by Pastor Cecil | Mar 16, 2012 | Psalm
Psalm 107:29-30
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.”
It seems that each of us is called upon to face storms in our life. It may be physical infirmity, financial reversals or the loss of a loved one. It is not the storm that matters, but how we react to the storm.
Back in 1873, Horatio Spafford and his family were scheduled to sail on the French steamer ‘Ville de Havre’ from New York to England where he was to assist the great evangelist, D.L. Moody. Because of a last minute business crisis Mr. Spafford sent his family on ahead and he would follow on a later ship.
Unfortunately the ship his family was on collided with another ship and sank. There was a terrible loss of life. Spafford and his wife lost their four daughters. Nine days later Horatio Spafford received a cable from his wife that simply said, “Saved alone.” What poignant words.
Later, as he was sailing to meet his wife, he asked the captain to let him know when they were near where the accident had occurred. It was there that he penned the words of this week’s hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul.”
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.
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
To access It Is Well With My Soul, this week’s 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
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by Pastor Cecil | Mar 15, 2012 | 1 John
1 John 4:18-19
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.
There it was, propped in front of my computer monitor—the note I had made for Joyce many months ago. Back then I had taken a sheet of thick paper and folded it in half. I then printed the words “I Love You!” across the front. I put it on her desk to let her know I was thinking of her and that I loved her.
It was not long before I would find the note propped up on my desk or in some other conspicuous place. It has been a joy to use this simple little piece of paper to let the other one know that we are thinking of them and that we love them.
It may seem silly for a couple that has been married for almost 58 years to leave a love note for the other, but it always brings joy and a smile when we see the note at an unexpected moment. I always smile and feel the love we have shared over these many years. I never want that love to grow cold!
God has left His supreme love note to us. It is His Son, Jesus, who came into the world as a baby in a manger. It is as if the love note is propped up in front of us because He wants us to see, day in and day out, that He is always thinking about us.
One way we share our love for Him is to spend time reading the greatest love letter in history, the Word of God. The more time we spend with Him the more we feel surrounded and enfolded in his love. Tell Him you love Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 14, 2012 | Genesis
Genesis 5:22-24
After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
There is a plaque in our home that we have had for years. I guess I had become so accustomed to it that I never really stopped to consider the words. The Man Who Walks With God Always Gets to His Destination. As I studied these words I have come to the conclusion that it is not entirely correct. It is my conviction that the man who walks with God has already reached his destination.
Over the years I have been fascinated with this man Enoch that we read about in today’s Scripture. I try to imagine what it must have been to have such close intimacy with God for 300 years. I gave my heart to Jesus when I was about eight. Since today is my 78th birthday, that means I have walked with Him for about 70 years. Far short of 300 years!
It is also interesting to notice in this passage of Scripture that it was not simply walking with God, but walking faithfully with God. To me that implies it is possible for our walk to be less than faithful. I have a mind picture of a small child walking beside a parent, but the child may be pulling and tugging to be free of parental guidance and protection. The child could be described as walking with the parent, but not faithfully.
Enoch had a long and loving relationship with His Lord for centuries. As he walked with his Lord on the dusty roads of this earthly life he was suddenly raptured into the Paradise that God has prepared for those whose names are written in the Book of Life.
In writing of a faithful walk with the Lord I recall the walk of my grandpa Thompson. He walked in close harmony with his Lord and his last words have given me assurance all of my life. He looked toward the door and breathed, “Well there’s Jesus now!” There are many Christians who walk closer to the world than to their Savior. As far as I am concerned that is foolishness. We never know when our walk on earth will end and the Lord will welcome us to our eternal home. I choose to walk faithfully with my God!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 13, 2012 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
In yesterday’s E-Votional I made a glaring error. I was thinking Joseph, but typed David. It was not my lack of understanding, but perhaps just my fumbled fingers working while my thoughts were racing ahead. I am so thankful for dear friends who picked up my mistake and alerted me. Being thankful is not, or at least it should not be a rare commodity. As members of God’s family we are to be thankful at all times, even when we have made mistakes. It is not our prerogative to choose what we will be thankful for.
In today’s Scripture, Paul admonishes the church at Thessalonica (as well as all of us) that we are to: BE JOYFUL ALWAYS. It is easy to become defensive and resentful when it is clear that we have been wrong. It is important that we grab hold of Paul’s admonition and be joyful that there are friends who care enough about us to correct our errors.
Paul’s second admonition is that we are to: PRAY CONTINUALLY. Here is another embarrassing question: How is your prayer life? Are you continually speaking to the Lord in prayer? It is a discipline that we need to pursue.
The last admonition is in line with today’s topic. Here is what the Lord expects of us: GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. Our life should be different from the world. We grow in grace as we recognize that we need each other. It is like steel sharpening steel. Thanks to all of you who are faithful to keep me true to the Word of God.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 12, 2012 | Matthew
Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Many times we face uncertainty and loss. The things or people we counted upon for our support are not there when we need them. Even when we pray, we feel that the Lord is far from us and does not hear our prayers.
Looking back over the years of my life I discover that in those times when I felt like I was abandoned and alone, God was the nearest to me. It was not so important that I felt Him, but that I just kept on doing what His Word said and eventually I found that these times of quietness were preparing me for increased service.
The more I search the pages of Scripture the more I find that God’s people have not been immune to the dark days of disappointment. I find myself empathizing with Joseph as he was treated so cruelly by his own brothers. Instead of sulking and feeling sorry for himself he learned the Egyptian language and became the most valuable servant in Potiphar’s house and later in the prison. Even as Prime Minister to Pharaoh, he was cut off from his family and home.
During the great famine, the opportunity came for him to show vengeance on his brothers who had sold him into slavery. He realized that his time of tribulation was God’s plan. All he had to do was live one day at a time. That is easy said, but hard to do. I want to always practice that in my own life!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
