AT THE CROSS!

Hebrews 12:2 – Devotional

Hebrews 12:2

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

This week’s hymn was written over 300 years ago by Isaac Watts. It would be impossible to fully know the number of lives it has touched since he wrote it. One of those lives was the blind hymn writer, Fanny J. Crosby. In the autumn of 1850, re­viv­al meet­ings were be­ing held in the Thir­ti­eth Street Meth­od­ist Church in New York City.

Fanny and some of her friends attended each night and she craved for spiritual joy but could not find it. On the evening of No­vem­ber 20, 1850, it seemed to her that the light must in­deed come then or ne­ver. A­fter a prayer was of­fered, they be­gan to sing this hymn. When they sang “Here Lord, I give my­self away,” her soul was flood­ed with a ce­les­ti­al light. She realized what her problem had been. She real­ized that she had been try­ing to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other. She yielded to Him!

AT THE CROSS

1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head, For sinners such as I?

Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

2. Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

3. Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creature’s sin.

Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

4. But drops of grief can ne’er repay, The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘Tis all that I can do.

Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Are you like Fanny Crosby—looking for joy to fill your soul? Her answer is the answer—Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’Tis all that I can do.

To access this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/atthecross/

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.

GOD’S LOVING DISCIPLINE!

Hebrews 12:6 – Devotional

Hebrews 12:6

“For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.”

I did not consider myself to be an abused child even though there were times when it was much easier to stand than to try sitting on my “seat of discipline”—if you get my drift. Let’s face it—my bottom was sore from the spanking. Did the discipline mean my parents did not love me? Not on your life! They loved me enough to not allow me to continue an action that was wrong.

I recall as a Juvenile Probation officer being called to pick up a 15 year old girl that had been arrested and take her home. My wife Joyce and I met the police and had her in the back seat of the car as we drove her home. I mentioned that her dad would no doubt discipline her when she got home. She stunned us with this statement: “My dad doesn’t love enough to discipline me!”

Sometimes God brings His judgment upon those who violate His commands. Does that mean that He does not love us? Not on your life! As a matter of fact it is proof that He loves us enough to discipline. His discipline is proof of His love!

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.

GRUMPY CATS!

Hebrews 13:15 –  Devotional

Hebrews 13:15

“As a result of our walk with Jesus let us always be known as people who always give Him praise as natural as fruit from the trees!”

If you are able to visit a zoo, you may discover in the feline section of the zoo an exhibit with “Grumpy Cats.” These felines may live up to their name, but the name is given because their facial features make them appear – – GRUMPY!

Unfortunately I have known a few believers who may fit this category. I hope that you are not one who may be described as a “Grumpy Cat Believer!” There should be an aura about us that comes from knowing that our name is written down in glory and we are members of God’s family. Now that should make us smile!

As you face this day and all of the others that God gives us to live, make every effort to look like a happy puppy rather than a grumpy cat. I mean no affront to the cat lovers who read this!

Let the joy of Jesus fill you with an eagerness to share with others that they can turn their sin and strife into joy and gladness. Remember that we are members of God’s family and heaven will be our eternal home.

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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.

NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD!

Hebrews 4:12​​ ​ –  Devotional

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

If you were to look through some of my photograph albums, many of them show me with one of our children or grandchildren lying on my chest sound asleep. In fact many times both the child and I are sound asleep. Perhaps I have the type of chest that is just made for cuddling. I would much rather have the reputation of being a cuddler than a curmudgeon. (That’s a fancy word for an old cantankerous person). I think the warmth of my chest and the steady beat of my heart is comforting to babies.

In the early years of the 20th Century there was a pandemic of diphtheria in the US that claimed many lives. In 1903 Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the pandemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In his hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the house.

When you pass through the valley of the shadow of death let these words bring the quiet assurance we need.

NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD

1. There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

Refrain: O Jesus, blest redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

2. There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.

Refrain: O Jesus, blest redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

3. There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.

Refrain: O Jesus, blest redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

Enjoy this week’s hymn from GloryScapes.com. To access a Video of Near To The Heart of God, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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.

I AM THINE, O LORD!

Hebrews 10:22​ ​ –  Devotional

Hebrews 10:22

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

“I am Thine, O Lord” is one of many hymns written by Fanny Crosby, a prolific American hymn writer. The melody was composed by William Howard Doane.

The former was talking with the latter one night about the proximity of God and penned the words before retiring for the night. Hebrews 10:22 is also reported as being a source of inspiration for the hymn: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

I am Thine, O Lord

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

. . . . . . .

To access this week’s free inspirational video, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/iamthineolord/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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.

THE CANCER OF SIN!

Hebrews 3:12-13 –  Devotional

Hebrews 3:12-13

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

The word cancer is one of the most feared words. Many of us have lost loved ones to this dread disease. Even though tremendous improvements have been made in treatment, cancer still remains a deadly enemy.

While many of us may personally know friends or family members who have been impacted with this foul disease known as cancer, there is an even greater disease that affects the entire human race…SIN! We were all born with it and without treatment it has a far more devastating consequence – – Eternal death!

The treatment for sin is not by being good, attending church services, or giving money in the offering. While those are good things, they do not result in salvation. Salvation is found ONLY by the blood of Jesus Christ. He paid the price for our redemption on the cross.

If you have never done so before, please confess you are a sinner, and accept Him as your personal Savior. The treatment is 100% successful!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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.