by Pastor Cecil | Apr 23, 2010 | Luke
Luke 19:3-4
“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way.”
Fanny J. Crosby had been blind since she was a small girl. She had never seen the people in her church, but knew them only by their voices and in touching them. Yet one night she had a vivid dream.
She saw Jesus walking among the people she knew from her church. She had never seen them before, but could describe them in great detail. Jesus was walking and touching each person who would be with Him in heaven. As He came closer to her she prayed earnestly that he would not pass her by. She woke and wrote the words to this hymn.
“Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior“
Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
To access Pass Me Not, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/passmenot 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 | Apr 12, 2010 | Luke
Luke 15:20-21
“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. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ”
Unfortunately there are times when we seek forgiveness but it is not given. Or if it is given, there are strings attached. We once had a neighbor that was convinced we had lodged a complaint with the manager about their landscape.
We were totally innocent, and asked their forgiveness for the conflict, but it was never given. Have you ever been in that situation? It is possible that we have even been guilty and prayed for God to reveal our fault. We may approach the one who has been offended in the proper manner. “God has revealed to me that I was wrong in my actions and attitude toward you. I have come to ask you to please forgive me.”
Silence or words to the effect that we would never be forgiven for the offence we were guilty of to that person. What do we do then? My answer is that we are to do nothing. We are responsible for asking for forgiveness, but we are not responsible for the reaction.
In today’s Scripture, the wayward son had purposed in his heart what he would say to his father. He had sinned and he confessed it. He was willing to pay the price of his transgression by becoming a servant, but the father had forgiven him.
But there was one who harbored an unforgiving spirit. It was the older brother. We are not told what the final outcome was, but we know the prodigal son had done all that he could do. Having done that, he could leave the matter in God’s hands.
Where do you see yourself in today’s illustration? Have you forgiven someone who has asked you to forgive them? Are you the one who must stand and wait in hopes that your plea for forgiveness will be accepted? Regardless, God will give you the strength. Stand firm in His tender care.
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 7, 2010 | Luke
Luke 6:37
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
I once heard a very sad story. It seems that a man was unfaithful to his wife. She took him back but made his life miserable. She constantly brought up his sin and made sure that he suffered for the pain he had inflicted upon her.
As the story goes, this wife became very ill. In fact it was a number of years before she recovered. During this time her husband waited on her hand and foot. The doctor even commented that if it was not for his attentive care of his wife she would have died.
One day after the woman’s health returned, she told her husband that she appreciated how wonderful he had been to her, and she was now ready to forgive him. Here is the sad part of the story. The husband looked his wife in the eye and said, “My dear, I needed your forgiveness when I did not deserve it. I have earned your appreciation, but your forgiveness has come too late. I am leaving you.”
I hope against hope that this was only an illustration. But the truth is that true forgiveness comes when the offender does not deserve to be forgiven. When Christ forgave us, it was not that we deserved it, but that we needed it. Paul reminds us in Romans 5:8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Is there someone who needs your forgiveness right now?
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 | Mar 4, 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.”
I just returned from delivering a much-needed gift of money to a family that has been going through a very stressful time and have no means to buy the bare necessities. The response of love and gratitude has brightened my soul.
I have asked permission to use the following message I received from one of our subscribers who responded to last week’s Daily-E-Votional on entertaining angels unawares. Here’s their story:
“I am disabled with a severe back condition so my emailing has been curtailed a bit lately. As I read your angels unaware it jogged my memory to a time when my husband and I were first saved. We had gone to a Wednesday night service and on the way home we treated our two young teens to Carl’s Junior for some french fries. We were living on a VERY limited budget so this was a big splurge. We ordered, got our table, sat down to eat and chat about what we all had learned that evening. An older woman caught my attention (obviously what we called in the 80’s a bag lady, now a homeless soul). She was dressed very strangely. Her socks were men’s that didn’t match as were her shoes. Her clothes were layered for the cold and very ratty looking. She looked like she was 100 but was probably much younger. I overheard her telling the manager that if she could cash her check there, she could get a cup of coffee and a small burger. She was cold and hungry. I had a $5.00 bill in my wallet which was for my husband’s gas money for work for the next week, not a dime extra. I heard the Lord clearly tell me to give her the money.
After a brief argument (why I do that I don’t know because I never win), I sent my husband over with the $5.00 to order her a full meal. She did not see what direction he came from, the place was packed with people and so he startled her. When he had ordered her food, given her the change she turned and looked me dead in the eye. With a very loud voice she said, ‘Your God has seen what you have done and he is well pleased.’ I almost fainted! She walked over and told me she came in there on cold nights because they were open 24 hours. The manager had been very nice to let her sit inside. She then walked away. When we arrived home I felt bad that I had not offered her a warm place to sleep that night so I called the manager at Carl’s Junior to see if she was still there. He denied that it ever happened. He said there were no homeless people who came in to stay warm and did remember me and my family but not a conversation about food or a check. It was then that the very Scripture you quoted hit me. In giving all we had (my husband would have to walk to work) we had entertained an angel unaware.
The next thing that happened was another miracle. God replaced the $5.00 with a $20.00 bill I found in my coat pocket. I NEVER put money in pockets so I knew I had not done it. God had provided for my husband’s travel money and some extra to spare! Praise the Lord! I now try to be sensitive to those around me no matter how they look, or who they are. Not because I want to entertain angels but because I want my God to say, ‘I see what you have done and I am well pleased.'”
Just remember, dear hearts, the one you extend a helping hand toward may not be an angel, but in their mind you may be an angel to 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 | Feb 23, 2010 | Luke
Luke 13:34
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
I just received the latest issue of my “Grit” magazine — in the first few pages I found a story a reader had submitted about a pet llama named Molly. It seems that Molly had not been on the farm very long when she began to mother other animals. One of these was a little brown hen who was old and had a hard time walking. Molly would carry the hen around on her back and even allowed the hen to roost on her back all night long.
It reminds me of the character quality of Gentleness. This character quality is demonstrated by being more concerned about the needs of others than for oneself. It is seen when someone goes out of their way to respond in a godly manner to the needs of others.
As I mentioned yesterday, in Numbers 12:3, Moses was described by the Lord as being the most humble man on the face of the earth. In addition, Moses had the character quality of Gentleness.
When you read in the book of Exodus about how the people of Israel were murmuring, it would have been easy for him to leave them in the hands of an angry God. Instead, like Molly the Llama, he took special care to meet their needs and even bore them on his back.
Here is the important question: In what way are you being Molly the Llama to those around you? Do you have any little brown hens that are weak and frail and who need to be carried on your back? Remember that character qualities are developed by actions. DO IT!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 22, 2010 | Luke
Luke 18:14
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
I am sure you recall this story I have used before. A pastor had just finished delivering a message on the subject of humility. He waxed eloquent and seemingly the congregation was moved by his words. Following the service, as he was greeting people at the door, a little lady shook his hand with exuberance and said; “Thank you for that message pastor. You know I have very few talents or abilities, but the one thing I can take pride in is my humility!” (I think the pastor went home in tears!)
Humility is a choice, just as pride is a choice. I once was counseling a young college student who outwardly appeared timid and withdrawn. She spoke only in meek and mild tones. After several weeks of counseling she seemed to be getting no closer to finding peace.
Before one of her appointments I was praying for the Lord to give me guidance. Suddenly the Lord revealed that her problem was pride. I was stunned at the idea and wondered how she would respond when I confronted her. To my astonishment she began to sob and confessed that her heart was proud even though she disguised it by acting shy and withdrawn. We prayed as she confessed. Healing followed!
There are many Bible characters that come to mind that are examples of God’s humble servants. Job was a prime example of true humility. In Exodus 12 we read that Moses was the most humble man on earth. The lives of Joseph and Daniel give us pictures of sincere humility and dependence on God. There are many more.
What defines true humility? I believe that it is trusting God without having to be the one who makes it happen. It is recognizing that others are just as important in doing God’s work as we are. It is having the attitude ― I can’t, He can, that’s all I need to know, let’s go!
Are you a humble servant of the Lord? Have you surrendered your own reputation and prestige to His ultimate control? If not I urge you to have an unconditional surrender ceremony and sign over control of your life to the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
