by Pastor Cecil | Feb 15, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1-5
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
What constitutes authentic praise? You see a picture of a congregation of people with their hands raised, eyes closed, heads looking to the heavens, with a look of rapture on their face. Is this authentic praise? Possibly yes—possibly no.
Visualize another scene of a couple standing silently in a cemetery as they gazed down at the casket holding the lifeless body of their baby girl. Is this worship? Possibly yes—possibly no. How about a lone man with his head between his knees shaking with uncontrollable sobs? Possibly yes—possibly no.
Unfortunately, I have observed that praise can be orchestrated. There are leaders who will go to great lengths developing formats that, while they may appear to be spiritual, are more of the flesh. It is almost like there is a competition to see who shows the most praise.
Let me cut to the chase. I believe that true and authentic praise takes me out of the picture. It is God directed and not what makes me feel good, but choosing to give praise to the God of the universe who stands near me at all times. I praise Him for giving me far more than I deserve. PRAISE YOU LORD!
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 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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Feb 11, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 139:7-10
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”
“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”, was written by blind hymn writer, George Matheson, on the evening of his sister’s marriage. His entire family had departed for the wedding and had left him alone. He vividly recalled of how years before, he had been engaged until his fiance learned that he was going blind, and there was nothing the doctors could do, and she told him that she could not go through life with a blind man.
He went blind while studying for the ministry, and his sister had been the one who had taken care of him all these years, but now she is gone. His sister’s marriage brought a fresh reminder of his own heartbreak, over his fiance’s refusal to “go through life with a blind man.” It is the midst of this circumstance and intense sadness that the Lord gives him this hymn – written he says, in 5 minutes!
“Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go“
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee,
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee,
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee,
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee,
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
To access Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ohlovethatwillnotletmego 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
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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Jan 25, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
I was born way back in 1934 when, I am told, that radio was not all that common. And, of course, there was no such thing as television. You know, I cannot recall what kind of baby I was (I am sure I was practically perfect in every way! Cough! Cough!), but one thing my mother told me is that I loved to listen to music on the radio. When I was fussy she would find music on the radio and I immediately became quiet.
Throughout my life I have found joy and delight in listening to music. Thankfully it is the good, clean and edifying music. No matter how good the music is, however, it is noise. A few days ago when we were visiting with our daughter, the topic of blocking unwanted noise came up. Lori put her fingers in her ears and made silly sounds.
It struck me since then that we live in a world that is filled with such discordant sound that it is hard to hear the still small voice of the Lord. I have decided to spend more quiet time with the Lord. As a first step, I do not turn on the car radio. I use this time for praying (with my eyes open), quoting Scripture and just having time to enjoy the presence of the Lord. WHAT PEACE I AM FINDING!
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 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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Jan 14, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 90:1-2
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
O God, Our Help in Ages Past is a hymn by Isaac Watts and paraphrases Psalm 90. It originally consisted of nine stanzas. In present usage, however, the hymn is usually limited to stanzas one, two, three, five and nine.
The hymn was originally part of The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719. It has often been sung for special occasions in England. It was sung in 1941, at a religious service on board HMS Prince of Wales attended by Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as part of the conference creating the Atlantic Charter. It was also sung at the funeral of Winston Churchill in 1965.
Later composers subsequently incorporated the tune in their own works. For example, George Handel used the tune in an anthem entitled, O Praise the Lord.
“O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST“
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
To access O God Our Help in Ages Past , this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Hymns, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ogodourhelpinagespast 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
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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Jan 13, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 34:8-9
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.”
Living in the southern part of the United States was a new experience for our family. We were typical “northerners” and our dear friends in Shreveport, LA, had many laughs at our lack of dealing with the “southern way.”
One example was at a good ole fashioned southern fish fry. One of the adult Sunday School classes from the church we attended invited us along. The menu included a pan fish known as “bream” as well as hushpuppies.
The fish was very tasty, but full of bones. I was picking and spitting bones until one of my friends leaned over and said, “Hey, Yankee, let me show you how to eat bream.” With that he deftly removed the dorsal fin then gently pulled each side of the fish away with virtually no bones. (Why didn’t he tell me sooner!)
We are living in a world of lost people who are feasting on the bones of sin and degradation. All the time we are relishing our new life in Christ, they are choking to death.
One of the most effective ways to witness for the Lord is to let people see how much we enjoy our life in Christ. Someone has said, “You may have the joy of salvation in your heart, but you need to let your face know about it.” Do people see the joy of Jesus on our face?
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 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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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by Pastor Cecil | Jan 7, 2011 | Psalm
Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”
Some time ago I was talking with an acquaintance when he blurted out, “Oh, my God!” Immediately I said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were praying. Let me know when you finish your prayer.”
He looked at me like I was out of my mind. “What do you mean,” he said, “I had no idea I had said that.” He asked me to let him know if I ever heard him utter such a phrase again, unless it truly was in prayer.
Profanity and vulgarity have become so common place in our modern world that today it is often rare to hear a conversation without someone taking the Lord’s name in vain or using ugly gutter talk.
The tragic thing is that many Christians have fallen victim to this habit. “Oh my God” has been shortened to OMG, but it is still taking the Lord’s name in vain. We are instructed in today’s Scripture that we are to watch our words and the things that go into our minds.”What we speak and what we think.”
I have mentioned before and will repeat it once again: I want Psalm 19:14 to be one of my key verses for 2011. It is my desire to be acceptable in God’s sight!
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 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.
P.P.S. – I have completed my first book, 100 of Pastor Cecil’s Select Illustrations. The cost is $12.95 plus shipping. You can now order it online by going to https://dailyevotional.com/prior2020/book-by-pastor-cecil . . . You may want to consider this book as a thoughtful gift idea for those who do not have Internet access or as helpful sermon illustrations for your Pastor.
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