by Pastor Cecil | Feb 1, 2011 | Isaiah
Isaiah 64:8
“But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”
About 60 years ago I was in high school and taking an art class. It was not because I considered myself an artist or even had any inclination that way. It was because I thought it would be an easy class. (Did I just say that?)
One of the projects was to study pottery making. It started with “throwing” the clay on a wheel to form a uniform bowl. At least that’s what it was supposed to be. Most of us had globs that had little resemblance to anything. We then allowed our bowls to dry before they were placed in a kiln to harden. Then we tried to decorate our great masterpieces to become presentable.
As I consider the entire process of making a vessel of clay, I am reminded that there are numerous references in Scripture stating that we are the clay and the Lord is molding and shaping us to be used in His service.
I recently saw a program on the making of sewer pipes. The process was the same as that of creating a decorative object. The difference is in the use. Our towns and cities have intricate underground systems that rely on the clay pipes to maintain safe and sanitary conditions.
Sometimes we may feel that we are nothing but a sewer pipe in the work of the Lord. You know what? We should take pride that the Lord is using us just the way He designed us. Whether we are an ornate vase placed on a mantle or a pipe buried deep underground, God uses us to accomplish His will.
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 21, 2011 | Isaiah
Isaiah 53:12
“. . . He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
I recently received an e-mail from one of our subscribers, Ed Thornhill, who passed on some information that I found interesting and inspirational. It has to do with the town of Reed City, Michigan. I visited Reed City’s website to check what Ed had shared with me. They have a museum there called the Old Rugged Cross Museum.
Back in 1913 a Salvation Army officer, George Bennard, passed through a trying experience which caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and, in particular, what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of entering into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. While contemplating on these truths, Bennard was convinced that the cross was not just a religious symbol, but rather the very heart of the gospel. He penned the words of this beloved hymn.
Bennard spent the last years of his life by the “side of the road,” a few miles north of Reed City, Michigan. At the age of 85, on October 9, 1968, he passed away. Near this home there still stands a twelve foot high cross with the words “The Old Rugged Cross – Home of George Bennard, composer of this beloved hymn.”
“THE OLD RUGGED CROSS“
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,
till 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: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see, for ’twas on that old cross
Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown.
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its 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: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown.
To access The Old Rugged Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Hymns, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross 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
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 | Oct 8, 2010 | 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 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 is rejected.
“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
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 a book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. For information on ordering copies see in the menu on the left “Pages” and then click on “Book by Pastor Cecil.” You may want to consider one of the books as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access.
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 6, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 43:19
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
One of the most memorable days for me was to hold our new baby girl, Brenda Joy, in my arms. It was almost breathtaking. Two years later I had the same gasp of joy to hold our son, Daniel Van. It was three years before our precious Lori Renee became the newest addition to our family.
If we have never experienced a thing before, we cannot fully imagine what it will be like. That’s the expression I am looking for―it’s like! If we have never had or done something similar, we find ourselves repeating―it’s like!―it’s like!―it’s like! But not being able to adequately put it into words. (This is not the same “like” today’s teenagers use repeatededly.)
When we try to explain to an unsaved person the experience of the new birth, it is impossible. As one little lady said, “It is better felt than telt.” The grammar may be wrong, but the meaning is right on!
All through the Bible we read of things that had never happened before and so would be considered impossible. Let me just mention a few from the life of Moses, and this is by no means the complete list: The burning bush; the calling forth of the plagues on Egypt; the pillar of cloud and fire; the parting of the Red Sea; the manna from heaven, and in forty years their clothing or shoes never wore out.
We are told that one day the sky will rip apart and the Lord Himself will call His saints to join Him in the air. There is no way to explain scientifically how this will happen, but it is not necessary to explain it. “It will be better felt than telt!”
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 | Oct 1, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 55:1
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
As a young boy of about nine or ten, I was eager to hear stories about the war. World War II, that is. One of the stories that intrigued me was of an Air Corps crew that was forced down in the ocean. They were surrounded by water, yet they could not drink the sea water because of its salt content and when the little they had in their canteens was gone, they had nothing to drink.
As I recall, it was several weeks before they were located and rescued. Some had died and those that lived were in terrible condition. Not only did they lack water, but they also were without food. When they were rescued they were not interested in the food until they had tasted the life giving water.
It has always been my objective to create a desire for God in people. I long for them to yearn for His presence like those stranded flyers yearned for water. Back in 1884, Lucy J. Meyer wrote a hymn about the thirst for God.
“Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty“
Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List’ to the promise, a message for you!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet;
‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
To access Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/hoeveryonewhoisthirsty 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 | Sep 22, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3-4
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH (Jehovah), the LORD, is everlasting strength.”
Two cars pulled up in front of my house, each driven by a young man who was armed and had long police records. I sat on the steps waiting for them and knew they were coming. In fact I had urged them to come. It was back when I was a County Juvenile Probation Officer. I had been trying to broker a peace between the two and this was the showdown.
The only way they agreed to surrender their weapons was if I would be present and each would give his weapon to me. Hesitantly they handed them over and then we sat down on the grass and talked about how much better it felt to live in peace rather than conflict.
A humorous side note to this meeting was that a college professor lived across the street from us. He commented a few days later that he was so happy to see me meeting with two of the boys from the Sunday School Class I taught. I didn’t have the nerve to tell him the real story
This Scripture from Isaiah 26 is a promise from God. God has promised us peace in the midst of the storms of our life. In order to claim this promise there are two things we are told to do:
1. Keep our minds stayed on God, and
2. Trust in God forever. That means we remain in constant contact with 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
