NEAR THE CROSS!

by | May 2, 2014 | 1 Peter

1 Peter 4:12-13

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

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Fanny J. Crosby was a remarkable woman. There are so many accomplishments in her life that it is hard to comprehend them all. She lost her eyesight because of the treatment of a careless doctor. In spite of her loss she memorized huge portions of Scripture just by listening to her grandmother read them to her. She is credited with writing over 10,000 hymns during her life.

Fanny began writing poetry at an early age, but another amazing fact is that she did not accept Jesus as her personal Savior until she was 31. She was attending a service on November 20, 1850. The congregation was singing a hymn by Isaac Watts; “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light.” She knew she needed the Lord and that very night He became her Savior and Lord.

Her desire was to always stay close to Jesus who had paid the ultimate price for her salvation. Her desire was to remain near her Lord. She immediately wrote the words to this week’s hymn, Near the Cross.

Near the Cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star
sheds its beams around me.

Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o’er me.

Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand
just beyond the river.

Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.

To access Near the Cross, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/nearthecross/ in your browser or click on the image below.

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

—Pastor Cecil

I’M NOT RELIGIOUS!

by | May 1, 2014 | Hebrews

Hebrews 10:11-14

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

May first is celebrated in different ways. As a boy it was a sweet way to welcome the first warmth of summer. May baskets were left on the doorsteps of people’s houses as a way of showing friendship.

Over the years it has become a rallying cry for environmental causes and quite often it is accompanied by civil disobedience. It always confuses me how these protesters demand to be allowed to misbehave, but deny the majority the right to stop them from their unlawful actions.

Well, with that being said, I will get back to my subject. It seems that many people feel a sense of pride in announcing that they are not religious. It is as if they were the ones in the know-how, and believers are somehow naïve.

Prior to conducting funerals I have at times been informed that the family is not religious. As I have met with them I have tried to be as friendly as possible. Almost without fail when I say a prayer at the end of our meeting, there are tears in their eyes. At the funeral I use God’s Word as a source of hope and they comment that it was just what they wanted. So much for I’M NOT RELIGIOUS!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil