FRIDAY: “THE SWEET BY AND BY!” Matthew 6:27 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson July 1, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

July 1, 2016

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“THE SWEET BY AND BY!”

Matthew 6:27

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

True Christian character is certainly seen in our biblical heroes, but it may often be seen in those of more recent times. Hope is a character quality that looks beyond our immediate circumstances and shows what we as believers have waiting for us.

In the Sweet By and By is one of the most enduring songs written after the Civil War. It was composed by Sanford Bennett who was the owner of a drugstore in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. He had just returned from the war. A friend, Joseph Webster, a gifted musician trained formally in composition, came to the store each day to talk and play chess. Often Webster would be depressed and down.

When asked what was wrong, Webster would often reply; “It will be alright by and by.” That idea hit Bennett like a flash of sunlight! As Bennett later described the incident, he took out a pen and it was all over in thirty minutes. A new hymn was born. In short order he was singing the words along with Webster and two other friends. That hymn was perfect for the post-Civil War era because it conveyed pathos with a mixture of comforting warmth. It came to typify the virtues of spiritual hope.

Sweet By and By

1. There is a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way,
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

Chorus: In the sweet by and by,

We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by;

We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

2. We shall sing on that beautiful shore,
The melodious songs of the blest;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

Chorus: In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

3. To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise,
For the glorious gift of His love,
And the blessings that hallow our days.

Chorus: In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

Enjoy this free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com by going to:

http://gloryscapes.com/sweetbyandby/

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

- - - Pastor Cecil

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THURSDAY: “THE REST OF THE STORY!” Psalm 118:24 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 30, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

June 30, 2016

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 “THE REST OF THE STORY!”  

Psalm 118:24

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Today’s scripture is familiar to many people. It calls us to rejoice instead of gripe or complain. I know you never do anything of that sort, but there are people who do. Cough! Cough!

You may look around you and only see strife, contention, and failure. You may have a debilitating physical condition that prevents you from doing things that other people do with no difficulty. You may be the victim of any number of things that you feel prevent you from rejoicing.

So ... do you have a reason to rejoice? Absolutely! First of all, we are to rejoice because God’s Word tells us to rejoice. But there is something that we may be prone to overlook. It is the reason to rejoice. It is found in the two verses that precede today’s scripture passage: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.”  

That Chief Cornerstone is none other than our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. We are always to rejoice because this world is not our home and we have a mansion that is being prepared for us in glory. Now that is something to rejoice about!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

- - - Pastor Cecil  

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

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WEDNESDAY: “CHOOSE!” Joshua 24:15 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 29, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

June 29, 2016

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 “CHOOSE!”  

Joshua 24:15

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

There was once a restaurant our family visited where the menu was so complicated that even the wait staff had difficulty understanding it. That confusing menu slowed service down and before long the place went out of business.

Sometimes we can make things so spiritually confusing that it takes a person with a degree in theology to understand the simple truth of the gospel message. That, my friend, is not the way God intended the Gospel to be presented.

In school I always liked the true/false tests. Even without knowing the material I had a 50/50 chance of getting the right answer. God has always set a true/false choice before His created beings. We can either choose His way or Satan’s way.

Our Heavenly Father has a wonderful plan for our life. His plan is to provide us with all we need to become His child. The Holy Spirit tenderly leads, guides, and directs us to accept God’s way over our own way. We just need to take time to read His word, speak with Him in prayer, and then choose His way. Simple! Choose life!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

- - - Pastor Cecil  

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

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TUESDAY “RETIRED!” Philippians 1:6 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 28, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

June 28, 2016

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 “RETIRED!”  

Philippians 1:6

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

I want to tell you right up front that I am 82. I know that some people think I still act like a kid, but I am a genuinely certified senior citizen, whatever that means. Many others often refer to the fact that I am retired.

Let me see: I pastor a small congregation, write the Daily-E-Votional five days a week, record audio versions of the Daily-E-Votional, as well as audio recordings that take us through the Bible in one year, have published seven books and am just finishing the eighth. Yep! Stop to think of it, I guess I am retired.

In my humble opinion, retirement is one of the saddest occupations a person can have. It will make you old! I do not want to get old, I want to occupy until Jesus comes or until He chooses to take me home. I want to die with my spiritual boots on!

Worldly fame and applause soon fades away. Money and the stuff of this world will soon tarnish and fade away. What we do for the Lord on this earth is the only lasting accomplishment that we will ever achieve.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

- - - Pastor Cecil  

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

MONDAY “MY ALL!” Matthew 22:37 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 27, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

June 27, 2016

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“MY ALL!”

Matthew 22:37

“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.’”

Mankind's natural tendency seems inclined towards always trying to gain something by investing as little as possible. It is like that old story of the young man who was writing a love letter to his sweetheart vowing he would climb the highest mountain for her. He would swim the widest river for her. He would fight a ferocious tiger for her. He closed his letter to the love of his life by promising he would drop by her house on Saturday … "if it's not raining."  Ooops!

Much too often we exhibit that same trait in our devotion to the Lord. We talk a good talk, but when it comes down to being sold out to the Lord, we don't walk the talk. In today’s Scripture the Pharisees are trying to find fault in the teachings of Jesus. He was asked which was the greatest commandment? Matthew 22:37 gives His reply.

Let me ask you a very personal question (I am asking it of myself as well). How well are we doing in our response to this greatest commandment of them all? Can we truly say we love the Lord our God with ALL our heart, our soul, and our mind? It is time to look into the mirror of God’s Word and see what He sees.

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

- - - Pastor Cecil

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

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FRIDAY: “SOFTLY AND TENDERLY!” Revelation 3:20 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 24, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

June 24, 2016

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“SOFTLY AND TENDERLY!”

Revelation 3:20

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

This beautiful hymn was composed by Will Thompson who lived from 1847 to 1909. The words seem to capture the heart of the listener and draw us to come to Jesus. You can almost picture Jesus Himself standing patiently urging us to come to Him.

He not only pleads for us to come, but he offers complete pardon to anyone and everyone who will come to Him. He offers, He has paid the price, and He has the authority to extend pardon to any who will come to Him.

The words of this hymn stress the urgent need of those who are lost. Some may feel like they have time before making that decision, but sadly for many they wait too long. Now is the hour of decision to receive Christ’s mercy and pardon!

“SOFTLY AND TENDERLY”

Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me;

See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

Refrain: Come home, come home. You who are weary come home;

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home.

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading; pleading for you and for me?

Why should we linger and heed not His mercies; mercies for you and for me?

Refrain: Come home, come home. You who are weary come home;

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home.

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, passing from you and for me.

Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, coming for you and for me.

Refrain: Come home, come home. You who are weary come home;

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home.

O, for the wonderful love He has promised, promised for you and for me!

Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me.

Refrain: Come home, come home. You who are weary come home;

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home.

To access this free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/softlyandtenderly/

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

- - - Pastor Cecil

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

Please feel free to forward this E-Votional on to your family and friends   

THURSDAY: “JUST A GRAIN!” John 12:24 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 23, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

June 23, 2016

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 “JUST A GRAIN!”  

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  

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

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June 22nd: 2 Kings 3:1-4:17, Acts 14:8-28, Psalm 140:1-13, Proverbs 17:22

CECIL A. PASTOR THOMPSON: READING THROUGH THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR!
June 22nd: 2 Kings 3:1-4:17, Acts 14:8-28, Psalm 140:1-13, Proverbs 17:22

WEDNESDAY: “ALMOST!” Acts 26:28 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 22, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
June 22, 2016

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“ALMOST!”
Acts 26:28
"Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’"

Last Saturday I was on my way to conduct a graveside service in a small community in our area. My daughter Lori was riding along to keep me company and as part of honoring me for Father’s Day.

We were less than a mile from the cemetery when an oncoming car swerved across into my lane. I immediately jogged to the shoulder of the road and he missed me by a fraction. I told Lori that the graveside service might easily have been for us.

We laughed about it and Lori profoundly commented that it would not have been all that bad to enter Paradise together. She later said it would be even better to be in a church service when the Rapture occurs and we could all go up together.

There are many "almosts" in life. The most heart rendering one is for a person to be under deep spiritual conviction from the Holy Spirit and fail to accept the free gift of eternal salvation. I have a deep desire to try to insure that I have done all I can to remove the "almost" from a person’s destiny.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
- - - Pastor Cecil
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

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TUESDAY: “WONDERFUL GRACE!” Philippians 3:13-14 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 21, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

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BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART

Pastor Cecil A. Thompson

June 21, 2016

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 “WONDERFUL GRACE!”  

Philippians 3:13-14

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Certain Bible characters stand out in my mind as brilliant examples of God’s amazing grace. One of these characters is a woman named Rahab who lived on the other side of the Jordan in the city of Jericho. It was the first city that Israel would besiege when they began to possess the Promised Land. Not only that, she was a harlot in Jericho.

Rahab's redeeming qualities were that she believed that the God of Israel was the true God. She put her faith in God by hiding the two spies that were sent out by Joshua before crossing over the Jordan.

She hid the spies and they promised to save Rahab and her family providing they were inside her house when Jericho was attacked. The scarlet ribbon from her window identified her place of security.

God’s wonderful grace not only saved Rahab and her family, but she became the wife of Salmon. The family line continued down to David and eventually Jesus. Now that, my dear readers, is God’s amazing story of grace.  

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

- - - Pastor Cecil  

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

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Attachments area

MONDAY ENJOY YOUR SALVATION Pastor Cecil A. Thompson June 20, 2016 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
June 20, 2016

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“ENJOY YOUR SALVATION!”
Psalm 51:12
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”

As a boy, I recall a woman in our church who loved to testify. It seemed that every time she gave her testimony she looked and sounded like she had just been baptized in lemon juice!

It became a joke for the kids in the church. We kids who were eight or nine years of age would make faces and imitate this lady. I am sure her heart was pure and her devotion to the Lord was pure, but her face lacked the appearance of joy.

At times we Christians seem to have a short circuit when it comes to having the joy of our salvation. We talk of the joys of heaven and walking the streets of gold, but in the meantime we are certainly not a walking testimony of the joy of the Lord.

It is time to take stock of our own behavior concerning the joy of our salvation. Do people see the joy of the Lord in us? If we truly believe that we are born into the family of God, do we act happy about it? Do people want what we have? Think about it and make the changes necessary to enjoy your salvation.

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
- - - Pastor Cecil
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

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MONDAYENJOYYOURSALVATIONPastorCecilA.ThompsonJune202016DAILY-E-VOTIONAL