by Pastor Cecil | Nov 26, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 33:1
“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.”
What a wonderful woman. She stood less than 5 feet tall and weighed less than 100 pounds. Because of mistreatment for an eye infection when she was only a few months old, she spent the rest of her 95 years blind.
Her name was Fanny J. Crosby. This tiny dynamo wrote over 8,000 poems and hymns during her lifetime. She composed her poems and hymns entirely in her mind and then dictated them to someone else. She was said to work mentally on as many as twelve hymns at once before dictating them all out.
Fanny felt that it was God’s special gift that she should be blind all of her life and she thanked Him for that gift. She once remarked; “When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!” In 1896 she wrote this week’s hymn selection.
“Praise Him! Praise Him!“
1. Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children,
in His arms He carries them all day long:
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise him! Praise him ever in joyful song!
2. Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins he suffered, and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
love unbounded, wonderful deep and strong:
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!
3. Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
power and glory unto the Lord belong.
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!
To access Praise Him, Praise Him, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/praisehimpraisehim 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 | Nov 25, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 100:4-5
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”
Many years ago we became friends with a talented man. He could craft almost any wooden object. We lived in two houses that he had built and were always in awe of the details he included in his homes.
We were attending a social event at the church that included a silent auction. I am not sure how it was conducted, but as I recall you would walk around the room and write down what you pay for the craft someone had created.
Our friend had created a pepper grinder and salt shaker from some rare wood. I made a ridiculously low bid, thinking I would never get it. As we spoke with the man and his wife after the auction we learned that my bid would not even pay for the materials, to say nothing of the hours he had spent shaping it.
From that day I made a point to praise him for his work and the great enjoyment it brought to our family. I could see that our appreciation meant more to him than if he had received a huge bid at the auction.
It is the time of year to give thanks to the Lord. Not just in vague generalities, but making a special effort to consider all of the things the Lord has done for us. Let’s make an effort to thank Him each and every day for loving the likes of us.
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 | Nov 22, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 103:15-16
“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”
Several years ago Joyce and I were visiting a church where I had once served as the Pastor of Discipleship. One of the pastors I had served with gave us a copy of their most recent photo directory. I had forgotten it until a few days ago when our daughter-in-law mentioned the death of a person we had known. As Joyce and I talked about him, she remembered the directory. Oh, the directory!
I went through the directory first and then it was her turn. “How could people let themselves get so old looking in the years since I served in the church?” One person or couple after another stunned us by the way they had—-shall we say, “matured.” Okay, let’s face it, they got old.
I am sure the maturing process was not noticeable to those who had been there the whole time, but for us having not been around for some thirty years, it was a blow. In that same period of time, Joyce and I have not aged a bit. Cough! Cough!
Let’s face it, the aging process begins at birth and continues until we breathe our last breath here on earth. Praise God that is not the end of the matter. For those of us who have been born again and have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, our next breath will be celestial and we live eternally.
It is sad that so many devote so much effort in an attempt to look as young as possible instead of focusing on the things that are eternal. Through all of my sags and wrinkles I want to prepare for my eternal home. How about you?
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 | Nov 19, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 143:5-6
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah”
When I was away from my wife and family for an entire year’s assignment with the US Air Force, I ached to be reunited. Joyce and I had been friends and sweethearts since the 9th grade and separation was almost intolerable.
When I would receive a letter from her I would read it and picture her in my mind’s eye as she wrote the words. Just the very thought of her made me eager to be back with her once more.
Over the years I have come to love the precious Word of God. The more I read it the more I long to be with the Lord. I think of what joy will flood my very being when I meet my Savior face to face. I think that must have been in the mind of Bernard of Clairvaux during the dark ages when he penned the words of today’s hymn.
“Jesus the Very Thought of Thee“
Jesus! the very thought of Thee
with sweetness fills my breast:
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
and in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
nor can the mem’ry find
A sweeter sound than Jesus name,
the Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who ask, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue nor pen can show,
The love of Jesus, what it is,
none but His loved ones know.
Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
as Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
and through eternity.
O Jesus, light of all below,
thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
and all we can desire.
Jesus, may all confess Thy name,
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
to seek Thee more and more.
Abide with us, and let Thy light shine,
Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
and joy to all impart.
To access Jesus The Very Thought of Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesustheverythoughtofthee 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 | Nov 16, 2010 | 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.”
Sometimes it seems as if we are surrounded with negative and plain old mean people. It seems as if they delight in the most enjoyable and spiritually rewarding times a drudge. For years I have used the illustration of a pastor who had such a man like this in his congregation. He repeatedly drove the pastor to his knees.
One day a young believer asked the pastor if there was some ministry he could do that would make the load a little easier for the pastor. The pastor asked him to pray specifically for the man, Mr. Scrooge. The young believer began to pray in earnest for Mr. Scrooge. His prayer went something like this, “Lord, sweeten Mr. Scrooge up or take him to heaven.” He prayed this same prayer morning, noon and night.
One Wednesday evening the church had gathered for the mid week prayer service. The pastor called on the young believer to lead the group in prayer. Without realizing it he prayed his standard prayer for Mr. Scrooge. The problem was that now Mr. Scrooge was in the pew directly behind him. When he prayed, “Lord, sweeten Mr. Scrooge up or take him to heaven,” Mr. Scrooge blurted out, “I ain’t going!”
Sadly people like Mr. Scrooge are the examples people think of when they think of Christians. My prayer is that we may all have such a sweet spirit that it will become contagious. That the beauty of Jesus may be seen in and through us.
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 | Nov 11, 2010 | Psalm
Psalm 139:1-4
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.”
During my Air Force career I had one assignment as a Missile Launch Control Officer in Missouri. Some of the missile launch complexes were up to 100 miles from our base. It was a long drive by car so we were sometimes transported by helicopter.
I love to ride in helicopters as they are low enough and slow enough to get a clear picture of what is going on below you. It was especially interesting to notice hills or blind curves with traffic approaching. I thought how interesting it would be if we had contact with the driver of a vehicle below and be able to warn of oncoming traffic that was over a hill or around a curve.
Repeatedly in the Bible we are told that the Lord knows our way and desires to lead us in the way we should go. If that is the case (and it is) why do we so often demand to do things our way?
I must confess that over the years I have not feasted upon the Word of God the way I should—even though I have absolute confidence that it reveals God’s plan and purpose for my life. I have made a new covenant to spend more time searching His Word than ever before. Do you know what I am finding? He knows what is over the next hill and around the next curve. I hereby turn over the control of my life to Him. Lead on, Lord Jesus!
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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