by Pastor Cecil | Dec 24, 2010 | Luke
Luke 2:2-10
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'”
The words of this well loved carol were written in 1818 by Josef Mohr after he had seen a play about the birth of Jesus. He was in a reflective mood and walked to a hill overlooking his village in the Austrian Alps. The view of the snow covered village reminded him of a poem he had written a few years earlier. The poem was about the night the angel announced the birth of Jesus.
The next day he took the words of his poem to Franz Gruber, who had just composed a melody. He re-worked the melody to match the words to the poem Mohr written. Our beloved carol, Silent Night was born.
“Silent Night“
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
To access Silent Night, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/silentnight 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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Dec 23, 2010 | Luke
Luke 2:15
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ “
I am sure that most of us have been outside on a clear night. It may have been on a camping trip or just getting away from city lights with only the moon and stars to give illumination. Just thinking about it makes me recall nights in Newfoundland watching the stars and northern lights.
On the night Jesus was born, a group of shepherds were stunned by the sudden appearance of an angel of the Lord. He announced the birth of a baby who was to be the Savior of the world. Just as suddenly the sky was filled with a countless number of angels who praised the Lord saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Wow!
Their reaction was not to waste time talking about it or debating it¯they hurried into Bethlehem to find this Blessed Baby. I am not sure how long it took them to find the Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, but they found Him and worshipped Him. Then they spread the word about what had happened.
You may have heard about Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, but what are you doing about it? Have you stored the information away in your mind to be dealt with at a later time, or have you sought Him, found Him, and worshipped Him? The greatest gift of all time is the Savior who is Christ the Lord. Open your gift!
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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Dec 22, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 50:3-4
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.”
I have to confess that I am not a patient person. If something has been promised, I am anxious to see the fulfillment. Our daughter has lovingly (I think) called me “Pastor Push.”
When I left the US Air Force, I had no job waiting for me. I started painting houses for my brother who owned a paint contracting business. With a Master’s Degree, I was qualified for other positions, but nothing was forthcoming.
I applied for two jobs that were very different in nature. One was as a Hospital Administrator, and the other as a Criminal Justice Planner. I applied and then waited and painted, and waited some more and painted some more.
The waiting finally ended when I was called to come to work for the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission as the Juvenile Corrections Specialist. All the waiting and painting was worth it. God had just the right position for me.
As we approach the day celebrated as Jesus’ birthday, it is well to think of the hearts of the faithful servants of God. They knew that the Scriptures told that Messiah would come, but oh, how they yearned for His return. The silence was killing them! In our day we have the prophecy that Jesus will come again. I don’t know about you, but the silence is killing me! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Dec 21, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 31:30-31
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
It is seldom that a man is blessed by two children in one day, but that is what has happened to me. In yesterday’s E-Votional I wrote about the blessing I received in hearing the beautiful and spiritual words our son spoke to calm the fears of his daughter, Melinda, before her surgery.
A second blessing was received from our daughter, Lori, early last evening. She had been on the phone with our granddaughter who had the surgery earlier in the day. Melinda told Lori that she wanted to go home and sleep in her own bed—she did not want to stay in the hospital.
If anyone could relate to her, it was Lori. Our precious daughter had a kidney transplant, a pancreas transplant and a second pancreas transplant when the first one failed. She has spent many lonely nights in a hospital room.
Lori asked Melinda if she would like for her to come and spend the night with her in the hospital. It was a gift of love from an aunt to her niece that money cannot buy. It is worthy of praise. Blessings, dear Lori!
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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Dec 20, 2010 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:1
“The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to His mother.”
My heart soared this morning. I was sitting in the waiting room of a local hospital with my son and daughter-in-law. Their daughter, (our granddaughter) was in the operating room down the hall.
My son shared the concern his daughter had expressed just before she went into have the surgery. “Dad, what if I die?” Dan said he told her that if she did she would be in the presence of the Lord and would be free from all of the cares of this world. He went on to name all of the loved ones she would see.
I did not say anything to Dan, but I thought my heart would explode. What joy to have a dear son who loved the Lord with all of his heart and was sharing the truth of God’s gracious love for us, even when we are near death’s door. By the way, the surgery was successful and now it is a period of recovery.
Dan did not skirt the reality of death―it is always a present possibility. He was wise in that he knew Melinda had been born again and for the believer, the end of our earthly life is the entrance into our wonderful eternal life that will never pass away. We need to remind ourselves of this reality for the believer. Not only was I pleased with my son, I know the Lord was also pleased. Well done Dan!
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
P.S. – You can find previous E-Votionals covering a variety of Scriptures and topics to help you in your walk with the Lord at www.Daily-E-Votional.com.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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