by Pastor Cecil | Feb 25, 2010 | Hebrews
Hebrews 13:1-3
“Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
How would you act if an angel came to your door? How about an itinerant preacher you encounter on the street? It may be a clerk, policeman, meter reader, repairman ― as a matter of fact it could be anyone. Would you be able to discern if any or all of these may be angels?
In Scripture we read that from time to time angels appear to humans. There have been reports in our modern era of encounters with angelic beings. Personally I have never had this experience, and I believe it is safe to say that most of you have never had one either.
In Genesis chapter 18, we read that Abraham was visited by three men. As it turns out, two of the men were angels and the third was Jesus Himself. It was one of the rare instances where Jesus visited the earth in human form prior to His birth in Bethlehem.
Abraham’s reaction to the visitors was to leap to his feet and greet them. He opened his heart and home to them and insured that they received nourishment. Hospitality was shown before he became aware of who they were. In giving them water and food he entertained angels (and the Lord) unawares. That is what today’s Scripture from Hebrews 13 says we may experience.
The bottom line is that we are called to be the friendliest and most gracious people on the face of the earth. People should see Jesus in the way we reach out and make people feel welcome. There are scores of lonely people who are starving for hospitality. Are you and I willing to open our hearts to them? Remember ― it may be an angel calling!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 1, 2010 | Hebrews
| Special Note: Pastor Cecil is out of town holding his brother’s funeral, so he’ll be gone for a few days. Please remember to pray for him and his family at this time. Thanks, Russ |
Hebrews 7:24-25
“. . . because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
We can have hope in the midst of the worst life can throw at us because Jesus, our Savior, “lives forever.”
A missionary friend of mine, Lee Rudeen, is currently in Haiti on an assignment to video stories of hope as they emerge from the devastation. The other evening (Thursday, January 28th) in the dark, he came across an incredible event that he recorded the audio only, because there were no lights. Here’s his story…
“I wept as I listened, glad that I was [able to audio record]. There was no light. They were singing in the darkness. I found out later 40 people, displaced neighbors all of them, came to accept Christ following the service. It occurred to me that [Christians] around the world might be as moved as I was to hear them singing of the hope described in the words of the familiar hymn by the Gaithers, Because He Lives. Hope knows no language barriers. I’ll never forget the moment.
“I’m in Haiti to help record stories of hope as they emerge. I had no idea how powerful that hope could be. While walking at night across the campus of the Haiti Nazarene Bible College in Port-au-Prince, I came across an open air worship service being led by students for the 400 or so of their neighbors—displaced residents who have come to this campus seeking safety and shelter. I don’t speak Creole. But I understood their hearts perfectly and wept openly as, in their own language, I heard them singing the attached/following message of hope in Jesus:
“Because He lives
I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives
All fear is gone.
Because I know
He holds the future.
Life is worth the living,
Just because He lives.”
To access the Haitians singing Because He Lives, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/becausehelives in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Brother Russ (for Pastor Cecil)
P.S. – Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends. They’ll appreciate the encouragement.
P.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.
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 22, 2010 | Hebrews
Hebrews 10:22
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
One of the most beloved hymns of the faith is “Blessed Assurance.” It was written in 1873 by the blind hymn writer, Fanny J. Crosby. It often seems as if the Lord gave this blind hymn writer keener spiritual sight than those with 20/20 vision.
Ms. Crosby was visiting a friend, Phoebe Knapp, who was having a large pipe organ installed in her home. While the workmen labored to install the organ, Mrs. Knapp played a new melody called “Assurance” that she had just composed.
She asked Fanny what she felt the melody said. Immediately Fanny replied, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.” She went on to write the words to the hymn that is this week’s featured hymn—enjoy!
“Blessed Assurance“
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above,
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
To access Blessed Assurance, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/blessedassurance2 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
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 27, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 3:12-15
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'”
In the late 1800’s, revival swept across the Scandinavian countries. One of the great influences during this time of revival was Karolina Sandell. She had known much tragedy in her life, but did not allow it to destroy her faith.
Karolina was born in Sweden in 1832. Her father was a pastor whom she loved dearly. When she was twenty-six years of age, this devoted daughter accompanied him on a trip to Gothenburg. The ship lurched and Karolina watched in horror as her dear father drowned before her eyes.
In spite of her broken heart she began to write hymns that came directly from a heart that refused to be stilled by disaster. Her simple trust in a loving heavenly Father was felt in her hymns. One of these is this week’s hymn.
“Day By Day“
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
strength I find, to meet my trials here.
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
gives unto each day what He deems best—
lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,
mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
with a special mercy for each hour;
all my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
the protection of His child and treasure
is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
this the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulation,
so to trust Thy promises, O Lord.
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
offered me within Thy Holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
ever to take, as from a father’s hand.
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
till I reach the promised land.
To access Day By Day, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/daybyday 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
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 4, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1-2
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”
Back when I was in high school (in the dark ages), I worked part-time at a men’s clothing store. The store received a small newspaper called, “GRIT.” Just recently I checked online and discovered that it still exists.
Back to my story. One day during a slow period I was reading the “Grit” and fond a poem that rattled my cage. I cut it out and carried it around for many years before losing it. I have wished many times that I still had it. I hope you enjoy what I recall. It went something like this:
When skies are blue and sonbirds sing;
When flowers bloom, their fragrance bring;
When friends are around and funds abound;
When health and love are easily found;
It doesn’t take a lot of sand to shout and sing, to beat the band.
BUT – – –
When things go wrong—as they often do;
When skies suddenly lose their azure blue;
When well laid plans fall into a crumples heap;
When weary eyes scream out for peaceful sleep;
THEN – – –
Is the time to take our stand,
it’s the time to reach by faith and take God’s hand!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 27, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 3:12-14
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
There was a little lady who had a sweet spirit in spite of her many ailments. When anyone would ask Minnie how she was feeling she always replied, “Good, but life is so daily!” I am sure that all of us have felt that way from time to time. We take a step or two forward. Like the old saying, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!”
Sometimes as I sit down at the computer and prepare my Daily-E-Votionals, I wonder how many people take the time to read them and if it is a waste of time. It is at these times that I am prone to use that expression of Minnie’s—”Life is so daily!” Then I pray and realize that I am not responsible for other people’s responses, only my action. The Lord will cause those who have a need to receive what is given. I hope that in itself may be an encouragement for you.
Many times we grow weary in well doing when we fail to see results from our efforts. There have been other faithful servants of the Lord who have labored for years with no signs of acceptance. Perhaps only one person would respond. That is enough! We need to remind ourselves that it is the Lord of the harvest who is in charge. We are His field hands.
We live in a world that is so preoccupied with numbers that we overlook the one or two whose lives have been changed. By our caring, some may find Jesus as their personal Savior. Life may be “so daily,” but it can also be “so fruitful!”
Our Scripture for today instructs us to encourage each other daily. It will lift our spirits to the heavens and put a song in our heart. It will cause us to rise each morning with a song of praise: “LIFE IS SO DAILY – AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET AT IT!”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
