by Pastor Cecil | Jul 24, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 19:3-4
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
Perhaps you have heard the saying “there is nothing sure but death and taxes!” That is a cynical expression, and it is far from the truth. There are many certainties in God’s Word that are sure and never changing.
It is sad to observe some church bodies that have the audacity to legislate actions or activities that are in violation of Scripture. Let me tell you something — these votes have absolutely no standing with God. He certainly does not check with church policies to determine what is proper or improper. His Word stands!
In Luke 21:33, Jesus assures us with these words of eternal confidence: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Those words, spoken by our Savior, are as true and sure as anything can ever be.
If there is ever a time in your life when you struggle for a solid rock to stand upon, it is God’s unchanging Word. Any time a conflict arises we should ask ourselves the question, “What does God’s Word say about it?”
Digging into Scripture to discover answers is hard work. It will require reading, searching concordances, Bible dictionaries, etc., but the result will be well worth the effort. We will find that His Word is SURE!
Blessings, dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 23, 2014 | Matthew
Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
I recently received a card from my dentist reminding me of an appointment. The card was in the form of a comic strip favorite of our, Pickles by Brian Crane. The elderly couple were sitting on a porch swing and the husband complimented his wife by observing, “In the moonlight your teeth look like pearls.”
The wife replied, “Who is Pearl and what were you doing in the moonlight with her?” The difference was a small punctuation mark – an apostrophe (’) to indicate that the noun pearls became Pearl’s. Wow!
Back when I was a teenager there was a popular misquote of Scripture that was intended to be humorous and justified suicide. It went something like this; “Judas went out and hanged himself. Go thou and do likewise. And whatsoever thou doest, do quickly.”
There have been many attempts to change the meaning of Scripture to fit a particular lifestyle. Many have ignored the importance of the Old Testament and for that matter, they have denied the power of God’s Word to direct the affairs of mankind. How tragically sad! May God keep our minds ever alert to deception!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 22, 2014 | Romans
Romans 5:1-4
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Several years ago I began to experience pain on my side that was so excruciating I could hardly bear it. It turned out to be shingles, but I did not have the external sores that are usually associated with shingles. Instead, it attacked the nerve in my left leg and, within a week, I could not move my leg. I was forced to use crutches for over a month.
There is not a day that passes without us being exposed to those who are suffering. At times we might even be the ones who feel the agonizing grip of pain. Since pain is so much a part of our human experience, we need to seek God’s answer for how to endure suffering.
It is strange that Paul writes that we are to glory in our sufferings. Remember that Paul himself had a thorn in the flesh that he prayed for God to remove. Three times he prayed, and three times God refused and reminded Paul that His grace was sufficient.
Paul learned to glory in his suffering. The reason was that through suffering he could allow God to produce perseverance, which prompted character, and finally hope. This type of hope is a confident expectation that God is in control. It is my desire to live in such a way that my suffering will lead me closer to my Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 21, 2014 | 1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.
Presidents, kings, prime ministers, or other officials can get the idea that they are something special. They may watch as their minions bow and scrape in their presence, but when their eyes close in death, they will discover who really is the Head over all!
We may be critical of those in leadership positions, but what about us who were not born into aristocracy or have never been elected to some prestigious office? What about those of us who have not attained a title after our name and been treated with respect because of it?
Here it comes! We can be just as guilty as the titled office holders. We may be king or queen of a particular area. Someone may feel in charge of the kitchen. Another person controls the family car. At work someone may dominate the scene like a little Caesar. I think you get the picture.
Back in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles, we discover that King David in his last days gave us a reality check on where we are to direct our praise. The God who created all things is deserving of our honor, glory, and adoration. He is to be exalted as the head over everything. How do you measure up?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 18, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 33:1-3
“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”
What a wonderful woman! She stood less than five feet tall and weighed less than 100 pounds. Because of being maltreated for an eye infection when she was only a few months old, she spent the remained of her 95 years totally blind.
Her name was Fanny J. Crosby. This tiny dynamo wrote over 8,000 poems and hymns during her lifetime. She composed her poems and hymns entirely in her mind and then dictated them to a stenographer. She was said to be able to work on as many as twelve hymns at once before dictating them all out.
Fanny felt that it was a special gift from God that she should be blind all of her life and she thanked Him for that gift. She felt that once she arrived in heaven the first face she desired to gladden her sight was he precious Savior. It was in 1896 that she wrote the hymn selected this week.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
1. Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children,
in His arms He carries them all day long:
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise him! Praise him ever in joyful song!
2. Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins he suffered, and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
love unbounded, wonderful deep and strong:
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!
3. Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
power and glory unto the Lord belong.
Refrain: Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!
To access Praise Him, Praise Him, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/praisehimpraisehim 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
