by Pastor Cecil | Jul 31, 2020 | Revelation
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: https://gloryscapes.com/softlyandtenderly/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 30, 2020 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:52
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Many years ago I sat enthralled as I listened to Rev. Tim Lahaye speak on the rapture of the church. It later became the topic of his book series and movie which we know as Left Behind.
I am convinced that there will come a day when the Lord will call His church to meet Him in the air, and so shall we ever be with Him for all eternity. The signs Jesus said to look for are detailed in Matthew 24. If you study this chapter you will find a description of what our modern day society looks like.
I have personally tried to prepare messages in the form of letters and e-mails for those who are left behind after the church has been raptured. I have urged those who happen to find these messages to read God’s Word to find the answer to what has happened.
The terrible time of trouble and tribulation that awaits those who have been left behind can be eased by the realization that there will still be time for them to repent and accept the gift of salvation that Jesus offers. Oh, how much better it will be for them to escape the terrible time of tribulation that awaits those who have failed to accept this gift before the rapture. Pass the word!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 29, 2020 | Philippians
Philippians 3:14
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
I recall once being given a button with the initials PBPGINFWMY. They stood for the phrase PLEASE BE PATIENT GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH ME YET. I think the Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in the third chapter of Philippians.
The giants of the faith never claimed to be perfect. In fact they have been quick to admit they are constantly in need of God’s redeeming grace. All we like sheep have gone astray. I wish it were not so, but it is a spiritual reality.
I take great encouragement in the fact that Paul confesses his personal need for continual spiritual growth and renewal. If Paul needed a closer walk with the Lord I assure you that I need it even more so.
God never calls us to be perfect little saints; I failed at that long ago. He calls us to consistently be pressing upward toward the goal of being more Christ-like. That is the greatest achievement for us to strive to attain in this journey through life. There will come a day when we will be called to be eternally with the Lord. If you are like me you yearn to hear the Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 28, 2020 | Ephesians
Ephesians 6:13
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
I often recall this old saying: If you are not standing on the promises, you will find yourself sitting on the premises. Standing is an active process of involvement; sitting is a passive pastime of taking up space but contributing very little. The gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world are generally composed of those who are just sitting on God’s premises.
A long time ago I read about a man who was traveling across the Atlantic on a ship. He could just barely scrape up the money for his ticket and a few provisions to eat on during the trip. A few days after he ran out of food he knew he had to do something. He summoned up all of his courage and went to a steward and asked if he might be able to do some work so he could be able to eat a meal or two. The steward, startled by the destitute passenger’s request, explained to him that the ticket he had purchased included all the food he could eat during the voyage. It was his all along, but he was literally starving because of the lack of knowledge of what he possessed.
Many of us have that traveler’s problem. He didn’t read his ticket and we don’t read our Bible! It is just as simple as that. God has given us His very great and precious promises. They are given to us so that we might stand tall for the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 27, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 14:29-30
“So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’”
Many people have been critical of the Apostle Peter because he started to sink as he was walking on the water toward Jesus. Let me ask you a few questions: How many other disciples got out of the boat to take a single step? How many people since that day have walked on water (not counting ice)?
What invitation or invitations has the Lord extended to you and me that require getting out of our “boat of comfort” in order to walk along beside Him? When we do respond to the Lord’s call, how often do we take our eyes off of Him?
The Lord calls us to come to Him, and as long as we obey and keep our eyes on Him as we walk, all will be well. The moment we take our eyes off of the Lord and focus on the threatening waves around us we will start to sink.
God calls us to simply come to Him and abide with Him one step at a time. The important thing is not the size of the waves around us, but the power of our Savior and Lord who is the Master of all of our storms of life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
