by Pastor Cecil | Feb 20, 2009 | Psalm
Psalm 46:1-3
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah”
How do you react when the bottom drops out of your life? Have you, or someone you know, experienced a heart wrenching catastrophe? Joyce and I have lost both sets of our parents and also our oldest daughter. I officiated at the funeral service for our daughter and my mother. I know we will see them again, but it still aches.
Back in 1871 a Christian lawyer by the name of Horatio Spafford invested heavily in real estate in Chicago, Illinois. On October 8th of that year a great fire swept across the city and burned for three days. Mr. Spafford had lost a son and now the fire dealt him a horrible financial blow.
In spite of the loss, Horatio, his wife and four daughters planned to go to London and assist D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey in their evangelistic crusade. Just before they were to leave, an unexpected business matter arose that prevented Horatio from sailing as scheduled. He persuaded his wife and the four daughters to go on ahead and he would follow in a few days.
On November 22nd, the ship they were sailing on collided with another vessel and sank in a very short period of time. All four of his daughters perished at sea. As this heartsick father sailed to be with his wife, he was notified by the captain when he neared the spot where his daughters had drowned.
Alone on the deck he gazed out across the billowing waves. In that moment he realized that his daughters were with the Lord and his Lord was with him. Picture him as he penned the first verse of the song, It Is Well With My Soul:
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
I can visualize this man who had lost so much resting his faith and trust in the Lord he had chosen as his personal Savior. The second verse continues his total trust and dependence on his Lord:
“Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.”
To access It Is Well With My Soul, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/itiswellwithmysoul in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 19, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 1:10-11
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
What is appropriate behavior for believers? Should our standards be higher than those of the world? Should the way a Christian woman dresses be modest and not sensually suggestive? Should the music we listen to be edifying to the Lord rather than the drum beat of the world? Should Christians condone the perverse sexual practices around us?
I hope these questions, or the answers to them, are enough of a bombshell to jar us out of our spiritual lethargy. It is almost an embarrassment to realize how low our standards have slipped below God’s pattern for Christian living.
Are you ready for another shock? Think about the number of times when you heard Christian people snicker about the sinful actions of others. They may try to act holy themselves, but act amused when it comes to other’s sins.
I have mentioned in previous Daily-E-Votionals that I have repeatedly confronted young couples who live together before marriage. When I ask them if they know that it is contrary to God’s Word and not pleasing in His sight, they answer that they do. When I challenge them to stop immediately, they agree. They have often thanked me and mentioned that I was the first person to tell them to stop.
Young couples who purpose to remain pure before marriage are often the brunt of jokes and crude remarks. It is time to put a stop to this snickering and making fun of those who desire to live appropriately. Not only should the snickering stop, but encouragement should be given.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 18, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 4:12-13
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
As improbable as it may seem, I once played football. I played center on offense and linebacker on defense. As a matter of fact I scored one touchdown as a center during my high school years. For those of you who are not familiar with the rules of football, the only eligible receivers are those at each end of the line of scrimmage or in the backfield.
So how did it happen? Our team was ahead and we had a silly play that we had worked out. Everyone on our team was lined up to the left of me, which made me eligible. As the other team went for the receivers on the other side of the field, I was wide open. The ball fluttered to me in the end zone and it was a touchdown. Even the referees had to have it explained to them before they allowed the score. We all laughed at the absurdity of the play.
In the modern world of college and professional football, it has become such a spectacle of strutting and showing-off after a score that a penalty is now assessed. This display of pride is actually ugly and repulsive to just about everyone except the one who is flaunting his score.
So, is pride ever appropriate for the believer? I think it is, but there is a huge qualifier. It is not pride in ourselves, but pride in how great and mighty the Lord is. He is worthy of adoration and praise! We have nothing for which we can take pride. According to Isaiah 64:6: “All of our righteousness is as filthy rags.” Our pride is not in anything we do ourselves, but in what a God does in spite of us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 17, 2009 | Luke
Luke 2:8-11
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.'”
Our day and age is also dark and foreboding. Like those shepherds so long ago, we also need companionship to cope with a ferocious enemy that threatens to attack and destroy. Just as the shepherds banded together for protection, so do we, in our modern world, need protection.
The wolves of immorality and degradation prowl around and look for the opportunity to seize any sheep that are not being protected by the Shepherd. Today this threat comes through media as well as our association with ungodly people.
Like those shepherds so long ago, we too are living on the eve of something big. The things which are occurring in our world indicate that the King, the Lord Jesus Christ, is coming again. Just as His first coming was a spectacular event, so will His second coming. Are you ready?
Beginning with Genesis 3:15, in the first book of the Old Testament, on through to Malachi 4:1-6 in the last book of the Old Testament, the Lord prophesies of the coming of our Lord and Savior.
The Old Testament prophets foretold that Jesus would come into the world the first time. They also foretold that He would come back to receive His own to be with Him forever more. Are you ready?
The Lord spoke to Joseph and Mary in order to prepare them to receive the absolute miracle of a virgin giving birth to a Son through the Holy Spirit. Even as great as the miracle of His virgin birth was, greater still was that He would one day shed His blood to pay the price for our sins.
The curse of the fall was passed through the blood of the father. His blood was not contaminated with Adam’s curse, since He was born of the Holy Spirit. Dying on that old rugged cross, He drove a nail through the heart and power of Satan. It was now possible for men and women, boys and girls to receive His new life, so abundant and free. We are truly on the eve of eternity and joy which is beyond anything this world can ever offer. Are you ready?
It is much more than knowing “about” God. It is not just knowing “about” Jesus coming into the world. What is it then? It is establishing a personal relationship with Him. It is confessing that you are a sinner and need His blood applied to your life in order to pay the price for your salvation. Then, and only then, will you be ready to meet the Lord when He comes for His own.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 16, 2009 | Romans
Romans 1:18-20
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Have you ever had to write a letter to a company or an organization? You have no idea who will be receiving the correspondence, so you address it: To Whom It May Concern. I have often wondered what the person looked like who would be reading what I had written and if in fact they would actually read it.
Back when I was a Juvenile Probation Officer, We had a teenage boy who had a long history of criminal offenses. The Judge committed him to the State Mental Hospital for evaluation and recommendation for further action.
I spent a considerable amount of time preparing a detailed background history of the young man. It listed his residence, how long he had lived there, what schools he had attended (all of them were local), reports from school authorities and his extensive offense record.
In a few days I received a call from the State Mental Hospital that they were finished with their evaluation and that we could come and pick him up to be returned to the community. The judge was disturbed, but ordered me to cross the state and pick him up.
While I was waiting for him to be brought to the office for release, a psychiatrist called me aside and expressed his sympathy. I was confused until he began to tell me how the boy had been shifted from state to state, home to home and school to school all of his life. He shook his head and said, “I still cannot believe that this poor boy has survived having lived in so many different homes.” I simply shook my head and smiled that this man had read nothing we sent to him.
As we were traveling back home I asked the boy why he had told the counselor such wild stories? He grinned and said; “Since the man seemed to believe anything I told him I decided to really make up a good one.” (I somehow believe the boy was smarter than the counselor!)
I fear that we fail to grasp the truth that our obedience to God’s Word is not simply directed to; “To Whom It May Concern.” We have a Savior in heaven that came to earth and sacrificed His own life to save ours!
It is far too easy to become nonchalant in our spiritual walk and forget the terrible price He paid for us. Today’s Scripture makes it plain that He knows us and His plan for men and women everywhere is revealed clearly so that no one can say that they did not know. He knows us and He wants us to know Him by name—His name is Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
