by Pastor Cecil | Jan 9, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 3:14
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
I have never been a farmer, but in my teens I did work on my uncle’s farm for a few weeks. My job was to drive a tractor pulling a disc plow that was about 20 feet wide.
To keep going in the right direction I kept my eye on the furrow left by my previous pass. It was not long before my uncle came thundering out to the field. He demanded to know why the furrows left by the plow were so crooked. I told him I tried to keep them straight by watching the last furrow and following its track.
I will never forget as he explained to me that you never keep your eye on the last furrow, but rather look for a spot in the distance and head for it. When I did that, my serpentine tracks immediately became straight.
As we focus our attention on what God says in His Word, we will find that our tracks will become straight and we will leave behind a legacy of following after the Lord. All we need to do is look beyond!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 6, 2017 | Revelation
Revelation 21:17
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
In 1893, James Black was a Methodist Sunday school teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. As he was calling roll one day for a youth meeting, young Bessie, daughter of a drunkard, did not show up, and he was disappointed at her failure to appear. He commented to a friend, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she’ll be there.” He tried to find an appropriate song for the situation but could not find one in his song book.
Here is how Mr. Black describes how he came to write the hymn: “This lack of a fitting song caused me both sorrow and disappointment. An inner voice seemed to say, ‘Why don’t you write one?’ I put away the thought. As I opened the gate on my way home, the same thought came again so strongly that tears filled my eyes. I entered the house and sat down at the piano. The words came to me effortlessly…The tune came the same way—I dared not change a single note or word.”
When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
(1) When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
(2) On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection share; When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
(3) Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com. To access When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/whentherolliscalledupyonder
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 5, 2017 | James
James 5:7
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”
When we experience the death of a loved one, our hearts will surely feel the crush of separation. We may even find ourselves starting to speak to that precious one that has always been beside us . . . only to suddenly remember they are no longer here.
It has been almost two years since my precious wife Joyce went to be with the Lord. I have had the opportunity of dealing with the loss and applying God’s design for these times of loss. Back in 1991 when we lost our oldest daughter Brenda, we had each other. Now, even though I have my son and daughter living nearby, I face the times of loss alone.
I would like to share with you an illustration that has been an encouragement to me. When I was serving in the U.S. Air Force I was stationed on a remote assignment in Newfoundland and had to leave my family for one year. Our military troops still face that type of separation. As I bid a tearful farewell to my family, I was sustained by the reality that I would return and be with them again.
In like manner, I know I will see my wife, daughter, and all of my loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord. Through the tears of loss I am lifted by the hope that when I see them again there will be no more parting. Our separation is just for a little while!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 4, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Many years ago my wife Joyce’s aunt Grace was in our home for a visit. I fixed pancakes for breakfast and noticed that she failed to use syrup. When we asked her about it she related that their family was quite poor growing up. Her parents would allow the children to use syrup or honey only on the last pancake.
As Grace became a grown woman she had become so used to the practice that she only used syrup on the last pancake. That might be a good practice for some of us who could use a little (or a lot) less sweet in our diet.
The Psalmist points us in the proper direction to find a sweet taste that is not fattening and is ours for the taking. It is the precious Word of God. He says it is even sweeter than honey.
I want to fall more and more in love with this precious sweet gift that God has granted to us. As we open the pages of our Bible we will find that it is not only sweet, but it is alive and applies to what we are experiencing in the here and now. How sweet it is!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 3, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
There are many prayers that I lift up to the Lord each day. Most of them are not memorized but are simply open conversation with the Lord about what is happening in my life at the moment. One of the exceptions is Psalm 19:14.
It is easy for me to utter words that I wish I had never spoken. For some reason I seem to be able to deliver glib comments or retorts that may be humorous, but not edifying to the Lord.
Each time I recite the words of Psalm 19:14, I remind myself of my desire to have the words that I speak and the things that I think be pleasing to the Lord. I always seem to visualize the Lord high and lifted up when I humble myself and seek to think and say things that are pleasing to Him.
At the beginning of 2017 I want to make Psalm 19:14 my personal verse. It will be my heart’s desire to please God by what is in my mind and by what proceeds out of my mouth. I will try to recite this verse at least once a day and live it out every day.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
