CHOOSE TO BE THANKFUL​!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Devotional

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Being thankful is not, or at least it should not be, a once-a-year thing. As members of God’s family we are to be thankful at all times. It is not our prerogative to choose when or what we will be thankful for.

In today’s Scripture, Paul admonishes the church at Thessalonica (as well as all of us) that we are to give thanks in everything. Do you frequently look as though you have been baptized in vinegar? That, my dear friend, is not being continually thankful.

Paul also encourages believers to pray continually. That brings us to another embarrassing question: How is your prayer life? Are you continually speaking to the Lord in prayer? It is a discipline that we need to pursue.

The last admonition in line with today’s theme is that the Lord expects us to thank Him in all circumstances. Chew on that while you are munching on your sumptuous dinner. What if you had little or nothing to eat? Would you still give thanks? That is exactly the Lord’s will in any and every circumstance. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

May God richly bless you by your words and actions!

– – – 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.

WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN​!

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 – Devotional

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.“

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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.

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WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN

1. 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!

2. 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!

3. 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!

4. 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 inspiration video, “When We All Get To Heaven” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/whenweallgettoheaven/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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

CHRIST IS OUR CROWN OF REJOICING​​​​​​!

1 Thessalonians 2:19 – Devotional

1 Thessalonians 2:19

“What is our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing? It is you in the presence of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ when He comes.”

Some of you feel that you are at the end of your rope. The pressures of life have been crushing in on you from all directions and, one after another, of your safe havens have disappeared. You may even feel that there is no place to go for help.

Hope is more than mere wishful thinking that things may get better. That concept of the meaning of the word hope seems to be all too common. It is not simply wishing for something that probably will not happen.

Let me correct that idea for us once and for all. The Greek word for hope as used in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 is the word elpis. It carries with it the meaning of confident expectation that God is the answer. Do you hear that? It is confidently waiting for something the Lord has prepared especially for us! Please read that last sentence over one more time. It is not what we desire for ourselves, but what God wants to do in and through us. I think the greatest joy in life is to be used of God.

Spend time meditating on the fantastic truth found in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, rather than leaning on your own understanding; In everything give Him the credit, and He will direct your paths.”

Blessings dear hearts walk with God today and become 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.

DO’S AND DON’TS!

1 Thessalonians 5:17-22 – Devotional

1 Thessalonians 5:17-22

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesy. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Paul challenged the church at Thessalonica, as well as for all of us, to live a life that separates us from the rest of the world. We are not to blend in and become a part of, but rather we are to stand up and stand out for Christ!

Paul lists three things we are not to do: 1. Quench not the Spirit. 2. Despise not prophesy. 3. Abstain from all appearance of evil. How well are we doing in this regard? Let’s take time to evaluate our conduct in light of this admonition.

There are five positive qualities that Paul encourages us to pursue: 1. Rejoice evermore. 2. Pray without ceasing. 3. In everything give thanks. 4. Prove all things. 5. Hold fast that which is good.

I encourage each of us to spend time honestly evaluating our life to determine these; do’s and don’ts. It will become a blessing to ourselves as well as to those around us.

Blessings dear hearts walk with God today and become a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails 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.

GIVE THANKS!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Devotional

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.“

Giving thanks should not be a once-a-year thing. As members of God’s family we are to be thankful at all times. We should live a life of gratitude. It is not our prerogative to choose when and what we will be thankful for.

In today’s Scripture, we are admonished to always be ready and eager to give thanks, not only that, we are to give thanks for everything. Do you frequently look as though you have been baptized in vinegar? That, my dear friend, is not having an attitude of thankfulness.

How is your prayer life? That is another embarrassing question for many of us. We need to be ready at all times to speak to the Lord in prayer? It is a discipline that we need to pursue.

Here is what the Lord expects of us: In everything give thanks. Chew on that while you are munching on your sumptuous dinner. What if you had little or nothing to eat? Would you still give thanks? That is exactly the Lord’s will in any and every circumstance. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

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.

IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST!

Romans 3:22​ – Devotional

Romans 3:22

“The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

Today’s Evotional is provided by John Oxenham who wrote the lyrics to In Christ There Is No East or West.

IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST

In Christ there is no East or West,
In Him no South or North;
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.

In Him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord,
Close binding humankind.

Join hands, then, members of the faith,
Whatever your race may be!
Who serves my Father as His child
Is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West,
In Him meet North and South;
All Christly souls are one in Him
Throughout the whole wide earth.

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “In Christ There Is No East or West” from GloryScapes.com. by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/inchristthereisnoeastorwest/

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to 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.