by Pastor Cecil | May 3, 2013 | Luke
Luke 24:29
“But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them”
Henry F. Lyte was a man who greatly loved the Lord with his whole being. He came up with the saying, “It is better to wear out than to rust out,” and it perfectly described his life.
During the last 23 years of his life he pastored a poor church in England. He always suffered from poor health but during this time his health started to decline even more. When he finally preached his last sermon on September 4, 1847, it is reported that he practically had to crawl to the pulpit.
Shortly before preaching his last sermon he wrote the words and tune to the hymn, Abide With Me. He based his hymn on today’s Scripture that tells the story of Jesus walking with two disciples on the way to Emmaus and their statement, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.” He went to be with the Lord shortly after writing the hymn.
Later William Monk wrote a new tune for the hymn. During a time of personal sorrow, he was inspired by the beauty of a magnificent sunset.
Abide With Me
Abide with me—fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens—Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy word before my closing eyes,
Shine thru the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!
To access Abide With Me, this week’s inspirational hymn video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/abidewithme/ 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
by Pastor Cecil | May 2, 2013 | James
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
I once heard a story of a new pastor of a small congregation. One day he decided that the piano belonged on the opposite side of the church, so he moved it. This caused such a stir that he had to leave the church, and the piano was moved back into its original location.
Sometime later the pastor visited his former church and, to his amazement, the piano was sitting where he had wanted to place it. When he asked the new pastor how he had accomplished the task, he was informed that . . . All it took was an inch a week.
There was a time in my life when I wondered if I had what it took to stay focused over a long period of time. Looking back over the past thirteen years I realize that the task of writing well over three thousand Daily-E-Votionals, just boils down to doing it one day at a time.
My prayer is that each of us will realize that God does not call us to be spectacular in our service for Him. He does, however, call us to persevere day by day. The way we do this is by keeping our eyes on Him and allowing Him to direct our life. If you want to make a difference in the world . . . PERSEVERE!!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 1, 2013 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14-15
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
One of my greatest battlegrounds is the area of prayer. Thursday, May 2nd has been designated as the National Day of Prayer. I know that many Christians, including myself, will be praying that day. In preparation I have been considering what true and effectual prayer really is.
In this familiar Scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, we have a clear and concise pattern to follow. I want us to fully understand that there are NO SHORT CUTS in this process. If you are like me, you will find yourself praying for results rather than reading the instructions. Thank the Lord that they are provided.
HUMBLE OURSELVES: That means giving over our rights to the Lord and allowing Him to be the Lord of our life.
PRAY: This is not a casual recital of high sounding platitudes, but a heart-felt plea for the Lord to show us the plans He has for us.
SEEK HIS FACE: We need to strive to establish that intimate relationship with the Lord in order to insure that we are becoming more like Him each day.
TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS: Seek to discover what the Lord counts as sin and confess it immediately. Revival starts with us. Before we can see others change, we must change!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 30, 2013 | Daniel
Daniel 3:17-18
Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.
I need to constantly remind myself of the courage and faith of three Hebrew slaves named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. These three stood bravely before a furnace that had intentionally been super-heated to incinerate anyone who failed to bow and worship King Nebuchadnezzar. What would you or I do? Most of us are allergic to pain and discomfort so we might well have bowed just a little.
It is so easy to compromise our walk with the Lord by making bargains with Him. There has been far too much emphasis placed upon healing and if a prayer for healing is not answered, the one who has prayed feels as if God is not in control.
As I read the statement of these three young slaves, I believe they had the kind of faith the Lord wants each of us to possess. Yes, they knew that the Lord could save them from the horrendous heat of this furnace, but even if He did not do so, they would still obey only Him and not this earthly king.
The Lord saved them that day, but there have been millions of times across the ages of time when the Lord chose to take the faithful servant home to be with Him. It is not our choice, but His choice. Not my will, but may His will be done!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 29, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Saturday the word ROCK came up at least twice. Once at a memorial service I was officiating, and another time listening to Vestal Goodman singing the old hymn, Rock of Ages.
There is something about a solid rock that gives us a sense of security. Jesus used the solid rock in a parable about the two men who built houses. One built on sand and the other on the solid rock. The storms beat on each of the two houses. The one on the sandy soil fell, while the one on solid rock stood firm.
What Jesus was illustrating was that the shifting sands of this world are just not fit to build our life upon. The fickle pleasures of sin may appeal and tempt us to construct in a manner that will appeal to the flesh. But we can be sure that the storms of adversity are bound to come. What will happen then? I can assure you after years of working to restructure the ruined lives of people who built on the sand . . . you do not want to build there!
As we read this passage of Scripture we discover that not only is the Lord our solid ROCK, He is our fortress and deliverer. Anytime you feel insecure and the storms of life howl around you, call upon Him. He will be your mighty Fortress!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
