NEAR GOD’S HEART! – James 4:8 Devotional

by Pastor Cecil | Mar 6, 2020 | James

James 4:8

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

As I write the words of this Daily-E-Votional, my mind reflects back to the memory of my precious Dad. I cherished every moment I spent with my Dad. He was an encourager and was always there to insure that I was striving to be the man God wanted me to be. He stressed that after he was gone I would hold fast to the gospel and point people in the direction of the cross. I yearn for the day when I will see my Dad once again, but even more so I yearn for the day I will meet my Savior face to face.

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

If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that each of us do at some time in our life), let these words bring that 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/neartotheheartofgod

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

— Pastor Cecil

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? – James 4:14 Devotional

by Pastor Cecil | Jan 21, 2020 | James

James 4:14

“Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Each of us are living one heartbeat away from eternity. We never know when something internally will malfunction or when some accident will occur which will hurtle us into our eternal destiny. One thing of which we can all be certain, this life is but a mist that quickly passes away! Eternity is a certainty! It is only the, when and how which is hidden from us.

But there is another question. What should we be doing while we are still here?  The simple answer is that we must be doing the will of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He told all of his disciples (that includes us) that we are to go and make disciples of all nations. We are told that we are to lead them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and then to teach them everything that He has commanded. What is your life?

The most critical decision we have to make in this life, is either accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, or to continue as we are. To not accept Christ is to make the decision to refuse Him. Once we do receive Him, we are given the command to share Him with others. It may be a husband, wife, child, parent, relative, or a stranger. When the Lord opens the door of opportunity, we must be ready to offer others the gift of eternal life. What is your life?

May God richly bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil