HO, EVERYONE WHO IS THIRSTY!

Isaiah 51:1-2 – Devotional

Isaiah 51:1-2

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.“

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Water, water, everywhere…and not a drop to drink! Those words have probably been uttered many times by victims stranded in the middle of the ocean. The salt-laden sea seems to mock them – they are surrounded by water, but it would be poison to their system to drink it.

Lucy Jane Rider Meyer wrote the words of today’s hymn. She was born on a Vermont farm in 1849. Lucy was a teacher and not only founded many high schools, but went on to teach chemistry at McKendree College, a school for freed blacks in North Carolina. She was one of the first female professors.

What a refreshing thought that a brilliant professor was able to use the Word of God to bring music to the thirsty human soul. Oh, that we had more brave educators who would be willing to put their reputations on the line for the things of God. I thirst for that!

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HO, EVERYONE WHO IS THIRSTY

Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit, Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad; Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus, All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!

Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.

Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage? Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue? Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing? List’ to the promise, a message for you!

Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.

Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit! Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet; ‘Tis the enduement for life and for service; Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.

Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.

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CLICK HERE to watch the Ho, Everyone Who Is Thirsty video devotional.

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS​​​​​​!

Isaiah 34:15 – Devotional

Isaiah 34:15

“The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.”

From time to time I have watched birds. Each type has its own way of caring for its young. Some types seem to pay little attention to the nest. Left on their own most varieties thrive, but with encroaching human habitat some become endangered.

I find it interesting and disturbing that many people show more concern about the welfare of the feathered community than the needy people. There is a world of hurting people near us who are like hatchlings and need the care of someone who will be there for them. It is easy to become indifferent to the needs around us.

I remember when I was a Juvenile Probation officer being called by the local police to pick up a 15 year old girl they had just arrested and take her home. My wife, Joyce and I picked her up and as we drove her home I mentioned that her dad would no doubt discipline her severely for her behavior. She stunned us with this statement: “My dad doesn’t love me enough to discipline me!” WOW!

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 us under the shadow of His wings!

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.

THE RIGHT THOUGHTS​​​​​​!

Isaiah 55:8-9 – Devotional

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Why is it important for us to spend quality time in God’s Word? The answer is that it is in the Word of God that we discover the mind of the Lord. He knows what lies before us and prepares us to be used by Him.

I recall working with a young man who desired to be used by the Lord. He had embarked upon the discipline of memorizing Scripture and copied portions of Scripture on 3X5 cards which he always carried with him.

He wanted to be a greater witness where he worked at a potato processing plant. I asked him what was the worst job that everyone else avoided? He immediately said it was cleaning up the rotten potatoes. By the way, the smell is horrendous.

The next week he was delighted to report that he had volunteered for that job and was now able to memorize and meditate as he mucked up the smelly mess. As it turned out, his action so impressed his boss that he was the last temporary worker to be employed as the season drew to a close and the first hired the next year! The greatest reward was not the job but finding God’s right thoughts!

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.

WE ARE LIKE SHEEP​​​​​​!

Isaiah 53:6 – Devotional

Isaiah 53:6

“We have all strayed and like wayward sheep gone our own willful way. But the Lord has laid on Him the sin that is rightfully ours.”

While attending college I worked on the local police department. There was an old veteran officer that frequently could be heard to utter these words: “The more I see of people, the more I think sheep are smart animals.” At the time I thought he was being crass and cynical, but more and more I tend to agree with his assessment.

Our natural inclination is to stray and go our own willful way. The Good Shepherd of our soul has tender love and care for us. No matter how often or how far we stray away from God’s care and protection, He is always concerned about us and tenderly cares for us. It is not what we deserve, but what we need!

How far have you personally wandered away from the Lord? Are you like a lost and wandering sheep that has strayed away from the Good Shepherd to seek the bitter weeds of sin and strife?

The fantastic news is that Jesus came into this old sinful world to save the lost sheep that are lost and are in danger being swallowed up by the vicious wolves of sin and strife. Return to Christ’s fold. He eagerly awaits your return!

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.

GOD’S PROMISE​​​​​​!

Isaiah 41:10 – Devotional

Isaiah 41:10

“Do not fear for I am with you; do not be depressed, for I am your God. I will be your strength and your help in the time of need and will hold you up by the power of My righteousness.”

Did you know that fear paralyzes? Perhaps most of us have heard the expression, “He froze like a deer in the headlights.” Think of the most frightful experiences of your life and you may be able to relate to that poor animal.

Satan uses fear to keep believers from doing the things that the Lord has called us and empowered us to accomplish. Satan causes us to imagine that we will be scorned if we obey the Lord, so we tend to stare into his headlights and do nothing.

In the midst of our fear we are given this powerful verse in Isaiah 41:10. There are two things that we are instructed to do: don’t fear and don’t be dismayed. The Lord promises that He will strengthen us and help us and uphold us with His righteous right hand. The right hand is the symbol of ultimate divine power.

I challenge you to let the Lord fight your battles with the enemy. Trust Him completely and know that He never leaves you or forsakes you but will always be with you.

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.

ENTER INTO PEACE​​​​​​!

Isaiah 57:1-2 – Devotional

Isaiah 57:1-2

“The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.“

Sometimes I feel as if I am surrounded by death and dying. At the moment there are funerals pending and others who are near death’s door. For those who have not established a born-again relationship with Christ these are terrifying times.

For those who have passed from death to life by being born again, the pathway of death leads to the glory that the martyr Stephen experienced as recorded in Acts 7:55-56.

When a believer passes from this life it is like entering into the gates of Paradise. There is no fear and no dread. Jesus described it in His parable about the righteous man, Lazarus being carried into Paradise by angels. No fear in this parable except for the rich man who rejected God and was doomed.

As we look forward to our eternal reward we need not be overcome with fear and dread. We also need to remind ourselves that our loved ones who have died knowing the Lord are now experiencing peace, joy and delight! WOW!

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.