PRESS UPWARD!

Philippians 3:14 – Devotional

Philippians 3:14

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

I recall reading of a race in which two competitors were matching each other stride for stride as they neared the finish line. At the last moment one of the competitors glanced over to see where the other competitor was and in so doing lost the race by the narrowest margin. Any such distraction can divert a racer’s total attention from running the race.

Coaches often give the advice to their charges, to focus only on the race and try to avoid distractions. It is good advice that applies equally to our walk with the Lord. We may be tempted to look back at the glory days, or we may look back at the approaching enemy, but we are told to look ahead.

It is tragic to observe believers who have lost their race for the Lord because they took their eyes off the Goal. There are many distractions that can demand our attention and result in a spiritual derailment.

The answer to finishing our spiritual race with victory is to keep our eyes on the prize that lies before us. The things of this world will lose their appeal as we see Jesus only!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

P.S. – Please CLICK ON the Donate button below if you feel led to help us financially with Pastor Cecil’s ministry. As of today, Thursday, July 24, 2025, we currently have a $1,763 need for July 2025 (was $2,000). To read about how the money is used, please go to https://DailyEvotional.com/donations/

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DEPENDENCE OR INDEPENDENCE?

Philippians 2:3 – Devotional

Philippians 2:3

“Let each of you value others above yourselves.”

If your kids are anything like our kids, they went through a stage of independence. They wanted to do things themselves, even when they were not able to accomplish the task they were attempting. Kids are not alone in acting independently.

I once went golfing with my father-in-law and two of his regular golfing mates. I had never been on the links before, but since I was far younger than the others, I felt that I could hold my own. I stood at the first tee and gave a mighty swing! I missed the ball completely! On the next mighty swing I struck the ball, only to have it dribble a few feet from the tee. It was a very long and humiliating day. The others enjoyed the day as I was providing them with great entertainment.

On this day, July 4th, we celebrate Independence Day. While we may rejoice in the freedoms that our forefathers fought to assure us, it is vital that we remember that we never are to live independently. WE NEED EACH OTHER!

Not only do we need each other, we must have the Lord in control of our lives. In Acts 17:28 we are reminded; “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Our independent attitude ends with our total dependence on Him. HAPPY DEPENDENCE DAY!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

P.S. – Please CLICK ON the Donate button below if you feel led to help us financially with Pastor Cecil’s ministry. As of today, Friday, July 4, 2025, we currently have a $1,906 need for July 2025 (was $2,000). To read about how the money is used, please go to https://DailyEvotional.com/donations/

P.P.S. – You can help us by viewing Pastor Cecil’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thedailyevotional/videos and subscribing to it. Thanks so much!

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button b.

You can 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.

REJOICE IN THE LORD!

Philippians 4:4 – Devotional

Philippians 4:4

“Always rejoice in the Lord. I repeat, rejoice in the Lord continually!”

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

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

P.P.S. – You can help us by viewing Pastor Cecil’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thedailyevotional/videos and subscribing to it. Thanks so much!

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button b.

You can 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.

LIVING FOR CHRIST!

Philippians 1:21 – Devotional

Philippians 1:21

“As for me, I choose to live for Christ, and to die is to be with Him.”

I have heard and even preached sermons on living for Christ. Sadly I have seen many people make a miserable mess of their life by failing to follow through on this commitment. The lure of the world is like the siren’s call that inevitably leads to the rocks of destruction.

That leads me to ask the question: Whose call are you listening to? There are many temptations that surround us and in this era of modern media we seem to be swamped by the tempter’s call.

As a pastor I have listened to far too many broken hearted cries from good people who made tragic choices and found their lives ruined by the choices they had made.

The good news is that Christ did not die for good and noble people. He died for sinners and the Word tells us we are all sinners. We constantly need Him to cover our sinful self with His blood. It is only the shed blood of our Savior that rescues us from power of sin and death! Not what we do, but what He has done for us! To live for Christ is to receive eternal life!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

P.S. – Please CLICK ON the Donate button below if you feel led to help us financially with Pastor Cecil’s ministry. As of today, Monday, June 30, 2025, we currently have a $1,114 need for June 2025 (was $2,000). To read about how the money is used, please go to https://DailyEvotional.com/donations/

P.P.S. – You can help us by viewing Pastor Cecil’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thedailyevotional/videos and subscribing to it. Thanks so much!

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button b.

You can 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.

DO UNTO OTHERS!

Philippians 2:3 – Devotional

Philippians 2:3

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

It is far too easy to downplay the things that are meaningful to another person. They may have achieved some major goal in their life yet it is easy for us to ignore it or act as if it were insignificant.

We need to go out of our way to become excited about some accomplishment that someone shared with us. If someone shares a passage or verse they had memorized we need to explode with joy and congratulations. It was just the response that person needs. Our positive response may lead that person to do even more.

It does not have to be spiritual accomplishments that we praise. I once served as an associate pastor in a large church. Roscoe was a man with a severe learning disorder and could barely talk. He loved to bowl. Somehow I discovered he carried a small book with his weekly bowling scores. Each week I made a point of looking at his book and getting excited about his scores. They were sometimes 25 or 30, but I tried to make him feel special. It not only made Roscoe feel special, it made me feel blessed to spend time with him.

Who do you know that needs to be lifted by your approval? What words can you speak or actions shown that will make that person feel special? Try it!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

P.S. – Please CLICK ON the Donate button below if you feel led to help us financially with Pastor Cecil’s ministry. As of today, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, we currently have a $1,524 need for June 2025 (was $2,000). To read about how the money is used, please go to https://DailyEvotional.com/donations/

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button b.

You can 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.

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/

P.P.S. – You can help us by viewing Pastor Cecil’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@thedailyevotional/videos and subscribing to it. Thanks so much!

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s DailyEvotional emails by clicking on the Subscribe button b.

You can 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.