by Pastor Cecil | Sep 16, 2020 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Back when I was in high school (in the dark ages), I read a poem that rattled my cage. I cut it out and carried it around for many years before losing it. I have wished many times that I still had it. I hope you enjoy what I recall. It went something like this:
When skies are blue and songbirds sing;
When flowers bloom, their fragrance bring;
When friends abound and funds abound;
When health and love are easily found;
It doesn’t take a lot of sand to shout and sing, to beat the band.
BUT – – –
When things go wrong—as they often do;
When skies suddenly lose their azure blue;
When well laid plans fall into a crumpled heap;
When weary eyes scream out for peaceful sleep;
THEN – – –
Is the time to take our stand, it’s the time to walk by faith and take God’s hand!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 15, 2020 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:10
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Sometimes when we come to the end of a busy week, we collapse for a couple of days before returning to work on Monday morning. The activities we participate in during our days of rest are intended to refresh, restore, and prepare us for another week in the rat-race. But, do we really experience true rest?
Each day it is important to consider how much we need the Lord’s strength and love for us. God delights in showering His love on His children. God does things His way and in His timing. We may not understand how or why, we simply trust Him to do what we are never capable of doing ourselves.
Jesus taught the principle of allowing Him to be our strength. It is not our own power or ability that makes the difference, but our willingness to give ourselves fully to Him. Faith demands that we choose to believe without understanding.
When we read what Paul has to say about human weakness, it can be a paradox for us. How is it possible for us to become strong when we are weak? The less energy, stamina, health, muscle tone, endurance, and power we possess, the more God’s power comes into play if we are leaning into Him. Do we understand it? No! Do we need to understand it? No! How do we yield to Him and allow Him to be our power? Say YES!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 14, 2020 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 17:10
“I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
I have heard people from many religious persuasions (even atheists) take the Lord’s name in vain. It blows my mind that they profane the name of Jesus or God. Why do they not profane their own supposed god or one they deny? I think that they know the truth but refuse to admit it.
Perhaps you have heard the joke about a church that fasted and prayed for lightning to strike a tavern that was scheduled to open next door to the church. Sure enough, the night before the tavern was due to open it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
The tavern owner sued the church, claiming that they were responsible for his business being destroyed. The church argued that they were not responsible for the destruction. In his deliberation the judge said that he was confounded. He was dealing with a tavern owner who believed in the power of prayer and, on the other hand, a church congregation that didn’t! Ouch!!
Tragedies are a very real part of the human experience. It may be a personal or family tragedy or it may be something that impacts a community or even a nation. It is then that people call out to the One true God and Jesus Christ His Son.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 11, 2020 | Psalm
Psalm 90:1-2
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
This week’s hymn by Isaac Watts is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. It originally consisted of nine stanzas. In present day usage, however, the hymn is usually limited to stanzas; one, two, three, five, and nine.
The hymn was originally part of; The Psalms of David Imitated in the language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719.
It has often been sung for special occasions in England. For instance it was sung in 1941, at a religious service on board HMS Prince of Wales, attended by Sir Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt as part of the conference creating the Atlantic Charter. It was also sung at the Funeral service for Winston Churchill in 1965.
O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST
- O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
- Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
- Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
- A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
- The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.
- O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
To enjoy this free inspirational video: O God, Our Help in Ages Past, go to: https://gloryscapes.com/ogodourhelpinagespast/
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 10, 2020 | 1 John
1 John 2:17
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
In Matthew 19:18-22 we read a sad story. A young man approached Jesus and asked what good thing he needed to do to inherit eternal life. In questioning him it was determined that this young man was obedient to the Law of Moses and he even loved his neighbor as himself.
In verse 21, Jesus gave him an invitation that could have changed his life: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Here was an obedient and observant man who prided himself on doing even more than the Law required, yet he went away from Jesus with a sad and heavy heart. Why? Because he had great wealth! His love of worldly possessions robbed him of the blessed opportunity of being a follower of our Lord.
One has to wonder how long it was before he realized that the puny wealth of worldly goods amount to nothing. It is a question we must ask ourselves and especially in connection with today’s Scripture. Where is our heart of love?
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
