by Pastor Cecil | Oct 5, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 9:16
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.
Years ago my wife Joyce and I were once driving along the beautiful Columbia River gorge in Oregon. A rain shower had recently swept across the area, and now bright sunlight flooded the area. As we drove, a rainbow kept pace beside the car. I know it was just a refraction of the sunlight, but what an awe inspiring sight.
There are two requirements to produce a rainbow, rain and sun. Without rain there could be no rainbow. Without sun there would be no rainbow. In the rainy times of our life, God’s tender care for us brings His rainbow of blessing. God’s covenant of love did not say that we would be free of rain, but He is always with us in the storms of life.
Back in 1879 Rev. J. K. Alwood was equally moved as he observed a rainbow in the western sky late one evening as he was traveling home. When he arrived at his home, he immediately composed the hymn for this week; The Unclouded Day.
The Unclouded Day
O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
O they tell me of that land far away;
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance thru the unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of the King in His beauty there,
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold,
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me that he smiles on His children there,
And his smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again,
In that lovely land of unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video The Unclouded Day, from GloryScapes™ Christian Hymns.
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 help! Please consider trying to get one other person to subscribe to the Daily-E-Votional. This worldwide ministry asks for no funds and is sent to glorify our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s easy to subscribe, simply go to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/subscribe and enter your email address. It’s all automatic. Thanks.
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 10, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 29:20
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
I look at the date on this issue of the Daily-E-Votional and my heart skips a beat. You see, it was sixty years ago, July 10, 1952, that my precious wife and I joined hearts and became husband and wife. It is incredible to think that we are celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary this year.
There was no way we could have known the joys that lay before us when we stood at the altar of our church and pledged our lives to each other. There would be three children, eight grandchildren and four (almost five) great-grandchildren.
To witness our children grow and mature into fine Christian adults has been a real blessing. We had the sorrow of losing our oldest daughter at age 35, but her radiant testimony for Jesus took away the pain of her death. We have the assurance that she will be waiting when we leave this old world.
As I read today’s Scripture, I was struck by the way time flies. It seems impossible that Joyce and I have reached this age and milestone in our marriage. It is because our love has been focused on the one beside us, not the drag of the calendar.
You know, it is the same way with our love for the Lord. The more we love Him and the closer we walk with Him, the faster time flies. Love leaps beyond the daily grind and points us to that day when we will experience eternity with our Lord and all who have gone before us. What a day that will be!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 25, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 5:24
“Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
The featured gospel song this week is; Just A Closer Walk With Thee. It is a well-known song, but even though it is popular and has been recorded by many famous singers, it is not known who wrote it or even when it was written. It was first heard back in the 1930’s. No matter who wrote it or when it was written, it is great!
Young love is grand! In the long ago days of our youth, Joyce and I were too young for cars and bikes were not cool, so we walked. On our first date we walked to a gathering about two miles from her house. It seemed as if it were only a few blocks because of our love for each other.
The first time I held her hand my heart almost beat out of my chest. As we grew older it was always a joy to walk side by side. It has always been better to walk beside each other than to walk with anyone else. We love each other! I feel the same way about my walk with the Lord. The longer I walk with Him, the more I feel His love enfolding me. I eagerly desire a closer walk.
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long, as I walk,
let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er,
to Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
To access Just a Closer Walk With Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/justacloserwalkwiththee/ 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 | Mar 14, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 5:22-24
After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
There is a plaque in our home that we have had for years. I guess I had become so accustomed to it that I never really stopped to consider the words. The Man Who Walks With God Always Gets to His Destination. As I studied these words I have come to the conclusion that it is not entirely correct. It is my conviction that the man who walks with God has already reached his destination.
Over the years I have been fascinated with this man Enoch that we read about in today’s Scripture. I try to imagine what it must have been to have such close intimacy with God for 300 years. I gave my heart to Jesus when I was about eight. Since today is my 78th birthday, that means I have walked with Him for about 70 years. Far short of 300 years!
It is also interesting to notice in this passage of Scripture that it was not simply walking with God, but walking faithfully with God. To me that implies it is possible for our walk to be less than faithful. I have a mind picture of a small child walking beside a parent, but the child may be pulling and tugging to be free of parental guidance and protection. The child could be described as walking with the parent, but not faithfully.
Enoch had a long and loving relationship with His Lord for centuries. As he walked with his Lord on the dusty roads of this earthly life he was suddenly raptured into the Paradise that God has prepared for those whose names are written in the Book of Life.
In writing of a faithful walk with the Lord I recall the walk of my grandpa Thompson. He walked in close harmony with his Lord and his last words have given me assurance all of my life. He looked toward the door and breathed, “Well there’s Jesus now!” There are many Christians who walk closer to the world than to their Savior. As far as I am concerned that is foolishness. We never know when our walk on earth will end and the Lord will welcome us to our eternal home. I choose to walk faithfully with my God!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 17, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 9:16
“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Years ago my wife Joyce and I were once driving along the beautiful Columbia River gorge in Oregon. A rain shower had recently swept across the area, and now bright sunlight flooded the area. As we drove, a rainbow kept pace beside the car. I know it was just a refraction of the sunlight, but what an awe inspiring sight.
There are two requirements to produce a rainbow, rain and sun. Without rain there could be no rainbow. Without sun there would be no rainbow. In the rainy times of our life, God’s tender care for us brings His rainbow of blessing. God’s covenant of love did not say that we would be free of rain, but He is always with us in the storms of life.
Back in 1879 Rev. J. K. Alwood was equally moved as he observed a rainbow in the western sky late one evening as he was traveling home. When he arrived at his home, he immediately composed the hymn for this week; The Unclouded Day.
The Unclouded Day
O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
O they tell me of that land far away;
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance thru the unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of the King in His beauty there,
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold,
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me that he smiles on His children there,
And his smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again,
In that lovely land of unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video The Unclouded Day, from GloryScapes™ Christian Hymns.
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 16, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 39:1-2
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
What does it mean to prosper? Over the ages people have been obsessed with obtaining prosperity. The problem is that prosperity is an ill-defined objective. It seems to be that “just a little bit more” will make them feel prosperous. Then they see someone with more than they have. Suddenly their prosperity disappears and they now must strive to get more and thus make them feel prosperous. No matter how often this is repeated they are not satisfied.
I once had unrestricted access into the Idaho State Penitentiary in Boise. I started a weekly Bible Study with some of the inmates. The group included men who had been sentenced for all sorts of offenses, including murder. The thing that set these men apart from other prisoners is that they had found Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and were now prospering within the walls of this prison. More than once I heard some of them rejoice that they felt more free inside the walls with Christ than outside without knowing Him as the Lord of their life.
In today’s Scripture, Joseph had been betrayed by his own brothers. They sold him into slavery and thought that he was out of their lives for good. In Egypt, Joseph was sold to the Captain of the Guard . . . a man named Potiphar. It would have been easy for Joseph to have a pity party. Instead, he prospered in Potiphar’s house as a slave.
Joseph prospered in every situation because he kept his eyes on the Lord. It was not what he had that made him prosperous, but who had him. The Lord made him prosper. How about you? Are you prospering because you belong to the Lord?
Blessings dear hearts. Trust the Lord completely, prosper where you are and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
