by Pastor Cecil | Feb 22, 2013 | 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 there are health scares that cause people to fear for their lives. They rush to receive inoculations or use face masks. There are precautions taken 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 years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the US that claimed many lives. In 1903 Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In his hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the 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
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 21, 2013 | John
John 9:4-5
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
A friend recently sent me a group of humorous pictures that belied what they should have accomplished. One photo depicted a can of rust remover that was coated with rust. Perhaps that is a vivid reminder that it is what is on the inside that counts!
As I laughed at the picture my mind raced back across the years, and I recalled hearing a remark to the effect that it is better to burn out than to rust out. As I think about it, I really do not recall knowing anyone who worked to death in serving the Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I am sad to confess that I have known many who became rusty in the work for the Lord. The fire they once had in service began to flicker and the oil in their lamp ran dry. Instead of returning to the Lord for a fresh supply, they pressed on in their own strength. Sadly, it wasn’t long before spiritual rust began to eat away their luster.
How do we insure that we will not fall into the same rusty rut? I think the answer is in staying close to the Lord in all that we are doing. Rather than doing things to please people, we need to always be focused on pleasing the Lord. That means we need to start each day with prayer and the Word. It is the oil that will lubricate and preserve us for each day, but we need that fresh supply on a daily basis.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 20, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What is the therefore in our Scripture for today, there for? I think it is vital to always read what precedes the use of the term. What precedes it was the answer Paul received to his prayer for his thorn in the flesh to be removed. Three times he prayed and three times the answer was that the grace of God was sufficient.
Each of us needs to learn the lesson that Paul learned, that the sufficiency of God is all we need to bring meaning and purpose to our life. There was a time in my life when I felt that I needed to have my own way. If only I had that request answered by the Lord, then everything would be perfect. It did not happen!
Have you ever experienced that in your life? Are you facing an issue or issues in your life at this very moment in which you feel that if only this or that would happen then you be at peace and find contentment?
Let me assure you dear heart that the answer is not in having all of your prayers answered in the manner and in the time frame you have envisioned. The Lord is the One who is in control and we need to learn the lesson that Paul discovered. That lesson is that our weakness and inadequacy is where God steps in and begins to reveal His power displayed in and through us. I pray that you will allow your personal thorn in the flesh to become the power of God in action!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 19, 2013 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:7-9
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them RESPECT. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
I think it was the actor, Rodney Dangerfield who continually complained that he received no respect. This complaint has not been limited to Dangerfield, but is shared by many people. Many assaults and even murders have been committed because someone thought they were not given the proper respect.
In my experience with the criminal justice system, as well in private counseling, I have discovered a one way street. Those people who are so adamant about receiving respect are most often the ones who show little respect to others.
The word respect as used here in Hebrews 12, is the Greek word entrepȏ. It may also be interpreted as reverence. Wow! That is a quality that is rarely seen in our modern world!
We may think of the lack of reverence and/or respect to those in authority around us such as parents, employers, or elected officials, but that is nothing in comparison with the reverence and respect that is due to our Lord Jesus Christ. When was the last time you honored Him with the respect He deserves? Now is the time to act!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 18, 2013 | Romans
Romans 15:30-31
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.
It may just be bad vibes from the past, but recently my mind went back to my high school days and a process known as the bench. I call it a process for lack of a better term.
Let me explain what I mean when I use the term in this issue of the Daily-E. It was a penalty for not maintaining a passing average in all of the classes being taken in school. If you dropped below a C average, you were placed on the bench.
Being on the bench prevented a person from being able to participate in any and all extracurricular activities. That is a fancy term that means you are banned from athletic teams, band, drama or any other fun stuff that high school kids live for. I must confess that my academic achievements were not what they should have been back then and each week I dreaded looking on the board to see if I had been benched. It happened a few times.
I cannot relive those days of yesteryear, but I can strive to be all that God wants me to be for Him today. That is why I eagerly greet each day with anticipation of being the very best servant the Lord calls me to be. No bench for me please!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
