by Pastor Cecil | Aug 19, 2016 | John
John 4:13-14
“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
Not only is Olympia, Washington, the State Capitol, but there is also another significant claim to fame. In the 400 block of 4th Avenue is an artesian well. People are able to fill containers of this pure cool water. It is a fountain flowing freely.
The composer of this week’s hymn is William Cowper. He was born in England in the year 1731. He suffered many personal losses during his early years that caused him much mental anguish. Loss after loss of those that were close brought him to the brink of despair.
Through all of his ordeals the Lord kept drawing him. He finally received Jesus as his personal Savior and began writing hymns and poetry. It is fascinating that he lived in a small house just behind the home of his pastor, John Newton, who wrote the wonderful hymn,Amazing Grace. Thank the Lord for the fountain of redeeming blood that cleanses us from all of our sin.
There Is A Fountain
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away
Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are saved, to sin no more
For since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
and shall be till I die
When this poor lisping,
stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing thy power to save
Enjoy this week’s free inspiration video, “There Is A Fountain” from Gloryscapes.com by going to:http://gloryscapes.com/thereisafountain/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 28, 2016 | John
John 1:8-9
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
It seems that every day we hear of tragedies of every kind. There are natural disasters, but also there are violent attacks that leave scores dead and badly injured. Just when it seems that things could not get worse, they seem to do just that.
What should be our reaction to the violence and chaos around us? I think we have at least two choices. We can look around us and become increasingly depressed or look up and see that God is the Blessed Controller of all things.
In today’s Scripture Jesus is listing the things that will precede His return and the end of the age. He does not want us to be burdened with the evil that He prophecies, but to see the glory that waits for the redeemed of the Lord.
In other words Jesus is instructing us to focus our attention on what is waiting for us. That means we are to LOOK UP! I frequently have to remind myself to focus my attention in the right direction. I do what I can to fulfill the command of the Lord, and then I LOOK UP and worship the One whom I serve. Where are you looking?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 6, 2016 | John
John 9:32
“Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.”
God has blessed me to come into contact with many people who have little or no eyesight. I hesitate to call them blind for they often have better vision than sighted people. It is just that they “see” things differently.
One of my dear friends is Bill Hadden, a faithful subscriber to the Daily-E-Votional for many years. Last week I received an e-mail from Bill to tell me that he had lost his wife of 68 years.
I called Bill to share my sympathy for his loss. He knew I had recently traveled that same road with the loss of my Joyce after 62 years of marriage. It was a most refreshing conversation as we encouraged each other with the certainty that this world is not our home and we will soon see our beloved mates.
Over the years I have been encouraged by Bill Hadden. His spiritual sight has illuminated my life in a significant manner. In a world where so many stumble in spiritual darkness, here is a blind man who sees clearly spiritual truths that lift and encourage. He is a brother beloved and a SIGHTED BLIND MAN!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 23, 2016 | John
John 12:24
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.“
I have a jar of barley grain in my storage cupboard. If I remove one grain from the jar it hardly makes a difference. Now multiply the amount of grain in my jar several times over and look inside the hopper of a grain harvester — that one grain now seems even less significant. Look into the hold of a cargo ship with millions of bushels of grains. How much is only one?
I fear that we often discount the value of our one life and witness. We feel that we, like that single grain, will not make a difference. Not only that, we hold onto our life with such a tight fist like we are better able to do something with it.
What does God want us to do with that grain which is our life? Are you ready? He wants us to plant it into the rich soil of His Word and die. It is only as we die to self that He is able to create new life.
You may feel that you only have one grain to offer to the Lord. That, dear friend, is enough. It is God’s power that creates new life, not ours. One grain can grow and multiply until there is a rich harvest. Give your grain to Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 6, 2016 | John
John 3:12
“If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
During the Statler Brothers Farewell Concert, Harold (who was always the one with the humorous stories) wanted to tell one of his yarns. He prefaced it with the statement, “I have a story you are not going to believe!” His brother, Don, replied, “Every story you tell I do not believe!”
Believe is a powerful word. In the Greek it is pisteuō. As it is used in the New Testament it is the conviction and trust to which man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law and soul. In layman’s terms I would say it means to choose to listen to the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit and then obey.
As you can see, today’s Scripture is a few verses away from the familiar John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” To believe is a choice that each person on the face of the earth must make. It is the only gateway to an eternity with God. BELIEVE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 27, 2016 | John
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
We seem to be constantly bombarded with the talk of peace. As a young boy I recall pictures of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain waving a document in his hand and saying he had just met with Adolf Hitler and had secured a promise of peace. His words were, “I have returned from Germany with peace for our time.”
The sad reality was that the world was soon to be exposed to the horrible reality of a war waged by a mad man who intentionally tried to exterminate Jews and other ethnic groups. There was no peace then or now!
From the day that Adam and Eve sinned and were evicted from the garden there has been strife, conflicts and wars. For all of the rhetoric about attaining peace we are no closer to world peace, nor will we ever be until Jesus comes again. What a fantastic day it will be when there is eternal peace — Wonderful Peace.
Wonderful Peace
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Refrain
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Refrain
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Refrain
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Refrain
To access “Wonderful Peace,” this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/wonderfulpeace/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
