Wednesday, November 30, 2022

GRACE AND PEACE​!​

Philemon 1:3 – Devotional

Philemon 1:3​

“Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

On the last day of the month of November, it is a reminder that the days are getting much shorter and the climate is becoming much cooler. It is also a reminder to me that the conditions around me will change, but the Christ within me never changes!

When I think of Grace and Peace, it causes me to stop and question what quality do I leave behind when I have spent time with others? I hope I leave the sweet fragrance of grace and peace.

My wife Joyce had a special gift of sharing grace and peace wherever she went. I have to confess she detected needs in the hearts and lives of people that I had not been aware of. She would drop a card or note to those people and repeatedly they would respond with how she had given them hope at just the right time!

I will never have the same gift that Joyce did, but God has given me certain gifts. One is just being a father to those who have never had an earthly dad to call on when the going got tough. If you are one who lacks an earthly dad to call on, always feel free to cry on my shoulder and know that while I may not know all of the answers, I know the One who promises grace and peace!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

BE ON THE ALERT!​

Revelation 3:2 – Devotional

Revelation 3:2

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being spiritually alive, but you are spiritually dead!”

There are times when sleep is necessary and appropriate, but there comes a time when it is time to wake up. Too many of us spend more time drifting into dreamland than being alert to the needs around us.

There is no doubt that we live in a world that is being pulled more and more into a sense of spiritual lethargy. There is little emphasis on personal evangelism and far less on challenging new believers. The result is lukewarm or dead churches.

Being loud and animated does nothing to cover the reality of spiritual death. Many of our modern churches have seemingly been more concerned with show than the substance of life. I think it is safe to say that a large percentage who whoop and yell in church fail to spend any quality time in prayer and Bible study.

The prophets of old, Jesus in His earthly ministry, and the apostles after Him have called for all true believers to wake up while there is still time. Will you hear and heed the call?

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Monday, November 28, 2022

PREACH JESUS!​

Acts 8:35 – Devotional

Acts 8:35

“Philip opened his mouth and began at the passage the eunuch was reading and preached Jesus to him.”

I seem to recall a definition of effective Christian witnessing as one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. It would be an act of selfishness for a beggar to horde a supply of food and allow another beggar to go hungry!

As born-again believers we are assigned the responsibility of sharing wonderful news of salvation with a lost and spiritually starving world. We do that by being serious about reading the Bible and speaking to the Lord in prayer.

In Acts chapter 8, without explanation, Philip was called by an angel to go south and preach Jesus. Think about it! When Philip was sent he had no idea how far he was going and what he would find. That was not his concern. He was just called to trust and obey!

When we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit we simply need to be sensitive to the voice of the Lord and be prepared to preach Jesus at a moment’s notice to the one or ones who are near us. Just preach Jesus!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Sunday, November 27, 2022

MORE GRACE PLEASE!

2 Peter 1:2 –  Devotional

2 Peter 1:2

“May the Lord shower you with increasing grace and peace as you continue to grow in your knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week by Pastor Cecil by clicking above on the play button.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Saturday, November 26, 2022

THE REASON FOR JOY!

Hebrews 12:2 –  Devotional

Hebrews 12:2

“Looking to Jesus, the designer and creator of our faith, who for the joy that was displayed before Him, endured the cross and the shame that goes along with crucifixion, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week by Pastor Cecil by clicking above on the play button.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Friday, November 25, 2022

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL!

Luke 2:15 – Devotional

Luke 2:15

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'”

 

The beloved Carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles). The words were written by an Englishman, John Wade who had originally intended it as a hymn.

The music to “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. In 1841, Rev. Frederick Oakley revised the lyrics of “Adeste Fideles”.

While it would be an appropriate hymn at any time of the year, it has become a cherished Christmas Carol. Let us all come and adore, Christ the Lord.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

O Come, All Ye Faithful

1. O Come All Ye Faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

2. O Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

3. All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/ocomeallyefaithful/

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

GIVE THANKS!​

2 Corinthians 9:15 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 9:15

“Give thanks to the Lord for His indescribable gift!”

As a boy I was taught to always give the Lord thanks before each meal. That practice continued into adulthood. I have never gone out of my way to bring undue attention to my prayer, but others have noticed.

While serving in the US Air Force in St. Anthony, Newfoundland, my practice was noticed by my Commanding Officer. Rather than being rebuked, he requested that I give thanks aloud before each meal.

True thankfulness is more than mere words. It is the sincere attitude of the heart. A drink of water for a dry throat is of more value than gold or silver which can never satisfy that thirst.

We live in a world that is more and more in need of the gift of God. We need to be ready to respond to the spiritual thirst of someone near you. Eternity is near and we may be that last hope of a perishing soul.

Our sincere thankfulness to the Lord may be the light that beams hope and life to someone near us. In giving thanks to the Lord, always be prepared to share the bread of eternal life with anyone who asks!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

LOSS OF POWER!​

Psalm 62:11 – Devotional

Psalm 62:11

“God has spoken once, two times I heard that truly, power belongs to the Lord.”

Yesterday morning I experienced one of those dreaded occurrences when the power went out. Sitting in the dark and not knowing when the power would return made me realize how much we rely on our source of power.

It is certainly true that loss of electricity causes all sorts of problems, the loss of spiritual contact with the Lord is even more devastating. It is sad to realize that the longer a person stays away from the Word of God, the weaker spiritually they become.

Stumbling around it the dark without electricity is nothing compared with the lack of spiritual illumination that is so prevalent in many lives. Without the energizing power of God’s Word we have little light to lead others to the Lord.

How is your source of spiritual power? Is your spiritual walk illuminating the way for others to find their way to Christ? Now is the time to spend quality time in the Bible and talking freely with the Lord. Our blessed Savior came into the world to give us the light of life. Please do not to continue stumbling in spiritual darkness. Let His light shine through you!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!​

Psalm 95:2 – Devotional

Psalm 95:2

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”

I once pastored a small congregation of loving and caring believers where the members’ average incomes were minimal at best. The local mill that employed several of our families had to downsize and many jobs had been lost.

Even in these meager circumstances, our church was asked to adopt the pastor and his wife of an even smaller congregation than ours. Undaunted by our lack of funds, however, some of our people contacted friends in the community where this pastor served to find out what the couple needed, which turned out to be major appliances. We knew we could not afford to purchase new ones … but we could buy used items and restore them.

The project took time and effort, but we undertook it with love and a sense of excitement. Our good deed, however, was not received in the same spirit. There was no sense of joy or thankfulness from the recipients, but one of resentment that they were given USED items rather than NEW. We had worked hard to give the best we could, but their lack of thankfulness was very apparent.

The attitude of gratitude was certainly missing in that situation―a gift offered sincerely out of love and compassion resulted in a slap in the face. As we approach the season of giving it is vital that we take the time to show our thankfulness . . . not for what gifts we receive, but for the people who are part of our lives.

Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

Monday, November 21, 2022

THE JOY OF THE LORD!​

Psalm 16:11 – Devotional

Psalm 16:11

“In Your presence I find the fullness of joy and at Your right hand are eternal pleasures.”

I think it is safe to say that all of us need more joy in our life. The problem that we frequently encounter is that far too many of us seek joy in the wrong places. The stuff of life promises joy, but most often delivers bitterness and pain.

Some of the happiest people I have ever known are the ones who have little of this world’s trinkets. The people who have discovered the joy of serving Jesus know that they have a home being prepared for them in glory!

Our heavenly home will never need repairs or renovation. It will be a home that will be new and beyond all expectation every moment forever and forever.

This world is not our eternal home. Compared to the heavenly home that is waiting for us in glory, the most luxurious mansion here on earth is a broken down shack. It is not the quality of the mansion that makes it magnificent, but the fact that we will live forever in the presence of the Lord! THAT IS THE JOY OF THE LORD!

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

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

​PASTOR CECIL · OUR GREATEST GIFT! John 3:16 – Devotional OUR GREATEST GIFT! John 3:16 – Devotional John 3:16 “God so loved the world, tha...