by Pastor Cecil | Jan 24, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 55:8-9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
When I was in high school I worked with my dad and brother in building a house. Being an immature teen I would sometimes make a glaring mistake. I remember one such incident and my dad said: “Honestly, son, sometimes I wonder why you were ever born!” I just grinned and sassily replied, “Well dad, accidents happen!” He was quick to chastise my remark and assure me that I had certainly been no accident. I deeply regretted my comments and never asked him to explain!
As a matter of fact none of us are here by accident! I am firmly convinced that God has a plan and purpose for each one of us. We may not have the same talents, gifts, or opportunities, but we have a unique purpose that God has designed for us.
There are two words in the Scripture for today that grab my attention. The first is the word thought. It is from the Hebrew word machashabah. In addition to the interpretation of the word thought, it also implies a distinct plan and purpose. I am once again struck by the reality that God is never surprised about where we are and what is happening around us. He is in complete control and has us there for a purpose. HIS PURPOSE!
The second word is way. In the Hebrew it is the word derek. It has the fantastic idea of being a path, direction or course of life. I love the idea that each and every one of us has a course that is set out before us. We have not been this way before and the way may seem unfamiliar to us, but thank God, He goes before us and has set the course. All we have to do is keep our eyes on Him and follow.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 14, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Over the years I have found my mind going back to today’s verse. It was one of the first verses I ever memorized. Come to think about it, it may very well be the reason that I am known as more optimistic than pessimistic. It is not me, but the Lord that makes the difference.
God gives us a tremendous promise in this verse. He promises to strengthen us, to help us and to uphold us. Do you realize what that promise should mean to each of us in our daily walk? It means that we can claim victory over every situation.
As I read this verse again, I see that our requirement is very minimal. We are not called upon to do great and mighty works. We do not even have to possess super human abilities.
So what is our part? To not fear and to not be dismayed.The reason our Scripture gives us for not fearing or not being dismayed is that God is with us and He is our own personal God. With such a powerful God in control we are free to praise Him and give Him the glory even before we see His completed work.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 4, 2012 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
There is a remarkable painting by Jack E. Dawson. He has titled it Peace in the Midst of the Storm. It pictures five small quail-like birds hidden behind a crashing waterfall in the midst of a thunderstorm. Wow!
It is such a comfort to me to understand that the Lord is always there with us in the midst of any storm we may encounter. Please repeat that statement—The Lord is always with me in the midst of the storm! The idea of perfect peace is especially appealing when you are in a storm.
Back a number of years ago, Joyce and I were invited to take a cruise to the San Juan Islands of Washington State. A friend of ours was using his cousin’s 30-foot cabin cruiser for the trip. The first day was very smooth, but then came a hazardous crossing of open ocean water. It was soon evident that we were in trouble. Waves on every side tossed us to and fro at will. We finally made it out of the storm.
Yes, there will be storms in the forecast for us. Storms are inevitable. But we also have the confident assurance that the Lord will shelter us in the storms. He will not always use the same methods to protect us, but He will be with us and hold us in the palm of His hand.
Do you want peace in the midst of your storm? Place your trust in the Lord and do not allow the storm to shake your faith. Praise the Lord that He is greater than any storm we will encounter!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 23, 2012 | Isaiah
Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon 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 t o 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 Jes us 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 p leading;
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,
pro mised 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
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 20, 2012 | Isaiah
Isaiah 28:10
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.
I have been reading the book, In His Image, by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. There was one observation that Dr. Brand mentioned that intrigued me. In exploring the function of the human brain, he commented that an accomplished pianist has practiced so intensely that it is not necessary to think about where the hands are placed on the keyboard. It becomes almost automatic and thus the musician is able to focus on the nuances of delivery, not the mechanics.
It reminded me of my days serving in the US Air Force in St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada. I made friends with a high school teacher and his wife, Melvin and Barbara Keys. I was at their house one day and watched with utter fascination as Barbara was knitting and reading a book at the same time. She was so accomplished that the click, click, click of the knitting needles almost sounded like a typewriter.
I commented on it and asked her how she was able to do the two things at the same time. She became flustered and I realized that I had broken her mental process. The many hours she had spent knitting became so engrained in her memory bank that she could do it without focusing her attention on the process.
How fantastic it would be if we developed the discipline of spending so much time in God’s Word and prayer that we would automatically speak with the Lord. We would not need to think about the process, but would fellowship with Him as we went about our other activities. I want that for my life!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 1, 2012 | Isaiah
Isaiah 6:6-8
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’
I once was asked to officiate at a wedding ceremony with 400 to 600 guests expected. As the time for the wedding approached there was an alarming sense of silence. Ten minutes before the ceremony there were perhaps twenty people in the church. A few more straggled in at or near the time of the event. All told there was about thirty-five family and guests present. Each one there meant so much to the bridal couple. Those who failed to attend drove a stake into the hearts of this couple who had counted on their attendance.
I just read a statement by a very wise man, Ron Ritchie. He once commented to Chuck Swindoll that three fourths of ministry is just showing up. I love that! It is so basic and true that it is hard to argue with it.
I once heard Howard Hendricks share the story of a Teacher’s Training Seminar he was to lead in a small church. For weeks the pastor of that church had announced the importance of the seminar and begged each and every teacher to be present. When the day arrived, and the time for the seminar began, only two teachers showed up. In utter dismay the pastor sent the two home, rather than waste the time on an important seminary professor, author and conference speaker.
I wonder about what might have been accomplished with those two faithful teachers who were there to learn. I also wonder about those who did not attend and crushed the spirit of a pastor who wanted the best for them and his church. Where would you see yourself in this incident? Are you someone who can be counted upon to just be there?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
