by Pastor Cecil | Aug 15, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 145:9-12
“The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All You have made will praise You, O LORD; Your saints will extol You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.”
The older I get (and I am getting up there), the more disturbed I am about senseless killing. This is true of attacks on other people, but also on killing animals just for the sport of it. In my hunting days I did shoot game, but it was for food not for sport. Now there are many that hunt for bragging rights, not for food. God meant for us to be keepers and protectors, not killers.
In 1225, when he was feeling ill and losing his sight, Francis of Assisi wrote about what was always on his heart: the praise of God. In All Creatures of Our God and King, Francis’ love for God and the world He made comes out very strongly.
Probably because he lived such a simple life, he “noticed” things that we, in our busy-ness, overlook. Francis believed that all earth’s creatures get their life from God and that we all depend on Him for our continual existence.
All Creatures of Our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
To access All Creatures of Our God and King, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodandking/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
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 14, 2014 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1:3
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
How will people remember you when you are gone? I have officiated at hundreds of funeral services. These services are times of recalling the things that made that individual unique and worthy of remembrance.
There are many sad situations when I meet with a family prior to the service and they can recall very few positive traits about the deceased. “They lived, they died, and caused few ripples in the pond of life.” An obituary photo may show them with a fish, golf club, tennis racket, or some other interest, but was it really them?
Three of the funeral services that I conducted were especially significant to me: our daughter, my mother, and my brother. I knew much better what a legacy they each had left behind and was eager to share it with all who gathered.
As I write this I am struck with an immense realization. It is not so much what people will remember about us, but what the Lord remembers about us. He will always remember our prayer for salvation and our prayers for spiritual discernment. He knows and loves each of His dear children with an everlasting love. When all others may ignore or forget me, the Lord will always remember me!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 13, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Back when I was a young man, I was a Boy Scout. Before each meeting we would recite the Scout oath. “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
Wow! Wouldn’t it be good if every politician elected to public office would be required to recite an oath of that nature, and then would be required to adhere to the words they had sworn to uphold?
Let us take it a step further. I would like to see every pastor or church staff member make this same pledge of honor. To take it another step, I would like to see every elder, deacon, board member, teacher, or any such individual pledge themselves to live a life above reproach.
There is one last step in the roll of honor. That is you! You may not have any office in the church and your only task is to make it to church on time; but will you make the pledge of honor? It will bring a change in our homes, churches, communities and even our country. On my honor I will!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 12, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
I served as a police officer while attending college. From time to time I would discover an unlocked door at a business. You would never know whether it was just an over-sight, or a possible burglary in progress. The policy was to search the business carefully with your gun drawn in one hand and your flashlight in the other hand. One of the most frightening things was to turn a corner and see someone with a drawn gun and flashlight facing you! It was a moment of panic until you realized that you were facing a full length mirror and you were seeing your own refection.
The image in the mirror was just that—an image. But it was terrifying! In like manner, the fear of death is an image. In fact it is a magnified image. Shadows are always larger than the real thing.
As I have read the accounts of God’s people who have been tortured to death across the ages since Jesus was here, I find that they die well. Think of Stephen who was stoned to death. He had such joy in the Lord that he preached a mighty sermon to his executioners and fell asleep with the vision of heaven in his eyes.
The next time you are tempted to fear death, stop and remind yourself that you are just passing through a valley filled with the shadow of death. The reason we need not fear is that the Lord is right there with us. Praise the Lord!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 11, 2014 | Ezra
Ezra 9:13
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this.
Many people go through life feeling as if they deserve to be treated in some special way. Are you one of those people? Do you feel as if you are not being given the proper respect or credit that you are entitled to?
Increasingly, we live in a world that seems to be driven by self-centeredness. People are more interested in what will benefit themselves than what they can do to benefit those around them.
As long as we live our lives as if we are entitled to more than we have, we will become more and more discontent. Discontentment will inevitably lead to despair and the lack of spiritual purpose.
The Lord knows our needs before we are even aware that we need them. It is not what we deserve, but what He determines that is important. When we truly are sold out to Jesus, our cry will not be to bless us because we deserve it, but rather the words He used in speaking to His Father: “Not My will, but Thy will be done!” May that be our prayer moment by moment.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
