FRIDAY: “NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD!” James 4:8 Pastor Cecil A. Thompson February 17, 2017 DAILY-E-VOTIONAL

DAILY-E-VOTIONAL
BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
February 17, 2017

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“NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD!”
James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

As I write the words of this Daily-E-Votional it is the 35th anniversary of my dad’s death. He was a true man of God and there was an authenticity about his walk with the Lord. He loved his family, but even more so he loved his God.

I cherished every moment I spent with my dad. He was an encourager and was always there to insure that I was striving to be the man God wanted me to be. He stressed that after he was gone I would hold fast to the gospel and point people in the direction of the cross. I yearn for the day when I will see my dad once again, but even more so I yearn for the day I will meet my Savior face to face.

In the early years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the U.S. that claimed many lives. In 1903 Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In Cleland's hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the house.

If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that each of us do at some time in our life), let these words bring that quiet assurance we need.

NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD

There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

Refrain: O Jesus, blest redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.

Refrain: O Jesus, blest redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.

Refrain: O Jesus, blest redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

Enjoy this week’s hymn from GloryScapes.com. To access a Video of Near To The Heart of God, please go to: www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod

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

- - - Pastor Cecil

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

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
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