by Pastor Cecil | Aug 20, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
I recall listening to a sermon tape by Donald Grey Barnhouse many years ago. He told of how he had just completed a meeting many miles from his home in Philadelphia, when he was given a telegram that his son had been in a serious accident and was near death.
Travel at that time was by rail and as Dr. Barnhouse entered his sleeper, his spirit was greatly disturbed. He knew that it would be hours before his train arrived back home and that there was nothing he could do but leave his son in God’s hands.
As he prayed, he recalled a phrase from Isaiah 65:25, ” . . . but dust will be the serpent’s food.” He prayed for the Lord to feed the serpent his dust and to give him a good night’s rest. The next thing he knew the porter was touching his shoulder to tell him that they were nearing Philadelphia. The Lord had answered his prayer.
If you have been having trouble getting to sleep at night, ask the Lord to give you His blessed rest and to feed the serpent dust.
“To You Before the Close of Day“
To you before the close of day,
Creator of the world we pray!
Your grace and peace to us allow,
And be our guard and keeper now.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From all the terrors of the night.
From all deluding thoughts that creep,
On heedless minds disarmed by sleep.
O Father, this we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your only Son.
Who with the Holy Spirit and with You,
Shall live and reign all ages through. Amen.
To access To You Before the Close of Day, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/toyoubeforethecloseofday 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 | Jul 13, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:30-31
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Have you ever been so weary that you felt like you could not hold your head up? Did your weariness cause you to become embarrassed? Have you sought sleep and rest as if it were the most precious thing in the world? Welcome to my world!
Actually, I should say welcome to my world back when I was attending college and working full time. Back in the 50’s a normal work week was 48 hours, and a full college load was 18 hours. I was doing both. Sometimes the night hours seemed to go on forever and ever.
Early one morning, about 2:00 a.m., I was driving my patrol car to the edge of town where there was a turn-around area. I paused for just a second with my eyes closed. As I sat there I realized that my headlights were on bright and were shining into oncoming traffic. A driver was flashing his headlights signaling for me to dim my lights. Yikes! I depressed the siren button instead of the dimmer switch — it must have really startled that driver as I turned on my emergency lights and tore past him.
Sometimes we get wrapped up in things that are spiritually draining and cause us to lose sight of what God really desires in the life of His children—resting in Him alone. He will give us the strength we need to do His will. 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
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 29, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”
Many have asked me how I develop the Daily-E-Votionals day after day. It has been several years now and well over 2500 issues. To tell you the truth I have no idea myself. I always pray and ask the Lord to give me wisdom about what to write. The Lord seems to impress upon me that it is none of my business, just write what comes into my heart
because He has it designed for somebody.
After writing that, I must share my frustration over the past several days. For some unknown reason, I have been unable to send out my messages. I have spent hours on the phone with my Internet provider and they have been equally baffled.
In this time of frustration I have been reminded that there are many of you who are facing far more frustrating issues than not being able to send out messages. I know that God’s Word is faithful and true.
My peace of mind is not dependent upon things working as I would like. It is based upon being steadfast and trusting in the Lord. I still have no idea how this e-mail problem will be resolved, but that is not my problem-it is God’s. He knows better than the Internet provider
what is needed. I will rest in Him!
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 | Jun 21, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 42:16
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
One of my dearest friends and the senior pastor I served with for a number of years is Chuck Higgins. He was one of the most open and honest men I have ever known. He freely told of some of his most embarrassing moments. One of these was at Marineland of the Pacific. He was in the outdoor stadium waiting for the whale show, when a seagull dropped its load on his forehead. The white wet muck covered his forehead and turned his glasses solid white. Many spectators saw it and began to roar with laughter. Chuck just looked up and said, “Why me Lord?”
Have you ever felt that way? How about the Lord leading you into situations where He means for you to be a blessing to someone? Years ago Joyce and I felt a strong urge to travel about 100 miles north of us to see a couple we had known years ago. We really did not have the money to go, but we felt that we needed to go anyway.
When we arrived, they were stunned beyond measure. It seems that they had been praying that they could talk with us since they were going through some very rough times.
Why us? It certainly was nothing that we could take pride in―we just obeyed the leading of the Lord. We had no idea that the couple we would visit had been praying to see us. We were simply taking a drive and being used of God. No room for pride here―just going along for the ride. What a way to live!
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 | Jun 17, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 48:6
“You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.”
It happened yesterday and, once more, caught me off guard. Let me explain. I was visiting an Alzheimer Care Center to have prayer with a patient and his wife. After my visit, the wife walked me to the door of the Center. She informed me that I needed the code to leave. She said, “It is right here on the wall beside the door.”
It was then that I remembered in previous visits to other Alzheimer facilities that they use the same procedure. They want to protect the patients from wandering out and becoming lost. So why put the code in such plain sight? Simple―you have to put the code in backwards. For instance, if the numbers are 234, you enter 432. (If you have trouble understanding the code you may qualify as a resident!)
There are things in God’s Word that have been hidden from the world. It is not so much that it requires great intellect, but rather that it requires faith. Faith in God is the key to discovering the wonderful things He has given us in the Bible.
God’s “Code” for the true believer is accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, then staying close to His side by discovering truths from the Bible and communicating with Him in prayer. Oh, the wonderful secrets He shares with His loved ones!
Be blessed dear heart and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | May 19, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 6:8
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ ”
My dear mother was a ready volunteer. She was always ready to respond to any request for help. There was just one catch ― she always sent someone else. It was my dad, my brother or me. That’s just the way things were, and at least one time it had a major impact on my life.
I had gone with my Mom to Vancouver, Washington, to pick up my dad, who was a bus driver and was scheduled to return. As we sat in the parking lot we noticed an African American boy about my age. He was holding a large ceramic platter which he would look at with admiration every few minutes.
Mom urged me to go over and talk with him to let him tell me about his platter. I was reluctant, but her “call” was insistent, so I went. I had no idea in what manner it would change my life. First of all, it was my first exposure to an African American.
Excitedly, the boy shared with me how he had won the platter at Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, and that he was going to give it to his mom when he got home. In a few minutes the two of us became friends, a trait I have found easy since that day.
From time to time God urges us to get out of our comfort zone and reach out to those around us. Please do not miss a blessing by staying aloof. Be willing to go out of your way to discover the story behind the “platters” in other people’s life.
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
