by Pastor Cecil | Jul 10, 2020 | Psalm
Psalm 145:10-11
“All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power.”
The older I get (and I am getting up there), the more disturbed I am about senseless killing. This is not only true of attacks on other people, but also on the killing animals just for the sport of it. In my hunting days I did shoot game, but it was for food not for sport. Now, however, there are many that hunt only for bragging rights, not for food. God meant for us to be keepers and protectors, not killers.
In 1225, when he was feeling ill and losing his sight, Francis of Assisi wrote about what was always on his heart: the praise of God. In All Creatures of Our God and King, his love for God and the world He made comes out very strongly.
Probably because he lived such a simple life, he noticed things that we, in our busy lives, tend to overlook. Francis believed that all earth’s creatures get their life from God and that we all depend on Him for our continual existence.
All Creatures of Our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Enjoy this free inspirational video, from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodand king/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 9, 2020 | Acts
Acts 11:20-22
“But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.”
In times of armed conflict, commanders frequently need to gather as much intelligence information as possible to know what is happening beyond their area. To do this they send the most reliable person who they are confident will be able to gather the information they need. THE APOSTLES SENT BARNABAS!
Before we began this study on Barnabas, did you realize the vital role he played in the early church? This man who was known as an encourager was also one who was able to discern the difference between the true and false gospel. He knew the Lord and served Him faithfully.
The apostles in Jerusalem needed to know if the truth was being proclaimed in Antioch, so they sent Barnabas. (I love this guy!) I can imagine him appearing in Antioch with a grin on his face and asking questions that encouraged truth and not making accusations as to whether what was being taught was faithful and true.
He was convinced it was true and sent the word back to the apostles: IT IS TRUE!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 8, 2020 | Acts
Acts 9:27
“Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.”
If you go to bat for someone, you want to make sure that what you say about that person is accurate. If that person is known to have been responsible for arrests and executions of members of your group, it is even more of a responsibility if you attest to their reliability.
That was the situation when the feared Saul of Tarsus returned to Jerusalem after a life-changing trip to Damascus. He had gone there to arrest followers of Jesus and see to their imprisonment and even execution. NOW HE RETURNS AS ONE OF THEM!
We are never told how Barnabas gained information about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. What I have been led to infer is that Barnabas was always listening and searching for truth, especially when a person had been born again and was now a follower of the Jesus that he also followed.
Barnabas was very accurate in describing what had happened to Saul, but he also was reliable enough that the apostles believed him and gave Saul the right hand of fellowship. From then on Saul was accepted by the apostles and given free access.
Don’t you long for believers who would go about looking, listening, and watching for the good in others? There are already too many people who look for the bad and ugly around them. We need more FAITHFUL REPORTERS!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 7, 2020 | Acts
Acts 4:36-37
“For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.”
If you are anything like me, you enjoy being around people who hold lightly onto the things of this world and give freely of themselves and their possessions. They seem to enjoy giving more than receiving. They relish watching others benefit from a thoughtful gift rather than grasping what is available to them.
Here in Acts 4 we have another illustration of the nature of Barnabas. We have no idea of his net worth or how much property he owned. We’re only told that he sold a field and gave the proceeds to the apostles. That money would be used to supply the needs of the widows and orphans.
His gift also set the stage for a tragic incident in the body of believers that is recorded in Acts 5. A couple named Ananias and Sapphira evidently became envious of the respect shown for the gift Barnabas had brought to the apostles. They sought to grasp that same respect for themselves by selling some property they owned. The difference was that they only donated a portion of the proceeds from the sale but claimed they gave the total amount received.
The apostle Peter was given spiritual knowledge of their lie and confronted them. The stunning result of their lying to the church (and thus to the Lord) was that they both fell dead instantly.
Barnabas did not give to be seen by men, but he gave as unto the Lord. That should be the way we present our gifts of tithes and offerings. Hold the things of this world lightly in order to receive the blessings the Lord has laid up for us from His throne room in heaven. HOW IS YOUR GIVING TO THE LORD?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 6, 2020 | Acts
Acts 4:36-37
“For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.”
We live in an era where people seem to delight in glorying in the gory. The more gross it is the better they like it, or at least spend more and more time watching or reading about it.
It seems that times have not changed all that much. Barnabas lived in the days of the early church when it was often a death sentence to be associated with the followers of Jesus. The religious leaders were zealous about stamping out the fledgling church.
Into this toxic atmosphere we are introduced to a wonderful man by the name of Barnabas. Actually that was not the name he was given at birth. He was named Joseph. The reason he was given the nickname Barnabas was because it meant; Son of Encouragement. That in itself tells us what he was like. HE WAS AN ENCOURAGER!
What nickname would people give you? Do you lift people up or pour rain on their parade. Do you leave them encouraged or discouraged when you depart? Are the happier to see you come or have you go? IT IS GETTING QUIET IN HERE, ISN’T IT?!?! MORE TOMORROW – – –
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
