by Pastor Cecil | Jul 22, 2011 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 4:12-13
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
Fanny J. Crosby was a remarkable woman. There are so many accomplishments in her life that it is hard to comprehend them all. She lost her eyesight because of the treatment of a careless doctor. In spite of her loss she memorized huge portions of Scripture just by listening to her grandmother read them to her. She is credited with writing over 10,000 hymns during her life.
Fanny began writing poetry at an early age, but another amazing fact is that she did not accept Jesus as her personal Savior until she was 31. She was attending a service on November 20, 1850. The congregation was singing a hymn by Isaac Watts; “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light.” She knew she needed the Lord and that very night He became her Savior and Lord.
Her desire was to always stay close to Jesus who had paid the ultimate price for her salvation. Her desire was to remain near her Lord. She immediately wrote the words to this week’s hymn, “Near the Cross.”
“Near the Cross“
Jesus, keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star
sheds its beams around me.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o’er me.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand
just beyond the river.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
To access Near the Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/nearthecross 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. – Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends. They’ll appreciate the encouragement.
P.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.
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 21, 2011 | 1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles 28:9
“. . . learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”
It is tragic that some people just do not understand the consequences of their actions. Over the years I have had close contact with those who have violated God’s commands and as a result have found the world crashing down around them. It then becomes my ministry to try to direct them to the only “ONE” who can put their broken life together.
Today’s Scripture is part of the challenge David gave to his son, Solomon, who was succeeding him on the throne of Israel. Oh, how I wish more of us fathers would challenge our sons and daughters to seek after the Lord.
The thing that strikes me is that David wanted his son to know God intimately. All too often we observe people who know about God and feel that this is enough of that “spiritual stuff” for them. How tragic that they will one day stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords to answer why they failed to seek after the Lord.
Knowing God intimately involves worship. Get ready!! Worship is far, far more than standing in a crowd with your arms in the air singing the latest praise song. It is that depth of emotion that reaches out to God at the point of our need and finding Him standing beside us, ready to draw us into a deeper walk with Him. I want to increase that relationship myself and invite each of you to join me.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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 Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 20, 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 submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
A few hours ago a dear friend dropped by for some spiritual encouragement. It turned out that she was the one who encouraged Joyce and me. She related how she had been driving to a homeless shelter where she volunteers but had made a “wrong turn” that meant she would have to drive a few extra blocks.
As our friend was chastising herself for not paying closer attention, she noticed a woman in a motorized wheelchair. The chair was leaning precariously to one side and if it tipped over, the woman would have fallen into the street — she was calling for someone to help her. Our friend called back that she would be right there.
Our friend quickly parked in a nearby space and rushed over to the helpless gal in the wheelchair and, along with two passing pedestrians, was able to get her on the straight and narrow once again. Our friend was given an opportunity to witness to the woman and to the meter maid who had just written her a parking ticket (but tore the ticket up after understanding what had happened).
The “wrong turn” was no accident. The Lord had His hand on the entire affair. In the same way He desires for us to cast all of our cares and concerns on Him. If we truly believed that, we would be able to live far more victorious lives. Instead of crying about turning down the wrong street, we need to silently pray for the Lord to show us what He wants us to do for him in this area. Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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 Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 19, 2011 | James
James 3:4-5b
“Take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.”
I recall being in a small fishing boat traveling along the rugged shoreline off the northern coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It was a beautiful day, but I want to tell you that I was glad that the boat was being piloted by a fisherman who knew how to keep us from danger.
He knew how to direct the boat into the waves in such a way that kept us from being swamped. Nevertheless I was relieved when he directed the boat into the sheltered harbor of the small village where we were headed.
I recently thought of this trip as I read today’s passage. As I did so, I was reminded of an old hymn, “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me.” Here are two verses:
“Jesus, Savior, pilot me, Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.”
“When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar,
’Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me,
‘Fear not, I will pilot thee.’ ”
The words express my prayer to the Lord. I want Him to be my pilot through the seas of life that stretch out before me.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
(360) 570-0074
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 Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 18, 2011 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 34:7
“Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.”
It amazes me to pick up a newspaper or watch a news report on television where they mention an elderly man who was in an accident, had a fall, was the victim of a crime or some other happening. Then the report mentions the age. I am jolted when they mention that the man was ten years younger than I am.
What is going on here? I am not old. My steps may be a little slower than they once were, but at age 77, I certainly do not consider myself as an elderly man. I just like to think of myself as “mature.”
That reminds me of the joke about a man who was rather proud and pompous. After a speaking engagement someone mentioned that he was so mature. He was so pleased that he could hardly wait to get home and look up the word in the dictionary. To his chagrin it said; Ripe and getting rotten.
I don’t know about you, but I am not interested in being ripe or rotten. I want to do everything I am able to accomplish to further the work of Jesus Christ. The very idea of curling up in an easy chair and doing nothing is not in my plan. I want to keep on going with every ounce of enthusiasm I can muster.
Can I let you in on a little secret? I am doing more now than ever before. My mind is full of ideas that I am trying to get done. My eyes are fixed on the goal of being a faithful servant that pleases my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil (360) 570-0074
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 Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
