by Pastor Cecil | Jul 24, 2009 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out. To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird, he heard a “peep” from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them. That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the firestorm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, “Under His Wings,” this week’s featured hymn from GloryScapes.
“Under His Wings“
Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain:
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain:
To access Under His Wings, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings 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 | Jul 23, 2009 | Colossians
Colossians 1:25-27
“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
I am so glad I grew up in the days of radio. The radio dramas were something that we constantly looked forward to. They allowed the listener to use their own imagination to the unfolding story. One such program was, “I Love A Mystery.” As the title suggests, it was a mystery program. It was thrilling to listen as the characters read their lines and sound effects gave the impression of reality.
In today’s Scripture, Paul reveals a spiritual mystery for us. It is a mystery that was hidden from those who lived before the time of Christ. They may have had some suggestion of this mystery, but it was only in a veiled manner. It was a mystery that would have to wait for its fulfillment in Jesus.
It is obvious that people have been searching for the mystery of how God chooses to work. The answer Paul gives is that it is from the inside out. Wow! There it is once again—not what we do to prove we are righteous—but the indwelling presence of God to work in and through us.
Are you trying to do what God alone can do? Read today’s Scripture once again and realize that the answer to the mystery of mysteries is that it is Christ within us and that is our eternal assurance. Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 22, 2009 | Titus
Titus 3:5-6
“He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (The Amplified Bible)
As I write these words, it is July 20th. It is the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepping onto the surface of the moon. Watching the replay of that historic event, it brought back many memories as the world watched spellbound.
Around the world there was a universal cry: “WE DID IT!” Wait a minute—how did that “WE” get slipped in there? People who had no part in the planning or performance of this monumental task were now eager to shout: “WE DID IT!”
It has the same connotation of a sporting arena filled with thousands of screaming out-of-condition fans, chanting: “WE DID IT!” “WE DID IT!” “WE DID IT!” In reality it was the athletes who had devoted themselves to train and perfect their skills who actually won, but the “out of shape” fans declare: “WE DID IT!”
Spiritually we can fall into that same mindset. God sent His own dear Son, Jesus the Christ, to do the work that only He could do. Some people reject the finished work of Jesus on the cross. They throw themselves into doing good works in order to be able to claim salvation by telling God: “WE DID IT!” It doesn’t work, friend!
We can (and should) shout the praises to our wonderful Savior and Lord for what He has done for us. We can glory in the victory that has been won in our behalf, but we can never say: “WE DID IT!” With praise on our lips we can lift our hearts toward heaven and humbly say: “HE DID IT!” Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 21, 2009 | Psalm
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
I was born and raised in the state of Washington. Each summer our family would travel back to the panhandle of Oklahoma to visit my mother’s family. It was hot and dry out there on the plains, but there was a concrete water tank for the cattle—and for a small boy to play near and get wet.
I remember one day when I repeatedly kept getting wet. My mom would yell, but my grandma would laugh. (She always was on my side). Grandma found some old clothes and told me that now if I got wet it wouldn’t matter. Immediately I ran to the tank and jumped in! That was not what she intended for me to do, so I was now in trouble with both mom and grandma.
There is a mental activity that causes me considerable pain. It is when I recall sinful things I did when I was a young boy. I know those things caused my parents no end of frustration, but now I know they grieved God as well.
Reflecting upon specific incidents from the days of my life, young or old, I often wish I had made better decisions. It was not that I was such a terrible person, but rather that I made choices without first spending time in prayer and waiting upon God.
Here in Psalm 139:23-24, the Psalmist is expressing his prayer for the searchlight of God’s presence to illuminate the dark areas of his life. I can echo that prayer for my own life. More than anything I want God to search me and reveal to me those things He wants me confess as sins. Here am I Lord, change me!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 20, 2009 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 2:15
“They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.”
The story is told of a young man who had a fervent desire to serve the Lord. For a time he was completely committed to obey God’s Word without compromise. As frequently happens, he was confronted with a questionable activity. He decided to do the right thing and pray about it.
As he brought the activity before the Lord and ask if he might do it, he heard the Holy Spirit shout; NO! He waited several days and asked the Lord again. He heard the Holy Spirit speak; No! He waited a few more days and again prayed. He heard the Holy Spirit whisper; No! A few days later when he asked the same question he heard nothing, so he joyfully engaged in an activity that led him away from the Lord and into great heartache.
Can you relate to that? It was not that the Holy Spirit stopped speaking or relented, it was that our heart can become hardened and callous so that we can no longer hear. Perhaps we even begin to convince ourselves that the Lord is pleased with what we are doing.
Mark this down—God does not change! If He says that something is contrary to His Word, will and way—it will remain contrary to His Word, will and way. It does not matter that some church council will approve sinful activity—if it is not in accordance with God’s Word, it is sin and will always be sin.
This do-as-you-feel-like-doing society has torpedoed far too many believers. We must never allow the appeal of this world’s values to draw us away from God’s best for our life. Balaam compromised God’s direction and instead chose the paltry riches of this world. He could have had so much more eternal wealth if he had obeyed God! That applies to all of us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
