by Pastor Cecil | Apr 11, 2011 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Over the years I have heard jokes or seen movies that give a phony description of the path that leads to heaven. Most of these goofy depictions have a gatekeeper at the portal of heaven (usually Peter), asking why you should be allowed inside.
Inevitably the one outside the gates of heaven lists all of the good things they have done to outweigh all of the bad things they have done. The result hangs in the balance. If the good outweighs the bad, they are admitted. If the bad outweighs the good, the door to hell eagerly welcomes them.
So here is the ultimate question: Do you think that being good or having more good actions than bad actions will earn you entry into heaven? The answer is a resounding, no! Notice that today’s Scripture says it is by grace through faith that we are saved. It is what Christ did for us, not what we do for Him that saves us.
Suppose you have lived a life of sin and committed many evil deeds. Do you think that your sinful life prevents you from being saved? Romans 3:23 says; “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
If you have never confessed your sins and received the Lord by personal invitation, please do so right now. I am so glad that God has loved us so much that all who call upon His name will be saved. Praise the Lord!
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
P.S. – You can help! Please consider encouraging one other person to subscribe to our devotionals by going to the Daily-E-Votional.com website and clicking on the “Subscribe” button. This worldwide ministry asks for no funds and is sent to glorify our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 22, 2011 | Ephesians
Ephesians 6:17-18
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”
When I was a young teenager, our family went to Yellowstone National Park for a vacation. We took along my best friend at the time, Penny my Cocker Spaniel. Penny was like one of the family, but he was the closest to me since I had raised him from a pup.
It was a few days into our trip and we were comfortable in our rustic cabin. Most of us were in front of the cabin when we heard a commotion out back. We ran around the corner just in time to see Mom hitting a black bear with a stick with one hand and grabbing Penny with the other. The bear had been going through a garbage can and Penny had charged out to defend his family.
If it were possible, I can imagine that black bear telling all of his family and friends, “DO not mess with that little 5 foot ball of fire that is staying in cabin seven SHE’S MEAN!” All too often we live fearful lives dominated by the black bear of what might be. It is time we recognize that the Lord has equipped us for battle. Read Ephesians 6, to see what He has given us. LOOK OUT BEAR!
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
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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Jan 27, 2011 | Ephesians
Ephesians 4:28
“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”
A group of pastors were having a meal at a cafe in Central California. When they were presented the bill, one of the pastors only had fifteen cents left over for a tip. He was embarrassed by it and slid it under the edge of his plate. They walked up the street, and were gone for about thirty minutes.
When they returned to the parking lot outside the cafe, their waitress rushed out and handed the pastor his fifteen cents saying, “You left this by accident so I wanted to give it back to you.” I am sure the manager would have been very upset if that incident came to light. For little or much, the tip belonged to her. He had given it to her.
I think some of us may have had the misfortune to witness someone pick up and pocket a tip that has been left on the table for the server. My question has always been, “Who does the tip money belong to?” Not for another guest, or even another server. It belonged to the one the donor had intended to have it.
It just seems that we have lost touch with integrity. Larceny of small things such as pens, pencils or other office items has become so commonplace that few even consider it larceny. If Jesus were standing beside you when you were about to take something that was not yours, would you take it? Just remember, as a believer, the Holy Spirit is always there. What are you going to do?
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
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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Jan 6, 2011 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
I try to keep a supply of “Four Spiritual Laws” with me at all times. Over the years I have been able to lead many people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by using the “Four Laws.”
Last Sunday at church we were discussing the little diagram found toward the end of the small booklet. That little choo-choo train diagram illustrates what we need to remember after a person becomes a born again believer. There is a small engine, a coal car and a caboose.
The little engine, Fact, represents the promise of God’s Word for salvation to those who believe. God says we must be born again to obtain an entrance into God’s heavenly kingdom.
The little coal car represents our Faith to receive God’s promise of salvation. It is not by doing good things or being good that saves us, but having the trust in what His Word says. God said it, I believe it, that’s good enough for me!
The last car in the diagram is the caboose. It represents Feeling. The train can run with or without a caboose. Actually, most trains stopped using a caboose over 20 years ago. We may experience a wonderful feeling when we trust Jesus for salvation, but it is not essential. We thank Him with or without a warm and fuzzy feeling.
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
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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Dec 2, 2010 | Ephesians
Ephesians 4:11-12
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
Am I the only one who has fallen into the prayer trap? I can recall people asking me to pray for a specific request in their life. Later they thanked me for my faithful prayer, but I had forgotten to pray! I had the best intentions, but my mind simply failed to prompt me. I have learned that I must pray immediately for the requests and then ask the Holy Spirit to remind me to pray.
Several days ago I received an e-mail from a subscriber asking for prayer for a family member. I went to the Lord for that request and have had the request before me several times since. The subscriber had also asked me to put it out with my Daily-E-Votional so that many others would pray.
As I prayed about her request, I could not find peace. My Daily-E-Votional ministry is not designed to present requests. If I did so I would never be able to present the practical biblical teaching God has entrusted to me. I wanted to write back to the subscriber who sent the request, but guess what? Somehow the old delete button had struck and her message was gone.
God has entrusted the ministry of prayer to many of His faithful servants. I am on many of these lists and know that it is a wonderful ministry. Please understand, dear hearts, that I am not unfeeling in the matter of Internet prayer groups, but I am limited in my own capacity and calling.
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
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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Nov 10, 2010 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
As A Christian counselor I have attended many conferences and training sessions. At one of these meetings I heard a speaker tell of a marital counseling session with a couple who were having problems. The wife sobbed, “My husband never tells me he loves me anymore.”
The counselor asked the man if he had any response to that. The husband set his jaw and replied, “I told that woman I loved her when I married her 34 years ago. I have not retracted that statement, it is still in effect!”
Beep! That was the wrong answer, husband. What was said 34 years ago or even 34 days ago does not mean that you should not repeat them over and over again. It grieves me that a husband who is commanded to love his wife in the same way that Christ loves His church, feels it is not necessary to tell her he loves her as well as demonstrating his love for her.
We need to speak words of love and blessing to those around us. Not only that, we need to show it by our actions. We can do that by developing a habit of blessing and love toward the Lord.
PRAISE YOU DEAR LORD! I LOVE YOU! I COVENANT TO SHOW MY LOVE FOR YOU BY MY ACTIONS TOWARD YOU AND OTHERS!
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
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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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