NEAR THE CROSS​​!

1 Peter 4:12-13​ – Devotional

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 will 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.

. . . . . . . .

Enjoy the free inspirational video for the week from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/nearthecross/

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

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If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

TRUST WITH GREAT JOY!​

1 Peter 1:8 –  Devotional

1 Peter 1:8

“Even though you have not seen Christ, you still love Him and place your trust in Him with great joy!”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week by Pastor Cecil by clicking above on the play button.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

FRUITFUL FURLOUGH!

1 Peter 3:15 – Devotional

1 Peter 3:15

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

As a boy I was exposed to visiting missionaries who were home on furlough from their assignment on some mission station in the world. I had the mistaken idea that they were home for one year to do nothing but rest and recuperate. Beep!

Most of these faithful servants work so hard sharing their mission message with church after church that they return to the mission field exhausted! That may not always be the case, but there is much truth to it.

I had a friend whose family had been missionaries to Swaziland, Africa, for many years. One of these faithful servants had just returned home for his furlough when he was hospitalized with a ruptured appendix. Ouch!

He was complaining to the Lord about his confinement and inability to minister when the Lord drew his attention to the man who shared the hospital room with him. You guessed it! Within a few days a new name was written down in glory!

Wherever you are or whatever you are doing, there is a mission field that is ripe for the harvest! The Lord can use us wherever we may be or in whatever condition we may find ourselves to be, to win souls for Him!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

HE DID WHAT WE COULD NOT!

1 Peter 3:18 – Devotional

1 Peter 3:18

“Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”

We typically like to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. We may not say we deserve to be forgiven of our sins and transgressions, but we frequently act as if that were the case. “If we are good enough, God will look with favor on us.” Beep!

That thought process is categorically contrary to God’s Word. It is always by grace through faith as we read in Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” If we are saved by grace through faith, how are we kept? The same way! We no more deserve to remain saved by our works than we are saved by our good works. It is always by God’s grace.

Does that mean we are free to live as we please? God forbid! We are now free to serve as the redeemed of the Lord. That means we have been set free from the power of sin and death to serve the Lord in the power of His redeeming grace.

Lift up your head, dear believer! We do not deserve the powerful and amazing grace of our Lord, but He showers it freely on us. Serve Him with joy and gladness as the unjust who have been blessed with freedom and everlasting life!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

LEARNING TO CAST!

1 Peter 5:6-7 – Devotional

1 Peter 5:6-7

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

I have never considered myself a fly fisherman, but when I was stationed in the northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada, I discovered that only fly fishing was permitted. My learning curve was pathetic. I had more tangled line and snapped flies than I care to remember. Eventually I was able to do a fair job and caught and released many feisty brook trout.

Humility is a quality that is also difficult to attain. I once heard about a pastor that had preached several sermons on humility. After the third or fourth week a member spoke to him after the service. “Thank you, Pastor, for your wonderful series on humility. I really do not have many gifts, but I do take pride in the fact that I have humility.” BEEP! The pastor felt like gagging.

Peter tells us that humility is attained by casting all of our cares on Him. It is not what we do that matters, but what we allow the Lord to do when we cast all of our cares and concerns on Him.

The attainment of humility is never gained by striving but by casting. It is not focusing our attention on ourselves but on the Lord. My desire is to confidently trust everything I am or ever hope to be in the hands of my loving Lord.

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

DOES JESUS CARE?

1 Peter 5:6-7 – Devotional

1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

There have been times in my life when I felt isolated and alone. When I experienced these times of spiritual drought I was prone to wonder if Jesus really cared. Even though I am usually happy and optimistic, I have felt the enemy of my soul attack. It is during these times that I rush to God’s Word for comfort.

Frank E. Graeff was known as the “sunshine minister.” He had a cheery disposition, a winsome personality, spiritual optimist, and was a great friend of children. He was known to have a child-like faith. That being said, he did pass through times of deep trials. It was then that he turned to the Scriptures as his guide in the darkness.

As I read the words of this hymn that he wrote, I can see the change from gloom and despair to hope and victory. That is what I want in my life.

DOES JESUS CARE?

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained; Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark; with a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades, does He care enough to be near?

Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed, to resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief, though my tears flow all the night long?

Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye” to the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

To access Does Jesus Care? this week’s free inspirational video, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/doesjesuscare/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.