by Pastor Cecil | Jul 16, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 139:7-10
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”
George Matheson was studying for the ministry when he was devastated by the news that he was losing his eyesight. His fiancé abandoned him when she learned of his serious medical condition. She felt she could not go through life married to a blind man. His sister stepped in and provided the loving care for her brother across the years
There came a day when this beloved sister fell in love and was engaged to be married. On the evening of her marriage, the entire family had left the house and George Matheson was left all alone. It was in this time of emptiness that he needed someone who would never leave him. His heart cried out to God and he wrote the words to this beautiful hymn, “Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go.”
“Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go“
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Draw near to God this day and you can rest assured that He will near to you. To access Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ohlovethatwillnotletmego in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 15, 2010 | Hebrews
Hebrew 13:5
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ “
Several years ago a man in our congregation asked me to visit a fellow who had worked in the mill with him. The young man was in the county jail for a crime he had committed.
I had no way of knowing what type of response my visit would have, but I was totally unprepared for what I found. The inmate shared with me that in the first few days of his confinement, someone had shared the gospel with him and he had accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. Our conversation revealed that his decision was real, not simply a “jailhouse” conversion.
The thing that impressed me the most was this statement he made: “A few months ago it seemed that I had everything — a wife, two children, a new car, a boat and more “things” than I could count. Then the bottom dropped out of my life. Because of my crime I have lost everything. The only things I have to call my own are the sweater I am wearing and the Bible I am holding, but I feel like the richest man in the world!”
What a statement! Things never satisfy—only Jesus satisfies our deepest longings. This man was later released after serving his sentence and continued to grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
What “things” are you surrounding yourself with in an attempt to fill that void in your life? You may only possess a sweater and a Bible, but I want to tell you that only Jesus will meet your need!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 14, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 19:14
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
One day I had a young man come to my office for counseling. He and his wife were experiencing difficulties, and he wanted me to assist in trying to patch up the damage that had been done in their relationship.
As this young man related the conversations with his wife and her negative reaction to his words, it was clear that he wanted me to take his side in the conflict (which, by the way, I never do). As a matter of fact, it has been my experience that the one who does most of the complaining is usually the one causing most of the problem.
For thirty or forty minutes he ranted about how this wife of his was totally to blame for their conflicts. He recounted the things he said to her (in a soft and loving voice) and how she would respond (in a resentful tone).
The young man left my office, but returned a short time later — something had happened to him. The Lord had convicted him of what he had related to me. He said that the words he spoke were accurate, but admitted that wasn’t the way he said it or how she had responded. Once he took the blame, healing took place.
The words of our mouth can bring about comfort and healing or bitterness and conflict. Think about the tone of your voice when you are speaking. Does the tone match the spirit that Christ wants you to have?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 13, 2010 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:30-31
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Have you ever been so weary that you felt like you could not hold your head up? Did your weariness cause you to become embarrassed? Have you sought sleep and rest as if it were the most precious thing in the world? Welcome to my world!
Actually, I should say welcome to my world back when I was attending college and working full time. Back in the 50’s a normal work week was 48 hours, and a full college load was 18 hours. I was doing both. Sometimes the night hours seemed to go on forever and ever.
Early one morning, about 2:00 a.m., I was driving my patrol car to the edge of town where there was a turn-around area. I paused for just a second with my eyes closed. As I sat there I realized that my headlights were on bright and were shining into oncoming traffic. A driver was flashing his headlights signaling for me to dim my lights. Yikes! I depressed the siren button instead of the dimmer switch — it must have really startled that driver as I turned on my emergency lights and tore past him.
Sometimes we get wrapped up in things that are spiritually draining and cause us to lose sight of what God really desires in the life of His children—resting in Him alone. He will give us the strength we need to do His will. Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 12, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 91:15
“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
A popular seminary professor tells the story of a married seminary student with three children who was struggling to make ends meet while in school. The family had a boy named Timmy, age six, who grew out of his shirt and there was just no money for a new one.
His wise parents suggested that the family make it a matter of prayer and allow God to provide a new shirt for Timmy, size seven. Each evening as the family gathered for devotions, Timmy would remind whoever prayed to be sure and pray for a new shirt—size seven.
Several weeks went by and the Christian owner of a clothing store was getting rid of a line of shirts. He called Timmy’s parents and asked if they happened to have a need for any size seven shirts since he had three of them. That night when Timmy reminded his dad to pray for a size seven shirt, he told Timmy they wouldn’t be praying that prayer any longer. Timmy was confused until his brother and sister brought out his new shirts all size seven.
Wise parents indeed! They took the opportunity of laying a need before the Lord and in so doing they taught their family that God delights in providing for His children, even the little ones, size seven.
What specific needs do you have in your life that you are asking God for?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
