DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

April 1, 2015

“GOD AT WORK!”

Romans 8:28-30

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

                                                           

It is fantastic the way the Lord is able to work in ways that we cannot explain to touch a life that may not be open to traditional methods. Such was the case many years ago in Nampa, Idaho. At the time I was on the staff of a large church. The captain of our prayer chain was Blanche McBee. My wife, Joyce worked at an attorney firm in the city.

One of the young women who worked in the same office with Joyce was cynical to anything spiritual. There seemed to be no way of breaking through her barrier to the claims of the gospel. That is until God stepped in.

One morning this young woman returned from a trip to the post office. She had a thick notebook and started reading in it every chance she had. The next day she asked Joyce if she knew a woman named Blanche McBee, who attended our church. Joyce immediately said she did and that Blanche was the captain of our prayer chain. “That explains it!” she said. You see Blanche had listed the specific prayer requests and then documented when the prayer was answered.

It turned things around for the cynical young lady. She was now open to the things of God. On the other end, Blanche was ecstatic that her lost notebook had been found. Never feel that things are out of control. God is in control!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions! 

- - - Pastor Cecil

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 31, 2015

“MY PRAYER!”

Psalm 19:12-14

“But who can know their own mistakes? Forgive my hidden faults. Also keep me from the sins I want to commit. May they not be my master then I will be without blame. I will not be guilty of any great sin against Your law. Lord, may these words of my mouth please You and may these thoughts of my heart please You also. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.”    

                                                           

For many years we have had our daily devotions by reading through the Bible in one year. While Joyce was still alive we would have our breakfast and then at 8:00, we would call our daughter Lori. I would read the day's passages that were designed to take us through the bible in one year. We actually repeat Psalms twice.

Following the reading I open my heart to the Lord and pray over my family. I allow the Holy Spirit to lay those things on my heart to pray for. Many times the words of Psalm 19:14 would come to mind. That is the second part of today’s Scripture.

It was just today that I grasped something that had escaped my attention. It was in the New International Readers Version. The key words that jumped out at me were “THESE WORDS”...which led me to consider what these words referred to.

The Psalmist is confessing his mistakes, hidden faults, and even sins he wants to commit. It is the honest prayer of one who desires to be led by the Lord in thought, word,  and deed. I am sad to report that most of us commit sins and then ask the Lord to forgive us. That is well and good, but this goes a step beyond and asks the Lord to give strength to live above our sinful nature. That is my prayer!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions! 

- - - Pastor Cecil

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

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 30, 2015

“ROUGH SEAS!”

Psalm 65:5-7

“You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by Your power, having armed Yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.”  

                                                           

Sometimes we are so caught up in the storms of life, that it seems as if all of our reference points are lost.  Our modern culture has become so polluted with sin and lack of moral absolutes, that we are given mis-direction as well as no-direction.

So how do we find a reliable source to navigate through the storms of life?  Again we fall back upon the Word of God. I think it is essential that we call upon the Lord as early as possible.  We need the Great Navigator of all creation to have control of our life as well as the storms we will encounter.  The longer we wait the more off course we become.

It also speaks of God bringing us His Word.  I am sure that almost everyone has heard that old cliché;"A day without God's Word, makes one weak!"  We need Him not just daily, but each moment throughout the day to give direction and meaning to our life.

I once read about a man who was lined up to apply for a visa. A part of the process required him to show a picture of his mother.  As he laid out the picture, the behind him woman yelled out, "That's not your mother, that's my mother!"  The in just a few minutes the two rejoiced they had found a sibling they did not know about. From a frustrating situation came rejoicing.  GOD NAVIGATES WELL!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions! 

- - - Pastor Cecil

By Billy Graham, Tribune Content Agency Why Didn't Jesus Become King? Mar 28, 2015 Q: Why didn't Jesus go ahead and let people make Him a king toward the end of His life, which many wanted to do? It seems to me that He could have done a lot of good if He'd gone ahead and let it happen. -- Z.W. A: Tomorrow, millions of Christians all over the world will celebrate what we have come to call " Palm Sunday ," commemorating the day on which Jesus entered Jerusalem and was greeted by crowds waving palm branches and shouting their praises. They cried out, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!" (John12:13). Undoubtedly, some of them were convinced that Jesus had come to lead a revolt against Rome and become their king. But Jesus refused because He knew this was not God's plan for Him. If He became an earthly king, He knew, His power would be limited and He would never touch the whole world. Political power has its place, but it can never meet our deepest moral and spiritual needs. Instead, Jesus came in order to become a king of a different type: a king who would rule in our hearts. This, after all, is what we really need because our greatest problem is within our hearts and minds. And this becomes real when we turn to Christ in repentance and faith, and commit our lives to Him. This is what Jesus meant when He said, "The kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:21). Is Jesus Christ the king of your life? Don't reject Him, as many did only days after PalmSunday . Instead by faith turn to Christ and give your life to Him. "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). ======== (Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.) (c)2015 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. Print It - Tweet It - Facebook It

Featured Book from BookDaily.com 7 Days in Hell Larry E. Buck Hunter "There is a REAL HELL. I wanted to experience HELL in such a way that I would know how to explain it to another person. I wanted to explain it with such authority that people would want to know Jesus and not ever want to go there or have anyone they know and love to go there either. I prayed and asked the Lord to show me what being in Hell is really like." "When I asked for this ... Read sample on BookDaily     or     Download on Amazon

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL BLESSINGS FROM THE HEARTPastor Cecil A. Thompson March 27, 2015 NEAR THE CROSS!1 Peter 4:12-13 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." Fanny J. Crosby was a remarkable woman. There are so many accomplishments in her life that it is hard to comprehend them all. She lost her eyesight because of the treatment of a careless doctor. In spite of her loss she memorized huge portions of Scripture just by listening to her grandmother read them to her. She is credited with writing over 10,000 hymns during her life. Fanny began writing poetry at an early age, but another amazing fact is that she did not accept Jesus as her personal Savior until she was 31. She was attending a service on November 20, 1850. The congregation was singing a hymn by Isaac Watts; At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light.She knew she needed the Lord and that very night He became her Savior and Lord. Her desire was to always stay close to Jesus who had paid the ultimate price for her salvation. Her desire was to remain near her Lord. She immediately wrote the words to the hymn for this week. Near the Cross Jesus, keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain, free to all, a healing stream, flows from Calvary's mountain. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river. Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me; there the bright and morning star sheds its beams around me. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river. Near the cross! O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me; help me walk from day to day with its shadow o'er me. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river. Near the cross I'll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever, till I reach the golden strand just beyond the river. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river. To access Near the Cross, this week's inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/nearthecross/ 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 P.S. - Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends. They'll appreciate the encouragement. 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.

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Roma Downey & Mark Burnett talk to David Jeremiah about "A.D. The Bible Continues"  

THIS IS A GREAT INTERVIEW! AD - AIRS EASTER SUNDAY!

Roma Downey & Mark Burnett talk to David Jeremiah about "A.D. The Bible Continues"

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/therevolution/coming_soon.aspx?goto=interview&tid=email_2015mar26ADINT

View Email Online Unsubscribe Email Preferences  Privacy Policy Donate Now TURNING POINT WITH DR. DAVID JEREMIAH PO Box 3838, San Diego, CA 92163 1-877-998-0222 David Jeremiah's Website To ensure that you continue to receive emails from Turning Point, please add info@davidjeremiah.orgto your address book. Do not use your "This is Spam" or "Report Spam" buttons, as this action will not unsubscribe you. To remove yourself from all Turning Point email lists, please click the unsubscribe link. Turning Point's mission is to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world. Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah Copyright 2015

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 26, 2015

“AUTHORITY!”

Luke  21:2-3

“For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”  

                                                           

Throughout my life I have been in positions of authority. Watching actual police programs on TV we see offenders blaming the officers who arrest them instead of admitting they were in the wrong and submitting to authority. I once served as a police officer and met people who became agitated and belligerent when they were confronted. It was evident that they had just been guilty of some type of violation, but they refused to be responsible for their actions.

In each of the positions of authority I came under the authority of someone who was above me. Authority comes as a result of being assigned to a position of authority and not entirely based upon merit. Each authority figure has someone who is in authority above them. They in turn have someone they answered to and up the chain of command it progresses. Societies experience chaos and disintegration when people demand to do their own thing without regard to the consequences.

More and more, we observe people in this old sin-sick world that detest any form of authority. They rebel and protest in order to reject the rules of the society of which they are a part. The rejection of authority is anarchy. That is not good!

The final authority is God! Every human authority will one day stand facing the Judge of all the earth. Our failure to recognize and submit to His authority has eternal consequences. I for one do not want to have my own way when it comes to the will of God. I choose to allow Him to be my final authority.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!   

- - - Pastor Cecil

 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

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 25, 2015

“ICE CREAM CONE FAITH!”

Hebrews 11:1-3

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” 

                                                           

It was in the early seventies and I had been studying the beautiful concept of faith. I was discussing the subject with a fellow believer and asked him how he would define faith. He smiled, recited Hebrews 11:1, and then sat back with a pleased grin on his face.

When I asked him to put that scripture into his own words, he struggled and just recited the scripture again. I suddenly realized that just mouthing the words of Scripture does not mean that we actually understand what God has for us in His Word.

Then I envisioned an ice cream cone on a hot summer day and suggested that my friend imagine we were on our way to the ice cream shop. I asked him what his favorite flavor was. He told me and as he did, I noticed he licked his lips. It was then I suggested that we enjoy the goodness of the ice creambefore we were served.

In the same way, we have God's promises in His Word that we can begin to enjoy here even before we get there. We can begin to enjoy the answers to prayer by trusting in the Lord and joyfully allowing Him to have control of our life. By faith we have victory here, and glory, too!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions! 

- - - Pastor Cecil

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

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 24, 2015

“I CAN DO IT MYSELF!”

Psalm 55:16-18

“As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battlethat was against me, for there were many against me.”     

It seems like a lifetime ago (it almost is) when our kids were toddlers. They began to demonstrate their independent streak when they would interrupt what Joyce or I were doing with the words, “I do it myself!”

That same attitude continues into our adult life in one form or another. This is especially true in spiritual matters. We read in God’s Word that we are to follow Him in all that we do, but by our actions we seem to be saying to God that we want to do it our way and by ourselves.

It is crystal clear that salvation comes by grace through faith, yet millions of people seem to think that they can achieve salvation by their own works. God is not interested in our puny works. He is, however, interested in our obedience. In I Samuel 15:22b, Samuel relates to King Saul: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”

That was true back then and it is still true today. When we read God’s commands in the Bible they are the same yesterday, today, and forever. We need to stop trying to do things our way and start doing things God’s way!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions! 

- - - Pastor Cecil

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

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 23, 2015

“NOT MY HOME!”

Joshua 14:15

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”                                          

Last week I took a trip down memory lane with my son Dan, his wife Donna, and my daughter Lori. We travelled to my birthplace (Camas, Washington) to attend the funeral of my cousin, Gene.

I also wanted to share with my kids the house where I lived as a boy, the building that housed the restaurant my parents owned and operated, the church where I gave my heart to the Lord, and the grave of my grandparents, Earnest and Lola Thompson. It was grandpa Thompson who left this world by breathing, “Well, there’s Jesus now!”

Things have changed dramatically in the 65 plus years since I lived in Camas. The house had been remodeled and tripled in size, the restaurant building now housed an insurance agency, the church was a different denomination...only the graves remained the same.

As I reflect back on that poignant day of showing my kids where I had lived, I have been struck by the fact that I do not live there anymore. After all these years and everything I have experienced, my temporary home is in Tumwater, Washington, and my eternal home is in heaven. Oh, how I long to be there!

I fear that many people spend too much time living in the past--places they have lived, positions they have held, titles they have received, relationships they have enjoyed, and various other things. Look beyond, dear friend, we do not live there anymore!  

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions! 

- - - Pastor Cecil

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEARTPastor Cecil A. Thompson
March 20, 2015

JUST AS I AM!Ephesians 2:8-9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

I suppose many of us have heard humorous stories about someone approaching the gates of heaven and being required to prove that their actions on earth merited entry into God's heavenly kingdom. Beep! Wrong answer!

A person may do amazingly good works here on earth and still miss heaven. It is not what we do for God that determines where we will spend eternity—it is what He has done for us. When we repent of our sins and accept Him as Savior and Lord then—and only then—is our name is written down in glory.

The writer of this week's hymn, Charlotte Elliot, was offended when someone asked her if she was a Christian. She told him to mind his own business. Later as she was contemplating his question, she began to wonder what it took to become a Christian. She called him and he explained to her the plan of salvation which she accepted. It was then that she wrote this hymn, "Just As I Am."

"Just As I Am"

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

To access Just As I Am, this week's inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/justasiam 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

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 19, 2015

“UNDERWEAR!” 

Mark 7:21-23

“For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”                                           

This is a somewhat delicate subject, but I was recently thinking of some of the things my mother said to me. From what I hear, there are others of you who heard this same admonition from your own mother; “Be sure to wear clean underwear, you may end up in the hospital and what would they think!”

From my experience in the emergency wards they often just cut off all of the garments of a patient and have no time to inspect whether the underwear was clean or not. I think it is still a good idea to be prepared!

There is a spiritual parallel to being prepared with those things not obvious to the eyes of people around us. It is only as we peel off the façade of our outward appearance that the reality of who we are is revealed. Jesus reveals in this passage that all of the evil things imaginable are from within. It is these things which defile us in the sight of God.

We may walk and talk as holy men and women of God. The real question is what lies beneath? Do we have the clean underwear that can only come by a life lived in submission to the will of God and a readiness to confess our sins in order for Him to forgive us and cleanse us. Remember to PUT ON CLEAN UNDERWEAR!   

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions! 

- - - Pastor Cecil

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 18, 2015

“THE AMPUTATION!”

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.”                     

There was blinding pain and then darkness. The accident had been so catastrophic that the doctors struggled to save the victim’s life. Hour after hour they fought against the odds and finally turned the corner. With a sigh of relief they made their way from the surgical suite.

They had saved a life and for that they rejoiced. The tragedy was that in order to save the patient's life, they were required to remove both legs just above the knees. Now it was time for the patient to become a cripple or a new creation. Regardless, things would never be the same.

In 1952 I was joined with Joyce, my precious wife, as one flesh. We were not just two people living in the same place, we were truly one. Over the next 62 years we laughed, cried, created, struggled, and served the Lord. That came to a sudden end for me on January 13, 2015. We were no longer one flesh. I had experienced an amputation from the most beautiful part of my life.

Now I face the vivid reality of the choice I must make: Either let the waves of grief cause me to become a cripple or allow the Lord to provide me with the ability to look through the tears and respond to the needs around me. I do not choose to limp through the rest of my life. As I read in Hebrews 12:1-2: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 17, 2015

“CAUGHT!”

Numbers 32:23

“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”         

I have often experienced the sadness of discovering the secret sins of those who appeared to    be innocent and righteous. When in the company of Christians they pretended to be super saints. But then there was that other side. When they thought they were safe from being recognized, they did things they never would have done around their Christian friends.

A repairman who was a devout Christian was called to repair a piece of equipment in a local bar. He had completed the repairs in the equipment room and was on his way out when he noticed his pastor sitting cozily in a booth with a woman who was not his wife. The pastor lost his wife and ministry because of his sin!

Joseph had been treated cruelly by his brothers and everything seemed to have been taken from him. Their betrayal could have made him bitter. Instead, he became a sterling example of being faithful even when removed from the eyes of his family or friends. He might be far from them, but he was not far from God!

That is a truth each and every believer should remember. We are never far from God. He not only knows our every action, He knows our every thought. We will never need to worry about being caught when we purpose in our heart to live by His Word and walk close to Him.  

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!  

- - - Pastor Cecil

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

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

March 16, 2015

“IN THE MIDDLE!”

Psalm 118:7-9

“The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”              

From time to time, someone asks me how we can know the Bible is the true Word of God? There are many hundreds of prophecies that were fulfilled that prove the truth. That being said,  however, belief is a choice. It is a matter of faith. We can either choose to believe, or we can lean on the shallow thinking of unbelievers who say there is no God. One second after death there will be no unbelievers. But failure to accept Christ will cost them eternal suffering and loss. Sad will be their bitter wail!

Some time ago I received an e-mail that should cause doubters to reconsider the truth of the Bible. (This is just one of hundreds). It has to do with the middle of the Bible. The shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117. The longest chapter is Psalm 119.

Now please guess the middle chapter in the Bible? Amazingly it is Psalm 118. That is just the beginning. There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after Psalm 118 for a total of 1188 chapters in the Bible. Hold on to that number, 1188. The very middle verse in the Bible is Psalm 118:8! I have underlined it above: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.”  

In the storms of life and in the expectation of the eternity awaiting us, I find it the most comforting to place my trust in the Lord. Regardless of what others do around me, I choose to take my refuge in the Lord.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!  

- - - Pastor Cecil