HIGHER GROUND​​!

Philippians 3:14​ – Devotional

Philippians 3:14

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

This week’s inspirational video devotional features scenes from Yellowstone National Park and the encouraging words of Johnson Oatman, Jr. in his hymn, Higher Ground.

HIGHER GROUND 

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;

A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught a joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

. . . . . . . . . . .

You can view this week’s inspirational video, “Higher Ground” from GloryScapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/higherground/

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.

JOYCE’S PURSE​​​!

Philippians 4:19 – Devotional

Philippians 4:19

“My God shall supply all your need by His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.“

This would have been the 89th birthday for my precious wife, Joyce. One of the most endearing memories I have of my wife was her purse. Her purses only came in sizes large and super large. We teased her about the size of her purses, but you know what? When we needed a band-aid, aspirin, sewing kit, tweezers, scissors – – I think you get the point. Joyce’s purse was the source of supply.

When I recall my many years of walking with the Lord, He has always been my source of supply. When I am weak He is strong. When I travel through the valley of grief He has supported me. When I have felt attacked, He has been my strength.

It is interesting to read today’s Scripture and discover that God has promised to supply all of our need. That does not automatically mean He will supply all of our WANTS. Many times our wants are not what is best for us. In fact our wants may be harmful to our spiritual or even physical well being.

The answer to discovering a strong spiritual balance is to stay close to the Lord and allow Him to supply everything we need to be effective servants. He goes before us and knows what we will need to before we even ask Him. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

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.

BE OF ONE MIND​​​!

Philippians 2:2 – Devotional

Philippians 2:2

“Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.“

Years ago I was assigned the task of locating the site for a men’s retreat. The location was the beautiful mountains of Idaho, some 100 miles north of Boise. It was a terrible assignment, but someone had to do it! Cough! Cough! I cannot even make a joke about it since it was such a beautiful location and experience.

I heard of a Christian retreat center near Cascade, Idaho, and made a trip to check it out. The husband and his wife Doris greeted me warmly and soon we had become close friends. In those early moments of being shown the facility, I noticed that Doris did all of the talking. We chose that site for our retreat!

When the day of the retreat came, our men gathered and Doris welcomed the group as warmly as she had when I had visited earlier. This time I sat at the back of the room and noticed the eye contact between husband and wife. From time to time Don would slightly nod or shake his head.

As our men left the room I commented to Don and Doris how beautiful it was as each served their roll. Immediately Doris had tears in her eyes and she shared how certain people had accused her of being too bold and not letting Don do the speaking. Don shared how he could never speak in front of a group, regardless of size. He let Doris do the speaking and they were both of one mind!

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.

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER​!

Philippians 4:4-6​ – Devotional

Philippians 4:4-6

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

William Walford did not allow the fact that he was blind limit his service for his Lord. He was frequently called upon to preach in a small country church. He composed the sermons in his head and also was able to quote large portions of Scripture from memory. Some people thought he had memorized the entire Bible. He also composed verses as the Lord laid the words upon his heart. Above all—he was a man of prayer.

In the mid 1800(s), Thomas Salmon was visiting in England and became acquainted with Pastor Walford. As they were visiting one day the blind pastor quoted a few pieces he had composed. Since he had no one to write them down he had kept them treasured in the storehouse of his mind.

One of the verses he related to Mr. Salmon was, Sweet Hour of Prayer. Mr. Salmon eagerly scribbled the words down on a scrap of paper. When he returned to New York he sent the verses to the Observer and asked if they thought them worth preserving. The Observer did think them worthy and published them on September 13, 1845. The music was added by William Bradbury in 1861.

. . . . . . . .

Sweet Hour of Prayer

1. Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne, make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief;
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

2. Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
of those whose anxious spirits burn, with strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place, where God my Savior shows His face,
and gladly take my station there, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

3. Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! Thy wings shall my petition bear
to Him whose truth and faithfulness, engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face, believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

4. Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! May I thy consolation share,
till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height, I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise, to seize the everlasting prize;
and shout, while passing through the air, Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!

Enjoy this free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com. To access Sweet Hour of Prayer, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/sweethourofprayer/

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.

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS!

Philippians 3:10-11​ – Devotional

Philippians 3:10-11

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

All too often there are those who venerate religious objects that relate to the Lord Jesus. I have heard that if all of the supposed fragments of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified were assembled they could build a large building.

God sternly warns that we are never to worship such objects but to worship only the Lord. That old rugged cross can certainly remind us of the price Jesus paid, but His suffering was not just the pain of crucifixion, but He that was totally sinless became sin for us and paid the price for our redemption.

Back in 1913, Salvation Army Officer, George Bennard passed through a trying experience. This experience caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and, in particular, what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of by entering into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. While contemplating on these truths, Bennard was convinced that the cross was not just a religious symbol, but rather the very heart of the gospel. He penned the words of this beloved hymn.

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

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see, for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then he’ll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I’ll share.

Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.

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

To access this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross2/

Blessings dear hearts. 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.

RADIATE THE JOY OF THE LORD​!

Philippians 4:6 – Devotional

Philippians 4:6

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to everyone. The Lord is very near.”

We have far too many church members who look like they have just lost their last friend. They not only have sour expressions on their faces, they have sour personalities to match.

Paul repeatedly urges his readers to rejoice. The word he uses for rejoice is the Greek word chaírō. It is pronounced khah’-ee-ro, and it means to be joyous and happy. That means looking like you are happy. If you have the joy of Jesus in your heart, you need to let your face know about it and show it!

For those who have never placed their trust in Jesus Christ as the Lord of their life, there is little or nothing to be happy about. The things of this earth grow dimmer and dimmer as life slips away.

As true believers who have passed from death to eternal life by confessing we are sinners and accepting the blood of Jesus to pay the price for our sin, we are able to rejoice. The things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

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.