by Pastor Cecil | Mar 26, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 118:22-24
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Several years ago I experienced harsh rejection. The only reason for writing about it is to give you a hope and a confidence. Even though you may be rejected by men—you are never rejected by our heavenly Father.
The purpose of my rejection is known only to those who inflicted it. It started with snide remarks and innuendos. Comments became accusations with no basis, so it was hard to endure. Have you ever been there? False statements were made and I found myself feeling like an animal being pursued by hunters ready for the kill. I want to say right here that I am no perfect example. I make more than my share of mistakes, blunders and oversights. Some of the comments had elements of truth in them, so I could agree to a point, but taken out of context, they became a pretext.
I pray that there may be one or two of you out there who are able to relate to this and I hope that this will be God’s way of sending you assurance. I had those who gave me assurance during my ordeal and it was a blessing.
God was just beginning with us! People came forward to support and stand along beside us. I realized that I was not rejected, but loved and sustained by the Lord. God still continues to surprise us with His new call to exciting ministry.
For well over eleven years now the Lord has given me a ministry to write this Daily-E-Votional, which is going out to thousands of people all around the globe. Here is my conclusion concerning rejection. Jesus was rejected and He was perfect in all ways. Since we are not perfect we can expect to be rejected or at least not appreciated. When we encounter rejection in our life—whether in the home, at church, at work, or wherever it may be—turn it over to the Lord.
Since God has given us this day—BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 16, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 107:29-30
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.”
It seems that each of us is called upon to face storms in our life. It may be physical infirmity, financial reversals or the loss of a loved one. It is not the storm that matters, but how we react to the storm.
Back in 1873, Horatio Spafford and his family were scheduled to sail on the French steamer ‘Ville de Havre’ from New York to England where he was to assist the great evangelist, D.L. Moody. Because of a last minute business crisis Mr. Spafford sent his family on ahead and he would follow on a later ship.
Unfortunately the ship his family was on collided with another ship and sank. There was a terrible loss of life. Spafford and his wife lost their four daughters. Nine days later Horatio Spafford received a cable from his wife that simply said, “Saved alone.” What poignant words.
Later, as he was sailing to meet his wife, he asked the captain to let him know when they were near where the accident had occurred. It was there that he penned the words of this week’s hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.”
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
To access It Is Well With My Soul, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/itiswellwithmysoul/ 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
P.S. – Check out PastorCecil.com
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 24, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1-5
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”
I would dare to say that almost all of us experienced some sort of trial in our life. It could be the loss of health, a financial meltdown, death of a mate or child or any number of catastrophic events. It is not whether or not we will encounter these trials, but rather what we will do when they arise.
The phrase, “Praise to the Lord” occurs in at least 155 verses in the Bible. That indicates to me that we need to spend far more time praising the Lord than we do. It would be well to replace our complaints with words of praise to the Lord.
Over 300 years ago, Joachim Neander was a hymn writer for the German Reform church. He was going through a time of trial and testing in his life. He would take long walks and pour his heart out to the Lord. It was on one of these walks that he came to the realization that it was not his strength that would give him victory and peace, but rather the powerful God he served. It was in that state of mind that he composed this week’s featured hymn.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near;
Join me in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee!
Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee;
How oft in grief hath not He bought thee relief,
Spreading His wings for to shade thee!
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
To access Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/praisetothelordthealmighty/ 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
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. Or you can find a Kindle edition at Amazon.com.
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 15, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 199:105-106
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow Your righteous laws.
Back in the good old days I was serving as a jet mechanic with the US Air Force in South Dakota. From time to time it was necessary to work through the night hours. On one particular night we had to bring one of the fighter aircraft from the ramp into the hangar. It was a distance of about four city blocks.
The procedure for such moves was to disconnect the batteries in the aircraft (that would be important later on). Two of us went to bring the plane in. I was riding in the cockpit to use the brakes while the other mechanic operated the tow tractor.
We had just started the move when we saw the lights of a car coming toward us. I tried to turn the lights on to alert the driver of our presence, but of course there was no power and thus no lights. The tow tractor driver flashed his lights, but the car kept speeding toward us.
There was a sickening crash as the car struck the fuel pod located on the tip of the wing. The driver was one of the young pilots and was driving far too recklessly toward the alert hangar where he was on duty. Since we were just lowly enlisted men he gave us a piece of his mind that he couldn’t afford to give. His threats ended quickly the next day when he was called before the Commanding Officer and received discipline.
There are many times when we have been given warnings that danger lies ahead. The darkness of this world has blinded us. My prayer is that God will light our life and that we will follow only as far as His light shines.
Blessings dear hearts. Wait for the Lord to light your path and above all, be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 9, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 43:10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
When I was a boy our family attended the Church of the Nazarene in Camas, Washington. I was fascinated by an evangelist who held a revival service at the church. His name was Uncle Bud Robinson.
I do not remember anything he said, but I do vividly recall something he did. As the offering plate was being passed, Uncle Bud removed a dollar bill from his wallet. As the plate came to him he kissed the bill, placed it in the plate and then waved goodbye to it. What a character!
One time Uncle Bud was given a $20.00 bill. He thanked the Lord for it, but the Lord spoke very clearly to him that it was not his, but he was to give it to someone that would be revealed to him. Sometime later he was holding a meeting in Detroit, Michigan. The Lord made it very clear that he was to give it to someone at this meeting.
All week long Uncle Bud waited for some sign about the recipient. The last night of the revival came and several came forward, but no indication about who was to receive the money. The pianist left and it was just he and the pastor. They were ready to turn out the lights and leave when the pianist returned saying that she had left her sweater.
Uncle Bud’s heart began to burn and he knew this was the one who was to receive the $20.00. She began to sob when he gave her the money. She lived quite some distance from the church and only had enough money for bus fare to get to the church. She was terrified since she would be walking back home through a dangerous part of the city to reach her home. Uncle Bud had been God’s delivery boy. That is true giving!
Blessings dear hearts. Give obediently to the Lord, be willing to make the Lord’s deliveries when asked and above all, be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 25, 2012 | Luke, Psalm
Luke 22:31-32
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Experiencing the crippling effect of our recent snow and ice storm has been very revealing. Some have ranted and raved at the hard working electrical crews who have been laboring 24 hours a day to restore power. At the same time I have heard from others who have used this time to draw closer to the Lord and to each other.
A few people have asked me if I thought God was punishing us for the terrible sins that are so prevalent. Only God knows the answer to that question, and it is clear in scripture that there have been natural disasters to chastise people for their godless lifestyle. That being said, many other periods of sin and rebellion have not been dealt with in this manner.
What can we learn when bad things happen to good people? I feel that we have a glimpse in today’s Scripture. Peter was a fervent disciple of Jesus and felt that he would face death rather than deny his Lord. Jesus tenderly shared with Peter that Satan had asked permission to sift him. Why? Jesus said it was so his faith would be increased in order to strengthen his brothers. He did go through the time of testing and victoriously became the leader of that band of believers who saw 3,000 accept Jesus in a single day.
Are you experiencing the pressures of life? These ordeals may bring you to a greater level of service than you can imagine. Rather than question why you are being sifted, draw closer to the Lord and allow Him to deal with Satan.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, even in times of sifting, and allow Him to make you a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
