ONE DAY AT A TIME​​​​!

Philippians 3:12 – Devotional

Philippians 3:12

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me”

I cannot believe how much quicker time passes when you get older. As a kid it seemed as if everything ran in slow motion and the days seemed to drag by. But once I arrived at my seventies, the years began to fly past like watching a picket fence at highway speed. Fast or slow, life is constantly slipping past and another year is suddenly before us.

Some people spend the majority of their time remembering the days gone by. We say that they are living in the past. Others spend much of their time worrying and wondering about the future. As I see it, neither of these choices are worthy of our time. We cannot relive the past (what is done is done). We cannot pre-live the future (we have not been there yet).

That leaves the here and now. There is a familiar quotation that sounds like a Bible verse, but if so I cannot locate it: Only one life and it soon will be past. Only what is done for Christ will last!

My sincere desire is to live each day for Jesus Christ as if it is the last day I have to live for Him. It may very well be the last day and I want most of all to please Him rather than to enjoy any other thing — ONE DAY AT A TIME!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

P.S. – Please CLICK ON the Donations button below if you feel led to help us financially with Pastor Cecil’s ministry. As of today, 5/14/25, we currently have a $1,293 need for May 2025 (was $2,000). To read about how the money is used, please go to https://DailyEvotional.com/donations/

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LOOKING FORWARD​​​​!

Philippians 3:13b – Devotional

Philippians 3:13b

” – – forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

After being freed from the bondage of slavery, Moses sent out twelve spies. Only two returned with a positive report and urged them to go in immediately to possess the land God had given them. One of those two spies was Joshua, the other was Caleb. Upon the death of Moses, Joshua sends out only two spies to Jericho.

Let’s consider a sinner that is introduced in the book of Joshua. Her name was Rahab. She was a foreigner and a prostitute. But she was ready to accept the God who loved her just as she was!

Rahab and her family were spared when Israel defeated Jericho. She did not look back on her sordid past. She took a risk to save the Israelites and God blessed her for it. In Hebrews 11:31, she is mentioned along with the faithful of the ages. In James 2:25-26 she is considered righteous in the eyes of God.

When God’s Word says our sins are forgiven, does that mean we are free or do we carry the terrible burden of sin with us? I fear that there are many who actually receive God’s forgiveness but fail to recognize that He also cleanses (1 John 1:9).

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

P.S. – Please CLICK ON the Donations button below if you feel led to help us financially with Pastor Cecil’s ministry. As of today, 5/5/25, we currently have a $1,393 need for May 2025 (was $2,000). To read about how the money is used, please go to https://DailyEvotional.com/donations/

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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.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Philippians 1:2 – Devotional

Philippians 1:2

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In a world that increasingly is filled with turmoil, strife and blatant sinfulness, we need to discover a place in which to amerce ourselves in that which is sacred and holy. That place is in the sure haven of God’s Word.

It seems that celebrates in our modern culture feel that they are the ones determining our acceptable conduct. That conduct is increasingly crude and an affront to what God desires for His people.

I may seem to be a prude, but I refuse to spend my time watching the godless programs that the major networks spew into the world. Whether I am labeled a prude or not does not matter one iota to me. I would rather have the peace of God than anything this world can offer.

I want to always be remembered as a simple servant of the Lord who was used in a simple way to simply hold fast to the never changing Word of the Lord. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of God is always the same; yesterday, today and forever!

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.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS?

Philippians 3:7 – Devotional

Philippians 3:7

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.”

There are many burial sites in Egypt left by the former mighty rulers of that ancient nation. Most of these self-proclaimed gods or goddesses wanted to be buried with masses of gold and precious stones that were meant to provide for their afterlife. In the majority of cases, however, tomb robbers discovered the burial sites and plundered everything of value.

We may shake our heads at the foolish idea that we can take anything with us when we depart this life. In Job 1:21 that righteous man gives us wonderful words of wisdom: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.”

Jesus shared the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, and we see that the rich man had absolutely nothing of this world’s goods with him — not even a drop of cool water. That should warn us against relying on the things of this world.

What should really capture our efforts are the things that will last for eternity. The more we devote ourselves to the things of God, the more we will find the love and joy He promises to His children that He cherishes. That is what really matters!

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.

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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 MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE!

Philippians 1:21 – Devotional

Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

You may have heard the following thought-provoking illustration. Supposedly a teacher stood before her and class and extended her arm holding a glass of water. She asked the students to guess how much it weighed. The guesses ranged from 12 ounces to 24 ounces.

The teacher smiled and said the “weight” depends on how long you hold it. If you hold it for two moments it is very light. If you hold it for two hours it becomes heavier. If you hold it for 10 hours it becomes an unbearable burden.

The Apostle Paul carried many burdens in his ministry. The burdens he bore were for the sake of Christ. He had purpose in his life! He did not bear burdens just for the sake of suffering, but for presenting the message of salvation. His real purpose was to live for Christ in everything he did.

Many people carry burdens that God never intended them to carry. In doing so, they lack the purpose that God intends for his children. Many times it seems that heaven is so close that we can almost reach out and touch it. No matter how anxious we are to be with the Lord, our real purpose must be to serve Him with all of our might. My prayer is that you will have a Christ oriented purpose in your life.

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

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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.

ABOUND IN LOVE!

Philippians 1:9 – Devotional

Philippians 1:9

“I pray that your love may abound increasingly in all knowledge and discernment.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week, “Abound In Love!” by clicking above on the play button.

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

P.S. – We need your help. We recently lost a major donor to our ministry.  If you feel lead to help us get DailyEvotionals out, please click on “Donations” in the menu system to the left.

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.