by Pastor Cecil | Sep 29, 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 yonder, 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 yonder, 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 yonder, 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 | Sep 28, 2017 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Through the years I have often found my thoughts going back to today’s verse. It was one of the first verses I ever memorized. Come to think about it, it may very well be the reason that I am known as more optimistic than pessimistic. It is not me, but the Lord that makes the difference.
God gives us a tremendous promise in this verse. He promises to strengthen us, to help us and to uphold us. Do you realize what that promise should mean to each of us in our daily walk? It means that we can claim victory over every situation.
As I read this verse again, I see that our requirement is very minimal. We are not called upon to do great and mighty works. We do not even have to possess super human abilities.
So what is our part? “Fear not” and “Be not dismayed.” The reason the Lord gives us for not fearing or being dismayed is that He is with us and He is our God. With God in control we are free to praise Him and give Him the glory.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 27, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 10:35-36
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
I recall seeing a poster of a kitten barely hanging onto a rope with its two front paws. Under the picture was a caption that said … HANG ON! I think we all have moments in our life when we feel we are barely hanging on.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to hang onto our confidence and not throw it away. He goes on to assure us that our perseverance will not simply be rewarded, but it will be RICHLY rewarded.
At times we place our confidence in our own strength or possibly we rely on others. While it is good to have others come along side of us and to do the best we can in our life, there is a far more vital thing we must do … we must accomplish the will of God!
How much time do you spend seeking to know and doing the will of God for your life? Discovering God’s will for us is found as we spend time with Him in the study of His Word and communing with Him in prayer.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 26, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
It seems I have always been intensely interested in the field of criminal justice. A review of my resume’ says I have been employed as a city police officer, a dispatcher, a juvenile probation officer, a criminal justice planner, and a college professor of criminal justice classes.
One of the things I have learned well through this extensive involvement is that evidence is something that is tangible and able to be presented in court as proof. Without it, the case rests only on circumstantial (or inferred) evidence.
So here is the paradox in Hebrews 11:1– substances have solid qualities, but faith is ethereal. Evidence is something touchable that is marked for exhibit and a number is placed on it for identification, and yet here in Hebrews it is described as being not seen.
What this verse reveals to me is that we are to have faith that is solid. It is not the namby-pamby type of stuff that cowers in the corner and hopes for the best. It is the bold and positive assurance that God’s Word is true and worthy of our trust.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 25, 2017 | Matthew
Matthew 12:50
“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Recently I observed a battle being waged between a mother and her daughter who was about two years old. I think they call them the terrible twos! The stand-off occurred in a public square. The little girl stubbornly sat down and refused to walk with her mother.
The frustrated mother walked about fifteen feet away from her daughter and waited for her to come. The girl threw a fit, but she would only walk one or two steps before sitting down once more.
It was more than five or ten minutes before the little one finally gave in and came to her mother. By that time she was bawling her eyes out and both she and her mother were miserable.
As I have relived that scene, I could see the face of God watching us as we fought for our own will instead of yielding to His will. Just as that little girl could not care for herself, so we are not able to adequately know what lies ahead for us. By yielding our will to His will, we allow the Lord to care for us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
