by Pastor Cecil | May 10, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 6:4-5
“Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.”
I have the sweetest and most gentle wife a man could ever wish for. She has been my dearest friend for some sixty-two years and my wife for almost fifty-eight years. Her birthday is today, May 10th, one day after Mother’s Day.
If ever there was a Proverbs 31 woman, it is my precious Joyce. Her children rise up and call her blessed. She has an undying love for them and for others as well. That being said, she also has a frisky side.
Back in the 50’s I was in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in South Dakota. My work schedule required me to leave for the base at about 6:00 a.m. each morning. I rode to work with a sergeant named Anthony Urban. It was always a struggle for me to get around and ready before he would arrive in front of our small travel trailer.
My dearest wife would be alone all day in the small 24 foot trailer, eagerly waiting for my arrival so we could visit. I got in the habit of taking a nap after dinner. Picture my dear wife waiting all day for me to be home with her, and all I could do was take a nap.
One evening I was deep in slumber when Joyce shouted, “Cec! Hurry and get up, Urban is here!” I almost broke my neck getting into my uniform before I saw Joyce laughing hysterically. I looked at the clock and realized that it was still evening.
Those special memories live vividly in my mind of a woman of God who is able to bring fun and adventure into life. Happy birthday, darling! You are still the love of my life after all of these years.
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 5, 2010 | Proverbs
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.”
I loved Jim Graham. He was a man of faith and integrity. He drove a church bus with devotion and purpose ― it was his ministry and he was as faithful to his task as any minister who stepped into the pulpit. He has gone to be with the Lord, but his dear wife sent me an e-mail in response to one of last week’s E-Votionals. Here is a portion of Sally’s letter:
This is such a blessed story! I can’t hit the delete button. It just touched my heart. It kind of reminds me of back in the 1980’s. Olympia Nazarene Church bought that big Trailways bus. My husband drove it whenever he was available, but the church needed a driver more than Jim was able to do it.
One morning when we woke up, he said, ‘You are going to think I’m crazy.’ I replied, ‘So what else is new?’ He said, ‘I had a dream and God told me to quit my job and drive the bus full time.’ I said, ‘If you believe God told you to do this, then you had better do it. God doesn’t like it when we don’t listen to him.’ He said, ‘But it is a job that doesn’t pay anything. What do we do about living on your income only?’ I said, ‘If God told you to do it, He will provide for us.’
So Jim quit his job, we cut back on a few things, and I got a good promotion almost immediately. We tithed the same amount as we had when Jim was working and we never missed paying a bill and we never did without the necessities of life. God blessed us and took care of us. Jim quit his paid job June 30, 1985 and drove the bus until 1999.”
Wow! That really touches my heart and makes me want to do more than I ever have for the Lord. He will take care of His children when they fully trust 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 | Apr 15, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 16:18-19
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”
Pride is an ugly thing! It may be seen in various forms, but it is always ugly. Let me share with you one ugly incident. A pastor had been preaching a series of sermons on the character quality of humility.
Week after week he used God’s Word to show that God desires a broken and contrite heart. The people were busy taking notes and he was encouraged that they were grasping this essential concept.
At the close of the final sermon on this subject, he stood at the rear door and gave his people an encouraging word as they left. Sister Bertha was the last of his congregation to leave the church. She shook the pastor’s hand and wiped him out with this statement; “Pastor I have been so blessed by your series. I have very little in the way of gifts to give the Lord, but I am really proud of my humility.” I think the pastor was last seen weeping against the wall.
Remember that we have nothing of value to present to the King of kings, but our inadequacy. We carry His message in these fractured vessels of ours. The Lord is not interested in the vessel, but the message inside. Are we effective messengers for the Lord Jesus Christ? That is my prayer for all 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 | Apr 14, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 15:1-2
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”
My first job as a police officer was a constant learning experience. It was in the early 50’s (that sounds like the dark ages doesn’t it?). There was no such thing as a training academy. We learned from experienced officers on the job or from time-to-time training courses by outside specialists.
I recall one such session that was being taught by an FBI agent. One of the things he shared with us was the value of using a soft voice while dealing with someone who was under the influence of alcohol. I filed it under the section of my brain called “good to know, but what use is it?”
It was some months later that I had developed a first class case of laryngitis and was barely able to speak above a whisper. I was called by the police dispatcher to go to a local tavern and deal with an unruly drunk. The bartender pointed the man out to me and wished me luck.
I walked over to the man and whispered, “I understand there is some problem here. Can you come outside with me so we can talk about it?” To my amazement he whispered back, “Okay” and followed me like a little puppy dog. By that time there was back-up patrolmen on the scene to take the man to sober up. When I went back inside, the bartender asked me how I did that when several strong men had trouble controlling him. I simply said, “Get laryngitis!”
The technique also works in all of our dealings. As the writer of Proverbs points out, soft answers avoid wrath, while harsh words lead to anger. Try it the next time there is a conflict in your 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
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 10, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 22:6
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Perhaps we have all encountered a situation such as I experienced a few days ago. As I pulled into the parking lot of a super market, I noticed an empty space across from where I had parked. I noticed a car pause near the space, then drive on. I walked over and sure enough, there was a shopping cart that some thoughtless person had left in the middle of the parking space instead of returning it to the cart storage area a few steps away. (I returned it clear into the store).
My mind began to reflect upon this and other types of inconsiderate behavior that seems to be the norm of our modern life. Someone recently sent a YouTube video of a wonderful rendition of our national anthem. I was enjoying the remarkable talent when I happened to observe the players lined up on the edge of the playing field. They slouched, talked and never paid honor. It was distressing!
What is the reason for this breakdown in respect and appropriate behavior? I think the answer is to be found in today’s Scripture. Parents have delegated their God given responsibility for training their children to the church, school or just not caring enough to take the time to train their children in the way they should go.
So what can we do? If we have children, train them in Biblical patterns of behavior. Try as best as you can to develop godly character qualities. If you do not have children of your own, pray for God to show you kids that need you. Then share from your heart the things that God shows you.
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 | Jan 27, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Back in my Air Force days I was a Minuteman Missile Launch Control Officer. Each of our launch capsules controlled ten missiles equipped with nuclear warheads. As you might imagine, security and accuracy were of paramount importance. There was no room for lack of attention.
From time to time, messages were received to test our readiness and ability to respond. As the Crew Commander, it was my duty to shout out the order we had just received and my deputy was to respond: “acknowledged!”
Sometimes I feel that I could spend an entire life feasting on the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6. Today I would like to just focus on verse 6 and the word “acknowledge.” Here is the definition:
1 : to recognize the rights, authority, or status of
2 : to disclose knowledge of or agreement with
3 a : to express gratitude or obligation for <acknowledge a gift> b : to take notice of <failed to acknowledge my greeting> c : to make known the receipt of <acknowledge a letter>
4 : to recognize as genuine or valid <acknowledge a debt>
Do you see the connection with the word as we find it in Proverbs 3:6? It means that when we “acknowledge” the Lord, we yield our rights and responsibility to Him and allow Him to guide and direct our steps. Are you doing that? I pray that you are!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
