TO YOU BEFORE THE CLOSE OF DAY!

Isaiah 26:3 – Devotional

Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Years ago I recall listening to a sermon tape by Donald Grey Barnhouse, a prominent pastor and teacher. He related that years earlier he was returning by train from an evangelistic meeting he had completed several hundred miles from his home in Philadelphia. He had received a telegram that informed him his son had been in a serious accident and was near death.

His only way back to Philadelphia was by rail and he knew that it would be hours before his train arrived back home. There was nothing he could do but leave his son in God’s hands. As Dr. Barnhouse entered his sleeper, his spirit was greatly disturbed.

As he prayed, he recalled a phrase from Isaiah 65:25, “- – – but dust will be the serpent’s food.” Using that passage he asked the Lord to feed the serpent dust, and to please grant him a good night’s rest. He fell fast asleep and the next thing he knew the porter was touching his shoulder to tell him that they were nearing Philadelphia. The Lord had answered his prayer.

By the way, his son lived and during his time of recuperation committed his life to full time Christian service. If you have been having trouble getting to sleep at night, ask the Lord to give you His blessed rest and to feed the serpent dust.

TO YOU BEFORE THE CLOSE OF DAY

1. To You before the close of day,
Creator of the world we pray!
Your grace and peace to us allow,
And be our guard and keeper now.

2. From evil dreams defend our sight,
From all the terrors of the night.
From all deluding thoughts that creep,
On heedless minds disarmed by sleep.

3. O Father, this we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your only Son.
Who with the Holy Spirit and with You,
Shall live and reign all ages through.

To access this free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/toyoubeforethecloseofday/

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 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.

COMFORT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!

Isaiah 41:10 –  Devotional

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week 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.

BE BRAVE!

Isaiah 41:10 – Devotional

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

In a world filled with crime, corruption, and pandemic, it is easy to become filled with fear and despair. That is because we tend to focus on the situation rather than on the Savior.

Let’s face it; we live in a fearful place. Unless the Lord comes to rapture us home to be with Him for all of eternity, we will face pain, suffering, and separation. If we focus our attention on the cause of distress we will become – – distressed!

I know you must be impressed by the brilliance of my conclusion, but I fear we are prone to react just as those who have not experienced a new birth – – those who are still spiritually dead!

Our courage does not come from our own strength or determination, but rather from placing our trust in the trustworthiness of our Savior. The next time you start to feel the pangs of fear, be brave and rest in the arms of the Lord!

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.

STAYED ON HIM!

Isaiah 26:3 – Devotional

Isaiah 26:3

“God will keep those in perfect peace, who keep their mind stayed on Him: because they choose to trust in Him.”

It was on this date seven years ago when my precious bride of sixty-two years slipped joyfully into the paradise God has prepared for those who have been born again by grace through faith! She graduated!

I wish I could remember a book I read many years ago that centered on the theme; A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED IN A LAND TO BE POSSESSED! As I think once again on these words I am reminded that this world is not our eternal home. We will either have eternal joy and peace in the presence of our precious Savior, or eternal agony in a place prepared for Satan and his hordes.

Those of us who have lost loved ones (who were born again) must reflect a different image to a world around us looking for a difference in the life of believers. If we grieve and wail just like others who have no hope, we fail in showing faith in action.

I have determined to live my life in such a way that when I pass through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for God is there beside me. Hmm! Sounds like something I might have read in Psalm 23! Keep stayed on Him!

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.

I WANDER AS I WANDER!

Isaiah 40:3-5 – Devotional

Isaiah 40:3-5

“A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”

“I Wonder As I Wander” is a Christmas hymn written by folklorist John Jacob Niles (1892-1980), based on a song fragment he heard while traveling in the southern Appalachians.

Niles derived the germ of the song from Annie Morgan, the young daughter of a traveling evangelist, in Murphy, North Carolina, in 1933. He then composed a complete folk song that he performed while accompanying himself on dulcimer.

I Wonder As I Wander by John Jacob Niles

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “I Wonder As I Wander” from GloryScapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/iwonderasiwander/

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

—Pastor Cecil

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL!

Isaiah 7:14 – Devotional

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.”

The name Emmanuel is interpreted “God with us.” There are many Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah. The encouragement that His coming entails is that God Himself will descend and make His appearance to save the people from their sins. Thank God He has come!

The “Day-Spring” referenced in the third stanza below is an encouragement for us as we travel through the long and dark times of our life. I am overjoyed that God has cared so much for us that He has sent salvation to us by grace through faith!

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL!

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” from GloryScapes .com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/ocomeocomeemmanuel/

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.