GODLY COMPASSION!​​

Luke 10:33 – Devotional

Luke 10:33

“A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. And when he saw the injured man, he had compassion.”

All too often we are like the priest and Levite in the parable Jesus related to His hearers. They would most certainly be Jews who had distaste and even hatred for the half-breed and despised Samaritans.

It is very possible that many of those who listened to this parable that we know as the, “Parable of the Good Samaritan,” had at one time or another shown scorn and hatred toward the Samaritans. Before we become too high and righteous in our judgment of them, who do we reject in like manner?

We find ourselves surrounded by those who have been rejected and despised by society. While it is true that we cannot respond to all of those who beg for help, we can prayerfully ask God to show us those who cross our path that He has sent in order for us to show forth His love for them!

I find myself needing to spend more time in prayer and then paying attention when the Lord sends someone with a need across our path. Let’s be prepared to be like Jesus and show godly compassion!

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

– – – 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.

SILENT NIGHT!

Luke 2:2-10​ – Devotional

Luke 2:2-10

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”

Several years ago our church had finished a wonderful Christmas Eve service. Earlier there had been candles placed inside white lunch bags that lined the driveway leading to the church.

Joyce and I had volunteered to extinguish the candles after everyone had left. It had snowed a few days earlier and there were still a few inches on the ground. The temperature was below freezing when we crunched through the snow to the far end of the driveway. It was so quiet and beautiful that we were moved in our spirit with the beauty of God’s creation and the carol Silent Night.

The words of this well loved carol were written in 1818 by Josef Mohr after he had seen a play about the birth of Jesus. He was in a reflective mood and walked to a hill overlooking his village in the Austrian Alps. The view of the snow covered village reminded him of a poem he had written a few years earlier. The poem was about the night the angel announced the birth of Jesus.

The next day he took the words of his poem to Franz Gruber, who had just composed a melody. He re-worked the melody to match the words to the poem Mohr written. Our beloved carol, “Silent Night” was born.

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SILENT NIGHT

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “Silent Night” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/silentnight/

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

And Merry Christmas!

– – – 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.

THANK YOU LORD!​

Luke 24:38 – Devotional

Luke 24:38

“- – Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

When given the news that his wife would finally in their old age have a son, the father of John the Baptist, doubted. What he had been praying for was about to be Divinely fulfilled – – but he could not believe it!

Before we are too critical of Zacharias, how many times have we prayed for God to do the impossible and then doubt that it would happen? I think if we were honest we would have to say that it is far too often!

I want to interject at this point that I feel many of our prayers are self-centered and selfish. I like to call them; “Make me feel good prayers.” These prayers stray from allowing God to use the circumstances in our life to bring Him glory, to make my way easy so I will feel good! Oops! I just stepped on my own toes!

As I grow older I count each day a blessing from God to be used for His divine purposes. The time we have to do God’s will is limited for all of us. There is never a good time to procrastinate!

At this time of the year when so many people work themselves into a frenzy to do just the right thing, remember that the right thing is always to give God thanks for His precious gift of our Lord Jesus. THANK YOU 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.

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL!

Luke 2:15 – Devotional

Luke 2:15

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'”

The beloved Carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles). The words were written by an Englishman, John Wade who had originally intended it as a hymn.

The music to “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. In 1841, Rev. Frederick Oakley revised the lyrics of “Adeste Fideles”.

While it would be an appropriate hymn at any time of the year, it has become a cherished Christmas Carol. Let us all come and adore, Christ the Lord.

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O Come, All Ye Faithful

1. O Come All Ye Faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

2. O Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

3. All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/ocomeallyefaithful/

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.

JESUS LOVES ME!

Luke 18:15-17 – Devotional

Luke 18:15-17

“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’”

In 1860, Susan Warner wrote a novel titled, “Say and Seal”. She alluded to the fact that Jesus loves little children. After the novel had been published and circulated, she was informed by a Sunday School teacher that a young boy was lying in the hospital near death.

Susan called her sister, Anna, and asked if she could write a hymn for the teacher to sing to the dying lad. Anna wrote the first verse and two years later, William Bradbury wrote the second and third stanzas.

The simple words of this song speak volumes. I heard the story of an old retired minister who had returned to speak at the church he had pastored for many years. He had not been seen by the congregation for a very long time and they were very anxious to hear what his words of wisdom would be. Slowly he made his way to the microphone and spoke in a soft voice: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” His words were more powerful than the best prepared sermon.

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JESUS LOVES ME

1. Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

2. Jesus loves me He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.

Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

3. Jesus, take this heart of mine, Make it pure and wholly Thine;
On the cross You died for me, I will try to live for Thee.

Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

Jesus really does care for you, regardless of your age. In His eyes you are one of His “little children!” Let Him love you and care for you.

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com. To access this week’s free inspirational video, “Jesus Loves Me” please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/jesuslovesme/

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.

ALWAYS LOOK UP!

Luke 21:28 – Devotional

Luke 21:28

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

It seems that every day we hear of more and more tragedies. There are natural disasters and also violent attacks that leave scores dead and badly injured. Just when it seems that things could not get worse, they seem to do just that.

What should be our reaction to the violence and chaos around us? I think we have at least two choices: We can look around us and become increasingly depressed, or we can look up and see that God is the Blessed Controller of all things. We should always look up!

In Luke 21, Jesus mentions the things that will precede His return and the end of the age. He does not want us to be burdened with the evil that forebodes, but rather to visualize the glory that awaits the redeemed of the Lord.

Jesus instructs us to focus our attention on what is waiting for us rather than what is around us. That means we are to LOOK UP! We need to remind ourselves to focus our attention in the right direction. We do what we can to fulfill the command of the Lord, and then we LOOK UP and worship the One whom we serve. Where are you looking?

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.