by Pastor Cecil | Dec 24, 2020 | Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 3:11
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”
Years ago I heard a minister tell of an incident in a hospital elevator where he had just come from visiting a very ill patient. A young man overheard him speak about eternity and, perhaps wanting to mock his view, asked the minister where eternity was. The minister told the boy to place his hand on his chest to feel the beat of his heart. Young man, eternity is one heartbeat away! That may answer where eternity is or at least how close we are to it, but just how long is eternity?
Our daughter was in the hospital near death. One afternoon as the two of us spoke quietly, she said she felt she was cheated out of half of her life. She went on to say that grandpa was 74 when he died and here she was just 35.
That evening as I drove into the garage I noticed that the car had been bringing in sand. I took out a sheet of typing paper and swept up some of the sand. I then sat at the kitchen table and counted out 74 grains. Some were larger than others, but all of them were quite small. I placed the 74 grains of sand in a tiny sample perfume bottle.
The next day as I entered her room I placed the bottle on her bed. When she asked what it was I told her it was grandpa. I asked her to imagine the earth being nothing but a ball of fine sand. Each grain represented one year of eternity. The 74 grains in the bottle represented grandpa’s life. Compared to the entire globe of sand it was nothing. Whether a person’s life lasted long or short – – compared to eternity it was nothing.
It is what we do with the years we are given that matters. We can choose to confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior or we can continue our own willful way and suffer the dreadful consequences prepared for the lost.
I pray that the video that accompanies today’s Daily-E-Votional will assist you in making the right choice. Please feel free to share it with others while there is still time.
To view the video The Sands of Eternity, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM4xZmygeBI
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 23, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”
Many people think the phrase “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last” is in the Bible. It is not. It was part of a poem by missionary C.T. Studd who served the Lord in China, India, and Africa. He not only left us this poem, but his work for Christ will last throughout eternity.
The reality is that our life flies past at such a pace that we always need to be alert to the opportunities the Lord gives us to reach the lost world. It is tragic that so many people spend their time, talent, and energy on things that will pass away. These temporal things may seem so important at the time, but are they done for HIM?
We cannot make decisions for others, but we can live our lives in such a manner that our decisions will have a positive impact on others. We do that by constantly keeping the prayer line open with God. We must always seek His will.
I want to leave today’s message with a favorite verse that applies to this subject. It is Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” I pray that this will become your guide in the days the Lord gives you.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 22, 2020 | Hebrews
Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Back when I was eight or nine my parents owned a café in Camas, Washington, called Kelly’s. I have many fond memories of spending time in and around that place. Sometimes I would help the dish washer, but in reality was more hindrance than help.
Years after we had moved away from Camas I always wanted to drive by and see if Kelly’s was still open. I had told my wife Joyce about it enough times that she was no doubt tired of hearing my stories. A day came when I took a trip down memory lane with Joyce. We were able to find my family’s old house and the old church where I had given my heart to the Lord, but my heart saddened when we saw the building where Kelly’s had once been. It was now an insurance agency. Rats!
There were other instances where we tried to find some favored spot only to discover the use had changed and it was entirely different from the way we remembered. It is disappointing to have the buildings of our past change, but it is heart breaking to discover that some people have changed for the worse.
In today’s Scripture we are urged stay the course and walk in such a way that our life will be an example to others. Jesus is always the same and that is the rock upon which we are to build our life.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 21, 2020 | Galatians
Galatians 3:23-24
“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.”
Way back in 1953 I walked into an Air Force Recruiting Station and was met by a Sgt. Swift. He told me of the positive features available if I enlisted; I trusted him and enlisted. But that is not the end of the story — ten years later I had received my college degree and a commission in the Air Force.
My first assignment was at the training base where I had attended Officers Training School. As I looked out over the personnel that I now supervised, guess whose name I saw — Sgt. Swift! His first response was, “Oh no!” We had a good laugh about how things had changed, and he was glad that he had been honest during our first meeting.
One day we all will appear before the Judge of the universe. Every single thought or deed will be revealed. I am sure Satan will try to bring up every sinful thing in our past, but when we have confessed our sins and received Jesus into our hearts, we need not fear. Jesus was born in Bethlehem to pay the price for our sins. He has done what we could never do! Praise the Lord we never have to say, “Oh no!”
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 18, 2020 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
Though an invalid for much of her life, Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was always active and enjoyed a long personal friendship with Fanny Crosby. These two women met often for fellowship and discussion of their new hymns. Eliza was a school teacher in Philadelphia and a Christian lay worker who was committed to write songs to teach children the basic truths of the gospel. This song was written for her own Sunday school class in Philadelphia.
Miss Hewitt often attended the Methodist camp meetings at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. It was here that she collaborated with Emily Wilson, the wife of a Methodist district superintendent in Philadelphia, in the writing of this triumphant gospel hymn–a favorite of young and old alike. “When We All Get to Heaven” was first published in 1898.
WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over, Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “When We All Get To Heaven” from GloryScapes.com. by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/whenweallgettoheaven/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
