TIME​!

Luke 12:19-21 – Devotional

Luke 12:19-21

And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool!
This very night your life will be demanded from you.
Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things
for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

When I was young I seldom, if ever, thought about my life ending.

In my 20’s I laughed at my brother when he reached the ripe old age of 30. He was seven years older and it would be a long time before I got that old.

I should not have laughed, for in what seemed like a blink of an eye, I reached 30 . . . then 40 . . . and here I am at the unbelievable age of 90! Time has flown by.

Many of my friends and classmates have died, and we never know what lies ahead for any of us.

On Saturday, January 8, 2011, a man went on a shooting rampage at a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona. This horrific event took place at a meet-and-greet event held by congressworman Gabrielle Giffords. Six people, including a nine-year-old girl, were killed—and 13, including representative Giffords, were seriously wounded.

Stop and think about this event for a few uncomfortable moments.

Here was a crowd of people and a Representative, happy and very much alive. I can imagine some had come to shake her hand or to implore her about a particular issue.

Then, in a moment in time, everything changed. Suddenly several people were wounded . . . and just as suddenly, several others are forever thrust into eternity as their time here on earth ends.

Regardless of age, we never know when our time will come. Are you ready?

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today 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.

GOD UNDERSTANDS THIS TIME​!

Luke 12:56 – Devotional

Luke 12:56

“You hypocrites, you can comprehend the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not understand this time?“

In a world that seems consumed with knowing everything about everything, it seems that we find more questions than answers. We may be able to accurately know the time and extent of a solar eclipse, but we have little comprehension of what will happen in the next few minutes of our life.

This is why it is so vital for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, to find comfort and peace in times of chaos and turmoil. We may not be able to know what will happen in our future, but we know the ONE who does!

As we set out to live this day that the Lord has given us, we will have numerous opportunities to demonstrate our faith in Christ as our Lord. As we do, let us find comfort in serving a Lord that understands this time and all time!

Who will you chose to trust this day? Will it be you, who has no comprehension of what will happen in the next few minutes, or the Lord who knows each fraction of a second of eternity? I place my trust in God!

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 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.

DRAW ME NEARER​!

Luke 15:19-20 – Devotional

Luke 15:19-20

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.“

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

One of my most pleasurable jobs as a pastor is helping families restore broken relationships. I once was called upon to officiate at a funeral service. The son of the deceased told me that he had not spoken to his sister for years and wanted me to reconcile them before the service. Right! Just like that!

Less than an hour before the service I met with the two and their families. Each of them had children, spouses and others on their side. This son and his family were on one side of the aisle and his sister and her family on the other side. I had prayed for just the right words. I just started reading a Scripture. To this day cannot recall what I used. I had just finished reading when the brother stood and walked across the aisle and hugged his sister. The two families merged with great joy.

Fanny J. Crosby lived from 1820 to 1915. This remarkable lady never let problems keep her away from the Lord. Her blindness as an infant meant that she spent her entire life without physical sight, but was blessed with a keen spiritual sight.

When she was only eight years old she wrote the following poem: Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world contented I will be! How many blessings I enjoy that other people do not! So weep or sigh because I am blind, I cannot – nor I will not.

This hymn, Draw Me Nearer, that she wrote expresses her desire to draw nearer to her blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Draw Me Nearer

1. 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.

Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2. 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.

Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.

3. Oh, 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!

Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.

4. 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.

Refrain: Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To the cross where Thou hast died; Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, To Thy precious, bleeding side.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can view this GloryScapes video, Draw Me Nearer, by going to https://gloryscapes.com/drawmenearer/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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A STORY OF TWO SONS!

Luke 15:30 – Devotional

Luke 15:30

“As soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.“

I once encountered a brother and sister that had been hostile toward each other for years. Even their children had deep hostility toward their cousins because of their parent’s anger toward each other. Prior to the funeral of their mother I met with the families and with God’s help and scripture we restored their relationship.

It is interesting that when the younger brother had received his inheritance, his older brother received his as well. While the younger brother departed for a far country, it appears the elder brother departed for a far field, one of envy and resentment.

He had no idea what his younger brother was doing, yet he accused him of spending his money on harlots. Sometimes our false accusations reveal what our own temptations are. This older brother who had also received his inheritance evidently did not enjoy it.

His refusal to join the feast reveals the condition of his heart. While his brother had been willing to become a servant, this older brother rejected his father’s plea to come home. Which sibling describes you? The one who returned or the one who resented?

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.

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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.

A DANGEROUS WORLD!

Luke 10:41 – Devotional

Luke 10:41

“Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.“

Accidents happen! Sometimes they are totally beyond our control, but at other times we take risks that lead to accidents. During major flooding events, drivers are warned about the dangers of driving through high water. Television cameras record drivers ignoring warnings before being completely swamped.

Clearly the drivers thought they were able to make it across the flooded roadway, but they endangered their life as well as others. Many accidents could have been avoided.

There are times in life where we have the best intentions in the world, but for some reason or another, we fail to follow through. The results can be catastrophic or at least lead to difficult situations. Our actions may be unintentional but risky.

God calls us to walk circumspectly and obediently. We need to search the word of God continually and pattern our life accordingly. Living a life of victory and meaning is the result of staying close to Jesus. Trust and obey — there is no other way!

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.

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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.

BE ALERT!

Luke 12:35-36 – Devotional

Luke 12:35-36

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.“

One of the major elements in defending against aggression is being on alert at all times. I can still recall the long night hours when I was on alert for any sign of threat to our nation. Thankfully, we were never attacked, but there were many simulated threats to insure our readiness to react.

When you are wide awake and expectant, it is much easier to react quickly and appropriately. When the night hours slip by and your eyes feel like they are filled with sand, it is necessary to react in a professional manner that comes from long hours of training.

In our spiritual walk we never know when the enemy will mount an attack. We can almost be certain that this attack will occur when we are weary and worn. If we have not spent the time in self examination, prayer, and Bible study, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the attack.

There is one thing we can be sure about: We will meet our Lord face to face. It may be at the moment our eyes close in death or it may be when the trumpet sounds and we are called up to meet the Lord in the air. Either way, we must be on the alert with our lamps burning bright. Are you on the alert?

May God richly bless you 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.