by Pastor Cecil | Feb 28, 2014 | 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. Enjoy this featured hymn fromGloryScapes.
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, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 27, 2014 | 1 Kings
1 Kings 18:20-21
So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word.
Are you fish or fowl? What do I mean by that question? I am really interested in knowing whether you have repented of your sins, trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ with all of your heart and had your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
There are many who know about Jesus and His saving work . . . even had faith that He is the Savior of the World . . . but have you been born again? To be born again is much more than believing about Jesus—it is inviting Him to be the Lord (the Boss) of your life.
Elijah was a faithful prophet of the Lord. He had the gumption to stand up against the wicked King Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal. He challenged the people before he challenged the prophets of Baal. He wanted to know whether they stood for God or against Him.
In Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23, we read the words of Jesus as He challenged the people of His day: “He that is not with Me is against Me.” That leaves no middle ground for a namby-pamby relationship. If Jesus required a committed relationship then, He still requires it today!
In response to Elijah’s challenge, the people remained silent. Their silence answered the question. In the same way, our silence to the call to come to Jesus and be born again signifies our refusal to follow. If we desire to be counted as one of His own and have our lives transformed, we must stand up and be counted.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 26, 2014 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 3:17-18
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Most of us can relate to the apostle Peter–a man that was totally focused on the Lord, yet he slipped. This was a man of courage. But, too often, we focus on the the three times Peter denied knowing the Lord in the courtyard where Jesus was shamefully and unjustly tried.
The courage of Peter was seen hours before the kangaroo trial. He was the one who used a sword on the servant of the high priest. Such action could be considered suicide. But Peter was willing to die for his Master.
A few short hours after demonstrating this act of courage, Peter failed his Lord three times just as Jesus had prophesied. When he denied Jesus the third time and the cock crowed, Jesus turned and looked at Peter. I am sure that it was a look of love and forgiveness. Peter went away and wept bitter tears.
I have tried to get my mind around the courage of Peter on the one hand and the failure on the other. The only difference I can see is that he was separated from his Lord. The way to have victory is to grow in the Lord.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 25, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 39:4
Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
In a few weeks I will be celebrating my 80th birthday. There is a saying that, at this age, you do not celebrate your birthdays, you just endure them. That sounds more than a little pessimistic, but I cannot disagree too much.
It seems such a very short time ago when Joyce and I were considered part of the youth group. There was no defined time when we stopped being “young people” and advanced on to the next age bracket–whatever that is.
So as time flies by, does age really count? Many of the most-productive minds had their finest years into their 80’s and 90’s. Yeah! There is hope for us yet!
Rather than sitting around and bemoaning the fact that we are getting older, we need to tighten our belts and ask the Lord what our next assignment is. Look for new opportunities to reach out and impact our world for Jesus Christ. We need to forget where our youth went and get busy spending our golden years!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 24, 2014 | Ezekiel
Ezekiel 18:20
The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.
Perhaps all of us have loved ones who have rejected the Word of God and walk in rebellion to the things of eternal value. What are we to do and how are we to treat these individuals?
I think the best example we have on the situation is the family of Jesus. If ever there were siblings that should have eagerly followed the faith of their parents and older brother, it should have been His own family. The truth of the matter was that they did not come to faith until after His death and resurrection.
Jesus never saw His own brothers and sisters come to accept Him as their personal Savior. I am quick to add that, as the Son of God, He saw this, but not from a human perspective. So how did Jesus deal with unbelieving family members?
The answer is that Jesus lived His faith all the way to the cross and beyond. It is far too easy for us to drive our loved ones away from us by a continual barrage of sermonizing. We should rather love them into the Kingdom of God by our faithful walk with the Lord. Watch for opportunities to lead others to the Lord. You may be the answer to another’s prayer.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
