by Pastor Cecil | Aug 16, 2010 | Luke
Luke 12:15
“Then He said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ ”
When I was a kid we lived in a small house that was built in 1928. By the way, I was born in 1934, so you can get some idea about the age of the house. It had a living room, dining room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, a bath (which we added since it originally was equipped with a path to an outhouse) and a screened in porch. My folks purchased it for less than five thousand dollars.
I just went on line and guess what?! That same house is now for sale for $208,000. I almost dropped my teeth when I saw the price! We were very content in that little house on Park Street, unlike modern families that feel they need expansive room.
There were five of us who lived in the house on Park Street— my dad, my mom, my brother, me – – – – and the Lord. The Lord was always part and parcel of our family. Perhaps that is why we never felt cramped or deprived. It was a place that was always home and we felt wealthy.
There was a wringer wash machine on the screened porch where mom did the laundry and a clothesline in the yard where she hung wet clothes to dry. We never had much of this world’s goods, but oh, how wealthy we were. We had a family that loved one another and when we gathered to listen to dad read from God’s Word and pray, we were richer than many who had far more.
God has called us to find our wealth in Him. Whether we live in a tenement, a tent, a ten bedroom house, it really does not matter. True wealth, the wealth that will last for eternity is to have Jesus a part of the family. Invite Him in today.
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 28, 2010 | Luke
Luke 12:6-7
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
My wife Joyce and I are bird lovers. For many years we have had numerous bird feeders and a bird bath outside our windows. We have a beautiful yellow canary whose cage is next to the window where he can enjoy all of his birdy friends who come to feed and socialize through the glass.
Some of these little wild birds actually come and seem to visit with him. Some of his little birdie buddies have such distinguishing characteristics that we are able to distinguish them from others. One of his feathered friends is a song sparrow who has no tail feathers. We have dubbed her “Stubby.”
“Stubby” is not an attractive bird, but she has shown wonderful qualities. Baby birds of various breeds come to feed. They flutter with their beaks open and sweet little “Stubby” is always willing to feed them as if they were her own.
The Scripture also says He has each hair on our head numbered. Some humorous person remarked: “I wonder if it was before or after mine started falling out?” The important thing is that He knows us intimately. The Lord also knows each tiny bird by name. With such intimate knowledge we can rest in Him. He will take care of us!
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 20, 2010 | Luke
Luke 15:20
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
A young mother of two girls came to my office with an unusual request. She said she needed counsel on how to advise a young woman who had a problem. Here is the story as she related it to me.
“When she was a little girl, day after day, this woman heard her father and mother yelling and arguing with each other. She was especially close to her father and did not want to have him hurt. One morning he wrapped her in his arms and said he would not be coming back. She cried and begged him to stay, but she watched as he walked out of her life.”
“My friend never heard from her father again. She married and had children of her own, but never heard from her father, that is until now. He just called her and asked if he could see her again?”
The young mother across the desk from me asked, “How shall I advise her?” In an instant the Holy Spirit revealed something to me and I said, “It’s you, isn’t it?” She burst into tears as she told me her story of missing this father for so many years and now he wanted to see her again.
I counseled her to open her heart to him and allow him to receive forgiveness and love from a little girl who had grown into a wonderful young mother. I am happy to say that she did and the homecoming was every bit as joyous as the reception the Prodigal Son experienced in today’s passage.
Is there someone on your life who needs to be forgiven? Remember it is not necessary for them to deserve to be forgiven before we forgive them.
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 2, 2010 | Daily-E-Votionals, Luke
Luke 18:15-17
“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'”
I have been reading of the Lord’s dealing in the life of George Müller in the early 1800’s. This man of such great faith lived totally dependent upon the Lord. He felt to ask people for money or to be paid a salary from the church would take away from his dependence upon the Lord. He purposed to bring his requests to the Lord alone and allow Him to prompt people to meet the needs of his family and ministry. It worked. Year after year the Lord was faithful.
There was a terrible outbreak of disease in 1834 that took the life of his father-in-law. Three days later his own son became gravely ill and died. He comforted his dear wife and reminded her that their dear infant was so much better off with the Lord Jesus than with them. It eased their loss and enabled them to weep for joy.
The words of this week’s hymn gives those of us who have lost our own loved ones to rejoice in the wonderful hope of being able to see them again in heaven.
“Jesus Loves Me“
Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me He who dies,
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will take away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus , take this hear of mne,
Make it pure and wholly thine;
On the cross You died for me,
I will ever more live for thee.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
To access Jesus Loves Me, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuslovesme 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 | May 20, 2010 | Luke
Luke 21:33
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”
I once was listening to a sermon tape on humility by Dr. Donald Barnhouse. He related how he was preaching about humility in an earlier meeting. After one of the services a man approached him and said, “Dr. Barnhouse, please pray that the Lord will make me nothing.”
Dr. Barnhouse was known for being forthright in his conversation. He looked directly at the man and said, “Take it by faith, Brother, you are nothing!”
I love it! It was not specifically directed at him, but applies to each and every one of us. It is not what we say or do that deserves credit, but what the Lord does in and through us.
When people will give us praise and adulation, it is very easy to feel that we really deserve it. I don’t think we do. Yes, we are God’s children, but He is the One, and He is the only One who deserves praise. When others see Jesus in us, it is Jesus in us that counts — not the way we present Him.
There is a hymn that we used to sing that really expresses what I pray for my own life and ministry: “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me; All His wonderful passion and purity; Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine; Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”
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 | Apr 29, 2010 | Luke
Luke 6:38
“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Don was the younger brother of a classmate of mine. After graduation I had lost contact with the family for a few years. It must have been ten years later that I heard a remarkable story about Don.
Don had married and was living in a remote area of eastern Oregon. Don and his family had wanted to move to Portland, Oregon for some time. The problem was that his company had no openings in that area.
Don and his wife began to fast and pray about the move. They determined that they needed a certain amount of income to be able to live in the more urban area of Portland. To put action to their prayers, they began to tithe on the salary they needed.
It was only a short time after their prayer and giving had started that the district manager came to town and informed Don that the company was cutting back and his position had been eliminated. What a blow to their faith! But the next week they still tithed the increased amount.
Things were looking bleak until Don received a call from a competing company from the one he had been working for. They were delighted when they heard his position had been eliminated. They had wanted to hire him earlier now they offered him the new job. Perhaps you can guess what they offered: The location was Portland and the salary was exactly his increased tithe amount. Isn’t God good!
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
