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

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.

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.

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/neartotheheartofgod2/

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

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.

. . . . . . . .

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video. To access: I am Thine, O Lord, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/iamthineolord/

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 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.

REMEMBER TO ENCOURAGE!

Hebrews 3:13 – Devotional

Hebrews 3:13

“Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.“

I recall Professor Howard Hendricks commenting about how easy it is to dampen the fervor of a new Christian. All too often a more mature believer may react to their joy as they share a spiritual truth he or she has just discovered and blow it off as if a three year old could find such a thing.

Professor Hendricks always made a point of being so thrilled over the new believer’s discovery that he would overflow with excitement and encouragement. This sort of encouragement causes the new believer to want to spend even more time searching the Word.

Each of us has the choice to either encourage or discourage people. Sadly there is a third option. It is to simply ignore people. I have heard it said that being ignored is almost worse than being demeaned. It is like that person does not exist.

How do you rate in the encouragement department? Do others feel motivated to draw closer to the Lord after they have spent time with you? Do not let Satan have the victory because of your indifference. Be an encourager!

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.

THE MIGHTY WORD 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.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week & Prayer by Pastor Cecil 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.

CHILD-LIKE FAITH!

Hebrews 9:27-28a – Devotional

Hebrews 9:27-28a

“As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.“

A four-year-old boy sat with his parents as the family dog, who suffered from cancer, was put to sleep. The adults were pleased that the boy was not overly distressed by the death of their beloved pet.

The boy just smiled and said: “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

The reality of death is something which many people like to suppress, but it remains a reality and an inevitable one at that. It is a time of celebration when the person who has died knows the Lord. On the other hand, it is a sad and bitter thing when survivors do not know about their loved one’s relationship with the Lord.

Those that know the Lord can have peace about the home going of God’s saints, but what about children? The question arises about how to tell young children that a loved one has died. I guess the answer would depend upon each child.

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.

OUR PEACE MAKER!

Hebrews 8:6 – Devotional

Hebrews 8:6

“Now God has obtained a more excellent ministry for He is also the PEACE MAKER of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.“

There is a word in today’s Scripture which resonates with me. It is the word mediator, which in the Greek it is defined as: one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant.

When I was in graduate school, my final hurdle was to appear before a panel of my professors to defend my thesis and prove that I had the knowledge necessary for the degree.

I was very nervous since I had heard that previous students had been rejected several times before being recommended for the degree. My major Professor told me to relax and that he would mediate for me. In essence, he did all of the defending for the other professors and I only had to smile and try to look intelligent. Ha! (Mine was the hardest job).

Jesus is our mediator before the Father. He knows us inside and out, and Jesus knows those who have been born again with their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I am so relieved that our Great Mediator will silence the accuser (Satan) when he tries to discredit us. Oh, what a relief it is!

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.