by Pastor Cecil | Feb 29, 2016 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 30:19
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Through the years I have sat across the table from grieving individuals who have just experienced the loss of a loved one. In a few instances I have even had to deliver the news of that loved one’s death to their family.
Sometimes I have heard statements to the effect a friend had mentioned that God needed another angel — and the deceased person was that angel. I am always compelled to debunk the false notion that we become angels when we die.
It always delights me to learn that the deceased person had received Jesus as their personal Savior. All too often, however, there is no indication that the deceased had ever received Christ as their personal Savior. Some have tried to paint a picture of salvation where there is no basis for that false hope.
In contrast to this false comfort are those who have made the choice to go God’s way. When believers close their eyes in death, they awaken to life everlasting. That is real comfort that is based upon the certainty of God’s Word.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 26, 2016 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
Though an invalid for much of her life, Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was always active and enjoyed a long personal friendship with Fanny Crosby. These two women met often for fellowship and discussion of their new hymns. Eliza was a school teacher in Philadelphia and a Christian lay worker who was committed to write songs to teach children the basic truths of the gospel. This song was written for her own Sunday school class in Philadelphia.
Miss Hewitt often attended the Methodist camp meetings at Ocean Grove, New Jersey. It was here that she collaborated with Emily Wilson, the wife of a Methodist district superintendent in Philadelphia, in the writing of this triumphant gospel hymn–a favorite of young and old alike. “When We All Get to Heaven” was first published in 1898.
When We All Get to Heaven
1. Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
2. While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
3. Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
will the toils of life repay.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
4. Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.
Refrain: When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com. To access “When We All Get to Heaven”, this week’s free inspirational video, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/whenweallgettoheaven/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 25, 2016 | Colossians
Colossians 4:28-29
“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
I have experienced many embarrassing moments in my life, but one really stands out. Years ago I was teaching a class of young professionals, sharing deep and profound biblical truths. The class seemed to be very interested in everything I was saying — except they were not looking at my face, but at my feet.
Finally, one of the young women raised her hand to ask a question. “Yes, Dorinda,” I said. In trepidation she asked, “Is there a reason you are wearing one black shoe and one brown shoe?” I dreaded looking down, knowing that in my haste I had made a blunder. The class exploded in laughter — at my expense. I finally recovered and told them “As strange as it may seem, I have another pair at home just like this pair!”
One of the things I have learned from these “red faced” situations is that pride needs to be dealt a blow. It is hard to act proud and aloof when you have on one brown shoe and one black one.
I earnestly pray that the Lord will continue to remind me of the wrong shoes in my life any time I start to think more of myself than I ought. I aim to forget myself and focus on Him. NOT ME—BUT CHRIST ONLY!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 24, 2016 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 17:9-10
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
My daughter made a comment a few days ago that was like a slap in the face. It was in no way disrespectful, but it confronted me with something I was not aware even existed in my life.
She had been to the dentist and while there she commented to the dental hygienist that I never used any type of deadening when I had dental work done. She went on to tell her that I was PROUD of it. WOW!
As I have thought about her statement I have come to realize that I have been taking pride in a silly thing like not using Novocain. Many times we think of only the big areas of pride in our life and overlook the small, but just as deadly sources of pride.
I have prayed and asked the Lord to forgive me for this sin of pride. I am also searching for other hidden things that demonstrate pride. My desire is to search and confess each time I discover some area of pride I have overlooked.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 23, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 37:7-8
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.”
In school we used to joke about being impatient. I can still recall a classmate saying; “I don’t have any trouble with being patient, it is the waiting that I have trouble with!”
That is where the rub comes isn’t it. Waiting is so hard that we feel we must be doing something wrong and so we barge ahead of God and take action. The problem is that it is our action rather than HIS action. It is almost as if we feel that we have to give God a little boost.
The Psalmist sets us straight in the matter of patience. In today’s Scripture we are told to REST IN THE LORD. That does not mean to work like crazy doing good things in order to impress the Lord. It means relaxing and trust that He will open the door He wants us to walk through when the time is right—not before!
If you are feeling weighed down and impatient waiting for the Lord to act upon your prayer request—STOP! Do not let yourself be burdened by seeing others prosper while you suffer. Rest in the Lord! He will call you when He is ready. That is patience!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
