by Pastor Cecil | Mar 12, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Isaiah 41:10-11
“Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.”
When I look at today’s title, I have to laugh at myself. I never consider myself as being brave, but at the same time I do not spend much time worrying about things. Let me give you a humorous illustration of my free-wheeling sense of humor and lack of fear.
I was in a supermarket to pick up a bottle of liquid smoke to use in preparing a barbeque sauce. I had just found my item when I saw two women I had never seen before looking intently on the shelf. One mentioned to the woman with her; “Where is the honey? I need to find the honey.” There was no way this clown could keep quiet. Spontaneously I smiled and said, “I’m right here!” I thought they were going to die laughing.
I had no fear in doing such a silly thing, but I wonder what I would do in the face of real danger? I hope I would face it with the same resolve. I have officiated the funeral services for two World War II veterans in the past month. In going through their records, each family made an unexpected discovery. Each had been awarded high medals for their actions in combat. Neither had mentioned it to their family while they were still alive.
Today my mind is drawn to consider the things we fear. Most like to act brave and unflinchable, but there are always those things that go bump in the night of our emotions and scare the living daylights out of us. The things that we fear are as many and varied as we can possibly imagine.
Some fears that are more observable are things like: spiders, snakes, geckos (that’s for Joyce), bats, birds, heights, airplanes— you get the point. But others are equally afraid of such things as growing old, moving to a new house, getting married, not getting married, financial reversals, being alone, facing the unknown, and the biggest of all, many are afraid of dying.
While our fears may be different, the answer is always the same. It is found in today’s Scripture: All of the situations of life that we discuss day by day have a common answer—the strength and presence of the Lord. “Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”
It is important to note why the Scripture tells us we do not need to fear—God is with us. That promise is just for those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. In place of fear we are told to trust in the trustworthiness of the God who knows all that lies before us.
One of the most devastating aspects of fear is being frozen into inactivity. We have all seen movies of prey animals being so filled with fear of the predator that they become like statues and are easy targets. The enemy of our souls loves to fill us with fear for he knows if we are consumed with fear, we are incapable of doing the things the Lord desires for us to do.
God delights in bringing His power into the impossible situations of life and showing that His power is sufficient for our need. Your marriage, your job, your health, your future—whatever it may be, God is sufficient. When the Scripture above mentions: “The right hand of My righteousness”, it speaks of God’s strength. Anytime we read of God’s right hand in scripture, it always refers His strength that is above all other forces.
Those who have not been born again and do not have a personal relationship with God had better be afraid, for their fate is graphically described. This is the place for fear in our life—the fear of the Lord! Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.”
I have no idea who this teaching is intended for. If it is for you – – – just thank the Lord that right where you are at this time of your life, He wants you to let go and let God.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
1 Peter 4:12-15
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.”
Isn’t that a great passage? I once heard a minister share with a group of us: “When I used to wake up and feel out of sorts, I would greet the day by saying: “Good Lord—morning?!!” It was always a bad day that followed. When he realized that the Lord desired for His children to have a spirit of praise, he developed the practice of falling asleep while he was praising the Lord. In the morning he woke saying: “Good morning, Lord!!!”
It was an expression of anticipation and a good day followed. Expect the best even in the midst of life’s storms. Remember you are not alone. God is with you and will even carry you when things get too hard.
Here is a news flash for you! I am not sure if you are aware of it or not, but we live in a world filled with troubles and frustrations! Isn’t that amazing? These problems may arise from almost any source. It is easy for us to lament because of the bad things that are happening to ourselves or others.
I know what it feels like to experience the loss of a loved one. I do not make light of the afflictions people encounter. I have often wished that I could take the hurt away. I think one of the burdens of a Pastor is that you are called upon to go through the pain that people in your congregation are enduring. But then I really would not want it any other way—that is my ministry.
Many Christians seem to have the notion that since they are a believer they should not have to go through fiery trials or turmoil in their life. There are even some who give the impression that if something terrible happens to us, we must be guilty of some secret sin. (Go back and read the book of Job).
Notice in today’s Scripture that fiery trials are to be expected in the life of believers. Even so we live in a day and age with perhaps the greatest freedom from religious persecution since the time of Christ. Instead of using this freedom to better serve the Lord, we act like wounded ducks if someone happens to say a cross word to us.
We need to be careful that we do not get a persecution complex and become obnoxious. Some of our problems are our own fault. Ouch!! Did I say that? We need to give ourselves an attitude check as often as possible before we start whimpering and whining.
What should our Christian response be if, in fact, we are an innocent victim? It is certainly clear that we are not to cry and moan. God’s instruction is that we are to praise. Notice that Paul says to rejoice that you participate in Christ’s sufferings. (I hope you are still with me). Many counselors, spiritual and worldly, excuse and justify feeling sorry for oneself, but the Word says – – REJOICE!
Another wonderful passage to support the concept of praise in adversity is found, of all places, in the Book of Lamentations. The writer is lamenting over the sins of the people (Godly sorrow over sin is justified and also encouraged). In Lamentations 3:22-26 we see the true hope for the believer in tribulation: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
GOOD MORNING, LORD!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 10, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Romans 8:35-37
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Here we are again at the beginning of a new week. What a joy I feel as I sit here and pour out those thoughts the Lord has laid on my heart today. I sure wish you could know how much I rely upon the Lord to share just the right thing for each day.
I can recall praying the prayer of Jabez many years ago. In I Chronicles 4:9-10 we read about Jabez and his prayer: “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.”
How would you like to be given a name that means; “I gave birth to him in pain?” I am sure that as he was growing up Jabez endured much ridicule. I can just hear some playground smart aleck shout: “Jabez, you are such a pain!” In his prayer, Jabez asks the Lord to keep him from harm and that he might be free from pain.
But that is not the part of the prayer that had meaning for me. It was the portion in which Jabez pleaded with the Lord to bless him and enlarge his territory.
My own prayer was similar. I did not have the desire to be seen of men and receive honor or recognition, but rather to be used in ways I could never imagine. That prayer was prayed before I began writing the Daily-E-Votional. In the early days it only was sent out to thirty or forty. Over the years it has grown into thousands each day.
It is not the thousands that I am interested in. It is the one or ones who need to receive a message on a particular day that reaches them at a level that is needed. Each day I pray that the words which I prepare will touch the one God wants to read it. I have often heard that it is not someone I sent it to, but rather someone who received a message that was forwarded to them by a friend or family member.
A true champion is one that gives his or her all for things that will count for all eternity. It is not the titles we may gain here on earth, but the faithful dependence on the Lord to use us as He sees fit. I say that for I hear of many who strive to be awarded a title or recognition.
Sometimes I am awakened early in the morning to write something which the Lord has laid upon my heart. At times it seems that I would rather remain snug in my bed, but God knows best. At these times I am reminded of the words of my spiritual father, Doctor John Hall; “One hour of sleep in the Spirit is better than a whole night in the flesh!”
It is amazing how easily people can become caught up in sporting activities. Virtually every sport has a championship to determine who is the greatest and best. One individual or team may have done exceptional all season long, only to be defeated in the championships. Instead of becoming champs, they are the chumps!
Back in the early 70’s I was on a business trip that took me to Twin Falls, Idaho. I was staying in the Holiday Inn and noticed that some type of conference was going on. It was a City wide Christian Conference and two of the guest speakers were Bill Glass, who was a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns and Roosevelt Greer, an interior lineman with the LA Rams. I began to attend some of the conference sessions.
I will never forget one speech that was made by Bill Glass. He told of being a star on his high school football team and winning the state championship. It felt good but he still lacked something. He said he felt that if he made a major college team that would satisfy. He did – it didn’t. Then he aimed for being named to the All-American Team. Again only momentary satisfaction. Next it was making a professional football team – same story.
Finally he just knew that the real thing that would finally, once and for all satisfy that vacuum inside was to wear a Super Bowl ring. After being on the winning team and receiving his coveted ring he was soon filled with despair. He still felt empty. It was then that a friend told him about the Lord and he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Suddenly he said, all that he had been searching for on the field of fame and fortune, was found in Christ.
As Paul said in today’s Scripture, we can be conquerors! In fact we can become more than conquerors! We have a championship that is not of this world and one that will never leave us feeling empty. Champs not chumps!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 7, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Psalm 28:7-9
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The LORD is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His Anointed One. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their Shepherd and carry them forever.”
I have an ear for music—unfortunately I lack a voice to go along with it! Perhaps you have heard about a man who was singing one of the great classic pieces of music. A man stopped to listen as he screeched out a high note. He smiled at his one man audience and asked; “Do you enjoy good music?” The listener smiled and responded; “Yes, but you go ahead and continue singing!”
The music of the heart does not rely on the ability to carry a tune. In fact it does not require the ability to play a musical instrument. One of my vivid memories is watching a group of deaf people signing music. Their hands seemed to flow with the words of the song. It was something like the hands of a Hawaiian dance. I felt that the hands were expressing the deep feeling of praise from within.
As I meditate on the various Scriptures that mention music, I come to the conclusion that not all music is the same. As a child we used to sing; “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.” Parents and grandparents would beam as we sang that song from our hearts—and a little off key.
A few years ago I read the account of a man who attended a particular church in hopes of hearing a stirring sermon from the popular pastor of that church. He was disheartened to learn that at this particular service that pastor would not be speaking. The former pastor, who was quite elderly was being honored and would be bringing the message.
Reluctantly the visitor slumped down in the pew and reconciled himself to a dull and dated message. His fears seemed to be confirmed as he saw the old pastor shuffle toward the pulpit.
He stood there for several minutes before speaking. Then in a shaky voice he spoke the words of that children’s song. But now it had so much more meaning: “Jesus loves me. (pause) This I know! (pause) For the Bible tells me so!” With that the old pastor turned and shuffled back to his seat on the platform.
The congregation, including the visitor, sat in stunned silence for a few minutes as they took in what had just happened. Then as one, they stood, applauded and praised the Lord for one of the most meaningful messages they had ever heard.
What is your song? May it’s message speak to a world that needs to hear.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 6, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Hebrews 12:2-3
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
As we continue to examine stories surrounding the great hymns of the faith, it gives pause to the reality of faith. Our failure to consider the words and intent of many of these hymns is tragic. They are more than mere melody and harmony—they express trust and adoration.
The cross of Christ was not the symbol of early Christians—it was the fish. But having said that, the cross of our blessed Savior is central to our faith. A bloodless theology is nothing more than man’s attempt to do for himself what only God could do by sending His dear Son to become our Passover Lamb.
Back in 1913, George Bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering. His mind went back again and again to Christ’s anguish on the cross. This was the heart of the gospel! The cross he pictured was no gold-covered icon. It was a rough, splintery thing, stained with gore.
George Bennard is quoted as saying: “I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form and act out the meaning of redemption.” Sometime later he expressed that John 3:16 is probably the most familiar verse of the New Testament: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
This theme was so great, it needed a song. In a room in Albion, Michigan, Bennard sat down and wrote a tune. But the only words that would come to him were “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.” He struggled for weeks to set words to the melody he had written.
As a Methodist evangelist, Bennard was scheduled to preach a series of messages in New York. He found himself focusing on the cross. The theme of the cross grew increasingly more urgent to him. Back in Albion, Michigan, he sat down and tried again to put together the words. This time the lines came. He was able to rewrite the stanzas of the song without so much as one word failing to fall into place.
THE OLD RUGGED CROSS by George Bennard
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross.
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross
where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
’til my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God
left His glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see;
For t’was on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died
to pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
It’s shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day
to my home far away,
where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 5, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Philippians 2:9-11
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
There is power in the mighty name of Jesus. Today’s hymn was written over two hundred years ago, but it still holds tremendous meaning for us today. Many stories have been related about how the name of Jesus (Yeshua) has been called upon in time of need, and has brought deliverance.
“ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME!” by E. P. Scott
All hail the power of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown Him Lord of all.
Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
to Him all majesty ascribe,
and crown Him Lord of all;
To Him all majesty ascribe
and crown Him Lord of all.
O that, with yonder sacred throng,
we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song,
and crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song,
and crown Him Lord of all!
Back in the mid eighteen hundreds, Rev. E. P. Scott was a missionary to India. One day he saw on the street a man of so strange an appearance that he inquired about him, and learned that he belonged to a wild mountain tribe among whom Christ had never been preached.
Mr. Scott prayed over the matter and decided to visit that tribe. As soon as he reached their mountain home, he fell in with a savage band who were on a war expedition. They seized him and pointed their spears at his heart. Expecting a quick death, the missionary pulled out his violin and began playing and singing in their native language the hymn “All hail the power of Jesus’ name.” He reached the stanza that reads: “Let every tribe and every tongue, On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe, And crown him Lord of all…”
As he opened his eyes he saw that the natives had lowered their weapons and some were in tears. E. P. Scott spent the rest of his life ministering to these primitive people.
What does the name, “Jesus” mean to you? Have you called upon His name and released your own attempts to control your life? I urge you to invite Him to be the Lord—the master of your life.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
