by Pastor Cecil | Feb 3, 2012 | Titus
Titus 3:3-5
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
Joyce and I are not rich by any means, but compared to others we are prosperous. That being the case, I feel that God has given us the privilege and burden to keep our eyes open to observe needs around us. One of the greatest pleasures is to see a young family with a need and then do something about it.
It is always better if you can do it without being seen, but sometimes it cannot be done covertly. This week Joyce had a doctor’s appointment and I was alone in the waiting room reading from my Kindle. A woman came to the reception desk to check in for a tread mill test. She was nervous and did not have the money for the $10.00 co-pay. She was flustered and asked the receptionist if she could be billed for it.
While the receptionist was looking for the form to bill her, I slipped in beside the lady and gave her the $10.00. It shocked her and the receptionist. I wanted to remain invisible, but then I realized something— it was a blessing for both. The receptionist said it made her day and the lady agreed. Just before Joyce came back from her appointment, the receptionist came up and handed me a gift certificate from a gourmet coffee shop. I tried to refuse, but she said she wanted to do something nice as well. Wow!
Of course the greatest payment in our behalf is the gift of eternal life. It cost the horrible death of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He paid what we could not pay. He went to the cross voluntarily because He knew we would never be able to pay the cost.
Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I,
whereby Thy grace to claim
I will wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
To access Jesus Paid It All, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuspaiditall/ 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 | May 20, 2011 | Titus
Titus 3:3-5
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
Joyce and I are not rich by any means, but compared to others we are prosperous. That being the case, I feel that God has given us the privilege and burden to keep our eyes open to observe needs around us. One of the greatest pleasures is to see a young family with a need and then do something about it.
It is always better if you can do it without being seen, but sometimes it cannot be done covertly. A few months ago I noticed a young mother with several kids in her car filling up at the pump just ahead of me. She stopped the pump almost as soon as she started, and I realized it was financial. Being rather bold, I stepped up to her pump, zipped my card through the sensor and told her to finish filling her tank. There were tears in her eyes as she thanked me. We had been there and knew a little bit of what she was experiencing!
The greatest payment in our behalf is the gift of eternal life that was given us through the terrible cost of a heavenly Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who went to the cross voluntarily because He knew we would never be able to pay the cost.
“Jesus Paid It All“
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I,
whereby Thy grace to claim
I will wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
To access Jesus Paid It All, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please 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. – Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends. They’ll appreciate the encouragement.
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 24, 2010 | Titus
Titus 3:3
“For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”
One of the first things a police officer learns is that inebriated people can be counted on to do two things. First they always say that they have only had two drinks. (It may actually have been seven or eight, but to an officer it is only two).
The second thing is that they do the unexpected. One night I was on patrol about 1:30 in the morning when a man waved frantically for me to stop. He jumped in on the passenger side and suddenly realized I was a uniformed police officer. His reaction was tragically humorous: “Oh, I thought this was a taxi!” I told him it was and that I was taking him to his hotel room for a few hours. When he sobered up he did not recall anything of the incident.
It is not necessary to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs to lose control of our faculties. The enemy of our souls sends delusions and temptations to lead us away from the Lord. In fact Satan can sugar coat these temptations so that they appear to be righteous or spiritual.
The only way we can stay close to the Lord and know the way He has prepared for us is to spend time in His Word. The way we can detect the false is to spend quality time with the truth. How are you spending your time?
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 | Jun 4, 2010 | Titus
Titus 3:3-5
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
Joyce and I are not rich by any means, but compared to others we are prosperous. That being the case, I feel that God has given us the privilege and burden to keep our eyes open to observe needs around us. One of the greatest pleasures is to see a young family with a need and then do something about it.
It is always better if you can do it without being seen, but sometimes it cannot be done covertly. A few months ago I noticed a young mother with several kids in her car filling up at the pump just ahead of me. She stopped the pump almost as soon as she started, and I realized it was financial. Being rather bold, I stepped up to her pump, zipped my card through the sensor and told her to finish filling her tank. There were tears in her eyes as she thanked me. We had been there and knew a little bit of what she was experiencing!
The greatest payment in our behalf is the gift of eternal life that was given us through the terrible cost of a heavenly Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who went to the cross voluntarily because He knew we would never be able to pay the cost.
“Jesus Paid It All“
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I,
whereby Thy grace to claim
I will wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
To access Jesus Paid It All, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuspaiditall 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 | May 7, 2010 | Titus
Titus 2:13
“We wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
This week’s hymn is another written by the blind hymn writer, Fanny J. Crosby. She was one of the most remarkable women, be it blind or sighted. Her love of her Lord was evident in the thousands of poems and hymns she wrote.
Imagine the anticipation of any blind saint of God to be able to see things in glory that have been hidden from their eyes in this life. Fanny commented that it would be wonderful to see her family and friends, but she longed to see her Jesus most of all.
“My Savior First of All!“
When my life work is ended,
and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see
I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.
Refrain:
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side, I shall stand
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the soul thrilling rapture
when I view His blessed face
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him
for the mercy, love, and grace
That prepared for me a mansion in the sky.
Refrain:
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side, I shall stand
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the dear ones in glory,
how they beckon me to come,
And our parting at the river I recall;
To the sweet vales of Eden
they will sing my welcome home,
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain:
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side, I shall stand
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Thro’ the gates of the city
in a robe of spotless white,
He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;
In the glad song of ages
I shall mingle with delight,
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain:
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side, I shall stand
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
To access My Savior First of All, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/mysaviorfirstofall 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 | Jan 6, 2010 | Titus
Titus 3:4-7
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
I was not always prim and sophisticated the way I am today. (Cough! Cough!) Back in our college days, Joyce and I were full of creative pranks. One Sunday afternoon two other couples were at our house and we decided to create a new quiz program.
This was in the days of radio, so all we needed was a little up-beat music and a lot of imagination. We would call people from the church we attended and asked a question that if answered correctly would merit a nice prize. The question was: On a can of Grow Pup dog food, what are the words that appear directly under the name, GROW-PUP DOG FOOD?
As far as we knew there was no such product and so we were safe that people would not answer the question correctly and receive the fantastic prize we had promised for a correct answer.
It was a riot that night at church to hear people excitedly relate about the fact they had been called by a national quiz show. Before long it began to dawn on them that someone had played a prank.
There is a prankster abroad in the world who has a far more sinister motive. Satan is the enemy of every true believer or those who seek to be born again and have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Satan uses exaggerations, lies, half-truths, promises of great joy or whatever it takes to prevent trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Satan can make us feel like we need to do more to merit salvation, or take the opposite direction and convince us that everyone is going to heaven, so just live it up and be happy. Lies! Lies! God’s Word is our authority and as we spend quality time feasting on its truth we will find that He has made the way clear for us to follow.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
