THE SOLID ROCK​​!

Luke 6:48 – Devotional

Luke 6:48

“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.“

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

In the past year we have heard of severe floods around the globe. One report said that flooding in Australia covered an area the size of Texas. Now that’s a big piece of real estate, Pardner!

Here in the United Stated we have seen pictures of streams tearing out river banks and houses being swept away by the current. It certainly makes me think of this parable of Jesus.

I can recall watching the construction of a new building at our radar site in St. Anthony, Newfoundland. The workmen dug down to expose bear rock. Then they drilled deep holes in the rock. Into each hole they screwed long rods to grasp the rock. The building would then be anchored to the rods. When we experienced gales of over 100 miles per hour, I was very glad we were attached to solid rock.

Jesus wanted His listeners to hear and understand what He was saying. This life is no place for a namby-pamby or wishy-washy faith. It is only the solid rock of God’s Word and His completed work on the cross that will hold us firm in this life and assure us of a home in heaven for all eternity. There is coming a time when everyone will believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and every knee shall bow. The tragedy is that for some it will be everlastingly too late!

You can enjoy this week’s inspirational video by going to https://gloryscapes.com/thesolidrock/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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PURPOSE​​!

Luke 1:16-17 – Devotional

Luke 1:16-17

“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.“

As a school boy, even into my high school years, I never imaged that God could use me in the manner He has. I am sure that I started school too early, and as a result, I was always out of step with the others. I believed them when they said I was a remedial student. To me that meant that I was a dummy and fit for only a menial occupation. In the 11th grade I was confronted with the reality that I could use this brain of mine. I am still the same ordinary kid, but God has revealed to me that He has a unique purpose for each of us.

In today’s Scripture, four hundred years of silence was broken and now an obscure priest from the hill country of Judea was the recipient of a Divine revelation. It was made by none other than the archangel, Gabriel.

He announced that this old couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth, were going to have a son and his name was to be John. Gabriel bridged that gap from the Old Testament book of Malachi and told Zacharias that this special son would be given the spirit of Elijah. He would lead a dramatic revival of spirituality, but even a greater purpose would be to announce the arrival of the promised Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Think of it. Before he was ever born his purpose was given!

I am convinced that the Lord has a purpose for each of us. You may feel that you lack the requirements to be used of God, but that is none of your business. It is God’s business and all you and I have to do if find God’s purpose for each and every day and then walk in expectancy. GO FOR IT!

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

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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.

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.“

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.