by Pastor Cecil | Dec 24, 2014 | Daily-E-Votionals
Luke 2:8-9
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”
Several years ago our church had finished an inspirational Christmas Eve service. Earlier there had been candles placed inside white lunch bags that lined the driveway leading to the church. Joyce and I volunteered to extinguish the candles after everyone had left.
It was about a block to the end of the driveway where the first of the candles had been placed. Snow had fallen earlier and there were several inches on the ground. The temperature was about 20°F. The snow crunched beneath our feet, but that was the only sound. We stopped to watch the silent stars and enjoy the sound of silence. We were moved in our spirit with the beauty of God’s creation and was reminded of the old Christmas Carol, Silent Night.
The words of this well loved carol were written in 1818 by Josef Mohr after he had seen a play about the birth of Jesus. He was in a reflective mood and walked to a hill overlooking his village in the Austrian Alps. The view of the snow covered village reminded him of a poem he had written a few years earlier. The poem was about the night the angel announced the birth of Jesus.
The next day he took the words of his poem to Franz Gruber, who had just composed a melody. Gruber re re-worked the melody to match the words to the poem Mohr written. Our beloved carol, Silent Night, was born.
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Enjoy this special free inspirational video, “Silent Night” from Gloryscapes.com by going to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/silentnight/ 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 | Dec 23, 2014 | Revelation
Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'”
Our tolerance to pain is interesting to observe. It is always more interesting to observe pain in others than it is in ourselves! (I am very profound in these things, right?) Many years ago I was volunteering to work on remodeling a church. There was a young man in his twenties who was also part of the work detail. Suddenly we heard this young man scream in obvious pain and rushed in to see if he may be fatally wounded. We discovered him holding his finger and dancing around in circles as he continued his loud screams. It was only a small sliver. We were not too sympathetic and gave an impromptu mimicry of his display. He was indignant and protested that there was even blood. We were not impressed!
When I today’s Scripture I really get homesick for heaven. Just think about it. Everything that causes us pain here on earth will be gone. It is beyond our comprehension. All of us experience pain. Pain is of different types — physical, emotional, spiritual, to mention a few. Pain will end!
Praise God, there is a light at the end of our tunnel of pain! Athletes, as well as others, are sometimes forced to work through their pain for the good of the desired objective. They know that the goal is worth the agony. We would do well to learn that lesson ourselves. But there is a time coming when pain will disappear!
The hope and vision that propels us is that our pain will end. The Apostle Paul has already said it better than I could ever phrase it: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 22, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 98:4-6
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
What a wonderful time of the year! Christmas has always held a special feeling of joy and peace for me. Gift giving and receiving brings the family nearer then than perhaps at any other time of the year.
When I was serving in the US Air Force and stationed on a remote assignment to northern Newfoundland, Canada, there was one song that always brought tears to my eyes — I’ll Be Home For Christmas. I think it was the last phrase that went something like this: I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams. My heart ached to be home with my wife and three kids, but even though I would be separated from them by thousands of miles, I would be with them in my dreams.
There are many scholars who question whether Jesus was actually born on the day we celebrate as Christmas. Their arguments sound very convincing and very well may be true, but their reasoning leaves the Christian church with no other day set apart to honor the miraculous entrance of the Son of God as a tiny baby in a dirty stable. His birth in such surroundings revealed that anyone who would accept Him would have a new home.
Thinking of that new home that Jesus is preparing for those who are His children makes me homesick. We are not there yet, but we can see heaven in our dreams and yearn for that day when He welcomes us home. Keep Christ in Christmas!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 19, 2014 | Luke
Luke 2:8-11
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Most of us have watched Christmas pageants depicting shepherds with long staffs huddled near a fire. Whether that picture would be accurate or not, we know they were out there on a lonely hillside doing their job.
Shepherds would have been considered pretty low on the social scale and yet it was to these simple shepherds that the announcement of the birth of Jesus was proclaimed. There was no star to lead them to find Jesus they were simply told to go into Bethlehem and look for Him in a manger where He would be wrapped in cloths.
The words of this beloved Christmas Carol have a deep meaning. The shepherds would find Jesus when they searched for Him. It is just as true today. When we search for Him we will find Him when we seek Him with all of our heart.
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night
While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground; the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around, and glory shone around.
“Fear not!” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind. “Glad tidings of great joy I bring to all of humankind, to all of humankind.”
“To you, in David’s town, this day is born of David’s line a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and this shall be the sign, and this shall be the sign:”
“The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed, all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid, and in a manger laid.”
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/whileshepherdswatchedtheirflocksbynight/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 18, 2014 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14
“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
It is hard to live in peace when the world around us is nothing but chaos. There is strife on every hand and even within the church of Jesus Christ there are factions that war against each other. If you have ever been in a conflict situation with other Christians you know that it seems like a no-win situation.
Years ago I heard the story of a pastor who had an obstinate member of his congregation brother XXX, who was a constant source of conflict. He prayed fervently for the Lord to help. One of the pillars of the church approached the pastor and said that he had been praying for the Lord to do what only He could do.
It was a few weeks later during a mid-week prayer service that this prayer warrior was called on to pray. He had prayed for old brother XXX so frequently in his private prayers that he forgot where he was. “Lord, you know how much trouble old brother XXX has been causing. Lord please sweeten him up or take him home to heaven.” He forgot that brother XXX was sitting right behind him. Suddenly brother XXX shouted out; “I ain’t going!” How sad!
Paul informs the Thessalonians on the steps peace: (1) “Live in peace with each other.” (2) “Warn those who are idle and disruptive.” (3) “Encourage the disheartened.” (4) “Help the weak.” (5) “Be patient with everyone.” Five easy steps, why do we make it so hard?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
