ABIDE WITH ME​​!

Luke 24:29 – Devotional

Luke 24:29​

“But they constrained Him, saying, ‘Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ And He went in to tarry with them.“

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If you knew that you were very near the end of your life, what would you write? The author of this week’s hymn, Henry F. Lyle, was preaching his final sermon to the small congregation he had served for over 20 years. He was so weak that he had to be helped to the pulpit.

He encouraged his parishioners to rely on the Savior who loved them enough to die for them. His prayer, reflected in this hymn, is a prayer that each of us can breathe when we approach the valley of death.

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Abide With Me

Abide with me—fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens—Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy word before my closing eyes,
Shine thru the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

You can enjoy this inspirational video by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/abidewithme/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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TRUE VALUE!

Luke 12:15 – Devotional

Luke 12:15

“Then He said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’“

There once was a man in my congregation who owned an extensive gun collection. I am not that much of a gun nut, but it was an amazing sight to view such a collection worth several thousand dollars.

One day word came that Wayne’s home had been burglarized. As you might guess, the only items stolen were the guns that he had collected over many years and with such careful attention to detail.

Driving to his home, I wondered what his response would be to this loss and was prepared to console him. Quite frankly, I expected Wayne to be angry with the intruders.

Surprisingly, the robbery victim greeted me at the door with a huge smile and a hearty laugh—he had not held onto this valuable collection as being the most important thing in his life. Even when I asked if the guns were insured, he just grinned. No, they were not insured and there was no way that he would be compensated for the loss. But Wayne did not mourn the loss of such valuable items. His true treasure was laid up in heaven and was waiting for him there.

Several years later, after we had moved to an other church and he and his wife moved across the state, we heard that Wayne had died. I could just imagine him seeing the true worth of those eternal things that this world can never value. I can hardly wait to see him some day and rejoice with him in the true value of eternal life with our Lord!

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.

LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE​!

Luke 12:18-19 – Devotional

Luke 12:18-19

“So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.'”

Since I have astigmatism that can only be corrected with glasses, I have had to wear them most of my life (a long, long time). Over the years I have heard people talk about being near sighted and even once worked for a near-sighted Probate Court Judge (his vision was great while reading or seeing anything close up).

He was telling a group of us about being fitted for glasses when he was in his 20’s–it was almost a shock to his senses that he could actually read house numbers from the street! He had no idea that this was what people with normal eyesight were able to see.

Isn’t it tragic that most people on the face of the earth are spiritually near sighted? They see only those things that are part of the here and now, but fail to perceive that the hear and now is but a vapor compared to the vast reality of eternity.

Satan has blinded the eyes of the unregenerate so that they refuse to consider that eternity is merely a heartbeat away. The things of this life will quickly be gone and only those who have received Jesus Christ by personal invitation will enter into the home he has prepared for those who’s names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Are you near sighted or far sighted?

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.

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

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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.

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.“

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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.

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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.

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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

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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