by Pastor Cecil | Feb 21, 2019 | James
James 3:13
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
I once heard a professor illustrate walking the talk by describing a scene in which a father was instructing his children on the importance of always telling the truth. He quoted from Proverbs 14:5; “A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness will utter lies.”
There was a knock at the door and the father went to answer it. What he told the man at the door was not the truth. After the man left the father returned to his instruction. He recited; “A faithful witness does not lie.” He then asked his son to complete the verse. The boy remarked; “No dad, but it sure helps to get rid of people at the door.”
That father had taught more by his actions than by his words. That hits pretty close to home doesn’t it? How many times do our actions speak louder than our words? What do people observe in our actions that negate the message we want them to hear? Does our walk match our talk?
People will most often forget the things we say, but they will most often remember the things we do. This can either be godly actions or questionable actions. I want my life to be remembered for an honest walk with the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 20, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 49:16
“See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”
I do not like tattoos! Many people that I have known across the years had once been persuaded to get tattooed. As the years passed, however, things changed and they now wished they did not bear the indelible marks of their folly.
God, on the other hand, has joyously engraved our names on the palms of His hands. It is much more permanent than a mere tattoo. It is more like being gouged deep into the very fiber of His being. He knows us and loves us and has died for us.
Many times I have observed busy professionals from different disciplines suddenly realize they do not have a note pad available when the need unexpectedly arises. No problem — they quickly jot the vital information on the palm of their hand so it will not be lost.
God carries the name of His children always with Him. He never will forget about you, and in fact, goes before you to prepare the way. In the darkest hours of your night, remember that God is there. Others may leave you stranded and alone, but our God is a loving Father and He cares intimately about you.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 19, 2019 | Romans
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Just because we observe others acting or re-acting to a situation in a certain way does not mean that it is true. I once taught a college class and wanted to demonstrate the danger of relying on the response of others. I thoroughly washed a perfume bottle and completely purged it of any odor. I reminded the class that it was dangerous to rely on the responses of others. I was now about to catch them off guard.
I instructed the students to raise their hands the moment they could smell the perfume. Before class I had enlisted several students to assist me in the test. I asked them to sit in the front row and raise their hands after twenty to thirty seconds.
After twenty seconds the students I had enlisted to help me began to raise their hands.Soon everyone on the front row had their hands up, then the second row, and then several in the third row. I stopped the lecture and asked them what fragrance they thought it was? They finally agreed that it was floral and probably lilac.The students were stunned as I passed the bottle of pure water around and they discovered that there was no perfume and that they had responded because others had responded.
There are many religious leaders who are leading the faithful away from the pure Word by their charismatic personalities and the hoopla surrounding a polished production.We must never let this happen! There must never be a compromise with anything or anybody who deviates from the pure Word!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 18, 2019 | James
James 1:23
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror.”
I have reached the stage of my life when it is distressing to look into a mirror. I see the reflection of an old man staring back at me. How could this aging have taken place? The answer is one day at a time!
Along the hallway I am able to view photographs of parents and grandparents on both sides of the family. It comes as a shock to realize that I am now older than some of them when they went to be with the Lord. Wow! That is shocking!
Getting older is not something that should be unexpected, but should be accepted and dealt with in meaningful manner. The fact of the matter is that none of us are getting younger. Rather than lamenting about where the years have gone, we need to ask ourselves how we are going to best serve the Lord in the time we have left.
In today’s Scripture James uses an illustration of a mirror. As I read this passage for the umpteenth time, I suddenly saw something I had never seen before. It is only as we look into God’s mirror that we see ourselves as God sees us. I want to tell you that God is near and knows what we need even before we need it. What is the most shocking is that we look too much at our own limitations instead at His great provisions. I want my remaining days to count for the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 15, 2019 | Philippians
Philippians 4:4-6
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
William Walford did not allow the fact that he was blind limit his service for his Lord. He was frequently called upon to preach in a small country church. He composed the sermons in his head and also was able to quote large portions of Scripture from memory. Some people thought he had memorized the entire Bible. He also composed verses as the Lord laid the words upon his heart. Above all—he was a man of prayer.
In the mid 1800’s, Thomas Salmon was visiting in England and became acquainted with Pastor Walford. As they were visiting one day the blind pastor quoted a few pieces he had composed. Since he had no one to write them down he had kept them treasured in the storehouse of his mind.
One of the verses he related to Mr. Salmon was, Sweet Hour of Prayer. Mr. Salmon eagerly scribbled the words down on a scrap of paper. When he returned to New York he sent the verses to the Observer and asked if they thought them worth preserving. The Observer did think them worthy and published them on September 13, 1845. The music was added by William Bradbury in 1861.
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
‘Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!’
To access Sweet Hour of Prayer please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/sweethourofprayer in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
