
When our oldest daughter, Brenda, passed away, it was as though the Lord gave us spiritual children to fill the void that her passing left. I always lovingly think of my own spiritual father, Dr. John Hall, and my spiritual grandfather, Mr. Jack Dedman. They freely and naturally shared Christ in their own way.
Some of the best spiritual insights that I received from these two spiritual parents, was while we were fishing for bass. But at other times it may be after a meal with one of their families. Jack Dedman was in his seventies and still working. He shared his tender insights while having us listen to his wonderful collection of sermon tapes.
I can still recall him sitting in his easy chair, falling asleep, snoring, then waking with words like, “Thank you Jesus!” “Praise the Lord!” He then would slip back into his sleep of the redeemed. Each of these men taught me deep truths in their own way. That is what I desire to do for those around me.
The apostle Paul had a son in the faith by the name of Timothy. In II Timothy 2:1-2, he gives valuable insights and instructions for Timothy as well as for all of us: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
Our spiritual life is like a relay race. We pick up the Word that has been passed to us by those who are our spiritual parents and then pass it along to those who are our spiritual children. It was never intended that we keep it to ourselves. It must be shared!
Two questions we must ask ourselves: 1. Who is our spiritual parent? Who is it that is able to take the precious Word of God and break it into small enough pieces that we can digest it, but always urge us to prepare our own food. Pre-digested food is only for babies. It is never intended that we remain in the spiritual highchair. We need to grow and mature, and we can only do that as we learn to feed ourselves. We must seek out our parents.
The second question is even more thought provoking. 2. Who are your spiritual children? Who looks to you for spiritual nourishment? Here is the way it works—we must get our own noses in our own Bibles, with a notebook beside us and be in an attitude of learning. Expect to find new insights and guess what? If you cannot think of anyone get on your knees and ask the Lord to lead us to a spiritual child to share it with. It may be a member of your own family, a fellow worker, a neighbor—only the Lord knows?
Good spiritual parents will move their spiritual children out of the nest as soon as possible. It is not healthy to foster dependence on themselves. It should be the Word that is the food for their children. Teach them to share with others who in turn will share with others! That is discipleship!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 21, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Luke 24:5-8
“In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered His words.”
This Sunday is Resurrection Day. For years I have shuddered every time I hear believers refer to Resurrection Day as Easter. I wish we would always replace it with “RESURRECTION DAY!” In the Dictionary of Word Origins, we have this explanation of the word Easter:
“The English word Easter is from the Anglo-Saxon word Eastre, a pagan goddess whose festivals (called Eastron) were in the spring season. The festival represented the rising of the sun, new life and a new beginning. Also related are the words East, the directions of the rising sun and yeast, a substance which makes bread rise.”
The reality is that Jesus did rise from the grave in ultimate victory!
Picture this fictitious scene. Joseph of Arimathea has a new tomb which he has earmarked for his own burial. After Jesus has been crucified, Joseph makes his way to speak to Pilate. This representative of the Emperor of Rome could not believe what he was hearing. “Joseph, are you saying that you want to bury this man Jesus in your own tomb?” Joseph smiles a knowing smile and replies, “It’s only going to be for three days!” (It’s a joke, folks)
That may be a joke, but the Resurrection is certainly no joke. It is more documented than almost any other event of ancient times. Jesus was seen by: Mary Magdalene, early Sunday morning (Mark 16:9-10); Other women, early Sunday morning (Matthew 28:9-10); Two individuals on the road to Emmaus on Sunday afternoon (Luke 24:13-32); Peter, sometime Sunday (Luke 24:34); Ten of the disciples that night (Luke 24:36); The eleven disciples a week later with Thomas now with them (John 20:26-31); Seven disciples at a seaside breakfast in Galilee ) John 21); The eleven disciples in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20); Five hundred faithful in Galilee (1 Corinthians 15:6); James the half brother of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7); To a group at His Ascension (Luke 24:44); and Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-7).
If you were an attorney, presenting a case in court, just think what a delight it would be to have that huge slate of witnesses. One after another would tell their utter amazement at seeing Jesus alive and even bearing the wounds from His crucifixion, but more alive than words could describe.
As with cases which are decided today, when the verdict had been announced, some still doubted. The fact of the Resurrection is not decided by eye witnesses, it is by faith!
No one is exempt, and no one is innocent. God has made Himself known in their heart. They may be unwilling to admit that God has revealed Himself to them, but He has! Romans 1:20 gives us the final word; “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
