by Pastor Cecil | Dec 9, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 98:4, 9-10
“Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD.”
It has been told that Isaac Watts, who wrote the words of this beautiful Christmas hymn, had not intended it to be used only at Christmas. He wrote the words to paraphrase the words of today’s Scripture from Psalm 98.
To me it is a reminder that God will take our most feeble efforts and allow them to be used to accomplish His divine purpose. Once again Proverbs 3:5-6 is proven true: “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.”
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart Prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing;
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and angels sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods; rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy;
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, Repeat, the sounding joy
No more will sins and sorrows grow;
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow;
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace;
And makes the nations prove,
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love;
And wonders of His love;
And wonders, wonders of His love.
To access Joy to the World, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/joytotheworld/ 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. You can also find a Kindle version at Amazon.com.
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 8, 2011 | John
John 16:4
I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you.
On December 7th, 1941, I was a seven year old boy living with my parents in Camas, Washington. We had been to church that Sunday morning and the service had just ended. As usual, a group of we kids were playing outside the church when several teen age girls began to scream. They had been listening to the radio in one of their parent’s cars.
All of we younger kids gathered around the car and heard the commentator tell of the early morning attack on the Naval Base in Pearl Harbor. We were over 100 miles from the coast, but almost immediately we were required to cover our windows at night so no light would come through. Within a few days WE WERE AT WAR!
That was 70 years ago and yet I still remember it like it was yesterday. It was later that year that I knelt at the altar of our church and asked Jesus to come into my heart. In like manner I remember that day like it was yesterday. That was the day of my spiritual birth and even though I have made mistakes from time to time, I have known since that day that I was a born again Christian. The attack I may forget, but the day of my spiritual birth I will remember for eternity.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
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
My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 7, 2011 | Daily-E-Votionals
Hebrews 10:22-23
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
How much do we truly trust the Lord? When we kneel before Him and seek His will for our lives, do we utterly place our confidence in Him? Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China in the 1800’s. Here is a quote from this man of faith: “God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” I love the confidence in that statement. That is the kind of faith I seek to have in my life.
When I read the notes of a man like George Müller, who founded many orphan homes in the 1800’s, I bow my head in respect to such a man. He purposed early in his ministry to totally rely upon the Lord to supply his every need. He felt it was a lack of faith to make appeals for financial support. He would pray long hours and God rewarded his faith by supplying, not only his personal needs, but also the funds to build and maintain large orphanages in England.
I fear that many believers as well as Christian ministries run ahead of God’s leadership. They rely on their own efforts to raise the necessary funds. Rather than pray, they plead. It is okay to plead, but we need to plead with God, not others. Extreme faith sees the potential, but it also waits for God’s provision.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
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
My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 6, 2011 | Luke
Luke 12:6-7
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Sunday was our monthly potluck dinner. As we were visiting with other tables the subject of baldness came up. I remember when I first felt cold rain fall on my scalp. It really shocked me since my hair had been thick enough that I had not felt the cold drops before. Oh, the joys of getting older!
We see and hear advertisements for hair replacements that make it seem that with a full head of hair all of our problems will be over and we will be the most popular kid on the block (in a manner of speaking).
A preoccupation with our appearance can keep us from understanding the wonderful plan God has for our life. It is the Jesus inside of us that should shine through. It does not matter if we have lots of hair or none at all . . . we must walk so close to the Master that people will see only Him.
I love today’s Scripture for many reasons. One of the things that stands out for me is the encouragement to not be afraid. Our fear of what people will think of us can and does tarnish our witness. People are not interested in us looking perfect. They want to see reality! Let’s forget our hair and walk as Jesus wants us to walk.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
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
My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 5, 2011 | Galatians
Galatians 6:16-17
“Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God. From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”
As I look down on my bare chest I can see scars of previous surgeries. The latest and greatest runs from my breast bone downward for about nine inches. This is from my triple heart by-pass surgery that was done in February.
Since that day in February, I have had many changes in my life. An aggressive exercise program, new low fat menus and thankfulness that the Lord has spared me to continue and even expand my ministry.
We often experience incidents in our lives that leave scars. All too often we look at these scars as being detrimental. The fact of the matter is that God can use our scars to bring healing to others. It does not happen automatically, but rather our yielding even our scars to be used by the Lord.
What are the scars in your life that you have been trying to hide and keep from public view? It is time for us to be what we are and tell people how the Lord has graciously been with us during the times of testing.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
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
My book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, is now available on Kindle books. Just go the Kindle store and type in Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations, or Pastor Cecil Thompson.
