by Pastor Cecil | Mar 31, 2011 | Matthew
Matthew 25:36
“I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
It was about fifteen months ago that my phone rang. It was a friend I had known for about 30 years. He was standing outside a Federal Prison in Colorado where he had been sentenced to spend the next several years. We prayed together and I made a covenant to continue to pray for him.
This week I received an e-mail from him in which he shared the wonderful ministry God has given him within the prison setting. He uses his music ministry to assist at the various chapel services. He is active in personal evangelism and has led several men to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, which is the greatest accomplishment of all, but it is not all that he is doing.
He and several fellow Christians were concerned that many of the new inmates arrive unprepared for prison life. So using their own limited funds, they purchase items from the commissary to make welcome packages for the new men.
This unofficial welcome committee greets each new man with such items as soap (with a soap box), shampoo, comb, four stamps, razor, water cup, bowl for cereal and soup, packages of Ramen noodles and other items that make life a little easier. This simple act of kindness opens the door for further witness.
It is well for all of us to pray for Christian prisoners around the world.
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 | Mar 30, 2011 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 9:12
“Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly; they have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made themselves a molded image.’”
It is sad to witness people who once professed a fervent desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, gradually slip into the ways of the world. At one time they devoted themselves to read and memorize the Word of God, but over time they replaced this discipline with the easy life of self-indulgence.
Let me ask you a few questions that are both personal and revealing:
1. What is the most important thing in your life?
2. Do you know for certain where you will spend eternity?
3. What will be the most important thing when your life on earth is over?
4. How easy is it for you to replace devotion to the Lord with recreation?
5. If Jesus were to call you home tonight, would He be pleased with you?
As you ponder these five brief questions, what changes do you feel you need to make in your life? I think we need to start right now.
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 | Mar 29, 2011 | 2 Timothy
II Timothy 3:13-14a
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.”
I was born and spent my early years in the lush verdant landscape of the State of Washington. Just before my sixth grade our family moved to Nampa, Idaho. The climate was much, much different! It was hot and dry! How good is that?!
In the warm days of that first summer I relished running around with no shoes. It was then that I was introduced to a horrible and painful object called the goat head. The plant is also called the puncture plant. The goat head seeds are a little larger than a pea and dries as hard as a dry bean, but it has sharp spikes all around it.
No matter how hard I tried to keep my feet from encountering these confounded goat heads, I would feel the stabbing pain and know I would howl with the agony that was inflicted. As often as not there would be more than one, so it was an ordeal that still makes me cringe.
As I think back on the days of my life, I can honestly say that I have encountered a few people that may be considered “goat heads.” It seems as if they feel that their calling in life is to bring pain and make people feel miserable. I wish I could say that these people were outside of the church, but sad to say, they are to be found lurking in the pews. Self examination time—are you a “goat head?” If so it’s time to pray up and soften up!!!
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 | Mar 28, 2011 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
I recently received this poem from Connie Ciccone, who generously allowed me to share it and any of her other poems. As you read it, make it your prayer.
Use Me Dear Lord
Lord, here I am to be used for You;
Give me the task You’d have me to do.
I am only a vessel made of clay,
Seeking to follow always in Your pathway.
Take me Lord, and use me today;
in your most unique and special way.
I serve You faithfully to share Your love;
that others may see what their hearts are made of.
Help me To reach what they were truly made for;
that then they may say.
Use Me Dear 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
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 | Mar 25, 2011 | Acts
Acts 17:31
“Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” (Amplified Bible)
Fanny Crosby wrote over 8,000 hymns. She said about her blindness, “The first face ever to gladden my sight will be when I get to heaven and behold the face of the One who died for me . . . I verily believe that God intended that I should live my days in physical darkness so that I might be better prepared to sing His praise and lead others from spiritual darkness into eternal light. With sight I would have been too distracted to have written thousands of hymns.”
Fanny tells this one story about the hymn, “Blessed Assurance.” Mrs. Phoebe Fairchild Knapp, wife of the organizer of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, went to visit Fanny and get an opinion of a tune Mrs. Knapp had written. “What does it say to you, Fanny?” she asked. Fanny’s answer was “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.” And then a few minutes later she handed to Mrs. Knapp the completed lyrics of the hymn. Our hymn for this week is that wonderful hymn; “Blessed Assurance.”
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angles descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Fanny Crosby lived her life without physical eyes, but her spiritual eyes shone so bright that they still illuminate the lives of all who love her hymns.
To access Blessed Assurance, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Hymn Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/blessedassurance2 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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