by Pastor Cecil | Jan 31, 2012 | Philippians
Philippians 4:12-13
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives strength.
Several years ago I received the following humorous story. I hasten to add that it could just as easily apply to men as well as women:
Recently a “Husband Shopping Center”opened in Oklahoma City, where women could go to choose a husband from among many men. It was laid out in five floors, with the men increasing in positive attributes as you ascended up the floors. The only rule was, once you opened the door to any floor, you must choose a man from that floor, and if you went up a floor, you couldn’t go back down except to leave the place never to return. A couple of girlfriends go to the Center to find husbands.
First floor: The door had a sign saying, “These men have jobs and love kids.” The women read the sign and say, “Well, that’s better than not having jobs, or not loving kids, but I wonder what’s further up?” So up they go.
Second floor: “These men have high paying jobs, love kids, and are extremely good looking.” Hmmm, say the girls. But, I wonder what’s further up?
Third floor: “These men have high paying jobs, are extremely good looking, love kids and help with the housework.” Wow! say the women. Very tempting, BUT, there’s more further up! And up they go.
Fourth floor: “These men have high paying jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.” Oh, mercy me. But just think! What must be awaiting us further on! So up to the fifth floor they go.
Fifth floor: The sign on that door said, “This floor is empty and exists only to prove that women are impossible to please. Good-bye.”
“If only I had a husband, or a wife, or a new car, or a new house or such and such—then I would be content!” How many times have we heard that, or even uttered words such as those. By nature we seem to be a people that lack a feeling of contentment. There is always something not quite to our liking.
That lack of contentment, my dear friends, comes as a result of being controlled by our carnal, human nature. Trust me on this . . . we are in a battle between our human nature and our spiritual nature. Sadly it is often our human nature that wins out over the spiritual resolves we make.
I am so glad that Paul gives us a radiant testimony of his victory over discontent. He freely states that there were times in his life when he was prosperous. But there were also times when he had nothing. He wants us to understand that it is not the good things of life or distasteful things that matter—it is Christ who makes the difference.
Paul sums up his comments on the plenty and the lack in a unique manner: “It is not the good times or the bad times that give us contentment in this life—it is the power of Christ, not our power that matters . . . I can do everything through Him who gives strength.”
Here is another verse which should be a constant reminder for each of us who strive to find lasting contentment. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing in the time we have.
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 17, 2011 | Philippians
Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I can recall a few times in my life when I had done something that offended someone. When I asked them to please forgive me, their response was: Just forget it! Although they said to forget it, it was obvious that they had not and would not forget it. Yesterday the subject of my Daily-E-Votional was on remembering. I think it is more than appropriate to devote a few lines to forgetting.
There are many people carrying a huge load of resentment because they have not been willing to forget what is past. When you stop and think about it, we are not able to relive that past. The good, the bad and the ugly are the result of our actions and we are faced with the consequences.
Now I want to be quick to say that the Lord forgives us when we repent of our sinful actions and ask Him to forgive us. While the Lord forgives us, that does not mean that others will be so willing to have the same spirit of forgiveness. David’s sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband was forgiven, but David paid a terrible price for his actions.
So what do we do with the sins of the past? Today’s Scripture gives us the solution. Paul says that we are to forget the things that are behind and reach forward to the things that lie ahead. There’s a great day awaiting for true believers.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
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
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 7, 2011 | Philippians
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I once took a class in speed reading. It was interesting and very helpful, but at the same time it lacked something. That something was application. I could scan over the pages of a book and at the end know very little of the author’s intent in writing the book. The same thing is true of our reading of the Bible.
Think of the times you have read a passage of God’s Word and later could recall nothing of what you had read. That is tragic. Think about the lives across the centuries that have been lost and the suffering that has been endured so that we can hold this precious book in our hands. It makes me slow down and consider just how dear these words should be to me.
Even with this thought in mind it is still sometimes difficult to grasp the meaning of certain passages. As I recall it was Henrietta Mears who suggested a manner of Bible study that has been very useful to countless students of the Bible. WHAT DOES IT SAY? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? HOW DO I APPLY IT TO MY OWN LIFE?
As we slow down and drink in the words we need to ask ourselves these questions. At the same time we need to understand that while the words may have been written by human hands the inspiration of the words come from God. God’s Word is living and active. It speaks to us in different ways and at different times to meet our need at just the right time. Above everything else we need the APPLICATION to make it real in our heart and life.
Praise God that He is the One who crowns us with love and mercy!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
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
My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the Kindle store and type in “Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations,” or “Pastor Cecil Thompson.”
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 16, 2011 | Philippians
Philippians 3:7-8
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”
Back in the 1970’s I was employed by the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission as the Corrections Specialist. Our agency included specialists from police courts as well as my field of Corrections.
The Director of our agency was a man who seemed proud of his Viking heritage and would have been right at home wearing the metal helmet with horns. He was a large and very vocal man who often made rash decisions and created complications that required a considerable amount of unnecessary work for the various specialists to correct. We would often voice our displeasure to each other in the employee’s lunchroom.
One day as I was praying, the Lord began to convict me of my sin of gossip. I knew I had to make it right, so I walked into the Director’s office and shut the door. I sat across the desk from him and confessed that I had not been a faithful employee. I told him what I had been guilty of doing and asked him to please forgive me. I added that from that moment on I would not talk with others but would come directly to him if there was something I felt was wrong.
A few weeks later the Director and I traveled to San Francisco for a Corrections conference. As we were getting out of the car to go inside and register, he informed me that he was naming me Deputy Director of the Agency. My confession was what swayed him. I had not lost, but gained by going God’s way.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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. Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 1, 2011 | Philippians
Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
William Walford did not allow the fact that he was blind limit his service for his Lord. He was frequently called upon to preach in a small country church. He composed the sermons in his head and quoted large portions of Scripture from memory. Some people thought he had memorized the entire Bible. He also composed verses in addition—he prayed.
In the mid 1800’s, Thomas Salmon was visiting in England and became acquainted with Pastor Walford. As they were visiting one day the blind pastor quoted a few pieces he had composed. Since he had no one to write them down he had kept them treasured in the storehouse of his mind.
One of the verses he related to Mr. Salmon was, Sweet Hour of Prayer. Mr. Salmon eagerly scribbled the words down on a scrap of paper. When he returned to New York he sent the verses to the Observer and asked if they thought them worth preserving. The Observer did think them worthy and published them on September 13, 1845. The music was added by William Bradbury in 1861.
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
‘Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!’
To access Sweet Hour of Prayer please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/sweethourofprayer 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
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by Pastor Cecil | Dec 1, 2010 | Philippians
Philippians 4:12-13
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Have you noticed how often people (even pastors . . . some of us can be considered people) are always looking for more prestigious positions? I have to confess a cynical mind when I hear a pastor claim that God has called him to another church when I know that the new church is twice as large with a salary commensurate to its size. I love to hear of a call to a much smaller congregation with a meager stipend.
I thought of this yesterday when one of our members was asked about her new job. This woman had formerly been employed in a prestigious position at a well-known company. When the company closed its local operation, she was out of a job. But after caring for family members for over a year, it was time to look for work.
Executive positions were not available, but a night job at the local Walmart store was. Now the former “executive” runs the floor cleaner that warns customers with a little beep-beep! When asked how she liked her new job, this lady just beamed—she loves it and her face showed it!
It is not the dignity of the job that matters, but the dignity of the person doing the job. I always want to have that same thrill that we saw in her countenance as she told us about driving the machine around the store. Well done, Girl!
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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