by Pastor Cecil | Oct 17, 2014 | 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
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 16, 2014 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 29:11-13
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.’
Our daughter recently was going through some old photo albums when she came upon an old black and white photo showing a husband, wife, and their two sons. It took a few seconds to recognize our family. Mom and dad were in their thirties, my brother, Harold about twelve and I was about five.
It really brought back memories. The picture was taken beside the school and church building in Oklahoma. We lived in Washington State so it was taken when we had gone back to visit my maternal grandparents.
As I stare at the picture it reminds me how things change. Of the four, I am the only one still alive. There were many good years as well as a few challenging years ahead for our family, but Jesus was always part of our family and as such, we were more than able to find victory.
None of us know what the future holds for us, but since we know that Jesus holds the future in His hands we can look forward with confidence. The future may give us prosperity or poverty, but either way, when we all get to heaven the good things or the bad things will mean nothing in light of the Lord’s presence. What a future we have to look forward to!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 15, 2014 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Today I was listening to a local radio station that plays only music of the 30’s 40’s and 50’s. One of the songs was unfamiliar to me and I was struck by the message that it portrayed. The lyrics said that you have to live right to get to heaven. That false message has been around for generations. IT IS WRONG!
The stuff Hollywood has been dishing out for years is false. No bells ring and we do not become angels. We are a separate creation from the angels and God has graciously given us the opportunity to become the bride of Christ. I think it is natural for us to feel that we have to do something in order to earn our salvation, but it just is not so.
When I was in the US Air Force I served as a Minuteman Missile Launch Officer. There were weeks of schooling followed by hours spent in a simulator. Every step we took was under the scrutiny of our instructors. After successfully completing the required work we received our Missile Combat Officer’s pin. QUALIFIED!
There is no such requirement in the spiritual realm. There are no classes to take, tests to pass, or evaluations to be made. It is a sincere decision to confess that we sinners in need of a Savior and invite Jesus to come into our heart. From that very moment we are QUALIFIED! Growth follows, but we now wear His name!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 14, 2014 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
All of us need to feel the lift that we receive when someone encourages us. As a preacher, I have been encouraged by the expressions of affirmation when I share a truth.
Sometimes these affirmations may not be glowing comments of praise. It was over 50 years ago and I had been invited to preach at a small church not too far from our home. The pastor was a friend of ours (I am sure that was the only reason I had been invited to speak).
As I came into the church I noticed one of the most dynamic evangelists in our denomination was in the crowd. I have to confess that my delivery was not eloquent and I did a great deal of thrashing through my notes to make my points.
This precious evangelist was on crutches and after the service he laboriously made his way to speak with me. In a gentle and quiet voice he spoke in my ear; “Son, don’t get discouraged. I have found myself thrashing through those same bushes as I have preached. Just keep on telling about Jesus.” To me that was sincere encouragement. Have you taken the time recently to encourage someone?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 13, 2014 | Luke
Luke 8:23-25
As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ He asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’
For a land lubber like me, a few wavelets cause me to head for shore. One day I was fishing with my dad on a lake in Idaho. His small aluminum boat was not meant for any sort of wave action. We were on the far side of the lake from our camp when the weather looked threatening. It was time to head for home!
About halfway across the lake the wind picked up and the water, which had been smooth and calm, now suddenly began to threaten. The waves grew to the point they were sloshing over the sides of our boat. We were fortunate to come under the protection of a piece of land that jutted out into the lake. We were saved! Yeah!
I make no apologies to the fact that I watch the Weather Channel. The reports are primarily focused on the US, but when major storms threaten other parts of the globe they report them as well. Currently there is a threat to Japan and India.
As I have mentioned before, we have encountered storms in our life. I can say with confidence that you also have encountered storms, are going through them right now, or you will face them in the future. As the disciples have always done—call for Jesus to calm the storm!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
