by Pastor Cecil | Sep 9, 2011 | Hebrews
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
From time to time we encounter health scares that cause us to fear for our lives. We may rush to receive inoculations or use face masks. We take extra precautions in washing our hands and covering our mouths when we cough or sneeze. As a boy I can still remember when families were quarantined because someone in the house was diagnosed with a contagious disease.
In the early 1900’s here in the U.S., there was an outbreak of diphtheria that claimed many lives. Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri in 1903. As diphtheria swept the area, two of his nieces died from the epidemic. In his hour of grief he wrote today’s hymn and had the college choir sing it outside the quarantined house.
“Near to the Heart of God“
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod/ 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. Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 8, 2011 | Matthew
Matthew 18:19-20
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.”
For over forty years I have enjoyed the ministry of Dr. Howard Hendricks. I have listened to him speak in person, but have also spent countless hours listening to his sermon tapes. Yes, I said sermon tapes—I lived in the days of the old reel-to-reel system and relished the times spent studying the Scriptures he was teaching.
I recall Dr. Hendricks telling about a small church that had invited him to hold a teacher training session for its Sunday School teachers. The pastor had spent weeks informing and trying to excite each of the teachers to be there for this wonderful and valuable training. The evening finally arrived . . . but only three teachers showed up. They waited for quite a period of time but when it was clear that no one else was coming, the pastor dismissed the three.
After they left, he turned to Howie and asked, “Well, Dr. Hendricks, what doyou think about that?” When Howie asked if he really wanted to know, the pastor said, “yes.” Dr. Hendrickscalmly answered, “You just ruined the desire of three teachers who might have been balls of fire in teaching their classes.”
In this day of mega everything, we forget that Jesus said He is present when only two or three are gathered together. We have traded size for surrender. Instead of getting excited over two or three who are committed, we droop and drag around because of those who are not present. Lord give me two or three who want to be on fire for You!
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.comPlease feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 7, 2011 | Matthew
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
My wife Joyce and I like the comic strip Pickles. The main characters are Earl and Opal. They are like some of us who are in the golden years of life. Today’s strip shows the two of them sitting on the sofa watching TV. Opal complained that they have just wasted time watching a stupid commercial that made no sense and she didn’t even know what they were selling.
The punch line was delivered by Earl when he responded that he might not know what they were selling, but he wanted one. Wow! That hit me like a ton of bricks. All day long I have been thinking about the spiritual significance we can apply to that one comic strip.
All day long we are surrounded by people who are lost and on their way to a sinner’s hell. They seem to be unaware of their hopeless condition and the wonderful plan of salvation that God has provided through Jesus Christ. On the other hand, as Christians it seems that we are often oblivious to the great harvest field we are walking through.
We have all known Christians that look and act like they have been baptized in vinegar . . . the farthest thing from a glowing example that would draw a lost person to the faith. But like the commercial Earl and Opal watched in the comic strip, the Christian lives we lead should be so appealing that people who have no idea about our faith will want what we have.
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.comPlease feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 6, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 37:23-24
“The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”
When Joyce and I were first married in 1952, our first car was a black 1948 four door Chevrolet sedan. It was a good reliable automobile with one glaring exception, the tires.
I cannot recall ever having engine troubles of any kind, but the tires were another story entirely. It seemed that we had more flat tires than you could shake a stick at. We were living hand to mouth, so even when a tire was beyond repair we could not afford new tires, so we purchased re-caps. The process back then was less than desirable and we paid the price.
There was one trip that we made from Idaho to South Dakota where I was stationed in the US Air Force. My dad bought us a set of re-cap snow tires to insure that we would be safe. The first tire blew out about 100 miles on our 900 mile trip and the second at the 500 mile marker. We had a wonderful time. Ha!
Life seems at times to be just like that. We experience blow-outs of all kinds. Just when we think all is going smooth, we feel that sickening thump, thump, thump that indicates a flat. But I want to let you in on a little secret. It is in those times of stress and failure that the best memories are made. I believe that our marriage has been strengthened as we have endured the “flat tires” of life together. With the Lord beside us and His Word to guide us, what more could we ask for?!
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.comPlease feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 5, 2011 | Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
Have you ever felt like time was against you? That you were at war with all of your busy schedules and demands? Do you feel like the comic strip character who once lamented, The hurrier I go, the behinder I get! It might be terrible grammar, but the truth is hard to deny.
When I was a boy (I can hardly remember those days of long ago) we had none of the labor and time saving devices of today. Even without all of these wonderful inventions there was time for visiting, sharing and relishing God’s presence.
Several times in my life I have prayed for the Lord to grant me more time to spend in His Word and meeting with Him in prayer. Once it was clearly revealed that my lunch hour was a precious time that I could commit to Him.
Since April I have come to cherish the early morning hours. I have discovered a wonderful time for prayer and study. It is around 5:00 a.m. It has become a time for me to enjoy my Lord as I reflect on His Word and lift my prayer to Him. I would highly recommend it to you. It will make your day!
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.comPlease feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends.
