by Pastor Cecil | Sep 16, 2016 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out. To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird, he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them. That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the firestorm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 15, 2016 | Galatians
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Sometimes it seems that we are carrying more load than we are able to bear. It may even seem that our load is heavier than those around us. It is hard enough to struggle with our own load, but we chafe when someone pours their load on us.
My dear friend Fred sent me this humorous story a few days ago. I think it is worthy of my sharing it for today’s E-Votional.
“My son was about 10 years old when he joined some of my family on a 5 day hike through the Cascade Mountains. Everyone, including my son, carried heavy backpacks of gear. The first day was rough so before anyone else was awake the next morning my son secretly slipped his heavy gear into some of the other’s packs and replaced it with lighter things like bread. He got away with it . . . for awhile. Until we discovered his trick and evened the loads.
So often in life we carry the weight of others unknowingly. It catches up with us and drags the life out of us. My suggestion is that if you’re going to share each other’s burdens, do it willingly and with joy. You will be blessed. And if you’re feeling down and troubled . . . check your backpack. You may be carrying a load the Lord never intended you to carry, or there may burdens He wants you to carry.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 14, 2016 | Mark
Mark 16:15
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’”
The title for today’s E-Votional came about unexpectedly. I was setting up the title line and had deleted previous letters when I noticed that the only letters left were GO! It was like a neon sign giving immediate instruction.
In the military world, when service members are on the parade ground, specific orders are given. The first command is to call the members to attention. If no further command is given, the group is to continue standing rigid at attention.
I have been on those parade grounds and witnessed what happens when members are called to attention but no further commands are given. Some members suddenly collapse. This is because they have kept their legs rigid, cutting off blood supply to the brain.
On the parade ground things begin to move when the command “Forward march!” is given. In our Spiritual life we have the command from our Commander In Chief, Jesus, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” Are you responding to His command or are your knees locked?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 13, 2016 | Isaiah
Isaiah 53:5
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
During my military career I was awarded numerous medals. I must confess that most of them were simply for having served in a particular area or at a particular time. None of my medals were for meritorious service of any kind.
From time to time I would see a purple medal or ribbon on the chest of a fellow service member. I immediately knew that individual had been wounded by enemy fire. Sometimes the Purple Heart Medal has even been awarded posthumously when the individual was killed in battle.
There have also been many Spiritual casualties across the centuries. Many of God’s saints have been tortured for the faith and some have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The book of Hebrews, chapter 11, is full of the names of saints who won God’s Purple Heart.
As we consider believers of all ages who have, and are today, putting their very lives on the firing line for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what should we be doing? Are we running into the fray or hiding in some corner? FIGHT FOR THE LORD!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 12, 2016 | Romans
Romans 7:19
“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”
Sometimes I have every intention of doing a particular thing, but before long I realize that my best intentions remain just that . . . BEST INTENTIONS. It was not that I did not intend to do something, the opportunity just slipped by and it was too late.
Paul is very candid about confessing his failure to do the right thing in his own strength. I am so glad he did not try to picture himself as some super saint that was able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. In his own strength he could do nothing. That honesty speaks to me of true humility.
His honesty encourages us to readily admit that often what we intend to do is far different than what we actually end up doing. We may have the best intentions of doing something for the Lord, but we become distracted by other things. Before long our best intention is nothing but a faded memory.
The way to insure that our best intentions are fulfilled is to prayerfully make a list to schedule our meaningful activities. When we do this we will see that we have more time to do for the Lord and can say: BEST INTENTIONS FULFILLED!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
