by Pastor Cecil | Jul 19, 2013 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.“
There have been times in my life when I felt isolated and alone. It seemed that I was alone and could not sense the nearness of God in my life. When I experienced these times of spiritual drought, I was prone to wonder if Jesus really cared, even though I am usually happy and optimistic. It has been in these times that I have felt the enemy of my soul attack. I rush to God?s Word for comfort.
Frank E. Graeff was known as the “sunshine minister.” He had a cheery disposition, a winsome personality, spiritual optimist, and was a great friend of children. He was known to have a child-like faith. That being said, he did pass through times of deep trials. It was then that he turned to the Scriptures as his guide in the darkness.
As I read the words of this hymn that he wrote, I can see the change from gloom and despair to hope and victory. That is what I want in my life.
Does Jesus Care?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
To view the GloryScapes inspirational video Does Jesus Care? please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/doesjesuscare/ 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 5, 2013 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
I sat across the desk from a large and overbearing man. I was having a personal interview for a position with the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. I knew very little about the agency and my previous experience in the field of criminal justice was low pay and long hours. So I was not really projecting my best qualities. In other words, I was not making my best first impression.
Things changed radically, however, when the Director of the agency mentioned the salary and duties that went with the position I was applying for. I suddenly felt that I had lost my opportunity to make a good first impression.
My demeanor immediately changed and I began to explain why I felt that I was qualified for the position. After another forty-five minutes of the interview the position was offered to me and I accepted.
It reminds me that many people forget that we are constantly making first impressions. The things they see in our actions and words determine not only what others think of us, but what they think about the Lord Jesus Christ. It has been said many times before, that the Jesus they see in us may be the only Jesus they will ever see. Are you making a good first impression for Him?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 16, 2013 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
I am signed up to receive a jigsaw puzzle each morning which seems to keep me visually aware of shapes and colors. It is always a challenge to meet or exceed the average length of time others have taken to complete the puzzle.
This morning the picture was of a turtle sitting on the head of a crocodile. They were about the same size, so it might not have been a problem. At the same time I can just imagine what would happen in a short period of time. The croc would increase in size and suddenly would see the turtle as a tasty meal. What had once been a resting place for the turtle now would become dangerous territory.
Over the years I have counseled many people who played around with tempting situations, believing that they could only go only so far and then stop just before things went too far. Unfortunately, they would cry their eyes out when the situation got out of hand and the consequences of sin demanded payment.
I pray that you who are reading this are not playing the part of the turtle. If you are, I beg you to immediately get away to a place of safety. That place is the arms of our Savior who died to rescue us from the jaws of the enemy. Confess your sin and turn back to Him. He is waiting to welcome you!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 28, 2012 | 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 the hymn for this week.
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 will 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, < br /> till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Enjoy the free inspirational video for week from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://gloryscapes.com/nearthecross/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 20, 2012 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 4:7
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
I am sure that you have heard all of the media attention to the fact that the Mayan calendar is suppose to end on this date and the end of the world will come. There have been predictions of calamity and destruction of unparalleled levels.
Ooops! If you are reading this on or after the 20th of December, you will know that man’s predictions of the end have not proven true. Far too often we hear predictions of the end, but as in all cases there is no way for us to be able to do so. That is for God to decide and God alone to determine. In fact we are told in Matthew 24:36, that the angels nor even the Lord Jesus knows when the time will come. Only God the Father knows!
From what I have determined from my study of Bible prophecy is that there are no further prophecies that must be fulfilled before the Lord appears to call His church to that wonderful home that has been prepared for us. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
With the return of Christ near at hand there is much work for us to do. We live in the midst of a lost and dying world. The word of hope and salvation that the lost need to hear should be on our tongue. As people see Jesus in us, we need to be ready to share the gospel message with them and have their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 19, 2012 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 3:3-4
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
I consider myself one of the most blessed men in the world. I am in the possession of one of the rarest gems known to man—a wife who has a sweet and gentle spirit. We have been married over 60 years and were high school sweethearts before our marriage in 1952.
It has not always been easy living with and loving a wife who has this unique and godly quality. She is so tender that I have hurt her many times without even knowing that my actions caused her pain. My temperament is very outgoing and aggressive. There have been far too many times when I failed to sense that my fun loving pranks caused her grief. For that I feel deep remorse.
In today’s Scripture I see that God is pleased with someone with the quiet and sensitive qualities that my precious wife possesses. She has become a vital example to me of how a precious handmaiden of the Lord can speak volumes without saying a word. It is her incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
To you husbands who feel that your wife is too quiet and sensitive, I urge you to spend time in prayer and allow the Lord to reveal what a gift He has given you. As far as that goes, we all should evaluate the wonderful qualities that make us unique and thus form a united body of believers.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
