CONCRETE WORK​!

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

I enjoy listening to people talk about what they do. I recall a job I had in my teens mixing concrete. Sand, gravel, and bags of powdered cement were delivered to the job site.

My assignment was to shovel a set quantity of each of those ingredients into a large mixer along with the right amount of water. That was one of the hardest jobs I ever had.

After everything had been properly mixed, the wet cement was poured into wheelbarrows and transported to the prepared forms. Ah, yes, the forms. Without the forms the cement would just flow and puddle out on the ground and be of no use.

The forms had been prepared ahead of time to the proper shape and size. When the wet cement was poured into the form, it was allowed to dry and harden . . . like a rock . . . properly formed for a specific purpose.

There is a startling similarity between the life of a Christian and process of preparing concrete. Without the proper ingredients added in the proper ratio at the proper time, it will result in an unstable and formless foundation.

Spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word will prepare our foundational “forms” for building that heavenly home that will never pass away. Which home are you spending your time and effort to build?

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today 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.

TROUBLES​!

2 Corinthians 6:3-4 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 6:3-4

“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; and troubles, hardships and distresses.”

As I write this, I am listening to a gospel song that proclaims “I’m getting ready to leave this world.”

Are we?

I mean, are we truly looking forward to the day when we will say goodbye to the things of this world and enter our eternal home?

Studying the biographies of some of the greatest saints across the ages, I learned that they often endured troublesome difficulties.

Many faced far greater problems than I have ever faced. Not only that, they dealt with these troubles with confidence in Jesus.

I have frequently heard certain ministers preach, and teach a feel-good gospel. They seem to say that, if you have enough faith, you will never have to deal with sickness, pain, or catastrophic events.

When I hear their teachings, I want to shout out for them to read about the life of Paul.

He endured more persecution than I can imagine, yet he was in the center of God‘s will.

The discovery I’ve made is that we can have victory in the middle of the storms of life.

I recall the song we used to sing when I was a teenager – “troubles may come, and troubles will go; we’ll trust in Jesus come weal or woe”

Now that is my aim in life.

I know that there will be troubles, but my Jesus is in control.

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 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.

A SPECIAL BLESSING​​​​​​!

2 Corinthians 13:11 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 13:11

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

Over the years I have sat at the bedside of the sick and dying. I have prayed for and prayed with those who are seconds away from eternity. While I may be empathetic as possible toward them, I can only entrust them into the loving arms of the Savior who also died, but He died so they can live forever.

That is the special blessing that is reserved for those of us who have died to self and can face the end of our time here on earth with confidence and assurance. We can live with confidence knowing that Jesus has died for us that we may live forever with Him!

What a special blessing and a special gift. I have been reminded of this special gift for the born-again believer who is seconds away from receiving the greatest gift that could ever be given – – eternal life!

Since we have been given such a glorious blessing, we need to share it with anyone who will listen. Some will laugh and call us delusional, but we need to offer them the special blessing of eternal life!

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.

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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.

OUR CONFIDENCE​​​​​​!

2 Corinthians 5:6 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 5:6

“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.”

There have been numerous instances in my life when it seemed I was facing disaster and possible death. Once an approaching car careened across the road into my lane and I narrowly was able to swerve onto the shoulder of the roadway and thus avoid a catastrophic collision.

Another incident occurred in 1953. I had completed basic training in California and along with 40 or 50 other servicemen was being transported to Texas. We were being transported on an old World War II military transport plane—an old one! It was old back during WW2 and even more so when we flew in it!

One of the flight crew notified us that we would be making a stop in New Mexico. As we landed, one of the two propellers stopped. We were stranded there for several hours while the necessary repairs were made. It was the hand of God that allowed us to be able to land before the trouble hit. Close call!

I have experienced enough close calls to reveal that each of us is only one heartbeat away from eternity! The same is true of those around us. We never know when we will miss the opportunity to share the gospel before it is too late! It is time to leave our comfort zone and place our confidence in the Lord!

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.

OUR HOLY LIFE​!

2 Timothy 1:9 – Devotional

2 Timothy 1:9

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.“

I have had opportunity to spend a small amount of time in fruit orchards. I cannot recall ever hearing groans from the trees as they produced their luscious fruit. I have also walked down the long rows of onions while slicing off the seed pods for a seed company…and never once heard the onion plants groaning as they matured. The trees and the onions just produced according to their purpose.

Sometimes it seems that we try our best to be something other than what God designed us to be. In writing this second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul clears the deck and lays it out for all of us to see. We are all called to live a holy life.

Paul is quick to add that there is nothing that Timothy can do to merit this holy life, and that point applies to us as well. The holy life is not achieved by what we accomplish, but by what Jesus has done for us from the very beginning of time.

God’s great and magnificent grace! Not what we deserve, but what we need. The Lord knows our inability to be holy and He has provided Himself as our strength. As we turn our life over to Him, our roots sink down into the rich soil of His love and He becomes our holiness. Allow Him to be our holy life!

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 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.

A NEW APPEARANCE!

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.“

Listen to today’s Message of the Week, “A New Appearance!” 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 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.