DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

October 26, 2015

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“BE CONTENTED!”

I Timothy 6:6-7

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it iscertain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”            

“If I only had that job I would be content!” “If I was good looking and talented like her I would be popular and have no problems!” “If I was young and full of energy I would be able to conquer the world!”  “If I was older and more mature I would have no problems!”--- If I had something more I would be content! All too often people feel that just to gain something more will satisfy that lack in their life.

Learning to be contented with what we possess is frequently a difficult task. We live in a world that is exposed to new and enticing things. What we once felt satisfied with becomes dated when new things appear.  

The Apostle Paul experienced many ups and downs in his life and ministry. He suffered many things from his persecutors, but also had periods of plenty. In Philippians 4:12-13, Paul has this to share with believers of all ages: “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 me strength.”  

Are you content? Do you find satisfaction with what the Lord has chosen to bless you with? Can you sincerely agree with what Paul wrote in today’s Scripture?

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

October 22, 2015

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“WALKING WITH GOD!”

Genesis 5:22-24

“After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and hewas not, for God took him.”      

My emotions are still very raw after losing my wife of 62 years nine and a half months ago. I’m constantly reminded of things that were precious to us. One of the things that always return to my mind was the walks we took when we were first going together. Through our years of living and loving…we walked as one.

Walking hand-in-hand it seemed we were able to communicate at a level that shut out the rest of the world. Many times our walks would be interrupted by the beauty around us and we would stop and allow God’s creation to sweep over us. Not only did it bring us closer together but it brought us closer to God.

Every time I read today’s Scripture I tried to imagine what it must of been like for Enoch to walk with God. The sweet communion they must have shared would have been very precious to Enoch. As near as I can recall from Scripture Enoch and Elijah were the only two men who never saw death because God took them.

It is my desire to walk close to God. I feel I do this by spending time in His word and talking with Him in prayer. I invite you to join with me in walking with God for the rest of our life.

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

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DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

October 19, 2015

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“OUR PROMISE!”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”      

Have you ever had someone make a promise to you and then not keep it? I’m sure that the majority of us have experienced that very thing. As a pastor I have had countless people promise that they would be in church the following week. When Sunday came they were not there nor have they ever appeared. I have often thought that if everyone who promised to be present would follow through on that promise the church could not hold them all. It is not that I am numbers conscious, but it breaks my heart when people make promises and then forget them.

Many years ago I had a young man in the church I pastored who had suffered brain damage years before. He was able to function in many areas and yet was greatly curtailed and others. One thing I admired about him was that he never failed to fulfill a promise. I knew that many times it took a great deal of effort but he always followed through. I can still remember him stacking wood that he had brought for our fireplace because he had made that promise.

God’s promises are always fulfilled. He has promised us peace and not evil and a future and a hope. He has promised to hear us when we pray and when we seek him with all our heart we will find Him. Oh how I love Jesus!

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 HEARTPastor Cecil A. Thompson October 16, 2015 You may have noticed that my Blessings From the Heart and the One Year Bible Reading have not appeared in the last two days. My Internet provider is having problems and I am not able to function normally. I will be getting caught up as soon as possible. PRAISE TO THE LORD!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 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.

“EXHORTATION!” October 15, 2015

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 15, 2015

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“EXHORTATION!”
I Thessalonians 5:14-15

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.”

I have sometimes been called an exhorter. A person with the gift of exhortation is motivated to boost the spirits of people around them. Sometimes in our excitement to help people achieve their full potential we may seem pushy. My own daughter has sometimes called me Pastor Push!

I recall attending a football practice at a local high school. The coach was very passionate and exhorted his players to do their best. He divided his team and was having a scrimmage. A ball carrier was running down the field and his teammate was supposed to block for him. Instead he just watched as a defensive player made a tackle. The coach yelled at the player who had missed the block; “Son, if you can’t block for him, at least you should cheer for him!”

We all need to be aware that there are scores of people around us who need someone to cheer for them. The world is a dismal place at times and without someone to lift spirits it can seem unbearable. We do not have to be a great orator to exhort people. People need to know there is someone who knows they are there and cares! Let Jesus shine through from you to those around you!

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 

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Pastor Cecil A. Thompson DAILY-E-VOTIONAL EXHORTATION

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 14, 2015

TO LISTEN TO THE DAILY E-VOTIONAL, CLICK ON THE LINK (OR COPY AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER) FOR MY DAILY BLOG!

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LISTEN TO PASTOR CECIL A. THOMPSON READING THROUGH THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR!

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“YOUR WORD!”
Psalm 119:9-11

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

As I was praying about the subject for this Issue of BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART, my thoughts were drawn to “Your Word.” When I checked a concordance I discovered that Psalm 119 has so many references to these two words that it was difficult to count them. Not only that, but there were a vast number of synonyms for God’s word.

I have heard that Jewish boys were required to memorize all of Psalm 119. That may not sound like much until you check and discover that there are a total of 176 verses in this chapter. (When was the last time you memorized one or two verses?)

Most of us have several Bibles in our possession. In many cases they look like they have never been opened. I always try to be careful when I purchase a new Bible, but it seems like before long it becomes so worn and marked up that I need to go shopping for a new one. It is sheer bliss to pick one of my old Bibles and thumb through it and read a few of the notes I had made.

The important thing is that our Bibles are God breathed. The words are His words! I want those words to burn deep into my heart and keep me focused on Him at all times.

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t." - Charles H. Spurgeon

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 

“UNINTENTIONAL!”

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 13, 2015

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“UNINTENTIONAL!”
Numbers 35:22-23

“But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionallyor, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended...”

Accidents happen! Sometimes they are totally beyond our control, but at other times we take risks that lead to accidents. Recently during a major flooding event in South Carolina, drivers were warned about the dangers of driving through high water. I watched as television cameras recorded a pickup truck driving into deep water that was very clearly flowing from left to right. The truck was approximately halfway through the flooded area when suddenly it began to float and soon was swamped.

Rescuers in an inflatable boat had to come to the rescue of that driver. Was it an accident? Clearly the driver thought he was able to make it across the flooded roadway, but he took a risk that endangered his life and others. It was unintentional but could have been avoided.

There are times in life where we have the best intentions in the world, but for some reason or another, we fail to follow through. The results can be catastrophic or at least lead to difficult situations. Our actions may be unintentional but risky.

God calls us to walk circumspectly and obediently. We need to search the word of God continually and pattern our life accordingly. Living a life of victory and meaning is the result of staying close to Jesus. Trust and obey -- there is no other 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 

Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family.

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 12, 2015

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“DELIGHT THE LORD!”
Jeremiah 9:23-24

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.”

When my wife Joyce was still alive I always knew what would bring her delight. It was not flowers or candy. It was for me to straighten up my area. You see, it seems that my desk and around my chair become cluttered with books, mail, and above all, small scraps of paper that I have scribbled notes on. Each item has (or had) some value to me, but to Joyce it was just a big mess.

Quite often we focus only upon our interests or the things that are important to us. When those around us lack the same interests that we do, we are prone to spend less and less time with and around them. We only seem to be interested in those who are interested in the things that we are. I think you can see that this is very narrow minded and will block meaningful relationships.

Turning the spotlight of our attention on spiritual things reveals the same problem. We seem to think that we are the ones that determine whether God will be interested in what we do. We fail to ask what it is that He wants. This passage in Jeremiah makes very clear the thing that delights the Lord. Essentially it is that we will understand and know Him and His workings. Let’s delight the Lord by knowing Him better and better.

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 

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 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 8, 2015

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“MAKE JESUS yOUR JOY!”
Isaiah 61:3

“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Have you ever known Christians who look like they have been baptized in vinegar? Let’s get a little more personal: Do YOU sometimes look or act like you are awash in a vat of vinegar? If Jesus is our joy (and He is!), we need to let our faces show it.

Please stop right now and read today’s Scripture once again. Do you notice anything interesting? Let me assist you: Beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. In the physical world this seems to be out of step with reality. In God’s economy these reactions should be the normal way of thinking and acting.

Immediately the question arises, how do I go about making a change in my way of thinking? How do I get the joy of Jesus as the hallmark of my life? To me the answer seems to be quite simple. It is taking our eyes off of our selves and keeping them on Jesus. Fall in love with Him all over again. Instead of asking what He can do for us, ask what we can do for Him?   

Have you found that joy in Jesus? Start immediately! Take time to get alone with Him and thank Him for everything He has done for you. Let His love sweep you off your feet!

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 

Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family.

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 7, 2015

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“DENIAL!”
Jeremiah 9:5

“Everyone will deceive his neighbor, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.”

This morning I was waiting at a stoplight to turn left. The left-turn light turned green and I was about to start when a car ran the red light and careened past me, narrowly missing my left front fender. I recall many times cars coming into an intersection when the light had gone from amber to red, ignoring the danger and in fact, speeding up.

My experience as a police officer leads me to believe that, in almost all of such incidents, if the offender was pulled over they would deny their offense. Most often they would claim, “The light was yellow when I entered the intersection!”

From the days when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, human nature has not wanted to admit its guilt. Even when substantial evidence is provided, denial is still maintained. I have seen police videos showing offenders committing crimes -- but when shown these videos, the offender still denies their offense. Go figure!

God wants us to be open with Him and confess our sins. Denial of our offenses will always hurt ourselves more than others. 1 John 1:9 tells us that it is only when we confess our sins that the Lord is able to forgive and cleanse us. Our denial blocks the path of God’s forgiving grace. DON’T DENY IT!

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 

Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family.

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 6, 2015

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“TRUE HUMILITY!”
Philippians  2:3-4

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

One of the most depressing, yet humorous stories I can recall is of a pastor who had been preaching a series of sermons on the topic of humility. As he was greeting people at the door several weeks into the series, a little lady came up to him and said, “Oh, Pastor, I have been so blessed by your messages. You know I do not have very many things to be proud of, but one thing I am proud of is my humility.”

The pastor felt like crying! She had missed the point of what true humility was. I think that may be all too true of most of us. We tend to focus on ourselves and what we are doing rather than making the Lord our focus.

When we have a solid awareness of our dependence on the Lord we are able to reflect His glory to those around us. It is not so much what we do for Christ as it is what we allow Him to do through us.

My desire is to be a conduit of His mercy and grace to others. People need to see us die to ourselves and live for others. That was the message Paul was trying to get across to the Philippians. Join me in giving ourselves away!

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

- - - Pastor Cecil

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
October 5, 2015

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“PLANTS ON THE WALL!”
Jeremiah 17:8

“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear  when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

I frequently visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem. No, I do not take a plane ride but rather use the internet to view the wall. http://english.thekotel.org/cameras.asp The images are updated every few minutes, so it is very current. Sometimes the wall has many visitors who pray while touching the wall, while at other times only a few are present.

One of the most intriguing things that fascinates me are the plants which grow between the cracks on the wall. This is a very dry region and there is very little moisture. In spite of the lack of regular rain, the plants continue to grow out of the wall. They are able to survive because they have roots that travel deep into the crevasses that exist between the multi-ton stones that make up the wall. I am told that there are at least six distinct plants that grow out of the wall.

I am reminded that sometimes we may feel that we have been planted in the midst of a block wall where little spiritual nourishment is available. But wait! There is! It is to be found in the crevasses of the Word of God. He has given us the spiritual water that will sustain us in the dry and arid world in which we live. Praise God for the water of life that is able to cause us to grow!  

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

- - - Pastor Cecil

If this email is not displaying properly, click here: www.Daily-E-Votional.com You can also find previous Daily-E-Votionals to help you in your walk with the Lord. Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family