by Pastor Cecil | Sep 26, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
I read an article in the newspaper recently that mentioned something about an elderly man. As I scanned down through the article, I was shocked to read that the man was two years younger than I am. If he was categorized as an elderly man, what does that make me? I guess the answer is in the eyes of the beholder!
My mom used to have a rental property behind her house. A widower lived there and she always referred to him as the old man. One day I challenged her by reminding her that he was three years younger than she was. (It did not go over well!)
Sometimes I observe people who may be about 35, and wonder, at what point are they no longer considered young people? That is a tough question. In our modern age that worships youth, many hold onto a designation as a young person until it screams!
Can I let you in on a little secret? It is okay to allow yourself to mature (that’s a kind word for getting old). We need the experience and solidity that comes with experience. We find people in Scripture who were the greatest blessing in their latter years. I have come to the conclusion that age is not a determiner. We need to put our shoulder to the wheel and be more effect in serving Jesus each and every day.
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 25, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yea, I will help you, yea, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Why is it that some verses remain with you all through your life? Some say they have a “LIFE VERSE.” I might not go that far, but this is one the first verses I memorized as a young boy in Camas, Washington. At that time I thought it was special because of what it PROMISED. Throughout my life I have found that it is true in PRACTICE!
As I have meditated and put this verse into practice across these many years, I have discovered that there are two actions that I am to take, two assurances that God gives, and three promises that follow.
This verse tells us that: We are not to fear nor be dismayed. Those are the two actions that we are to take. It may sound easy, but when the trials and tests of life arise, these become tasks that demand the assurances we find from the Lord: He is with us and He is our God.
As great as those assurances are, there is more. God adds His three precious promises: I will strengthen you, yea, I will help you, yea, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. I challenge you to apply this verse to your life for the next 30 days. See what a difference you will discover awaiting you.
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 19, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 25:4-5
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall and like the heat of the desert. You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled.
In times of trouble and trial we need a refuge. Almost on a daily basis we watch the Weather Channel and observe people who have been confronted with some type of emergency. You can see them looking for a place of refuge.
It is not just weather related emergencies such as storms or floods that place people in jeopardy. Wildfires roar into neighborhoods and often cut off all means of escape. Citizens are in a panic looking for a place of refuge.
In war-torn regions of the world, communities are surrounded by enemies who are reputed to show no sympathy. In the times of living in the shadow of death, those who are in jeopardy are looking for a place of refuge.
You may be facing an ordeal in your life at this very moment that causes you to cry out for refuge. I want to assure you, on the basis of the Word of God, He is the place of refuge. The God who created the world and provides salvation to all who come to Him will wrap His arms around you and bring you to the eternal refuge He has provided for us. Praise the Lord!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 1, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 30:20-21
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it.
While I was in the US Air Force, stationed at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, I attended Central Missouri State to receive a Master’s Degree in Sociology. In addition to writing a thesis, I had to appear before all of the professors in the department for an oral examination.
I was apprehensive about what questions they may ask and how I would respond. If I failed the orals, I would have to repeat much of the work I had completed. Many of the professors in the department had areas of specialization and would be grilling me in these areas.
My major professor had spent many hours with me during my preparation. He coached me on some of the questions that may be asked and told me to follow his questions carefully during the oral examination. I did and was able to pass and receive my degree.
God has given us His precious promises to lead and guide us through all of the pitfalls that line the pathway of life. We can ignore His directions and find ourselves hopelessly lost, or we can choose to listen and stay on the path. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15b).
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 30, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 34:15
The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.
There is a very unique bird called a Killdeer. It seldom flies, but spends most of the time on the ground. We once owned a house that overlooked a flat piece of ground with very little vegetation. (Actually, it was our yard that had not yet been planted with grass.)
We noticed that a mother Killdeer had made a nest in a very shallow depression, which seemed foolish since the eggs would be so vulnerable. It was then that the remarkable antics of this bird were observed.
Anytime a threat approached the nest, the mother bird would suddenly go into an extraordinary bit of acting, fluttering and flopping as if she was wounded. When the intruder began to follow the apparently wounded bird, she moved further and further away from the nest calling out the characteristic, Killdeer, killdeer, killdeer, from which derives its name.
Once the threat had been lured far away from the nest, the Killdeer would suddenly take wing and fly away to safety. When everything was safe, it would return to continue the task of hatching its eggs.
It is wonderful to realize that God has created these seemingly defenseless Killdeer with such unique methods of protecting their eggs. He also has unique ways of defending us. When we place our trust in Him, He will care for us. In Matthew 6:13 the prayer Our Lord taught His disciples to pray these wonderful words of promise: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. He will answer our prayer!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 26, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 55:6-7
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
It was the final service of our annual Camp Meeting. The old tabernacle was crowded on a warm summer evening. The evangelist had been delivered a message outlining clearly the plan of salvation and the penalty that faced anyone who failed to accept the Lord Jesus as personal Savior.
I was sitting with my cousin and across the aisle from us was his dad. We knew that Uncle Harold had rejected the Lord, but were hopeful that this would be the time he would open his heart. The congregation was led in the old invitation hymn, Softly and Tenderly.
Wayne and I could see his dad weeping with conviction. We went over to him and pleaded with him to go forward and invite Jesus into his heart. Even though tears were flowing, he shook his head and refused to be moved. As far as we know he never made that choice. How sad that God?s free gift of eternal life was rejected. How about you? Have you honestly and sincerely invited Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life? He is calling, O sinner, come home. All you have to do is open your heart and invite Him to come in.
Softly and Tenderly
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading;
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies;
mercies for you and for me?
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and for me.
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
O, for the wonderful love He has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
To access Softly and Tenderly, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/softlyandtenderly/ in your browser or click on the image below.
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
