by Pastor Cecil | Sep 14, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 89:46-47
“How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is; For what futility have You created all the children of men?”
In my lifetime I have had only one brand new car. In fact, when I was a pastor in Burns, Oregon, I drove all the way to Detroit, Michigan, to pick it up. Somehow Joyce and I were able to purchase it at a reduced price, so we now had our first (and only) brand new vehicle.
Just a few weeks after we had bought our new car, someone walked into the church following the morning service. He said, “I have some good news and some bad news.” I asked for the good news first. “The church bus did not go over the hill and hurt someone.”
With a sense of trepidation I asked for the bad news. The man sadly said, “The reason it didn’t go over the hill is that it ran into the side of your car.” I laughed at his sick joke until I saw that he was not smiling. Sure enough, the side of our new car was caved in. A young boy had slipped into the bus and took the emergency brake off. I did thank the Lord that no one was injured . . . but my new car . . . it was now ready for the body shop!
Looking back I can laugh about it. It was one of those memories that illustrate that this life we live is filled with “dents,” “bangs,” and “trials” of every sort. It teaches us over and over the truth that we must never hold too tightly to the things of this world.
At age 76, I realize that there are many things I will never be able to do. There are many “things” I will never possess. But I want to let you in on a little secret. The thing that really counts is already mine: a new life in Christ, abundant and eternal. Praise the Lord!
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 | Sep 3, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 31:2-3
“Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.”
Many of us have experienced crushing losses in our life. Who is to say whether the loss of one thing is more burdensome than another. All too often we minimize what others are suffering and focus only on our own struggles.
The hymn, “Hiding In Thee” was written by William Cushing in 1876 following the death of his dear wife at an early age. He was in poor health himself and had been forced to retire from the ministry. It seemed as if his world was crashing down upon him.
At the urging of Ira Sankey, an active musician with D. L. Moody, he was persuaded to write a hymn from the depths of his ordeal. As we read the words of this beloved hymn we can almost feel the cry of his heart as a prayer.
“Hiding in Thee“
O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power,
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Whatever you may be going through at this very moment, I want you to know that you can flee to our “Blest Rock of Ages” and hide in Him!
To access Hiding In Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/pianoconcertono2 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 | Aug 13, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
The origins behind the gospel song, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” are really unknown. It first appeared back in the “All Night Gospels Sings” in the south. One thing is certain—it has been a hit with many well known artists including Tennessee Ernie Ford and Elvis Presley.
In today’s Scripture we can almost picture the psalmist, David, sitting on a hillside watching his sheep while he played on his harp and sang about the nearness of God, even during times of peril.
We may not be in a life threatening situation, as David often found himself, but we still need a closer walk with the Lord so we will be able to have His protection when danger is near.
“Just a Closer Walk With Thee“
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long, as I walk,
let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er,
to Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
To access Just a Closer Walk With Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/justacloserwalkwiththee 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 | Jul 27, 2010 | Daily-E-Votionals, Psalm
Psalm 30:4-5
“Sing to the LORD, you saints of His; praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Working the graveyard shift from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. is a grind. I have been there and done that. Driving around town in a police cruiser in the dark hours of early morning was always an ordeal.
One morning one of our officers pulled up to a red traffic light. He put his car in “park” and decided to close his eyes for just a moment. He was not sure how long that moment was, but he was awakened by an early morning newspaper driver who tapped on his driver’s side window and said, “Sir, the light is green now.” How would you like to have been that intrepid young man? HA!
I still recall the wonderful sight of dawn breaking in the east. First there was only a soft aura that grew into a glow and finally increased in intensity even before the sun rose into the sky. It was amazing how much energy it gave us who had labored through the dark night hours.
What are you experiencing in your life at this moment? It is possible that you feel like you are in the middle of a long night. It may be physical, financial, emotional or spiritual. I am here to remind you that joy comes in the morning. Look to Jesus and feel the bright sunlight of His presence fill your darkest despair.
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 22, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 29:3
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.”
Living in the State of Washington has many advantages. Yes, we have rain, but we also have lakes, rivers, inland waters and the ocean. I will never call myself a fisherman, but I know what it feels like to catch a large halibut or two. I will not go too far into a fish story except the one that follows.
Three of us were on a small boat in the San Juan Islands, fishing for King Salmon. It was a beautiful day and we really did not mind that we had caught nothing. I happened to look ahead of the boat about 200 yards (182 meters). It looked like we were being approached by a group of submarines.
It was actually a pod of killer whales. From the shore or in pictures they may not look too large, but when you are in a small boat and they are headed straight for you, they suddenly seem larger than life. We knew the adults were about 25-30 feet long and averaged about eighteen thousand pounds.
The huge dorsal fins would submerge and then surface with a “Whooshing” sound as they breathed. They did not deviate from their course and we were in their path. About fifteen or twenty yards they all went under water—they passed under our boat! It was a breathtaking moment until they surfaced on the other side. Whew!
There are times in life when things are out of our control. The difficult times can be due to our own unwise decisions, but just as likely we can just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is then that we place our trust in the Lord and have a “whale of a time” praising 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 | Jul 16, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 139:7-10
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”
George Matheson was studying for the ministry when he was devastated by the news that he was losing his eyesight. His fiancé abandoned him when she learned of his serious medical condition. She felt she could not go through life married to a blind man. His sister stepped in and provided the loving care for her brother across the years
There came a day when this beloved sister fell in love and was engaged to be married. On the evening of her marriage, the entire family had left the house and George Matheson was left all alone. It was in this time of emptiness that he needed someone who would never leave him. His heart cried out to God and he wrote the words to this beautiful hymn, “Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go.”
“Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go“
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Draw near to God this day and you can rest assured that He will near to you. To access Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ohlovethatwillnotletmego 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
