OUR FIRM FOUNDATION!

by Pastor Cecil | Oct 2, 2009 | Psalm

Psalm 31:2-3

“Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.”

My wife Joyce and I have had more than a few fiery trials in our life. We have been forced to our knees and cried out to Him to support us. When it seemed that we could not go on, the Lord has always been faithful and our Firm Foundation.

This week’s hymn was the favorite hymn of Andrew Jackson’s wife, Rachel. He requested that it be played for him in the final hours of his life. It was also a favorite of General Robert E. Lee. It was sung at the funerals of American presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

On Christmas Eve, 1898, an entire corps of the United States Army were camped on the hills near Havana, Cuba. Almost as a man they spontaneously took up this sacred tune and words.

“How Firm a Foundation“

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To You who for refuge to Jesus for refuge have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

To access How Firm a Foundation, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/howfirmafoundation 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

DELIVER THE MILK!

by Pastor Cecil | Oct 1, 2009 | Psalm

Psalm 84:5-6

“Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”

In high school I worked part-time delivering milk door to door. We had an established route and each driver had detailed instructions on what each customer was to receive. Imagine that you were on a route and the delivery book indicated that you were to deliver a gallon of milk at a particular house. Visualize a husband and wife coming to the door in tears and thanking you for coming into their lives to supply milk for them and their children.

As you walk back out to your delivery truck, you contemplate what has just taken place.  Yes, you faithfully delivered the milk, but who was ultimately responsible for the delivery?  I think it may be safe to conclude it was the person who hired you, trained you and supplied you with the milk to deliver.  There is really no place for pride—we just delivered the milk as ordered. 

Christians may take pride in being used by the Lord.  They share the Gospel, offer a prayer of faith and then bask in what they have accomplished.  At those times we need to recognize that we are like the one making the “milk delivery.”  The One who sent us deserves the credit–we just go from door to door, person to person, little realizing how much the one needs what we are sent to deliver.

In today’s Scripture we are reminded that as we go through the valley of tears we have a delivery to make.  Only God knows who is in that same valley waiting for the “milk” of God’s Word? Are you committed to deliver God’s “milk”?  

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil