by Pastor Cecil | Mar 24, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
It is impossible to demonstrate faith if we are always operating in the panic mode. I dimly recall the children’s story of “Chicken Little.” He felt something hit him on the head and ran around to everyone screaming that the sky was falling. Are we like that?
We certainly must use wisdom and caution through this pandemic episode, but at the same time we should (No. We must) demonstrate confidence in the power of God to be with us and give us the wisdom and courage to make God more and more real in the midst of trials of this sort.
God’s people have always been the ones to demonstrate courage and hope even in the face of potentially harmful situations. Men, women, and even children have been and even now are giving their lives rather than deny their faith. That calls me to do more than ever before to live my life for the Lord with courage and love for the lost. We have a great opportunity to shine bright for Jesus as the darkness of this crisis closes in around us. JESUS IS THE LIGHT.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 16, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
The world is currently in panic mode. In this day of 24-hour mass media coverage, word of problems such as the Corona virus flashes around the globe in seconds. People rush to their local markets and hoard supplies they most likely will never use.
I think these are times when God’s children can let their light so shine that people will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Read Matthew 5:16 to see the exact words Jesus used on His Sermon on the Mount.
If we Christians run around wringing our hands and behaving like the rest of society, we will have little witness. If, on the other hand, we place our trust in the Lord and lend a helping hand to those in need, we will be a shining light in this dark world that needs the light right now.
The time of need is now! Are you going to be the person of God that responds righteously to that need or are you going to live in a spirit of fear and trembling? I want to let my light shine!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 13, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 51:1-2
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
Water, water everywhere…and not a drop to drink! Those words have probably been uttered many times by shipwreck victims stranded in the middle of the ocean. The salt-laden sea seems to mock them — there is so much water all around them, but it would be poison to their system to drink it.
Lucy Jane Rider Meyer wrote the words of today’s hymn. She was born on a Vermont farm in 1849. Lucy was a teacher and not only founded many high schools, but went on to teach chemistry at McKendree College, a school for freed blacks in North Carolina. She was one of the first female professors.
What a refreshing thought that a brilliant professor was able to use the Word of God to bring music to the thirsty human soul. Oh, that we had more brave educators who would be willing to put their reputations on the line for the things of God. I thirst for that!
Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty
Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List’ to the promise, a message for you!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet;
‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
To access Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty, this week’s inspirational video, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/hoeveryonewhoisthirsty/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 5, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:31
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Since 1991 the verse quoted above has hung over my desk, created in counted cross stitch by our oldest daughter, Brenda. She was growing weaker and weaker and wanted to complete it for my birthday—but having missed my birthday she wanted to complete it before she went to be with the Lord. (You no doubt know how much it means to me!)
It took effort and determination, but she knew she could do it! There is a slang term that is often heard in response to some challenge: “NO SWEAT!” It implies that the challenge has been accepted and it will be done so easily that no sweat will appear on the brow.
I think Isaiah wants to inspire us to rely on the strength of the Lord to such a degree that we use his strength rather than our own. It is trusting and waiting on Him that our strength is renewed and totally energized.
The result of our renewing our strength is that we will soar through the skies like eagles. Someone has humorously remarked that we believers have the choice of soaring like the eagles or waddling like the turkeys. I want to soar!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 2, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
I first memorized today’s Scripture when I was a young boy. That was perhaps 80 years ago. There is no way to estimate the number of times this verse has brought me comfort—the loss of loved ones, the loss of earthly possessions—just to name two.
Across the years I have noticed the God-given reasons for placing our eternal trust in Him:
We need not be afraid: “I am with you.”
We need not be discouraged: “I am your God.”
We need not feel weak: “I will strengthen you.”
We need not feel alone: “I will help you.”
We need not feel uncertain: “I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
As we march into the month of March, let us make this verse in Isaiah our constant reminder that we are never alone. God is for us, so who can be against us. We have already won the victory through Jesus our Lord and Savior.
God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 11, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
As we go through life we often encounter trials and tribulations. All too often we spend our time begging God to get us out of these situations, rather than asking Him to use the situations for our good and His glory.
One of my first memories as a child was being terrified of trains. I would hear the whistle of a steam locomotive and immediately scream with fear. I can vaguely recall my mom holding me close to her and trying to calm my panic.
Today’s Scripture is a verse that I memorized a few years later as a young boy. It has been a comfort to me across the years. I notice that we only need to do two things. Actually we are to refrain from doing two things. We are not to fear and we are not to be dismayed.
The assurance that God gives us is fivefold: 1. He is with us. 2. He is our God. 3. He will strengthen us. 4. He will help us. 5. He will uphold us with His righteous right hand. That is good enough for me. I will just do my part.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
