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

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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

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.

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.

A NEW HOME!

2 Corinthians 5:6 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 5:6

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

In January 2010, my brother, Harold Thompson was in a Boise, Idaho, hospital. He had seemingly progressed sufficiently that his doctor decided he could be moved from the hospital to an assisted living facility.

Harold was eagerly looking forward to the move and during the night before his scheduled move, he told his nurse he was going to a new home in just a few hours. How very appropriate that was!

A short time later she went back to his room to give him some medication and discovered he had already gone to his new home, one that the Lord had prepared for him and one that will never pass away!

As I conducted my brother’s funeral service, I could almost picture him at rest in that wonderful new home that will never fade or pass away. What wonderful assurance that gives those of us who have been born again! A NEW HOME!

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.

VICTORY UNDER PRESSURE!

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.“

Years ago I remember reading a small weekly newspaper called GRIT. In one issue there was a poem that expressed the idea that it was easy to go through life when everything is going grand. The writer said it made you feel like you could beat the band.

The second part of that poem, however, spoke of the pressures of life that pressed in on us and called for God-given strength to praise Him when we were feeling like we were in a vise.

In today’s Scripture reading, the apostle Paul mentions four extreme conditions that we are frequently subjected to: (1) Hard-pressed (2) Perplexed (3) Persecuted (4) Struck down. That seems to be more than enough trouble to sink our ship!

But Paul does not leave us in a hopeless condition. He gives us four expressions of hope: (1) Not crushed (2) Not in despair (3) Not forsaken (4) Not destroyed.

The next time you feel under pressure, remember that we have victory in Jesus. He is our strength and has won the victory. It is ours to claim!

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely 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.