by Pastor Cecil | Dec 15, 2017 | Luke
Luke 2:13-14
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.’”
Most of us have grown up singing the carols of Christmas. One of the most loved of all the carols is The First Noel. While the origin of the melody we sing today is uncertain, the lyrics date back to the 17th century. It is thought to originate in France as far back as the fifteenth century. We do know that the word Noel is a French word originating from Latin meaning “birthday.”
Think what it must have been like for those shepherds who were guarding their sheep on a quiet night when suddenly their lives were changed forever. Of all of the people on the earth that could have received the announcement of the birth of the Jesus, it was to them! They reacted with awe, went to see the Baby, and then spread the wonderful word of His birth.
The First Noel
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They lookèd up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Then entered in those Wise Men three,
Full reverently upon the knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.
Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
WISE MEN (AND WOMEN, AND BOYS, AND GIRLS) STILL SEEK HIM!
Enjoy this free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://glory scapes.com/thefirstnoel/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 14, 2017 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 6:7
“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
We live in a day and age where young people show little respect for their parents, or anyone else for that matter. Teen violence has reached such epidemic proportions that it is not uncommon for murders to occur simply because someone frowned.
As adults it seems that we are reaping what we have sown. We have removed the Bible from our classrooms and replaced it with atheistic theories that lack all sound reasoning. Our children are being taught false ideas of science that have been disproven. We have allowed a godless modern media to take the place of positive biblical truth.
In today’s Scripture, parents are mandated to not only teach spiritual truths to their children but to do so diligently. How can we do that when we barely spend over ten minutes a day even speaking to our kids?
When did you last actively search the Bible to discover exciting ways to draw your children closer to God? When did you last take the time to speak to your children about what the Bible says? Get busy, parents. You have work to do!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 13, 2017 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:33
“Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
When I served as an officer in the Air Force, I shared an office with a Major who had once been assigned to the Pentagon. It was the custom for the lowest-ranking service member in the office to get coffee for all of the others. My friend related that one day as he stood in line to get coffee for his office he found himself standing next to a full Colonel, the rank just below General.
My friend commented to the Colonel that he understood that it was the task of the lowest-ranking member of each office to go for the coffee. The Colonel responded, “That is correct and I am!” (Now that was an important office!)
Just because the Colonel was out-ranked by others in his office, it did not diminish from his importance. In like manner, the wife is just as important in the home as the husband — she just occupies a different position.
In serving as the Godly woman in the home, the wife must heed the admonition of Scripture to honor and respect her husband. That entails paying attention when he gives himself sacrificially to meet her needs. All too often it is easy to take for granted when another gives sacrificially for us. That should never be!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 12, 2017 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”
What determines a life of success? For some it may be achieving great prominence or a lofty promotion. I once experienced a little taste of that kind of success when I was elected Student Body President in high school. (Okay, it was a very small high school.)
As a youngster I was blessed to receive words of praise from both my grandfather and my father; they always let me know that they were proud of me. I have also received words of love and devotion from each of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The words that struck closest to my heart were some of the final words my precious wife of 62 years spoke before going to be with the Lord. With tears in her eyes, she reached out her frail hand to softly touch mine and said, “Honey, you are love personified!”
Husbands, fathers, all of you men who read this, I beg you to stop trying to be a rock in the garden of life and become fertilizer. Die to yourself in order that your life can become the source of growth in others. Give until it hurts and then give even more. Become love personified!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 11, 2017 | Genesis
Genesis 2:24
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
I recently heard Pastor Ed Young suggest that a large percentage of the conflict within marriages is the fault of the husband. At first I was stunned by his comment, but as I reflected back on my long career as a Christian Counselor, I’m afraid I must agree.
Far too many husbands have the attitude that they are the big cheese in the family and everyone should devote themselves to making him content. That includes his wife. How far from the Scripture that concept really is.
In Ephesians 5:25 we read the God-given instructions for husbands: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” So, husband, how are you doing in obeying this command? More enlightening, how would your wife say you are doing?
In a day and age when husbands disappear into their “man-caves” (I despise that concept), it is time for Godly husbands to show their wives that they are cherished. Say the words and demonstrate the sacrificial actions — die to your own selfish demands and bring new life into your marriage!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
