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

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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.

KELLY’S!

Hebrews 13:8 – Devotional

Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.“

Back when I was eight or nine my parents owned a café in Camas, Washington, called Kelly’s. I have many fond memories of spending time in and around that place. Sometimes I would help the dish washer, but in reality was more hindrance than help.

Years after we had moved away from Camas I always wanted to drive by and see if Kelly’s was still open. I had told my wife Joyce about it enough times that she was no doubt tired of hearing my stories. A day came when I took a trip down memory lane with Joyce. We were able to find my family’s old house and the old church where I had given my heart to the Lord, but my heart saddened when we saw the building where Kelly’s had once been. It was now an insurance agency. Rats!

There were other instances where we tried to find some favored spot only to discover the use had changed and it was entirely different from the way we remembered. It is disappointing to have the buildings of our past change, but it is heart breaking to discover that some people have changed for the worse.

In today’s Scripture we are urged to stay the course and walk in such a way that our life will be an example to others. Jesus is always the same and that is the rock upon which we are to build our 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 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.

WE SEE JESUS!

Hebrews 2:9 – Devotional

Hebrews 2:9

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.“

Listen to today’s Message of the Week, “We See Jesus” followed by Pastor Cecil’s Prayer 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.

UNSEEN CONFIDENCE​​!

Hebrews 11:1 –  Devotional

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week, “Unseen Confidence” followed by Pastor Cecil’s Prayer 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.

UNLIMITED BALANCE​!

Hebrews 4:16 – Devotional

Hebrews 4:16

“Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the hour of our need.“

We live in a world where many have been lured into the pit of credit card debt. As a result it is hard to get a good grasp on saving. At the same time there are some people who become obsessed with saving for a future they may never live to see.

Jesus once told the parable of the rich fool. This rich man had such bountiful crops that he decided to build new barns to store all of the abundance of his fields. God thundered out that that very night the man would die and all of his planning would be for nothing.

Jesus was not advocating that we are not to make provision for the future, but that we must be careful to make the things of God our primary aim. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

God’s grace is always available for anyone who will draw from His storehouse of grace. We can never stockpile God’s grace, but His abundant supply is always waiting for us at the time we need it. If you are facing an obstacle that seems to be more than you can bear, call out to God — He will supply His unlimited balance!

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.

NEARER, STILL NEARER!

Hebrews 10:22 – Devotional

Hebrews 10:22

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

Both the text and tune of Nearer, Still Nearer were written and composed by Lelia Naylor Morris (1862-1929).

Nearer, Still Nearer has a biblical progression to it. It begins with a prayer for God to bring us closer and closer to Him.

The second verse addresses the fact that there is no way we can be near the Lord unless the blood of Jesus cleanses us.

The third stanza moves us toward craving Jesus more than sin – whatever barrier we need to remove so we can be near Jesus we will remove.

Finally in the last paragraph of lyrics, the ultimate goal has been reached and we are finally in eternal glory in unbroken and unbreakable fellowship with our God and Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Here are the lyrics:

NEARER, STILL NEARER!

Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art;
Fold me, O fold me close to Thy breast,
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest,
Shelter me safe in that haven of rest.

Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Nought as an offering to Jesus my King-
Only my sinful now contrite heart,
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart,
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.

Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine;
Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride;
Give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified.

Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last;
Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages, ever to be,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee,
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee.

CLICK HERE to watch the Nearer, Still Nearer video devotional.

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.